Stephen Ireland

[amaccann]

I like how the second comment on that news story is an attempt to start an argument about two players who had nothing to do with that article. Ahhhhh, the internet.

The Stephen Ireland story, let's face it, will make for an enjoyable tale when it finally ends & this latest twist is a beaut. I can see now why he prided himself having hair. That's one helluva pointy head!

[youngirish]

With his new haircut his head more closey resembles the pen*s that we all know him to be.

[tetsujin1979]

With his new haircut his head more closey resembles the pen*s that we all know him to be.
grow up

[youngirish]

grow up
I am grown up in fact judging from the 1979 appendage to your name, which I'm guessing is your birthdate, I'm a bit older than you so here's a tip from one of your elders and betters try to develop a personality and sense of humour before you get any older it can really be beneficial to your life if you manage to pull yourself away from your computer.

[beautifulrock]

anyway, back on topic for a minute:) He seems to have beefed up a fair bit or is that just the camera. I am hoping he has spent sometime in the gym over the last few weeks as this will be a benefit to him and should he return to us.

[jbyrne]

should he return to us.

if he was coming back we would know by now. we should move on

[paulie_walnuts]

Very disappointed by a lot of the comments about Stephen Ireland in here. Sad to see how fickle and shallow some Irish fans have become. Must be all of that exposure to our friends across the water, because this sort of immature sh!te is something I for one would associate with that lot.

I for one hope he comes back, we're not a big enough footballing nation (tough for some to believe) to turn our noses up at decent talent like Ireland. Hopefully il Trap will sort things with him one way or another by the time the Qualifiers come about, and for the greater good, hopefully he will be back playing for us. And if he does play up again, he won't be picked. Simple.

[Morbo]

Lol @ referring to England as "them across the water" reminds me of Apres match.
Anywho I find it funny you are more disappointed by peoples comments than by Daddy Dicks actions and obvious apathetic attitude when it comes to playing for his country

[boovidge]

Very disappointed by a lot of the comments about Stephen Ireland in here. Sad to see how fickle and shallow some Irish fans have become. Must be all of that exposure to our friends across the water, because this sort of immature sh!te is something I for one would associate with that lot.

:rolleyes: I suppose it's "that lots" fault Stephen Ireland doesn't want to play for his country?

[EastTerracer]

Anywho I find it funny you are more disappointed by peoples comments than by Daddy Dicks actions and obvious apathetic attitude when it comes to playing for his country

It does strike me as a little strange that so many people on this forum are so critical and abusive towards Stephen Ireland. In the not too distant past another Manchester-based player, with a similarly apathetic attitude to playing for Ireland, was treated like Jesus Christ himself when he returned to the squad. No question he was a much more experienced and influential player but there are similarities.

[Greenforever]

Very disappointed by a lot of the comments about Stephen Ireland in here. Sad to see how fickle and shallow some Irish fans have become. Must be all of that exposure to our friends across the water, because this sort of immature sh!te is something I for one would associate with that lot.

I for one hope he comes back, we're not a big enough footballing nation (tough for some to believe) to turn our noses up at decent talent like Ireland. Hopefully il Trap will sort things with him one way or another by the time the Qualifiers come about, and for the greater good, hopefully he will be back playing for us. And if he does play up again, he won't be picked. Simple.

Trap should go down on bended knee for SI and do whatever it takes to get him back on board, and even then if he is unfortunate enough to have his grandad's die on another away trip, we can charter another plane at my (fan's) expense.

If Trap was to hire the pink hummer seen around town to collect him from the airport he may feel more at home.

I fully agree with you we should grovel to the likes of SI at all times because he is a world class player who has won everything that's going and the rest of the squad are only needed to make up the numbers, and they know it's a greater honour to be in SI's company than to play for their country.

[Morbo]

It does strike me as a little strange that so many people on this forum are so critical and abusive towards Stephen Ireland. In the not too distant past another Manchester-based player, with a similarly apathetic attitude to playing for Ireland, was treated like Jesus Christ himself when he returned to the squad. No question he was a much more experienced and influential player but there are similarities.

Not by me he was, I saw it as little more than a PR exercise, you have a point even before the whole Saipan incident Keane did pull out of a lot of Irish squads with questionable injuries and play a full 90 minutes for MU a few days later but people turned a blind eye to it because he was such a good player

[youngirish]

Trap should go down on bended knee for SI and do whatever it takes to get him back on board, and even then if he is unfortunate enough to have his grandad's die on another away trip, we can charter another plane at my (fan's) expense.

If Trap was to hire the pink hummer seen around town to collect him from the airport he may feel more at home.

I fully agree with you we should grovel to the likes of SI at all times because he is a world class player who has won everything that's going and the rest of the squad are only needed to make up the numbers, and they know it's a greater honour to be in SI's company than to play for their country.

I agree. Some of the attitudes on here regarding Stephen Ireland are absolutely ridiculous. You would think it was Maradona we were trying to convince to come back. These comments that pop up every now and then about him being by far our most talented player are obviously coming from people from Cobh or the man himself under an alias. Certainly not from any unbiased source that has watched him play a few times.

S Ireland is an average Premiership player, no more, no less. Yes he may improve as he's still young but until that's the case he shouldn't be let near the squad until he comes grovelling back and begs his teammates, managerial staff and fans for their forgiveness for his past sins. Even if he does drasticallly improve I'd be hesitant to let him back near the squad.

The day we're relying on the likes of Stephen Ireland, a whinging, overrated, lazy midfielder with a tendency to go missing in games and a shocking goals to game ratio for his club, to qualify for a major tournament is the day I paint the wheels of my new landrover pink and change my name by deed poll to Daddy Dick.

[as_i_say]

He's scored a fair few goals for us though;)

[Drumcondra 69er]

Not by me he was, I saw it as little more than a PR exercise, you have a point even before the whole Saipan incident Keane did pull out of a lot of Irish squads with questionable injuries and play a full 90 minutes for MU a few days later but people turned a blind eye to it because he was such a good player

Not to mention simply not showing up at the airport for a U.S. tour for which he was down to be captain.

But he played for the red team in Manchester so that's alright then.

[placid casual]

reading this thread is like twisting chewing gum around one's finger.
i made a comment a while ago where i had read that stephen ireland was regarded as grossly immature and midly retarded.i guess the mildness/heaviness ratio is up for discussion now ?!
At no time was i trying to denigrate or even mock those of us who have a disability of any kind-physical or mental ,but simply to put the matter of stephen irelands general intelligence up as a marker of his behavouir.
he appears to be thick as **** . is that a more reasonable explanation ?
i have a work colleague who is a season ticket holder at eastlands and has been since colin bell was floating down the wing(so he tells me) .
he has stories about ireland being pretty much like most footballers in england. i.e lacking in the grey matter,but apprently little stevie is seen by his teammates as "not the full shilling" .

final point. i'm not entirely sure he has any allegiance to ireland as a country as i was informed he has spent a large part of his lfe away from this fair isle.
any i prefer stephen hunt in midfied anyways........
tally ho

[youngirish]

final point. i'm not entirely sure he has any allegiance to ireland as a country as i was informed he has spent a large part of his lfe away from this fair isle.
any i prefer stephen hunt in midfied anyways........
tally ho
Give me Stephen or Andy Reid any day. Failing that I've high hopes for Garvan in central midfield in the near future. At least he appears to want to play for Ireland.

[seanfhear]

reading this thread is like twisting chewing gum around one's finger.
i made a comment a while ago where i had read that stephen ireland was regarded as grossly immature and midly retarded.i guess the mildness/heaviness ratio is up for discussion now ?!
At no time was i trying to denigrate or even mock those of us who have a disability of any kind-physical or mental ,but simply to put the matter of stephen irelands general intelligence up as a marker of his behavouir.
he appears to be thick as **** . is that a more reasonable explanation ?
i have a work colleague who is a season ticket holder at eastlands and has been since colin bell was floating down the wing(so he tells me) .
he has stories about ireland being pretty much like most footballers in england. i.e lacking in the grey matter,but apprently little stevie is seen by his teammates as "not the full shilling" .

final point. i'm not entirely sure he has any allegiance to ireland as a country as i was informed he has spent a large part of his lfe away from this fair isle.
any i prefer stephen hunt in midfied anyways........
tally ho
I dont know about stephen ireland but it is an often repeated myth that talented footballers are stupid when in fact most[not all] are inteligent and bright.Whether this is based on jealousy or not i do not know.You do get the odd idiot that is blessed with a natural talent but i bet that we would all enjoy being as stupid as david beckham.How stupid is he to have amassed the amount of money that he has from a silly football talent.Mind you there does seem to be a question over mr ireland.

[jebus]

Roy Keane was hardly hailed as a hero for coming back by all and sundry, half of us (myself included) never wanted him back and hardly cheered his name from the rooftops when he did return. But let's not get into that again

[L37Ultra]

Roy Keane was hardly hailed as a hero for coming back by all and sundry, half of us (myself included) never wanted him back and hardly cheered his name from the rooftops when he did return. But let's not get into that again


But do you not think that open the eyes of the FAI and they have moved forward and progressed from then?

[EalingGreen]

I don't know Ireland's particular circumstances and I've only seen him play live once (for City), but a while back, NI had similar problems with one or two players messing the manager (Sanchez) around.
Despite their being good enough, ability-wise, to be worth their place in the team, Sanchez took a hard line. In the short term, this might have hurt us, but in the long term, it was exactly the right thing, since every player knew who was in charge and what was expected of them and in the absence of favourites and special cases, team morale took off.
Possibly Staunton hadn't enough experience or authority to take such a stance, but I really can't see Trapattoni being messed around, since he has had to deal with players a hell of a sight more talented than Ireland in the past.
Indeed in such circumstances, I am always minded to recall the words of Sir Alex Ferguson when he has to deal with difficult players:
"What people should never forget is that I'm not here to please the players, they're here to please me!"

[jebus]

But do you not think that open the eyes of the FAI and they have moved forward and progressed from then?

No I don't. Just because they struck gold with Trap doesn't mean they are anymore efficent. Either way to end my particapation on any Roy Keane discussion, he had a point, but he went about making it in entirely the wrong way and should never have been asked back to the national team. Ireland I'd be willing to forgive as long as holds his hands up and admits he's basically a moron, anything other than an apology for him for his nonsense with the grandmother buisness and I wouldn't have him back either.

People seem to forget that it's a privilage to play for your country, not just here either, but thats part of the bigger problem that is eating modern football from the inside out

[irishultra]

I agree. Some of the attitudes on here regarding Stephen Ireland are absolutely ridiculous. You would think it was Maradona we were trying to convince to come back. These comments that pop up every now and then about him being by far our most talented player are obviously coming from people from Cobh or the man himself under an alias. Certainly not from any unbiased source that has watched him play a few times.

S Ireland is an average Premiership player, no more, no less. Yes he may improve as he's still young but until that's the case he shouldn't be let near the squad until he comes grovelling back and begs his teammates, managerial staff and fans for their forgiveness for his past sins. Even if he does drasticallly improve I'd be hesitant to let him back near the squad.

The day we're relying on the likes of Stephen Ireland, a whinging, overrated, lazy midfielder with a tendency to go missing in games and a shocking goals to game ratio for his club, to qualify for a major tournament is the day I paint the wheels of my new landrover pink and change my name by deed poll to Daddy Dick.

The guy has got insane talent, I think Elano said he has the best technique in the training ground, but he is overrated. He's not Messi....he's more of a Kim Kallstrom level player.

[jmurphyc]

The guy has got insane talent, I think Elano said he has the best technique in the training ground, but he is overrated. He's not Messi....he's more of a Kim Kallstrom level player.

He's yet to really show his "insane talent" for us. The only talent he has really showed so far is a talent to pop up with a goal and go missing for the other 89 minutes of a game. I would still like him to come back but my patience is wearing thin.

[carloz]

I really think the hardline approach has to be take with Stephen Ireland. Set a date, say a couple of days before the squad for the Norway game is named, and if his mind is not made up by then, simply inform him he wont be considered for selection again. Why should the Irish management pussy foot around this issue. Yes he is a decent player but at the end of the day there is simply no reason whatsoever for him not to be available for selection. He has no good reason not to be playing for Ireland.

[carloz]

He's yet to really show his "insane talent" for us. The only talent he has really showed so far is a talent to pop up with a goal and go missing for the other 89 minutes of a game. I would still like him to come back but my patience is wearing thin.

Id agree with this. Many Irish fans have been blinded by the goals he has scored in the last campaign for us. He was quite poor in a number of games. To say he has 'insane' talent is pushing it a tad too

[irishultra]

He's yet to really show his "insane talent" for us. The only talent he has really showed so far is a talent to pop up with a goal and go missing for the other 89 minutes of a game. I would still like him to come back but my patience is wearing thin.

When I say 'insane talent' I don't mean like Benzema or someone but he does have something about him which I think is quality.

[Traps Cat]

Id agree with this. Many Irish fans have been blinded by the goals he has scored in the last campaign for us. He was quite poor in a number of games. To say he has 'insane' talent is pushing it a tad too


Yes , surely he is just "Insane" full stop!!

[slippeydolphin]

Stephen Ireland is a very talented player, but he seems very misguided. He is the sort of player who can be a playmaker and pass the ball, something that we desperately need. The lad needs a chance, and was goin through some tough times.
Lets hope he comes back into the fold sooner rather than later!

[galwayhoop]

The lad needs a chance, and was goin through some tough times.
Lets hope he comes back into the fold sooner rather than later!

i read an article today about scott brown (scotland & celtic). apparently his sister passed away a couple of months before the end of last season. first i had heard of it was today, however he played through the difficult months and is now relishing the new season after putting a few hard months behind him.

titi camara played a game for liverpool a few years ago on the night his father died, scored a goal and dedicated it to his father. missed the funeral by playing that night too.

frank lampard's mother died the weekend (iirc) before chelsea played liverpool in the champions league semi-final, in which he played a vital role in their victory.

robbie keane came out to the second of an international double header after his father passed away, played poorly and looked a bit shaken but came out anyway.

stephen ireland tells us he had a family tragedy but was well able to play for man city through it, however is still (9 months later) unable to play for ireland - i do not buy that for one second. come out with the true reason you won't play or just p1ss off for good. i personally don't care one way or another.

I am sick however of listening to people making excuses for the upstart, sh1t happens everyday to people and they just get on with it, are we so weak as politically correct puppets nowadays that mental strength is totally gone and lack thereof is excused away??

[bellavistaman]

hes playing very well tonight tbf, his passing range is something we cannot do without

[Razors left peg]

hes playing very well tonight tbf, his passing range is something we cannot do without

He looks like hes filled out a bit too. He is definately a quality player

[Newryrep]

hes playing very well tonight tbf, his passing range is something we cannot do without

Arent they playinng in the Faores ? hardly a major work out

The longer it goes on the more inclined i am to tell him to go **** himself , he really should of clarified when Trap took over.

However I will leave it to Trap's decision on what is best for the whole squad, he is experienced enough to have gauged any possible squad reaction to his possible return. Dont think the fans will ever forgive him whatever he decides.

[carloz]

i read an article today about scott brown (scotland & celtic). apparently his sister passed away a couple of months before the end of last season. first i had heard of it was today, however he played through the difficult months and is now relishing the new season after putting a few hard months behind him.

titi camara played a game for liverpool a few years ago on the night his father died, scored a goal and dedicated it to his father. missed the funeral by playing that night too.

frank lampard's mother died the weekend (iirc) before chelsea played liverpool in the champions league semi-final, in which he played a vital role in their victory.

robbie keane came out to the second of an international double header after his father passed away, played poorly and looked a bit shaken but came out anyway.

stephen ireland tells us he had a family tragedy but was well able to play for man city through it, however is still (9 months later) unable to play for ireland - i do not buy that for one second. come out with the true reason you won't play or just p1ss off for good. i personally don't care one way or another.

I am sick however of listening to people making excuses for the upstart, sh1t happens everyday to people and they just get on with it, are we so weak as politically correct puppets nowadays that mental strength is totally gone and lack thereof is excused away??

Give yourself a pat on the back mate, excellent post. People have to realise that its 9 months now since his supposed family tagedy, put simply have run out of patience with the guy and the more we put up with it the sadder we look as a nation. So what if he is a talented player we wouldnt accept this from a guy in the under 17s, why should we from Ireland

[mackannovic]

http://image.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2008/07/17/HamannGettyAlexLivesey1.jpg

And the hairpiece is gone!

[eirebhoy]

Harry Redknapp: "Monaco have come in for Niko and offered around £12m for him. We wouldn't sell and he didn't want to go anyway so that was the end of that one."

Ireland's just as good imo and is 2 years younger. You could probably pick out any critisism of Ireland's game in this thread and the same thing could be said of Kranjcar. Kranjcar is taller and has a better ability to beat players but if you watch either player for 90 minutes they're incredibly similar. Neither player takes opponents on anyway, they rather pass.

[geysir]

That's all irrelevant Eirebhoy when SI has flatly rejected a generous unconditional invitatation from Trap, who went out of his way to meet with him personally, to return to the squad.

Why not move the thread to World Football until he does decide to return?

[eirebhoy]

If an Irish player went on to become the worlds best player would you not feel some pride? Like the night Doherty won the World Championships. Supporting Ireland, for me, is more than just supporting the team for those 8 or so games a year. I'll always follow S.Ireland's career because he's Irish. I'd also love Roy Keane to go on to become the best manager in the world for the same reason.

[jinxy lilywhite]

I don't think we really are in a position to tell probably our best outfield player to go *uck off. we just don't have the strength in depth

[Drumcondra 69er]

If an Irish player went on to become the worlds best player would you not feel some pride? Like the night Doherty won the World Championships. Supporting Ireland, for me, is more than just supporting the team for those 8 or so games a year. I'll always follow S.Ireland's career because he's Irish. I'd also love Roy Keane to go on to become the best manager in the world for the same reason.

I'd reckon most people on here feel more pride for their Irishness then either of the player and ex-player / manager you mention.

[geysir]

Loyalty above all except honour :)
If Ken had acted the maggot and refused repeatedly to represent his country then he wouldn't have that respect from me.
If I had a scale of interest, SI would be lower than any other Irish footballer currently playing the game.
Just not interested in him one way or the other, couldn't care less how many accolade he achieves or if he ends up in Wymans league.

[eirebhoy]

I'd reckon most people on here feel more pride for their Irishness then either of the player and ex-player / manager you mention.
I can't explain what it is with me. Maybe the thought of some Mexican or Iraqi talking about "that Irish guy" who has been setting the world alight with his football. ;)

[Drumcondra 69er]

I can't explain what it is with me. Maybe the thought of some Mexican or Iraqi talking about "that Irish guy" who has been setting the world alight with his football. ;)

As opossed to them talking about that Irish guy who walked out before the world cup or the crazy Irish guy who told everyone his Grannies were dead and had a hairpiece??!! :)

[EalingGreen]

I don't think we really are in a position to tell probably our best outfield player to go *uck off. we just don't have the strength in depth


That's all very well, but if you give into the player now and pick him for the next game, then what's to stop him booting you in the balls again and letting you down at the last minute before some other, more important future game?

Worse still, if other, less talented players see that they can jerk the manager around, then they'll start the same carry on and not even Stephen Ireland is good enough to beat the other team on his own.

A good comparison is to be found recently between ROI and NI. Under Staunton, ROI had better players, but underperformed, whereas under Sanchez, NI had lesser players but overperformed.

The key difference (imo) was the quality of the management and in particular, Sanchez's authority and willingness to take a hard line on player discipline, compared with Staunton's inexperience and unwillingness (inability?) to do so.

For as the doyen of managers, Sir Alex Ferguson, always says: "What people should never forget is that I'm not here to please the players, they're here to please me!" And I'm sure Trapattoni would be in complete agreement.

[bellavistaman]

[QUOTE=Newryrep;983700]Arent they playinng in the Faores ? hardly a major work out[QUOTE]

Well we need players to play against them teams too ya know, weve no problems against big teams, unlike cyprus, macedonia, san bloody marino, when that man saved our bacon.

[geysir]

Anyway jinxy lilywhite, SI hasn't been to told to eff off by Trap.
Trap has very kindly left the door open.
The vast majority of fans want SI in the team even with the risks involved outlined by EG

Until SI comes through that door, I don't think he deserves to have a thread in this forum.
Shun him.

[tetsujin1979]

Arent they playinng in the Faores ? hardly a major work out
these are the type of games (early round games against European minnows) that some on the board feel justifies players from the eL to get into the squad.

[Newryrep]

[QUOTE=Newryrep;983700]Arent they playinng in the Faores ? hardly a major work out[QUOTE]

Well we need players to play against them teams too ya know, weve no problems against big teams, unlike cyprus, macedonia, san bloody marino, when that man saved our bacon.

Eh ? no problems against big teams ? and the last big or medium side we have beat in a meaningfull fixture ?

You stated he was playing well, I gave the context of who he was playing against for further evaluation. Playing well gainst the Faores is not exactly 'hold the front page'

Anyway I stated my position let Trap decide

[Greenforever]

That's all very well, but if you give into the player now and pick him for the next game, then what's to stop him booting you in the balls again and letting you down at the last minute before some other, more important future game?

Worse still, if other, less talented players see that they can jerk the manager around, then they'll start the same carry on and not even Stephen Ireland is good enough to beat the other team on his own.

A good comparison is to be found recently between ROI and NI. Under Staunton, ROI had better players, but underperformed, whereas under Sanchez, NI had lesser players but overperformed.

The key difference (imo) was the quality of the management and in particular, Sanchez's authority and willingness to take a hard line on player discipline, compared with Staunton's inexperience and unwillingness (inability?) to do so.

For as the doyen of managers, Sir Alex Ferguson, always says: "What people should never forget is that I'm not here to please the players, they're here to please me!" And I'm sure Trapattoni would be in complete agreement.


Excellent post, couldnt agree more, and if the poll was restarted we would probably see far less support for SI's stance.

[Manblue]

Loyalty above all except honour :)
If Ken had acted the maggot and refused repeatedly to represent his country then he wouldn't have that respect from me.
If I had a scale of interest, SI would be lower than any other Irish footballer currently playing the game.
Just not interested in him one way or the other, couldn't care less how many accolade he achieves or if he ends up in Wymans league.

Ha if youve so little interest why you still posting after all these months,