Stephen Ireland

[tetsujin1979]

He's an ar*ehole that's why people dislike him.

To consistently refuse to play for his country without any good reason as far as anyone can tell is the lowest of the low for any professional footballer and it's only in Ireland that you would get people sticking up for his right to do so by coming out with excuse after excuse to justify actions that are unjustifiable to the majority of people. He would be hung, drawn and quartered if he behaved like this and he was an English, Scottish, Spanish, Italian international.

Bentley is still booed by the England fans for refusing to play in the U-21 championships two seasons ago.
Gary McAllister refused to play for Scotland again after being booed by the fans.

[SkStu]

if he doesnt care about playing for us, why should we care about him? Until he's ready to come back, apology or not, we shouldnt even talk about him.

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Saw the interview and he seems like a decent bright lad but is obviously psychologically frail. The more ill-feeling there is to him the more the fact that he won't play for Ireland is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The prospect of 80,000 countryman booing and resenting you would be a difficult task to conquer for the bravest of men which will only get worse with time.

I, like many of you, cannot understand not playing for your country, however we do not know what has gone on and equally cannot understand the pressures of being in the public eye and hounded by your national media. Nothing will be achieved by booing and hating him as much as we can't understand him, especially in light of the most important thing - he is a top quality player who would improve the team.

[irishfan86]

At this point the only way I can see him being welcomed back is if we lose some key matches and nothing is going right for us.

If he returns when everything is going well, he will be attacked. If things are failing miserably, people will give him a chance to redeem himself.

[shaneker]

Saw the Observer's interview with him today over here, was very much coming around to the thinking that his performances were making it just about impossible to not want him in the squad.

How wrong I was. Doesn't miss it, doesn't seem to care about it, nothing. Says he wants more time with his family; first of all, footballers have more free time than people in just about any profession. Second, countless other internationals - including his club captain - maintain family life whilst still representing their country.

Was preparing to chip in my two cents yesterday about how we can't turn down a player of his talents, but I'm finished with him now. Don't want him back, good luck to him in his club career. He'll always be Stephen Manchester to me now!

[NeilMcD]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/28/manchestercity.premierleague

[Ciprian Marica]

If he's psychologically capable of playing well for Man City then that rules his mental state out as an excuse for not playing for Ireland. To me, it seems he couldn't be bothered.

[Maroon 7]

A real shame as he's playing great this season but the guy has minimal to zero interest in playing for his country. Full stop. Time to forget about him and move on with players that do.

[Noelys Guitar]

Trap and Tardelli at the Wigan v City game!

[NeilMcD]

From the BBC:

1612: Giovanni Trapattoni is sitting in the stands with England boss Fabio Capello's right-hand man Franco Baldini. Trapattoni will have to do some work to get Stephen Ireland back in his squad - the Man City midfielder told various Sunday papers he doesn't miss international football.

[SUB of the day]

Now that its in black and white,is it time to close the thread to free up space for people and players who actually care about their country?Being a Cobh resident, I find this mans behaviour embarassing and shameful.

[brianw82]

I think it'll only hit home for him when he's watching us at the WC on his telly in Manchester, and he'll know he could've been a part of it.

[Qwerty]

Besides wouldn't he just fall into the same category as Andy Reid as far as Trapp was concerned? I can't see him play for Ireland except in a 5 man midfield. And he is less adept at playing wide than Reid. All in all given his behavioral/mental issues and problems of accomadating him iin the team I would say we are better off without him.

[Paddy Garcia]

"I wouldn't say that I hated playing for Ireland. I just feel I'm better off away from it." from the interview today.

Sounds pretty clear to me that we should plan without him.

[NeilMcD]

I am just waiting for the post that says, that the people who posted on www.foot.ie were to blame for him not wanting to come back.

[ruben_sosa]

Playing for ireland is the last thing that he's thinking about. Now that money bags are backing the club he'll start publicly demanding a contract renegotiation so he's among the highest earners at City. He won't sit idly by as Robinho earns £160,000 a week.

didn't take him long the last time.
http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2007/04/02/story29370.asp

[dr_peepee]

What he has said over the last couple of days is at odds with his comments last year on MOTD (for me any way), but at least there's some level of closure now on the issue. It's disappointing but I'm not as bothered as I would have thought. I honestly believe there'll be a stage where he'll need us more than we'll need him.

Things are flying now, we'll see now when City reach the standard they profess to target and S Ireland hits the inevitable blip in form. Has he got the head for dealing with fans and media at the Big Club when things aren't going well. Look at what happens Rooney when he's not scoring???? Even Scholes got it for a time some years ago. I don't think so. He's talented, yes, but I'm not sure he's the full package.

International football has been an outlet for Irish players in the past who have had a poor time at club level and they usually return from International duty better off. He's just removed that option.

I wouldn't want him back unless he was fully commited. Anything less would have been counter productive to the progress we've seen in the set up. He's an adult and we should accept it.

Hope someone has told him the parrable of Micheal Laudrup though....

[geysir]

What's the parable of Michael Laudrup?

[tricky_colour]

Hope someone has told him the parrable of Micheal Laudrup though....

Looks like you will have to do it because you are the only one who knows it.

[cavan_fan]

Now that its in black and white,is it time to close the thread to free up space for people and players who actually care about their country?Being a Cobh resident, I find this mans behaviour embarassing and shameful.

You do know we have unlimited space for such speculation, dont you?

[third policeman]

If he's psychologically capable of playing well for Man City then that rules his mental state out as an excuse for not playing for Ireland. To me, it seems he couldn't be bothered.


No it does not. No more than a man with a broken leg can make a cup of tea but can't run a marathon. Marcus Trescothick was able to carry on playing County Cricket during his depressive illness but could not handle the stress of playing for England. It is pretty obvious that Ireland's decision is not motivated by some idle whim or any lack of patriotoc fervour, but is rooted in personal circumstances and experiences. As much as I would love to see him playing for us, he doesn't actually owe me or anybody else on this site anything, and we therefore have no right to abuse and criticise him as a person.

[NeilMcD]

Third Policeman, do you think a player can just pick and choose when he wants to play international football and for that to have no effect on the morale and team spirit of a squad. Also there were rumours of bullying in the media he did not come out to clarify the issue in relation to this and this is lsomething that should have been done according to both Hunt and Dunne as they both mentioned this in interviews.

Its not nice for any player like both Robbie Keane and Stephen Hunt to be accused of bullying, and it should have been cleared up by Stephen Manchester.

International football is something that chooses you not the other way around and he has shown total disregard for the jersey that has been worn by legends and some who have had personal issues that they got over.

He clearly does not like being away from his families and it is a free world and he is entitled to do so but he should not have the choice of coming back and playing for us whenever suits him. The Republic of Ireland squad and fans is a lot bigger than Stephen Manchester and his mixed up life.

[Supreme feet]

Looks like you will have to do it because you are the only one who knows it.

I'll do it! Michael Laudrup, Denmark's best player for much of the 80s and early 90s, fell out with the manager Richard-Moller Nielsen. Without him, Denmark won Euro '92.

But then they drew their opening USA '94 matches against Latvia and ourselves, and despite Laudrup's eventual return, those dropped points cost Denmark dearly, and we qualified on goals scored! :D

[Greenforever]

As much as I would love to see him playing for us, he doesn't actually owe me or anybody else on this site anything, and we therefore have no right to abuse and criticise him as a person.


I do not agree, he owes us (The Irish Football Family) the cost of his private jet home from Bratislava.

[Greenforever]

Can we please move this thread to world football as Stephen Manchester has nothing to do with Irish Football. It is insulting to all Irish football fans to have him in an Ireland thread.

As for the ass**** journalists who think Trap should beg him to play, they are the ones who know nothing about team spirit, slagging off fans for having a different opinion to them.

[NeilMcD]

Is this the newstalk lads, you are talking about. Total cynics in my view but with zero passion for the game.

[FarBeag]

Can we please move this thread to world football as Stephen Manchester has nothing to do with Irish Football. It is insulting to all Irish football fans to have him in an Ireland thread.

As for the ass**** journalists who think Trap should beg him to play, they are the ones who know nothing about team spirit, slagging off fans for having a different opinion to them.

Totally agree with you. He has got to be the biggest d1ckhead ever to have put an Irish Jersey on his back. Why so many people on here stood by him and still clearly do is beyond me? He might have as well have taken it off and spat on it. I hope he never gets a chance to wear it again.:mad:

[bennocelt]

Mind you I would be surprised if Trap would actually play him.
He is physologically flawed.Who lies about his grandmother dying to do a runner.At best he is very stupid which(contrary to popular opinion)is unusual in talented sports people.
People with flawed personalities usually become unstuck when faced with the pressure of performing at the highest level.

ah come on, please!

[irishfan86]

I've defended him for a long time because we don't know all the details, but those comments shrugging the national team off are disappointing to say the least.

I was really excited by his play this year, and was hoping it was a matter of weeks or months before he would come out and say he'd play for us again.

After this latest kick to the nuts of Irish football, I think my interest in following his exploits with City has expired.

[Reality Bites]

I saw the interview on Football focus too, the body language when asked about playing for the Irish team said it all, the prior excitable tone when discussing Manchester citys revolution was replaced by a dip of the head, a sombre expresssion and a response that would led one to believe we won't see this chap in Green for some while if ever..

As Irelands talent have improved so too have peoples anger with him on this forum which is only natural afterall It is hugely fustrating to watch an Irish player blossom in Premiership and turn around and refuse to play for his country, We have a limited pool of talent to choose from and We haven't had an attacking central midfield option of SI quality in years..he is young 22 wasn't able to take a slagging lost the plot and now there is a huge mental block there stopping him returning, I saw Trap at the match yesterday, I doubt he was there to rule the ruse over Dunnes tired and tested pedigree, I can't see how he is going to coax this guy back into the fold but then again an unbalanced 22 year old is bread and butter to the wily 69 year old trap so we'll see.

[Stuttgart88]

Patrick Barclay's main feature in the Sunday Telegraph was on Stephen Ireland's talent.

[jjppc]

Patrick Barclay's main feature in the Sunday Telegraph was on Stephen Ireland's talent.

He's been busy on the media front, big interview in the Observer on Sunday, when questioned about playing for Ireland , he says and I quote " Im unsure about the situation there, for my part I'll never say never , but to be honest I dont miss it".

Ambiguous as usual !

[Sligo Hornet]

He's been busy on the media front, big interview in the Observer on Sunday, when questioned about playing for Ireland , he says and I quote " Im unsure about the situation there, for my part I'll never say never , but to be honest I dont miss it".

Ambiguous as usual !

Nothing ambiguous about that!.......so as far as we should be concerned it's MUTUAL, and should be, FINALLY, the end of this debate!!!

[sadloserkid]

I doubt he was there to rule the ruse over Dunnes tired and tested pedigree.

Ah now he has some gas left in the tank yet surely! :D

[third policeman]

[quote=NeilMcD;1029231]Third Policeman, do you think a player can just pick and choose when he wants to play international football and for that to have no effect on the morale and team spirit of a squad.


I dont think that he "just picking and choosing". As you hint yourself there is a reason for his opting out and we dont know (nor necessarily need or deserve to know) all the facts. It's sad and I still think its possibly capable of being resolved (interesting to see Trap at the game?) but ultimately he does have the right to make a personal decision about this and we should respect that.

[youngirish]

I dont think that he "just picking and choosing". As you hint yourself there is a reason for his opting out and we dont know (nor necessarily need or deserve to know) all the facts. It's sad and I still think its possibly capable of being resolved (interesting to see Trap at the game?) but ultimately he does have the right to make a personal decision about this and we should respect that.
Of course he has the right to opt out of the squad, no one is questioning his God given right to do so. We however as fans of the Irish team also have the right to slate him for doing just that and deservedly so imo.

[passinginterest]

He's been busy on the media front, big interview in the Observer on Sunday, when questioned about playing for Ireland , he says and I quote " Im unsure about the situation there, for my part I'll never say never , but to be honest I dont miss it".

Ambiguous as usual !

Following on from this he also said:

"I'm happy playing for the club and I've got a young family to think of. My commitment is to Manchester City and my family. I wouldn't say I hated playing for Ireland, I just feel I'm better off being away from it,"

I think he's pretty much ruled himself out completely there.

More from the Herald here (http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/internationals/time-to-let-ireland-be-1485214.html).

[ifk101]

If he is not 100% committed to playing for Ireland he should not be anywhere near the team.

Whatever about him coming back in the future, I think he's made it clear that playing for Ireland is not something he's particularly bothered about - and his actions in the past have shown this on more than one occasion (and he's still only 22). Yes Stephen Ireland has his reasons for not playing for Ireland but instead of fooling ourselves into thinking his reasons are "complex", let's just take them for what they are - he couldn't be arsed to play for his country.

I don't think a player with this kind of mentality should ever be capped again.

[francesco_1]

Stephen england i hate you.

[Wheels]

Personally I disagree utterly with all the 'hate Stephen Ireland' brigade... You can say we should ensure he has himself right before he returns, and that he must really want to be there... but to hate the guy is just stupid.

[Wheels]

Oh, that wasn't aimed directly at you francesco_1 (http://foot.ie/member.php?u=5867)... you posted at the same time... coincidence is all.

[geysir]

Nonetheless, good timing.

[francesco_1]

Oh, that wasn't aimed directly at you francesco_1 (http://foot.ie/member.php?u=5867)... you posted at the same time... coincidence is all.


I just want us to have a chance and with him in the team we would have a better chance,spur of the moment.

[tricky_colour]

He is no David Beckham.

[Razors left peg]

There are plenty of people in this country that openly admit that they support the likes of ManU, Liverpool etc and arent that bothered at all about the national team.Its hard for us on this forum to understand that way of thinking because we are so passionate about International football, but I think we just have to accept that Steven Ireland has basically the same mentality as these other people. Its unfortunate because he is a top player but we have some other very exciting prospects coming through the ranks in midfield so I think its time we just let it go and move on

[tricky_colour]

I would be happy to have this shipped out into world football now.
He is not intersted in playing for Ireland so I would rather not see this thread in the forum.

[Irish_Praha]

I would be happy to have this shipped out into world football now.
He is not intersted in playing for Ireland so I would rather not see this thread in the forum.

Totally agree.

[viagogo]

Was all for him coming back but after this weekend and listening to his comments I am begining to think that we should forget about him. Although an interesting article on todays Star suggests that we should copy what French manager Domenech did with Makelele and pick him anyway. Hed face a suspension if he refused to play.

[musicinmouth]

I can understand (and share) the frustration, but some of you are going way over the top. It's not like he's the first player to ever take a break from international football. There are other players still playing for Ireland who have done so in the past. He hasn't ruled out ever playing for us again.

The idea that he shouldn't be mentioned in this forum is ridiculous. He has not retired from international football. And even if he had, are we not supposed to talk about ex Irish international football players in this forum???

[tricky_colour]

I can understand (and share) the frustration, but some of you are going way over the top. It's not like he's the first player to ever take a break from international football. There are other players still playing for Ireland who have done so in the past. He hasn't ruled out ever playing for us again.

The idea that he shouldn't be mentioned in this forum is ridiculous. He has not retired from international football. And even if he had, are we not supposed to talk about ex Irish international football players in this forum???

I think the difference is people could understand they reasons why those players no longer wished to play, this just seems like a direct snub, he does not seem to consider himself Irish and quite frankly neither do I. Maybe Italy will cal him up.