Stephen Ireland

[boovidge]

Keane can't play as a lone striker.

[Manblue]

Keane can't play as a lone striker.

Watch it mate you dont wanna question robbies ability on this thread

[irishfan86]

Watch it mate you dont wanna question robbies ability on this thread

Huge Robbie Keane fan here, but he's a second striker.

I'm a huge Richard Dunne fan as well, but I don't really think he could be a great winger.

Play players in their proper positions!

[Fan of football]

he's way too good of player to be sitting idle but the lads head seems to be all over the shop and his love for his country should be seriously questioned imo!

[SallyMan]

If S.Ireland were to come back into the set up id like to see Trap O'Tony use him in the "stevie gerrard" position just behind the loan striker........he'd have plenty of space.......reckon he would be lethal in this position.

Cant see trap ever getting rid of whelo from CM at this stage........even if Steven Reid came back...........he does what he is asked and doesnt get distracted to lose his position.

With all players available I would like to see a midfield and upfront something like this:

Duff............Whelo.........S.Reid..........McGe ady

.........................Ireland.................. ...........

..........................Keane................... ..........

Precisely what i suggested and was given out to for a few pages back. I think this would be a great formation, a front four of McGeady, Duff, Ireland & Keane would provide plenty of goals.

[SallyMan]

Ireland and keane would be well to lightweight in attack considering how defensive minded the players behind them are, thats why trap always plays a folan/best/doyle

I dont know about that really man blue, the truth is that we have a tendancy to hoof ball up to the front putting small players like robbie at a disadvantage. If Ireland was to partner him up front we would have to change tact and start working the ball forward on the ground.

I think the reason that trap has chosen folan / best / doyle is because they are the best forwards we have after keane

[back of the net]

I dont know about that really man blue, the truth is that we have a tendancy to hoof ball up to the front putting small players like robbie at a disadvantage. If Ireland was to partner him up front we would have to change tact and start working the ball forward on the ground.

I think the reason that trap has chosen folan / best / doyle is because they are the best forwards we have after keane

whatever about peoples position on irelands potential return and where he should play, i most certainly would not be dropping kevin doyle for him.

keanes best position is in the hole behind the frontman imo...i.e doyle.

Doyle along with dunne has become an essential member of the team and is a vital cog in our chances to qualify for south africa.

I would welcome back ireland with open arms myself and i definitely think he should be a starter but not at the expense of doyle.

I can only see trap going with a centre mid of reid and whelan , with keane in the attacking hole which will enable keane to put in his tremendous work ethic in tracking back and helping our midfield

thus imo this only leaves the most viable option/position for stephen ireland to be on the wing and he maybe given some sort of free role allowing him to cut in and aid the attack

[galwayhoop]

whatever about peoples position on irelands potential return and where he should play, i most certainly would not be dropping kevin doyle for him.

keanes best position is in the hole behind the frontman imo...i.e doyle.

Doyle along with dunne has become an essential member of the team and is a vital cog in our chances to qualify for south africa.

I would welcome back ireland with open arms myself and i definitely think he should be a starter but not at the expense of doyle.

I can only see trap going with a centre mid of reid and whelan , with keane in the attacking hole which will enable keane to put in his tremendous work ethic in tracking back and helping our midfield

thus imo this only leaves the most viable option/position for stephen ireland to be on the wing and he maybe given some sort of free role allowing him to cut in and aid the attack

yep totally agree. IF SI comes back then Trap will play him out wide right or else if keane suspended/injured then in behind doyle. no chance he will start in the middle of midfield. absolutely none.*

*not saying it's necessarily the right call but it is what the manager will do.

[EastTerracer]

Damien Duff has his say in the Evening Herald. A typically calm and sensible contribution. He has a subtle hint that some of the younger lads have been saying too much in the papers (but then he's doing the same thing).

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/duff-we-need-ireland-back-1819284.html

I'm with Homer Simpson - in Duff we trust!

[Razors left peg]

Damien Duff has his say in the Evening Herald. A typically calm and sensible contribution. He has a subtle hint that some of the younger lads have been saying too much in the papers (but then he's doing the same thing).

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/duff-we-need-ireland-back-1819284.html

I'm with Homer Simpson - in Duff we trust!


Its hardly a ploy is it by the FAI to break the news slowly that Ireland is coming back?? first the talk of a meeting between Trap and Ireland and now one of the senior players saying it would be fine with him..................
Maybe Im just getting cynical and suspicious in my old age:)

[Hibernian]

I dont care how we get him back but we badly need him and S Reid to be fit for the 3 remaining games in our group.

At the end of the day Ireland would walk into most international sides and that is something we cannot ignore.

He is a class act and if we have him back I think there no reasson why we cant top the group.

its better for him to be with us then not.

[Crosby87]

Its hardly a ploy is it by the FAI to break the news slowly that Ireland is coming back?? first the talk of a meeting between Trap and Ireland and now one of the senior players saying it would be fine with him..................
Maybe Im just getting cynical and suspicious in my old age:)

Hopefully you are right! Stranger things have happened. Either that or they are walking on egg shells trying to convince him in public....

[Manblue]

Hopefully you are right! Stranger things have happened. Either that or they are walking on egg shells trying to convince him in public....

Somehow i doubt he reads the herald but doubt thats its a ploy evenmore.

[Crosby87]

Somehow i doubt he reads the herald but doubt thats its a ploy evenmore.

Well I dont know what the Herald is and Im aware of it now, 4,000 miles away!
They still have papers?:)

[Wolfie]

Its hardly a ploy is it by the FAI to break the news slowly that Ireland is coming back?? first the talk of a meeting between Trap and Ireland and now one of the senior players saying it would be fine with him..................
Maybe Im just getting cynical and suspicious in my old age:)

I'd doubt that's a ploy. Its old news that Duff has no issue with a Stephen Ireland return.

He's stated that in a few interviews over the last year.

[tricky_colour]

I wonder if Duff will be making a return himself? To the Premiership.

[carloz]

Just saw a picture on the paper a couple of days ago of the starting team agains Cyprus in out 5-2 mauling out there. Stephen Ireland looks like a child in the picture. He really has woked hard on the physical side of his game since then.

[tricky_colour]

Just saw a picture on the paper a couple of days ago of the starting team agains Cyprus in out 5-2 mauling out there. Stephen Ireland looks like a child in the picture. He really has woked hard on the physical side of his game since then.

Anyone have a video of tht game available for download?
I have never been able to find one.

I recall one player seemingly heading the ball to a Cyprus player and I thought it was Ireland but I ain't sure so I would just like to check, I migh be doing him a diservice by saying that so I would like to check.

[Scram]

Anyone have a video of tht game available for download?
I have never been able to find one.

I recall one player seemingly heading the ball to a Cyprus player and I thought it was Ireland but I ain't sure so I would just like to check, I migh be doing him a diservice by saying that so I would like to check.

I'm sure he won't really care, or anyone else, if you do him a dis-service but good luck with your investigations ;)

There can be no doubt that an available Stephen Ireland should be in our starting 11. The only caveat being that he must be tried in a friendly to see the ideal fit.

[dr_peepee]

In the Mirror today..... SI was apparrently the victim of a blackmail attempt after some dude found SI's brothers Ipod, and said Ipod had some seedy pictures of SI and his girlfriend

Now... I like a bit of smut as much as the next guy. And I might have had sympathy for him had it been his own phone or Ipod... But what kind of bloke passes mucky pictures of himself and his mare to his Bro..

No SI's usual enterage of blind defenders wil say "What has this got to do with his football?"... I'll save you the trouble.... Absolutely nothing!!!!

[rebelmusic]

Sounds like complete toss to be honest, a reporter probably found an ipod with some porno of a guy wearing superman jocks and thought "Hey, there's a story idea"

[Superhoops]

...No SI's usual enterage of blind defenders wil say "What has this got to do with his football?"... I'll save you the trouble.... Absolutely nothing!!!!

A dad who tried to extort £20,000 after finding an iPod with nude photos of footballer Stephen Ireland was jailed for a year yesterday.

Bus driver Paul Smith came across the iPod, which belonged to Ireland's brother, in a clothing store's changing rooms.

Smith, a 30-year-old father of three, discovered it contained not only family photos but two pictures of Ireland in the nude and one of his girlfriend He contacted 22-year-old Ireland's club Manchester City and said if he did not get £20,000 he would sell the photos to a Sunday newspaper.

Smith, who pleaded guilty, was arrested after giving the club his first name and his mobile phone number. Judge Clement Goldstone told him as he passed sentence yesterday: "Mr Ireland must have been distressed."

Ireland, on tour in South Africa, said: "It is a relief that this man has pleaded guilty. It is a weight off my mind and I can get on with my life and career.

Dunno, another crisis in his life is over! :D:D

[TerryPhelan]

Does anyone else find it incredibly weird that Stephen Ireland's brother had nudey pictures of his own brother saved on his iPod?! This is probably the most controversial aspect of the whole story and yet it's gone unmentioned!

[Stuttgart88]

eh, Doc PP pretty much said the same Tezzer.

[irishfan86]

The homobro scored the winner in City's 1-0 friendly win over the Kaizer Chiefs earlier.

[geysir]

Tezzer?

[strangeirish]

Confirmed! Stephen Ireland's back! (http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/photo_90c72b1ce7c82e4cac70293a342dbba111.jpg)

[Wexford Delboy]

he was captain today for city..where is dunne?

[SkStu]

him and given were given extra time off due to international duty and didnt travel, i think i read somewhere.

[Stuttgart88]

Tezzer?I've been in England too long. Mate.

[Scram]

I've been in England too long. Mate.

Mate??

[irishfan86]

Mate??

Inability to sense humour???

[Junior]

Inability to sense humour???

to be fair it was subtle, Id have gone for "cor, blimey, guv'nor......"

[Manblue]

Inability to sense humour???

Ah to be fair it happens alot here,,

Ppl still cant see the funny side of Irelands granny :D

[DeLorean]

So which signing has excited you the most?

"Well, I was actually staggered after Shay Given signed because I thought he was the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. Then it was Gareth Barry and I thought that was a masterstroke because he's that rarest of things - a left-sided defensive midfielder.
I suppose Tevez is the one though because you know you'll get 100% out of him for 90 minutes, like Kevin Keegan or someone like that. I don't care what we pay him if he puts in the effort.
But whoever we sign, they won't come close to Stephen Ireland for me. I think he's f***ing brilliant."

[Thommo]

Any chance Noel could have a word with him and get him back playing for his country.;)

[bellavistaman]

So which signing has excited you the most?

"Well, I was actually staggered after Shay Given signed because I thought he was the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. Then it was Gareth Barry and I thought that was a masterstroke because he's that rarest of things - a left-sided defensive midfielder.
I suppose Tevez is the one though because you know you'll get 100% out of him for 90 minutes, like Kevin Keegan or someone like that. I don't care what we pay him if he puts in the effort.
But whoever we sign, they won't come close to Stephen Ireland for me. I think he's f***ing brilliant."

sure their the best of buddies when they played at slane this year ireland travelled in the private helicopter over with them, they seem to idolise him from what im hearing.

[DeLorean]

sure their the best of buddies when they played at slane this year ireland travelled in the private helicopter over with them, they seem to idolise him from what im hearing.

Yeah i heard he was hanging out with them behind the scenes at Slane alright but presumed it was with a few more City players, VIP's, etc.


Any chance Noel could have a word with him and get him back playing for his country.;)

I'll ask him!

[bellavistaman]

Yeah i heard he was hanging out with them behind the scenes at Slane alright but presumed it was with a few more City players, VIP's, etc.!

na just stephen, he brought his buddies from cobh to meet them and all, class

[tetsujin1979]

Highlights from Man City's 1-0 win over the Kaizer Chiefs: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Video/Match-highlights/Kaizer-Chiefs-0-v-Manchester-City-1-season-0910
Ireland's goal is on the 1:30 mark, nice finish.

[DeLorean]

Couldn't miss really, good run though.

[as_i_say]

sure their the best of buddies when they played at slane this year ireland travelled in the private helicopter over with them, they seem to idolise him from what im hearing.

Its probably because he looks a bit like Bonehead from Oasis and it reminds them of when they used to be not complete shoyte as a band.

[kennedmc]

Ireland was wearing captains armband when he scored

[bellavistaman]

Not a bad accolade at all: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1127419_irelands_in_top_shape

[Razors left peg]

Not a bad accolade at all: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1127419_irelands_in_top_shape

just reading the fans comments about him there I cant help but hope that this time next year we are talkin about him the same way.Having a great world cup would help alot of Irish fans to forgive the last couple of years

[bellavistaman]

Stop hes made for the world cup we need him back, i can imagine us in a scenario like 2002 vs spain, he the type of player 89th min burst into the box a get us a goal!! Hero again. Watch this space!!

[tricky_colour]

Highlights from Man City's 1-0 win over the Kaizer Chiefs: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Video/Match-highlights/Kaizer-Chiefs-0-v-Manchester-City-1-season-0910
Ireland's goal is on the 1:30 mark, nice finish.

His first effort was not too impressive, Robbie puts two or three of those away before breakfast.

[irishfan86]

His first effort was not too impressive, Robbie puts two or three of those away before breakfast.

It's a pre-season game, who cares.

And I love Robbie, but he's not the best finisher in the world.

[Paddy Garcia]

na just stephen, he brought his buddies from cobh to meet them and all, class

Typo - assume you meant crass

[bellavistaman]

Typo - assume you meant crass

Dublin word?? Im lost bud sorry??