Stephen Ireland

[ifk101]

Football brain? :D.

Bottom line is that it's a team game, it's not about accommodating the various whims of the individual. Egos don't win matches.

[dr_peepee]

To be honest i am in different to his return at this stage, i think he will strenghten our squad, but by very little. As i stated before i dont think traps system suits his style of play and he would not be allowed express himself,, secondly i dont think the majority of fans would understand this an slate him if he doesnt play very well in every game.

This is my personal opinion but when ppl wanted him out of city i argued that his footballing brain was to advanced for the players around him (proved right this year) and im sorry i think the players that would be around him in the irish squad now would be a whole lot worse so that is another reason i dont think he will make that big an impact.

Saying that i would like to see him back.

Would welcome any sensible replies

Dude seriously... Are you a wind up merchant.. Won't be allowed express himself?? Suit his style of Play?? Majority of fans wouldn't understand him?? The other players aren't good enough??

Will we get the players to lie down shoulder to shoulder and form a line on the gravel en route to the pitch so he doesn't scuff his boots while we're at it???

All here on this thread discussing the impact Irelands return would have on the squad, and you come on and twist it into his return and the impact on him... I'm surprised you didn't use capital H's for your he's and hims...

You ask for a sensible response yet your post is far from objective..

[Scram]

Dude seriously... Are you a wind up merchant.. Won't be allowed express himself?? Suit his style of Play?? Majority of fans wouldn't understand him?? The other players aren't good enough??

Will we get the players to lie down shoulder to shoulder and form a line on the gravel en route to the pitch so he doesn't scuff his boots while we're at it???

All here on this thread discussing the impact Irelands return would have on the squad, and you come on and twist it into his return and the impact on him... I'm surprised you didn't use capital H's for your he's and hims...

You ask for a sensible response yet your post is far from objective..

Oh, he's right, Robbie Keane or Kevin Doyle wouldn't have enough "footballing brain" to "understand" Stephen Ireland or read his game the way CRAIG BELLAMY would !!! Comical :D

[geysir]

Bellamy? :)
We need more research into the phenomenon of the football brain.
That small compartment has some sort of home rule status.

I don't think Trap would bother his backside expending energy keeping the doors open for SI if he didn't think he could be of use to the game he wants us to play.
Could be just diplomacy, but I don't think so.
All hypothetical of course (does need repeating).
He would still have the two holding midfielders (he will take that template to his grave)
and could use only one of Duff/McGeady/Hunt.

[eirebhoy]

Football brain? :D.
That's a well used term, or am I missing something? :) It's probably the most important part of a footballer is their game intelligence.

Ferguson on Giggs:
"What he has got, and what you cannot possibly coach, is a marvellous football brain. He has had that since he was 14 years of age. He is able to sense the speed of a game, the openings in matches. There has been none better at that."

Wenger on Fabregas:
"He came here as a boy of 16 but early on his football brain allowed him to play at the top level and I believe that always when you are in the class of the best they pull you up there.

David Fairclough on Dalglish:
"With his football brain and ability to score goals out of nothing, Dalglish became the main man of the Liverpool sides throughout the late '70s and '80s."

Ronnie Moran on Dalglish:
"Kenny wasn't the quickest of movers but he was 20 yards quicker than anybody else with his football brain and he would be in position before any defender knew what was happening."

Ian St John on Dalglish:
"Kenny just had the football brain. He was born with it and you can't give that to people."

etc, etc, etc. ;)


btw, I fully agree with what Manblue is saying but also think he is harsh on our players. In a poor team S.Ireland would not be a great player. It can take top players to make simple passes look good. The 1-2 being the most obvious example. We can't just train our players to read a 1-2 with Ireland that will open up a defence. They have to be on his "wavelength" and I believe most of our attackers are anyway.

[Manblue]

Dude seriously... Are you a wind up merchant.. Won't be allowed express himself?? Suit his style of Play?? Majority of fans wouldn't understand him?? The other players aren't good enough??

Will we get the players to lie down shoulder to shoulder and form a line on the gravel en route to the pitch so he doesn't scuff his boots while we're at it???

All here on this thread discussing the impact Irelands return would have on the squad, and you come on and twist it into his return and the impact on him... I'm surprised you didn't use capital H's for your he's and hims...

You ask for a sensible response yet your post is far from objective..

I was asked for my reasons and thoughts on his return, sorry if you dont like my reply and my opening line was that i dont think it would have that big an impact on team performance and results which is all i care about not the other players views.

[shaneker]

To be honest i am in different to his return at this stage, i think he will strenghten our squad, but by very little. As i stated before i dont think traps system suits his style of play and he would not be allowed express himself,, secondly i dont think the majority of fans would understand this an slate him if he doesnt play very well in every game.

This is my personal opinion but when ppl wanted him out of city i argued that his footballing brain was to advanced for the players around him (proved right this year) and im sorry i think the players that would be around him in the irish squad now would be a whole lot worse so that is another reason i dont think he will make that big an impact.

Saying that i would like to see him back.

Would welcome any sensible replies

Just ran that through the translator.

Poor Stevie is too good for Ireland. However he will only strengthen us a bit because our crap tactics don't play to his strengths.
He'll cry about this fact.
Fans might not kiss his arse if he doesn't play well (although this would be because our crap team isn't good enough for poor Stevie, making it all terribly unfair).
...but he should be able to come back anyway.

Do you even support our team?

[Wolfie]

The conjecture and speculation of these 118 pages (and counting) only serve to illustrate that there is one person can resolve this issue definitively - Stephen Ireland.

This farce has dragged on for far too long - this bloke needs a deadline. Commit or f*ck off - simple as.

We need 100% focus on the qualifying games and this media circus around Stephen Ireland's proposed return needs to be resolved one way or the other before the Cyprus games edges any nearer.

[dr_peepee]

In fairness to him he more or less cleared it up a few weeks ago with a "not for the forseable future but never say never" or something like it, quote. That's closed it out for me,,,

Doesn't excuse the rusbbish carry on of himself over the last couple of years, or his media loving Da, or the blind defenders on here.... But it closes it out somewhat....

[eirebhoy]

We knew it already as Manblue told us but Ireland won't be in the squad tomorrow. The players know the full squad and he wasn't named. So let's hope we can have the thread on the match squad tomorrow without every talking about S.Ireland.

[tricky_colour]

That's it he will never play but he will never say so, because he has nothing to gain by doing so.

[Stuttgart88]

I looked up the football headlines on the SKY Sports text service last night. The headline was "Trap Leaves Ireland Out of Squad Again".

"Leaving Out" would be fair enough if the subject was Andy Reid, but that's just poxy journalism.

[seanfhear]

Did Stephen Hunt not give old egg-head some of his ample locks to sort out this prevarication.

[MeathDrog]

Garvan and McCarthy haven't made themselves, their grannies, or their wigs unavailable. Totally different from the case with Ireland.



The emphasis is on the word professional. Nobody is allowed to pick and chose which games they want to be a part of. It's all about respect, commitment and loyalty, qualities which Stephen Ireland has not shown our team. As far as I'm concerned I don't think he should ever be capped again (but unfortunately I don't get to pick the team :D.)
Correct.

[eaststand85]

Anybody else heard the new tv licence ad on the radio? Must be an homage to SI. Only heard it once but basically the guy's excuse for not buying a licence is that his granny died but when she turns up he claims it was the other granny! :eek::eek:

[tetsujin1979]

scored again VS Rangers at Ibrox: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg2zpzI6kdE

[elroy]

Did anyone hear Lawro on today fm this evening, stephen ireland came up in conversation and he said it wasnt entirely SI's decision if he wanted to come back to play for Ireland or not and that he wasnt referring to Man City or Trap. Any idea what this is about, up there with the comment he said about Gerrard and Keane, and that turned out to be there.

[SkStu]

probably his missus or something daft like that.

[tricky_colour]

scored again VS Rangers at Ibrox: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg2zpzI6kdE


Yes I saw that on a stream, he didn't really have much to do as no one picked him up, I think I could have scored from there, it was a bit funny later on as he hit a long pass out to the wing and it went straight over the guys head!!
He was subbed later but I wouldn't read anything into that.

[gustavo]

Yes I saw that on a stream, he didn't really have much to do as no one picked him up, I think I could have scored from there, it was a bit funny later on as he hit a long pass out to the wing and it went straight over the guys head!!
He was subbed later but I wouldn't read anything into that.

You may well have been able to score from there , what you mightn't have been able to do was to get yourself into that position and create the space to score

[seanfhear]

Did anyone hear Lawro on today fm this evening, stephen ireland came up in conversation and he said it wasnt entirely SI's decision if he wanted to come back to play for Ireland or not and that he wasnt referring to Man City or Trap. Any idea what this is about, up there with the comment he said about Gerrard and Keane, and that turned out to be there.

Maybe his granny and his hair have to get together to make the decision and thats a bit tricky with his granny dead and his hair absent without leave.

[Crosby87]

Obviously it means his wife, who else could it be?

[tricky_colour]

You may well have been able to score from there , what you mightn't have been able to do was to get yourself into that position and create the space to score

I think you can see the build up better here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6bQV1LK5I8&feature=related

I don't think manager will be too impressed with the defending and the amount of space Ireland had.

[eirebhoy]

One of the calmest goals you're likely to see from Ireland today. Seeing him in pre-season he's on another level again to what he was last year.

[tricky_colour]

Yea basicaly just a simple tap-in, very lucky as he had made such a total hash of it initially, he was lucky the defense were shockingly lapse in allowing him to score.

Nice to see Sam Allardyce is still having fun with one of those childrens toy handshake buzzers (at the end).:D


http://www.mysoccerplace.net/video/blackburn-vs-man-city-02

[tetsujin1979]

It was more than a simple tap in, he still had to get the ball in a narrow angle between the goalkeeper and the near post, and there were 3 other players between him and the goalline

[SkStu]

it was a beautiful finish.

[Crosby87]

I dont think the new tact Trap is taking with him is going to work.
What a shame, every time I see him score like today it burns me up a little.

[irishfan86]

The most important thing Ireland did in this game in relation to the national side (if he should return) is that he played in a deeper role. Now I know that it's just one game, but if he can keep up that sort of discipline to only make a few runs a game, I believe he could play in Trap's system as a central midfielder, certainly if played alongside Steven Reid.

[eirebhoy]

I picked up one of the Sunday tabloids and there was quotes from Trap about Ireland. Saying when he comes back not to expect him to be a messiah, etc. Reading the quotes it was like I missed all the mayhem of him announcing his comeback.

[tetsujin1979]

I picked up one of the Sunday tabloids and there was quotes from Trap about Ireland. Saying when he comes back not to expect him to be a messiah, etc. Reading the quotes it was like I missed all the mayhem of him announcing his comeback.
might be preparing us for the squad announcement
from today's Indo: http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/wolves-striker-delivers-some-good-news-for-trapattoni-and-mccarthy-1862249.html

Trapattoni is expected to be in attendance for the meeting between Wolves and City at Eastlands, although he does not appear to be optimistic of coercing Stephen Ireland back into the fold ahead of the Cypriot encounter. The Italian is planning to name his squad for that game on Friday before a trip to the UK where he had indicated he might try and speak with the exiled midfielder.

[tetsujin1979]

from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2009/August/Stevie-still-a-wonder

Questioned about whether or not the Republic of Ireland could expect the 23-year-old – Stevie celebrated his birthday with the 1-0 win over Wolves – to return to the international fold, the manager felt that the player’s opinion had not changed.

He said: “I think his view on international football is still the same. I think he feels that he needs, at this moment in time of his career and the way he is developing, to concentrate on club football. In the future who knows? I think that is where he is at the moment.”

[Oink]

True, was disgraceful

Lousy finish but I watched the whole game and he was a class act, every chance City created came through him, his link up play is outstanding and he can play some pinpoint through balls. His work rate is very impressive, makes up for his lack of stature and tackling by working hard and closing down.

National team media circus aside, he is a very talented player and has uped his game tremendously over the last 2 years.

[eaststand85]

From yesterday's Irish Times (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0824/1224253137891.html):

"Hughes was “delighted with how we’re shaping up”, yet it is one of the more established faces in the City squad that is really catching Hughes’ eye at present.

“Stephen Ireland’s ability is beyond question now,” said Hughes. “On the strength of his performances last year, and the way he has started this, it all bodes very well for us. He is an outstanding young talent.”"

Whatever the wrongs and rights of what he's done (or hasn't done I suppose) I'd be a lot more confident if he was in the squad for Cyrpus although I take on board that it may not be worth it if his presence was to disrupt a settled squad who are working hard for each other.

[irishfan86]

There was a time when it was debatable whether or not he'd help us in the immediate aftermath of grannygate, but I think anybody who said he would hurt our chances now is just sour about the situation.

And don't get me wrong, I'm upset about his lack of involvement, but it's hard to argue that he wouldn't make us a much better team if he was implemented correctly.

[kennedmc]

I have been a huge fan of Ireland as a player for years....as soon as he came on the scene you could tell he had the ability to become a world class player (which he will in time become).

After his problems I was also very hopeful he would comeback to the national team but now I really can't see it. He has obviously chosen to turn his back on his country. Its always a great shame when any player chooses to do that.

Playing for your country should always be a huge honour and even more so now with all the money in the game. It's a chance to turn up and play with pride and passion nothing to do with money. It's a privilege and many people seem to forget that now. The idea of a manager having to ask / plead for a player to come back is very sad.

I would love if we just closed / deleted this thread and moved on. The circus has gone on long enough.

[youngirish]

I have been a huge fan of Ireland as a player for years....as soon as he came on the scene you could tell he had the ability to become a world class player (which he will in time become).

After his problems I was also very hopeful he would comeback to the national team but now I really can't see it. He has obviously chosen to turn his back on his country. Its always a great shame when any player chooses to do that.

Playing for your country should always be a huge honour and even more so now with all the money in the game. It's a chance to turn up and play with pride and passion nothing to do with money. It's a privilege and many people seem to forget that now. The idea of a manager having to ask / plead for a player to come back is very sad.

I would love if we just closed / deleted this thread and moved on. The circus has gone on long enough.

100% agree. SI doesn't deserve his place in the Ireland forum. While technically Irish he has shown none of the pride or affinity for the country of his birth that you would expect as base requirements for an Irishman. I say we revoke his citzenship (at least in a forum sense) and exile his thread to the depths of world football.

[as_i_say]

Pride in top flight football went out the window years ago. Its all about the money now. And sadly that attitude imo, has crept into the Irish set up. Also imo, the vast majority of those playing in the premier league are nothing but money grabbing knuts.

Its not a huge honour to play for your country any more just a huge inconvenience.

[dr_peepee]

I'd say Andy Reid would beg to differ!! It'll be a shame if his efforts aren't rewarded with a recall (Provided obviously he gets in the first team at Sunderland)

[geysir]

Pride in top flight football went out the window years ago. Its all about the money now. And sadly that attitude imo, has crept into the Irish set up. Also imo, the vast majority of those playing in the premier league are nothing but money grabbing knuts.

Its not a huge honour to play for your country any more just a huge inconvenience.
The exception (S. Ireland)
proves the rule, that the vast majority consider it an honour to play for their country.

[SUB of the day]

Real closure at last in todays Guardian, "retiring remains my best decision ever"....."I have already made plans during International break".....( training at Glossop)....at least this should bring an end to the cringefest of chasing after an Irish man, pleading with him to play for his National side.In my opinion, the man is an embarrassment to his Town and Country.

[stiffler]

Quote fron guardian website:

The only bad news is that Ireland the player has no plans to resume playing for Ireland the country. "Nothing has changed on that front," he says. "Retiring still feels like the best decision I ever made. It gives me eight more days at Glossop for a start. I've already made plans to spend the international break training."

[Razors left peg]

Well he can do all the training he wants next summer too when we are playing in the World Cup

[carloz]

Shows the guys lack of ambition. Let him enjoy next summer and let him do all the training he wants next summer while we are in South Africa. Patethic by him IMO. He has shown a complete lack of balls and has again not given an actual reason why he has retired. Good riddance. I have always longed for him to come back but no more. Sad when you see players like Andy Reid, Morrison and plenty more who would walk over broken glass to put on that jersey, and then this guy just doesnt give two ****s about it

[brianw82]

It's in the Sunday Times too, don't know which paper carried the original. It seems pretty conclusive - he's not coming back. I think the only thing that'll ever make him change his mind is seeing the team in the WC next year, and knowing he could've been a part of it.

[apo11o]

It's in the Sunday Times too, don't know which paper carried the original. It seems pretty conclusive - he's not coming back. I think the only thing that'll ever make him change his mind is seeing the team in the WC next year, and knowing he could've been a part of it.

I hope you mean South Africa:D

[eaststand85]

Had always been prepared to forgive and forget if SI decided to return but reading the article in today's Sunday Times he strikes me as a complete WUM. Quote of the year so far has to be when he speaks about City not being in Europe this year, "I don't like having Wednesday off, I'd prefer to be playing". Irony or what?

If you don't want to play for your country then that's your decision but in that case at least have the class to quietly go about your business without constantly being in the papers banging on about it and/or acting like a pr1ck tease and coyly suggesting you wouldn't rule anything out which if the pattern continues will be what the next interview from him (or his father) says.

[cestlavie]

Time to forget about this little pup, A fine player who has turned his back on his countr, someda he will have regrets about not pla ing but its time too close this chapter and look to the future and harness future prospects. I hope the next time he pla s m team in premiership the knock feck out of him.(Soz re spelling Ke board problems with one particular letter ) :rolleyes:

[SuperDub]

I would respect him more if he just went quietly but on the eve of every big international he comes out with these stupid statements and sadly the muppets in the irish media will be hassling the irish management for quotes instead of letting them concentrate on the Cyprus game.

I was never good enough to play football but i support my country with passion and yet this guy has a god given talent but couldnt be bothered to play for his country. Good riddance.

[geysir]

I don't think S Ireland is coming out with these statement as such. If he does an interview he will be asked. If he does one interview then that will be used as fodder for desperate hacks in a hundred papers looking to fill a few lines.

As SI has not said "never", I assume Eirebhoy will cling to that technicality to keep the thread here. :)