Stephen Ireland

[ifk101]

Yeah, noticed this. He looked around as if to blame someone, when it was 100% his own fault. He is getting everything he deserves know. The second Hughes left, he was giving out about him, saying that he always played him out of position. Bet he would prefer that to being a bench warmer. Looks a pale shadow of the player of last season

He's suffering from burnout. He overdid the pre-season training with his kick boxing sessions. Certainly a talented footballer that could offer us something but his international days are long over and thankfully our midfield options are improving.

[drummerboy]

Defensively the guy is a liability. I really think that he had have played for us in the last campaign our defence would have suffered badly. Richard Dunne certainly hasn't missed him playing in front of him at club level.

[yapster]

He has great potential as a player but like Roy Keane he is a stupid spoilt baby. Mancini won't put up with his tantrums so I think he will be off-loaded in the summer.

[Crosby87]

He's suffering from burnout. He overdid the pre-season training with his kick boxing sessions.

But i mean he hasn't been playing and he was hurt so he has had plenty of time to rest...Also he is young and a professional athlete. He can do kick boxing i think.

Still it is amazing what can change from year to year in this sport, just amazing.

[theworm2345]

But i mean he hasn't been playing and he was hurt so he has had plenty of time to rest...Also he is young and a professional athlete. He can do kick boxing i think.

Still it is amazing what can change from year to year in this sport, just amazing.
Being a massive chav in your spare time can be exhausting though.

[Acornvilla]

was talking to a fella who indirectly knows Stephen and he said Steve taught he was in the best condition he ever was because of the kick boxing

[yapster]

Being a massive chav in your spare time can be exhausting though.

correction; Being a wannabe chav morelike..

[Crosby87]

Being a massive chav in your spare time can be exhausting though.

What you dont like gigantic fish tanks?

[dr_peepee]

Being a massive chav in your spare time can be exhausting though.

I wouldn't sulley the good name of chavs by putting him in that bracket!!

[geysir]

We need a new bracket altogether.

Stephen Ireland building a shark tank under his kitchen floor (http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Stephen-Ireland-building-a-shark-tank-under-his-kitchen-floor-article402673.html)

'After the £100,000 aquarium, the £264,000 white Bentley convertible, the pink Range Rover and the Audi R8 with a Superman badge on the grille, Manchester City's bling king Stephen Ireland has excelled himself.
The midfielder has told friends he plans to dig up the kitchen floor at his new £5m mansion in Prestbury and replace it with glass. Under that, Ireland hopes to build a giant fish tank... with a shark in it.
The bizarre plan could be even more lavish than Ireland's new home aquarium, which holds 6,000 litres of salt water - 75 times more than an average aquarium - and features a reef imported from Fiji'.

[Docboy]

The mind boggles, doesn't it? When you think back to some of the men who've pulled on the green shirt during the Charlton era, and later, proper battlers, and compare them to this? Modern players are too cossetted by half, never want to see this lad coming back. Not without an attitude transplant anyway.

[Razors left peg]

with any luck he'll fall through the glass floor

[geysir]

with any luck he'll fall through the glass floor

or

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_76OBT10GPt8/SByN3BvqyhI/AAAAAAAAAB0/tafBMwnUgA8/s400/shark+attack.jpg

[yapster]

with any luck he'll fall through the glass floor

have you no sympathy for the poor shark ffs...

[tricky_colour]

He has the world largest fruit-cake in his kitchen too, well he does when he is getting a beer out of the fridge anyway.

[Crosby87]

He has the world largest fruit-cake in his kitchen too, well he does when he is getting a beer out of the fridge anyway.

Hey I got a warning for that when I first joined this site tricky...beware.

[rebelmusic]

Dear god...i just looked at his website for the first time...need to rub some bleach in my eyes. Interesting though that he's included the goal he scored against Wales on the goals page....

[tetsujin1979]

from http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2010/April/Ireland-looking-forward-to-Dunney-reunion

Stevie also wanted to put the record straight after various spurious reports in the red top tabloids this week speculated that he was intending to build a shark tank at his home.
He admitted his frustration at the way mischievous internet rumours had been reported as fact by the media.
He said: “Apparently I’m digging up my kitchen to put in a shark tank! I honestly can’t believe the rubbish people write about me sometimes.
“My kitchen is very much as it was and I’ve no plans to put a shark tank in or anything else for that matter. I don’t know where the story comes from but it’s completely ridiculous and I’ve had enough of it.”

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah, Stevie, what kind of a person would make up a ridiculous story like that?

[The Fly]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11679_6146783,00.html

Mancini - Ireland must change
Midfielder warned over City future

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has warned Stephen Ireland he must 'change his head' if he is to have a future at Eastlands.

Ireland's future at City has been the subject of speculation in recent months with the player admitting last week he did not know if he figured in the club's long-term plans.

The former Republic of Ireland international is understood to have held a meeting with City's hierarchy to discuss his future with a number of clubs thought to be waiting in the wings to sign him if he leaves this summer

Mancini believes Ireland's problems this season have been mental and he has called on the Irishman to be in the right frame of mind if he wants to resurrect his City career.

"I spoke to Stephen two weeks ago but we must speak again soon," said Mancini.

"I don't know what he is thinking about his future but, for me, Stephen is a fantastic player and if he can change his head I think he can start to play like last season [2008-09] again."


So, if Mancini wants Ireland to change his 'head', does that mean he wants the toupee back? If he's including his face in that, I had heard that if Man City are to bring in new faces for next season, then Tevez and Lescott will have first dibs. ;)

[yapster]

Mancini has seen through this spoilt brats games,

[Brendan 82]

So glad to see him doing poorly. Couple more seasons and he will be on the plus side of 25, maybe an injury or two, who knows. I like this current trajectory though.

[Crosby87]

I guess SI and Italians just don't mix.

I still hope he finds form and comes back. Obviously he is a little eccentric to say the least, but we could use that kind of thing I believe. The team needs a spark that the likes of Kevin Doyle and Liam Miller just dont provide.

[yapster]

I guess SI and Italians just don't mix.

I still hope he finds form and comes back. Obviously he is a little eccentric to say the least, but we could use that kind of thing I believe. The team needs a spark that the likes of Kevin Doyle and Liam Miller just dont provide.


not a lot wrong with that, despite what people think of him including me I don't think he gives a flying **** anyway but he can do a good job for Ireland and has done in most of the games he played in an Irish Shirt. Millar & Doyle and most of the team for that matter don't have that cutting edge sadly,but it was good to see the aggro after the first leg against France with Andrews showing some fight in him and I think that carried over in the second leg with the fighting performance for most of the game. The team needs players like S.Ireland and hopefully Stokes who is a strongminded character as well.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ireland's goal-scoring rate for Ireland is still incredible - 4 goals in 5 matches or something? The goals against Slovakia and Wales were really tasty finishes too. The Stan era would have been even more bleak had he not been on hand in the first few games of that campaign.

[DannyInvincible]

According to Ireland's Wikipedia, Stephen Ireland was also eligible to represent both England and Italy. Is this actually true? I think I also encountered it on what appears to be his official website.

[drummerboy]

I reckon Trap is relieved Ireland never took his invitation to join the Irish squad up. He is a type of player that just doesn't fit in to the typical Italian formation, as evidenced by his exclusion by Mancini. There is no way Trap could play his current formation with the bald sparrow in the team.

[tetsujin1979]

According to Ireland's Wikipedia, Stephen Ireland was also eligible to represent both England and Italy. Is this actually true? I think I also encountered it on what appears to be his official website.
I read an interview with him, before he turned out for Staunton, where he mentioned the Italian link. Dunno about representing England, unless he would have qualified through residency?

[aidz1]

Steve Ireland not having much luck these days.. Mancini tells him to change his head the same week the government closes down the head shops...wheres he going to get a new one now??

[DannyInvincible]

I read an interview with him, before he turned out for Staunton, where he mentioned the Italian link. Dunno about representing England, unless he would have qualified through residency?

What was the Italian link? Grandparent or something? You could well be right on his eligibility for England.

It seems he considered playing for either after Brian Kerr became Ireland manager. Kerr had previously told Stephen Ireland that he'd never play under him again after the huff he took at under-age level when he was left out of the team.

[theworm2345]

I doubt he is Italian, Italians (and most Mediterraneans) tend to be rather hairy.

[tetsujin1979]

What was the Italian link? Grandparent or something?
Can't remember the link, might not have been mentioned in the interview. From what I remember, he said something like he knew he qualified for Italy and might declare for them. Pretty sure it was in FourFourTwo.

[Charlie Darwin]

I doubt he is Italian, Italians (and most Mediterraneans) tend to be rather hairy.
The most famous Italians have always been baldy.

[theworm2345]

The most famous Italians have always been baldy.
Who aside from Mussolini?

[McDee]

Attilio Lombaro. Does anything else need saying?

[tetsujin1979]

Cannavaro is as well, although I think he shaves his head.
Collina is bald, but I read before it was the result of a car accident
Vialli was bald, presumably he still is

Can't think of anyone else off the top of my head

[Charlie Darwin]

Berlusconi.

[theworm2345]

This is the second thread I have managed to derail by talking about baldness :shame:

[Murfinator]

What was the Italian link? Grandparent or something? You could well be right on his eligibility for England.

It seems he considered playing for either after Brian Kerr became Ireland manager. Kerr had previously told Stephen Ireland that he'd never play under him again after the huff he took at under-age level when he was left out of the team.

He's eligible for both Italy and England and was approached by both of their under-21 managers after his falling out with Kerr over his availability where he rejected both of them. He basically said he'd play for Ireland under his own terms or he wouldn't play International soccer at all. He was never interested in switching allegiances.

[OwlsFan]

Apparently Stephen England now wants a transfer out of Man City. Shame to see his career sliding :) Rumours of part exchange with Milner from Aston Villa. Now if he had been playing international football, his profile might have been a bit higher but.....

[dr_peepee]

Apparently Stephen England now wants a transfer out of Man City. Shame to see his career sliding :) Rumours of part exchange with Milner from Aston Villa. Now if he had been playing international football, his profile might have been a bit higher but.....

Yeah!! Testament to his resiliance and mental strength... No big club is gonna take a punt on him. He hasn't got the head for a big club or a big dressing room. He'll be better served as a big fish in a small pond. I'm delighted I psted it in threads before about how he'll respond at the first sign of adversity. The Li'l B****!!!

[shakermaker1982]

Man Utd could do with him.

If Villa get £20m plus Ireland for Milner they should be over the moon.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Don't really see how Shakermaker. Same problem different club. He doesn't have the mental capacity to accept he's not going to be the first name on the teamsheet every week. I think he'll be lucky to get a club that'll be in Europe next season. The big fish analogy is correct. He'd be better off playing for a Sunderland or a Bolton who'd absolutely HAVE to play him to justify the outlay and wages.

[shakermaker1982]

If anybody can get into the head of the balded one it's Fergie.

Ireland doesn't shy away from the ball (unlike Carrick, who just keeps letting Scholes do all the work) so I think he'd be a great signing for United. It's the type of creative player Man Utd are crying out for in the middle of the park. They might need a fully fit Hargreaves to cover him but if they get Ireland on the cheap then why not? I know the bloke is a **** but he's a quality midfielder and I imagine there will be a decent queue to sign him this summer.

[dr_peepee]

If anybody can get into the head of the balded one it's Fergie.

Ireland doesn't shy away from the ball (unlike Carrick, who just keeps letting Scholes do all the work) so I think he'd be a great signing for United. It's the type of creative player Man Utd are crying out for in the middle of the park. They might need a fully fit Hargreaves to cover him but if they get Ireland on the slide then why not? I know the bloke is a **** but he's a quality midfielder and I imagine there will be a decent queue to sign him this summer.

He's not afraid of the ball, true. He's afraid of accountability and ownership. He was afraid to go Bald ffs. (And I've been bald since the same age he went)

I disagree man. It's true fergie has gotten the best out of some "temperamental" types in the past but not in the way Ireland is. How do you think Ireland would have reacted had he been treated like Rooney before this season ( not played in his favoured roles to accomadate Ronaldo tevez etc). I read Ferguson say something before about the weight of Old Trafford crippling players and it takes a certain player to overcome it (Think he cited Neill Webb as an example. Could be wrong).

Take his pursuit of Hargreaves for example. He's an OK player that had been around a while at the time. I sincerely believe his thick skin and ability to turn it around after the abuse he got from fans whilst playing for England (plus coming from another big) was as much a factor in that signing as anything he could do with the ball.

Irelands gonna be one of those players that has a falling out of some sort with someone wherever he goes ah la Stan Collymore, Pat Scully, Craig Bellamy etc

[shakermaker1982]

He's not afraid of the ball, true. He's afraid of accountability and ownership. He was afraid to go Bald ffs. (And I've been bald since the same age he went)

I disagree man. It's true fergie has gotten the best out of some "temperamental" types in the past but not in the way Ireland is. How do you think Ireland would have reacted had he been treated like Rooney before this season ( not played in his favoured roles to accomadate Ronaldo tevez etc). I read Ferguson say something before about the weight of Old Trafford crippling players and it takes a certain player to overcome it (Think he cited Neill Webb as an example. Could be wrong).

Take his pursuit of Hargreaves for example. He's an OK player that had been around a while at the time. I sincerely believe his thick skin and ability to turn it around after the abuse he got from fans whilst playing for England (plus coming from another big) was as much a factor in that signing as anything he could do with the ball.

Irelands gonna be one of those players that has a falling out of some sort with someone wherever he goes ah la Stan Collymore, Pat Scully, Craig Bellamy etc

I think Ireland believes in his ability whereas those players like Webb and Birtles crumbled because they didn't back themself 100% & were taken outside their comfort ground (City Ground). Ireland is by all accounts a dedicated trainer and somebody who is always looking to improve himself.

Ireland hasn't fallen apart this season, he's just unhappy that he is getting very little game time since Mancini took over. I think it's a good sign that a player wants to play football and isn't content to just sit on the bench picking up his wages (Liam Lawrence is another). Ireland might struggle off the field mentally but when he's playing football he is switched on. I've never seen him do a Sol Cambell on the pitch and so long as he performs week in week out then I'm sure Fergie/Wenger/O'Neill would consider giving him a contract. Any time I have watched City the last two years he is usually the best player on the pitch.

[geysir]

It would be a hard offer for Villa to turn down, Stephen Ireland plus £20m cash :rolleyes:

I would have thought Bellamy is more to MON's taste, a made to measure MON type player.

[tricky_colour]

He seems to have a bump on his head here.
Never noticed that before, is it new?

http://i46.tinypic.com/34pjue0.jpg

http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/05/22/1938077/stephen-ireland-to-be-offered-to-aston-villa-in-part-exchange-as-

[SkStu]

since he was dropped on his head as a young fella, id say...

[tricky_colour]

It would be a hard offer for Villa to turn down, Stephen Ireland plus £20m cash :rolleyes:

I would have thought Bellamy is more to MON's taste, a made to measure MON type player.

Yea, Man City must have money to burn, I mean last season Stephen Ireland was 'as big as' Millner is now.
However it looks like the 'glory days' are over for S.I, I expect he feel rather insulted at being valued at
£20 million less then Miliner.