Stephen Ireland

[John83]

Even he did both and begged to play, doubtful Trap would consider him.
So looks like he and Andy Reid have wait for the next mamnager, unless Trap. loosens his stance.
If Ireland goes to a smaller club, he may be asked to play as a winger, or just off a lone striker. If he performs well there, I'd expect Trapattoni could make use of a player like that. Whether he'd be willing to select him after all the nonsense that's gone on is another matter.

[Manblue]

So Stephen when are you going to declare your availability for Ireland again now that your career has peaked and you're on the slippery slope to obscurity?

Who knows it should get you more attention than playing for the likes of Blackpool or Wolves and let's be honest isn't that what you crave most of all anyway?

Should of known better then to come on here and expect a sensible debate

[SkStu]

look ManBlue, he is obviously a talented player but the reason only Sunderland are willing to take a chance on him is because he is a complete chav, liar and narcissist. We can debate sensibly on his talents, sure, but not his personality.

[seanfhear]

He does seem to have problems with football managers which is an unfortunate condition for a professional footballer.

Has he worked out that at "most clubs and International teams" that it is the manager that picks the teams and the tactics.

Its beginning to look like he will have to buy a club and manage himself !

[Charlie Darwin]

I wonder how long he'd last working with a difficult character like himself. He'd be slagging himself off in the press by Christmas.

[seanfhear]

I wonder how long he'd last working with a difficult character like himself. He'd be slagging himself off in the press by Christmas.
Roy Keane would be the manager for him. Their press conferences would be better than the football matches !

[Manblue]

He does seem to have problems with football managers which is an unfortunate condition for a professional footballer.

Has he worked out that at "most clubs and International teams" that it is the manager that picks the teams and the tactics.

Its beginning to look like he will have to buy a club and manage himself !

Out of interest just which managers are you referring to because as far as I can remember he never had a problem with pearce, staunton or hughes, sven he merely said lost the dressing room after he left i would not call this a problem and mancini is the only problem i can think of. Not that im saying its entirely mancinis fault for one minute.

[seanfhear]

Certainly question marks over his relationships with Brian Kerr, Steve Staunton. Trapatoni (not playing for them)

Now with Mancini (latest bust up and Mancini saying he needed to sort his head)

Put the boot into Mark Hughes after Hughes got sacked (for a guy that does not do a whole lot of tackling he did not mind putting the boot into Hughes when he was down)

A lot of players do not have that much difficulty with managers after very long playing careers but Stephen is building up a long résumé of managers being at fault in his so far short career.

[Manblue]

Certainly question marks over his relationships with Brian Kerr, Steve Staunton. Trapatoni (not playing for them)

Now with Mancini (latest bust up and Mancini saying he needed to sort his head)

Put the boot into Mark Hughes after Hughes got sacked (for a guy that does not do a whole lot of tackling he did not mind putting the boot into Hughes when he was down)

A lot of players do not have that much difficulty with managers after very long playing careers but Stephen is building up a long résumé of managers being at fault in his so far short career.

I agree he did have a problem with Kerr, outside of this his problem was certainly not with staunton or trapatoni, your confusing this with not making himself available to play, completely different then problem with management

Regarding hughes i seriously suggest you watch the bbc interview this was misquoted from, compare it to the article and see how far from the mark they are.

[rebelmusic]

He did come out and pretty much attack trap. Remember that interviewing where he was blowing smoke about trap going off on phonecalls and stuff?

[The Fly]

There's some noises emanating that a switch to Manchester United may be on the cards

[seanfhear]

There's some noises emanating that a switch to Manchester United may be on the cards
At least Fergies hairdryer treatment won't ruin Stephens hair which would normallly be a calamatous developement for a chav !

[Wolfie]

There's some noises emanating that a switch to Manchester United may be on the cards

Ferguson won't need to cajole this one into early retirement anyway.

[SUB of the day]

There's some noises emanating that a switch to Manchester United may be on the cards.........say it aint so!!!! Jesus Man U are my team in the Premier league, I couldn't stomach this langer in a red shirt.

[shakermaker1982]

I've said it before on here that Man Utd are crying out for somebody like Ireland who can play between the striker(Rooney) and midfield (Fletcher/Hargreaves etc). If they can pick him up for 7/8 million then it would be a steal.

[seanfhear]

I've said it before on here that Man Utd are crying out for somebody like Ireland who can play between the striker(Rooney) and midfield (Fletcher/Hargreaves etc). If they can pick him up for 7/8 million then it would be a steal.
Is that seven eights(7/8) of a million ya mean. I don't see United paying that kind of money (7 or 8 million) for a player that had
one good season (maybe three quarters of a season). Admittedly he has shown promise (he can see and make a pass) but there would be big questions about him when the opposition has the ball and he has other issues ? ? ?

[Jicked]

He just announced on Twitter: "Staying in Manchester"

[shakermaker1982]

Is that seven eights(7/8) of a million ya mean. I don't see United paying that kind of money (7 or 8 million) for a player that had
one good season (maybe three quarters of a season). Admittedly he has shown promise (he can see and make a pass) but there would be big questions about him when the opposition has the ball and he has other issues ? ? ?

Man Utd spent nearly 10 million on Smalling without him playing much for Fulham when the deal was originally announced. 7 million on Ireland is nothing.

[The Fly]

He just announced on Twitter: "Staying in Manchester"

Does 'our' Stephen have the ability to be so.....deliberately cryptic? :rolleyes:

[seanfhear]

Man Utd spent nearly 10 million on Smalling without him playing much for Fulham when the deal was originally announced. 7 million on Ireland is nothing.
In fairness I could see how some club might give 4 or five million for him (and I am a tight *******, well with my own money) but it is a lttle interesting that clubs are not making inquiries about him (or maybe were just not hearing about them)
It will be interesting to see how it pans out ?

[ken foree]

just when you thought it was over...!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/aug/06/man-city-stephen-ireland-james-milner

might have to replace "stephen manchester" with "stephen birmingham"?

[SkStu]

Stephen Ireland, the gift that keeps on giving.

[Stuttgart88]

Times saying that the money would be used to lure McGeady too.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I just love the idea that he's a makeweight in somebody elses big deal. It'll appeal to his nature on so many levels. :-)

[Crosby87]

I hear his father is telling people he is returning to the national team.;)

[geysir]

'Man City use Stephen Ireland as bait in £27.5m deal for James Milner
• Martin O'Neill wants Ireland to fill hole in Aston Villa midfield'

Bait for a trap? also, I can imagine SI's wage demands creating a hole bigger than the one he can fill.

Has MON mended his tardy ways when it comes actually signing new players?

[gustavo]

Be a good deal for Villa if it goes through

[seanfhear]

In fairness he is a good attacking player. There are a lot of questions still to be asked about the rest of his game.

It would be interesting to see if he has all the attributes to be a top player. Jury still out, thats if they have even been assembled yet.

[geysir]

It would be a good deal for Villa, if SI's £3.5m - £4m p/a could be reduced to a relatively sane figure.

[Stuttgart88]

Shark tanks suppliers in Lancashire's loss will be shark tank suppliers in Warwickshire's gain.

[geysir]

Besides demanding the same salary as a given in a contract with a prospective club, Stephen also does not want to move house. So the Shark tank suppliers/auto custom detail workshops for ponces in Lancashire, haven't lost a valued client just yet.

[Colbert Report]

I just read on soccernet that Stephen is demanding a two million pound golden handshake from City in order for him to sign off on the Milner swap deal. Fair play to you Mr. Ireland, takes a bit of balls.

[dr_peepee]

Dunno the ins and outs (Manblue probbly does) but you'll find he'd have to take a pay cut to go to Villa and probably just wants the balance.. Just speculating.

Good business for Villa if it transpires

[Closed Account]

Just to put this in perspective
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/478480/DUNNES-MOVE-TO-VILLA-IN-DANGER-Man-CIty-centre-half-demanding-pound2m-pay-off.html


RICHARD DUNNE'S move to Aston Villa is in danger of collapsing after he demanded a £2million pay-off from Manchester City.

[centre mid]

Dunne was one year short of testimonial, not the same circumstances.

[Closed Account]

Dunne was one year short of testimonial, not the same circumstances.
Don't know why I'm sticking up for Ireland but Dunnes figure of 2 million was based on the difference in wages he would make between his 4 year contract at City and his 4 year contract at Villa. Yes he used his testimonial as a bargaining chip but not in the calculation of the fee.

Ireland is calculating his figure of 2 million in exactly the same way, but without the bargaining chip of a testimonial, he does have precedent.

Any way you want to look at it, I was just trying to highlight the different way people are treated, we all love Dunney and very few have time for Ireland. Que sera.

[centre mid]

I was thinking more in terms of whether its was merited or not.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm actually on Ireland's side regarding making whole his wages, though discussing "merit" would open a whole hornet's nest.

[yapster]

Would be a good move for Ireland if O'Neill had stayed. Ireland has bags of potential and needs the right manager to nurture it. The best mid-fielder Ireland has produced since Roy Keane and hopefully he will return someday.

[tricky_colour]

I guess any player is entitled to claim whatever his contract allows.
Lets face it the club would not be paying up if they didn't have to.

I think the players have the upper hand over clubs.
The days of them getting £20 a week are long gone.
(£20 a second now!!)

[Razors left peg]

According to one of the tabloids today Man City are trying to sign Ibrahimovic on wages of €600000 a week, and while I realise that figure is probably just over the top speculation the fact that numbers like that are even being thrown around would make me want to get as much as I possibly could from that club if I was Ireland

[irishfan86]

I don't think anyone can begrudge someone trying to get the most out of a club. He's signed a contract and wants a payoff. Par for the course and I'd be looking for a payout as well.

Was expecting a few people to rip into him but fairly mature response on here, well played lads...now that I've said this, I expect some morons to come on here and let 'er rip on poor old Stevie...

[seanfhear]

I'd back Stephen Ireland on this one. After the way they treated Richard Dunne (even though he had been city's player of the year for 3 of the 4 previous years) I would strongly advise taking these city owners for every penny he can get.

[geysir]

I don't really care about SI one way or another to express support or condemnation.
Apathy seems more appropriate.

[Maroon 7]

Needless to say I am not a big fan of SI but he has been a super player for Man City. Been there all his career and basically has now come up against a (not very good IMO) manager who doesn't really fancy him.

Spunking shedloads of money even seems to be going straight to the heads of the City fans on their forums who seem to be quite happy to get rid of him in place of the latest vastly overpriced muppet they can get their hands on.

[The Fly]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6310937,00.html


Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes the time has come for Stephen Ireland to leave Eastlands.

The former Republic of Ireland international has spent his entire career with City and is on a long-term contract with the club.

Ireland has been tipped to join Aston Villa as part of the deal that sees James Milner join City, although a pay-off is curtailing the deal.

Italian tactician Mancini knows Ireland is a good player, but feels the time has now come for the 23-year-old to grow elsewhere.


"Stephen Ireland is a good player but he has been here all his life and he needs to change," said Mancini.

"Sometimes it can happen that a player stays with the same squad for 15 years and plays well but a moment arrives when he needs to change.

"Now is time for him. I really think he can improve."

[SwanVsDalton]

According to Pat Murphy on Five Live today he's set to become the highest paid player in Villa's history, if the deal goes through. No figures but I'd imagine it's in the realm of 55,000-70,000k. Bit strange given Villa's apparent purse tightening - I'm not convinced it's a great move for either club or player but we'll see.

[irishfan86]

Maradona wants to manage Villa. How awesome would Villa be with Maradona at the helm and Ireland as their highest earner?

Most entertaining team ever....

[Charlie Darwin]

I hope he holds out for the City job. Just imagine the team talk with Maradona, Balotelli and Adebayor - ****ing mental.

[Crosby87]

Maradona and SI together? Lovely. Match made in hell.