Stephen Ireland

[tricky_colour]

So perhaps not the messiah after all, just a very naughty boy!!

[tetsujin1979]

form is temporary, class is permanent
Unfortunately with Ireland over the last few years, it's hard to tell which is which

[Charlie Darwin]

With Ireland it seems form has reached a whole new level of temporary.

[Murfinator]

http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=71489&postdays=0&postorder=asc

Didn't see the game but he was voted MoM again. A lot of comments saying he was the only creative outlet in the team and him being subbed off seemed to have fueled the fans fire for a McLeish sacking. He got fairly positives reviews against Arsenal too so he is stringing together a decent bit of form, although only the chelsea games will attract the headlines.

[drummerboy]

According to the pundit, Alan McNally on Sky, he didn't do much.

[geysir]

Yeah, but Alan actually watched the game.

[Charlie Darwin]

Alan has form on this.

[SkStu]

the one thing that is without doubt is that Murfinator is related to or friendly with Stephen Ireland.

[theworm2345]

the one thing that is without doubt is that Murfinator is related to or friendly with Stephen Ireland.
...and that the baldy Manc is a ****.

[tricky_colour]

the one thing that is without doubt is that Murfinator is related to or friendly with Stephen Ireland.


They look very friendly here!!!


http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01428/SNN2423A2G--532_1428114a.jpg

Unfortunately you can't see his face. :)

[SwanVsDalton]

To be fair I watched both, and he was easily Villa's most creative outlet in each game. Having said that if a claret and blue cow happened to find it's way on to the pitch it would likely become Villa's most creative outlet.

[Stuttgart88]

Both Ireland and Clark got awarded 4/10 vs Swansea in the paper I read in my local Costa this morning - Independent I think.

[geysir]

Has the notion ever entered anyones' thought process, that SI might be an alien?

[SkStu]

well he's definitely a space cadet!

[seanfhear]

[QUOTE=tricky_colour;1562969]


http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01428/SNN2423A2G--532_1428114a.jpg

/QUOTE]
This is what happens when a bald guy whether by luck or some natural talent gets loads of money.

Its not pretty and there are worse things in the world but ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[paul_oshea]

Both Ireland and Clark got awarded 4/10 vs Swansea in the paper I read in my local Costa this morning - Independent I think.

why would you let anyone nevermind the whole world you go in there?!

[Stuttgart88]

Only cos they have all the papers.

[SkStu]

why would you let anyone nevermind the whole world you go in there?!

huh??

[Stuttgart88]

If you re-arrange the words, leave one or two out, and generally apply your imagination, you may just conclude he was asking wtf was I doing in Costa. That's how I understood it anyway.

[SkStu]

if i wasnt sure that certain posters of questionable repute on here meet Paul on a regular basis, i would suspect him to be a computer program that randomly generates words.

[geysir]

Paul is a one man captcha generator.

[ArdeeBhoy]

To be fair to Mr.Ireland he's evidently not the sharpest. And may well have some other undiagnosed cerebral issues
Part of which is calling time prematurely on what could have been an international career.

He's rapidly turning into the next Liam Miller? Maybe it's a Cork thing?
(Runs for cover...)

[SkStu]

Dont know what the fuss is about... Tim Howard has the same number of goals as Ireland this season FFS...

[drummerboy]

To be fair to Mr.Ireland he's evidently not the sharpest. And may well have some other undiagnosed cerebral issues
Part of which is calling time prematurely on what could have been an international career.

He's rapidly turning into the next Liam Miller? Maybe it's a Cork thing?
(Runs for cover...)

I think thats hugely unfair to Liam Miller. He always had a desire to play for his country. He never fulfilled his early potential with Celtic but he was an honest lad.

[Serb]

Stephen Ireland was interviewed by the Guardian after the Villa -vs- Everton game on Saturday. He was asked whether he was frustrated about not being included in the Ireland squad:


The Guardian, Sunday 15th Jan (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/15/stephen-ireland-aston-villa-everton)
"I've not been approached," he said. "It's not really a question I have to answer because it's not a question that has come to me. I'll see when it comes to me. It's not something I think about. It's not frustrating, no. I've not been playing for so long [with Ireland] that I'm not missing it. I'm just going to concentrate on my club football."

[DannyInvincible]

He's not been approached? Didn't Brady make it perfectly clear after numerous meetings with Ireland that he could alert the FAI if he ever wished to consider partaking again? So I'm not sure why it's a question of him possible being frustrated by his non-inclusion. He retired himself from international football. Does the above mean he'd consider rejoining the squad if asked then? All a bit puzzling.

[Crosby87]

I think Trap will continue to keep him In the Closet when it comes to team selection, as it were.

[shakermaker1982]

I thought that this issue was closed?

You had your chance and blew it.

[Scooby Doo]

Not if he were to beat Messi to next year's Ballon d'Or would I welcome that total nonce back. It would be a travesty if he were to pull on the the green again. A self-serving little sociopath that has been a source of much unnecessary annoyance and disrespect to the team and fans for the last number of years. His international career is over. He stated as much himself on many occassions. Honestly though, I really think Trap would know better than to reconsider him even for the WC qualifiers.

[The Fly]

All a bit puzzling.

Like Stephen himself.

[Scooby Doo]

Just happened to pick up Sunday's Daily Mail when I was in a waiting room this morning. The back page featured quotes from Superman's girlfriend about how he has grown up and matured and wants to be part of the national team again.

I don't have the paper in front of me but the quotes went along the lines of,

'Stephen and I talk about the Ireland situation all the time...I would advise Mr Trapattoni to call him...he has matured now and is playing regulary and would like to go back'

...or some sh!t to that effect.

Funny how oul Stevie has an epiphany of maturity six months before the Euros. Or maybe it was all just a lengthy grieving period for the grannies. :disdain:

[Charlie Darwin]

It could all be made up too, to be fair.

[Fixer82]

He looks happy enough in front of the tri-colour here

http://www.google.ie/imgres?q=aston+villa+irish&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1149&bih=600&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsufd&tbnid=628V7Ga4zkpXcM:&imgrefurl=http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2583705,00.html&docid=M39Vzcw91Vl-1M&imgurl=http://www.avfc.co.uk/javaImages/b9/bf/0,,10265~10403769,00.jpg&w=640&h=360&ei=9PkeT7LfNcm3hQeWw6jZDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=644&vpy=402&dur=1061&hovh=121&hovw=215&tx=130&ty=75&sig=108559062835426668141&page=2&tbnh=100&tbnw=177&start=19&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:19

[IsMiseSean]

Lets just say he was an option again.
I really don't think Trap would use him. He doesn't fit into our CM system. I can't see Trap playing him out wide.
The only possible option is using him in the Keane/Cox role. He's not going to start ahead of Keane and Trap seems to like Cox (no pun intended)

[gastric]

Trap has built a squad who seem to have bonded well with good morale among the players. We don't need a rotten apple in their midst who could jeopardise this - Roy comes to mind. However, if Trap needs to communicate with Ireland, having the Irish captain at Villa would seem the most likely way to do this. The only way I could ever see him coming back to the Irish team is if he was named in extended squads, trained with the team and was then sent back to Villa and not included in the match day squad. If he could handle this with humility, did not upset people and made the right noises over a period of time, the public migth at least tolerate his presence in an Irish squad.

[TrapAPony]

Couldn't care less what happened in the past. I would welcome him back any day.

[Colbert Report]

Lets just say he was an option again.
I really don't think Trap would use him. He doesn't fit into our CM system. I can't see Trap playing him out wide.
The only possible option is using him in the Keane/Cox role. He's not going to start ahead of Keane and Trap seems to like Cox (no pun intended)

Stephen Ireland, on his day, is miles better than anyone else on the team. This is Trap's opinion, not mine. He stressed that he would completely re-tool the team with a different formation if Ireland was available.

In my own opinion, I don't think he'll ever play for us under Trap again, just look at Andy Reid and the guitar incident. He will most certainly not play for us again before the qualifiers begin in the autumn for the next World Cup. He's no defensive midfielder but I reckon he could do a great job for us in place of Keith Andrews in that role anyway.

[theworm2345]

Couldn't care less what happened in the past. I would welcome him back any day.
Have you no shame? He basically ****ed all over the team -- players, managers, etc. I learned the hard way with a friend from way back that holding a grudge really leads nowhere good...so I would eventually be willing to entertain the notion of supporting an Ireland team with him in it, though only after the Euros. However, I also know that the only way to atone for completely ballsing something up is to hold your hand up and apologize. So, if he really has matured, he will hold his hand up, admit he ****ed up, publicly apologize to the fans (and, to some degree, the country), his teammates, and the manager, and then put all of this sorry business behind him. Then, and only then, do I believe he should ever even be considered for selection. Failing that though, I could not see myself supporting any side he was in (I suppose I could still support individual players, as I do with Villa's Irish), especially knowing behind that bald head and smug little narcissistic smile that he could be getting fed up during any given match and quit again.

[the bear]

whats the point in holding a grudge, if he wants to play consider him. if he doesn't its his hair loss. in my eyes he's the one whos missing out from his absence from the team. there is no point getting upset over the actions of a mad man. he shouldn't be begged to come back and if he does come back of his own accord should go to the end of the queue, and prove himself when his chance comes.

i have sympathy for him over the whole granny gate thing to be honest. his 20 odd year old girl friend had a miscarraige which they obviously didn't want made public and he was trying to protect his family, he did it the stupidest way imaginable to be fair but i think the backlash was too much. if he had announced what had happened and said he needed to be with his family it would have been fine.

if he ever was to come back he should get the stick he deserves for the superman underwear and 24 inch pink rims etc. and if he doesn't like it he can feck off again

[Scooby Doo]

whats the point in holding a grudge, if he wants to play consider him. if he doesn't its his hair loss. in my eyes he's the one whos missing out from his absence from the team. there is no point getting upset over the actions of a mad man. he shouldn't be begged to come back and if he does come back of his own accord should go to the end of the queue, and prove himself when his chance comes.

i have sympathy for him over the whole granny gate thing to be honest. his 20 odd year old girl friend had a miscarraige which they obviously didn't want made public and he was trying to protect his family, he did it the stupidest way imaginable to be fair but i think the backlash was too much. if he had announced what had happened and said he needed to be with his family it would have been fine.

if he ever was to come back he should get the stick he deserves for the superman underwear and 24 inch pink rims etc. and if he doesn't like it he can feck off again
Excuse my cynicism, but is there nobody else who believes that this also may have been, indeed, bulls**t. No way of ever knowing in fairness, I suppose.

Anyway, it was never really the 'grannygate' thing, as you and the Sun put it, that drew the ire of supporters. It was the constant appearances in the media, days before crucial qualifiers, where SI would pop up and repeatedly remind us how much he loved not playing for Ireland, criticising the manager and generally being an irritating little tool. All these little out bursts from him were well-timed to coincide with big games. I remember thinking so many times that I wished he would just pi ss off altogether.

[the bear]

Excuse my cynicism, but is there nobody else who believes that this also may have been, indeed, bulls**t. No way of ever knowing in fairness, I suppose.

Anyway, it was never really the 'grannygate' thing, as you and the Sun put it, that drew the ire of supporters. It was the constant appearances in the media, days before crucial qualifiers, where SI would pop up and repeatedly remind us how much he loved not playing for Ireland, criticising the manager and generally being an irritating little tool. All these little out bursts from him were well-timed to coincide with big games. I remember thinking so many times that I wished he would just pi ss off altogether.

it may of been bull****, might be true, who knows.

if he doesnt want to play fair enough, someone who wants to will

[Scooby Doo]

Couldn't care less what happened in the past. I would welcome him back any day.

You see, the beauty of international football is that for many players, representing your country and people still retains a sense of honour and pride. For supporters, it is a mode of national expression. These are values and sentiments that, in most cases, set international football aside from club football.

Of course players should be picked on form, but this should not be the only criteria. Players that dishonour the shirt and team that so many have sweated blood for and that supporters invest so much emotion (and money!) in should not be 'welcomed back any day'.

I dread the day that you become Ireland manager, Trapapony.

You'd probably make a good scout though, in fairness.

[TrapAPony]

IMO, it's utterly stupid and pointless holding a grudge forever. If he comes out and makes an apology that's enough for me.



You'd probably make a good scout though, in fairness.
Thanks Scooby. That's all I'd be interested in.:D

[geysir]

IMO, it's utterly stupid and pointless holding a grudge forever. If he comes out and makes an apology that's enough for me.
IF being the operative conditional.
Up to now, anytime he has spoken, this sentiment has been completely absent and no sign of any change to his narcissism.

[IsMiseSean]

He's no defensive midfielder but I reckon he could do a great job for us in place of Keith Andrews in that role anyway.

And have another Cyprus disaster... I'll take Andrews anyday.
I can recall a game he played in a 2 man CM for Villa last season against Newcastle (Think it might have been his debut) they conceded 6 goals.
I know we can't blame it all on poor Stephen but we can try!!

[mypost]

IMO, it's utterly stupid and pointless holding a grudge forever. If he comes out and makes an apology that's enough for me.

You hold grudges to remind them what they've done. We needed him 4 years ago, he walked out and lied about it. He let every single person in the country down and gloated over it. And apparantly, it's up to Trap to call him, not the other way around. :confused: No way do I ever want to see him in an Ireland squad, let alone shirt again.

Fortunately, Trap won't entertain him. If there's no place for Andy Reid in this team, there's certainly no place for that traitor remotely near the team.

[amaccann]

Would Trap play him though? Disregarding the man for a second, the player doesn't strike as the type to get bumped to the top of the queue of Irish midfielders.

[youngirish]

I see Stephen Ireland is back in the fold again. It only took for him to have 2 good games and you have the usual suspects popping up suggesting he should be welcomed back into the team whilst seemingly oblivious to the fact that he's been absolute gash for almost 3 years now and is a complete tw*t to boot. But let's forget all that because he looked good in ten minutes of highlights on Match of the Day last week and Alan Hansen highlighted his play with a big circle after the game.

You couldn't make this stuff up. I'd be more open to welcoming Paul Butler back.

[the bear]

i vote this thread should be locked until sperm head publicly states that he wants to play again

[theworm2345]

Here is a list of ways to identify a sociopath. This list is from "Profile of a Sociopath." Is is a pretty good list of sociopathic indicators.


Glibness/superficial charm
Manipulative and conning
Grandiose sense of self
Pathological lying
Lack of remorse, shame or guilt
Shallow emotions
Incapacity for love
Need for stimulation
Callousness/lack of empathy
Poor behavioral controls/impulsive nature
Early behavior problems/juvenile delinquency
Irresponsibility/unreliability
Promiscuous sexual behavior/infidelity
Lack of realistic life plan/parasitic lifestyle
Criminal or entrepreneurial versatility
Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
Authoritarian
Secretive
Paranoid
Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
Conventional appearance
Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
Incapable of real human attachment to another
Unable to feel remorse or guilt
Narcissism, grandiosity (self-importance not based on achievements)
May state readily that their goal is to rule the world



(Obviously, in order to be a sociopath a person doesn't have to exhibit anything like all the above. Usually, the lack of a conscience, the manipulation of others, dishonesty and the inability to love and/or have lasting and profound personal relations and cruelty are key symptoms and often much more revealing than having been in trouble with the courts.)


http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_know_if_someone_is_a_sociopath