Stephen Ireland

[gastric]

QPR looks like the most unstable ship imaginable, he'd be mad to leave villa when things are finally starting to look up.
An unstable sailor on an unstable ship. Sounds fine to me!

[Stuttgart88]

Darren Bent says today that ireland is Villa's best player and must play "in the hole" consistently to get the best out of him.

[Charlie Darwin]

I definitely think it's in his best interests to stay at Aston Villa and away from Hughes. In my mind, he's a far more talented version of Hoolahan and will thrive under Lambert.

[nigel-harps1954]

How much difference the lad could have made at the Euros ahead of Glenn Whelan.

[theworm2345]

How much difference the lad could have made at the Euros ahead of Glenn Whelan.
Don't be daft, its not like Whelan was the difference between the atrocity we witnessed and a halfway decent tournament. Besides, he probably would've quit during the thunderstorms prior to the Hungary friendly.

[Stuttgart88]

How much difference the lad could have made at the Euros ahead of Glenn Whelan.Like against Cyprus :)

I don't think they're comparable. Like Darren Bent says, he's a final third player, Whelan is deeper lying player.

I still think Stephen Ireland should not be asked directly by Trap or the FAI to come back. The move must come from him. The Irish at Villa can intermediate.

[OwlsFan]

How much difference the lad could have made at the Euros ahead of Glenn Whelan.

Semi-Final place at least. It's amazing what an Aston Villa sub could do to change the fortunes of the team.

[Murfinator]

Playing Ireland deep is suicide for any team. If Cyprus demolished us doing that Spain could break records with him there.

[IsMiseSean]

I dont think Ireland can play in the 2 man CM.
I keep remembering not only Cyprus but also Villa v Newcastle awhile back when he played there. They got ripped apart.

With all Trap's talk of maybe fresh blood & a new formation then Stephen Ireland has to be looked at again....

[tetsujin1979]

McCarthy and Gibson behind Ireland behind A.N. Other?

[Stuttgart88]

No shortage of passing ability in that triangle. Works in theory, with at least one robust wide player.

3 ball playing midfielders, attacking full backs, pacy wide players with bite and an athletic no. 9. Surely too much to ask for?

[mark12345]

Don't be daft, its not like Whelan was the difference between the atrocity we witnessed and a halfway decent tournament. Besides, he probably would've quit during the thunderstorms prior to the Hungary friendly.

Ireland deserves to be brought back in now. No one who went to the Euros can quibble about him now after that debacle.

As it stands it's Ireland, McCarthy, Gibson - pick any two of the three. And after that it's sorry Messrs Whelan and Andrews but you've had your chance and failed miserably.

[theworm2345]

Ireland deserves to be brought back in now. No one who went to the Euros can quibble about him now after that debacle.
Deserves to based on what?

[tetsujin1979]

No shortage of passing ability in that triangle. Works in theory, with at least one robust wide player.

3 ball playing midfielders, attacking full backs, pacy wide players with bite and an athletic no. 9. Surely too much to ask for?
What about

Walters
McGeady
McLean Gibson McCarthy Brady
Cunningham Dunne O'Shea Kelly

[gastric]

McCarthy and Gibson behind Ireland behind A.N. Other?
Completely agree with this idea. Ireland can go forward and score and as you mentioned in a later post, having a big strong forward like Walters, I think we would be competitive. The only issue is Trap and his gameplan.

In terms of how Ireland can rejoin us, this would be the obvious time to do this as his country needs him and anybody else who can help us. If he just shows some humility and a willingness to be part of the team, I think people will eventually accept him.

[the bear]

We could just drop everybody and play a young team. All prem players

---------------------------Westwood-------------------------------
Coleman-----------Duffy---------------Clark---------------Wilson---
----------------------------McCarthy-------------------------------
-------------------Gibson--------------Meyler-----------------------
---Brady-------------------------------------------------McClean---
------------------------------Long----------------------------------

[Stuttgart88]

I don't know enough about Brady other than the goal clips on youtube and the various updates on foot.ie. I've never seen him even on TV. In general I prefer the look of Bear's team and I'm not inclined just yet to assume McGeady as the free man - it's an option but not my first choice.

I think if Robbie steps aside (I think he needs to be demoted) we may see a new Doyle. Bear's team above with Doyle up top and Long in Brady's role, with Dunne as CB for the time being? None of these roles is rigid, it's all about players moving fluently and using common sense when to attack and when to cover. The modern game demands quick recovery from lost possession. We must learn that.

[Stuttgart88]

Sean Scannell is a player we could really do with having a breakthrough season. Trap knows about him from the Nigeria game. I think we've neglected to mention him. He's probably ahead of Brady (who has a habit of getting sent off!)?

[ifk101]

Daniel Kearns at Peterborough is another player in that position with the technical ability to be a future senior international. Needs to work on other aspects of his game but certainly could be a player us in the coming years.

[Kingdom]

What about

Walters
McGeady
McLean Gibson McCarthy Brady
Cunningham Dunne O'Shea Kelly


http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaBIj9UCwHA_ItojL-RvGNUrtoPRuchPfTP8l1iomFEsYbdik8qg

[OwlsFan]

What about

Walters
McGeady
McLean Gibson McCarthy Brady
Cunningham Dunne O'Shea Kelly


My God, that is so attacking we don't even have a keeper ;)

I love the way Gibson is now rehabiliated by many because he didn't feature in the 3 games. I don't think playing him would have made one iota of a difference in the overall performances.

I don't see that team scoring very many goals I am afraid. If Keane doesn't retire, either he or Long have to be in a side if we want to score goals.

As for the person who said "bring Ireland back", I don't think we ever let him go to bring him back but that has been discussed as nauseum.

[DannyInvincible]

I love the way Gibson is now rehabiliated by many because he didn't feature in the 3 games. I don't think playing him would have made one iota of a difference in the overall performances.

Hehe, it's a sorry indictment of our starting elevens when our best players have always been those we don't play; Andy Reid, Steven Reid...


As for the person who said "bring Ireland back", I don't think we ever let him go to bring him back but that has been discussed as nauseum.

Correct. Ball is in his court to alert FAI to his availability.

[Murfinator]

We could just drop everybody and play a young team. All prem players

---------------------------Westwood-------------------------------
Coleman-----------Duffy---------------Clark---------------Wilson---
----------------------------McCarthy-------------------------------
-------------------Gibson--------------Meyler-----------------------
---Brady-------------------------------------------------McClean---
------------------------------Long----------------------------------

A team of 6 bench warmers, smashing progress. Zlatan will be quaking in his boots.

[Murfinator]

McCarthy and Gibson behind Ireland behind A.N. Other?

I'd be amazed if we could get all 3 on the pitch at the same time even once given each of their sick note rates. On paper its a midfield that works but I'd question if each of them have the temperament and reliability to cut it for building an international team around them. Gibson does seem to have copped on since he left Man Utd at least.

[DannyInvincible]

Gibson's sick note rate?

[youngirish]

How much difference the lad could have made at the Euros ahead of Glenn Whelan.
If Messi was Irish and he was playing instead of Glenn Whelan in that system we'd still have been hammered every game.

[Murfinator]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2858592,00.html
http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=73161&start=0

Positive words from Ireland and a lot of excitement from villatalk on his performances through pre-season. Seems to be up for it with a lot of energy and determination again and we all know what a great season he had the last time he approached a pre-season like this. Lambert is a manager with a much greater appreciation for the technical player than hoofball McLeish so it could really benefit him.

[mark12345]

http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2858592,00.html
http://www.villatalk.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=73161&start=0

Positive words from Ireland and a lot of excitement from villatalk on his performances through pre-season. Seems to be up for it with a lot of energy and determination again and we all know what a great season he had the last time he approached a pre-season like this. Lambert is a manager with a much greater appreciation for the technical player than hoofball McLeish so it could really benefit him.

Would love to see him come back for us to be honest. Bygones are bygones and we are not, and never have been, in the position where we can afford to ignore a player with talent. Ireland has talent to burn. Hoolahan is also very talented. Would love to see both incorporated for the upcoming campaign. But do you think Trap will do it. Better chance of seeing Southampton win the PL.

[Fixer82]

I'd take him back at this point. Fresh start with a line drawn under everything that's gone in the past. I don't really think Trap is that bothered with him though to be honest. Can't see him fitting into Trap's old school system

[Murfinator]

I'd take him back at this point. Fresh start with a line drawn under everything that's gone in the past. I don't really think Trap is that bothered with him though to be honest. Can't see him fitting into Trap's old school system

They say on villa talk that he's been playing wide for them in pre-season, if he can function as a wide playmaker instead of one in a central 3 then he suddenly becomes someone that can fit into Trap's system.

[Colbert Report]

Who would you have him replace? Duff or McGeady? Or would you have him come on as an impact sub? Didn't he announce that he'd be available for selection? Or was it all just smoke and mirrors?

[jbyrne]

Would love to see him come back for us to be honest. Bygones are bygones and we are not, and never have been, in the position where we can afford to ignore a player with talent. Ireland has talent to burn. Hoolahan is also very talented. Would love to see both incorporated for the upcoming campaign. But do you think Trap will do it. Better chance of seeing Southampton win the PL.

yes, its traps fault that Ireland does not / didnt want to play for us. Its also Traps fault that Ireland spewed all kinds of negatives in the media in the build up to practicaly every game for the last few seasons. Its easy for a fan to say let bygones be bygones but some of Irelands actions since granny-gate have been nasty and spiteful and that has an effect on relationships and harmony within a squad

[Murfinator]

Who would you have him replace? Duff or McGeady? Or would you have him come on as an impact sub? Didn't he announce that he'd be available for selection? Or was it all just smoke and mirrors?

Well I'd like Duff playing central in a midfield 3 but if we're talking about sticking with 4-4-2 then you're looking at adjusting it to narrow the midfield by drifting the wingers inside and using fullbacks for width more often. Ireland is more a wide midfielder than a winger, he could take up the same position as either Duff or McGeady but play it differently in a way that might benefit our midfield and link play more.

He's not much of an impact sub, his ideal usage would be in difficult games against a 4-5-1 when you want to congest the midfield more.

[Charlie Darwin]

Would love to see him come back for us to be honest. Bygones are bygones and we are not, and never have been, in the position where we can afford to ignore a player with talent. Ireland has talent to burn. Hoolahan is also very talented. Would love to see both incorporated for the upcoming campaign. But do you think Trap will do it. Better chance of seeing Southampton win the PL.
Trap would take back Ireland in a second because he's 10 times the player Hoolahan is. The only reason we play such a negative system is because Trap doesn't believe we have the players to play a more progressive game - Ireland is a player who can manage the transition to a more fluid system. If you built a team around Ireland, Hoolahan could potentially be a reserve.

[theworm2345]

The grass is always greener...

[Charlie Darwin]

Nonsense. Stephen Ireland is the most naturally gifted footballer this country has produced since Liam Brady. If (IF) he gets his head together, he will be a world class addition to any team.

[gastric]

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2012/09/24/aston-villa-stephen-ireland-needs-x-ray-on-suspected-broken-arm-97319-31896054/

[mark12345]

Broken arm in a cast, I'd take him back for the Germany game in a heartbeat.

[SwanVsDalton]

Undoubtedly Ireland's got bags of talent, but his form still doesn't match his potential.

At Villa he's been patchy at best - he's looked good at times, but has not been consistent at all. Being the creative hub at a medicore team isn't an easy gig, but Hoolahan's made it stick and Ireland hasn't.

Shame he's injured though - there's a job at Villa for a creative heartbeat and Ireland's ideally placed, even if he has fluffed the audition a few times.

[tetsujin1979]

Could open a spot for Samir Carruthers? Although he blotted his copybook lately with this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/9559017/Paul-Lambert-fines-Aston-Villa-reserve-Samir-Carruthers-500-for-using-phone.html

[gastric]

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/ireland-back-within-a-month-3243387.html

[Manblue]

Could open a spot for Samir Carruthers? Although he blotted his copybook lately with this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/9559017/Paul-Lambert-fines-Aston-Villa-reserve-Samir-Carruthers-500-for-using-phone.html

Samir seems to be a bit down the pecking order under lambert to be honest and they will probably go for a change in formation now that albrighton and gabby ag are back. Burke is probably rated ahead of Samir in that role too if sub appearances are anything to go by also.

[The Fly]

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/ireland-back-within-a-month-3243387.html

That's great ne......oh no wait.

[NeverFeltBetter]

According to the Premier League show tonight, Ireland will be quoted in some broadsheet tomorrow as open to returning if Trap asks him to.

Because, just saying he's available for selection is too complicated. Yeesh.

[Charlie Darwin]

I imagine he was asked the question by an Irish reporter for the 900th time and he gave the same non-committal answer that he always does because he's not bothered either way. It's about as exclusive as a prostitute.

[Sullivinho]

We shouldn't underestimate how taxing the process of consideration with a view to making one's mind up, may be for Stephen. For the vast majority of people, it's an expedient enough cognitive process but he might need to clear an evening and sit alone in a dark room mulling over the various potentialities and whatnot. Furthermore, reaching a decision in advance of a certain anticipated intervention has been shown to be a leading cause of head cancer. So in this instance Stephen is also exercising sound medical judgement and doesn't deserve some of the sarcasm I fear may come his way.

[paul_oshea]

Ireland was very good today

[theworm2345]

Ireland was very good today
Losing 12-16 to South Africa is not very good.

In all seriousness though, from what I've seen, he's not playing any better or at any higher a level than Hoolahan. So even if what was posted above is true, I'd still take Hoolahan as he's not, well, Stephen Ireland.

[mark12345]

We shouldn't underestimate how taxing the process of consideration with a view to making one's mind up, may be for Stephen. For the vast majority of people, it's an expedient enough cognitive process but he might need to clear an evening and sit alone in a dark room mulling over the various potentialities and whatnot. Furthermore, reaching a decision in advance of a certain anticipated intervention has been shown to be a leading cause of head cancer. So in this instance Stephen is also exercising sound medical judgement and doesn't deserve some of the sarcasm I fear may come his way.


All joking asunder. Maybe you can clear something up for me, because I feel like I've missed something along the way.

As far as I know, Stephen Ireland has said he'd love to be called back into the Irish squad. He said it before the Euros and also said that he understood fully that it made sense not to call him up until after the Euros (because he wasn't there all along). But the way I understand it is that the ball is in Trap's court. Ireland has made the offer and is now waiting for Trap to respond? Am I right, or has something else happened since?

P.S As far as the player himself, I think we all saw how good a display he turned in against United at the weekend. It's a shame that he (ok I know he's been the author of his own problems for a long time), Hoolahan and Andy Reid (our three most creative players) have not played much for their country at a time when they are needed.

[irishfan86]

Here are his quotes:


"I haven't really put much thought into playing for Ireland for a long time now because no one has approached me, but it is something I will put some serious thought into," Ireland said. "At the moment it is not an issue as there haven't been any questions from the right people.

"Yes, I would meet them half way. I have nothing against the manager. I'm not sure if he has anything against me. If there is no contact, then I'll just carry on regardless, like I have done for the last few years."

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1227669/stephen-ireland-contemplates-a-return-to-republic-of-ireland-setup?cc=5901