Considering he hasn't worn a green shirt in how long? :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
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Considering he hasn't worn a green shirt in how long? :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Another Goal for Ireland at the weekend! I also noted he featured heavly in the Press at the weekend, With Given and Alonso having a Pop at him in the press, Eamon Dunphy also wrote him an open letter in the Star on Saturday:rolleyes:
Do you have links to these? Cheers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Reality Bites
what did Alonso say about him??Quote:
Originally Posted by Reality Bites
Not sure what Alonso was supposed to have said but Given said:Quote:
Originally Posted by joe_denilson
"I can't understand it.
"I don't know what his reasons are. I don't see why he shouldn't be playing.
"Every game people keep asking that question, but as a football player it's a short enough career.
"In my opinion, to play for your country is one of the proudest things you'll ever do in your life. For him not to want to play for his country? There's people out fighting wars for their country. You play a game of football, it's an absolute honour."
Shay Given is a legend. Fair play he nearly plays as if he is going to war.
I don't know why that twát gets a 1000 replies when Shay Given is the one who personifies most everything that an Irish fan would want in their main player.
Does anyone have a link to the Eamonn Dunphy open letter?
So does his Dad:DQuote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Great interview with Dunne on RTE radio just now. Dunne basically says, that Ireland has made up his decision and he does not want to play and that nobody should be begging him to play as he clearly has made up his mind and he does not want to play. He finds it baffling that he does not want to play for his country but that we should concentrate on the players who do want to be in the squad.
Hear hear can we all now take a leaf fro Richard Dunnes book.
Speaks volumes if his club team-mate has given up on him.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Can we change the name of this thread to Stephen "traitor who is an embarrasment to his counrty, let the spoilt granny killing ******* go to hell" Ireland
Stephen Manchester will do.
A bit harsh. Look the lad doesn't want to play. He has his reasons. Get over it. What most other people would do in his situation is irrelevant.
If he decides to comeback, I for one would welcome him. I don't think he has decided not to play to spite me or any other Irish fans. But until he has a change of heart. We should ignore him on the topic of international recognition. I'll still follow his progress in the Premier League like I do all Irish players.
well said joe denilson. i for one find given's comments to be ridiculously out of proportion with the situation (as well as a lot of the angry, anti-s. ireland posts on here). people go to war for their country? why yes, they do, in wars like. this is football and has nothing to do with it. such silliness is unwelcome and conflates something relatively trivial with something utterly more serious. the opposite "so what" opinion would serve EVERYONE's interests a lot better.
Agreed, its Stephen Manchester for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
Can we get this changed by deed poll, in absentia ?
That was Shay Given who said that about war by the way.Quote:
Originally Posted by ken foree
the boy thinks his another roy keane. might be from the same county but he wouldnt lace his boots. his a disgrace simple as.
If the guy just came out and told his colleagues and the Irish supporters the reasons he does not want to play for us then I would have some respect form him. Until this happens I will continue to believe he could not take a bit of banter among his team mates about his famous syrup. My God the abuse that McGeady and McCarthy get week in week out for not playing for the country of their birth and they still are proud to pull on the Irish jersey.
I pretty much agree entirely with everything Dunne says here. And from my point of view, this is my last post on Stephen Ireland in the Ireland thread at least unless he makes himself available again. Not gonna waste any more time on a man city player when we have plenty of other players who want to play for Ireland who deserve more time that SI.
Manchester City captain Richard Dunne has distanced himself from the Stephen Ireland issue, saying he no longer sees his club colleague as an international teammate.
Ireland has enjoyed a fine start to the Barclays Premier League season, scoring three goals and nailing down a key position in Mark Hughes’s side.
He has so far opted against ending his 13-month international exile despite an invitation from new Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni – and Dunne no longer wants to be asked questions about a player he now clearly sees as a former Ireland teammate.
Speaking to Newstalk’s Off the Ball on Monday, Dunne said: “I had a chat with him after the last series of games and told him things had changed a bit and it was a bit more enjoyable and he might enjoy it. It seemed like he might be coming back but apparently he’s done an interview in a paper so it doesn’t like he will.
“As far as I can tell I don’t think he’ll want to play again. I don’t know what’s going to change apart from getting a bit older and a bit more experienced.
“The only thing that’s annoying for the players in the squad is the fact that we have to keep answering questions for him and about him. It’s his choice. We always seem to be asked about one person who doesn’t want to play for Ireland. It’s nothing to do with anyone else. We all get picked in the squad, we all turn up and wants to play.
“He doesn’t want to get picked, he doesn’t want to play for Ireland. It’s not an issue. He’s my Manchester City team-mate but he’s not an international team-mate. He doesn’t play for Ireland, that’s the way I see it.
“I don’t see why we should beg him to play, because we’ve got Aiden McGeady who plays in that position and he’s just as good so why should we make people in the squad feel bad. We’ve already got players there who are just as good and want to play.”
yea i know neil i said that in my post.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
If Ireland's good form continues, particularly with Man City being so high profile at the moment, I'd imagine it will be inevitable that his non-appearance for the National Team will rear its head from time to time.
I'd imagine the debate in relation to S.Ireland will be inversely proportional to how well we do without him in the short to medium term.
Thank you Pythagoras :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
Hopefully he breaks a leg and does his cruciate in his next game and we wont have to discuss the little trollip any longer.
Edit Hmmm I only half mean it.
I think most 22 years lads are still quiet immature - compound that by the fact that the lad lives in the fake reality that is the lot of a premiership footballer! his decision making would it seems have quiet some way to go!
Dunne's comments were pretty strong. Doesn't like being asked about Ireland and said we have players in his position who are just as good. That may or may not be the case but the tone of his comments was quite telling.
so you only hope he breaks his leg.Quote:
Originally Posted by kingdomkerry
No, his other legQuote:
Originally Posted by Torn-Ado
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendan 82
He has been saying stuff on this topic in that tone for a while. I said this earlier on in the thread
So what are SI's reasons for not playing for Ireland?
The slagging by teamates about this hair?
His embaressment of the whole grandmother shenanigans which was brought on all by himself?
His supposed mistreatment by former managers? e.g. (Brian Kerr for not playing in that game in Cork all those years ago)
any others?
In my opinion dunnie has to say this about other players to build up confidence but anyone who could compare reid or whelan to Ireland on recent performances is deluded, and mcgeady is yet to prove himself in top flight football, ignoring his mediocre performances in the champions league.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brendan 82
But i can see his point it must be very frustrating being questioned about him all the time, but as captain of both club and country what does he expect?
I think Dunnes comments have said all we needed to hear, time to move on
i think at the moment we can do without him - he's playing well becuase he knows it's only a matter of time until city go down the Chelsea route, he's not an outstanding player by any means and dunne was right in his asumption that we have the talent in Mcgeady - as far as i'm concerned the matter should be closed, he's only still very young at the moment living on cloud nine, if he's ever back for us , i wonder would he get the same reception as keane, people callling him a traitor etc , he hasn't done enough in an international jersey to warrant a public outcry, and for that reason he should be left alone, in terms of the stick he has taken in house from the players that's part of growing up - so what.
Have spent an hour drunkenly browsing this forum when I should be sleeping, and just have to say that this is this probably the most intelligent post I've read tonight. The Stephen in question is a (admittedly mentally distressed) human being, and as such, should have the freedom to decide when and where he wants to ply his craft - just because he's good at his craft doesn't mean he is obligated to use his talents in the service of an organisation he obviously doesn't feel much affection or sense of duty towards. Why this lack of interest on his part exists is his own business and to suggest otherwise is rather fascistic, in my opinion. I think that the posters here who opine that it is a grevious sin for him to neglect his 'duty' as an Irish citizen to utilise his skills for the greater glory of the nation need to take a long hard look at the mental proceses that have led them to that conclusion. More pragmatically, if he doesn't feel comfortable being part of the RoI squad (for WHATEVER reason), then he wouldn't be much use to it anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
And, as plenty of previous posters have pointed out, this is the 'Ireland International' sub-forum, NOT the 'Current Ireland International' forum. He has played for Ireland, so this is the appropriate place to talk about him. All this 'close this thread'-type nonsense is frankly infantile - if you don't want to read about Stephen Ireland then why are you even browsing this thread, let alone posting on it?
(Just to clarify, I think Stephen Ireland is a ****, and that Grannygate and that pic of him in his pink'n'black jeep are up there with McAteer's appearance on Podge and Rodge as the funniest things I've ever seen an Ireland international involved with, but that doesn't invalidate any of the above.)
He may have no respect or duty towards the FAI, but this much maligned body, behaved impeccably during grannygate 1 and the sequel.The private jet and subsequent silence on the whole affair from the governing body, reflected well on them,while at the same time spotlighting the self proclaimed "Daddy Dick".The man is clearly unwell,and I feel he would benefit most, if all discussion in relation to him ceased.I have gone from being embarassed and disappointed, to feeling sorry for him.
Quote:
Originally Posted by third policeman
Dude, his decision to stay away is his own business but you can't equate Steven Irelands actions as anything like a depressive illness. He's jouvenile, self indulgent and an exhibitionist. That cannot be argued with given his actions and profile, so he hasn't got some crippling mental disorder.
I know he'll need Ireland more than Ireland will need him.
far closer to the truth in my opinion. While its disappointing to lose such a talent for no obvious reason its time to quit talking about the boy and move on. Im (perversely enough) looking forward to him apologising in the future when he needs us and most of the country having no sympathy for him.Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_peepee
Lets focus on the players who are proud to wear the green.
I've invented a theorem!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by passinginterest
Well played, Sir. :D
So a thousand posts in we have had as much confirmation as we're likely to get that Stephen Ireland won't ever play for his country any time in the near future; should this thread really be kept open? It's only going to persist as a circular argument about playing for your country.
Can we please lock this thread. The guy does not want to play for us and thats it. Its boring the hell out of me and the fact I see this thread about a guy who hasnt a notion of playing for ireland again really annoys me. Lets talk about future talent or the players with the balls and pride to play for ireland. Move the fools thread to some english football thread. :mad: