Originally Posted by
dr_peepee
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