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I thought Ireland was actually ok against Sunderland. I didn't think he was anonymous anyway. There's no doubt in my mind people are going to be saying that about him for the rest of his career but he'll still be getting picked regularly for a top flight team.
Maybe the position he plays in for City means he doesn't get as much ball as he'd like but everything City tried going forward was played through Petrov on the left or Elano - neither being very effective. Ireland made simple passes now and again but besides that didn't do anythingQuote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Quote:
Originally Posted by lionelhutz
It's all well and good saying X and Y are better players etc etc... Bet we need depth.
For me it's A Reid or Ireland for similar roles in the ireland team (Some may argue differently). To say Reid is better so we don't need Ireland is a bit short sighted. There's gonna be injuries, suspensions, loss of form even just plain substitiutions mid game. We need options.
As far as I know the article that surfaced saying he was going to retire didnt have much substance to it, wait and see what happens with his meeting with Trap before anything else. Also as far as I read or saw on the box the only comments made by Stephen Ireland in the last few days have been in the Daily Star....
"I have never told anybody that I am not going to play for my country and I have an open mind going into my meeting with Mr Trapattoni," he said in the Irish Daily Star.
"Obviously, because I am meeting with the new Irish manager I cannot say a lot, but I am looking forward to sitting down with him.
"Personally, I will be happy to resolve the matter as soon as I have met with the manager and we have both discussed our situations."
But why? Why does he have to sit down with the new manager? He said he's available. He can explain himself in person no?
As far as I am concerned, that happened last September. It's clear who wears the trousers in his house.Quote:
the 21-year-old player said to be considering retiring from international football on a permanent basis.
I don't want him back, and Trap shouldn't have to stoop to his level. He has more important things to do.
Six players from the squad held him down and tried to pull his hair out for the laugh. He's obviously sensitive about such matters. And like most males of that age, he hids behind a fake front. his being a bravado of stupid looking cars, silly goal celebrations and bebo nicknames. The hair incident is undoubtedly the reason he left the squad. He no doubt now wants assurances from the new Ireland management team regarding squad discipline and behaviour.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
If he had no desire to play from Ireland, he wouldn't of been there in the first place, and wouldnt be planning to meet Trapattoni now.
So what happened to the "miscarriage"?? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
it thought the word was that was another lie but no one was gonna call him on it. im probably wrong and my whole theory is bull****, but i cant see any other reason he'd need to talk to trap.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Sick of this muppet. He shouldn't need anyone to talk to him about coming back into the squad. Let him go. He's not that good ffs.
Can smell it from here!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
boo bloody hoo...if he pulls these acts of "fake bravado" and doesn't expect to get ribbed by his teammates for it then he's more of a deluded soul than I originally thought. And if he cites something as trivial as this as a reason not to play for his county then f*ck him, we don't want him anywhere near the team.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
No you're probably right and there were some people at the time, me included, who didn't believe any of it. and we were castigated for it, absolutely lashed out of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
He's a spoofer and a hypocrite. He doesn't like attention yet he courts it. If Trap goes to Manchester and meet him already the relationship is on Ireland's terms.
One part is saying he's a big girls blouse for giving in to horseplay, the other part of me is furious that a *****r like Staunton (i.e. one of the lads) was in charge of cr*p like that.
one radio report on sat said that he was taken off after "looking not even remotely interested in playing the match"Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Must've though it was an internationalQuote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Joe Hart was doing 'teammates' on Soccer AM. Asked who the most ckillful player was at Cuty, he quickly answered Stephen Ireland. Asked who the most stupid player in the team was, he again said Stephen Ireland.
Sum him up really
Micah Richards had him down as most skillful when he was asked the questions earlier this season. Rooney named O'Shea as most intelligent!Quote:
Originally Posted by carloz
"in the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed man is king"Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Why doesn't he just shave his head? Can't look any worse than that transplanted butt hair.
Seriously nobody knows what's going on, it's a farcical situation. He may be our Gazza, we really haven't had a nutter in the Ireland setup for a while now, there's an idea for a new thread - an Ireland Nutter 11, biggiest nutters since 1980...
:D:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Ciaran
He walked, he alone should face the consequences of never been picked again.
20 years ago, David O'Leary refused to travel to Iceland. Charlton banned him from the squad for 2.5 years. We coped and blossomed. As we will without this bloke.
okay, let me get this straight - you want people to feel sorry for Stephen fckin Ireland and yet you want David Langin to go and shiite?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ciaran
you just keep getting better and better.
20 years ago, we had McGrath, McCarthy, Moran, etcQuote:
Originally Posted by mypost
etc.?Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
My point was that, even with a player of the quality of O'Leary banished from the squad, the squad was still filled with top quality replacements.
After Andy Reid, Ireland is probably our most creative/attacking central midfielder, and I don't think we can afford to lose him from the squad.
At the sake of losing respect for ourselves? And i ask that knowing you as one of the genuine good Ireland supporters. He is a talent no doubt, but there is only so much one can take, and if his inclusion is a risk to the squad?Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
He wasn't banned because of the quality of the squad, he was banned for not turning up at an Ireland end of season get-together to go on holidays. He was only allowed back as a result of a severe injury crisis in the squad when going to Spain 2.5 years later.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Going on holidays, and lieing about the state of grandparents are two completely different things. Even in a severe injury crisis, I would prefer LOI players to play for us over him. They mightn't have the same ability, but they won't lie and lie and lie again, when on international duty.
I guess Ireland's inclusion in the squad (if he does want to be in the squad) will come down to a judgment call between his value as a player vs any detriment he could bring to the squad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
After Ireland, we'd be choosing between Stephen Quinn and Stephen McPhail as a creative, attacking central midfielder. McPhail has been out of the international scene for some time, and I don't think Quinn is ready for senior international football just yet. He still has plenty of time left to learn in the U-21's.
If you want a comparison, consider than Paul Gascoigne was an England regular, despite the fact that everyone knew he wasn't coping with the pressure off the pitch. I suppose Gazza wasn't seen as divisive in the squad, whereas if Ireland's presence is then he should be dropped.
Who said anything about him getting banned because of the quality of the squad?Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Your point was that the team blossomed, despite losing a player of the quality of O'Leary.
My point was that we had the likes of McCarthy, Moran, McGrath, Lawrenson to play at centre half and O'Leary was easily replaced.
Right now we are suffering for a lack of creativity in centre midfield. Andy Reid is first choice for the playmaker role in the middle of the park, but if he gets injured or suspended then there are few players of his quality available to us. Stephen Ireland is probably the best replacement, and after him (as I stated above) we're looking at the likes of McPhail and Quinn.
The difference been that Gazza never walked out on his country, by lieing about his personal life.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
A stand must be taken against Stephen Ireland. If his behaviour is to be condoned, then what chance of other players doing the same?? It's called discipline, so either Trap instills it in the squad, or we become a laughing stock.
Maybe its just me but id be more excited about an Irish team that had McGeady and A Reid playing rather than Ireland. Yes they have there flaws but they dont go missing in games. Ireland has a habit of simply disapearing for long times in games and at international level you simply cant carry a player like that. He was woeful against Sunderland at the weekend(A. Reid as much more impressive). So many times when i have seen City Ireland seems to have a strange attitude. he rarely looks motivated. Yes he is a prospect but that is all he is. I fully expect that he wont be a first teamer for City next year. I he decides to retire then so be it, we will survive just fine
100% agree. He has potential that's all. I wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle to maintain a first team place at city after Sven brings in a few players in the summer. Some people here seem to think he's the next Platini.Quote:
Originally Posted by carloz
Ask yourselves this if he actually does develop into a top class player how much of a d*ckhead is he going to be then if he's acting like this when he's achieved nothing in football thus far?
Give him the boot. It might send a message to some of the others in the squad that the new regime mean business and won't tolerate this sort of unprofessional, amateurish conduct that we've become accustomed to for quite some time now in the Ireland setup.
Let him retire, I can't see him being a deciding factor in our qualification bid anyway. Let Garvan take his place in the squad and see how he gets on in a few friendlies.
That's the 2nd Man City player to say that. I think it shows how mature he is on the pitch that he'd rather keep possession at all times than trying to do too much or showboating. He's gonna have one brilliant football brain by time he's at his peak. Himself and Andy Reid could pass teams off the park. Stephen Reid looks to be up to it too. If those 3 players ensured we could dominate possession against teams, the real creativity can come from Duff, McGeady and Keane.Quote:
Originally Posted by carloz
I'd actually like to see the Sunderland game again now. No way was Ireland woeful. Woeful for Ireland would be hiding and regularly losing possession. He was quick thinking, he was at least as involved Petrov and Elano while he was on (City had 60% possession) and he got himself into the box a lot.
I think we can cope without Steven Ireland and feel we should not pick him for the next few squads, let him think about his future properly whilst we get on with ours. He has been in poor form recently and I don't even think he's currently good enough to start for us.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I dont think you see many of the Irish games.... 6 caps 4 goals.... Needs must..Quote:
Originally Posted by livehead1
That stat could be rolled off the tongue by anyone who has never watched him play in their life. So far for us, Stephen Ireland has been poor in most of the games he has played for us. His goalscoring record has been excellent for us but he has done little else to prove that he is worthy of a place in the starting eleven. It's no good if he scores and then goes missing for the other 89 minutes. If a striker were to do that then he could be forgiven but a midfielder should always be trying to impose himself on games and Ireland hasn't done that for us consistently enough. Judging by his last performance in the shirt he won't be missed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shedender81
So by the same token you would drop Robbie Keane due to a poor recent goalscoring record?...I've seen all the games that he is played in; don't make such rash assumptions. For all the goals he has scored for us, he goes missing too often and doesn't have the physical attributes to control a game as a central midfielder, and would potentially have an unsettling and distracting effect on the squad as a whole.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shedender81
Trapp doesn't tolerate fools lightly.
I'd consider Stephen Ireland on his final chance. I'd welcome a meeting with Trapp and let Trapp make up his own mind. Trapp is no fool and if Ireland continued to be divisive,troublesome or lacking commitment - he'll be dealt with swiftly.
The slates clean with a new manager - I'd trust the new Management Team to make the call as to whether Stephen Ireland is worth the bother.
I don't care how good a player is, this kind of behaviour should not be tolerated. He's been called up to the squad so lets see if he turns up. If not then that's it with this guy as far as I'm concerned. Just one thing though, I will GUARANTEE that even if he does come back this time, this is not the last we will hear of him taking the p*ss with regard to playing for his country.
Unfortunately couldn't rule anything out with Stephen Ireland - but I think it will be a case of anymore acting the wise-guy and he won't be given another opportunity to "shame the family".Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulie
Ireland future in doubt
April 15, 2008
A morning tabloid report has suggested that Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland is not interested in returning to the Irish squad, even though assistant manager Liam Brady is set to have talks with the 21-year-old in the coming weeks.
Ireland has had his fair share of problems with international football and has had much publicised run-ins with Brian Kerr at underage level and more recently caretaker boss Don Givens.
The paper suggests that Ireland has told pals that he does not miss playing international football and following the incident over ‘grannygate’, a lot of the Irish support has turned against him.
I correctly suggested this guy was a plank all those months ago when he lied about not one but both of his grandmother's dying and a lot (not all) of the usual muppets here stuck by him and offered excuse after pitiful excuse for his behaviour. I don't for a second believe his miscarriage story either considering the lies that has preceeded and followed it.
Let it go now. You were wrong. The guy's a severe ar*e. Hope to never see him in an Ireland jersey again and will let my displeasure be heard if I do and I'm at the game.