Stephen Ireland

[shakermaker1982]

I've just picked a random u21 squad (2006 vs Azerbaijan)

Darren Quigley U.C.D - Dub
Colin Doyle Millwall - Cork
Kevin Foley Luton Town -Luton
Paul McShane Brighton & Hove Albion - Wicklow
Alex Bruce Birmingham City - England
Marcos Painter Birmingham City - Brum
James Hand Huddersfield Town - Monaghan
Willo Flood Manchester City - Dub
Gary Dicker U.C.D - Dub
Michael Timlin Fulham - London
Stephen Ireland Manchester City- Cork
Joey O'Brien Bolton Wanderers - Dub
Darren Potter Southampton - Liverpool
Glenn Whelan Sheffield Wednesday - Dub
Aiden McGeady Celtic - Scotland
Andy Keogh Scunthorpe - Dub
Stephen Ward Bohemians - Dub
Jay Tabb Brentford - Tooting

It's hardly packed with Dubliners.

[shakermaker1982]

Great impression of the invisible man ATM against Newcastle. Cyprus away anyone.

I heard they played him with Petrov in a 2 man central midfield pairing. Asking for trouble....

[Noelys Guitar]

Exactly. You really could be watching Ireland (the team) under Stan and McDonald. The tactics are all over the place. Petrov seems to be playing in the back four? And this is against a very average Newcastle team.

[DannyInvincible]

I've just picked a random u21 squad (2006 vs Azerbaijan)

Darren Quigley U.C.D - Dub
Colin Doyle Millwall - Cork
Kevin Foley Luton Town -Luton
Paul McShane Brighton & Hove Albion - Wicklow
Alex Bruce Birmingham City - England
Marcos Painter Birmingham City - Brum
James Hand Huddersfield Town - Monaghan
Willo Flood Manchester City - Dub
Gary Dicker U.C.D - Dub
Michael Timlin Fulham - London
Stephen Ireland Manchester City- Cork
Joey O'Brien Bolton Wanderers - Dub
Darren Potter Southampton - Liverpool
Glenn Whelan Sheffield Wednesday - Dub
Aiden McGeady Celtic - Scotland
Andy Keogh Scunthorpe - Dub
Stephen Ward Bohemians - Dub
Jay Tabb Brentford - Tooting

It's hardly packed with Dubliners.

Besides, it would make sense that a higher proportion of players in our various national sides come from Dublin given that it's inhabited by about a third of the country's population.

[Stuttgart88]

I heard they played in with Petrov in a 2 man central midfield pairing. Asking for trouble....

Petrov and Liam Miller were almost always a disastrous pairing for Celtic in Europe. Miller and Ireland wouldn't be dissimilar in style & stature.

[Stuttgart88]

You really could be watching Ireland (the team) under Stan and McDonald. The tactics are all over the place.

ah yeah but their man management skills are good though.

[tetsujin1979]

anonymous performance from him today, until a breaking run in the second half I forgot he was playing. Mind you, I could say the same about everyone playing in midfield and up front for Villa.

[shakermaker1982]

6 nil? Brilliant. My cousin is a big villa fan so I'll wind him up about this for about 12 months minimum. What the hell got into Newcastle?!

If you play Ireland you have to play 5 in midfield (unless you had a prime Roy Keane as one of your central midfielders in a 4-4-2).

[seanfhear]

Oh Stephen ! ! !

[Stuttgart88]

How did Dunne play?

[tetsujin1979]

How did Dunne play?

was at fault for Carroll's second goal, miskicked a clearance from a corner straight to the Newcastle striker. If it makes any difference, it seemed to me that all Newcastle's attacks were coming between Clarke and Warnock on the left of defence.

Villa's problem were in midfield, Nolan, Smith and Barton had free reign with possession, and each of them had ample time to pick out passes. Petrov never got near them when they were in possession and the rest of the midfield was far too attack minded. To be honest, they seemed to be waiting for someone else to do the closing down. Reo-Coker was brought on with about 25 minutes to go, too little, too late.

[rebelmusic]

Interview here

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...g-2307208.html

The only thing he says "bad" so to speak is the bit about dublin players. But let's be fair here, and I am a Cork man, every player outside of Dublin in the history of irish soccer has had a little whine about the preferential treatment of Dublin based/born players. Maybe they just don't like the accent.

Have to say though, those are the most mature words i've ever seen him say about the irish setup. Accepting the blame is a huge step for him. His recent interviews have seemed pretty level headed. With Trap going to see Villa next weekend, who knows? He'll be seeing Dunne and Ireland, and possible Coleman altho i doubt that

[DannyInvincible]

But let's be fair here, and I am a Cork man, every player outside of Dublin in the history of irish soccer has had a little whine about the preferential treatment of Dublin based/born players.

Such as?

Edit: Examples of preferential treatment, I mean. Although I'm not so sure that your exaggerated assertion that all players from outside Dublin have some gripe with alleged preferential treatment for Dublin-born players is all that true either.

[ifk101]

If you play Ireland you have to play 5 in midfield (unless you had a prime Roy Keane as one of your central midfielders in a 4-4-2).

Agree. Our Stephen doesn't have the presence to play central midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.

Interview here

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...g-2307208.html

The only thing he says "bad" so to speak is the bit about dublin players. But let's be fair here, and I am a Cork man, every player outside of Dublin in the history of irish soccer has had a little whine about the preferential treatment of Dublin based/born players. Maybe they just don't like the accent.

Have to say though, those are the most mature words i've ever seen him say about the irish setup. Accepting the blame is a huge step for him. His recent interviews have seemed pretty level headed. With Trap going to see Villa next weekend, who knows? He'll be seeing Dunne and Ireland, and possible Coleman altho i doubt that

Read it again. He says it's "nobody's fault but my own" but follows that up my saying that it's all down to the treatment he received from the FAI as a kid. So he's not accepting blame. 98% of players in our underage teams are not from Dublin and our Stephen has received plenty of special treatment from the FAI down through the years. Fact of the matter is he still harbours a grudge for not been selected by Kerr in a U16 game watched by his family. Our Stephen has not matured.

[rebelmusic]

Angry much?

Point i'm making is that it's hardly new for a player at odds with the FAI to make that claim about Dublin born players vs the rest of Ireland. I never said i agreed with it, I don't. Probably should have worded the sentence better haha. Although the "Maybe they just don't like the accent" should have shown that i think the statements are rediculous.

And about the blame part, my point was simply that this is the first time he's ever taken any responsibility for it. Let's be fair, read his interviews back before the Italy match compared to this one. This is a lot maturer. I'm not defending the divil - but I am happy to see him being a bit more coherent and the words being quoted in a reasonably respectable paper rather than some english rag.

[ifk101]

Angry much?

Point i'm making is that it's hardly new for a player at odds with the FAI to make that claim about Dublin born players vs the rest of Ireland. I never said i agreed with it, I don't. Probably should have worded the sentence better haha. Although the "Maybe they just don't like the accent" should have shown that i think the statements are rediculous.

What players? Roy Keane?

And about the blame part, my point was simply that this is the first time he's ever taken any responsibility for it. Let's be fair, read his interviews back before the Italy match compared to this one. This is a lot maturer. I'm not defending the divil - but I am happy to see him being a bit more coherent and the words being quoted in a reasonably respectable paper rather than some english rag.

But he isn't taking responsibility. You've only read the first couple of sentences of that article. If you read the rest of the article he goes on to retract all blame and responsibility. It's somebody else's fault. The chap is living in his own little bubble. When he starts being honest with himself is the day he'll start maturing.

[seanfhear]

If only Stephen could have learned some defensive midfield guile from, well lets say "an experienced and highly successful coach with a good knowledge of, for example Italian defensive work.

Tis a pity he never had the opportunity to avail of such knowledge and experience ! ! !

[SkStu]

If only Stephen could have learned some defensive midfield guile from, well lets say "an experienced and highly successful coach with a good knowledge of, for example Italian defensive work.

Tis a pity he never had the opportunity to avail of such knowledge and experience ! ! !

in fairness to Stephen Ireland (never thought i would say those words), its not like he had much choice in the matter...

[Junior]

in fairness to Stephen Ireland (never thought i would say those words), its not like he had much choice in the matter...

Are you thinking Mancini or Trap?

[SkStu]

ah, good point!!

I was thinking Mancini (Roberto, not Terry)