QuoteI watched MOTD2 on tape last night and saw brief highlights of the City v Everton game. Ireland was really good alright. You'd never have guessed he was making his debut. Very confident looking player.
Apparently Ireland qualifies for Italy and England through his grandparents. Read it here. not sure how true it is!
I watched MOTD2 on tape last night and saw brief highlights of the City v Everton game. Ireland was really good alright. You'd never have guessed he was making his debut. Very confident looking player.
e new Roy Keane' won't play for Republic as long as Brian Kerr remains as team manager
Tuesday October 4th 2005
THE player billed as 'The new Roy Keane' has vowed not to play for Ireland as long as Brian Kerr is involved in the international set-up.
Manchester City's Stephen Ireland has become the hottest property in Irish soccer following his sensational man of the match performance against Everton on Sunday.
In his first Premiership start, after just two substitute appearances, the 19-year-old displayed a maturity beyond his years and earned a ringing endorsement from City manager Stuart Pearce.
But while his club career is reaching new heights his international career has been on hold for three years after a spectacular bust-up with Brian Kerr which saw Ireland exile himself from international football.
"He has said that he won't play again for Ireland as long as Brian Kerr is there," said a family friend.
The falling out with Ireland's most successful under-age manager occurred in October 2002 and saw him stage a Roy Keane style walkout. Ireland was a member of an Irish U17 squad managed by Kerr that was taking part in a European qualifying tournament against Germany, France and Slovenia in Cork and his home town Cobh.
On October 21 Ireland sat on the bench as Germany defeated the Irish 3-0 in St Colman's Park, Cobh, in front of a 3,500 strong crowd that included his family, neighbours and friends.
Two days later Ireland lost 1-0 to France in front of another 3,500 spectators at Turner's Cross and once again the Manchester City player was an unused substitute.
Angry at not been given an opportunity to play in front of his fellow Corkonians Ireland stormed out of the squad and headed back to Manchester rather than staying for the final group game against Slovenia.
At the time Kerr explained that Ireland's departure was due to injury. "Stephen asked to be released on fitness grounds and I told him he could go. I do not believe he wanted to be here in the first place," said Kerr.
But those close to Ireland dispute that. Said a family friend: "Stephen was heartbroken at not being given an opportunity to play in front of his family and friends in either game. He didn't see any point in staying and felt his career would be better served by returning to Manchester City."
Although Kerr was named as senior international team manager three months later, Ireland remained in exile.
"He felt that Kerr still had a huge influence over the international teams. He liked Sean McCaffrey and got on really well with him but he is determined not to return while Brian Kerr is still there," added the friend.
Ireland is now eligible for the U21s and it is understood that Don Givens will be approaching him when he returns from Cyprus to see if he is ready to end his international exile.
But those discussions could hinge on the results of the next two World Cup qualifiers.
© Irish Independent
JMacH
IS that the reason why the indo are trying to get Kerr out ?? Have you read the stuff they are printing in the last few weeks ?? its all about how kerr is under pressure and he needs to go.
Im sure S.Ireland can be brought on board again even with Kerr on board. It was just a stupid walk out at underage level. The kid probably has more cop on now. We dont need to massage egos in this country, the indo doesnt need to help players like him think they are god FFS.
1) Its a 'family friend' who has past on this groundbreaking news!!
2) If true, its an expected reaction from a 16-17 year old "i wanted to play in front of me mammy and daddy and me mates from school" If he has any cop on Im sure he won't still hold those views - this is about playing for your country for fux sake?
3) Is he really toying with the idea of playing for England or Italy?? -Is he really Irish??
I thought you were off the drink Ronnie?
"No, I drink to help me mind my own business....can I get you one? (c) Ronnie Drew
Hi johnymac, I wasn't aware you'd changed sides!
So Stephen Ireland felt he had a right to be selected because his family live near the ground? The poor love. Somebody should have a word with this lad. It's an honour to play for Ireland, not a right.
Alternatively, many of us who were aware of this story for a while now must instinctively have wondered how his relationship with Kerr would affect his prospects. It's an obvious question to ask. I reckon that that's all this article is doing & it's hopping on the latest piece of good news to come out of Irish football and tuning it into a negative anti-Kerr story.
Good point Jolly on the indo, you will also find a Hogan classic Kerr out piece today.
I don't know how relevant it is, but Kerr did mention Stephen Ireland in a press conference before the Italy game as a player who was getting a run in his club side. He had played in pre season for Man City, scoring once, but got injured in the final game before the season started. He actually called him "Stevie" which is what he goes as at Man City.Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
It is an excuse to have a go at Kerr, Kerr is now under the most pressure of his Football career, The weekends media slaughtered him! and its been unrelenting so far this week, with this storey on Stephen Ireland and other papers carrying stories on Keane being lined up to suceed him.. The media appear to have taken a complete u-turn towards Kerr, the knifes are out.
He has said that he won't play again for Ireland as long as Brian Kerr is there," said a family friend.
So now a big story is being based on the word of an anonymous "family friend". Some friend.
I guarantee that this story will be denied by Ireland withing the next 48 hours.
I know Duffer through a friend of a friend. He hates Kerr and Ireland and would prefer to play for England. Hope the Herald pick up on this one
That’s it in a nutshell. Something happened years ago when he was 16 and a nobody. Now he's a player in the greatest league in the world its news. My guess is him and Kerr have talked numerous times since then
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
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If Stevie Ireland won't play for Ireland because he doesn't like the manager then f**k him we don't need him. He should be jumping at the chance to play for the country of his birth. Even if he turns out to be the next Maradona I'd still rather have Kevin Kilbane in central midfield running around like a headless chicken rather than a prima dona that thinks he should be picking the manager as well as kicking the ball around on the pitch.
What's wrong with footballers from Cork anyway? It's lucky us Dubs produce the majority of the good ones.
Only buzzin Cork people I reckon that story is rubbish but if not he shouldn't get near the team even if Kerr goes.
Last edited by youngirish; 04/10/2005 at 12:31 PM.
Chill out man, the brother is kosher, he's a Rebel first and then a paddy. He and Kerr are fine, I have it from a friend of the family. The only worry I have is that this sort of paper guff puts to much pressure on the lad. Let's face it one top drawer display v a woefully bad bunch of toffees is not the be all and end all. I remember at this time last year reading the same about Willow Flood. Let's all sit back and enjoy 2 wins in the next week, top the group and see if Stevie is needed to weave some magic in Germany or beyond.
Now if Robbie only moved to Eastlands to work with him regularly we could be onto something.
The above is all opinion and based on personal experience. Unless stated otherwise it is not a dig at anybody, well probably none of you lot.
Chill out man, the brother is kosher, he's a Rebel first and then a paddy. He and Kerr are fine, I have it from a friend of the family. The only worry I have is that this sort of paper guff puts to much pressure on the lad. Let's face it one top drawer display v a woefully bad bunch of toffees is not the be all and end all. I remember at this time last year reading the same about Willow Flood. Let's all sit back and enjoy 2 wins in the next week, top the group and see if Stevie is needed to weave some magic in Germany or beyond.
Now if Robbie only moved to Eastlands to work with him regularly we could be onto something.
The above is all opinion and based on personal experience. Unless stated otherwise it is not a dig at anybody, well probably none of you lot.
All we need at this time. Another Cork punk who knows better than his team manager!
Honest! I am not a secret Tim nor a closet Sham - I really am a Seagull.
I'm fully behind Stevie on this controversial issue. I too have felt the pain of not being selected to play for Ireland in my own home town and, like Stevie, I now REFUSE to play for the international team while Brian Kerr is still manager.
I have it on good authority from a family friend of Liam Kearney's hairdresser who lives two doors down from Stephen Ireland's auntie that, as a further protest, he is planning to stop using "Ireland" in his name and shall henceforth be known as Stephen Venegoor of Hesselink...
SIGNATURESCOPE
City starlet will rebuff Kerr call – report
October 4, 2005
Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland, who made an exceptional full Premiership debut in Sunday’s victory over Everton, will knock back any invitation from Brian Kerr to the senior international squad, according to a Tuesday morning newspaper report.
The former Cobh Ramblers midfielder had impressed in two substitute appearances for City before earning a starting role against the Toffees at Eastlands at the weekend.
He responded with a Man-of-the-Match performance, earning praise from teammate Danny Mills and manager Stuart Pearce.
But the 19-year-old will never play for Ireland under Kerr after a fall-out during the manager’s time in charge of the Irish youth international set-up three years ago.
Ireland was an unused substitute for under-17 qualifier defeats at the hands of Germany and France in Cork – and opted to return to his club instead of wait for another possible rebuff in the final mini-tournament qualifier against Slovenia.
And the Irish Independent reports that Ireland, who has not been part of an Irish squad at any level since that walk-out, will not consider a call-up as long as Kerr is in charge of the senior side.
Sounds like another tempremental cork man to me. Went home and let down his country, because he was an unused sub. Sod him if he doesn't want to play for us. Hope kerr doesn't call him up.
Whats it with all these cork deserters?? Mr Collins must be turning in his grave!!
Never eat yellow snow!!
Oh yeah, that is full of quotes from himself, his dad, Kerr and the FAI confirming this pile of bull.
The amount of idiots out there who would throw themselves in the river if "de paper" said so is incredible. Baaaaaaaaaa.
The above is all opinion and based on personal experience. Unless stated otherwise it is not a dig at anybody, well probably none of you lot.
Kerr only took charge of a handful of games after that date, and none at U-17 level, so shouldn't we all be worried about why he chose not to work with Sean McCaffrey at the same level when he replaced Kerr??
It seems to me that there is an almost Machiavellan style plot going on behind Kerrs back to oust him from Job, with Officials in the FAI and key players media weaving a intricate Web conceived to oust Kerr from his Job while gaining Public acquiescence for Kerrs trail and hanging .. why has it come to this?, is it simply a power struggle in the FAI between Kerr and John Delaney both eager to control the destiny of Irish Soccer, Is Kerr now too Flush with the Cash, private Jets and those Pin stripe suits or is it anything to do with Kerrs preference to Francis Black over the Wolftones. Who knows but Kerrgate is going to unfold in front of our very eyes in the next week or so..
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