Stephen Ireland pulls out of squad

**Sligo Hornet** · 09/10/2007, 3:30 PM

At the very least, he should be forced to change his name, by deed poll, to STEPHEN EX-IRELAND

**btid1** · 09/10/2007, 3:31 PM

Stephen Ireland you are an absolute tosser and a disgrace to your country!!This guy should never EVER receive another international call up.The FAI and Staunton charter a plane home for this guy after he makes up a story about his "dead" grandmother then he lies to them for a second time and eventually tells the truth and is forgiven by the Ireland management.How does he repay the loyalty shown by Stan and co he goes and does this!!!

Little prat..........I wouldnt like to be him on his next visit home to Cobh!!!!

**Pablo** · 09/10/2007, 3:31 PM

Edit: Was OTT in my anger

Good Riddence to the Liar.

**drummerboy** · 09/10/2007, 3:31 PM

One has to remember also that Richard Dunne is club captain at City and I'm sure would have tried to influence Ireland. However it hasn't worked.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/10/2007, 3:33 PM

He probably went onto foot.ie to gauge opinion and saw that utterly ludicrous thread "Good news from manchester" a few weeks back. That's probably what scared him off.

**btid1** · 09/10/2007, 3:33 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

One has to remember also that Richard Dunne is club captain at City and I'm sure would have tried to influence Ireland. However it hasn't worked.

How could he ever return home after stabbing his country in the back like this??!!!

Clearly has no shame!

**btid1** · 09/10/2007, 3:34 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

He probably went onto foot.ie to gauge opinion and saw that utterly ludicrous thread "Good news from manchester" a few weeks back. That's probably what scared him off.

Dont think he would have the brains to operate a computer!

**Pablo** · 09/10/2007, 3:34 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

He has no real interest in international football. Obvious from his underage strops...

Kerr had him sussed out all those years ago. Daddy Dick is right

**MyTown** · 09/10/2007, 3:39 PM

Fair enough. Let him go.

He won't be the first international who played brilliantly for his club and opted out for his country in the space of a few days.

If he sends a cheque to Merrion Square for the 'plane they chartered to get him home from Bratislava, I'll be happy enough.

Good luck to him. He obviously has some kind of issues / problems to be dealing with, so let him get on with that, and let us get on with giving Germany a game.

reder · 09/10/2007, 3:45 PM

If the lad is having problems then he should be left alone in Manc to deal with them. He lost his baby (probably his first) not so long ago and that would take its toll on the best of us and would certainly knock me for 6 for quite a while. In truth, playing in 2 meaningless international games would be pretty insignificant if you were in that situation.

Brian Kerr wasnt up for the job and the proof was in the fact that we finished fourth in the group under his stewardship. I doubt that he was right about S. Ireland. I wouldnt trust Kerr to organise a **** up in a brewery.

On a side note: I dont that he feared a backlash from the fans here. This lad travels all over England playing for Citeh and he would receive infinitely more hostile receptions from fans away from home than he would from the classics that follow us.

**joeSoap** · 09/10/2007, 3:47 PM

He obviously is a very disturbed lad, or an arrogant c**t. One or the other. I think I know which one too...

**mackannovic** · 09/10/2007, 3:48 PM

Originally Posted by btid1

Stephen Ireland you are an absolute tosser and a disgrace to your country!!This guy should never EVER receive another international call up.The FAI and Staunton charter a plane home for this guy after he makes up a story about his "dead" grandmother then he lies to them for a second time and eventually tells the truth and is forgiven by the Ireland management.How does he repay the loyalty shown by Stan and co he goes and does this!!!

Little prat..........I wouldnt like to be him on his next visit home to Cobh!!!!

I suppose you've got the inside track on this whole story..........or is this just another sensationalist rant hoping to generate a response???

Congratulations you've got one but I genuinely believe there's more to this than just Ireland not wanting to play because he feels "he won't do his country justice". Should a player have to be forgiven for lying to leave a squad to be with his partner who had just had a miscarriage??

Something tells me that there's a lot more to this. The FAI haven't even released a statement yet, they've just posted the Man City one on the website, which I think is a bit strange.

**Dodge** · 09/10/2007, 3:52 PM

Originally Posted by reder

If the lad is having problems then he should be left alone in Manc to deal with them. He lost his baby (probably his first) not so long ago and that would take its toll on the best of us and would certainly knock me for 6 for quite a while. .

He has 2 kids already according to my Man City supporting mate

**passinginterest** · 09/10/2007, 3:53 PM

Originally Posted by reder

If the lad is having problems then he should be left alone in Manc to deal with them. He lost his baby (probably his first) not so long ago and that would take its toll on the best of us and would certainly knock me for 6 for quite a while. In truth, playing in 2 meaningless international games would be pretty insignificant if you were in that situation.

It was his third, first with this girlfriend. Story in the paper yesterday saying his ex turned up at his door and left him the other two to look after. He released a statement to say he had gained custody of the other two through custody proceedings.

He's obviously a very messed up young man, his personal life is a mess and football seems to be far from his first concern. He really needs to sort his life out and hopefully, one day become a top player for his country.

**btid1** · 09/10/2007, 3:54 PM

Originally Posted by mackannovic

I suppose you've got the inside track on this whole story..........or is this just another sensationalist rant hoping to generate a response???

Congratulations you've got one but I genuinely believe there's more to this than just Ireland not wanting to play because he feels "he won't do his country justice". Should a player have to be forgiven for lying to leave a squad to be with his partner who had just had a miscarriage??

Something tells me that there's a lot more to this. The FAI haven't even released a statement yet, they've just posted the Man City one on the website, which I think is a bit strange.

Where did I say I had the inside track.I can only work from the statement provided and his words were "I don't feel I would do my country justice".How is that repaying loyalty shown by his manager etc?

There is nothing sensationalist in what I have said I am furious with him end of story.How can you blame anyone who has travelled all over the world with this country and would give anything to represent their country being angry when you see something like this?

As for leaving the squad and forgiveness....no he doesnt need to be forgiven for lying once but for lying a second time two days later after he has had time to think about it and then refusing to join up with the squad the next time around, yes he does need to be forgiven and I wont be forgiving him!

**liaml** · 09/10/2007, 4:01 PM

He's obviously a very weak individual, and worse - a quitter. We've all done things we've regretted, you don't quit though, you dust yourself down and try to do better next time. These choices define what you are - a man or a boy.

Is it too late to get this lad an English passport?

**mackannovic** · 09/10/2007, 4:02 PM

Originally Posted by btid1

Where did I say I had the inside track.I can only work from the statement provided and his words were "I don't feel I would do my country justice".How is that repaying loyalty shown by his manager etc?

There is nothing sensationalist in what I have said I am furious with him end of story.How can you blame anyone who has travelled all over the world with this country and would give anything to represent their country being angry when you see something like this?

As for leaving the squad and forgiveness....no he doesnt need to be forgiven for lying once but for lying a second time two days later after he has had time to think about it and then refusing to join up with the squad the next time around, yes he does need to be forgiven and I wont be forgiving him!

If you don't know the full facts how can you call him a prat, a tosser and a disgrace to his country?

**brine3** · 09/10/2007, 4:05 PM

This just in, there's been another withdrawal and another dodgy reason

:

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Staunton has withdrawn himself from the Republic of Ireland's squad for their upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers because he has not done "his country or himself justice".

**OwlsFan** · 09/10/2007, 4:05 PM

Originally Posted by liaml

He's obviously a very weak individual, and worse - a quitter. We've all done things we've regretted, you don't quit though, you dust yourself down and try to do better next time. These choices define what you are - a man or a boy.

Is it too late to get this lad an English passport?

AH, but I bet his grannies are dead proud of him

**ramblers** · 09/10/2007, 4:05 PM

Lads its a game of football!!!

If he does not feel he will do himself justice then that is his decision. Its a pity Staunton couldnt do the same and we might have qualified!!