Stephen Ireland

[eekers]

But the issue with Stephen is. Can you play him if you're NOT playing 5 in midfield?

He's a great talent but he won't accept midfield responsibility which really means he'd need to be added in alongside Carsley and A.Reid for him to work at the expense of Doyle as opposed to replacing one of the midfield two.

exactly i see him as a lampard style player
i dont think he can boss the game or control the tempo but is amazing arriving from deep into the box

[kingdomkerry]

Why cant he play on the right in a 4-4-2

[Stuttgart88]

No reason, as long as Finnan is fit behind him I'd say. The problem is that the midfield is seriously vertically challenged - but it's not as if Ireland's alternatives are any more imposing.

[danonion]

Probbly reading too much into it, but was delighted to hear him mention Ireland in his MOTD interview... Seemed like a bit of an olive branch/ice breaker to irish fans!!!! (to me it did anyway)

My sentiments exactly.

a midfield of Ireland__Carsley___Reid___Duff is exciting - 100% premiership.

[DmanDmythDledge]

exactly i see him as a lampard style player
i dont think he can boss the game or control the tempo but is amazing arriving from deep into the box

I think his main attribute is his vision. Him and Andy Reid together in centre midfield would be mouthwatering.

Why cant he play on the right in a 4-4-2

I would like to see a 4-3-3/4-5-1 with Carsley/S Reid, A Reid and Ireland, with Keane and Duff/McGeady supporting Doyle.

[macdermesser]

Probbly reading too much into it, but was delighted to hear him mention Ireland in his MOTD interview... Seemed like a bit of an olive branch/ice breaker to irish fans!!!! (to me it did anyway)

What did he say exactly?

[Kingdom]

What did he say exactly?

I thought he was talking about himself in 3rd party mode...
"...I've scored a few for Ireland and obviously City..."

[antrimgreen]

First thing the new manager should do is get Ireland back involved and comfortable again. Maybe stan didn't let him wear his Superman trunks and that really f**ked him off. Get him back he is proving to be very useful.

[dr_peepee]

What did he say exactly?

Something along the lines of "I've had some great times.... for IRELAND and for Manchester City, and today was up there.... Plus united got beaten"

[bellavistaman]

What a goal, the lads absolute class IMO, a unreal player, with top class passing. We need him so bad. Had a big part in first goal too.

[Kingdom]

What a goal, the lads absolute class IMO, a unreal player, with top class passing. We need him so bad. Had a big part in first goal too.

I don't understand this cobh thing. So what the boy is from your area, but you're not condoning his behavour surely. Everybody agrees that he's a talent and would be a useful addition to the team, but if he's got issues with himself and, seemingly, with the rest of the squad, what use is that to us?

[Bondvillain]

He has talent to burn, and we, sadly, as a nation, do not.
I can't wait to see him back in a green shirt, but only on the day he is mentally fit to do so, and not a second before.

[Bottle of Tonic]

Agree with that Bondvillain.

I don't think we can afford to have a 'stuff him' attitude to Stephen Ireland. From what I've seen of him he has more football in his boots than many a man to wear the green in recent years. Importantly, he appears to be a fairly consitent goal threat from midfield, something we havent seen from our midfielders since.......eh.........

He's one of our countries top performers in club football at the moment ( I certainly didnt expect him to be a regular in citys' side, given Svens rep) and one of the first players whose performance I find myself checking out these last few weekends.

I'm excited by the lad and look forward to supporting him when he finally gets back in an Irish shirt.

[Superhoops]

....I can't wait to see him back in a green shirt, but only on the day he is mentally fit to do so, and not a second before.

The decision as to whether he is mentally fit or not has to be his own. There should be no pressure put on him to return. If and when he is ready he should pick up the phone to whoever is in charge and ask to come back on board.

[eirebhoy]

I don't understand this cobh thing.

They absolutely worship him and they all seem to rate him a few notches higher than the rest. As long as they're Irish I couldn't care. It doesn't matter to me which players are from Dublin.

[bellavistaman]

They absolutely worship him and they all seem to rate him a few notches higher than the rest. As long as they're Irish I couldn't care. It doesn't matter to me which players are from Dublin.

He's far from worshipped in Cobh. But your saying Dublin which has a massive pop, Cobh has 12,000 people like and we have two players who won senior caps in the last year. And of course our link with Roy. But stephen ireland is class, IMO only.

[jmurphyc]

yeah as much as I was annoyed at some of his decisions lately and seeming lack of interest in playing for us I think he should be given the benefit of the doubt and be allowed to return to the squad when he feels ready. Although I think he's far from the finished product and IMO is arguably a bit too raw to be an automatic first choice for us yet he has a massive amount of potential and I look forward to seeing him in an Ireland shirt again. FFS if he was English I can't imagine how much he'd be raved about as being the next Rooney or even Maradona . There seem to be a fair few young Irish midfielders who have bags of potential at the moment. Let's hope some of them can fulfill it.

[billybunter]

I think we would all agree that there are 3 things you need to have in order to play international football.
1. Be good enough
2. Be available for selection
3. Want to represent your country.

right now, Stephen Ireland has one of those.

[bellavistaman]

is there such thing as wanting to play but not being available.its complicated but so is he

[kingdom hoop]

The decision as to whether he is mentally fit or not has to be his own. There should be no pressure put on him to return. If and when he is ready he should pick up the phone to whoever is in charge and ask to come back on board.

I don't think it should entirely be left to him. A comforting arm around the shoulder and ruffle of the hair (well, maybe not the hair) by the new manager is what needs to happen.