Stephen Ireland

[Bondvillain]

Bol**ks to this. 'if he doesn't turn up, then so be it'.

He made himself unavailable for whatever reasons he has. When he is ready to make himself available again, all he (or his agent) has to do is pick up a phone and tell someone.

Simple as.

F**k this notion of mollycoddling him.

I know Stephen Ireland raises the hackles of many here, and I can understand why, but I think the point Geyser raised was that if Ireland was named in the squad and didnt want to play, he could no longer in any way hide from the fact (as he is apparently doing now) , leaving him with two options:

1. He could Turn up and play for his country, or
2. He could release a statement clarifying why he would not be doing so, and we could all move on.

Naming him could send a clear message to Ireland: "You're undeniably talented enough to make the squad, now either turn up and play or have the decency to tell us what your damn problem is."

This could, if it worked, possibly rule out the media speculation based on what someone else said, second hand "I think Stephen is blah blah blah" reports, and most of the unfounded rhetoric that has plagued this situation since the incapable Givens took it's helm.

Putting him in that position is not mollycoddling. In fact its quite the opposite.

[geysir]

F**k this notion of mollycoddling him.

Who said anything about mollycuddling.
Nobody is asking or begging him to turn up. If he doesn´t turn up after being named in the squad then it´s over.
It´s up to the new manager to decide what to do. That´s every new managers privilage.

[Greenforever]

Who said anything about mollycuddling.
Nobody is asking or begging him to turn up. If he doesn´t turn up after being named in the squad then it´s over.
It´s up to the new manager to decide what to do. That´s every new managers privilage.

And what do you call naming him in a squad after he's refused to play for the last 3 managers, Givens, Staunton and Kerr.

You really think the new manager should name him and then have the crap of him not turning up, that would be just undermining himself from the start. geysir, accept it the fella does not want to play for us so move on.

[Newryrep]

I am of the view that he clearly made himself unavailable so he should make himself available. The ball pardon the pun is in his court.

We need to move on

[geysir]

Personally I don't believe he wants to play yet he is making out that he does want to play - but for the fact that he is being RRS.
I'd call his bluff.

After all, a manager had to go begging Roy Keane to return, there was no talk of a pre condition that Keane had to phone up first and make himself available. It's a new managers privilage. Then by those standards, Ireland can be named in the next squad by the new manager with no pre-talks.

[tricky_colour]

I am of the view that he clearly made himself unavailable so he should make himself available. The ball pardon the pun is in his court.

We need to move on

Shouldn't that be "the ball is his penalty area, or half of the pitch"?
Afterall it's football not tennis.

[Superhoops]

........Ireland can be named in the next squad by the new manager with no pre-talks.

And if he doesn't turn up, we go into a game with one man short in the squad thus depriving someone who does want to play of a place.

I am of the view that he clearly made himself unavailable so he should make himself available.

Precisely.

[Morbo]

And what do you call naming him in a squad after he's refused to play for the last 3 managers, Givens, Staunton and Kerr.

You really think the new manager should name him and then have the crap of him not turning up, that would be just undermining himself from the start. geysir, accept it the fella does not want to play for us so move on.

Exactly, it would undermine the manager and it is more important that the manager has the players respect than to undermine himself just to prove that S.Ireland doesn't want to play for Ireland, its pretty obvious he doesn't want to anyway so I think its unnecessary

[geysir]

And if he doesn't turn up, we go into a game with one man short in the squad thus depriving someone who does want to play of a place.

If he doesn´t turn up then he will be the player who has made the decision and not as he claims.
And surely you have heard of
a. naming a larger than needed squad
b. calling up another player who is on standby

[drogfood]

anybody any idea why Richard Dunne didnt give Stephen Ireland the FAI trophy at Man City the other night? Did they fall out over something? If so, dont expect Ireland back in any hurry

[Superhoops]

If he doesn´t turn up then he will be the player who has made the decision and not as he claims.

????

And surely you have heard of
a. naming a larger than needed squad
b. calling up another player who is on standby

So you pick an extra player and you tell him 'you're only in if Stephen Ireland (a) doesn't turn up at all or (b) turns up but fu*ks off before the game'.

Wonderful man management

[geysir]

So you pick an extra player and you tell him 'you're only in if Stephen Ireland (a) doesn't turn up at all or (b) turns up but fu*ks off before the game'.

Wonderful man management

Look Superhoops since when does a manager do anything more than pick a 21 23 24 or 25 man squad. Why would a manager say to a player if Ireland turns up you have to go home, that's nonsense.
A new manager might like to have a large squad for the friendly.
If and when a player pulls out before the next squad meets, the Manager says I will call up so and so or I won't call up anybody - I have enough.

Have you suspended rationality in order to find reasons and argue against my point why Ireland should be named in a squad by the new manager.
You have your opinion on the matter, I have mine.
You have expressed your opinion in this thread.
I expressed mine seperatly.
Get a grip.

My opinion is similar to when Roy Keane was recalled by Kerr.
It's up to new manager to set his stall and if Keane can be begged to a return then a new manager can name Ireland in the squad.

[Superhoops]

Look Superhoops since when does a manager do anything more than pick a 21 23 24 or 25 man squad. Why would a manager say to a player if Ireland turns up you have to go home, that's nonsense.
A new manager might like to have a large squad for the friendly.
If and when a player pulls out before the next squad meets, the Manager says I will call up so and so or I won't call up anybody - I have enough.

Have you suspended rationality in order to find reasons and argue against my point why Ireland should be named in a squad by the new manager.
You have your opinion on the matter, I have mine.
You have expressed your opinion in this thread.
I expressed mine seperatly.
Get a grip.

My opinion is similar to when Roy Keane was recalled by Kerr.
It's up to new manager to set his stall and if Keane can be begged to a return then a new manager can name Ireland in the squad.

I have no problem with Stephen Ireland being named in the next squad but only if and when, out of courtesy, he contacts the FAI and says he now wants to be considered for selection. A simple but significant act.

Someone on here earlier asked why Richard Dunne did not present him with his eircom FAI young player of the year award. The answer is fairly obvious and it speaks volumes of Dunne's opinion of him. I don't believe Dunne is the only one in the senior squad to have this opinion.

Ireland has some fence mending to do and if he is going to be welcomed back into the squad then he should get mending.

For what its worth, I hope he just gets on with it. But IMHO naming him in a squad and leaving it to him whether he turns up or not is not the way.

[jmurphyc]

I may be wrong about this, but the problem that I foresee is that he may come back under the new manager, then not start (and I don't think he's good enough to yet) and get ****ed off about it which may lead to problems once again.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm totally with Geysir on this.

If jmurphyc's prophecy comes true then we can all well and truly say fcuk off to Stephen Ireland.

The whole media fuss about his non-inclusion under an interim manager who has a track record of going public with his views on players' attitudes was a joke, distracting from the real contoversies in the squad.

Stephen Ireland's squad place is an issue for the new manager, not the caretaker's.

[ifk101]

I'm totally with Geysir on this.

If jmurphyc's prophecy comes true then we can all well and truly say fcuk off to Stephen Ireland.

The whole media fuss about his non-inclusion under an interim manager who has a track record of going public with his views on players' attitudes was a joke, distracting from the real contoversies in the squad.

Stephen Ireland's squad place is an issue for the new manager, not the caretaker's.

If he doesn't want to play with us I wish he just said it and let us get on it without us spending time speculating about will he or won't he.

It should be a honour to represent your country.

[TonyD]

My opinion is similar to when Roy Keane was recalled by Kerr.
It's up to new manager to set his stall and if Keane can be begged to a return then a new manager can name Ireland in the squad.

I sincerely doubt that Brian Kerr did any begging in that case. It's not his style.

[Kingdom]

I think at this point it would do no harm to look back to when he was breaking through in teh City team, yet wasn't going to play for Ireland because of Kerr. At the time it was used as a stick to beat Kerr with and many on here took up the baton too.
What I find funny is the lack of willingness both on these forums and in the media in large to acknowledge when someone has got something wrong.
I've never been one to unequivocally support someone just because they're a mate or from my home area, but the stance most of the Cobh fans took gave me plenty of laughs.
For what its worth I'd agree with Geysir, all this supposing plays right into Stephen Irelands hands. Name him in the next squad, and see what happens. Name an extended squad if needs be, that way no other squad player can feel slighted by being announced as a standby or whatever.
Let Stephen Ireland be the one to come out and say he doesn't want to play for us. And then the fury can rain down on him!

[NeilMcD]

Jesus his hair just goes from bad to worse.

[deecay]

Not likeing the mohikien either