Stephen Ireland

**geysir** · 18/07/2008, 11:19 AM

Loyalty above all except honour

If Ken had acted the maggot and refused repeatedly to represent his country then he wouldn't have that respect from me.
If I had a scale of interest, SI would be lower than any other Irish footballer currently playing the game.
Just not interested in him one way or the other, couldn't care less how many accolade he achieves or if he ends up in Wymans league.

**eirebhoy** · 18/07/2008, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

I'd reckon most people on here feel more pride for their Irishness then either of the player and ex-player / manager you mention.

I can't explain what it is with me. Maybe the thought of some Mexican or Iraqi talking about "that Irish guy" who has been setting the world alight with his football.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 18/07/2008, 1:18 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I can't explain what it is with me. Maybe the thought of some Mexican or Iraqi talking about "that Irish guy" who has been setting the world alight with his football.

As opossed to them talking about that Irish guy who walked out before the world cup or the crazy Irish guy who told everyone his Grannies were dead and had a hairpiece??!!

**EalingGreen** · 18/07/2008, 2:00 PM

Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

I don't think we really are in a position to tell probably our best outfield player to go *uck off. we just don't have the strength in depth

That's all very well, but if you give into the player now and pick him for the next game, then what's to stop him booting you in the balls again and letting you down at the last minute before some other, more important future game?

Worse still, if other, less talented players see that they can jerk the manager around, then they'll start the same carry on and not even Stephen Ireland is good enough to beat the other team on his own.

A good comparison is to be found recently between ROI and NI. Under Staunton, ROI had better players, but underperformed, whereas under Sanchez, NI had lesser players but overperformed.

The key difference (imo) was the quality of the management and in particular, Sanchez's authority and willingness to take a hard line on player discipline, compared with Staunton's inexperience and unwillingness (inability?) to do so.

For as the doyen of managers, Sir Alex Ferguson, always says: "What people should never forget is that I'm not here to please the players, they're here to please me!" And I'm sure Trapattoni would be in complete agreement.

**bellavistaman** · 18/07/2008, 2:07 PM

[QUOTE=Newryrep;983700]Arent they playinng in the Faores ? hardly a major work out[QUOTE]

Well we need players to play against them teams too ya know, weve no problems against big teams, unlike cyprus, macedonia, san bloody marino, when that man saved our bacon.

**geysir** · 18/07/2008, 2:11 PM

Anyway jinxy lilywhite, SI hasn't been to told to eff off by Trap.
Trap has very kindly left the door open.
The vast majority of fans want SI in the team even with the risks involved outlined by EG

Until SI comes through that door, I don't think he deserves to have a thread in this forum.
Shun him.

**tetsujin1979** · 18/07/2008, 2:18 PM

Originally Posted by Newryrep

Arent they playinng in the Faores ? hardly a major work out

these are the type of games (early round games against European minnows) that some on the board feel justifies players from the eL to get into the squad.

**Newryrep** · 18/07/2008, 3:01 PM

[QUOTE=bellavistaman;984149][QUOTE=Newryrep;983700]Arent they playinng in the Faores ? hardly a major work out

Well we need players to play against them teams too ya know, weve no problems against big teams, unlike cyprus, macedonia, san bloody marino, when that man saved our bacon.

Eh ? no problems against big teams ? and the last big or medium side we have beat in a meaningfull fixture ?

You stated he was playing well, I gave the context of who he was playing against for further evaluation. Playing well gainst the Faores is not exactly 'hold the front page'

Anyway I stated my position let Trap decide

**Greenforever** · 18/07/2008, 5:15 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

That's all very well, but if you give into the player now and pick him for the next game, then what's to stop him booting you in the balls again and letting you down at the last minute before some other, more important future game?

Worse still, if other, less talented players see that they can jerk the manager around, then they'll start the same carry on and not even Stephen Ireland is good enough to beat the other team on his own.

A good comparison is to be found recently between ROI and NI. Under Staunton, ROI had better players, but underperformed, whereas under Sanchez, NI had lesser players but overperformed.

The key difference (imo) was the quality of the management and in particular, Sanchez's authority and willingness to take a hard line on player discipline, compared with Staunton's inexperience and unwillingness (inability?) to do so.

For as the doyen of managers, Sir Alex Ferguson, always says: "What people should never forget is that I'm not here to please the players, they're here to please me!" And I'm sure Trapattoni would be in complete agreement.

Excellent post, couldnt agree more, and if the poll was restarted we would probably see far less support for SI's stance.

**Manblue** · 21/07/2008, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Loyalty above all except honour

If Ken had acted the maggot and refused repeatedly to represent his country then he wouldn't have that respect from me.
If I had a scale of interest, SI would be lower than any other Irish footballer currently playing the game.
Just not interested in him one way or the other, couldn't care less how many accolade he achieves or if he ends up in Wymans league.

Ha if youve so little interest why you still posting after all these months,

**GavinZac** · 21/07/2008, 1:53 PM

Originally Posted by Manblue

Ha if youve so little interest why you still posting after all these months,

Maybe he doesn't find any effort in typing coherent posts, Stephen?

**youngirish** · 21/07/2008, 1:59 PM

Originally Posted by GavinZac

Maybe he doesn't find any effort in typing coherent posts, Stephen?

I agree. I've always thought Manblue could either be the man himself, a close relative or at the very least a slightly deranged stalker. A quick look at his post history reveals that nearly all of his posts have refered to Stephen Ireland in glowing terms and the couple that haven't have been about Cobh.

So Stephen, I mean Manblue, are you going to be back for the qualifiers or not?

Mods on a more general note have we any Irish internationals (current or ex) that post on these forums regularly? I don't want names just a simple yes or no would do.

**musicinmouth** · 21/07/2008, 3:08 PM

I'm a bit late to this conversation, but I just wanted to say that I hope Stephen Ireland does decide to return to play for us soon. I think that some of the criticism he receives is very unfair. He's a young guy who went through some very difficult times and he deserves support. When he has played for Ireland, he has played well and with commitment. He is very talented and would definitely improve our squad. I think people should empathise with him a bit and support him when he decides he is ready to come back.

**Fergie's Son** · 21/07/2008, 4:16 PM

I think everyone recognizes that he's a true talent and would like him to play for his country. That said, I think most people would like to see some act of contrition from him. A public statement perhaps or at least his appearing at training saying that he's here to play. Otherwise he appears to a very selfish young man. I may be wrong but he has to make an effort to alter that perception of him.

**minty** · 22/07/2008, 11:22 AM

ireland badly needs his ability to arrive in the box late and score crucial goals

**bennocelt** · 07/08/2008, 7:17 PM

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead but just after reading an interesting thing in this months "FourFourTwo" and they mention that a baldy young footballer likes to send women pics of his "Quite thin, hardly huge appendage"

maybe its better off if he isn't in the squad, the fella is clearly off his head

**Drumcondra 69er** · 08/08/2008, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by minty

ireland badly needs his ability to arrive in the box late and score crucial goals

Women clearly don't need his ability to arrive in the box late and score judging by the snippet from Four Four Two posted above!

**eekers** · 09/08/2008, 9:08 PM

Looks like the inevitable is gonna happen. He's joining sunderland according to this http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/phpBB...ic.php?t=81659

**tetsujin1979** · 09/08/2008, 9:32 PM

Played today against AC Milan - http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pa...newsid=6615655 so I don't know when he agreed the transfer.

**tetsujin1979** · 10/08/2008, 12:35 PM

Man City issue official denial of the deal: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....t_leaving_city
reminds me of that scene from Yes, Minister where Nigel Hawthorne tells the minister that you can't believe anything until it's been officially denied