Stephen Ireland

**DmanDmythDledge** · 29/08/2008, 1:07 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

the two of them are pretty much overrated IMHO
A Stokes was top scorer in the SPL for a while, so that tells you the level of football in scotland
S Ireland will never make the next level

There are some attributes in footballers that can be judged regardless of the level they play at. Nakamura's vision and off the ball movement is brilliant and pretty much irrelevent to the opposition.

And as razor has said he has done it in the CL as well.

**bennocelt** · 29/08/2008, 7:33 AM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

did Stokes ever perform in the Champions League like Naka has on numerous occasions

Really when, i must have missed this................
But wait I can see him again when celtic head to man utd.............

**youngirish** · 29/08/2008, 9:25 AM

Originally Posted by newbie

and Kev Phillips and Mark Stewarts (i think,from Ipswich) were top of the Prem Lge....does that mean its a brutal league? many strikers went to the SPL and were poison but were good in England....

Yeah like who? Which strikers who were good in the Premier League failed in Scotland? Even Championship strikers tend to do well in the SPL.

**youngirish** · 29/08/2008, 9:51 AM

Another threat to Ireland's place in the team:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ty/7587476.stm

**tetsujin1979** · 29/08/2008, 10:23 AM

Wright-Phillips is a winger, Ireland only played there last week because there was no other options available. SWP is a bigger threat to Etuhu if anyone. At the moment, Johson is Ireland's biggest threat. But I'd still expect SI to play this weekend

**DmanDmythDledge** · 29/08/2008, 1:18 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Wright-Phillips is a winger, Ireland only played there last week because there was no other options available. SWP is a bigger threat to Etuhu if anyone. At the moment, Johson is Ireland's biggest threat. But I'd still expect SI to play this weekend

Wasn't he on the right for most of last season though? I can't see him starting ahead of Johnson to be honest.

**eirebhoy** · 31/08/2008, 9:31 AM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Yeah like who? Which strikers who were good in the Premier League failed in Scotland? Even Championship strikers tend to do well in the SPL.

It's very rare for a player to even score 20 goals in the SPL, as you well know.

Anyway, SWP has to be a threat to Ireland. He's not going to play in the centre and Hughes will want to play with 2 strikers if possible.

**Scram** · 31/08/2008, 9:40 AM

Irealnd's on great form. A great pass, run down the wing, into the box and cut back last week and involved throughout.

Pity he is such a gobsh!te with a Cork temprement.

He is a great threat on the right, his goal (v Slovakia) came from him attacking from the right.

We could obviuosly do with him back in the side. The only problem is that we have too many similar attack minded midfielders.

**tetsujin1979** · 31/08/2008, 1:57 PM

Starting on the left today VS Sunderland, with SWP on the right. Surprised to see Petrov dropped for him to be honest

**irishultra** · 31/08/2008, 2:35 PM

In my opinion, Ireland has more talent than Johson, but he has better physical attributes for the middle of the park.

**Razors left peg** · 31/08/2008, 2:42 PM

Tardelli doesnt know why he is refusing to return...
http://sports.setanta.com/en/Sport/N...reland-locale/

**Plastic Paddy** · 31/08/2008, 3:10 PM

Maybe he's holding out for his father's country?

What a ****.

PP

**irishultra** · 31/08/2008, 5:22 PM

he said he could have played for italy? can somebody tell me if this is true or just his usual ****e?

**FarBeag** · 31/08/2008, 5:26 PM

Why cant they just give up on this bloke, he does not want to play for us and that's it.I have never seen so much effort by top fai people trying to convince someone into doing something he clearly does not want to do. Why can’t they just call up players like Lawrence and St Ledger? These guys would jump at the chance to represent their country and would play with their hearts on their sleeves.

**DeNiro** · 31/08/2008, 6:46 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Starting on the left today VS Sunderland, with SWP on the right. Surprised to see Petrov dropped for him to be honest

I think Petrov is injured. It will be interesting to see how Hughes arranges that midfield with SWP the most likely candidate for right midfield. I make a 5 man midfield of SWP-Elano-Johnson-Kompany-Petrov as the most likely line-up. Can't see where Ireland is going to fit in.

**irishultra** · 31/08/2008, 6:50 PM

Elano will be on the bench a lot...probably Ireland and Elano rotating a lot.

**Wexford Delboy** · 31/08/2008, 10:58 PM

some game again today

**DmanDmythDledge** · 01/09/2008, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by irishultra

Elano will be on the bench a lot...probably Ireland and Elano rotating a lot.

Doubt it very much. Elano is a class or two above Ireland.

**Reality Bites** · 01/09/2008, 8:03 AM

Excellent again on Sunday, A real instinctive strike in the Box too, shame he isn't playing next saturday

**FarBeag** · 01/09/2008, 8:24 AM

Originally Posted by Reality Bites

Excellent again on Sunday, A real instinctive strike in the Box too, shame he isn't playing next saturday

Who cares if he bangs in three goals a game? It won’t do the country he deserted or his loyal colleagues who want to play for their country any good. This bloke has given up on Ireland and its supporters. Why can some of ye just let him go?