Stephen Ireland

**bennocelt** · 22/09/2008, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by TheBoss

People should start being against him, for him to turn down playing for Ireland, is a disgrace and I do not care if he was the best player in the world, players like that should not decide when they are ready to play for the country, The Irish National Team is far more important than that.

because in an democracy people are allowed to make their own choices

how do you know he doesn't love his country?

**youngirish** · 22/09/2008, 3:25 PM

Originally Posted by third policeman

I think this "he doesn't want to play for us so f**k him attitude" is a bit glib and a ridiculous over-simplifaction of what must be a very complex and sensitive set of personal circumstances. Ireland is a complex personality and, these very complexities are in all probably intrinsically connected to his unique footballing gifts (a la Best, Gascoigne and numerous other talented enigmas).

Stephen Ireland's personality is as complex as the plot of a typical episode of Baywatch.

Pol Pot had a complex personality. If you want to feel sympathy for anyone show it towards this misunderstood enigma of the late twentieth century. If he hadn't been subjected to such a traumatic childhood maybe the Khmer Rouge would have wiped out only 10% of the population of Cambodia and not the 30% we are all familiar with.

**Reality Bites** · 22/09/2008, 3:55 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Stephen Ireland's personality is as complex as the plot of a typical episode of Baywatch.

Pol Pot had a complex personality. If you want to feel sympathy for anyone show it towards this misunderstood enigma of the late twentieth century. If he hadn't been subjected to such a traumatic childhood maybe the Khmer Rouge would have wiped out only 10% of the population of Cambodia and not the 30% we are all familiar with.

Stalin had webbed feet - which meant he couldn't cross a ball to save his live and a leo burdock sized chip on his shoulder that led to the Gulags and deaths to slaughter to millions of Russians - Anyway where were we oh Stevie Ireland and R.Keane and S.Hunt subjecting him to a school boy taunting over his wig and here we are 900 + threads later!

**third policeman** · 22/09/2008, 4:03 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Stephen Ireland's personality is as complex as the plot of a typical episode of Baywatch.

Pol Pot had a complex personality. If you want to feel sympathy for anyone show it towards this misunderstood enigma of the late twentieth century. If he hadn't been subjected to such a traumatic childhood maybe the Khmer Rouge would have wiped out only 10% of the population of Cambodia and not the 30% we are all familiar with.

As far as I am aware Ireland is not guilty of genocide. His "crime" (for that is how some of you seem to view it) is declining to turn up to play in the odd football match. I think if we kept things in proportion there would be a much greater chance of him changing his mind.

**lionelhutz** · 22/09/2008, 4:04 PM

Clearly he does want to play international football or he would not have turned out for us in the past, but for a whole host of "reasons" which we cannot quite fathom he does not feel able to play for us at the moment.

Reminds me of the Simpsons episode where the social worker tells Homer he's a bad father and an alcoholic, Homer replies "And that's societies fault because......"

**Brendan 82** · 22/09/2008, 4:07 PM

Just imagine the sweet poetic justice when Ireland beat Greece in a playoff to make it to the World Cup and "Stevie" Ireland declares his desire to represent the land of his fathers, and is promptly told to "F$$K OFF" by Trapp.

**dublinmick** · 22/09/2008, 8:07 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Yep, every time there is a good performance by Ireland, he is mentioned here.

He doesn't want to play for us so whether he is the best player ever since Pele, it is irrelevant to Ireland (the country).

Look, has he said, definitively, that he doesn't want to play for Ireland again?

I, for one, would love to see him playing for us. He is sheer class.

**tricky_colour** · 22/09/2008, 9:58 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Allegedly he said as long as Hunt and Keane are in the squad he is not going to return.

Then the sensible thing would be for them to apologise.

**Greenforever** · 22/09/2008, 10:26 PM

The flag outside Cafe Trendy in Podgorcia before the match says it all

Stephen Manchester
He has no hair
He has no honour
He has no heart
Stephen Manchester

And this thread should be binned or moved to world football because he has no interest in playing for Ireland.

**Colbert Report** · 22/09/2008, 10:28 PM

The guys is hands down, our best performer thus far this season. If we drop points against Cyprus just watch the public call for him to return...

**eirebhoy** · 23/09/2008, 7:22 AM

Originally Posted by Greenforever

And this thread should be binned or moved to world football because he has no interest in playing for Ireland.

He's Irish though, according to the English, Brazilians and whoever else that watch him every week. I'd be proud if we could produce a footballer of the standard he has been showing so far this season because he's certainly not your typical Irish or even British type footballer.

**Reality Bites** · 23/09/2008, 7:33 AM

I think he will be back before christmas!

**gwhite** · 23/09/2008, 8:34 AM

I hope this isn't in here already (i can't be arsed to read through all 40+ pages), but a City supporting pal tells me the Man City fans have come up with a song dedicated to our Stevie's Hare Krishna hair-do. It goes to the tune of Yellow Submarine "We all love Stevie Irelands swimming cap, Ireland's swimming cap, Ireland's swimming cap." Hilarious. I wonder if he'll need some time off from City to recover from this...

**NeilMcD** · 23/09/2008, 9:18 AM

However he is sod all use to us at the moment as he is refusing to play for us. Have we not learnt anything over the last few years that it takes more than talent to make a good footballing team. It is imperative that you have team spirit as well as talent. Stephen Manchester clearly does not have the team spirt to play in an international set up as he has a history of this long before Grannygate and Hairgate and Bebogate, and pimpmyjeepgate, and Superpantsgate.

I was proud of the Irish teams performances and for the first time in a long time we had the team spirit and unity and passion and concentration back in the squad. I think Stephen Manchester would take away from the team spirit of the squad so to me his talen is irrelevant at the moment.

**third policeman** · 23/09/2008, 9:52 AM

I was proud of the Irish teams performances and for the first time in a long time we had the team spirit and unity and passion and concentration back in the squad. I think Stephen Manchester would take away from the team spirit of the squad so to me his talen is irrelevant at the moment.[/quote]

Team spirit will not get us past Italy or Bulgaria (or possibly even Cyrprus). Ireland's guile and vision would add a vast amount to the team and provide Keane and Doyle with the service that they are not getting from the likes of Steven Hunt or Glen Whelan. It's total bo**ocks to imagine that Ireland's presence would damage the team spirit of the squad. Why should it? If he comes back then I would expect Ireland and his team mates to do what experienced professionals should do, move on and concentrate on playing football. If he turned in a performance for us like he did for City at the weekend I think the squad morale would be significantly improved.

**NeilMcD** · 23/09/2008, 9:55 AM

Originally Posted by third policeman

I was proud of the Irish teams performances and for the first time in a long time we had the team spirit and unity and passion and concentration back in the squad. I think Stephen Manchester would take away from the team spirit of the squad so to me his talen is irrelevant at the moment.

Team spirit will not get us past Italy or Bulgaria (or possibly even Cyrprus). Ireland's guile and vision would add a vast amount to the team and provide Keane and Doyle with the service that they are not getting from the likes of Steven Hunt or Glen Whelan. It's total bo**ocks to imagine that Ireland's presence would damage the team spirit of the squad. Why should it? If he comes back then I would expect Ireland and his team mates to do what experienced professionals should do, move on and concentrate on playing football. If he turned in a performance for us like he did for City at the weekend I think the squad morale would be significantly improved.[/QUOTE]

So you are expecting the Irish players to do the very thing that we are all slagging Stephen Manchester for. Why is it ok for Manchester not to be have like a professional and move on and concentrate on playing football.

**Reality Bites** · 23/09/2008, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Team spirit will not get us past Italy or Bulgaria (or possibly even Cyrprus). Ireland's guile and vision would add a vast amount to the team and provide Keane and Doyle with the service that they are not getting from the likes of Steven Hunt or Glen Whelan. It's total bo**ocks to imagine that Ireland's presence would damage the team spirit of the squad. Why should it? If he comes back then I would expect Ireland and his team mates to do what experienced professionals should do, move on and concentrate on playing football. If he turned in a performance for us like he did for City at the weekend I think the squad morale would be significantly improved.

So you are expecting the Irish players to do the very thing that we are all slagging Stephen Manchester for. Why is it ok for Manchester not to be have like a professional and move on and concentrate on playing football.[/QUOTE]

I take your point, but I also believe that with Ireland in the Side we would be far more potent, I thought for all or organisation against Macedonia the missing ingredient was someone of Ireland vision

**NeilMcD** · 23/09/2008, 10:50 AM

Nobody is doubting that aspect of it. What I am saying and I think a few others is that there is more to team football than the ability to spot a pass etc. He has dirtied his bib big time and it will take a lot of crawling from him for him to fit back into the set. As my signature says, In Trap we trust and I will trst Il Trap on this one.

**elroy** · 23/09/2008, 10:55 AM

Now im sure this probably was an exaggeration and i havent seen the game, but newstalk last night called Irelands performance against Pompey as the best all round performance by an Irish player in an EPL game. True??

I think the biggest problem here is the limbo we're all left in. If SI came out and said I dont want to play for Ireland anymore, i have no interest etc i would have more respect for him (thou not much). But at the moment its i want to play but not yet - like what exactly does that mean. Its like telling a young one that nah i dont want to go out with you now but if you loose a bit of weight and get better looking in a few years then maybe ill give you a go then.

In other words i think he needs to be more clear in his intentions, his personal "issues" cant be so disruptive to him judging by his performances for Man C. I think for his own sake he needs to be clear about his intentions and reasons as we are only hearing from Trap and Bradys point of view, SI hasnt said a whole lot.

**lionelhutz** · 23/09/2008, 10:56 AM

I take your point, but I also believe that with Ireland in the Side we would be far more potent, I thought for all or organisation against Macedonia the missing ingredient was someone of Ireland vision

Motenegro?? I agree to a certain extent though. But I just think Ireland's too arrogant to be a benefit to the current Irish set up. If he came back and didn't get a run for the following two or three games, I've no doubt he'd quit again because he couldn't be bothered fighting for a place in the team cause he thinks he's above that.