Stephen Ireland

[Wheels]

Oh, that wasn't aimed directly at you francesco_1... you posted at the same time... coincidence is all.

[geysir]

Nonetheless, good timing.

[francesco_1]

Oh, that wasn't aimed directly at you francesco_1... you posted at the same time... coincidence is all.

I just want us to have a chance and with him in the team we would have a better chance,spur of the moment.

[tricky_colour]

He is no David Beckham.

[Razors left peg]

There are plenty of people in this country that openly admit that they support the likes of ManU, Liverpool etc and arent that bothered at all about the national team.Its hard for us on this forum to understand that way of thinking because we are so passionate about International football, but I think we just have to accept that Steven Ireland has basically the same mentality as these other people. Its unfortunate because he is a top player but we have some other very exciting prospects coming through the ranks in midfield so I think its time we just let it go and move on

[tricky_colour]

I would be happy to have this shipped out into world football now.
He is not intersted in playing for Ireland so I would rather not see this thread in the forum.

[Irish_Praha]

I would be happy to have this shipped out into world football now.
He is not intersted in playing for Ireland so I would rather not see this thread in the forum.

Totally agree.

[viagogo]

Was all for him coming back but after this weekend and listening to his comments I am begining to think that we should forget about him. Although an interesting article on todays Star suggests that we should copy what French manager Domenech did with Makelele and pick him anyway. Hed face a suspension if he refused to play.

[musicinmouth]

I can understand (and share) the frustration, but some of you are going way over the top. It's not like he's the first player to ever take a break from international football. There are other players still playing for Ireland who have done so in the past. He hasn't ruled out ever playing for us again.

The idea that he shouldn't be mentioned in this forum is ridiculous. He has not retired from international football. And even if he had, are we not supposed to talk about ex Irish international football players in this forum???

[tricky_colour]

I can understand (and share) the frustration, but some of you are going way over the top. It's not like he's the first player to ever take a break from international football. There are other players still playing for Ireland who have done so in the past. He hasn't ruled out ever playing for us again.

The idea that he shouldn't be mentioned in this forum is ridiculous. He has not retired from international football. And even if he had, are we not supposed to talk about ex Irish international football players in this forum???

I think the difference is people could understand they reasons why those players no longer wished to play, this just seems like a direct snub, he does not seem to consider himself Irish and quite frankly neither do I. Maybe Italy will cal him up.

[tetsujin1979]

I think the difference is people could understand they reasons why those players no longer wished to play, this just seems like a direct snub, he does not seem to consider himself Irish and quite frankly neither do I. Maybe Italy will cal him up.

He's played in a competitive game for Ireland, he can't declare for anyone else

[Lionel Ritchie]

I can understand (and share) the frustration, but some of you are going way over the top. It's not like he's the first player to ever take a break from international football. There are other players still playing for Ireland who have done so in the past. He hasn't ruled out ever playing for us again.

I happen to believe if he was 2gen or 3gen he'd be getting much worse.

[SuperDub]

I can understand (and share) the frustration, but some of you are going way over the top. It's not like he's the first player to ever take a break from international football. There are other players still playing for Ireland who have done so in the past. He hasn't ruled out ever playing for us again.

The idea that he shouldn't be mentioned in this forum is ridiculous. He has not retired from international football. And even if he had, are we not supposed to talk about ex Irish international football players in this forum???

Regarding him taking a break, he is only 22 with only a handful of caps. It is not as though he has been around for a decade. I myself was very open minded until i saw him on tv on saturday. How many times has he walking out on irish squads. I like many others on this forum spend our hard earned cash travelling to see the national team play and i would now rather concentrate on the lads that want to play and who show up for meaningless friendlies etc.

[Reality Bites]

He is no David Beckham.

Not sure whether its David Beckham the product or David Beckham the person but he does seem to love playing for his country..

On another note I couldn't see the equivalent happening in England with a promising young talent turning his back on his country, imagine the furore if Theo Walcott refused to play for England in forthcoming friendlies..

To happen twice in the space of a few years and both players coming from the same County, Its like our own version of the Mason-Dixon line splitting Cork from the Northern parts of country - maybe Cork could petition FIFA to qualify separately for major tournaments in the future, so the ordinary Irish Fans wouldn't have to put up with the uncertainy and disappointment of these Rebel county fellows turning their backs on their countries of Birth.

[razor]

To happen twice in the space of a few years and both players coming from the same County,

And both cases to be so completely identical too, what are the odds?
You and your can of worms.

[FarBeag]

Not sure whether its David Beckham the product or David Beckham the person but he does seem to love playing for his country..

On another note I couldn't see the equivalent happening in England with a promising young talent turning his back on his country, imagine the furore if Theo Walcott refused to play for England in forthcoming friendlies..

To happen twice in the space of a few years and both players coming from the same County, Its like our own version of the Mason-Dixon line splitting Cork from the Northern parts of country - maybe Cork could petition FIFA to qualify separately for major tournaments in the future, so the ordinary Irish Fans wouldn't have to put up with the uncertainy and disappointment of these Rebel county fellows turning their backs on their countries of Birth.

Oh come on man. You cannot compare Steven Ireland and Roy Keane. One is a spoilt sociopath who puts himself in the spotlight by wearing a thatch, sporting pink wheels on his jeep, lets half the world view his bepo site and shows millions his superman’s pants on TV, told lies about his dead gran,gets a bit of slagging from his Ireland team mates and never wants to play for his country again. The other is a legend in Irish football who won us many a game single handed and is proud to be Irish.Ok he pulled out of a couple of friendlies but mainly through injury and the other incident which I will not mention but overall Roy Keane proudly wore the green jersey and retired when he was in his thirties.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Oh come on man. You cannot compare Steven Ireland and Roy Keane. One is a spoilt sociopath who puts himself in the spotlight by wearing a thatch, sporting pink wheels on his jeep, lets half the world view his bepo site and shows millions his superman’s pants on TV, told lies about his dead gran,gets a bit of slagging from his Ireland team mates and never wants to play for his country again. The other is a legend in Irish football who won us many a game single handed and is proud to be Irish.Ok he pulled out of a couple of friendlies but mainly through injury and the other incident which I will not mention but overall Roy Keane proudly wore the green jersey and retired when he was in his thirties.

The comparison was obvioulsy tounge in cheek.

And are you for real with the quote in bold? A couple of friendlies?? And who's definition of injury is that, Alex Ferguson's? What about the US Cup where, as appointed captian, he simply didn't bother turning up at the airport for example?

I agree let's not forget his performances when he bothered turing up but to suggest he only missed a couple of friendles and that was just because of injuries and then to whitewash 'the other incident' is laughable and misses the point entirely.

[FarBeag]

The comparison was obvioulsy tounge in cheek.

And are you for real with the quote in bold? A couple of friendlies?? And who's definition of injury is that, Alex Ferguson's? What about the US Cup where, as appointed captian, he simply didn't bother turning up at the airport for example?

I agree let's not forget his performances when he bothered turing up but to suggest he only missed a couple of friendles and that was just because of injuries and then to whitewash 'the other incident' is laughable and misses the point entirely.

Really! maybe on you reading of it. Look the point I am trying to make is there is no comparison between the two individuals.I will defend Roy keane to the last based on how he played in the green jersey when he turned up. Sod the American cup and a couple of meaningless friendlies. Keane had a problem with the organisation and preparation surrounding the Irish team from day one not a problem with his team mates. How many caps has he got? A lot more than the other doughnut that’s for sure. You can defend SI and slag of RK all you want but I know where my alliances lie.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Really! maybe on you reading of it. Look the point I am trying to make is there is no comparison between the two individuals.I will defend Roy keane to the last based on how he played in the green jersey when he turned up. Sod the American cup and a couple of meaningless friendlies. Keane had a problem with the organisation and preparation surrounding the Irish team from day one not a problem with his team mates. How many caps has he got? A lot more than the other doughnut that’s for sure. You can defend SI and slag of RK all you want but I know where my alliances lie.

I'm not defending Stephen Ireland in the least, his behaviour is despicable. He's done reasonably well when he's turned up though, should that be defended?

Mind you somehow I think that if he wore a red shirt in Manchster rather then a blue one he'd be getting blindly defended an awful more.

You'll defend someone not turning up and not letting management know in advance even if it was a US Cup trip? When a phone would have sufficed? Speaks volumes. And trust me RK had problems with various team mates over the years, in particular one who went on to manage him. Organisation and preperation was an excuse for a patholigical dislike of said team mate, regardless of the spin many have swallowed.

[FarBeag]

I'm not defending Stephen Ireland in the least, his behaviour is despicable. He's done reasonably well when he's turned up though, should that be defended?

Mind you somehow I think that if he wore a red shirt in Manchster rather then a blue one he'd be getting blindly defended an awful more.

You'll defend someone not turning up and not letting management know in advance even if it was a US Cup trip? When a phone would have sufficed? Speaks volumes. And trust me RK had problems with various team mates over the years, in particular one who went on to manage him. Organisation and preperation was an excuse for a patholigical dislike of said team mate, regardless of the spin many have swallowed.

Ok I get your point on the phone call and I agree he had issues with some of his team mates but for totally different reasons than SI. When Keane played football he played for the Irish team and left his likes/dislikes of fellow colleagues behind him while on the pitch at least. SI could not cope with a bit of banter among his and deserted his country because of it, a big difference imo.