I love the misunderstandings on this site sometimes.
COBH RAMBLERS FIRST DIV CHAMPS 2007
http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/GameDayDetails fantastic website by tetsujin1979
I love the misunderstandings on this site sometimes.
How anyone can still defend Stephen Ireland's actions at this stage is honestly far beyond my comprehension. Not only has he refused to play for his country for over a year and a half now without giving any valid reason whatsoever but he seems content from the sidelines to disrupt the current regime at every opportunity by giving statements in interviews about his omission full of contradictions and in some cases downright lies.
The truth is this behaviour is sickening from any professional sportsman and as I've said before its only in Ireland that you would find people making excuses for him in what is in any sane individuals eyes inexcusible. If Ireland was from any other country he'd have long since been crucified by the media and the fans alike for his attitude and deservedly so.
Now hopefully the idiots in the Irish media will stop hassling Trapatonni and the players about the latest news on Stephen Ireland in every interview. I get the impression Ireland revels in the attention he receives on the subject. I hope never, ever to see him in a green shirt again unless he gets a move to Plymouth Argyle.
Last edited by youngirish; 12/05/2009 at 9:11 AM.
you made the dig, you mentioned how you think stephen ireland is as relevant to this forum as david connolly, and all i did was explain why i think the situations are different, and you told me to 'get a sense of humour' which is quite strange because i consider you to be one of the best posters on this site.
anyway im not one for getting into arguments so im gonna draw a line under it.
Last edited by richieos; 11/05/2009 at 11:17 PM.
Fair enough, sorry for the misunderstanding.
At this stage I don't really know what to think of him, but if you actually watch/listen to that interview, all he is doing is answering a question.
He doesn't go out of his way to talk about Ireland, and he doesn't say anything negative about the team apart from the fact that "it never felt right," or something to that effect.
Although he says he doesn't see a way back, he also says he doesn't want to say "never."
No clue what the issue is, but after watching it on the BBC site there, this interview is hardly the definitive "never play for Ireland again" comment it's being made out to be.
Im not really surprised with that interview, what i suspected all along. Disappointing, I fail to understand it but with an attitude towards the shirt like that I am happy that he is not in the team. Maybe in a few years he might change his mind but he would need to go a long way to prove he deserves the shirt now. It will be interesting to see if there is any change in his attitude if Ireland qualify for the WC.
For now, see ya later, and anyways even if he became available now i dont think it would be appropriate for him to be part of the squad at the moment.
Look, the dude clearly feels he doesn't need International football at this stage... Everythings Rosey in the camp now for him at City. I'm telling ye that's going to change. Dip in form, Change in Manager, change in expecations. Any number of possible things. If anything has emerged out of the last couple of years it's that he has very little strength of charachter and I guarantee he'll be worse off in the long run for not playing for Ireland.
I'm not too bothered now. He's no different to any other good premiership player that's not availible to us in my eyes. I'm actually more mildly irritated at the like of Bellavista and the molly coddling of him. I understand he's trying to be objective and non judgemental. But it's counter productive and I'd say he's surrounded by that kind of persistent appeasement, thus hampering his ability to grow and deal with issues . Be it baldness, banter with team mates, booing fans, dead grannies and women trouble.
Yeah, I'd agree with that. He said it had nothing to do with the players or staff previously but I think there must have been something that turned him off. I don't buy this "doesn't give a sh!t about Ireland" stuff* as he would have never bothered to go to Cyrpus, San Marino, Slovakia etc. If it was for personal glory he would have been back like a light as he would have been perceived as a saviour by the media, return of the prodigal son etc. If he didn't care about Ireland would have drawn the line in the sand completely rather than saying there could be some chance of him playing for Ireland again.
* "I would love to play for Ireland, absolutely love it," said Ireland in the official Manchester City magazine.
"If I got a cap this season then it would make my year. There is a friendly in the spring and I would love to get in that squad under the new manager, whoever that might be.
"I don't know whether I am good enough, but there is only one way to really find out, and I suppose if I can hold down a place in City's side until then it will go in my favour."
...
"I recently had a chat with him, and he has told me how desperate he is to play for Ireland, and I'm willing to do what I can to help him achieve that aim."
http://www.rte.ie/sport/2005/1220/irelands.html
Maybe his girlfriend won't let him![]()
The only slither of straw that you can grasp onto from that interview is that he says "never say never".
ATM he doesn't give a rats ass, he can't see a return anywhere on the horizon.
"Never say never" is not in the least bit an indicater of any positive feelings towards the national team.
We are known by our actions. Every one of his actions have contradicted his fine sounding words in the past.
That interview has just brought him a bit closer to being more in harmony with his actions.
It's actually difficult to even be critical of him because he is so patently immature.
Actually I said that as a joke, but thinking about it a little more it may actually be the real reason as it kind of fits the frame as he has not really given a reason and it is the sort of reason you could not give isn't it?
You could not really come out with "My girlfriend won't let me" at a press conference could you?
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