Stephen Ireland

Originally Posted by geysir

Worm, you are just repeating what I said 500 posts ago.

Forgive me if I didn't read 500 posts

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

you mean like Deco? Or Kevin Kuriyani (born in Brazil)?

They didn't actually turn down the chance to play for their country though did they, which is what he actually said?? I don't recall either of them being called into a Brazilian squad, was more a case of them nailing their colours to their respective masts in the belief that they were unlikely to receive a call up to the Brazilian squad.

Fair enough, but my point was that not all Brazilians can consider it such an honour to play for their country, if there are so many playing for other countries
As well as those mentioned, there's Aurelio for Turkey, Pepe for Portugal, Guerreiro for Poland and Senna for Spain

Anyone who wants to close the thread, jsut stop posting in it, or reading it.

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

He's certainly not Claude Makelele, so he's out in that Steven Reid/ Glenn Whelan role in front of the centre backs we've been playing with so far. If Duff can't play then stick Ireland on the left wing instead of Hunt, or even the right wing instead of McGeady and let McGeady play left wing. Failing that, I would prefer him as a striker sub for Doyle or Keane over the likes of Shane Long or Noel Hunt. He's an amazing player, currently our best consistent performer in the Premiership where almost all of our players play, and we can't justify leaving him out because he "doesn't fit into a 4-2-2-2 formation.


That said, we have to convince him to come back into the squad in order for this to have anything to do with anything.

He could be like Makalele. He retired from playing for France until Domenech called him up and he was made to join up with the squad saying that while he was a registered footballer he was available for selection.

And he was threatened with a club ban if he didn't turn up.

Trap should just pick Ireland and to hell with it, get him banned from playing for City if he refuses

Originally Posted by weldoninhio

Trap should just pick Ireland and to hell with it, get him banned from playing for City if he refuses

Not really a fan of this- we seem to have a good team atmosphere in the camp, and calling up a guy who clearly isn't interested in playing for us will do two things:

1) **** off the players he is replacing who have been turning up and given their all, whether in training or in matches (to good effect so far).

2) We have a player on the field who doesn't want to play for us, which could hinder our chances of doing well.

If Ireland really wants to return on his own accord, then you can look at it and see if it's worth it, but when things are going well you don't make things more dramatic by bringing a figure like him into the picture.

I do not think that Trap would play Stephen Ireland maybe thats why he has not come back

Originally Posted by seanfhear

I do not think that Trap would play Stephen Ireland maybe thats why he has not come back

Yes because gibson and whelan are such proven midfieldersd who are scoring and creating vital goals for their club in the premier league week in week out, oh and were tipped for player of the month last month, oh wait, thats stephen ireland im talking about is it,

i respect and agree with posters views on here about not having him play for loyalty reasons but that comment is just sheer stupidity IMO.

Originally Posted by bellavistaman

Yes because gibson and whelan are such proven midfieldersd who are scoring and creating vital goals for their club in the premier league week in week out, oh and were tipped for player of the month last month, oh wait, thats stephen ireland im talking about is it,

i respect and agree with posters views on here about not having him play for loyalty reasons but that comment is just sheer stupidity IMO.

I think his point is that Trap has already stated that he wants 2 defensive midfielders and that Ireland however good he is doesnt fit into the system much like Andy Reid

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

I think his point is that Trap has already stated that he wants 2 defensive midfielders and that Ireland however good he is doesnt fit into the system much like Andy Reid

Ah apologies!!

Ireland interviewed before tonights game again confirming that he won't be coming back in the near future. He says there's absolutely no problems between himself and the squad members. He's just happy with life atm.

Originally Posted by bellavistaman

Yes because gibson and whelan are such proven midfieldersd who are scoring and creating vital goals for their club in the premier league week in week out, oh and were tipped for player of the month last month, oh wait, thats stephen ireland im talking about is it,

i respect and agree with posters views on here about not having him play for loyalty reasons but that comment is just sheer stupidity IMO.

But he doesnt want to play for his country or he would have made himself available at the begining of the campaign, surely? i have said it before and ill say it again, lets move on.

Tasty Goal last night

Sickening to hear a good man like given beaten by that little sh1thead. glad i havent seen it.

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Ireland interviewed before tonights game again confirming that he won't be coming back in the near future. He says there's absolutely no problems between himself and the squad members. He's just happy with life atm.

I firmly believe he'll need us before we'll need him... Everything's tickadee boo now. His form is good. A club with potential.... That's all gonna change innevitably

Ireland hasn't got the mental strength of Frank Lampard.

Originally Posted by dr_peepee

Ireland hasn't got the mental strength of Frank Lampard.

Exactly my thoughts. He's a mini-Gazza.

He's extremely emotionally immature and if and when he grows up, he''ll want back in.

If we made the World Cup he'd surely have regrets and I assume he'd attempt to get back into the reckoning. Right now he obviously doesn't believe we can make it. It'll be interesting if we're closing in on qualifying or a play off place to see whether he'd ask to be considered for selection.

He's only young and considering his fame and fortune I'd say he feels on top of the world, but if he has a middling career at club level 10 years down the line he may really rue this decision. But it's definitely time for us to move on without him.

I was just wondering if he was to recant and return to the Irsh Fold, how would he be accomodated into Trapps thinking, he is obviously a very attack minded midfielder, yet Trap seems to prefer the two water carriers in central midfield at the moment, Its kind of like the Andy Reid scenario except lets face Stephen Manchester is superior

Originally Posted by Reality Bites

Its kind of like the Andy Reid scenario except lets face Stephen Manchester is superior

I disagree with that. I think Reid is a far superior player to Ireland at present. Ireland goes missing a lot during games. I can't see it being something that Trap would put up with from a central midfielder. Plus, his defensive positioning is woeful.

Originally Posted by Reality Bites

I was just wondering if he was to recant and return to the Irsh Fold, how would he be accomodated into Trapps thinking, he is obviously a very attack minded midfielder, yet Trap seems to prefer the two water carriers in central midfield at the moment, Its kind of like the Andy Reid scenario except lets face Stephen Manchester is superior

Exactly. Given Trapattoni's preferred formation and tactics for the team, I don't see how Stephen Ireland would fit in with them.