Stephen Ireland Makes Himself Available Again

[Bondvillain]

Who said he was bullied. Hunt has denied this and so did Dunne. In fact Richard Dunne said that Ireland could easily killed that rumour but refused to do so. There is no proof that he was bullied and I dont think he himself has gone on record and said he was bullied.

I know that Dunne probably has the best interests of his national team at heart (I personally suspect he does at all times) , but to be honest, I'd much rather have Stephen Ireland's opinon on the Stephen Ireland situation than Stephen Hunt's or Richard Dunne's.

Let Ireland openly present himself for selection and appraisal at the next given opportunity. Hopefully, he'll make his case with a substantial performance in the shirt. Should he not, and should there need to be a press Q&A with him after his next appearance (or , god forbid, a press post mortem on his non-appearance), then so be it. Then we'll find out.

[mypost]

He lost his kid and has apparently been bullied by other Irish team members. It's not a matter of him having a could care less attitude, it's about him being mentally volatile at the moment and not wanting to be taken out of his comfort zone. Sounds like he's the victim of unprofessional management by the old staff, and not team management, man management.

Instead he's been open and honest about what has happened to him.

Open?? Honest??

This is the bloke who walked out on his teammates, and our fans, by fabricating stories of his relatives. This is the bloke who wouldn't hop over to Prague to play for us in a vital qualifier, but has no problem playing for his club the length and breath of England. As for being a victim of the management, this is the kind of management him and his teammates want, over the professional, hardline Trapattoni version. He made no contact with the FAI for the rest of the qualifiers, nor with the caretaker boss in charge either. Suddenly, we get a new boss, we might be competitive in the next campaign, and then he wants to climb aboard, without even apologising to the people he's betrayed.

He shamed himself and his country, and he should be banned from playing for us again.

[RivaldoBabb]

Here's more quotes from a few weeks ago:

"I have always enjoyed playing for my country and that has never been in doubt in my mind.

"I have always enjoyed my time playing for Ireland and trying to get us qualified for the big tournaments.

"Pulling on the green jersey is something that is very close to my heart. I want nothing more in my career than to go on and score more goals and perform to the best of my ability to make sure we do qualify for tournaments.

"Ever since I was a kid I have wanted to play for Ireland in big games."


On Givens:
"I was shocked to be honest, to hear the things Don Givens was saying about me, but you can't really do anything about it.

"I think it was harsh, because he knows from his position that I went through a hard time and he has used it to get personal.

"He doesn't like something about me as if I have an ego and want to be chased, but that could not be further from the truth, as anybody who knows me will tell you.

"It is disappointing because to me he is just on a power trip as the caretaker boss at the moment and he is using his personal feelings on something that was supposed to be resolved, against me.

"I have never got a call off him asking about my situation or given any indication that I wanted to be begged back, so why is he saying that?"

Ireland seems to say a lot Eirebhoy, a lot of which is rubbish and I take with a pinch of salt. I really dont want to hear any more from him, what id like to see is how he goes in the next qualifying campaign, lets see if he makes himself available for the away games in montenegro, georgia or bulgaria and if he plays any of these lets see how he performs.

[tomred23]

I am sure there will be plently more dramas from Ireland under Trap. What kind of abuse will he get a croke park or will he get any, if he does will he be able to handle it?

[amaccann]

Now we just just need Finnan, O'Brien and Carr...

Not Carr thanks. I've never seen a man look so *miserable* playing for Ireland in all my life.

[tetsujin1979]

Open?? Honest??

This is the bloke who walked out on his teammates, and our fans, by fabricating stories of his relatives.

Because his girlfriend had a miscarriage and he panicked

This is the bloke who wouldn't hop over to Prague to play for us in a vital qualifier, but has no problem playing for his club the length and breath of England.

Do you have a problem with your employers when they need you to work for them?

As for being a victim of the management, this is the kind of management him and his teammates want, over the professional, hardline Trapattoni version.

If he didn't want the Trapattoni version of management, why is Ireland coming back to play under him?

He made no contact with the FAI for the rest of the qualifiers, nor with the caretaker boss in charge either.

They didn't contact him either, and chose to deal with it through the media. Fault on both sides IMO

Suddenly, we get a new boss, we might be competitive in the next campaign, and then he wants to climb aboard, without even apologising to the people he's betrayed.

There's been one statement, plenty of time for apologies when he's actually in a press conference

He shamed himself and his country, and he should be banned from playing for us again.

Personally, I think that's more shaming than anything Ireland has done

[BigmanCas]

"I'm available for selection, very much available. We need someone like him (Trapattoni) hopefully to bring it out of us and get us playing.
When Sven heard that he was announced, he said it was a great opportunity for me to go back now because he is a very good coach and I will learn a lot.
This did have an effect on my decision to return. I trust Sven you know. Whatever he says is good advice and he means well."


He claimed that he was available to return for the Brazil game. Why then would Trapattoni´s appointment matter in the least?

It looks to me that Givens was spot on with this chancer. He did not make himself available to Givens. And then he had the audacity to claim that he did and tried to embarrass Givens.
And now from a position of saying he was available and willing to return for the Brazil game we have another bizzarre announcement from Ireland that Trapattoni's appointment has effected his decision to return.

I agree. Be gone with him. He has a bad attitude and he latest remarks confirm this. He is not good enough to start anyhow.

[Newryrep]

He has made himself available, its up to Trapattoni to deal with it, i suspect he would/will not tolerate any messing.

Probably last chance saloon for his Ireland career both in a playing sense and the fans opinion of him - if he doesnt want to play for us I dont want him anywhere near us.

[youngirish]

Do we really need this sulking, childish, whinger in the heart of our midfield when we are desperately trying to get some points away from home in places like Tbilisi or Sofia with a hostile crowd on our back?

He decided to come back because we now have a good manager. What an ar*e. He thinks he's as good as Roy Keane.

In my opinion he's too slow with no bite. Very overrated irrespective of him playing for high flying city. I wouldn't let him back into the team. Stick him on the bench where he belongs at present and see whether he goes home again after a few games if he doesn't get into the starting 11 (as with the Kerr incident).

[amjl]

If we're going to have any chance of making it to the World Cup, we're going to need players with Stephen Ireland's ability to get there, so I'd be glad to see him back playing for Ireland again. Isuses in the past should now stay in the past.

[Greenforever]

He lost his kid and has apparently been bullied by other Irish team members. It's not a matter of him having a could care less attitude, it's about him being mentally volatile at the moment and not wanting to be taken out of his comfort zone. Sounds like he's the victim of unprofessional management by the old staff, and not team management, man management.

If Ireland really was a lazy so-so he'd do what Andy O Brien has been doing for the past year, pulling out of every squad with a minor "injury" then playing for his club days later, not having the balls to admit the truth that he really just doesn't give a damn about Ireland. Instead he's been open and honest about what has happened to him, he's retaliated to Givens, spoken countless times with Sven and Dunne and accepted an FAI reward. He's far more in the loop of the Irish setup than some players who have actually been ON the squad.

Then explain why he wouldnt play for Kerr?

He made himself unavailable full stop.

[shakermaker1982]

We need him, he wants to play. He gets called up. End of. How many class MF do we have in reserve to replace him?!

I just hope he doesn't pull any more stunts but I'm sure Trap and Sven will work on that and ensure it won't happen.

[Greenforever]

I know that Dunne probably has the best interests of his national team at heart (I personally suspect he does at all times) , but to be honest, I'd much rather have Stephen Ireland's opinon on the Stephen Ireland situation than Stephen Hunt's or Richard Dunne's.

Let Ireland openly present himself for selection and appraisal at the next given opportunity. Hopefully, he'll make his case with a substantial performance in the shirt. Should he not, and should there need to be a press Q&A with him after his next appearance (or , god forbid, a press post mortem on his non-appearance), then so be it. Then we'll find out.

Simple question would you believe waht you were told by

A Richard Dunne
B Stephen Hunt
C Stephen Ireland

On track records I would say definitely A probably B and definitely no to C

[lionelhutz]

I'm very happy he is back. A proven midfield goalscorer is priceless and Ireland is putting in top performances against the best teams in the premiership.

He's scored 2 goals for City this season. I don't know where people get the idea he is a Gerrard/Lampard style midfielder. He is a very talented player with great control and passing but he is not a midfield goalscorer

[Deckydee]

We really need this guy, excellent

[RivaldoBabb]

In my opinion he's too slow with no bite. Very overrated irrespective of him playing for high flying city. I wouldn't let him back into the team. Stick him on the bench where he belongs at present and see whether he goes home again after a few games if he doesn't get into the starting 11 (as with the Kerr incident).

Spot on, VERY overrated! Not strong enough for center midfield nor quick enough to play wide. Perhaps if he puts on a few kilos over the next few years (perhaps not as many as A Reid though...) he might be a decent center midfielder but he is only a player with potential at this point.

[Wangball]

I think a line should be drawn uder this whole situation, he wasn't available for selection & no he is, end of story.

The few games he's played show that he's got a big part to play in the future of our National Team so get him back on board and focus on the future rather than whats happened in the past

On another note Hunt needs to learn to keep his mouth shut, he seems to have an opinion on everything and really isn't shy about sharing it, he's a walking soundbyte & an average player at best

[Oink]

I think some people need to get a grip, the kids 21 years of age, he didn't handle the situation in a mature way.... it happens, good managers don't teach young players lessons by exiling them. To succeed, you've got to fail.

If Ireland gives 100% when he puts on the Irish jersey then he's more than welcome to have one.

As far as him being overrated... everyone's intitle to their opinion.... but you're talking through your hole. He's by far and away our most talented midfielder, i've watched most of city's games this season and he has been pivotal for them in a lot of games. He has a great first touch, excellent vision, is good in front of goal, good ball control, decent pace and most importantly brings wingers into the game... which is exactly what we are missing. If only Hamann was Irish too..

Here's Irelands stats for city this season:

Player Stats

Barclays Premier League

Player
Apps 22
Starts 21
Sub 1
Minutes played 1755

Attempts
Goals 2
Shots on target 9
Shots off target 17
Shooting accuracy 35%
Mins per goal scored 877

General play
Assists 23
Passes 719
Passing accuracy 73%
Crosses 36

Defensive
Tackles 64
Blocks 7
Clearances 22

Discipline
Offsides 5
Yellow cards 1
Red cards 1

[Wolfie]

I'd imagine that Trapp (possibly partly prompted by Brady) has indentified Ireland's passing ability and tidy distribution as attributes he'll want in his team - particularly as they are a scarce commodity from our current crop.

Without pre-empting our future style of play - its suggested we could become a trademark Trapp team with a defensive style of play. We'll need a midfield that can retain the ball and use it with some invention.

I'd give the lad a last chance. He's got some making up to do and where better than Georgia Away?

[Morbo]

Not sure he is worth the hassle and I'm far from convinced he is going to stick around this time, time will tell I guess, I'm confident Trap will know who to deal with these type of players