Stephen Ireland Makes Himself Available Again

[lionelhutz]

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..

He doesn't score many goals and disappears from alot of games. Granted, he hit a hot streak of scoring for us in the last campaign and he does seem to have a good football brain but he is definitely not an imposing midfielder that takes control of a game when it gets tough. I think that is what we need

[Oink]

He doesn't score many goals and disappears from alot of games. Granted, he hit a hot streak of scoring for us in the last campaign and he does seem to have a good football brain but he is definitely not an imposing midfielder that takes control of a game when it gets tough. I think that is what we need

As far as drifting in and out of games you have to take into account that he's only 21, he has come on a lot in the last 2 seasons and will continue to improve if played. The fact that he has made the 2nd most appearances in midfield (1 behind Hamann) proves how much city rate him.... they see him play every week by the way.

Yes we need an imposing defensive midfielder.. so? We need a good left back as well? Ireland fills the role of a good creative attacking midfielder which we also need.

[BigmanCas]

delighted to hear steve is interested in playing again he will in my eyes be a player trappatoni will build his team around

Oh my god. Are you drunk at this time on a Monday? His performances hitherto in a green jersey suggest he will not even be in Trapps First 11. He is a lazy so and so. He has talent but I would not go building a team around somebody so mentally and physically frail!!!!! We'll build a team around Mc Geady.

[youngirish]

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.

Oink you posted this by mistake in the Stephen Ireland section. I presume you meant it for the Andy Reid forum as there's no way anyone could claim Stephen Ireland has decent pace(???), is our most talented midfielder (that's Reid by a distance) and is good in front of goal (I believe he has 3 goals in 67 appearances for city, hardly Frank Lampard form).

[jmurphyc]

Yes we need an imposing defensive midfielder.. so? We need a good left back as well? Ireland fills the role of a good creative attacking midfielder which we also need.

Ireland cannot play in a 2 man central midfield at the moment and may never be able to. He's too much of a liability. He's a player with bags of potential, but only in a 3 man midfield. He is nowhere near the level of Andy Reid yet in my opinion.

[eirebhoy]

He doesn't score many goals and disappears from alot of games.

Those disappearing acts still usually consist of simple passes. He averages as many passes a game as Elano for example. I just can't get away from the Seedorf comparison. A player that has gone his whole career keeping things simple but many fans don't appreciate what he brings.

[youngirish]

Those disappearing acts still usually consist of simple passes. He averages as many passes a game as Elano for example. I just can't get away from the Seedorf comparison. A player that has gone his whole career keeping things simple but many fans don't appreciate what he brings.

Can't see it myself eirebhoy. Seedorf put his foot in and scored a few goals also from my recollection. Stephen Ireland does neither. He's more flash in his passing though.

[jmurphyc]

He's an excellent passer, but I'm more worried about his defensive frailty and physique. By playing him, other players have to do a lot more work around him as he has dreadful concentration.

[lionelhutz]

As far as drifting in and out of games you have to take into account that he's only 21, he has come on a lot in the last 2 seasons and will continue to improve if played. The fact that he has made the 2nd most appearances in midfield (1 behind Hamann) proves how much city rate him.... they see him play every week by the way.

Yes we need an imposing defensive midfielder.. so? We need a good left back as well? Ireland fills the role of a good creative attacking midfielder which we also need.

I've no doubt he's an excellent talent. However, I feel the only role he could excel in for Ireland is off the striker(s) with 2 midfielders behind him. And I think Duff/McGeady/Keane could play this role as well, if not better, than him. Therefore I don't think he's a necessity in our team. Useful OK, but not a necessity

And i didn't mean a defensive midfielder is a necessity - i meant imposing, crafty and intelligent as well as doing his defensive duties. Stephen Reid could be this player. Lee Carsley couldn't - he's way too limited

[tetsujin1979]

Oink you posted this by mistake in the Stephen Ireland section. I presume you meant it for the Andy Reid forum as there's no way anyone could claim Stephen Ireland has decent pace(???), is our most talented midfielder (that's Reid by a distance) and is good in front of goal (I believe he has 3 goals in 67 appearances for city, hardly Frank Lampard form).

Stephen Ireland has 4 goals in 5 games for the Republic, that's a better goals per game ratio than most international strikers. As for Lampard, compare and contrast his form for England with his form for Chelsea. Personally, I think he's actually a fairly limited player, but he plays in a system at his club that uses his talents to the maximum, while limiting his failings. If he didn't have Makelele behind him he'd be a massive liability. Same goes for City with Ireland and Hamann though.

[jmurphyc]

Stephen Ireland has 4 goals in 5 games for the Republic, that's a better goals per game ratio than most international strikers.

But his goals have so far masked a lot of his inadequacies. I haven't seen too much of him this season, but hopefully he'll join us as a much better player than he was when he last played for us thanks to Sven. I still don't feel he's entirely ready, but he's a welcome addition to the squad.

[NeilMcD]

Yeah I don't think anybody here could argue that he should be playing in a central midfield of two as we would get cup open time and time again like we did in Cyprus and less so in Slovakia. He is much better as a third central midfielder or at a stretch as a wide player who cuts in but this would not be ideal. What he does bring for us or did anyway was a knack of scoring vital goals. For this reason he needs to be on the bench at least. However he would not always make the starting 11 and would never make it if we are playing a 4 4 2.

[Manc Irish Wolf]

4 goals in 5, great at ghosting into the box and has got an eye for a defence splitting pass. Massively regarded at City and while he's crazy as a box of frogs (aren't we all), he is definitely in for a shout under trappatoni, especially as Carsley is perfect for the defensive role in a 3/5 man midfield behind him. Good to have him back. He's quality and with a bit of luck will come through.

[backstothewall]

Perhaps it is wise to post his explanation at the time

"I wish to explain the circumstances surrounding my departure from the Republic of Ireland international squad following the Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovakia in Bratislava last Saturday," Ireland said.

"When the game ended our manager Stephen Staunton took me outside the dressing room into the corridor, along with the Ireland team doctor.

"He told me that they had taken a call from my girlfriend, Jessica, and she said my grandmother had died. I was deeply shocked because I believed it was my maternal grandmother who had brought me up from when I was five.

"The manager went back into the dressing room to get my phone and when I got it I immediately rang my girlfriend to get more details. My girlfriend was distraught and explained that she had just suffered a miscarriage.

"Jessica said she was very lonely and wanted me to come home. She said she thought they might let me home quicker if they thought my grandmother had died.

"When I finished the call I told the manager and doctor that my grandmother had died and because we were very close I wanted to go home immediately. The manager said that was no problem and he would get the FAI to sort it out.

"The FAI hired a private jet to get me home and I flew out of Bratislava the following morning. Before I left I told the FAI media officer that the name of my grandmother was Patricia Tallon.

"Early on Monday morning I got a phone call from Stephen Staunton telling me that the FAI had discovered my grandmother in Cork was not dead.

"He wanted to know what was going on and I told him that there had been a mistake and it had been my father's mother. I told him her name was Brenda Kitchener, that she lived in London."

"Jessica and I were still very upset over the miscarriage so we flew home to Ireland for a few days.

"On Thursday, I got a phone call from Manchester City stating that the FAI had discovered that my grandmother, Brenda Kitchener, was also alive. I decided at that stage that I must tell truth and admit I had told lies.

"I realise now that it was a massive mistake on my part to tell the FAI and Manchester City that my grandmothers had died and I deeply regret it."

Ireland continued: "The miscarriage that Jessica suffered last Saturday has caused both of us a lot of heartache and had caused us both to panic.

"It was wrong and I sincerely apologise, particularly as I caused a lot of problems for many people. I would like to apologise to my grandmothers and all my family for any distress I have caused them.

"Ireland manager Stephen Staunton, my Ireland team-mates, the backroom staff and the FAI also deserve my profound apologies. I truly appreciate that the extraordinary lengths they went to put my welfare first and ensure I got home from Slovakia as quickly as possible.

"I am also sorry for causing Manchester City any embarrassment and apologise to the supporters of both Manchester City and Ireland for misleading them and the media.

"I love playing for my country and am grateful for the understanding Mr Staunton and the FAI have shown to me since I told them the truth.

"I have learnt a valuable lesson from this mess and hope those I have hurt by my actions will forgive me."

If people actually took the time to read what he had to say at the time they would see it is a very reasonable explanation and contrite apology for the mistake he made. none of the facts of this staement have been disputed by anyone in the Ireland set up as far as i am aware, even those with long held grievances against Stephen Ireland

A miscarriage is a very difficult time in anyones life. He quite rightly wanted to be with his partner to support her. If he had told the truth he would have been allowed to go home, but he was young and naive and made a mistake (that wasn't initiated by him). The attitude of some 'fans' will only make it harder for the next footballer to be unfortunate enough to have this befall him while on international duty.

This is something i have experienced, and it leaves you in no fit state for football, work, or anything else. That he made a mistake in those circumstances should be understandable to anyone, particularly anyone who has children.

Welcome back Stephen

[mypost]

Because his girlfriend had a miscarriage and he panicked

Whether he panicked or not is not the issue here. He lied about his reasons for doing so, twice. The nature of the lies were disgraceful. If he had told the truth initially, he would still have gone home, and the fans would have accepted it a lot more. This was not a one-off occurrence, he refused to play for us for 5 games.

They didn't contact him either, and chose to deal with it through the media.
There's been one statement, plenty of time for apologies when he's actually in a press conference

The FAI is a football association, not a counselling service. It's up to Stephen Ireland to sort his problems out, neither the FAI nor his club are under any obligation to do so. He walked out on his country, so he needs to contact the FAI and apologise for his behaviour to them and to us, before setting foot in the squad, never mind a press conference again.

Sorry, but miscarriage or not, he must be made an example of. Otherwise, what's to stop another player to use similiar reasons in order to boycott the team for 5 months? Allowing him back in, sends out the message that his behaviour can, and will be tolerated in future. That only spells bad news for our team.

[eirebhoy]

Otherwise, what's to stop another player to use similiar reasons in order to boycott the team for 5 months?

I think the main point here is why in the name of jaysus would they want to? I'm guessing Ireland didn't come back immediately because quite frankly he was embarrassed to.

[irishfan86]

I think this was a messy, embarrassing situation for Stephen, and he has admitted to his mistakes.

He has asked for forgiveness, as that article indicates, and I see no reason to "make an example" out of him- as Eirebhoy has indicated, the embarrassment is punishment enough.

Let's get behind him and give him a second chance.

We've all ****ed up and been given second chances, just because he's a footballer doesn't mean we should expect him to live a model life free of human mistakes.

[backstothewall]

He walked out on his country, so he needs to contact the FAI and apologise for his behaviour to them and to us, before setting foot in the squad, never mind a press conference again.

What part of...

"It was wrong and I sincerely apologise, particularly as I caused a lot of problems for many people. I would like to apologize to my grandmothers and all my family for any distress I have caused them.

"Ireland manager Stephen Staunton, my Ireland team-mates, the backroom staff and the FAI also deserve my profound apologies. I truly appreciate that the extraordinary lengths they went to put my welfare first and ensure I got home from Slovakia as quickly as possible.

"I am also sorry for causing Manchester City any embarrassment and apologise to the supporters of both Manchester City and Ireland for misleading them and the media.

...do you not understand??

Short of knocking every door in Ireland, asking if there are any football fans in the house, going down on his knees and begging forgiveness what more can he say??

He made a mistake. There were exceptional mitigating circumstances. He apologized sincerely. He was left embarrassed and didn't fell ready to make the next squad and wasn't chosen after that. Now he is ready again. great news

I'm not usually one for quoting the bible, but let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

[tetsujin1979]

Well said backtowallsall.
He's back. He's apologised. Let's all just get on with our lives.

[RivaldoBabb]

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..

I think you need to take off your blue coloured spectacles.

I have also watched a lot of man city games, including the manchester derby recently when I thought he was rubbish first half and slightly better second half but some of the people on this forum were getting a bit overexcited about him afterwards.

You have hit on some good points there, he has an excellent first touch, but he plays first time passes ALL the time, and gives the ball away too much for my liking, not what you need at international football. He doesnt dominate a game yet either, he wont hold onto a ball to commit a player before passing and when he is in an advanced attacking position he rushes everything, he looks scared and probably is because he isnt strong enough yet. And you are right if only Hamman and Martin Petrov were Irish, they would also make Ireland look better at International football like they do at man city.

He might develop into a good player and because we dont have many center midfielders to choose from then he has to be in our squads but not a first choice starter. A Reid is much better option as our midfield creator.