Stephen Ireland Makes Himself Available Again

**AustinoAsprilla** · 17/02/2008, 2:59 PM

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

**jmurphyc** · 17/02/2008, 3:09 PM

Although I'm not happy with his behaviour in the past, what's done is done. Hopefully now he can just stay committed as if he ****s up again then he really isn't worth it. Happy he's back.

**viagogo** · 17/02/2008, 3:11 PM

Originally Posted by AustinoAsprilla

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

Maybe not Carr, dont need to see his miserable face in an Irish jersey again.

**bellavistaman** · 17/02/2008, 3:20 PM

Originally Posted by Wangball

In the News of the World (I know, I know....sorry) it says that Eriksson has invited Trap to Man City's next game to watch Ireland & Dunne

Nothing more than a **** up and a strip club after id say!

Originally Posted by RivaldoBabb

Thats very considerate of him isnt it? 'Yeh, i think ill bother playing for Ireland again as they have a good manager, Sven says I should'

The more I hear from him the more I dislike him, where is his passion for the Irish jersey and commitment to the cause, he should want to play for Ireland regardless of who the manager is or how the team is doing.

He can come back, and sit on the bench because he is not good enough to get in midfield ahead of McGeady, A Reid, S Reid, Duff

McGeady, not a hope is he better than Ireland, S Reid simply whos playing better in the same the league, Ireland and that why he should be playing ahead of him, likewise for Duff, but duff is the opposite of Robbie unbelievable for us no matter what his club form is.

Originally Posted by co. down green

I think we need to 'draw a line in the sand' over the Stephen Ireland Granny incident.

We've a top manager taking over, with a good backroom team & a great sense of hope for the future.

I welcome him back with open arms & as long as he's going to give a 100% in the Green shirt, that's good enough for me.

+ Trap won't take any nonsense from any player.

Hear hear

Originally Posted by AustinoAsprilla

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

also hear hear again.

**mypost** · 17/02/2008, 3:24 PM

Originally Posted by stiffler

Im taking this news for what it is for, great news for the Ireland team, as Stephen Ireland is a quality player and the more quality players we have the better.

What has gone on in the past should be left in the past in my opinion.

This is bad news.

Stephen Ireland walked out on his country last September in disgusting circumstances. He has no right to make himself available for selection, it's Trappattoni's job to decide whether he can play for us or not.

We won't ignore what's gone on in the past. 2 other players have recently retired from international football, by sulking. If he's selected, it condones Stephen Ireland's behaviour, and gives any other player in the squad the option to do the same. "Sure, he'll always be welcomed back".

A tough line must be taken on this, and he must be made an example of. It's called management. There are other midfielders who would sweat blood to play in a green shirt. He can't be allowed to turn up when he feels like it.

**geysir** · 17/02/2008, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by Bondvillain

Perhaps I missed something in print between then and now (and apologies if I have) but wasn't that just speculation based on a half-heard radio report possibly suggesting Ireland wanted to face Brazil?

If that was speculation then that means Ireland's nonsense about Don Givens was also speculation.
If Ireland was not available for the Brazil squad then there is no logical reason that Givens should have picked him. If Ireland did not make himself available then why all the nonsense when he could have simply said he was taking a short break but hoped to be in the new managers plans.

Dunne's comments look to be even more sharp now, when he had the opportunity to clear his teammates of bullying him, he didn't, he chose to let those rumors run.
I have to ignore this Stephen Ireland thread and anything written about him, where he has football intelligence in abundance the rest has been lobotomized.

**Docboy** · 17/02/2008, 3:53 PM

Football wise it's great for us that he's back. Won't have too much time for the lad, he needs to grow and start putting in a load of decent performances before he'll earn any respect back.

**Cymro** · 17/02/2008, 4:12 PM

I understand from reading this thread that right now some of you probably don't like Ireland. But I would encourage you to get behind him now he's decided to come back, because players of that calibre are priceless. You just have to put up with their personality deficiencies.

Koumas was the same a few years back, we always knew he had talent but his attendance record in friendlies, particluarly away ones, was awful. However annoyed you may be with that sort of attitude sometimes you just have to accept it because as Koumas' recent displays for us (8 goals in last 8 games for Wales) have shown, that sort of player can be invaluable as a matchwinner and someone who can change a game.

I still question Koumas's commitment but it seems Toshack is finally getting the best out of him through sheer persistence. Having watched Ireland play lately I would say he is a very similar type of talent and personality but if you can get the best out of him it will be well worth it.

**Stuttgart88** · 17/02/2008, 4:15 PM

Yeah, I'm glad he's available but I'll probably always think he's a tool and I doubt I'll ever actually like him.

**SkStu** · 17/02/2008, 4:30 PM

good news. who cares about what he did in the past - hes a quality player. and he's not the first player to withdraw his services for Ireland..

**bohsRap** · 17/02/2008, 4:55 PM

Originally Posted by mypost

A tough line must be taken on this, and he must be made an example of. It's called management. There are other midfielders who would sweat blood to play in a green shirt. He can't be allowed to turn up when he feels like it.

Not entirely correct. Normally new managers bring a clean slate with all players. If S. Ireland does anything stupid whilst Trap is in charge, well then tell him where to go. I'd doubt Trap will make any rash decisions on players that have done something when he wasn't around.

**boovidge** · 17/02/2008, 4:57 PM

Originally Posted by mypost

He has no right to make himself available for selection

So he has no right to accept a call up if picked? Which is essentially what 'making yourself available' is.

When Ireland didn't 'make himself available' he got slated by Don Givens and fans and now he has he's getting the same treatment when he does confirm he wants to play.

**jmurphyc** · 17/02/2008, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by bellavistaman

McGeady, not a hope is he better than Ireland, S Reid simply whos playing better in the same the league, Ireland and that why he should be playing ahead of him, likewise for Duff, but duff is the opposite of Robbie unbelievable for us no matter what his club form is.

Ireland is not as good as any of those players - yet - purely because of his inconsistency during games. When he's in the game and looking for the ball then he's a fantastic player, but the when he's played for Ireland in a 2 man central midfield he's a total liability, despite his goals. If we are going to get the best out of him, then he needs to play as the central player in the 3 of a 4-2-3-1 formation on possibly in the hole in a 4-4-1-1 formation. He should by no means be guaranteed a starting place until he proves that he can dominate the whole 90 minutes of a game otherwise there are better options.

**jmurphyc** · 17/02/2008, 6:29 PM

Ciaran, your post almost seems to be implying that he acted professionally. Whilst I empathise with him, his handling of multiple situations leaves a lot to be desired. It's not like he was a one time offender. He still has yet to apologise for essentially spending the fan's money for a private jet back to Ireland, amongst other things. He's still relatively young and we all make mistakes, so I can forgive him but he has not acted in a professional manner one bit.

**Superhoops** · 17/02/2008, 6:43 PM

Originally Posted by jmurphyc

.......He still has yet to apologise for essentially spending the fan's money for a private jet back to Ireland, amongst other things. .....

This is the key factor in the whole SI debate.

The arrogance of the little cnut when he slated Givens for not calling him to ask him about his situation is astounding.

**Guts&Glory** · 17/02/2008, 6:47 PM

Stating that he hates being a footballer and slagging his teamates and then manager on his Bebo site, getting all prissy beacause the irish lads take the Mickey out of his miraculous reagining of hair (imagine the Stick Stepehn Hunt gets!!), not wanting to play for several managers at under age and senior level, refusing to meet Stan when he went in person to the City training ground to talk to him and try and coax him back after Stan had stood by him in the whole Grannygate....

Stephen Ireland is not a one incident but a many incident clown.

Unfortunately for us he is a player we need due to his undoubted ability.

The only thing I would say for this immature idiot is he did apologise for the Grannygate and Jet home incident when he got back to Manchester but only after the papers got pics of him in a Cork nightclub.

**kingdomkerry** · 17/02/2008, 7:04 PM

Agreed

Originally Posted by co. down green

I think we need to 'draw a line in the sand' over the Stephen Ireland Granny incident.

We've a top manager taking over, with a good backroom team & a great sense of hope for the future.

I welcome him back with open arms & as long as he's going to give a 100% in the Green shirt, that's good enough for me.

+ Trap won't take any nonsense from any player.

Agreed.
The past is the past. This is a new era for irish football. Now all we need is to get Finnan to change his mind about retiring

**3 Heroes** · 17/02/2008, 7:12 PM

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

Maybe he should send an old text whenever he feels a game is worthy of his appearance

"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.

It would've been mostly resolved if he'd played for us since, not it's kind of just festering

**Paddy Garcia** · 17/02/2008, 7:12 PM

Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

Agreed

Agreed.
The past is the past. This is a new era for irish football. Now all we need is to get Finnan to change his mind about retiring

Well you had better first delete a few dozen comments on this site!

**NeilMcD** · 17/02/2008, 7:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ciaran

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.

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.