Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: timeoutbigbar on December 22, 2011, 03:48:22 PM
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Any news?
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McLeish just said he'd been ill all week and was exhausted!
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He should be ill more often best he's played yesturday! What ever medication he's on it's definetly enhancing his game!
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hope he's not ill for to long, we need him to pass a medical for some mug of a club in January
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hope he's not ill for to long, we need him to pass a medical for some mug of a club in January
Smashing stuff.
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Well he was very good when he was on the pitch last night, so I hope he gets more opportunities. He also worked very hard.
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It was more like the Ireland I thought we were getting as Milner's replacement.
Whether he can build on it who knows as something always seems to go wrong when he finally gets a run of games like an injury.
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we've been waiting 18 months for him to look like a footballer and then he gets injured
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It was more like the Ireland I thought we were getting as Milner's replacement.
Whether he can build on it who knows as something always seems to go wrong when he finally gets a run of games like an injury.
I've been one of his biggest critics, but I thought he was doing really well last night. He was putting some nice touches and passes together before his knock.
It was also nice to have a decent player replace him.
Let's hope this is the start of the new begining for him.
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we've been waiting 18 months for him to look like a footballer and then he gets injured
J
Yes, that's right. Let's kill him. We could burn Villa Park down too, if it would help tame your relentless optimism
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It was more like the Ireland I thought we were getting as Milner's replacement.
Whether he can build on it who knows as something always seems to go wrong when he finally gets a run of games like an injury.
I've been one of his biggest critics, but I thought he was doing really well last night. He was putting some nice touches and passes together before his knock.
It was also nice to have a decent player replace him.
Let's hope this is the start of the new begining for him.
or lets hope another manager noticed with january round the corner
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Ireland was playing really well, then Bannan came on and was clearly the most skilful player on the pitch, if only he could tackle.
It great to have 2 creative players on form.
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Ireland was playing really well, then Bannan came on and was clearly the most skilful player on the pitch, if only he could tackle.
It great to have 2 creative players on form.
I agree, When you have a player like that you need your midfield "pitbull" who does nothing but tackle. That's what NRC was good at.
I think the days of Sid Cowans, who could pass, tackle and anything else, are long gone.
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Maybe for us re: Sid Cowans, but I think Phil Jones of Man U falls into that category.
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Must admit I didn't really think Bannan made an impact at all which imo has been the case since his arrest and conviction.
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Maybe for us re: Sid Cowans, but I think Phil Jones of Man U falls into that category.
And Yaya Toure and James Milner.
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Toure and Milner lack incisive passing to their game. Good athletes though.
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He'll be fit for Stoke according to Mcleish.
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We need him for the festive fixtures.
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He'll be fit for Stoke according to Mcleish.
Fantastic news. I think if he has a good game there as well, it could 'snowball' and he might finally get back to his best.
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He genuinly looked upset to be going off. We really need him to kick on now, he could be a great player for us
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I also noted he applauded all ends of the ground as he came off as well. So if he plays like he did the other night and puts that effort in, he's a welcome addition to the squad.
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lets just get behind him . If he puts the effort in again , it can only be a bonus for the club .
Its not been a great 18 mths for him and he hasnt done alot but somewhere , somewhere there is a good footballer in there and santa we need one .
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Maybe for us re: Sid Cowans, but I think Phil Jones of Man U falls into that category.
And Yaya Toure and James Milner.
Gary Gardner?
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Just imagine how our team would be transformed creatively if both Ireland and N'Zogbia started to turn it on consistently. We know they can do it.
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Toure and Milner lack incisive passing to their game. Good athletes though.
The incisive pass is something we're lacking at the moment. You won't get it from Herd or Petrov, despite their other good qualities, and Bannan isn't back to his best. Ireland has the ability and the vision to split a defence. I would love him to have an injury-free run in the team to show what he's capable of.
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re: Steven Ireland. It's like a new signing.
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we've been waiting 18 months for him to look like a footballer and then he gets injured
J
Yes, that's right. Let's kill him. We could burn Villa Park down too, if it would help tame your relentless optimism
chortle
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Maybe for us re: Sid Cowans, but I think Phil Jones of Man U falls into that category.
And Yaya Toure and James Milner.
Gary Gardner?
I like Gardner, but if you think he deserves to be in that company based on his career so far, I believe the claret and blue glasses need to be retired.
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Stephen Ireland, I salute you Sir, around 25 minutes on Tuesday you chased down 3 Arsenal players one after the other, the whole crowd stood up and roared and I believe this is the moment that the crowd and players started to all pull in the same direction and we got our club back, for that I salute you.
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Just when you thought he might be getting his head together...
Tweet turns sour for Ireland as Villa boss McLeish questions midfielder's commitment
By Neil Moxley
Stephen Ireland has been warned about his future conduct by Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish after embarrassing pictures of him smoking a Shisha pipe and drinking appeared on Twitter.
The Villa midfielder was spoken to by McLeish after his girlfriend, Jessica Lawlor, posted an image with the tagline: ‘Shisha, alcohol and Xmas songs — doesn’t get better than this.’
The picture appeared just 24 hours after Ireland had been substituted with an injury against Arsenal and in the same week that fellow Villa midfielder Barry Bannan fronted a drink-driving campaign.
McLeish admitted he had confronted Ireland, 25, about the issue, saying: ‘I’ve spoken to Stephen but it’s not something I want to be discussing. My opinion on it will be delivered to him rather than discussing it in public. I don’t, however, think you want to be bringing attention to yourself like that.’
Asked to clarify what Ireland was trying to achieve, McLeish added: ‘I don’t know what he was doing. Was he using a Shisha pipe? I don’t know what that stuff is. For all I know he could have been blowing bubbles. I have to say it’s not my world, the way players live nowadays with tweeting and posting pictures of themselves.’
Ireland was signed for £8million at the start of last season and claimed he was regularly the best player at training with Manchester City
However, Ireland has not delivered at Villa, where McLeish has said his midfield is an area of concern. Ireland has hardly endeared himself to Villa fans either by describing Birmingham as a ‘c**p city’ during an interview.
‘We all know he has a decent touch and he showed other attributes in the Arsenal game with his closing down,’ said McLeish.
‘He has to do more. He has been training well and he put in a shift the other night. He’s got to take that attitude into other games. He has not done himself justice in a Villa shirt.’
The ever dedicated Stephen Ireland (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2079990/Stephen-Ireland-warned-Twitter-conduct.html)
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The Bloke is a Fukin idiot,, sadly at the moment our club is picking up the tab
it will all end in tears
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I mean that's not great, but it's not the end of the world. As long as he shows the application and performance he did against Arsenal I'll be happy.
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Frackin A!
(http://whatabong.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/cannabis-pipe-made-from-carrots-and-pineapple-called-a-bong-being-smoked-ANON.jpg)
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Non-story really, having a bit of craic with his (rather foolish) missus at Christmas. Can't see him recalled for the Chelsea game as he'll likely go with the side that drew with Stoke but we will likely need him to unlock Swansea next week.
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Just when you thought he might be getting his head together...
Tweet turns sour for Ireland as Villa boss McLeish questions midfielder's commitment
By Neil Moxley
Stephen Ireland has been warned about his future conduct by Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish after embarrassing pictures of him smoking a Shisha pipe and drinking appeared on Twitter.
The Villa midfielder was spoken to by McLeish after his girlfriend, Jessica Lawlor, posted an image with the tagline: ‘Shisha, alcohol and Xmas songs — doesn’t get better than this.’
The picture appeared just 24 hours after Ireland had been substituted with an injury against Arsenal and in the same week that fellow Villa midfielder Barry Bannan fronted a drink-driving campaign.
McLeish admitted he had confronted Ireland, 25, about the issue, saying: ‘I’ve spoken to Stephen but it’s not something I want to be discussing. My opinion on it will be delivered to him rather than discussing it in public. I don’t, however, think you want to be bringing attention to yourself like that.’
Asked to clarify what Ireland was trying to achieve, McLeish added: ‘I don’t know what he was doing. Was he using a Shisha pipe? I don’t know what that stuff is. For all I know he could have been blowing bubbles. I have to say it’s not my world, the way players live nowadays with tweeting and posting pictures of themselves.’
Ireland was signed for £8million at the start of last season and claimed he was regularly the best player at training with Manchester City
However, Ireland has not delivered at Villa, where McLeish has said his midfield is an area of concern. Ireland has hardly endeared himself to Villa fans either by describing Birmingham as a ‘c**p city’ during an interview.
‘We all know he has a decent touch and he showed other attributes in the Arsenal game with his closing down,’ said McLeish.
‘He has to do more. He has been training well and he put in a shift the other night. He’s got to take that attitude into other games. He has not done himself justice in a Villa shirt.’
The ever dedicated Stephen Ireland (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2079990/Stephen-Ireland-warned-Twitter-conduct.html)
Complete and utter non story. Unless a young man enjoying christmas with his family is meant to be some sort of crime now.
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Non-story really, having a bit of craic with his (rather foolish) missus at Christmas. Can't see him recalled for the Chelsea game as he'll likely go with the side that drew with Stoke but we will likely need him to unlock Swansea next week.
Heskey is out, and I'd be surprised if fonz started, so I was thinking he might start ahead of bent. I don't think 442 is a good way yo play against Chelsea away
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The sooner he is gone the better. He has been a bad influence since the day we agreed to take him. He lost the plot at City and the chances of him doing anything meaningful in a football shirt are zero.
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Get shod of him he has been here 16 months and shows hardly anything when he plays he seemed to try for 5 minutes against Arsenal chasing the ball down and trying to win the ball. Then he went off.
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Straight swap for Makoun
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He will be at Newcastle with Guthrie coming the other way
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I would prefer to dump him on O'Neill with Gardner coming the other way.
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I don't care where he goes, but wouldn't want either Guthrie or Gardner the Elder coming in as part of the deal!
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It might be fun to see Gardner Major tell us all how his dad brought him to Villa Park and he wished he had never left and it is us he has always supported. I would watch that.
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Yep, we've certainly got a ton of top quality players in the squad, so we can afford to let Ireland go.
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Just when you thought he might be getting his head together...
Tweet turns sour for Ireland as Villa boss McLeish questions midfielder's commitment
By Neil Moxley
Stephen Ireland has been warned about his future conduct by Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish after embarrassing pictures of him smoking a Shisha pipe and drinking appeared on Twitter.
The Villa midfielder was spoken to by McLeish after his girlfriend, Jessica Lawlor, posted an image with the tagline: ‘Shisha, alcohol and Xmas songs — doesn’t get better than this.’
The picture appeared just 24 hours after Ireland had been substituted with an injury against Arsenal and in the same week that fellow Villa midfielder Barry Bannan fronted a drink-driving campaign.
McLeish admitted he had confronted Ireland, 25, about the issue, saying: ‘I’ve spoken to Stephen but it’s not something I want to be discussing. My opinion on it will be delivered to him rather than discussing it in public. I don’t, however, think you want to be bringing attention to yourself like that.’
Asked to clarify what Ireland was trying to achieve, McLeish added: ‘I don’t know what he was doing. Was he using a Shisha pipe? I don’t know what that stuff is. For all I know he could have been blowing bubbles. I have to say it’s not my world, the way players live nowadays with tweeting and posting pictures of themselves.’
Ireland was signed for £8million at the start of last season and claimed he was regularly the best player at training with Manchester City
However, Ireland has not delivered at Villa, where McLeish has said his midfield is an area of concern. Ireland has hardly endeared himself to Villa fans either by describing Birmingham as a ‘c**p city’ during an interview.
‘We all know he has a decent touch and he showed other attributes in the Arsenal game with his closing down,’ said McLeish.
‘He has to do more. He has been training well and he put in a shift the other night. He’s got to take that attitude into other games. He has not done himself justice in a Villa shirt.’
The ever dedicated Stephen Ireland (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2079990/Stephen-Ireland-warned-Twitter-conduct.html)
Complete and utter non story. Unless a young man enjoying christmas with his family is meant to be some sort of crime now.
It's not just any young man, it's a footballer who earns an awful lot of money for doing very little. Successive managers at Man City, Villa and Newcastle appear to have little faith in him. At Villa in particular he has put in lazy, disinterested performances punctuated with occasional glimpses of what he is capable of. Off the field comments have been ill advised to add to the mix.
I have no problem with him enjoying himself over Christmas but I do have a problem with him being a paid member of staff at my club, giving very little in return.
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He is not a quality player. He is a thoroughly bad influence. As club servants go he makes Robert Pires look like Sid Cowans.
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Just when you thought he might be getting his head together...
Tweet turns sour for Ireland as Villa boss McLeish questions midfielder's commitment
By Neil Moxley
Stephen Ireland has been warned about his future conduct by Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish after embarrassing pictures of him smoking a Shisha pipe and drinking appeared on Twitter.
The Villa midfielder was spoken to by McLeish after his girlfriend, Jessica Lawlor, posted an image with the tagline: ‘Shisha, alcohol and Xmas songs — doesn’t get better than this.’
The picture appeared just 24 hours after Ireland had been substituted with an injury against Arsenal and in the same week that fellow Villa midfielder Barry Bannan fronted a drink-driving campaign.
McLeish admitted he had confronted Ireland, 25, about the issue, saying: ‘I’ve spoken to Stephen but it’s not something I want to be discussing. My opinion on it will be delivered to him rather than discussing it in public. I don’t, however, think you want to be bringing attention to yourself like that.’
Asked to clarify what Ireland was trying to achieve, McLeish added: ‘I don’t know what he was doing. Was he using a Shisha pipe? I don’t know what that stuff is. For all I know he could have been blowing bubbles. I have to say it’s not my world, the way players live nowadays with tweeting and posting pictures of themselves.’
Ireland was signed for £8million at the start of last season and claimed he was regularly the best player at training with Manchester City
However, Ireland has not delivered at Villa, where McLeish has said his midfield is an area of concern. Ireland has hardly endeared himself to Villa fans either by describing Birmingham as a ‘c**p city’ during an interview.
‘We all know he has a decent touch and he showed other attributes in the Arsenal game with his closing down,’ said McLeish.
‘He has to do more. He has been training well and he put in a shift the other night. He’s got to take that attitude into other games. He has not done himself justice in a Villa shirt.’
The ever dedicated Stephen Ireland (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2079990/Stephen-Ireland-warned-Twitter-conduct.html)
Complete and utter non story. Unless a young man enjoying christmas with his family is meant to be some sort of crime now.
It's not just any young man, it's a footballer who earns an awful lot of money for doing very little. Successive managers at Man City, Villa and Newcastle appear to have little faith in him. At Villa in particular he has put in lazy, disinterested performances punctuated with occasional glimpses of what he is capable of. Off the field comments have been ill advised to add to the mix.
I have no problem with him enjoying himself over Christmas but I do have a problem with him being a paid member of staff at my club, giving very little in return.
The thing is though this season, when he's played, he's done well. Our best football this season has come with Ireland in the side (QPR away, Wigan and Arsenal at home). On a couple of occasions this year, he's been rewarded after a good performance by being dropped.
Mcleish himself only a couple of weeks ago said how well he was doing in training, so I think the accusations of not trying this season are unfounded.
I'd have Ireland in the team as I think he has more quality than the vast majority of the players at the club, and we've looked a considerably better side with him in it.
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I don't really like the guy, but I just don't agree that he's been lazy and uninterested this season. I agree with the post above. I think we've tended to look better this season when we've played formations and players that allow us to get more technical players on the pitch.
For example, we saw the diamond against Wigan with Bannan and Ireland in midfield. We've never seen that again. He looked good against Arsenal, as did Bannan. I think I'd play Ireland against Chelsea, and then decide who not to play out of alby, n'zog and bent.
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He is not a quality player. He is a thoroughly bad influence. As club servants go he makes Robert Pires look like Sid Cowans.
Just out of interest, what did Pires ever do wrong? Past his best when we signed him I grant you, which was during an injury crisis, but he always seemed to toe the line and try when asked to me!
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This is a non story.
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It's not a non-story. At a time when the club isn't exactly awash with riches, both financially and in terms of numbers, our senior players (yes, that would include Ireland) need to be an example to others. Yes, even professional footballers can have down time, but having a picture with yourself half naked with a pipe to your mouth leaves a distinctly bad taste. Even if it's completely innocent, it's just not the right image HE should be portraying of himself right now. If he really has intentions of forcing his way back into playing football at a high level, then first and foremost his head needs to be 100% into his profession. He has failed to do that since he arrived, and just when you think he might be turning the corner, and we were all pleased to see his cameo against Arsenal, then he needs to rededicate himself to a club and supporter base that have shown him immense patience.
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He's a footballer, most of them are stupid. Don't know why people expect him to be an angel.
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His only mistake here is to go out with a woman who doesn't appear to understand how modern media will make a mountain out of any mole hill when it comes to photographs of footballers.
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He's a footballer, most of them are stupid. Don't know why people expect him to be an angel.
I don't think most of them are stupid at all. I think the few stupid ones give the majority of the good ones a bad name. Most footballers aren't Stephen Ireland or Jermaine "look at my fucking silver car" Pennant. I think most of them apply themselves properly to their craft. I don't think anyone expects him to be an angel but his timing couldn't be much worse. If he was Balotelli for example; a nut, but when he's on the pitch for the most part he does the business I think we'd ignore the other stuff, but he's being paid handsomely right now with very little to show. You'd think, if he was serious about being a footballer rather than a celebrity he'd keep a low profile as he tries to rebuild what's left of his career that at one stage showed immense promise.
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I did not mean to criticize Robert Pires per se. His name serves only to represent a player who came and went. In his prime he was a world class player. Ireland has come and stayed. In all my many years of following Villa I cannot recall a player who has simultaneously been given so much - time-patience-money-opportunity - and given back so little. The odd flashes and bursts yes but nothing game changing, nothing you ought to be able to expect from a player who has cost us so much. For good measure I think his personal conduct pays no regard to that which is expected of a Premiership professional footballer but that last bit is I suppose a generation thing.
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Ireland was summed up for me by coming off against Arsenal. a minute before half time!! We needed him and he couldnt wait a minute to be assessed. Feckin lightweight. Doesnt give a shit about us.
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The thing is Ireland could decide, right I am going to work hard get my head down and show every one what a great fooballer I am. Has he chosen to do this? No he allows his stupid girlfriend to post this on the Internet.
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Never liked him, he's very talented but doesn't seem to give a shit. Time will tell but how long do you give him?
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He is not a quality player. He is a thoroughly bad influence. As club servants go he makes Robert Pires look like Sid Cowans.
Just out of interest, what did Pires ever do wrong? Past his best when we signed him I grant you, which was during an injury crisis, but he always seemed to toe the line and try when asked to me!
Although he was past his best I thought he was a class act after the Wolves match last season when my son wanted to get autographs, he and Marc Albrighton happily signed for everybody and posed for photos unlike the rest of the primadonnas. If anybody had a right to be aloof and arrogant it was Pires as he had pretty much won the lot and been one of the best in the world, yet he was anything but. Think Ashley Young will fit in nicely at Man Utd.
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Yet again SI can do no right.Whats he actually done wrong?
Shock horror, a footballer smokes/drinks.......could be worse we could have Balotelli.
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could be worse we could have Balotelli.
I don't think that us having one of the best strikers in the league would be a bad thing.
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could be worse we could have Balotelli.
I don't think that us having one of the best strikers in the league would be a bad thing.
Yeah Balotelli is a fantastic player and I imagine would be pretty useful.
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The Villa midfielder was spoken to by McLeish after his girlfriend, Jessica Lawlor, posted an image with the tagline: ‘Shisha, alcohol and Xmas songs — doesn’t get better than this.’
The hedonistic ways of WAGS these days....smoking Pot Puri, WKDs and singing Jingle Bells.
It's totally embarrassing and hardly surprising AM had a word.
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......could be worse we could have Balotelli.
What a dreadful prospect, a footballer capable of entertaining and scoring goals.
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Plus, if you wrap yourself round a blanket, grow a beard and look sad hanging round the Trafford Centre there's a good chance Mario will throw you a few quid your way when passing.
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North African restaurants that offer shisha pipes to customers are a dime a dozen these days. Technically you're not smoking anything, though I haven't tried it. Isn't it just steam or something?
I really don't see anything to this, besides Ireland looking like a pillock with his shirt off again. In terms of his attitude and willingness to work he's done okay this season. McLeish hasn't given him enough chance.
Is he good enough though to warrant being a bellend? No, not really.
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We are in dire need of a Stephen Ireland playing how he did for Citeh a few years ago.
Talent is there, please can we see it ??
I ignore this WAG driven bollox.
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Asked to clarify what Ireland was trying to achieve, McLeish added: ‘I don’t know what he was doing. Was he using a Shisha pipe? I don’t know what that stuff is. For all I know he could have been blowing bubbles.
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Asked to clarify what Ireland was trying to achieve, McLeish added: ‘I don’t know what he was doing. Was he using a Shisha pipe? I don’t know what that stuff is. For all I know he could have been blowing bubbles.
Pretty bubbles in the air.
Trying to get a gig at Wet Spam so can he can live in The Smoke.
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Damn you Ireland. How dare you enjoy Christmas. :@
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He is not a quality player. He is a thoroughly bad influence. As club servants go he makes Robert Pires look like Sid Cowans.
Just out of interest, what did Pires ever do wrong? Past his best when we signed him I grant you, which was during an injury crisis, but he always seemed to toe the line and try when asked to me!
Pires was just another one of Houllier's crazy ideas: adding a member to the squad during an injury crisis. Who knows, maybe he thought the place would benefit from having someone who has won medals around? The move fits in with his other stupid schemes: like signing a midfielder who could pass the ball, signing a striker who could score goals, and suggesting that players should practice football rather than send text messages during traning sessions.
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Houlier did some good things, Pires was not one of them, his tearfull entrance at Anfield, throwing away an FA Cup tie at Citeh and treating the club and its supporters as second rate to his beloved Liverpool are just a few of his indescretions.
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He is not a quality player. He is a thoroughly bad influence. As club servants go he makes Robert Pires look like Sid Cowans.
Just out of interest, what did Pires ever do wrong? Past his best when we signed him I grant you, which was during an injury crisis, but he always seemed to toe the line and try when asked to me!
Pires was just another one of Houllier's crazy ideas: adding a member to the squad during an injury crisis. Who knows, maybe he thought the place would benefit from having someone who has won medals around? The move fits in with his other stupid schemes: like signing a midfielder who could pass the ball, signing a striker who could score goals, and suggesting that players should practice football rather than send text messages during traning sessions.
heheheh.
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I'm forever blowing bubbles
pretty bubbles in my pipe
I feel so high, nearly reach the sky
Then like my contract they fade and die
Fortune's always hiding
Just like my Shisha pipe
I'm forever blowing bubbles
pretty bubbles in my pipe
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North African restaurants that offer shisha pipes to customers are a dime a dozen these days. Technically you're not smoking anything, though I haven't tried it. Isn't it just steam or something?
We've got one and you can 'smoke' anything from pot, to tobacco, to fruit flavoured concoctions and even others like chocolate.
Our favourite is the apple flavour, I'm fairly certain there is no tobacco in the fruit/chocolate flavoured varieties.
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Yet again SI can do no right.Whats he actually done wrong?
More like "Yet again SI can do no wrong. What's he actually done right?"
I patiently await Stevie's next vile tattoo, to be emblazoned in red across his chest:
"Why always me?"
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Yet again SI can do no right.Whats he actually done wrong?
Shock horror, a footballer smokes/drinks.......could be worse we could have Balotelli.
Yes its not SI fault that we were stupid enough to pay £8m for him and give him £80k a week to take the piss and show no effort when playing for ASTON VILLA
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Poor love.
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I hope he smokes more often
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Bow down
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I'll have some of what he's smoking!
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Welcome to Aston Villa Stevie!!!! MOTM
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Superb. Best performance from a Villa player this season.
Now keep it up.
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The thing is Ireland could decide, right I am going to work hard get my head down and show every one what a great fooballer I am. Has he chosen to do this? No he allows his stupid girlfriend to post this on the Internet.
Maybe he did get up this mornng and do something I thought he never would, Play for the shirt. That was a fantastic performance.
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Well then..............without doubt he has ability, if he keeps performing like that then he can be as big for us as Platt was.Top Quality today, kept the ball, supported the player with the ball, kept working, kept moving.Everything you want as an attacking midfield player.........oh and he scored.
My reference to Balotelli was more about publicity than ability tbh.
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I was critical of Ireland for the photo and I'm delighted he took the advice of his manager to sort himself out. He has the potential to be the player we all know he has been and can be again. If he wants it enough. Today was a terrific step forward and the goal will do him a power of good. Well done Stephen.
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Just imagine how our team would be transformed creatively if both Ireland and N'Zogbia started to turn it on consistently. We know they can do it.
Just quoting
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18 months. 1 decent game. 1 goal. Umpteen presses of the self-des
truct button.
It'll take a while before I'm convinced.
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18 months. 1 decent game. 1 goal. Umpteen presses of the self-des
truct button.
It'll take a while before I'm convinced.
how about give him credit where it is due? Just for one day.
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18 months. 1 decent game. 1 goal. Umpteen presses of the self-des
truct button.
It'll take a while before I'm convinced.
Merry Christmas to you too.
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18 months. 1 decent game. 1 goal. Umpteen presses of the self-des
truct button.
It'll take a while before I'm convinced.
Empty that half empty glass of whatever it is you're drinking.
The guy's never been given a chance to really show what he can do.
Well played Stevie...
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"never been given a chance to really show what he can do"? Chortle.
Remind me what it was that Aristotle said about Spring and swallows.
Once I see a flock of said swallows, I might change my mind. One decent game for an outlay of £8m plus at least £4m in wages is still looking like a shit piece of business.
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Sorry, did I say £4m in wages?
I meant £6m.
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North African restaurants that offer shisha pipes to customers are a dime a dozen these days. Technically you're not smoking anything, though I haven't tried it. Isn't it just steam or something?
We've got one and you can 'smoke' anything from pot, to tobacco, to fruit flavoured concoctions and even others like chocolate.
Our favourite is the apple flavour, I'm fairly certain there is no tobacco in the fruit/chocolate flavoured varieties.
Yep that's right, had one at a music festival last summer, it's pretty harmless.
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I have been against the signing of Ireland from day one. I still haven't changed my mind and despite a good game today, long term, I don't see him being a success.
But if he plays like that every week, ramming my words down my throat, I will be chuffed to fcuk.
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18 months. 1 decent game. 1 goal. Umpteen presses of the self-des
truct button.
It'll take a while before I'm convinced.
So you didn't rate him against Wigan and Arsenal (until he got injured) then?
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Don't think it's been mentioned yet but a fan rang 606 earlier saying he had met Ireland a few weeks ago after the Arsenal game and they had a bit of a chat. After the game today Ireland saw the guy at the front of the away enclosure went over to him and handed him his match shirt. A nice touch.
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Thats a great gesture.
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Thats a better story to be reading about footballers! It makes a change from reading about the negative aspects of some of their behaviour!
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18 months. 1 decent game. 1 goal. Umpteen presses of the self-des
truct button.
It'll take a while before I'm convinced.
Merry Christmas to you too.
Eamonn, legend as usual!
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It must be something about the supposed nutters in the game. Ballotelli is supposedly one of the most generous people outside of football as well.
As for Ireland. Watching the whole match tonight I noticed that Ireland was running and defending really well when we didn't have the ball and was showing himself for it when we did. Before he used to hide from the ball, and run about a yard behind the player with the ball without challenging when defending. Hopefully these last few performances are Ireland realising he needs us.
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Thats a great gesture.
Yeh it is. Good for him. I really do hope he becomes the player we all hope he will be.
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The biggest issue for him over the last 18 months -apart from being a bit of a head the ball obviously- is his fitness.
Injured in the warm up for his home debut v Everton, injured after looking decent against Fulham away and Chelsea at home last season and injured this season too.
We can't change the weirdness -and I'm not entirely sure I'd want to- but if he can put a run of games together and if Big Eck doesn't revert to type and somehow try to shoehorn Ivanhoe into the starting XI- he can give us that zest and creativity we have been so desperately lacking since the departures of Young and Downing.
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If we get Ireland the footballer back then we will have one hell of a player on our hands.
Early days but hopefully the signs are promising.
If McLeish gets the best out of Ireland then he will surely prove himself.
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Really happy with him today my man of the match, looked hungry always wanted the ball, he's either woke up or he's after a move. He's certainly given mcleish food for thought
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"never been given a chance to really show what he can do"? Chortle.
Remind me what it was that Aristotle said about Spring and swallows.
Once I see a flock of said swallows, I might change my mind. One decent game for an outlay of £8m plus at least £4m in wages is still looking like a shit piece of business.
Ireland's been good in every game he's played this season. Yesterday he was absolutely outstanding, not "decent".
Would you rather Heskey play? Would you rather we went back to the turgid style of football seen in the games against spurs and man u?
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Heskey is more injury prone than Ireland.
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Heskey is more injury prone than Ireland.
Which is good, right?!
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Ireland has had a load of criticism from the Villa fans but I'm sure we all want to see him stay and play like he did yesterday. That display was the Stephen Ireland we all hoped we were getting when he signed. There, is the player that can supply the creativity and support from midfield and if he shows that sort of performance then he will hear our full backing.
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Watched the game again. The one thing he offers that we've missing for ages is intelligence in the midfield area. Intelligence of positioning, flair, awareness and when to get forward and support the attack from deep. Not everything came off for him, but it was clear from his involvement in all three goals thathe had the vision to open things up or be involved in dangerous positions. Add to that he made several key tackles and interceptions.
In honour today of Sir Doug it would very much be like a new signing.
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(http://s16.postimage.org/grnpiqzhv/stan.png)
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Don't think it's been mentioned yet but a fan rang 606 earlier saying he had met Ireland a few weeks ago after the Arsenal game and they had a bit of a chat. After the game today Ireland saw the guy at the front of the away enclosure went over to him and handed him his match shirt. A nice touch.
Ah, that explains the finger pointing when he took the shirt off.
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Sorry, what do the red arrows mean? Passes that didn't come off?
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Sorry, what do the red arrows mean? Passes that didn't come off?
Correct
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Don't think it's been mentioned yet but a fan rang 606 earlier saying he had met Ireland a few weeks ago after the Arsenal game and they had a bit of a chat. After the game today Ireland saw the guy at the front of the away enclosure went over to him and handed him his match shirt. A nice touch.
Ah, that explains the finger pointing when he took the shirt off.
He's on twitter that dude https://twitter.com/#!/jbarfoot23