Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Kent Villian on December 11, 2010, 08:32:08 PM
-
Anybody know why Ireland was not even on the bench?
Cannot find anything on the Villa website. I hope the management has finally woken up to the fact he should never pull on a shirt again!
Here's hoping!
-
He's the new Mattieu Berson. I'm beginning to think that Ireland is just a figment of our imaginations
-
The new Ivo Stas
-
Dropped from the squad completely, according to Ron Toss.
-
The new Ivo Stas
Najwan Ghrayib
-
I heard he still lives in Manchester, they probably called and said just stay there
-
Somebody posted just before kick off that Ireland was seen leaving Villa Park.
-
The new Ivo Stas
At least he scored for us.
-
if he was told he wasnt in starting line up and left the ground that man needs selling, for anything we can get, because he aint a saleable asset. He will even mess up our calender next november!!
-
i can see this ending with Ireland either agreeing to his contract being cancelled or sitting his contract out
-
Who is Mr Invisable?
Is it somebody who's been refused a credit card?
-
I had to think about that one Mazrim. Got there in the end though!
-
I hope we don't buy any more citeh castoffs. Somebody mentioned lescott but I don't want another player homesick for El Dorado
-
I was very pleased to see him arrive at Villa. I thought (like Dunne) he'd have something to prove and give his all. Instead he's been a petulant, unprofessional little wanker. Let's hope he's off in a couple of weeks; he can only be a destabilising influence.
-
The conversation suggesting we were getting the better end of the Milner deal because of Ireland seems crazy now. He has been a watse of time and space and should be ashemed of himself for wasting his and our time. I wouldn't be surprised to see him going in january.
-
As I said a few weeks back he's a bit like Blanche Du Bois from a Streetcar Named Desire... Evicted from his former home 'Belle Reve', mentally frail and living off a past beauty.
That said for those of you familiar with the play the analogy starts to fall apart later on.
The conversation suggesting we were getting the better end of the Milner deal because of Ireland seems crazy now. He has been a watse of time and space and should be ashemed of himself for wasting his and our time. I wouldn't be surprised to see him going in january.
But considering they gave us him and £18million for a midfielder who hasn't really excelled for them and whom they don't use we still didn't do THAT badly. I still hope SI can turn it around so I haven't yet written him off yet (though I could be being foolish in that).
-
Vivien Leigh had a better engine
-
I was asked by a Man City supporting friend how Ireland has gone down at Villa, and I had to respond in Big Ron fashion and say he has gone down like Buddy Holly.
-
The conversation suggesting we were getting the better end of the Milner deal because of Ireland seems crazy now. He has been a watse of time and space and should be ashemed of himself for wasting his and our time. I wouldn't be surprised to see him going in january.
I don't think that he can be transferred in the January window. As he was at City at the start of the seaon and has turned out for us (I didn't write played for us), rules prevent a player being registered for 3 PL clubs in the same seaon. So looks like becoming highest paid non player on the staff. Give him time to source another tastefully coloured car for his girlfriend.
-
I think that Ireland needs to see a shrink. If something happened with Ireland, you'd think that the regular media would of caught wind of it now.
-
If that is the case and he walked out before the game, he won't be around in February and well done to GH for dropping Dunne.
-
hopefully he was having a medical at fulham
-
How anyone could imagine that it would end up any other way is beyond my comprehension. An undoubted talent but with such a questionable attitude it was always doomed to failure.
We should never have agreed to any deal involving players and gone for the cash, and following the departure of MON we should have had a moratorium on any player movement until such a time as a new manager was installed.
And cast your mind back to the time of his departure from Man City and his monetary demands to agree to the move, that should've set the alarm bells ringing alone.
He has been given more chances than he deserved under Hou, yet spurned each one with token effort and the air of one who would rather be elsewhere.
A rather typical tale from todays game, all the trappings of success off the pitch but none on it.
-
I'd really love to see him performing for Villa.
I haven't written him off yet, but I am concerned that GH has.
-
If Ireland is going to get better, the first step is for him to realise how bad he is. Being dropped is a big hint
-
If Ireland is going to get better, the first step is for him to realise how bad he is. Being dropped is a big hint
I have to say that despite all the evidence pointing to the fact that he's mentally unhinged (virtual granny funerals, his prolonged hissy fit with the Republic, toys out the pram on many occasions), I really was pleased he'd joined us. He was fantastic at times for Citeh, a superb passer of the ball and one of their best players before it all went monumentally silly up at Eastlands. But he really has been utterly abject - his attitude at Blackburn a few weeks back was atrocious. I think the suggestion above about a shrink is actually a good one. Get a professional to try and work out what's utterly fucked his head. It'd be a shame to give up on him just yet.
-
The fact of the matter is he never wanted to be here, tells you everything you need to know about his tenure thus far.
I could see him doing well at Fulham/Barcodes because I really don't think we have a use for him, consider -
Albrighton, Downing, Young, Petrov, Bannan, Hogg, Delph, Sidwelll, NRC, Pires. What's the point in trying to fit him in with all that lot? That's enough of a long term selection headache as it is.
-
I was holding out that Ireland would have a few good games and be a big player for us. I just can't see it happening now. It's a real shame as I've always been a big fan of his and was delighted when we signed him.
-
I think he will be out in january his attitude just is'nt right if we can sell him and get Delph back to full fitness i would take that.
-
If Ireland is going to get better, the first step is for him to realise how bad he is. Being dropped is a big hint
I have to say that despite all the evidence pointing to the fact that he's mentally unhinged (virtual granny funerals, his prolonged hissy fit with the Republic, toys out the pram on many occasions), I really was pleased he'd joined us. He was fantastic at times for Citeh, a superb passer of the ball and one of their best players before it all went monumentally silly up at Eastlands. But he really has been utterly abject - his attitude at Blackburn a few weeks back was atrocious. I think the suggestion above about a shrink is actually a good one. Get a professional to try and work out what's utterly fucked his head. It'd be a shame to give up on him just yet.
Perhaps Gazza should take him fishing and have a few words?
-
Its all down to the player unrest caused by Houllier I'm sure the NOTW will make it back page headlines tomorrow.
After all Ireland is well known for being a stable person and a model professional is he not ?
Much like Dunne really.
-
I'm surprised he was totally dropped from the squad, he was'nt any worse than anyone else against Liverpool. Mind you, if this gives him the kick up the arse he needs though, then so be it, because we've got a bloody good player on our hands.
-
A poor man's Nigel Callaghan. Rapidly becoming the least favourite player player I've seen in a Villa shirt.
-
He didn't want to come and is acting like a child because of it.
Unfortunately his problem is with with MCFC not Villa, yet he seems to want to drag out his dis-satisfaction to just prove a point that he didn't want to leave them. But it's us paying the price for it.
I don't care how good he can be - he doesn't deserve to at Villa and therefore don't care if/when he goes.
-
He didn't want to come and is acting like a child because of it.
Unfortunately his problem is with with MCFC not Villa, yet he seems to want to drag out his dis-satisfaction to just prove a point that he didn't want to leave them. But it's us paying the price for it.
I don't care how good he can be - he doesn't deserve to at Villa and therefore don't care if/when he goes.
I agree. I get the feeling he's a one club man, and we're not it.
With such a lot in common I'm surprised he and GH don't get on a lot better
-
Get rid. Accept we made a huge error in signing him, accept that we got an atrocious deal for Milner, ship him out and move on.
-
It's pretty heartbreaking to see Milner kicking his heels on the bench for Man City when he was so inspirational for us - and then compared to what Ireland has contributed so far.
I think Houllier will get rid as soon as he can.
-
I did see a pink Range Rover in the car park by the North Stand, there were assorted Syrups on the dashboard, could well have been his.
-
I did see a pink Range Rover in the car park by the North Stand, there were assorted Syrups on the dashboard, could well have been his.
Or Doug's?
-
Thing that bothers me is the club's he's linked with..Sunderland, West Ham, Surely he's goin to be better off here than there?
He wants to think himself lucky he earns so much money being so fucking terrible. If he got paid on performance he'd be living in a squat
-
It's pretty heartbreaking to see Milner kicking his heels on the bench for Man City when he was so inspirational for us -
It's not heartbreaking at all. He chose to bugger off, it's his own fault if he's sat on the bench.
-
It's pretty heartbreaking to see Milner kicking his heels on the bench for Man City when he was so inspirational for us -
It's not heartbreaking at all. He chose to bugger off, it's his own fault if he's sat on the bench.
Agreed
I work with a lad who is a city season ticket holder He said he's struggled to impress so far but saying that he's much more effective in the middle but fuck him that's what I say
-
The shrink suggestion is a good one. The cost to employ a shrink is buttons compared to the money we pay Ireland (and the others). There is a good player in there somewhere and we need to do whatever we can to encourage him to be a success.
-
Don't think he could have been any worse than Bannan if he had played. Thought he was ok against Liverpool in an inoffensive kind of way. He passed it pretty well when given some time and space. Maybe it was time to have backed him with a start next to Hogg against West Brom?
I fear any hope of rehabilitating him has gone now.
-
Disagree. With young players they are more likely to be inconsistent form wise. Ireland, as a more seasoned pro, and one once of some repute you'd expect more. not necessarily in terms of lighting up the place the way milner did, but he isn't even taking games by the scruff of the neck even for a 10-15 minute spell. He can pass the odd ball when not under any pressure, make the odd run, but for £8m? He's shown nothing but a lack of desire. To not even be on the bench shows that the manager has either had enough, or the player has. Either way I'd rather have an underperforming Bannan than a lack of desire ireland in the team. Or the squad for that matter.
-
Its the Collymore situation, a bloke with imense talent but a troubled individual. The shrink option sounds good but most people with that sort of problem stay in denial for a very long time. So wont consider seeing a shrink.
-
As a person i have no time for him.
But, he has shown that he is an extremely talented footballer. Unfortunately he arrived at the worst time possible. and for someone as mentally fragile as him that makes a difference.
I am just living in hope that he can recapture the from from 2 years ago, because we are sure as hell not going to be in a position to sign anyone of that calibre any time soon.
-
Can we not work some sort of trade and get Gustavo Bartelt back in his place?
-
If we manage to find a powerful midfield general who win the ball and drive the midfield and provide leadership, maybe he will be able to get Ireland performing.
Sport Shrink is a good idea. Think we should send him to Leicester on loan in hope Sven Goran Erikkson can get him back to form and head sorted.
-
That is not a bad idea Salsa. Ireland is so puzzled Sven could pretend to be a shrink. He looks and sounds like one. A Leicester fan friend of mine is purring over the job he has done with Darius.
-
What happened to spelling?
-
I thought the word was a clever combination of invisible and unstable.
-
Ireland is so self-absorbed and bonkers that we need to take radical action if we're ever to see him perform at anything like his best. The recent care administered to a baby panda, wherein humans dressed up as mommy and daddy pandas, should inspire our course of action. All Villa players should have their hair shaved off and grow a really shit beard, so that Stephen Ireland thinks he's playing in a team of Stephen Irelands. That way the entire game can revolve around Stephen Ireland, even if Stephen Ireland gets dropped for being rubbish, and he won't go off in a big huff.
-
Good idea that, he does look a little gnome like, perhaps a little fishing rod and a seat near a pond will do the trick.
-
He's being talked about like some sort of out and out mental case - it's unsavoury and unpleasant to me.
The guy hasn't been given a REAL opportunity to shine yet, and I'm not sure it's the role of the Villa fans to 'talk' about him like he's as mad as a box of frogs like this.
He's a human being - a very good footballer (and on Villa's books) who we should be getting joy from watching.
Cut him some slack I say.
( I know he's hated, but can't understand the venom, sorry)
-
I thought he was getting better tbh, was decent against Arsenal, nearly scored against SHA and did o.k against Liverpool.
Clearly this looks like it's not going to work out for him here but I expect him to do well at a Fulham, Everton, Sunderland or wherever he next turns up.
-
Increasingly looks like right player wrong time for me.
Things can change in football, he comes on and scores the winner v Wigan or Tottingham and most of this could all be forgotten.
In saying that, I wouldn't at all be surprised if he was sent out on loan in Jan. Then returns to the club under a different manager in the summer.
-
Now we know why MON didn't want him.
-
You see things like this http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2239648,00.html and feel bad for Ireland being labelled a nutter and whatever else. I can't imagine it was a token effort to do that Acorns thing either. He has two young kids with his ex-partner and actually won custody of them. Maybe he's had to grow-up quickly and just finds it difficult at times.
-
I think he hasn't covered himself in glory, all he had to do was get his head down in training and get fit and not stir up any crap but I guess we are dealing with a footballer who is used to the limelight and getting his own way. I think if he had a run of 5 or 6 games we may see some positive signs but he has to put the effort in, fans love a trier!
-
panic buy really. I guess with milner gone they thought they had to do something but with the benefit of hindsight we could have saved the money and spent it this January. Looks totally out of sorts to me. Sell him and we'll lose a fortune, keep him, well is he gonna play a part in Villa's future? And he's on a fortune i bet. Sidwell MkII anyone?
-
panic buy really.
Which is very easy to say with the benefit of hindsight. Are you saying you wouldn't have paid £6m for one of the best attacking midfielders in the league of the last couple of years who seemingly has his best years ahead of him?
Or is a 'panic buy' just any signing that doesn't work out the way you want it to?
And he's quite obviously not "Sidwell MkII". If we put him on sale in January then we'd comfortably make back what we paid for him. We'd be lucky to get the cost of Sidwell's train ticket to Fulham.
-
panic buy really.
Which is very easy to say with the benefit of hindsight. Are you saying you wouldn't have paid £6m for one of the best attacking midfielders in the league of the last couple of years who seemingly has his best years ahead of him?
Or is a 'panic buy' just any signing that doesn't work out the way you want it to?
And he's quite obviously not "Sidwell MkII". If we put him on sale in January then we'd comfortably make back what we paid for him. We'd be lucky to get the cost of Sidwell's train ticket to Fulham.
I already said it was with the benefit of hindsight. You just don't spend that much when you haven't got a manager in, but i understand why they did it. As for getting back what we paid for him, are you sure? Can't see many of the clubs who'd want him that could afford him or his wages unless you're suggesting Arsenal, Liverpool, tottenham are waiting in the wings to take him off our hands?
-
panic buy really.
Which is very easy to say with the benefit of hindsight. Are you saying you wouldn't have paid £6m for one of the best attacking midfielders in the league of the last couple of years who seemingly has his best years ahead of him?
Or is a 'panic buy' just any signing that doesn't work out the way you want it to?
And he's quite obviously not "Sidwell MkII". If we put him on sale in January then we'd comfortably make back what we paid for him. We'd be lucky to get the cost of Sidwell's train ticket to Fulham.
I already said it was with the benefit of hindsight. You just don't spend that much when you haven't got a manager in, but i understand why they did it. As for getting back what we paid for him, are you sure? Can't see many of the clubs who'd want him that could afford him or his wages unless you're suggesting Arsenal, Liverpool, tottenham are waiting in the wings to take him off our hands?
I would happily put money on the fact that a team would be willing to pay at least £6m for him either in January or the summer. If we choose to cut our losses. Which I don't think we should do.
Welcome back by the way.
-
who? 14 clubs in the premiership couldn't afford his wages and probably the top 4 wouldn't want him
-
Everton, Sunderland, Newcastle and I'll throw a couple of curveballs in the way or Wolfsburg and QPR.
Edit - and Liverpool as well. He'll probably cost half of what Joe Cole is taking from them each week.
As I've said though, he's potentially one of the best attacking midfielders in the league. I'd much rather he started showing it for us rather than us losing out again.
-
everton are skint, newcastle are skint, sunderland maybe. Wolfsburg wouldn't pay that sort of fee or wages. QPR have hardly done a Citeh... I hope he does come good but i'm not even sure if GH has him in his plans really. Managers like they're own players just like MON before him and lets face it, he's done little to convince the new manager otherwise
-
I reckon Everton or Sunderland.
Although Moyes said today that he might have to sell Pienaar to raise transfer money, so that probably rules them out. I can't see Ireland going abroad, though, he's been unable to handle leaving City to move to a club 90 odd miles away, so he'd never manage playing abroad.
Sunderland it is, I reckon.
-
Wolfsburg wouldn't pay that sort of fee or wages
Wolfsburg spent £30m on Kjaer and Diego in the summer, each of whom will be earning comfortably more than Ireland is being paid at Villa.
If McClaren decides that he can turn Ireland into the player he was at Man City then Wolfsburg will have no problem paying him or us what we want.
-
maybe but they got 20m back from sales. Possible but unlikely i'd say
-
I'd say a loan move to the likes of Stoke, Fulham or (as a possible outside bet) Blackburn in the short-term would be the most likely.
Pulis likes the odd bit of flair to supplement an otherwise agricultural approach to the game. He's meant to be pissed of with Tuncay and might not be able to keep hold of Pennant. Taking Ireland at the moment might be viewed as a gamble but clubs like Stoke need to gamble.
Fulham with the obvious Hughes connection, plus the fact that they've been heavily hit by injuries means Hughes is probably in a decent position get Al Fayed to cough up.
Blackburn might be the most unlikely of the three but: (a) The new owners were very clear when they took over that they viewed loan deals as the way to go rather than spending big money (b) Easy commute for Ireland from his pad in Manchester.
He could do better than all those clubs. At his best, he could probably do better than us. But he needs to play and if it's not for us it will have to be elsewhere. Could be just what he needs, some game time in a less pressurised environment before coming back to us in the summer.
-
I cant see any one paying decent money for Ireland, i can see a club taking him on loan with Villla paying most of his wages or on a free and pay as you play deal, If any one thinks that some club is going to hand over 6 mil and pay his wages you are seriously deluded. Ireland will leave and we will be writing off most of what we paid for him
-
Ireland is not being written off because he's considered a "nutter", for having a pink car, wearing Irish Jigs, inventing dead relatives or having an ostentatious lifestyle.
It's because his appearances have been notable for a marked lack of effort and application. Form can come and go but not trying is unforgiveable (for most anyway). Downing made a less than impressive start to his Villa career but it was not for the want of trying, which is why he appears to have been given more time.
Ireland has had chances, but hasn't taken them. He only has himself to blame.
-
Ireland is not being written off because he's considered a "nutter", for having a pink car, wearing Irish Jigs, inventing dead relatives or having an ostentatious lifestyle.
It's because his appearances have been notable for a marked lack of effort and application. Form can come and go but not trying is unforgiveable (for most anyway). Downing made a less than impressive start to his Villa career but it was not for the want of trying, which is why he appears to have been given more time.
Ireland has had chances, but hasn't taken them. He only has himself to blame.
Spot on again Nev.