Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Rip Van We Go Again on June 21, 2012, 02:54:53 PM
-
sportinglife.com
Darren Bent has called for new Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert to give an extended run to Stephen Ireland in the 'hole' role behind the main striker to get the best out of him next season.
Ireland was voted Villa's player of the year by supporters for last season as he recovered from a disappointing first campaign at the midlands club.
England striker Bent believes Ireland is capable of achieving even greater heights if given time to settle into his preferred position as opposed to being played out wide.
Bent said: "There's no point playing Stevie Ireland one game and then moving him to the right and then taking him out of the team.
"You've got to play Stevie Ireland four or five games in that position and go from there.
"For me, he's the best footballer in the squad, and if you want to see the best Stephen Ireland and get the best out of him you need to be playing him."
Bent, currently recovering from the ankle injury which ruled him out of Euro 2012, said: "As a striker you want somebody like Stevie picking out your runs and playing passes to give you more chances.
"The best way to do that is to play him in the 'hole'.
"Confidence can make a massive difference to any player, and when he is feeling good about himself the performances will follow."
-
I agree.
I think with a little more attacking freedom he will flourish.
He did his fair share of tracking back last season too, his work rate was good.
All depends on what shape Lambert plays.
If he plays a 4-4-2 I think Ireland could be out of the team, even though I don't think he's all that bad a little deeper.
-
Agreed(y)
-
Usually interviews like this are generic, clichéd bullshit, but it seems Bent is quite forthright in wanting Ireland to play there.
IIRC one of the Sunderland supporters who came on here after we signed Bent said wing-play doesn't get the best out of him and he prefers to played in through the middle. So maybe it's Bent pushing for that.
-
Clearly the best player on the ball at the club and one of the very few (if not the only one) who can control a ball and pass it whilst there is opposition around him. Doesn't panic.
My original beef with him was his workrate, but I thought he went some way to quashing that from about Xmas onwards. If TSM can get him doing that, then hopefully Lambert will be able to do the same, whilst also inspiring the other players around Ireland.
-
The same article is in the Evening Mail. If we are going to play a formation that accommodates a player in the "hole" then I can see Stephen Ireland being an asset in that position. Whether he can last "four or five games" in a row without getting injured is another question though.
-
Bent likes it pushed through the hole
-
I like to play in the hole.
-
I tend to agree with what Bent is saying. But I don't agree that Bent should be telling Lambert, through the Press, what he (Lambert) should be doing.
-
I agree.
I think with a little more attacking freedom he will flourish.
He did his fair share of tracking back last season too, his work rate was good.
All depends on what shape Lambert plays.
If he plays a 4-4-2 I think Ireland could be out of the team, even though I don't think he's all that bad a little deeper.
Agreed.
I don't think the other 3 midfielders are good enough to allow Ireland to play 'in the hole' and/or Ireland doesn't create enough to justify the risk of a more open midfield.
Might be worth considering in some other formation though.
-
I'd like to kick him in the hole
No seriously he would suit Bent I think, I'd keep him to be honest. I think the problem is ireland is too intelligent for most of our players
-
I think he would be ideally suited in the black hole of calcutta
-
I think he's been mis-quoted.
I think he was suggesting that Ireland could do a good job on guitar in that shit band Courtney Love has.
-
I'm still hopeful of Lambert converting Gabby into a proper wide forward. I imagine he doesn't really want to play there but at times in that role he's looked immense.
He's so solid defensively as well when he plays wide.
We never did get to see a 4-2-3-1 with Bent as the spearhead, Ireland off him and Gabby and N'Zogbia on the flanks. I think it'd work. Get a dominating CM in and maybe Makoun next to him and we might be on to something.
-
I think he would be ideally suited in the black hole of calcutta
fecking lazy bastard. pull your finger out of your hole and start doing some proper work.
hopefully when lambert gets here all this preening of players will cease and get some effort in there.
he was played in the hole plenty of times last season and look where it got us, nowhere. not my player of the year. to be pigeon holed as the perfect player for a 30 yard square on the pitch is giving the lazy git a get out excuse!
did mortimer or cowans play in the hole? no. great grafters who could pass, fight, tackle and score by being just a 'midfielder'!
-
Completely agree with Darren, I reckon we should build the team around him next season.
-
I would venture to suggest that bug-eyed baldy has no problem getting his hole.
-
Firstly in Bent we without doubt have one of the best strikers in the PL if we give him the right service. Secondly, if the new manager can get the best out of players like Gabby, N'Zogbia and Ireland it would be like having three big new signings compared to what they showed for most of last season. The problem is I'm not sure you can play all of those three in their favourite positions. Whether it's playing Ireland or N'Zogbia in the hole or N'Zogbia wide and Ireland in the centre of midfield or leaving one of them out I think Paul Lambert might have to choose who he thinks is of most value to him in their strongest position.
-
Completely agree with Darren, I reckon we should build the team around him next season.
what has stephen ireland done for aston villa that deserves a team to be built round him?
-
Not sure about building a team around him. But he deserves to have a run in the hole or behind the strikers. Too often last season he was played on the left,Bristol in the cup comes to mind,he was itching to get involved and link up,but TSM wasted him out wide.
-
i dont get this hole position that has been created for someone? why not just be a hard working creative midfielder??
-
A right-back who could attack would give us this option. 4-2-3-1, with Gabby wide right + cutting in, with new RB overlapping, Ireland in the hole and Zog out left.
-
Not sure about building a team around him. But he deserves to have a run in the hole or behind the strikers. Too often last season he was played on the left,Bristol in the cup comes to mind,he was itching to get involved and link up,but TSM wasted him out wide.
He played pretty much the final 1/3rd of last season playing in an advanced midfield position.
-
Completely agree with Darren, I reckon we should build the team around him next season.
what has stephen ireland done for aston villa that deserves a team to be built round him?
Well we know what a fantastic player he can be, and I think a lack of confidence may be the issue. If I was Stephen, and Lambert sat me down and said "I know you can be a great player, and a hero for this club. I believe in you, and we're going to build this team around you." I'd be over the moon.
On a side note, I've got no idea how he won Supporter's player of the year with all the stick I've seen him get on here.
-
A right-back who could attack would give us this option. 4-2-3-1, with Gabby wide right + cutting in, with new RB overlapping, Ireland in the hole and Zog out left.
The concern I've got with this set up is that these guys simply won't score enough goals.
I've looked up their average goals per game and apart from Bent none of them are anywhere near prolific enough.
N'zogbia score 0.15 goals per game (4.5 goals per 30 match season), Ireland 0.10 goals per game (3 per season), Gabby 0.25 (7.5) and Bent 0.57 (17). In total that makes 32 goals a season from the front 4.
OK when they're injured etc someone else will take their place, so maybe you could add another 5 goals from replacements making it 37 in total.
Unfortunately none of the other midfielders score heavily either and we only get the occassion goal from a defender - optimistically you might add say 10 goals from the rest of the team.
So that makes us a 45-50 goal a season team - on par with Sunderland, Fulham, Baggies, Norwich & co - and that's assuming Bent only misses 8 games.
I just don't think it works ....
-
I think Darren Bent should leave the management of the team to the manager.
-
(http://i48.tinypic.com/jpza5k.gif)
-
You git Leeg. I was just about to post that!
-
As for Ireland, there's possibly a player in there but i'm not convinced. His one good year with Citeh was 3 years ago, he did okay for us last season but nowhere near well enough to justify building a team around him.
-
Well, personally I think it could work. I understand completely why you might think differently though.
-
Its all about service, and agree that Ireland is the best man to supply the correct service to Bent.
Bent thrives on balls played in front of him, plays on the shoulder of the last defender and is a natural goal scorer given the right service. He'll pick up scraps from crosses every now and again, but his main strength is an intelligent ball played through and there cant be a better man for picking those balls out than Ireland.
-
Its all about service, and agree that Ireland is the best man to supply the correct service to Bent.
Bent thrives on balls played in front of him, plays on the shoulder of the last defender and is a natural goal scorer given the right service. He'll pick up scraps from crosses every now and again, but his main strength is an intelligent ball played through and there cant be a better man for picking those balls out than Ireland.
Agreed. Now we need a few more people who can stop the ball going in our net and a few who can get the ball to Ireland.
-
I tend to agree with what Bent is saying. But I don't agree that Bent should be telling Lambert, through the Press, what he (Lambert) should be doing.
Totally agree, and Im not sure Lambert is the type to take to kindly to players telling him what to do.
-
I'm still hopeful of Lambert converting Gabby into a proper wide forward. I imagine he doesn't really want to play there but at times in that role he's looked immense.
He's so solid defensively as well when he plays wide.
We never did get to see a 4-2-3-1 with Bent as the spearhead, Ireland off him and Gabby and N'Zogbia on the flanks. I think it'd work. Get a dominating CM in and maybe Makoun next to him and we might be on to something.
I haven't read to the end of this thread but I must say this post here is spot on. We have the players to suit that system and it would be exciting (especially if Gabby is allowed use his pace to effect).
-
Hes quality . Yes play him in the hole and why we are at it , I would love to play in a hole too.
-
Hes quality . Yes play him in the hole and why we are at it , I would love to play in a hole too.
Don't we all
-
Completely agree with Darren, I reckon we should build the team around him next season.
what has stephen ireland done for aston villa that deserves a team to be built round him?
Absolutely sweet fuck all
-
Completely agree with Darren, I reckon we should build the team around him next season.
what has stephen ireland done for aston villa that deserves a team to be built round him?
Its not a reward, its making best use of your resources.
-
On a side note, I've got no idea how he won Supporter's player of the year with all the stick I've seen him get on here.
Think of TripAdvisor. You will never ever find a good Hotel on TripAdvisor. People only ever sign up and post comments if they want to complain...
Runs for cover.
-
Completely agree with Darren, I reckon we should build the team around him next season.
what has stephen ireland done for aston villa that deserves a team to be built round him?
Its not a reward, its making best use of your resources.
you are looking at this like there will be no turn over of players and playing a man in the hole(a completely made up space on the pitch where lazy midfielders can say they are doing their work) will be essential for the team.
didnt norwich have an unbelievable amount of goals from crosses last year, thus saying to me that wingers may be more of use with stronger midfield pair. i am aware though lambert isnt afraid of mixing the team up and formations from game to game.
My opinion of ireland is thoughhe is a talent, we are not good enough to just give a player a free role to (delete as appropriate) malinger/graze/grace/dominate a 30 yard area in the oppositions half.
i would have thought a non stop unit would have been more obvious after last seasons ireland/N'zogbia laze fest with bent standing on his own chatting to opposition centre halves.
-
I understand your point Rutski but you're being a bit harsh on Ireland I think. He showed last season that he snt just about hanging about in no mans land waiting for the ball. That wont wash with Lambert anyway I would think.
But Ireland is such a good user of the ball that its folly not to use that. He's either the player you play through or he isnt all that much use. But in speed of thought and picking that quick incisive pass he hasn't many equals. That doesnt mean we dont also have other ways of playing and maybe sometimes Ireland doesnt fit that. But Bent is right, if you have a top striker (Bent) and a top playmaker (Ireland) then you try and make them work. The results could be magical. Resources could be decent this summer but Buying players of the quality of Ireland and Bent will be very difficult, so I say lets make best use of them.
-
i think we are all looking at ireland as the bit of silver lining to 2 years of very dark clouds. yes i think he can play but he has been here for 2 years now and you can count the actual games he has excelled in on one hand.
i think our standards and expectations have slipped and i dont think ireland could really give a fuck!
he has got to show a lot more to me and the club (and i expect his team mates) before we start the aston villa satellite circling around stephen ireland!
-
'Hole'.
*snarf*
-
Ireland one goal in 2 years, no thanks, give Holman a chance behind Bent with Gabby and N'Zogbia wide.
-
Lambert often played 4-3-1-2 at Norwich and Ireland is perfect in the hole role.
-
But Ireland is such a good user of the ball that its folly not to use that. He's either the player you play through or he isnt all that much use. But in speed of thought and picking that quick incisive pass he hasn't many equals. That doesnt mean we dont also have other ways of playing and maybe sometimes Ireland doesnt fit that. But Bent is right, if you have a top striker (Bent) and a top playmaker (Ireland) then you try and make them work. The results could be magical. Resources could be decent this summer but Buying players of the quality of Ireland and Bent will be very difficult, so I say lets make best use of them.
Totally agree with this!
We have the players as long as they are motivated to play some good stuff this season.
-
Ireland one goal in 2 years, no thanks, give Holman a chance behind Bent with Gabby and N'Zogbia wide.
Even when he has played in the "hole" Ireland's contribution has hardly been noteworthy, especillay when you consider the impact Robbie Keane had playing that position in the short time he was with us.
-
Give Ireland the hole role and watch Bent go on a goal roll. Like a vole
-
Ireland one goal in 2 years, no thanks, give Holman a chance behind Bent with Gabby and N'Zogbia wide.
Even when he has played in the "hole" Ireland's contribution has hardly been noteworthy, especillay when you consider the impact Robbie Keane had playing that position in the short time he was with us.
Question. Do people like you actually watch Villa matches or do you just watch MOTD and flick over to the 900+ channels half way through?
Ireland was by far and away our most standout player from last season. Rightly awarded fans players of the year after he turned in MOTM performance after MOTM performance in almost every game he played. He is by far the best player in the Villa squad and when he plays in the hole, we look 50 times better than we do with two strikers up top.
Build a team around Ireland, complement him with players like Makoun and we will be heading for a top half finish, no quesiton about it. Or, if you prefer, we can sign a 32 year old Robbie Keane on £60,000 wages, resign Heskey and hope that lumping it towards them two will produce a couple of jammy wonder goals every game like we did against Wolves.
-
Ireland one goal in 2 years, no thanks, give Holman a chance behind Bent with Gabby and N'Zogbia wide.
Even when he has played in the "hole" Ireland's contribution has hardly been noteworthy, especillay when you consider the impact Robbie Keane had playing that position in the short time he was with us.
Question. Do people like you actually watch Villa matches or do you just watch MOTD and flick over to the 900+ channels half way through?
Ireland was by far and away our most standout player from last season. Rightly awarded fans players of the year after he turned in MOTM performance after MOTM performance in almost every game he played. He is by far the best player in the Villa squad and when he plays in the hole, we look 50 times better than we do with two strikers up top.
Build a team around Ireland, complement him with players like Makoun and we will be heading for a top half finish, no quesiton about it. Or, if you prefer, we can sign a 32 year old Robbie Keane on £60,000 wages, resign Heskey and hope that lumping it towards them two will produce a couple of jammy wonder goals every game like we did against Wolves.
i now know where i was going wrong on this opinion malarky, i didnt actually watch the team????
the season ticket i have got and the away games i go to i now have to start watching the team??? i am going to have to give that motd up as well, damn it, i love the london bias shit every week!
-
Ireland one goal in 2 years, no thanks, give Holman a chance behind Bent with Gabby and N'Zogbia wide.
Even when he has played in the "hole" Ireland's contribution has hardly been noteworthy, especillay when you consider the impact Robbie Keane had playing that position in the short time he was with us.
Question. Do people like you actually watch Villa matches or do you just watch MOTD and flick over to the 900+ channels half way through?
Ireland was by far and away our most standout player from last season. Rightly awarded fans players of the year after he turned in MOTM performance after MOTM performance in almost every game he played. He is by far the best player in the Villa squad and when he plays in the hole, we look 50 times better than we do with two strikers up top.
Build a team around Ireland, complement him with players like Makoun and we will be heading for a top half finish, no quesiton about it. Or, if you prefer, we can sign a 32 year old Robbie Keane on £60,000 wages, resign Heskey and hope that lumping it towards them two will produce a couple of jammy wonder goals every game like we did against Wolves.
i now know where i was going wrong on this opinion malarky, i didnt actually watch the team????
the season ticket i have got and the away games i go to i now have to start watching the team??? i am going to have to give that motd up as well, damn it, i love the london bias shit every week!
I just can't comprehend how people who claim to watch Villa can call our best player worthless. It's like someone watching Barcelona and claiming that Xavi is shite because he never scores goals or something to that effect. I literally have no idea where you're coming from when you claim Ireland is rubbish.
He's the best passer of the ball, he's the most creative player on our team, he works bloody hard for the team, he had one of the highest interception rates in the Premier League last season, he keeps play ticking over, never losing possession and most of all he's actually consistent. He was picking up MOTM awards game after game after game yet some people claim that he has one good game in twenty. It's nonsense.
-
Ireland one goal in 2 years, no thanks, give Holman a chance behind Bent with Gabby and N'Zogbia wide.
Even when he has played in the "hole" Ireland's contribution has hardly been noteworthy, especillay when you consider the impact Robbie Keane had playing that position in the short time he was with us.
Question. Do people like you actually watch Villa matches or do you just watch MOTD and flick over to the 900+ channels half way through?
Ireland was by far and away our most standout player from last season. Rightly awarded fans players of the year after he turned in MOTM performance after MOTM performance in almost every game he played. He is by far the best player in the Villa squad and when he plays in the hole, we look 50 times better than we do with two strikers up top.
Build a team around Ireland, complement him with players like Makoun and we will be heading for a top half finish, no quesiton about it. Or, if you prefer, we can sign a 32 year old Robbie Keane on £60,000 wages, resign Heskey and hope that lumping it towards them two will produce a couple of jammy wonder goals every game like we did against Wolves.
i now know where i was going wrong on this opinion malarky, i didnt actually watch the team????
the season ticket i have got and the away games i go to i now have to start watching the team??? i am going to have to give that motd up as well, damn it, i love the london bias shit every week!
I just can't comprehend how people who claim to watch Villa can call our best player worthless. It's like someone watching Barcelona and claiming that Xavi is shite because he never scores goals or something to that effect. I literally have no idea where you're coming from when you claim Ireland is rubbish.
He's the best passer of the ball, he's the most creative player on our team, he works bloody hard for the team, he had one of the highest interception rates in the Premier League last season, he keeps play ticking over, never losing possession and most of all he's actually consistent. He was picking up MOTM awards game after game after game yet some people claim that he has one good game in twenty. It's nonsense.
The thing that most annoys me about the abuse Ireland gets on here, is that everyone was (rightly) crying out for a more aesthetically pleasing passing style last season.
Ireland is by a million miles the best exponent of that style that we currently have.
-
I think some of our lot decided Ireland was a write off after his first season (first half of that season, in fact) and won't row back on that after a string of 7/10 performances.
He'd need to be hitting 9/10 or 10/10 every game for them to even consider revisiting the thing.
-
motm performance game afetr game, consistent and hard working? i am struggling to think of 5 games where he has had a major influence. as for keane in the hole, well i dont think he should be resigned but i know his performances, willingness to want the ball and work for the team had a major impact on our season, and as for the 2 goals he scored against wolves, they sent wolves down that day and kept us out of the mire.
just trying to think about ireland against olbeyun away, stoke home, arsenal away, bolton home, norwich away, spuds home. six games at the end of the season where our most valuable players needed to stand up and be counted. motm performances?? cant remember them. oh yeah, he tweaked his hammy on the afternoon in a couple of them but otherwise his performances were, well, shit!
-
Ireland was okay. For me he was still too inconsistent. No just game to game but during games. For me he tends to have a strong 20 minutes at some point and in others just drift out the game entirely.
However...
In no small part that was due to our piss poor management and playing style. Lets face it, at times we could barely get the ball into our midfield. It either stayed in our half or just got lumped straight to the front man (or 100 yards wide of him).
Under Lambert I'd like to see what Ireland can do and I'd hope more consistency would come. If he's that good he should be able to play anywhere, even playing wider but in a free role. He won't always be able to play the hole role so he needs to be flexible and get the fuck on with it and still make things tick.
-
I think that there's a lot of over the top praise for Ireland. its almost wanting to see that player of the season at Man City doing the same at Villa. he had good moments and as for being player of the year that is feint praise. Who were his major competitors? Even then i would struggle to think of many players coming out of the season with much credit.
Bent for the time he wasn't injured, Keane for the few games he was here, given, and then Herd - who probably is playing above his level right now, and Lichaj - who is just a good stop-gap player. But Ireland? I was totally unconvinced by him and it was a pleasant surprise when he did play well because to be fair, it wasn't that often.
next season is huge for him. He needs to now show that Man City form and then he'll be back and we'll have a real chance of looking at the top 6 again.
-
I thought Ireland did really well in the spell just around Xmas, with the Chelsea performance outstanding. He was then moved around or dropped when we signed keane and was a bit average after that
I dont think we'll really get the best out of him until we surround him with players on the same wavelength. It's the way he interacts with others that makes him a special talent
A key issue is the formation we play and the role he plays. The hole position suits him, but if you're going to play 4411 for example, I think you need your second striker to pitch in with more goals and assists than he looks like getting. That's less of an issue if he plays in more of a 433 where the wide fwds should be scoring more; or if we play a diamond as Lambert often has done
-
Think of Sids' debut for England, when the ball was continually lumped over his head and I believe he never played again.
We all know he wasn't crap, but the style of football did not suit.
A lot of similarities between that and last seasons "gameplan"
Regarding Irelands' contribution, when he has the ball he's bloody good - when he doesn't he goes looking for it. Not a lot wrong there.
A different style of football may just give us the creative player we've been missing for along time
-
Ireland one goal in 2 years, no thanks, give Holman a chance behind Bent with Gabby and N'Zogbia wide.
Even when he has played in the "hole" Ireland's contribution has hardly been noteworthy, especillay when you consider the impact Robbie Keane had playing that position in the short time he was with us.
Question. Do people like you actually watch Villa matches or do you just watch MOTD and flick over to the 900+ channels half way through?
Ireland was by far and away our most standout player from last season. Rightly awarded fans players of the year after he turned in MOTM performance after MOTM performance in almost every game he played. He is by far the best player in the Villa squad and when he plays in the hole, we look 50 times better than we do with two strikers up top.
Build a team around Ireland, complement him with players like Makoun and we will be heading for a top half finish, no quesiton about it. Or, if you prefer, we can sign a 32 year old Robbie Keane on £60,000 wages, resign Heskey and hope that lumping it towards them two will produce a couple of jammy wonder goals every game like we did against Wolves.
i now know where i was going wrong on this opinion malarky, i didnt actually watch the team????
the season ticket i have got and the away games i go to i now have to start watching the team??? i am going to have to give that motd up as well, damn it, i love the london bias shit every week!
I just can't comprehend how people who claim to watch Villa can call our best player worthless. It's like someone watching Barcelona and claiming that Xavi is shite because he never scores goals or something to that effect. I literally have no idea where you're coming from when you claim Ireland is rubbish.
He's the best passer of the ball, he's the most creative player on our team, he works bloody hard for the team, he had one of the highest interception rates in the Premier League last season, he keeps play ticking over, never losing possession and most of all he's actually consistent. He was picking up MOTM awards game after game after game yet some people claim that he has one good game in twenty. It's nonsense.
I think most fair mixed observers can see he's got something, but to date he hasn't delivered anything like enough despite being one of the better players last season. I can't see why people are saying 'build a team around him;.
-
He got bunged out wide a few times, which was just ridiculous. If PL wants to keep him I think he'll be much more effective this season.
-
Give Ireland the hole role and watch Bent go on a goal roll. Like a vole
Or play alongside Miroslav Klose, who is a Pole :)
-
Ireland really divides opinion; always has since his slightly-strange arrival at the club.
I find his public image rather repulsive but he certainly showed signs of some flair on the pitch last season and if he's at the club we should paly to his undoubted strengths.
Hopefully, some good coaching and another close-season to get the other players 'tuned into his thinking' will give us a season of quality.
-
FAO Neil Hawkes re Sid: can't remember his debut, but he took to international football like a duck to water and looked exactly what he was: better than Wilkins, Hoddle and Robson. Got 9 caps and was establishing himself in the side before he broke his leg and that's what did for him. Years later SGT picked him for one game v. Ireland, you may be thinking of that game.
-
FAO Neil Hawkes re Sid: can't remember his debut, but he took to international football like a duck to water and looked exactly what he was: better than Wilkins, Hoddle and Robson. Got 9 caps and was establishing himself in the side before he broke his leg and that's what did for him. Years later SGT picked him for one game v. Ireland, you may be thinking of that game.
Wasn't that where SGT copped for a bit of abuse for playing Sid instead of Gazza?
-
New here and first post so don't bite my head off.
With Ireland we need to look back at the circumstances of him arriving at Villa Park. He was pushed out of City to a club he didn't really want to join and the guy was disgruntled, some might say he was an ungrateful sod and get's paid well and he should just got on with it but imagine your boss just turning round to you and saying your going to work in another city whether you like it or not.
There was issues around him not wanting to move to the Birmingham area and then after not playing many games for us he was then sent to Newcastle, that's his 3rd club and 3rd city in 6 months and was injured when he went there and was sent back injured again. Then he had to play under McLeish who didn't have a flamming clue and even used Ireland as a winger.
So really is it any wonder that a player that has been played out of position, who has had several injuries and played at 3 clubs in 3 different cities and under 4 managers in just a few seasons hasn't performed as we would like, he probably didn't know if he was coming or going and it looked like no one wanted him, Man City pushed him out, we sent him out on loan then Newcastle didn't want to buy him and sent him back - his self esteem and self belief are bound to suffer.
I was of the thought we should sell him and reinvest but now Lambert has come in and with what has been said from him, the club and the players I think we would be stupid to sell him. We have the type of manager that can bring the best out of Ireland, to put his arm around him when he needs it but understands playing players to their strengths in the squad and teaming players up together that compliment each other's style of play.
With support from the manager and with team mates like Bent saying he wants Ireland and thinks he's the best in the team his confidence will come back and he will feel wanted at the club, especially if the fans support him too, some players need a bit of mollycoddling and Ireland's one of them.
Going to make a bold statement but I would actually consider making Ireland the captain too whilst Petrov can't play, that would certainly massage his ego which he responds well to. He's only 25 and could quite easily become a quality player in our squad and carry the arm band for the next 4/5/6 years, he just needs to start enjoying himself at the club and enjoy the football the team is being asked to play and we will see a totally different player.
-
Welcome to the site. You make some very good points. I also think Ireland could do really well if handled and managed correctly.
-
Welcome to the site. You make some very good points. I also think Ireland could do really well if handled and managed correctly.
welcome to the site, now you are going to get it....
not really. but Captain??? Seriously???
my last words on him, i have given more effort voicing my opinion of him than he has given us in 2 years lol lol
-
I wouldn't make him captain either. That role needs to be earned.
-
FAO Neil Hawkes re Sid: can't remember his debut, but he took to international football like a duck to water and looked exactly what he was: better than Wilkins, Hoddle and Robson. Got 9 caps and was establishing himself in the side before he broke his leg and that's what did for him. Years later SGT picked him for one game v. Ireland, you may be thinking of that game.
Wasn't that where SGT copped for a bit of abuse for playing Sid instead of Gazza?
Yes it wasn't long after Italia 90 and Gazza was a hero to everyone in the media.
-
Villastikz, I agree with what you say about him being pushed out and feeling like no one wants him. Very good point and not something I'd put a lot of thought to previously. Ireland is a complex player, some of them are, and I hope that Lambert can indeed get the best out of him because the Ireland who was at City was a cracking player. Captain though? Not for me. Massaging an ego is one thing, but I think the skipper should be an inspiration to the rest of the players. I really hope that we go out and sign our next Captain because I don't see one amongst the current batch of players.
-
He played pretty well in the second half of the season, I hope Lambert keeps him.
He got Hoolahan playing well at Norwich who's a similar sort of player.
-
In addition to the creativity Bent talks about, Ireland is also really good at making runs beyond the forward and getting goals from midfield himself, something we haven't always been the best at at Villa.
-
There's no doubt there is potentially a player and a half in Stephen Ireland. The problem is how often will we see it?
There were brief glimpses of it last season, but I think he looked better because he was in such a negative looking side. So we got excited over anything that looked remotely positive. Personally I saw glimpses of high quality from him, but in the main it was still far less overall than I expect from a player with his ability that's costing us as much as he is. Fingers crossed in a better side with a better manager we will see a lot more form him. But at present I remain unconvinced.
-
I like Stephen Ireland as a player and would be interested to see how he fares in a Paul Lambert side. At the same time I will trust whatever decision Lambert makes in this regard.
-
Him and Bent are the only players we have with top-class movement off the ball. He can pass and is a decent finisher - we'll see more of his shots flying in when he regains more confidence. Not having him be the fulcrum of the side, provided he responds well to Lambert and works hard, would be a mistake.
-
In addition to the creativity Bent talks about, Ireland is also really good at making runs beyond the forward and getting goals from midfield himself, something we haven't always been the best at at Villa.
He's scored one goal in the two seasons he has been at Villa. Robbie Keane had treble that amount after just two league starts for us.
-
FAO Neil Hawkes re Sid: can't remember his debut, but he took to international football like a duck to water and looked exactly what he was: better than Wilkins, Hoddle and Robson. Got 9 caps and was establishing himself in the side before he broke his leg and that's what did for him. Years later SGT picked him for one game v. Ireland, you may be thinking of that game.
Thanks Percy, that must be the one - I vaguely remember some comments from Sid saying he spent most of the game watching the ball being pinged back and forward over his head. Then again I could have imagined that as well!
-
Ireland is a class player. Yes, he's temperamentally flawed but his brain and technique is miles in advance of the rest of the team at times. If Lambert can get him onside and use him effectively to maximise his creativity, Bent would get lots more chances to convert into goals.
-
In addition to the creativity Bent talks about, Ireland is also really good at making runs beyond the forward and getting goals from midfield himself, something we haven't always been the best at at Villa.
He's scored one goal in the two seasons he has been at Villa. Robbie Keane had treble that amount after just two league starts for us.
This is the stupidest point I've ever seen. Congratulations.
-
Keep Ireland off the dole, play him in the Barrie Hole "hole role" - The Mirror gets wind and reports that an individual club source - yes a sole mole, states we are after an Eastern European deep holding midfielder - a Pole who holds the hole. This is subject to the movement of a former Liverpool and West Ham star - Joe Cole, who has apparantly vanished into thin air - perhaps a black hole.- This could all be nothing but hyperbole, however the club state that the cost of a ham roll will remain the same this season except who those who have their wedding at the club....i.e. for who the bells toll .
Things could be worse we could see the return of DOL ....LOL :)
I`ll get me coat or better still..........nurse
-
Keep Ireland off the dole, play him in the Barrie Hole "hole role" - The Mirror gets wind and reports that an individual club source - yes a sole mole, states we are after an Eastern European deep holding midfielder - a Pole who holds the hole. This is subject to the movement of a former Liverpool and West Ham star - Joe Cole, who has apparantly vanished into thin air - perhaps a black hole.- This could all be nothing but hyperbole, however the club state that the cost of a ham roll will remain the same this season except who those who have their wedding at the club....i.e. for who the bells toll .
Things could be worse we could see the return of DOL ....LOL :)
I`ll get me coat or better still..........nurse
quick, call simon cowl we have a star!
-
Ireland is a class player. Yes, he's temperamentally flawed but his brain and technique is miles in advance of the rest of the team at times. If Lambert can get him onside and use him effectively to maximise his creativity, Bent would get lots more chances to convert into goals.
That sums it up for me. He is a very good player with very deep flaws; if he did not have those flaws he would not be with us. Lambert is capable of getting the best out of him, so he has to make the decision of whether it is worth the agg.
-
In addition to the creativity Bent talks about, Ireland is also really good at making runs beyond the forward and getting goals from midfield himself, something we haven't always been the best at at Villa.
He's scored one goal in the two seasons he has been at Villa. Robbie Keane had treble that amount after just two league starts for us.
This is the stupidest point I've ever seen. Congratulations.
Surely it's valid when someone says he can score goals to point out he's managed 1 in 2 years?
-
Ireland is a class player. Yes, he's temperamentally flawed but his brain and technique is miles in advance of the rest of the team at times. If Lambert can get him onside and use him effectively to maximise his creativity, Bent would get lots more chances to convert into goals.
That sums it up for me. He is a very good player with very deep flaws; if he did not have those flaws he would not be with us. Lambert is capable of getting the best out of him, so he has to make the decision of whether it is worth the agg.
I'm with you two on this one. His vision, technique, first time plays and the way he uses the ball to give lesser players so much time and space on the ball is nothing short of brilliant.
-
In addition to the creativity Bent talks about, Ireland is also really good at making runs beyond the forward and getting goals from midfield himself, something we haven't always been the best at at Villa.
He's scored one goal in the two seasons he has been at Villa. Robbie Keane had treble that amount after just two league starts for us.
How many games did he play in his first season? About five? In fact he's yet to play a full season's worth of games for us. And he's not a striker like Keane. I find it strange that people can't see how he's our one genuine quality player.
-
In addition to the creativity Bent talks about, Ireland is also really good at making runs beyond the forward and getting goals from midfield himself, something we haven't always been the best at at Villa.
He's scored one goal in the two seasons he has been at Villa. Robbie Keane had treble that amount after just two league starts for us.
How many games did he play in his first season? About five? In fact he's yet to play a full season's worth of games for us. And he's not a striker like Keane. I find it strange that people can't see how he's our one genuine quality player.
Robbie Keane played that role when he was on loan with us and was far more effective in there than Ireland. Keane scored goals from that position, played through balls for Bent and was far more active in there than Ireland. That is why Ireland was shifted out wide when Keane came to the club. The majority of time he played in that position last season, Ireland had a few nice touches here and there, but rarely looked a genuine threat. There is a definite talent there, but for the past two seasons he has been an expensive luxury.
-
In addition to the creativity Bent talks about, Ireland is also really good at making runs beyond the forward and getting goals from midfield himself, something we haven't always been the best at at Villa.
He's scored one goal in the two seasons he has been at Villa. Robbie Keane had treble that amount after just two league starts for us.
This is the stupidest point I've ever seen. Congratulations.
Thanks. Do you award a trophy for that?
Just to clear it up, which part of the argument do you find particularly stupid? The part that questions whether Ireland can really be classed as someone who gets goals from midfield when he has only scored once for us or was it the part that suggested that Ireland's poor scoring record was put into context by the fact that Robbie Keane scored three goals in his first two games playing in the position Ireland does?
-
I won't criticise anybody for questioning Ireland. He's one of those enigmatic players that you either get the best out of, in which case he is absolute class, or he's a bit of a passenger. We saw flashes of it last season with a team that were lost and tentative. Ireland needs the other players around him to fire in order to get the best from him. He needs canny quick thinking players who know how to exploit space, because Ireland knows how to find them. Bent is such a player. We need a few more.
-
I won't criticise anybody for questioning Ireland. He's one of those enigmatic players that you either get the best out of, in which case he is absolute class, or he's a bit of a passenger. We saw flashes of it last season with a team that were lost and tentative. Ireland needs the other players around him to fire in order to get the best from him. He needs canny quick thinking players who know how to exploit space, because Ireland knows how to find them. Bent is such a player. We need a few more.
Agree maz 100% - there were times he moved into space or played balls into space that were fantatstic it was just the others could not play with that intelligence
-
Unless we have genuine goalscoring centre mids in the Lampard/Gerrard mould and likewise wingers in the Ronaldo mould plus goals coming from defence then I think the hole player has to be a forward not a midfielder. A Keane/Sheringham/Rooney type, as we will be relying on that player to chip in with at least 10-12 goals next season, I just can't see Ireland getting close to even half that no. based on the last 2 seasons performances
-
Well, there's the rub. Forget the last two seasons. He was a misfit with Houllier and McLeish didn't really know how to get a team to attack so Ireland was wasted. And still usually (officially) our best player, in fact.
It would be nice to have Ireland AND a forward to compete for that position.
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
-
Well, Warnock was already going off the boil before MON left, and Hutton didn't exactly have a reputation as a great defender before he arrived. That's in contrast to Ireland who had won player of the year awards at Manchester City and does offer something very few other players do.
-
Warnock was playing well a few years ago though, which is around the same time Ireland won his player of the year award at City.
So why one rule for Ireland, Bannan and so on but not for others?
-
Well, from a personal viewpoint, I've seen 3 moments watching Villa in the last two years that have left me steaming with rage. Two of those moments have been provided by Stephen Warnock. As for Hutton, I think he suffered in comparison to Kyle Walker.
Also, Bannan is a product of the youth system so people are more likely to want him to do well.
-
Don't get me wrong, it's not as though i'm a massive fan of Warnock, Hutton etc but it bugs me how we have to give certain players more time, forget the past etc while others are damned for what they did over the same period and don't get given another second's grace.
-
Well I think the one thing positive expectation people had of TSM was that he would sort the defense out - that was supposed to be his forte. Going by that logic Hutton and Warnock should have thrived last season, in a way that players like Bannan and Ireland could not. Yet they just as bad as all the rest. Was that down to them as players or just being badly managed?
-
Don't get me wrong, it's not as though i'm a massive fan of Warnock, Hutton etc but it bugs me how we have to give certain players more time, forget the past etc while others are damned for what they did over the same period and don't get given another second's grace.
I'd agree with you PWS. As you know, though, we do all seem to enjoy having a scapegoat or two in the squad; currently we have several that we like to beat up on, including Hutton and Warnock.
Hutton - whom I dislike intensely - had some good moments in the season, when he (legitimately) bullied opposition wingers; and his runs down the wing were good at times. But his positioning and bouts of mentalness make him a poor fulback.
Warnock's commitment was commendable and he occasionally made some good runs down the wing; also, his role as fill-in left midfield seemed to suit him. But he has also some rash moments and is not the best tackler.
Last season we had several 'aunt sallys' (Dunne, Heskey, Jenas, were all in the frame) but the two fullbacks have endured longer than most.
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
A fair comment but I think the answer is fairly obvious to me. In a season where we were overly defensive, Ireland was still the player of the season (not much to crow about I know), whereas Hutton and Warnock were liabilities.
Also, Ireland is entering his prime and has shown he can be a top player in this league if properly utilised. It's also a lot harder for us to get a player like Ireland whereas players better than Warnock and Hutton shouldn't be too much of a stretch.
I'm not really interested in scapegoats but I know Warnock and Hutton need to be elsewhere this season. They're not alone either.
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
A fair comment but I think the answer is fairly obvious to me. In a season where we were overly defensive, Ireland was still the player of the season (not much to crow about I know), whereas Hutton and Warnock were liabilities.
Also, Ireland is entering his prime and has shown he can be a top player in this league if properly utilised. It's also a lot harder for us to get a player like Ireland whereas players better than Warnock and Hutton shouldn't be too much of a stretch.
I'm not really interested in scapegoats but I know Warnock and Hutton need to be elsewhere this season. They're not alone either.
I don't want to come across as anti Stephen Ireland, as I think he is talented and was good in patches last season. There seems to be a feeling that he has suffered at the hands of our past two managers, which kind of absolves him of any blame at all. I personally think the biggest issue with Stephen Ireland is not his ability as a footballer, it's his mentality and attitude. As I said, I thought he did well in patches last season, but just after he had a good game you would turn up to the next match and find out that he wasn't even on the bench. I personally doubt he has the mental or physical attributes to play a full season and therefore can't understand calls for him to become a central figure going forward. I would love for him to fulfil his potential at Villa and recapture the form he showed earlier in his career, but I'm afraid I just don't see it happening.
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
A fair comment but I think the answer is fairly obvious to me. In a season where we were overly defensive, Ireland was still the player of the season (not much to crow about I know), whereas Hutton and Warnock were liabilities.
Also, Ireland is entering his prime and has shown he can be a top player in this league if properly utilised. It's also a lot harder for us to get a player like Ireland whereas players better than Warnock and Hutton shouldn't be too much of a stretch.
I'm not really interested in scapegoats but I know Warnock and Hutton need to be elsewhere this season. They're not alone either.
By being overly defensive didn't we put more pressure on the defence thus making them more likely to make a mistake due to having to do more?
Or if you class a mistimed tackle as an error for Warnock/Hutton and a missed chance (Bent) or misplaced pass (Ireland) as their errors, did the defenders make more? Or if it leads to a goal do we just notice the defenders mistakes more?
The same year Ireland had his one good season and was City player of the year Warnock was Blackburn's. So it could be argued that he too has shown he can be a top player in this league.
I'm obviously playing devil's advocate here as i'm curious why we as fans (and I do exactly the same thing) give some players more time etc than we do others.
-
Being more defensive helps defenders as there are more players assisting them.
And the season you mention, Ireland was one of the best players in the league, Warnock did well but not to those standards.
I dont want become champion of all things Stephen Ireland because truth be told, if he doesnt raise his game again this season and perform to the levels I think he can I will want him removed from the team. But Ireland is 25 and coming into his Prime. He has skills and traits we lack elsewhere in the team. In fact most teams lack. That's valuable.
Warnock is 31 this December and should be at a stage where his mistakes are minimal. Whereas he's been shite for two years and a liability. Ireland plays in a position where he can take calculated risks, Warnock does not.
And whilst Ireland did not light up the league last season his improvement under difficult circumstances has given him the right to be part of our plans still. I think Warnock has had his chances now and its time to move on. There's nothing personal in that opinion. Its just based on what I see.
He's not comfortable in his surroundings and has said so. Time to go, for him and for us.
With Hutton, well, he isnt as good as the two younger options we had for his position, so to me it makes sense to get a better first choice in or just let the two (Lichaj and Herd) that are better than him fight it out and get some cash for him. Again, nothing personal, I just dont think he's good enough.
It may be Lambert will come in and they will click with him and find new reserves of enthusiasm and ability. But I wouldn't expect it.
I dont want to dwell on Ireland, Warnock and Hutton though. There are several players who need to go and some I dont care if they do or not. But at least with Ireland I can see a player that could help us to be that top 6 side in the next few years. I dont think there's any chance of that with the likes of Warnock and Hutton.
It would be nice if we weren't cringing every time the ball comes anywhere near our box.
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
Ireland was our player of the year last year.
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
Ireland was our player of the year last year.
yes, let's wipe the slate clean and give him a chance to be as bad as everyone else.
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
Ireland was our player of the year last year.
I am sure I heard somewhere that the player of the year award was decided by the number of Man of the Match awards players got. The problem with using that particular method is doesn't give an accurate reflection on the player's contribution over the whole season.
-
The fans voted him player of the year.
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
Ireland was our player of the year last year.
Steven Davis was player of the year in 05/06 should we have built a side around him the following season?
Being player of the year in a very poor Villa side is hardly the biggest endorsement around.
However that misses my point. Why do some players get more time and leeway than others. Ireland, Delph, Bannan etc all should have more time and be given a fresh start. As should Makoun for example.
Yet many (and possibly some of the same folks) decided Bradley for example wasn't good enough after 100 minutes of first team football.
I'm not picking on Ireland per se (i'd definitely give him another season), just using him as the example of my point. If age (Warnock) is a factor for not giving them more time to get their form, then how come Bradley who is younger than Ireland was written off?
-
The fans voted him player of the year.
“The online vote for Villa supporters player was managed slightly differently this year. Rather than one end of season vote, as per previous seasons, a man of the match was voted for by supporters after every game (The man of the match vote takes place on the lions club website but is promoted through the OS and our social media channels). The winner of the supporters player (Terrace Trophy) was the player who accumulated the most man of the match votes/points across the entire season".
-
Yeah... the fans voted for him. For what its worth I think the way its done (after each match) is a more accurate representation as things are easily forgotten (or fabricated) when the smoke clears after the season is finished.
PeterWitheShin, I have already said numerous times that being player of the season last year was nothing special.
However, you're comparing players like Warnock, who has been rubbish for years against a player like Ireland who has been a top player and is improving here. That doesnt compare with Davis who was and remains a bloody average player who was voted our player of the season in a dreadful team. I didn't aggree with that award either. A few nice goals hid his limitations in my opinion.
But certain players get more leeway because they have more to offer, because the hope that they will perform to their best is a far more enticing prospect than jobbing players who continue to let us down and have and never will amount to much.
For what it's worth, I wanted to keep Bradley and agree he had hardly any chance here to prove himself.
Players like Hutton and Warnock have had enough time and chances.
-
I know you have said that about player of the year Mazrim. My comments on that were in reply to Hartman who gave only that as a reason to persevere with him.
For what's it worth, I will repeat, i'm not anti Ireland. Or pro Warnock etc. Just curious why we as fans (and again, i've done it myself) write some players off too quickly and yet are prepared to stick with others (perhaps for too long).
I'll try another way, and this is not aimed at anyone just an example, so to hopefully make it a better analogy, forget Warnock due to age and go with 2 players with potential.
Why would person ABC be strongly in favour of giving Ireland more time but want to bin Delph? Surely logic should be bin both or give both a chance?
-
Out of interest, how come we have to forget the last 2 seasons with Ireland but not with Warnock, Hutton and so on? Surely it should be a case of everyone gets a clean slate or we judge all players on their performances of the last 2 years.
A fair comment but I think the answer is fairly obvious to me. In a season where we were overly defensive, Ireland was still the player of the season (not much to crow about I know), whereas Hutton and Warnock were liabilities.
Also, Ireland is entering his prime and has shown he can be a top player in this league if properly utilised. It's also a lot harder for us to get a player like Ireland whereas players better than Warnock and Hutton shouldn't be too much of a stretch.
I'm not really interested in scapegoats but I know Warnock and Hutton need to be elsewhere this season. They're not alone either.
In a nutshell is that we all like exciting players who can do that little bit of magic to bring you off your seats. Ireland has done that, Bannan similarly albeit to a lesser degree. Hutton and Warnock being defenders means that they need leave us gasping with awe with the consistent brilliance otherwise we'll only see their mistakes and otherwise hope the likes of Ireland can cover any of their errors.
-
I think the difference of who should stay and who should go, can be kind of explained by looking at players that have under achieved and comparing risk, over future improvement and value.
As an example, how risky is it to the team and club to:
a) keep Bannan, as a midfield support player, who could grow and improve into a principle midfielder and increase in value for resale.
compared with
b) keep Hutton, as principle right back, who might just not develop and improve and be a liability again and lose even more value for resale.
-
Just for info, and I don't think it will affect the discussion, Darren Bent was in Dunelm (Erdington) today. He must have been after some new cushions.
The source is my mum.
-
PeterWithesShin: part of the reason for the double standards may be due to what people percieve as mitigating factors towards Ireland's perspective. Rightly or wrongly, his mental ability, injuries, being played out of position, loan spells and general lack of continuity have all be cited as reasons for him underperforming. This suggests that given a consistent run in his favoured position, by a manager who employs team tactics more suited to his playing style, could see a dramatic improvement in his performance. Warnock and others haven't had their performances drastically affected by other circumstances, and should largely have performed somewhere near their best.
I also agree with Mazrim's sentiments about the attributes Ireland offers being more unique/valuable and he can make a bigger impact on the team's performance if he fires, which would contribute to people being comparitively more supportive/forgiving of him.
I don't subscribe to any pro-ireland/anti-warnock camps either - like you, just trying to find the logic in the argument.
That being said, I do think Warnock (initially under mon) showed he was a very handy player, and if he rediscovered that form, I'd be more than happy for him to stay.
-
Oh, I'd just like to say that I think this season Daniel Johnson will start to emerge as a first team player and make Bannans life even more difficult. And hopefully we'll see Gardner thrive under a better manager who knows how to use him. It wasnt all McLeish's fault and his introduction has been underwhelming regardless of tactics but I still believe this kid is something special. Carruthers should start to get some action too. These players (the three mentioned and a few more besides) have preseason to shine and I expect a few of them will suprise Lambert and give him food for thought.
-
Oh, I'd just like to say that I think this season Daniel Johnson will start to emerge as a first team player and make Bannans life even more difficult. And hopefully we'll see Gardner thrive under a better manager who knows how to use him. It wasnt all McLeish's fault and his introduction has been underwhelming regardless of tactics but I still believe this kid is something special. Carruthers should start to get some action too. These players (the three mentioned and a few more besides) have preseason to shine and I expect a few of them will suprise Lambert and give him food for thought.
I hope so. I'd also like to see Albrighton get back to his form of two seasons ago, and Clark make a step up from promising youngster to established first choice on merit. I think he's the most talented of all the kids to be honest.
-
For my sins I watched the 10/11 DVD the other night and one thing stood out was what a beast Albrighton was for a while. Some of the crosses he put it were pure evil to try and defend.
-
That player is still there somewhere. A lot of people are jumping the gun writing him off I think.
-
Like a number of our players the confidence was completely taken fromm them last season. Think about McLeish gives you a team talk about trying not to lose, and then you go make a mistake as a young kid. You're belief, which is already at an all time low, added to an already very tense crowd, gets even more shredded. Albrighton regressed, and a good piece of that will be on him, but it will help him and others to come out of their shells a bit this season with Lambert.
-
Let's not forget that Albrighton was also pretty poor the latter half of 10/11, so it's not just the Scottish Manager syndrome with him. Although I agree it's too soon to right him off, he does need to step up next season or he'll probably need to be moved on, most likely to a Championship club.
-
Like a number of our players the confidence was completely taken fromm them last season. Think about McLeish gives you a team talk about trying not to lose, and then you go make a mistake as a young kid. You're belief, which is already at an all time low, added to an already very tense crowd, gets even more shredded.
And then your manager critisises you in the post match interview!
-
Albrighton wasn't poor to the end of the season. He had a slump and then started to find his form again.
It was his first proper season in the top flight after all.
-
That's a favourable way of looking at it, Maz. It was his second really. He started against West Ham on the opening day of 2010/11 afterall.
Undoubtedly vital seasons for Bannan and Marc though. Fail to impress this year and they'll be off next Summer, I reckon. Both only have 2 years of their deal left as well so if we do want rid next Summer then the ball will be in the clubs court, so to speak.
-
No mate, we were talking about 10/11.
-
Ah, my mistake.
-
anyone dug a hole for ireland to go and fuck off to?
-
anyone dug a hole for ireland to go and fuck off to?
Think the whole teams gone and jumped in it as well