Welcome Stephen Ireland

[dicedlam]

Welcome Stephen and all the best at the Villa,

I can see Gabby having some fun with those through balls he makes!

[magic monks]

We've not had a player capable of the unexpected like Ireland since the Merse. This is a stellar piece of business.

[TaxDodger]

Welcome Stephen. I'm assuming he'll wear 8?

[usav]

Welcome Stephen. I'm assuming he'll wear 8?

Mon had him penciled in at right-back, so we'll have to see.

[BoredNow]

I think Milner was already given eight so I'm not sure he can.

Great to see him finally arrive. I think this is a fantastic deal for us. He's naturally a more talented player than Milner, IMO. You can't teach someone that instinctive bit of magic - but we can teach him how to bust a gut 

[JJ-AV]

I'd guess he'd have 8 too, he can have it.

He might pull a stunt and have 77 though? He's got 7 all over his car apparently...

[jembob]

I'm really excited by Ireland's arrival and we've now got a bloody good team. Say what you like about MON's painful transfer dealings, he gathered a very exciting group of talented players. Ireland will provide us with the flare which we've lacked over the past few years, and if we continue with the style of play seen against West Ham, he'll have a great time playing for us too. When Delph is fit we'll have real options in midfield.

I like the fact that he seems to be a bit bonkers but he should ditch the pink.

[TaxDodger]

I'd guess he'd have 8 too, he can have it.

He might pull a stunt and have 77 though? He's got 7 all over his car apparently...

Plus he's madder than Mad Jack McMad. You might be right.

[Toronto Villa]

I love his comments. Footballers essentially say the same things so I tend to glaze over when they do interviews. His has a bit of bite to it because he feels that he has lost a year of career having done so well previously. I think we will see a very motivated player for years to come. Welcome to the best club in the world Stephen.

[john e]

oh what might have been

just think if MON had stayed we would have a

'welcome Aiden Mcgeady'  thread

[citizenDJ]

Really looking forward to seeing him play for us, he could be a great player. I just hope that we don't go overboard with our expectations, give him a bit of time to settle in and all that.

That said, I'm quite confident that he'll be a good signing for us, and he seems to bring exactly what a lot of us think we've lacked for some time; creativity, flair, a sense of the unexpected. In fact, the reports that MON didn't want him as part of the deal don't surprise me at all.....all right, bit of a cheap shot there!

[manic-road]

Welcome Stephen, delighted that he's now a Villa player, with 16m to possibly spend.

Two years ago, he was without doubt one of the best midfielders in the league before Mankini took over.

Hope he gets off to a flyer against the toon.

[ktvillan]

There is no way Milner is worth 19m more than Ireland and Citeh clearly have far more money than sense.  I've always rated Ireland.  When he came on against us at VP last season he changed the game and was the main reason Citeh salvaged a draw.  Looking at those videos there is even more to his game than I thought.  Quite a few defence splitting passes there, good movement and vision,  a decent finish on him, and a bit of the unexpected.  If he can produce it consistently he will be just what our team needs.

[achilles]

Welcome to the best club in the world Stephen.

Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[greenwichvilla]

Did he arrive in this?