Welcome Stephen Ireland

[garyfouroaks]

Sad to see Milner go, delighted to see ireland here. Time will tell on this deal, but I am optimistic.

[BedsVillain]

The thing that amuses me the most if that the resident Citeh reporter on SSN keeps emphasizing that we got £16m and they valued Ireland at £8m making this deal worth £24m. Well if Milner, who I like a lot, is worth £24m than Ireland must be worth at least £12-14m, (similar price to Downing is fair I think.) Therefore this deal is worth more like a £28-30m. Thank you Man Citeh!

[JUAN PABLO]

I like this one ...

Heres a player who adores City and their fans and wears our shirt with pride, and hes treated like shit. We've shelled out 20 odd million, plus Stevie. Absolute joke of a decision and makes us look like fucking idiots. I just hope Stevie doesn't think he wasn't appreciated here at City 'cause he really was. Good luck pal, you got fucked over, and its becoming a fucking regularity.


Couldnt agree more  ;-))

[pablopicasso_10]

an honest proper man city fan i speak to at another forum said that before he was dropped for no reason last year, he worked harder than any midfielder he had ever seen...

some people have gone on about him not being great last year, but this is being dropped from a team that thought dunne, bellamy, etc, were surplus to requirements after great seasons before... he was unceremoniously dumped on from a great height last year, and the season before that, when he got regular football, he was one of the best attacking midfielders in the league...

there is no reason that with regular football he cant get back to his very best...

[Mr Diggles]

I think he'll need time to settle in and get fit again in order to produce his very best football, but I think this is a great deal for Villa. Ireland plus around £16m - good stuff. He's different to Milner so I won't be that bothered about demanding the same electric energy and hustle all over the pitch (how many midfielders really produce that anymore anyway?) but what he can produce in that final third once he gets used to playing with Young, Gabby, Downing etc is something that may have been beyond Milner anyway. I think Villa will be really strong with him in the team. Creative, intelligent, quick, tempermental and a little colourful character too - brilliant! Can't wait to see him in action.

[JUAN PABLO]

Shame we cant have Given while they are throwing quality out of  the club

[Mr Diggles]

an honest proper man city fan i speak to at another forum said that before he was dropped for no reason last year, he worked harder than any midfielder he had ever seen...
there is no reason that with regular football he cant get back to his very best...

I remember an interview with him in the Sunday Times that clearly demonstrated his commitment and hard working attitude. See this link.

Good article that. Kickboxing and fell running (kind of) in the off season, dead grandmothers, pants, pink... got to love him.

[Mr Diggles]

I like this one ...

Heres a player who adores City and their fans and wears our shirt with pride, and hes treated like shit. We've shelled out 20 odd million, plus Stevie. Absolute joke of a decision and makes us look like fucking idiots. I just hope Stevie doesn't think he wasn't appreciated here at City 'cause he really was. Good luck pal, you got fucked over, and its becoming a fucking regularity.


Couldnt agree more  ;-))

It just shows how money definitely changes you and how difficult it is to balance the sense of history, pride and community and the drive for success built on spending lots of money (thank god for Lerner!). In City's example, it's a case of be careful what you wish for. Yes, you can be the richest club in the world, but they are in danger of losing the soul of the club, or at least seeing it change beyond all recognition.

[Mac]

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

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

LOL

[BILL DE VALL]

He's a quality player and still young
shame Jm left as he was awesome
glad to hear SI's a worker
here's to a great season with an interesting midfield

[Matt Collins]

Very good signing given the circumstances. I just can't quite figure out if I think he can regularly play alongside Petrov and behind Young, or if we need to drop a winger for him and pick someone like NRC / Delph. Time will tell I guess.

[j66acd]

I'm going to bic my head for the everton game, reckon I'll be a cross between collina and Richard o'Brian! Great signing, interesting to see if we could play him where Milner played Saturday and stick with same team with gabby and Collins/cuellar coming in. Could be exiting.

[jembob]

Looks like quite a few over at Blue Moon are not quite so happy about this deal:

Dear Mr Steven Ireland - on behalf of true City fans every where I apologise whole heartily on the shambolic way our club has treated you. Best of luck to you and your family on settling in your new surroundings.

Possibly the worst bit of transfer business this club has ever done and it’s becoming plain to see that the old saying ‘More Money Than Sense’ is clearly true

There’s no doubt in my mind that this is one piece of business that we will surely regret and will return to haunt us on many occasions - Ireland is a better player than Villa & Milner already and will prove it this season before going on to higher levels - Just a shame those levels wont be with us.

Gutted

We got fucked up the arse by Villa in this deal we may have billions in the banks but the owners have been taken for a ride in this deal big time. Ireland was worth more and we under valued him in this deal.

Yes, about time someone mentioned the lad! sweep did you know that he's left us and gone to villa now? Coupled with the fact that we have treated him like excrament(sic), and are getting a player in exchange who is worse?

Sounds like Milner might get a bit of stick if he doesn't get off to a good start.

[pmk1981]

splendid,  ill miss milner but i think we have bagged ourselves a real coop here and have by an absolute mile got the best deal !!!   milner will be played on the right wing and will not play the same as he did for us in the centre !  yes i am grateful for milners contribution the last 2 years but i hope the money grabbing shite rots.  Milner will be ok for a bit,  man city will do rubbish,   manchini will get the sack,  new manager wont like most of the players, milner and others may get pushed out and he will be shafted !!

Just watched the avtv interview with ireland and he sounds like a smashing lad and he just wants to play football again after been treated like shite by man city.  having dunne here will help him settle in too.

Welcome Stephen and im looking forward to seeing what you can do for us !!

[gervilla]

We really did get the better end of this deal. If we got £8 mill and Ireland it would have been a good deal but we totally mugged them. We have been lacking the creativity that Ireland brings for years.
I cant wait until he has a few games under his belt and gets his groove back.
Brilliant piece of buisness.