January Transfer Window - Rumours, Links, B*llsh*t and Made-Up Nonsense

[timeoutbigbar]

Correct, it should be a priviledge and an honour to play for your, he doesn't seem to see it like that.  Never wanted him in the first place, fair play to our club honouring the deal, very noble of them, but really we should have just said, sorry, change of circumstances £8 mill instead please.

I don't agree.  I think that his age, talent and potential warrented a gamble of the 8 million we paid.  No signing is a sure thing.  I'd also point out the fact that these 'quotes' don't appear to be directly from him, and therefore could just be pulled from thin air.  Even now i still think the lad has got something.

edit:  Spot on about the international team point though

[Rigadon]

Why would be accepting anything less than £8m?  He is after all an 'enigma' isn't he?  If Stoke or some team of that ilk want Ireland they should be willing to take the same gamble Villa took a few months ago.

As for the quotes, if they are attributed to 'a friend' you can almost guarantee that the friend is Irelands agent.  It really is a disgrace if true (it would seem plausible and in keeping with previous antics) and would sum up all that is loathsome about the modern footballer.   

[LeeB]

What a wanker.

I didn't want him when first mentioned, then slowly talked myself into it once it became clear that Milner wanted off, and then realised by the end of September I was right in the first place.

I hope you get a move to Liverpool, Woy gets sacked a week later, and someone like Dave Basset gets the job and flogs you to death.

[eastie]

I think if we hold out for £8m we will never sell him on and he will just became another reserve on big wages and causing us problems with his attitude- best hold our hands up and cut our losses , get him off the wage bill and move on - if it is stoke how about a swap for tuncay?

[villa for life]

yes, we've got to take advantage of some other club who are not in a good position with one of their better players and do some kind of swap deal for Ireland, like Everton and Pienaar, although he'd probably attract clubs in a better position than ourselves..

[pedro25]

He's worth the risk for any manager to take at £8mill I just think the club must have known that they were looking for a Houllier type appointment, i.e. a completely different style of manager to M'ON and therefore should have held fire on signing an archetypal M'ON style player.  It's hardly a surprise that the new manager doesn't fancy him.

[PeterWithe]

If Ireland were an archetypal MON player why were we so lacking in the creative CM department for so long? I think he was the signing we have been crying out for for some time, its not worked out so far but that happens at times.

[achilles]

He is without a shadow of a doubt a very talented player, unfortunately he is also a very screwed up young man!

I don't think that he ever really wanted to come to Villa but was forced too, now he is beginning to throw his toys out the pram.

For whats its worth I thought he could have been a great signing but I have been wrong before and I will be wrong again!

No future in keeping him at the club if he doesn't want to put the effort in to try and make an impact!

[villa1]

Didn't complain when he came to us and still think he's got potential to be a big player for us. Just his attitude.

Pity because he'd probably fit well into our new style of possession football.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

This is just what I feared would happen with Ireland. I said when we were first linked that he has talent but a suspect attitude. I wish he'd have proved me wrong.

I never thought you rated him, Chris. Nothing to do with his attitude, you just never thought he was that good. To your credit, you're always prepared to give them a chance once they've signed for us.

Despite Ireland not playing for almost a year, I think if we had a settled side with a couple of defensive midfielders behind him, he could be the player we all want him to be. The only thing holding him back is himself. Any other player having been that long out would be running around like a greyhound, wanting to get involved in the game but not with him. He likes to float around, never chasing or putting a tackle in. Admittedly his passing is very good and he's extremely comfortable on the ball but unless you're Maradonna, modern day football requires you contribute a little bit more.

It was clear from day 1 that Ireland needed somebody to put their arm round him, make him feel wanted but due to the circumstances regarding the manager at the time of his arrival and the injury crisis since, nobody has had the chance to babysit him. It's no surprise things are as they are, we needed everybody to stand tall and fight through these difficult months. Ireland can blame whoever he wants, yes it was not ideal but the only thing asked of him was to try his best and join the fight. He obviously saw it as beneath him and his talent.

Where he goes from here I've no idea. We either lose out big time financially and get rid or we try and sit him down and work through his problems, whatever they may be. The problem is we're in the middle of a season where every game is important, we haven't played the same XI twice, players are coming back and the manager needs to focus on those that want and deserve to play.

The only hope is Ireland looks in the mirror and decides he wants to make the effort and decides to give it a go. Will it happened? I hope so but very much doubt it.

[PaulTheVillan]

Would you swap Ashley Young for James Milner?

[Dave]

Would you swap Ashley Young for James Milner?

Probably, only because in Albrighton I think we've got a similar player coming through.

I don't think we have a similar player to Milner coming through.

[Shrek]

Does anyone know what sort off player Gary Gardner is? Who would be compared too currenly?

[The Walshmeister]

Keano from a reliable source

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23907139-robbie-keane-wants-aston-villa-deal-while-the-hammers-size-up-ohara.do

[PeterWithe]

Does anyone know what sort off player Gary Gardner is? Who would be compared too currenly?

James Milner, so I'm told.