Ireland

[lordmcgrath5]

He really was absolute bollocks on Saturday, hardly in the game at all. But I don't think it was down to not trying. He'll still come good, I reckon. An excellent player at times at Man City, and I can't see that he's lost that all of a sudden. It's worth remembering that he had very little in the way of match practice in the latter part of his time at Eastlands.

[BILL DE VALL]

The lad is quality
He is the type of player the team needs to get used to
we used to be wing oriented=always trying to get it wide
now SI is popping up in midfield and trying little flicks etc that the other players will get the hang of soon -I hope

[mozza]

Stephen Birmingham (our Dublin Lions don't appreciate the correct one) is without doubt
a talented footballer, capable of dictating a game, creating for others and scoring goals
himself -

I watched him closely during the Chelsea match and he appeared to always want the
ball to feet but on numerous occasions was ignored, in particular by Downing.
Nothing much happened for him at Sunderland and it was no surprise that Houllier
subbed him -

Agree with the comment that return of Gabby could help the guy, as opposed to
a front man of Heskey or Carew           

[Dante Lavelli]

The point above that we are so used to attacking from the wings is very relevant in Ireland's case.  He often shows for players asking them to pass between two defenders (arguably a more risky pass).  Whereas when we were so wing based the passes were outside the defenders, or when lack confidence/territory the hoof down the wide channels.

Basically playing the way we do now will demand a change of focus.  Ireland naturally suits this system but it may take time for the others (centre backs / Centre Midfielders) to realise that there other passes than merely outside the defense.

The next stage is to get the other players to move off this pivot but I've bored you enough already.

[paulcomben]

Agree with most of the above, buy why can't a midfield player on massive wages adapt to a few systems? He has been v poor so far, even when simple technique would have yielded results e.g. missing far post 1v1 on Cech?