Houllier says Ireland Must Up His Game

[Chris Smith]

How long did we give Petrov?

I'm not for a second suggesting that we give up on him.

What I'm saying that given the choice I'd have Milner ahead of him and the money.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

How long did we give Petrov?

I'm not for a second suggesting that we give up on him.

What I'm saying that given the choice I'd have Milner ahead of him and the money.

Given the choice, so would I, we've missed him badly this season.

[dave.woodhall]

I'd rather have Milner as well, but Milner would rather have Manchester City.

[Merv]

I see you cut out the reasoned part of my argument when you quoted me there, Chris.

Where City finished in Ireland's season par excellence is beside the point, no? We're talking about a seemingly succession of managers who have failed to consistently select the player. The stretching it bit comes from your two seasons timeframe... which, in actual fact, encompasses one full season and two full months of this. Which paints a very different picture of Ireland's performances if you choose to overlook the full season before.

And yes, we gave Petrov around two seasons to find his groove. And James Milner a pretty ordinary first full season. And Stuart Downing half of last season. But Ireland doesn't seem to be extended the same rules - maybe because some people don't like his haircut (or his previous haircut), or his cars, or the pics of his house which do the internet rounds every so often, or the Superman pants he wore for a joke once... I realise he divides opinion and he's put himself there to be shot at in some ways, and I guess he's the kind of player some people make their minds up about before even seeing him.

Me? I rate the guy as a footballer, and recognise the fact that he chose - and he did choose - to come here to replace the rather saintly James Milner, who was happy to drop us like a stone when Man City came a-sniffing, despite the dramatic progress he made with us. Progress which, it seems, is slowing down now he's got a manager who won't trust him as one of this three central midfielders.

So I'm happy to cut Ireland some slack, allow him a settling in period, because I think he's got talent, and he's the type of player we need at Villa. One or two less steady Eddies, one or two more players who can pull something a bit special out of the bag the next time a team like Blues turn up at VP and stick 11 men behind the ball.

(exhales)

[alanclare]

I'd rather have Milner as well, but Milner would rather have Manchester City.

Milner's bank manager would rather he had Manchester City as well.

[Chris Smith]

Like Kev you keep picking an argument that isn't there, Merv.

It's getting tedious to have to keep repeating myself but I don't accept that we got the better of the deal; Man City did. They got the player they wanted, they got rid of one that they didn't want and needed off the books because of the new regulations and they spent an amount that is chicken feed to them.

We lost our best player, one of the most highly regarded in the country, and got some money that we might spend and a player that might recapture his form. I hope he does, I'll be patient and support him while he's here. I've never denied that he has talent but have always felt that he lacks the mental strength and the consistency to go with it.

It was probabaly the best deal we could get under the circumstances but that's not the same thing.

[Merv]

Like Kev you keep picking an argument that isn't there, Merv.

It's getting tedious to have to keep repeating myself

Tell me about it.

[Chris Smith]

Like Kev you keep picking an argument that isn't there, Merv.

It's getting tedious to have to keep repeating myself

Tell me about it.

I see you cut out the reasoned part of my argument when you quoted me there, Merv. ;¬)

[Merv]

Absolutely, it seems the only way to win on here. 

[Dave]

Personally I can't really see how it's possible to pass judgement on who got the better of any deal ten weeks after it was signed.

[timeoutbigbar]

Especially as we haven't seen what the extra money (hopefully) will be spent on.  If we re-invest the rest of the money from that deal and get 2 £10 milliion standard players, then are those two players and Ireland not equal to Milner? 

[Whiney MacWhineface]

I think it's a valid point that Hughes, Mancini and now Houllier have all successively thought Ireland not up to a starting place over the past 2 seasons.

You've said this a couple of times Chris (about Hughes dropping him). Hughes was dumped on the 19th December 2009. Ireland had played 19 times for the team up to that point and continued to be a regular up to February under Mancini. So, Mancini didn't fancy him (and is that really too surprising as he seems to favour playing three defensive midfielders) and neither does Houllier, but it seems Hughes still did.

[Dave]

I think it's a valid point that Hughes, Mancini and now Houllier have all successively thought Ireland not up to a starting place over the past 2 seasons.

So, Mancini didn't fancy him (and is that really too surprising as he seems to favour playing three defensive midfielders) and neither does Houllier...

I still think it's far too soon to decide what Houllier wants to do with Ireland.

Ireland has started three of Houllier's four league games.

As a comparison, Milner started none of the first four league games that he had under O'Neill.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Seems to me that Ireland doesn't have a future at the club unless we set up a 451 formation especially to accomodate him.

Milner on the other hand could perform capably in any formation and in virtually any position on the pitch.





 
 

You say that, but he didn't start on Sunday. Ciaran Clark and Sidwell were ahead of him. If Sidwell is ahead of you in a football team, you've got to be bad.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I'd rather have Milner as well, but Milner would rather have Manchester City.

No, Milner would rather have money, and lots of it.