Robert Pires

[Brend'Watkins]

I wish it was Stevenage who were after him.

[Merv]

Ireland couldn't contribute anything less, yet he's nowhere near the squad and Pires is starting.  It's madness.

Totally agree. I posted in a different thread that I couldn't understand why Pires is coming on ahead of Ireland in games - that was reference to trailing v Spurs on Boxing Day. Even an out-of-sorts Ireland is going to offer more than Pires; I can understand why Ireland is so (apparently) determined to leave if he's being overlooked for Pires. He shouldn't be starting matches.

[TheSandman]

I'd rather neither of them were anywhere near our team but there you go.

[Merv]

Well, one of them isn't... hopefully, the other won't be for much longer.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Houllier quote

"I admit that because it took him about three or four weeks to step up. Now he's getting better.''

Sorry Gerard, I just can't see it.
I haven't seen one hint of his old ability.

[UK Redsox]

I was incredibly disappointed with him today. The game has passed him by. It looked a decent addition at a time that the window was closed and our physio's room resembled a reenactment of war time England. Today proved that his head might be there (and I'd even argue that to be honest), but the body most certainly isn't.

Just couldn't understand the reasoning behind starting him today.  He's been dreadful every time he's come on, and he was woeful in the last match he started.  Ireland couldn't contribute anything less, yet he's nowhere near the squad and Pires is starting.  It's madness.

It seems that Pires can say want he wants, whereas if any other player even looks at the manager funny, they're out of the matchday squad.

One rule for one.............. etc

[Chris Smith]

Houllier quote

"I admit that because it took him about three or four weeks to step up. Now he's getting better.''

Sorry Gerard, I just can't see it.
I haven't seen one hint of his old ability.

There was one quick exchange of passes with, I think, Young towards the end of the first half on Saturday where he looked very good. That's about it though.

[Holtenderinthesky]

If he was brought in as some sort of father figure for the young lads then fair enough but to actually be featuring in the 1st team is a bit odd.  He clearly isn't up to it any more at the highest level and as others have said, can Ireland be THAT bad to have dropped behind him in the pecking order?

[Concrete John]

can Ireland be THAT bad to have dropped behind him in the pecking order?

With Ireland I don't think it's a matter of ability that's keeping him out, but rather attitude?

Can his attitude be THAT bad that he's dropped behind Pires in the pecking order?  I think the team on Saturday answered that!

[Holtenderinthesky]

can Ireland be THAT bad to have dropped behind him in the pecking order?

With Ireland I don't think it's a matter of ability that's keeping him out, but rather attitude?

Can his attitude be THAT bad that he's dropped behind Pires in the pecking order?  I think the team on Saturday answered that!

True, but is a shit player with a good attitude what we need over a good player with a bad attitude?  Right now I'd have good actual players in the squad over good boy Pires.

[Concrete John]

I don't think Pires is doing any better or worse than Ireland would be, so it's not as if we'd be getting more from the player pissing the club around.

[Risso]

I don't think Pires is doing any better or worse than Ireland would be, so it's not as if we'd be getting more from the player pissing the club around.

It's hard to imagine Ireland contributing any less.  At least he can run the length of the pitch in less than 5 minutes.

[villa for life]

c'mon everybody...let's get behind our players!!lol

[supertom]

It's a bit sad that Pires hasn't offered more. Giggsy is 37 and still a big part of Utd's team. Pires just can't run anymore, but what's been most disappointing, is how un-influential he's been in the attacking third, and he's not been picking out passes. He's showed little of the vision that he had in abundance at Arsenal either. Aside from age catching up, he seems to be holding something back too.

[alanclare]

What is Robert Pirès for?