Ireland. Has there ever been a less committed player?

[Salsa Party Animal]

Let try to work out the problems

1. He is unhappy about leaving Man City. They don't want you. Nothing will change them.

2. He is not settled in Villa Park. Move to the Midlands and spend more times getting to know your team mates and work harder.

3. Players and Managers doesn't understand me. Work harder and learn your team mates abilities and build an understanding.

4. If you are affected with lack of fitness, spend more times in gym/bike/training ground

5. If you are affected with lack of match practise / sharpness. Ask to play for Villa reserves to get games

6. Don't feel loved. Well you have to earn the support and love as it come both way.

[Reality]

He has received a lot of love from Villa fans the morning he came here. He can't use that excuse.

[N'ZMAV]

Stephen Ireland has just posted a Tweet: Might have to give Trap a buzz to get a game.


Shouldn't he be in training now?

[Tom_Mc9?]

Stephen Ireland has just posted a Tweet: Might have to give Trap a buzz to get a game.


Shouldn't he be in training now?

Played his last game? So much promise when he joined. He won't be missed.

[Olneythelonely]

Stephen Ireland has just posted a Tweet: Might have to give Trap a buzz to get a game.


Shouldn't he be in training now?

I have a feeling that's a fake account.

[N'ZMAV]

Stephen Ireland has just posted a Tweet: Might have to give Trap a buzz to get a game.


Shouldn't he be in training now?

I have a feeling that's a fake account.

Quite possibly, it isn't varified.

[PaulTheVillan]

I think Ireland needs a goal. I think he'll come to life then.

[Matt C]

If he could get the winner say, next Wednesday that would take a lot of problems away.

[N'ZMAV]

That would be a decent way of winning people over.

[E I Adio]

Clearly, Ireland's problems are in his head and not his feet. He's not the first to have problems like this and I well remember the shocking first season Ken McNaught had, one of our great centre halves, following his transfer from Everton. I believe that Ireland could also become a very influential player for us, given time. I don't think he's in the same bracket as that wimp Maloney.

[Merv]

I think Ireland's 'problems' are being overstated. I don't think there's a lot wrong, other than he's not had a run of games in the side. He's not really playing poorly, he's just not made a major impact.

To be honest, I think the position's done him no favours at all. He's now seen as a second striker, playing behind a centre-forward, so that changes expectation of him. We're expecting him to win games, and if he falls short, he's had a 'stinker'. Can't help thinking that if we were using him a central midfielder, we'd be seeing him in a slightly different light.

[pedro25]

He had a run of games in the side early season at central midfield and was woeful.

[Merv]

Early season? Which run of games would that be? I thought he missed the West Ham game as the deal hadn't gone through, played badly at Newcastle, (along with everyone else, forever to be known as the worst result in our history), injured in the warm-up at Everton and didn't play, therefore going almost a month before featuring in his next league game. Started that one v Bolton, did okay, on a v.late sub at Spurs, started and did very well at home to Chelsea, started again and admittedly was poor v Sunderland.

I'm not seeing a run of games as a central midfielder there, Pedro.

It's just my personal opinion, but I think he needs to play central midfield, not as some kind of free striker, and certainly not given the odd start and little cameo sub appearances here and there. Now he's expected to come on, or start the odd game in three, and win it for us with a stroke of genius. My fear is he won't be given a realistic chance to show his best and he'll be moved on swiftly.

[jembob]

I don't know if anybody has mentioned Craig Bellamy's comments about Ireland on Sky but he rates him very highly. He said that at his first Citeh training session he thought that Ireland was the best player he'd ever seen but was a complex character. His problem is probably mental application and he seems a sort of tortured genius. In this case it will take as long for the management to learn how to handle him properly too, but from what I've seen so far he doesn't seem to have a clear role in the team and it may be as simple as helping him to understand what is expected of him.

[lovejoy]

Best player he'd ever seen?
Better than Pele, Maradona, Messi? On what criteria is he measuring this Mario Karts?