Ireland. Has there ever been a less committed player?

[ronshirt]

Apparently Ireland wants out of Villa in January with Fulham (of all places) his preferred destination.

Wants to join up with Mark Hughes again.

A straight swap for Dempsey?

A straight swop for a corner flag would do me.

[BannedUserIAT]

I remember a while back Troy Eccles constructed an elaborate theory on Ireland and how he is finished. I thought Troy was being a bit yampy but I'm coming round to his theory.

Bollocks to you! Well, the first bit. 

I remember Troy's theory too, I just thought it was a bit poncey but now it's clear that he's the second coming of Freud.  Who'd have thought it.

You an' all!

It was a fantastic bloody piece that. Although I have to admit, I'm surprised it was accurate. I do tend to post some bollocks on here. Gets the ladies all het up, see.

[Muscle-Dolphin]

Apparently Ireland wants out of Villa in January with Fulham (of all places) his preferred destination.

Wants to join up with Mark Hughes again.

A straight swap for Dempsey?

A straight swop for a corner flag would do me.

How about a straight swap for a water bottle?  At least it would be of some use to the team.

[Legion]

I'll give you a plaster.

[Shrek]

I can't think of one player I'd want from Fulham, if Martin was still the boss I'd say Zamora but with Gerrard I think we will tend to sign French.

[supertom]

Suspect if a swap deal was to be done, then GH might try and snag Danny Murphy. He'd be a solid signing. Reliable, and would fit well into Houlliers style. Good for 2 years. I also think Hughes could be swayed into it.

Murphy would however be best accompanied with 1-2 further, and younger, midfield signings.

[Eigentor]

Well, today I thought he was an improvement on Carew. Yes, he doesn't seem to know how to "fit" into the side, and he lacks tactical awareness, but he did seem to try.

[Irish villain]

Well, today I thought he was an improvement on Carew. Yes, he doesn't seem to know how to "fit" into the side, and he lacks tactical awareness, but he did seem to try.

Like I said when he first came, he wasn't the type of player we needed. We ahve enough attacking midfielders in the side. Especially with Albrighton and Downing on the wing and Ashley free to play in the middle it's hard to see where Ireland can fit in.

[UK Redsox]

Ireland looked OK today. Which, given his previous performances, is actually a vast improvement

[Surrey Villain]

Ireland looked OK today. Which, given his previous performances, is actually a vast improvement

I agree.  I thought he at least put some effort in today and showed somed good touches but he had no running colleagues to play to.  Villa were largely statuesque today and looked knackered like O'Neill's teams have at the end of the last few seasons.  Could this be the same fitness regime that caused the French team to strike at the World Cup? They were also arguing with each other today, another sign of unreat in the camp.

[SoccerHQ]

Ireland was good when he came on.

His first five forward passes all went to a fellow Villa player which was a marked improvement on what we'd seen for the previous 50 minutes. He got the ball moving quicker in central midfield and livened us up.

Frustrating thing is he drifted out of the game at 2-3, just didn't see him on the ball enough at that time.

Still I'd be fuming if we just sell him without giving him a proper run of games unless he really dosen't want to be here.

[fredm]

Well, today I thought he was an improvement on Carew. Yes, he doesn't seem to know how to "fit" into the side, and he lacks tactical awareness, but he did seem to try.

Like I said when he first came, he wasn't the type of player we needed. We ahve enough attacking midfielders in the side. Especially with Albrighton and Downing on the wing and Ashley free to play in the middle it's hard to see where Ireland can fit in.

Exactly, I think there is a very good player there but I don't think we can afford to play him in the same team as Downing, Ashley, Albrighton and Bannan.  All too much of a "lightweight" type who are good footballers in their own right but need to have some "heavy mob" around them to do the hard graft.

[SoccerHQ]

The problem will of course come when we sell Ireland in January and low and behold Young suddenly dosen't want to sign a new contract in the summer and we'll be short of good footballers then.

[Bosco81]

He was dishing the autographs out before the game and at half time giving the impression of someone who wants to hang around, just need to find a position for him and the rest of our 5 a side players.

[pauliewalnuts]

There was a less committed player than Ireland today - Carew.

He was a fucking disgrace.