Houllier confirms Ireland wants to leave!

[PeterWithe]

It seems that MON rated and wanted him and when he left the board wanted KMc to get the job, he also rated him so it made sense to complete the deal.

I think we should hire someone to drown him in that absurd fishtank he has so we can claim off the insurance.

[Bosco81]

When Milner made it clear he wanted to leave it was the best deal we could get, Ireland was exactly the sort of player we needed, it's just a shame he doesn't want to know.

Mind you Man City don't seem too keen on their part of the deal but then money doesn't matter to them.

[peter w]

That is important. We were all clamouring for an a creative midfielder and thought we had him. Turned out to be a dud. TWhat makes it more galling is that he was the one player coming in. With our injury situation we neededevery senior pro to roll up their sleevs to help the kids, and the team, through a tough couple of months. ireland, at exactly the time we need him has gone missing. For that, the lack of heart, desire, wanting to roll up his sleeves a put in a shift, his card will be marked by the manager. fair enough.

[VillaAlways]

When Milner made it clear he wanted to leave it was the best deal we could get, Ireland was exactly the sort of player we needed, it's just a shame he doesn't want to know.

Mind you Man City don't seem too keen on their part of the deal but then money doesn't matter to them.

This.We got a player that doesn't fit into our team and 16 million.They just got a player that doesn't fit into the team.

[eamonn]

Kind of sad that everyone would probably have been better off if this transfer-swap had never taken place.

[peter w]

Kind of sad that everyone would probably have been better off if this transfer-swap had never taken place.

Everyone apart from the player's agents.

[villasjf]

if the telegraph is right Dunne and Ireland were not even in the squad today.

Click

[eamonn]

Yep, Football post-1992 in all its glory.

[dave.woodhall]

The most galling thing of all is that there probably isn't one of us who, if we'd been paid what Ireland has in what will probably be his no more than five month Villa career, would have to ever work again.

[pelty]

From what I gather, the deal was done between AVFC and MCFC *before* MON left - signed and sealed. The delay was caused by issues between City and Ireland... Papers were signed and Aston Villa could not have backed out of the deal had they wanted to do so no matter the circumstances.

[Michel Sibble]

It's all the board's fault.

They should have known MON was to abandon the club in 5 days time. They should have known that Ireland is a tosser, The General did nothing to stop the deal that was agreed amicably between two parties, even though he has no control over transfers. They should have backed out at the last minute a la Newcastle. They should have foreseen the future.

Fcuking yawn...

[TheSandman]

if the telegraph is right Dunne and Ireland were not even in the squad today.

Click

Did either deserve to be?

Piss off Ireland. £70K a week for that useless lump.

I was wrong on him and wish him every ill.

[KevinGage]

I did say a while back that if he wants to stay and turn things around he'd have my full backing. Just the type of player we need, even if he is a bit of a tit.

If he wants out (and that is far from clear at the moment) then I wouldn't want us to expend any energy persuading him otherwise. To come to that kind of judgement after a few short months at your new club would indicate a lack of character.

Where I'd still say there is doubt is that in the press conference on SSN yesterday GH made mention of Ireland and even apologised for his comments a few weeks back. Not the first time he's had to backtrack, he seems to have a chronic case of foot in mouth. He then went on to say that he thinks Ireland wants to leave because that's what his (SI's agent) has told him. GH then said he was unsure whether Ireland actually wants to leave. Ireland agent has also apparently distanced himself from those claims.

So whether this is a case of GH simply tying himself in knots again or another case of a modern footballer acting the spoilt barsteward remains to be seen.

[CorkVilla]

I dislike Stephen Ireland intensely. But I can not really blame him for wanting to leave, considering the absolute clown we have in charge. With Houllier at the helm this club is in freefall and we all know it.

[dave.woodhall]

I dislike Stephen Ireland intensely. But I can not really blame him for wanting to leave, considering the absolute clown we have in charge. With Houllier at the helm this club is in freefall and we all know it.

No we don't 'all' know it. Please enlighten us.