Stephen Ireland - Clean Slate?

[Jimbo]

All that's happened is we've lost Young and have a new manager, whether or not he's any good remains to be seen.

Sadly, I don't think it's as simple as that.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Expect to see Ireland or Gabby on one wing, with Albrighton on the other.

Funny that, I was thinking that comical and cheap option might well come into play.

[UsualSuspect]

Get ready for his cousins Aunties perm went a bit frizzy so i need a month off

His cousin's aunty would also be his aunty (or his mom).

Not necessarily

My cousin could have an auntie from the other side of their family

[pauliewalnuts]

Get ready for his cousins Aunties perm went a bit frizzy so i need a month off

His cousin's aunty would also be his aunty (or his mom).

Not necessarily.

Cousin might have an aunt on the other side of the family

ie Stephen Ireland's dad has a sister who has a daughter, that daughter is SI's cousin. However, the cousin's father has a sister, who is the cousin's aunt, and no connection at all to SI.

God.

Has anything happened in the transfer market yet?

[UsualSuspect]

No but abovementioned Auntie has made an appointment at "A cut above" so expect the worse

[Mazrim]

No chance of Gabby on the wing. At least not more than occasionally during a match. McLeish has said Gabby was misused as a winger and intends to get him back firing up front. Which is great news because he's still a potential 20 goal a season player if properly focused and utilised.

Funnily enough, Gabby and Bent might not be able to play together UNLESS somebody like Ireland links them together.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Just come on here for a peep and i thought i had accidently slipped onto some sort of "Family Tree" site. Anyway got to go. My Cousins, sister is at the door .........

[UsualSuspect]

Disagree about Gabby being a 20 goal striker.

I like gabby, tries hard but a natural finisher he aint and I feel he has reached his plateau

[Mazrim]

Gabby can be a natural finisher if he relaxes and backs himself. I recall a couple of seasons ago he was doing this at the start of the season, scoring from long range and close range with instinctive finishes and then it went stale a bit. He has it in him, not to the levels of Bent but still a high standard.

He may need more chances than Bent to score (most do) but he definitely has it in him to challenge the top of the goal scoring charts. And his pace and strength can get him those chances more than most. In essence, he has to be used right and he has to drop some of this joker attitude and get a bit nasty because physically he could be, he should be... unstoppable.

I want to see Gabby back on the shoulder of defenders, overpowering them and outpacing them, and thus creating chances for himself. Ireland, if he's going to be of use, could be key in playing the type of balls to make this happen. For Bent and Gabby.
It's a tantalising proposition.
Can McLeish make this happen? I hope so.

[Toronto Villa]

Gabby needs to be healthy and slimmer. It's all good and well being built like a brick shithouse but if it doesn't help your primary qualities as a player then it's a hindrance. His asset is his incredible pace and he needs to ensure that he does everything possible to ensure that nothing affects that. Defenders at PL level can combat size, but they all struggle against true pace. If he has that this season he'll not only get into better positions, but he'll get in the heads of the opposition which will open up chances for him and the other players.

[Concrete John]

Gabby was constantly increasing his muscle under MON and in the process also increased his goal tally each season until Houllier came in.  Now, that's not to say that bulking up meant the increased goal output, but to say it's a hinderance is wrong, IMO.

[Risso]

No chance of Gabby on the wing. At least not more than occasionally during a match. McLeish has said Gabby was misused as a winger and intends to get him back firing up front. Which is great news because he's still a potential 20 goal a season player if properly focused and utilised.

Funnily enough, Gabby and Bent might not be able to play together UNLESS somebody like Ireland links them together.

It might be further hampered by the sale of Young and Downing in the same transfer window.

[UsualSuspect]

gabbys stats:

2010-11     25    3
2009-10    36    13
2008–09   36   12
2007–08   37   11
2006–07   38    9
2005–06     9    1


20 goals a season i personally dont think so and he's 25 in October with 6 PL seasons behind him so what he can't do now he'll never be able to do

[PaulTheVillan]

All Gabbys league goals last season came whilst Bent was on the pitch. I think a partnership could work.

[Concrete John]

I agree - Gabby is a 10-15 a season man and 15-20 during a VERY good season.  However, his pace is such an assett that he shouldn't be judged on goals alone.  For instance, under MON one of the reasons we had such a good away record was that teams were scared to play a high line against him, so would be 10 yards deeper than against some other visiting sides.  This in turn helped us defensively as we weren't 'got at' quite so much.

The best thing though is that the goals he does socre are enough to warrant his place anyway, so it's not really a 'sacrifice' for goals in the way Heskey can be.