Stephen Ireland - Clean Slate?

[richard moore]

Should have posted in here instead of the transfer thread. Matt Kendrick has Tweeted about an interview he's done with Stephen Ireland saying that he is determined to be a success at Villa. I really hope it works out, he could be a seriously good player if he gets his game face on.

In much the same way that Craig Gardner has always been a "massive [insert club here] fan".

Ireland is full of shit.  I'll give him a month before he's back training with the reserves after spitting his dummy out again or showing he can't be arsed, and another month after that before he's in the press slating the club/manager/city/owner/etc.

Same as virtually every other footballer then in other words? I don't like what he has said or done (allegedly perhaps in some cases) but it's just the norm very sadly these days and the pragmatist in me says give him a chance and he could be like a new signing. We are so crying out for someone like him to bring flair and link up play to the midfield and it would make absolutely no sense from any perspective whatsoever to not give him a chance again...

[Ad@m]

We all know that Ireland is a very good
footballer but he was forced to join us - he arrived under the title 'make weight' , not exactly flattering was it .

Ad@m, open your mind - give the guy some slack instead of throwing darts at his photographs.

He isn't a labotomy case - but like most of us, he needs an ego boost and whatever salary he 's on, that's irrelevant to how he feels about himself.

My message to SI is to pull the shirt on with pride and play your heart out for us
now - become Superman again - you have the talent.

I'm sorry Tim but I just can't see it this way.

SI is paid an absolute fortune to do something most of us would give an arm for.  He had one good season at Man City where he looked like he was going to be a world beater but since then he has given the appearance of someone who thinks he's better than he is and has done fuck all as a result.  Surely it's not a coincidence that Mancini, Houllier, and Pardew at club level and Brian Kerr and Stan Staunton at international level have all said thanks but no thanks.  Hughes is the only manager who got anything out of him but that may not have been down to him as it was the one season blip.

On top of this apparent talent but even more apparently limited application, the guy comes across as an absolute wanker.  Way beyond most modern footballers.  The repeatedly lying about the death of his grandparents, the appearance of his house and car, the nightclub incident at Newcastle, the public slagging off of Eire and Cork, the public slagging off of Birmingham when he plays for a Birmingham club.  FFS, the guy's only 24 and he's already got all this public baggage.  It's not going to stop here is it?  Although on a much more criminal scale, Joey Barton proves that players don't change.

Houllier went on record to say SI didn't try in training and if we're going to be relying more on the kids this year then the last thing they need as a role model is a prima-donna who thinks he's better than us and can't be arsed to put the effort in.  These 'interviews' are nothing more than internal marketing which the club absolutely has to do but there's no way I'm going to believe that SI actually thinks the things he's saying.

SI's got a whole lot of growing up to do but sadly I don't think he's got it in him.  As a result I'd much rather we got rid of him as soon as possible and we can use the £80k pw we spend on him (or whatever it is) to pay players who actually want to play and fight for the club.

[Ad@m]

That didn't take long did it.

After typing that he's out there shoving his foot firmly down his throat again...

Regarding his winter move to St James' Park, Ireland said: "I got sent to Newcastle basically against my own will."

Part of a Sky Sports interview.

He really can't help himself.  The guy's toxic.  Get rid now!

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I'll bet any money that he starts off well with a good attitude and works hard, then after a couple of months, he'll be subbed or have a problem at the training ground and we'll be back to square one.

He's an accident waiting to happen.

[The Man With A Stick]

Oh, I'm sure the #7 shirt will make a huge difference to his attitude and performances.  We should have given him that number last year, all our troubles would have been solved and we might even have won a cup or the league something.

In all seriousness, the most i'm hoping for is that he sorts himself out and then leaves for a few million in January.  Get him off the wage bill and spare us the sight of this deluded, self-obsessed ringpiece in a Villa shirt for one minute longer.

[pablopicasso_10]

cant stand this self absorbed deluded little tosspot...

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

As much as i really dont like him. I have a feeling he is going to turn this round. Think he will create a major supply line to Bent .........

[Des Little]

Fcuk it, he's got one chance and one chance only.  If he takes it we'll all benefit.

[Rigadon]

Depends how he starts.  If well, he might surprise a few people.  If not, he won't recover and we won't get more than half a million for him.

[TheSandman]

If he has a storming year next season and becomes a key player for us how are the people who are unhappy with him getting another chance going to react? Are they going to continue to dislike him or are they going to let it pass? I'm not being critical or anything just curious.

[luke25]

I think the best thing we can do is give him a resounding applause when he comes on, sing his name and gee him up, Mcleish is a good manager to have for this situation, I think he'll put his arm round him and remind him just how much bloody talent he has, if Mcleish gets in his head and sorts him out he'll save us millions.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

If he has a storming year next season and becomes a key player for us how are the people who are unhappy with him getting another chance going to react? Are they going to continue to dislike him or are they going to let it pass? I'm not being critical or anything just curious.

If he has a storming season, he'll be angling for a move at the end of it.
I don't think he's ever truly wanted to be here and he's admitted he doesn't like Birmingham.

[Ad@m]

If he has a storming year next season and becomes a key player for us how are the people who are unhappy with him getting another chance going to react? Are they going to continue to dislike him or are they going to let it pass? I'm not being critical or anything just curious.

I'd imagine I'll still think he's a twat (the pictures of his house will live long in the memory!) but I'll be glad he's helping the Villa.  I'm a Villa fan, not a SI fan.

[Olneythelonely]

Of course I'll give him a chance, although he doesn't deserve one. I'll give him a chance because we need him.

[Legion]

I'll give the grinning imbecile a chance because he'll be wearing a Villa shirt.