Stephen Ireland - Clean Slate?

[Rancid custard]

I think his latest statement is genuine, new manager, clean slate and all that, but I think on a reverse psychology level he's making those noises so that Eck doesn't bring in a centre mid and thus he gets his automatic start for lack of choice. Assuming Downing does the offski and we don't buy it's a 4 of Albrighton, Petrov, Ireland, Delph/Bannan, unless we go with 5 in the middle and Gabby gets shunted to the wing.

[PaulWinch again]

I think his latest statement is genuine, new manager, clean slate and all that, but I think on a reverse psychology level he's making those noises so that Eck doesn't bring in a centre mid and thus he gets his automatic start for lack of choice. Assuming Downing does the offski and we don't buy it's a 4 of Albrighton, Petrov, Ireland, Delph/Bannan, unless we go with 5 in the middle and Gabby gets shunted to the wing.

Makoun?

[Rip Van We Go Again]

It's going to be hard to accomodate Ireland and Makoun in the same midfield.

[LeeB]

It's going to be hard to accomodate Ireland and Makoun in the same midfield.

It's not going to be hard to decide between the two, is it?

I mean, that jumper Makoun turned up in when he signed was fucking quality.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Makoun has great quality, so want to see him play.

[Le Lapin]

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.

He never said that, there are no direct quotes to back up that he said that publicly. In this so called interview that he gave he reputedly said that he hated Cobh, where he grew up. SI gave an interview soon after all this broke to clarify that what was in that interview was untrue. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/04/stephen-ireland-interview-villa-newcastle
Last season was a disaster for him, he fell out with the management, but so did a lot of other players. Give him and Warnock, Dunne, Collins and whoever else a chance. A united dressing room will have a big change in our team for this season.

[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.

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.

He never said that, there are no direct quotes to back up that he said that publicly. In this so called interview that he gave he reputedly said that he hated Cobh, where he grew up. SI gave an interview soon after all this broke to clarify that what was in that interview was untrue. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/04/stephen-ireland-interview-villa-newcastle

You want direct quotes?  How about "Birmingham is a rubbish town"?!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3445385/Stephen-Ireland-tears-into-Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier.html

[timeoutbigbar]

It's going to be hard to accomodate Ireland and Makoun in the same midfield.

Would have to be a 5 man midfield.  Delph, Makoun and Ireland would be pretty useful imo.

[Toronto Villa]

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.

He never said that, there are no direct quotes to back up that he said that publicly. In this so called interview that he gave he reputedly said that he hated Cobh, where he grew up. SI gave an interview soon after all this broke to clarify that what was in that interview was untrue. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/04/stephen-ireland-interview-villa-newcastle

You want direct quotes?  How about "Birmingham is a rubbish town"?!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3445385/Stephen-Ireland-tears-into-Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier.html

I really don't care if he said that or not. I'd be really upset had he said "Aston Villa is a rubbish club". It's what he does from here on in that I care about, and as he's moving to Birmingham it can't be all that bad.

[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.

He never said that, there are no direct quotes to back up that he said that publicly. In this so called interview that he gave he reputedly said that he hated Cobh, where he grew up. SI gave an interview soon after all this broke to clarify that what was in that interview was untrue. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/04/stephen-ireland-interview-villa-newcastle

You want direct quotes?  How about "Birmingham is a rubbish town"?!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3445385/Stephen-Ireland-tears-into-Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier.html

Thanks Adam.
I knew he'd blabbed it somewhere.

[Le Lapin]

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.

He never said that, there are no direct quotes to back up that he said that publicly. In this so called interview that he gave he reputedly said that he hated Cobh, where he grew up. SI gave an interview soon after all this broke to clarify that what was in that interview was untrue. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/04/stephen-ireland-interview-villa-newcastle

You want direct quotes?  How about "Birmingham is a rubbish town"?!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3445385/Stephen-Ireland-tears-into-Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier.html

Thanks Adam.
I knew he'd blabbed it somewhere.

Ahh, the Sun, a bastion of truth and honesty. I stand corrected, of course he said it then. Well done Adam.

[UsualSuspect]

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.

Precisely

let's not forget his "tummy ache" the night before Man Ure at home

He's an accident waiting to happen.

[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.

He never said that, there are no direct quotes to back up that he said that publicly. In this so called interview that he gave he reputedly said that he hated Cobh, where he grew up. SI gave an interview soon after all this broke to clarify that what was in that interview was untrue. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/04/stephen-ireland-interview-villa-newcastle

You want direct quotes?  How about "Birmingham is a rubbish town"?!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3445385/Stephen-Ireland-tears-into-Aston-Villa-boss-Gerard-Houllier.html

Thanks Adam.
I knew he'd blabbed it somewhere.

Ahh, the Sun, a bastion of truth and honesty. I stand corrected, of course he said it then. Well done Adam.

A direct quote from him though.
If it's false then Ireland should sue.

[Concrete John]

It's going to be hard to accomodate Ireland and Makoun in the same midfield.

I think we have to see exactly what sort of a player we have in Makoun first.  He played the holding role in France, but I'm unconvinced he's be up to it in the PL.  A three of him, Ireland and someone like Parker could be excellent together.

[Concrete John]

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.

Precisely

let's not forget his "tummy ache" the night before Man Ure at home

He's an accident waiting to happen.

Exactly what I expect to happen.

I think McLeish's mandate is to try and get the best out of players like him, Warnock and Dunne.  So he'll give it a go and may have a measure of success, but with Ireland you'll always feel it's a matter of time before his 'personality issues' resurface.