Stephen Ireland

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Obvious yes to this poll (for me) as he has shown an improvement in attitude and performance, but still not at the level he should be and still not consistently making the contribution we hope for and most believe he is capable of.

He's the kind of player that will be 9 out of 10 some weeks and 5 or 6 other weeks - the issue is to get more good than bad games and balance the team with enough players who will regularly be a 7.5 or 8 to compensate and also have other options to replace Ireland on days when it is not working for him (or more particularly the team).

[The Left Side]

Why did he not play today?

[Toronto Villa]

Why did he not play today?

Tight hammy

[paulcomben]

And why did Nzog not appear today, please?

[SoccerHQ]

Heel injury apparently.

[gervilla]

And why did Nzog not appear today, please?

My guess is that he has been crap so far and his attitude and temperament are very suspect...or possibly an injury...hmmm who knows.

[johnc]

And the latest episode of the Stephen Ireland saga has his partner (who I think is a birmingham girl) tweeting that her other half wishes to play for the Republic of Ireland omce again and "all it will take is a phone call" I am sure Trap is rummaging through his pockets for a bit of change as we speak

[brontebilly]

And the latest episode of the Stephen Ireland saga has his partner (who I think is a birmingham girl) tweeting that her other half wishes to play for the Republic of Ireland omce again and "all it will take is a phone call" I am sure Trap is rummaging through his pockets for a bit of change as we speak

Ah not this shite again.

Ironically enough I don't think he would suit the Trap system at all. That and he is a grade one nutter whose inclusion in the squad would likely cause a Saipan like meltdown in the camp mean I can't see it happening even if it were true

[Concrete John]

And the latest episode of the Stephen Ireland saga has his partner (who I think is a birmingham girl) tweeting that her other half wishes to play for the Republic of Ireland omce again and "all it will take is a phone call" I am sure Trap is rummaging through his pockets for a bit of change as we speak

I think she's right, but it's Stephen who'll need to make that phone call.

[N'ZMAV]

Ireland doesn't seem the brightest spark to me...

[LeeB]

Ireland doesn't seem the brightest spark to me...

Isn't that a bit racist? 

[Mazrim]

Ireland doesn't seem the brightest spark to me...

I dont know what that's based on. He seems quite intelligent to me. As footballers go anyway.

[Brend'Watkins]

Ireland doesn't seem the brightest spark to me...

I dont know what that's based on. He seems quite intelligent to me. As footballers go anyway.

Indeed, his football brain is way ahead of most others in the squad.  That's more important to me than him knowing the capital of American Samoa.  (It's Pago Pago if you're interested).

[Louzie0]

Ireland doesn't seem the brightest spark to me...

I dont know what that's based on. He seems quite intelligent to me. As footballers go anyway.

Indeed, his football brain is way ahead of most others in the squad.  That's more important to me than him knowing the capital of American Samoa.  (It's Pago Pago if you're interested).

Gosh, I learn something every day.  I thought that a Pago Pago was a thrusting dance move demonstrated by the big guy in the dodgy syrup in that brilliant film 'Strictly Ballroom'.
Anyway, Stephen Ireland.  Can he do a Pago Pago, I wonder, and would it help his chances of getting back into the Ireland team?  More importantly, would it confuse opposing defenders and allow our Darren through to bang in a few more?

[eamonn]

It was his missus who tweeted the pic of him puffing on a shisha wasn't it? She doesn't half cause the chap problems.