Stephen Ireland

[Phil from the upper holte]

I thought Bannan was to blame, he's the one who gets the most stick for everything

[paul_e]

I thought Bannan was to blame, he's the one who gets the most stick for everything

It's Bannan's fault that Ireland is shit, everyone knows that!

[richardhubbard]

I am not blaming our exit on Ireland but his lack of effort was immense. I saw play against us at the Eithad and he destroyed us, if he played at 30% of that that night , he would have looked superb.

He played like he did not give a shit, plus he is a senior player and could pull likes of Bannan and Delph through that match and boss midfield

[SoccerHQ]

Ireland was undeniable one of the worst players on the pitch against Wigan, didn't go to the Bradford game but from listening to it he barely made an impact apart from the offside goal.

N'zogbia is starting to look very effective in the free role.

[eastie]

Stoke chief Mark Hughes is keen to thrash out a permanent deal with Aston Villa for Stephen Ireland when the transfer window opens next month.

Ireland is on a season-long loan at the Potters and Hughes is keen to fend off rival interest, with the player available on a free next summer.

Villa are keen to get Ireland’s £60,000-a-week wages off their books after the Irish midfielder - who is ineligible to face his parent club when they visit the Britannia this weekend - was frozen out by boss Paul Lambert.

If the Potters can agree terms with Villa, it will give Hughes the option to bring in another player on loan from a Premier League club.

Hughes said: “Stephen is doing really well and we would like to make it more permanent. There could be that possibility in January.

“We could do it just for the flexibility to get us another loan. If there is nothing to use that loan on, though, there might be no point in doing it. We’ll have to wait and see.”

[willywombat]

So disappointed that we're in the position of being delighted to get an enormously talented player like him off the wage bill. What a fecking waste

[silhillvilla]

Can't think of many villa players I've least liked. Absolute waste of space.

[LeeB]

Can't think of many villa players I've least liked. Absolute waste of space.

Right down there with Hodge for me.

[Mister E]

Stoke chief Mark Hughes is keen to thrash out a permanent deal with Aston Villa for Stephen Ireland when the transfer window opens next month.

Ireland is on a season-long loan at the Potters and Hughes is keen to fend off rival interest, with the player available on a free next summer.

Villa are keen to get Ireland’s £60,000-a-week wages off their books after the Irish midfielder - who is ineligible to face his parent club when they visit the Britannia this weekend - was frozen out by boss Paul Lambert.

If the Potters can agree terms with Villa, it will give Hughes the option to bring in another player on loan from a Premier League club.

Hughes said: “Stephen is doing really well and we would like to make it more permanent. There could be that possibility in January.

“We could do it just for the flexibility to get us another loan. If there is nothing to use that loan on, though, there might be no point in doing it. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Also reported in the Telegraph this morning (I'm visiting my father, before anyone comments on my morning's reading material).

[supertom]

He's out of contract this summer isn't he? I don't know why Stoke don't just wait. It sounds like they want us to give him to them for free now which wouldn't be too bad, as long as we can get out of paying any sort of departure money to that oik himself.

[Leicester_Villian]

Anybody else think maybe Ireland is putting some effort in at the moment since in 6 months he is out of contract and his wages go from 60k per week to zero ... Lets see if he still performs at Stoke this time next season if they wish to sign him

[eastie]

He's out of contract this summer isn't he? I don't know why Stoke don't just wait. It sounds like they want us to give him to them for free now which wouldn't be too bad, as long as we can get out of paying any sort of departure money to that oik himself.

Seems if they sign him in jan it frees up another possible loan deal for them , Hughes seems to be happy enough with him so I'm sure he would be given a lovely reception from the holte when stoke visit us

[supertom]

Anybody else think maybe Ireland is putting some effort in at the moment since in 6 months he is out of contract and his wages go from 60k per week to zero ... Lets see if he still performs at Stoke this time next season if they wish to sign him

He's had a handful of reasonable games. Until last week, he'd been on the bench for a number of matches. We'll see how long it lasts. He's playing no better than he did for a short spell here under McLeish (which is to say okay, nothing more).

But yeah, I'd fully expect his level to drop as soon as the ink has dried on a new contract.

[tim]

£60,000.
I simply can not comprehend how that happened.

[Pete3206]

Worst attitude of a Villa player that I can remember. Stoke are welcome to him.