Stephen Ireland

[alan_clarke]

Personally I still think he is flattering to deceive, today's game included...

[supertom]

I think the same. We need more than flashes of good play and more end product. He's too inconsistent. His attitude on the pitch is far better now but he's still not producing the goods nearly enough. He's supposed to be our creative midfielder but he's not up to it IMO. Following the likes of Merson, Young in the claret and blue, and he just doesn't come close. This is an area that needs rectifying in January. Ireland and N'Zogbia should be flogged and we buy a better, hopefully more consistent player in place. Someone who doesn't have to have his mindset in a very comfortable, particular place in order to perform.

[Percy McCarthy]

I don't know about January, but in the long term, the way Lambert's started in the transfer market, all the top earners look replaceable, with the possible exception of Gabby if he keeps up his current form.

Who else is left? Given, Dunne, Bent, Ireland, CNZ, Warnock and Hutton - all bodes well for a proper clean slate when the new TV money starts rolling in.

Some of our kids are gonna be needing new contracts soon though.

[ozzjim]

I would say that is a bit harsh. He has periods in games of being good, then disappearing. The problem with that is that he was so good for City for 18 months and we have never had that consistency.

[gervilla]

There had been an improvement in his performances but that doesn't say much as he was gash for the best part of two seasons .
He is still very inconsistent, gives the ball away too much, doesn't create enough and his shirking of tackles drives me mental.
Still massive room for improvement.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I think he is improving all the time and at 26 there is no reason we cannot have a player who gets better and better to turn in consistently good performances. The ability is all there, Lambert is hopefully the right manager to bring all of that out.

[andyh]

I don't particularly like him. I don't particularly rate him. I certainly don't seem him as one of the best players at the club as some do.
BUT, we do seem Better with him in the team than out.

[john e]

He's our best midfield player at the
Moment,
if he doesn't play we miss him badly as shown in the games where he didn't play

[Matt Collins]

Overall he's still inconsistent. But I literally cannot believe anyone could question his influence today. He was outstanding. I suggest you read any match report or minute by minute report. Or watch the highlights.

What next? Is Benteke strong enough for premier league football?

[N'ZMAV]

He's doing Ok, but he's being asked to do a different role at Villa to what he did at City

[brian green]

I do not need to read the minute by minute reports or watch him on television.   I was there and my opinion he was lack-lustre and less than one hundred percent focussed on yesterdays game.   At Swindon, a game which I also saw with my own eyes, he was the same.   If you did not know what he achieved at Manchester City back in the day you would not continue to give him the chances to prove himself which he has had with us.   In horse racing terminology, he does not appear to have trained on.

We need a better, more consistent more mentally strong player in the role Stephen Ireland is being asked to play.   That is my opinion.

[villarob]

I actually thought he had one of his better games yesterday; and probably only went off because of the booking. Unlucky with some harsh refereeing in the first half with a couple of free kicks given for daring to tackle Scholes.
Certainly looked stronger than KEH when he came on. 

[eastie]

No doubt In my mind that he is improving, seems to tire after an hour or so but deserves his place in the team on his recent form.

[Jarpie]

IMO Ireland has been very good this season, links up play between attack and midfield very well, works his socks off and presses on opposition. We've created lot more chances when he's been playing and it's no coincidence.

[olaftab]

We need a better, more consistent more mentally strong player in the role Stephen Ireland is being asked to play.   That is my opinion.

I agree however till we do get that man Ireland is the best we have with any footballing intelligence and subtlety. We need to turn him into a 90mins player.