Stephen Ireland

[PeterWithesShin]

Does anyone remember Ireland's first full home appearance for us? The thing that really stuck in my mind then was how often he'd move into space off the ball, be calling for it, and the player with the ball wouldn't pick him out.

I think there's still a bit of that going on with him, despite us improving our ball movement.

Even though i've never been his biggest fan I remember saying that at the time.

[SoccerHQ]

IMO he's been playing much better for the last 6 months although he really needs to chip in with some goals like he did at City.

I'm clearly a fan but unless he becomes amazing or the team does, I'd probably let him go in the summer as he'll only have a year left at that point and can't see us offering him a new deal on 60k or whatever he earns a week.

I think like Bent he's another type we could've done with in the MON era to finish the team off, another case of right player wrong time but not sure he'd have fitted in under O'Neill either.

[silhillvilla]

He may have worked under the MON fast counter attacking era. But it's a mute point anyway.

[Matt Collins]

I think Lambert is playing him largely because there are only 2 players who can fill that role, and one of them is N'Zogbia, and I think we are all in agreement that he is awful at the moment.

And because when Ireland's left the field this year Villa have invariably gone to pot.  See Southampton away.

Sick of that myth. We were shite 1st half in that game too.

I didn't see the match myself but that certainly is not the opinion shared by everyone, from what I saw of the post match thread.

We were pretty damn average. We didn't look like conceding 4 though!

[silhillvilla]

We never ever got going at st Mary's, Bents goal distorted what was a clumsy first half.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Lambert is playing him largely because there are only 2 players who can fill that role, and one of them is N'Zogbia, and I think we are all in agreement that he is awful at the moment.

And because when Ireland's left the field this year Villa have invariably gone to pot.  See Southampton away.

Sick of that myth. We were shite 1st half in that game too.

I didn't see the match myself but that certainly is not the opinion shared by everyone, from what I saw of the post match thread.

We were pretty damn average. We didn't look like conceding 4 though!

I was there, we weren't great but it was a very even game up until half time and if anything we edged it.

[SoccerHQ]

Was a fan but that "performance" today took the piss!

Little workrate and awful on the ball, he was decent earlier this season but last few weeks he has dipped which leads me to believe he's been told he won't be getting a contract extension and so is just coasting here until he gets moved out.

[Des Little]

Time to go, Steven. Thanks for sweet fcuk all.

[saunders_heroes]

Time to go, Steven. Thanks for sweet fcuk all.

Yes. Him and about 11 other players as well.

[PaulWinch again]

To be honest we could start any number of these threads for players. I appreciate Ireland is paid more, but there's plenty who aren't up to it.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I'm confused if people were booing him off or Lambert for taking him off today. I think it was a bit of both. A player that splits opinions like no other

I thought he was terrible

[SoccerHQ]

Ireland earns 60-70k a week, Bannan and Herd don't.

Him going in January means more room on the wage front.

[richsvilla]

I think he would be a good player in a team where he doesnt need to do the nitty gritty side of midfield play. Somehwere where he can just get on the ball and pick passes to decent strikers/wingers etc. I think hes a clever player and probably to clever for our team which results in him looking average because there is no real quailty for him to link with.

[LeeB]

Nigel Callaghan without the hair.

What an utter wanker.

[SoccerHQ]

I think he would be a good player in a team where he doesnt need to do the nitty gritty side of midfield play. Somehwere where he can just get on the ball and pick passes to decent strikers/wingers etc. I think hes a clever player and probably to clever for our team which results in him looking average because there is no real quailty for him to link with.

That is true but today he didn't even look to be putting in the effort which he was doing last season and for part of this.

Again agree he's another sort of player like Bent who was the missing link in the MON days, certainly a trio of Milner, Stan and Ireland looks good.