Stephen Ireland

[dl9]

The worse thing about him is every now and then you see a glimpse of a good player or he has a 10minute spell in a game when he looks a  world beater,






Usually during the warm up or when running down the line. I know we should always get behind our players but for me he stands for EVERYTHING that is bad about the modern day footballer. F*ck him the wig wearing tnuc, I hope he kills himself playing a game of high speed chicken with Joey Barton.

[LeeB]

If Stephen Ireland killed himself, it would still be someone else's fault.

[Percy McCarthy]

Sigh. What a waste of talent.

Compare the ****** to every single competitor in the paralympics.

[Rancid custard]

I wonder why he hasn't been frozen out? Lambert must see something in him otherwise he'd have gone the way of Hutton and Warnock. I know our midfield is a bit lacking but still, in for a penny and all that.

[paul_e]

I wonder why he hasn't been frozen out? Lambert must see something in him otherwise he'd have gone the way of Hutton and Warnock. I know our midfield is a bit lacking but still, in for a penny and all that.

because his problems are all in his head.  On the training pitch, with no pressure to perform and no one watching other than his colleagues he's probably the exact player we need (given all the quotes about how well he trains I reckon this is fairly accurate) but that he's consistently failed to convert that into match performances for his entire career other than 6 months when Hughes built the team around him suggests he's never going to be a success.

As mentioned at various points I don't see any point persisting with him.  He offers less than the kids in terms of performance and doesn't even bring any leadership or use his 200+ matches worth of experience in any positive way.

If we can get a couple of million for him I'd say get rid and move on.

[ktvillan]

Superbly gifted, and I've stood up for him in the past.  But it is starting to look less like inconsistency and not having any faith put him, and more like he just can't be arsed.   

[SoccerHQ]

Don't think we'll see too much more of him tbh, may even go in January.

[Dante Lavelli]

I wonder why he hasn't been frozen out? Lambert must see something in him otherwise he'd have gone the way of Hutton and Warnock. I know our midfield is a bit lacking but still, in for a penny and all that.

because his problems are all in his head.  On the training pitch, with no pressure to perform and no one watching other than his colleagues he's probably the exact player we need (given all the quotes about how well he trains I reckon this is fairly accurate) but that he's consistently failed to convert that into match performances for his entire career other than 6 months when Hughes built the team around him suggests he's never going to be a success.

As mentioned at various points I don't see any point persisting with him.  He offers less than the kids in terms of performance and doesn't even bring any leadership or use his 200+ matches worth of experience in any positive way.

If we can get a couple of million for him I'd say get rid and move on.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there paul e.  He shows glimpses of his class but far too often his head is not quite right and he becomes a waste of space.  If he was on 15k you'd probably accept it but he's one of our big earners, a player that the youngsters should be looking to as their example.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

He was a complete and utter disgrace against Wigan.

Couldn't agree more Tom - summed it up for me in the first half when he got the ball and instead of passing or moving away with it, he stalled so that he could barge/elbow the Wigan player that he could have easily avoided, then lost the ball!
 He ran the show against Chelsea last season at their place, but I've seen nothing like that form before or since.
I'd rather see Carruthers in or a fit N'Zogbia.

[Mortimer's Bear]

He was a complete and utter disgrace against Wigan.

Couldn't agree more Tom - summed it up for me in the first half when he got the ball and instead of passing or moving away with it, he stalled so that he could barge/elbow the Wigan player that he could have easily avoided, then lost the ball!
 He ran the show against Chelsea last season at their place, but I've seen nothing like that form before or since.
I'd rather see Carruthers in or a fit N'Zogbia.

That would be N'Zogbia the work horse then...

[Toronto Villa]

When you think about it, it's all a bit depressing with regards to senior players still on the books, that you think could contribute and haven't or aren't. On paper, well know names that together should be more than good enough to sustain a very comfortable mid table position.

Given, Hutton, Warnock, Dunne, Makoun, Ireland, N'Zogbia, Gabby, Bent could you would imagine be the basis of a decent first XI

Gross costing the club in the region of four hundred grand a week and I imagine not much less because we are subsidising loans for a couple of them. Fuck me

[paul_e]

When you think about it, it's all a bit depressing with regards to senior players still on the books, that you think could contribute and haven't or aren't. On paper, well know names that together should be more than good enough to sustain a very comfortable mid table position.

Given, Hutton, Warnock, Dunne, Makoun, Ireland, N'Zogbia, Gabby, Bent could you would imagine be the basis of a decent first XI

Gross costing the club in the region of four hundred grand a week and I imagine not much less because we are subsidising loans for a couple of them. Fuck me

Indeed, add Vlaar and Holman to those names and you have a very experienced side which should have enough quality to be top half, then you've still got Guzan, KEA and all the youngsters as options in the squad.  I fthey were all fit and showing anything remotely close to their best form we'd be up near the tesco bags this year.  That's why i don't like all the comments about the kids not being good enough, the kids aren't the problem, the seniors are the ones who are under performing.

[*shellac*]

Given, Hutton, Warnock, Dunne, Makoun, Ireland, N'Zogbia, Gabby, Bent could you would imagine be the basis of a decent first XI

In a parellel universe, we might be top six team with this lot but in reality they are sucking our beloved club dry with their wages.

[Merv]

Lost patience with him now. He's had long enough to prove his worth. Has an eye for a pass but just doesn't apply himself enough to deserve a central midfield role, doesn't make enough impact in a 'No. 10' or attacking midfield role. Actually delivers very little.

Watched him when he came on at Chelsea. One point when Ramires was tanking forward, Ireland was jogging along in his slipstream; Holman, who had started the match, came legging it across to try and close Ramires down. I thought then: 'nah, not anymore, Stephen. Enough's enough.'

[Mister E]

Indeed, add Vlaar and Holman to those names and you have a very experienced side which should have enough quality to be top half, then you've still got Guzan, KEA and all the youngsters as options in the squad.  I fthey were all fit and showing anything remotely close to their best form we'd be up near the tesco bags this year.  That's why i don't like all the comments about the kids not being good enough, the kids aren't the problem, the seniors are the ones who are under performing.

Spot on. Lambert has obviously had an eye to youth but it seems apparent that he came in to add good youth players to a wedge of experienced players who simply haven't bought into the strategy.
Ireland exemplifies this for me: a complete waste of talent and a wanton aim simply to pick up his obscene weekly wages. I have said before that I've always regarded him with distaste and this season has confirmed my view that he's a nonce.