Stephen Ireland

[Drummond]

Lambert wants players who are keen to develop and learn and not flashy buggers who think they're it.

I know which category Ireland falls into.

He's undoubtedly talented and skilful but it's no surprise that a few managers haven't really wanted him in their team.

[john e]

Turned out to be an expensive mistake
although I agree with those who think he took more than the lions share of the blame against Bradford which seemed to be fatal for him

I still think he's better than anyone we have now in midfield apart from Delph but Lambert couldn't get the best from him or Ireland himself didn't want to cooperate, who knows

The sad thing is we are looking for a no 10 in exactly the sort of posision that Ireland used to be good  in,
but if its not working out for whatever reason you have to get rid, and this one cost us plenty

[KevinGage]

He rarely looked totally shit for us.

And the lack of effort tag gets applied too easily, I agree. 

Most games that he made it as far as the starting XI there was plenty of endeavor. But -for a player who was supposed to provide that extra dimension and creativity in the final third-  he came up short. Both in terms of goals and assists.

That's all I judge him on.  The rest is bobbins.

[SoccerHQ]

Another one off the wage bill.

Yep.  That leaves Hutton, Given and possibly N'Zogbia.  It'll be interesting to see how our current transfer policy changes once they've all been shipped out.

Bent aswell who's on 50-60k I'd imagine.

Really disappointed with this one not working out. Was buzzing when we signed him as thought he'd link up well with the pace we had provided through Gabby and Young and apart from a brief flicker in the McLeish season it just didn't happen.

In fairness he's been decent for Stoke whenever I've seen them, chipping in with goals and running onto Crouch's flick ons, we'll see whether that was to just get a permanent move.

N'zogbia will be in the same file when he leaves, talented player but for the expense just didn't justify the outlay at all.

[TopDeck113]

Good riddance.  I still shudder at how we were bounced by Citeh into taking him off our hands in PX for Milner.  I hope Faulkner never makes a similar mistake again.

[Pete3206]

Absolute waste of space. Glad we'll never see him in a Villa shirt again.

[eamonn]

Good riddance.  I still shudder at how we were bounced by Citeh into taking him off our hands in PX for Milner.  I hope Faulkner never makes a similar mistake again.

It was a hell of a deal at a time. A more talented player, technically, and £16m...just a pity he didn't have Milner's engine.

[Californian Villain]

Good riddance.  I still shudder at how we were bounced by Citeh into taking him off our hands in PX for Milner.  I hope Faulkner never makes a similar mistake again.

It was a hell of a deal at a time. A more talented player, technically, and £16m...just a pity he didn't have Milner's engine.

Or his professionalism, team ethic, commitment, ability to play on with injuries etc etc.

[MonsXI]

One player I really wanted to work out just never happened.

[PaulWinch again]

Hopefully we can use those wages for good use now.

[silhillvilla]

Glad he's gone. Never wanted him and he never wanted to be here. GMac summed his displays up perfectly - "an empty crisp packet floating about the field"

[Matt C]

In terms of natural ability the best player we have/had. In terms of application, the worst.

Unlike other bomb squad recruits, can't say he wasn't given a chance by Lambert.

[walsall villain]

Was talking to some man city fans pre match last season who just couldn't understand why we didn't play him all the time. One pint later they admitted that on some days he just didn't turn up for them and you might just as well take him off after 20 minutes. I think that was the Stephen Ireland we grew to know and and not love.

[Matt Collins]

I have to say I rarely thought he was as bad as some suggested, not that he did as little work

But as a player who can only really play behind a centre fwd, his goal and assist tally was awful

[Ron Manager]

One or two posters obviously believe Ireland has gone to Stoke. He hasn't unless I am wrong. Perhaps someone will confirm this fact?