Ireland's contract

[SoccerHQ]

The Bradford game was a last-chance it seems looking at it now. A bold and brave decision by Lambert...which utterly failed sadly. I still maintain that signing Ireland whilst we had no manager was the worst decision ever made under the Lerner regime. Yes, even worse then THAT decision!

I said after the disgrace of his performance at home to Wigan (he lost me as a fan that day) that it wouldn't shock me if he didn't play for us again that season.

He made the bench afterwards but I think that was only due to the huge injuries we had that meant it was a struggle to even pick an 18.

Then he randomly was picked to start vs Bradford and did little so was axed properly.

No idea how we'll get rid of him but that's always some mental club that thinks it can revive these dormant footballers so we'll see.

[SoccerHQ]

I see what people are say

The Bradford game was a last-chance it seems looking at it now. A bold and brave decision by Lambert...which utterly failed sadly. I still maintain that signing Ireland whilst we had no manager was the worst decision ever made under the Lerner regime. Yes, even worse then THAT decision!

I agree, but that's because I didn't want him in the first place. But plenty were very happy when he signed, I remember more than saying we had the better end of the deal, and that we'd got such a good deal that we'd mugged City blind. So hard to say it was a terrible decision.

I see what you are saying but you don't need hindsight to know that signing players when there is no manager in place is a bad idea. I thought it at the time and so it has proved.

When was he signed, after West Ham.

I fully believe the plan was to give MacDonald the job full time. That obviously changed aftert the twin disasters of 6-0 at Newcastle and the Vienna 2nd leg. Respectable results in those and Macdonald would've had the job for the season at least I reckon.

He worked with Ireland when he was playing for ROI and if you go back there are quotes of Macdonald being happy with the signing and vice versa.

Obviously the dynamics changed soon after and clearly Houllier didn't like him one little bit.

[SoccerHQ]

Wasn't he fans player of the year last year? I'm sure there is a little bit of revisionism being displayed by some parties in here. Or maybe that is simply a good marker of how low we had fallen

He was. There wasn't much choice but at least he was showing improvement and getting slowly back to the level he was at City in 08-09.

Obviously Chelsea away was his standout game but he tended to do alright in most of the other ones he played and did actually worked harder (Sunderland 0-0 he tracked back and cleared a Bendtner shot off the line near the end).

Likewise I thought he was alright 1st half of this season until it feel apart over xmas in which my abiding memory was him just scratching his head at every kick off after another one of the 15 went in against us.

[cdbearsfan]

I don't think it's any co-incidence we've been a better and more together looking side since he stopped being included in any of the matchday squads.

We could pay the wages of two eight promising youngsters from the lower leagues with the wages he's most likely taking home.

Fixed.

[brontebilly]

The Bradford game was a last-chance it seems looking at it now. A bold and brave decision by Lambert...which utterly failed sadly. I still maintain that signing Ireland whilst we had no manager was the worst decision ever made under the Lerner regime. Yes, even worse then THAT decision!

I can still remember that clown Krulak giving it the big one at here at the time at how the Milner/Ireland swap deal was signed and sealed when O'Neill was at the club despite Milner playing for us after O'Neill left. Signed and Sealed indeed. A good few of the erstwhile posters on here were caught up in forelock tugging towards Krulak and Lerner at the time.

As for Ireland, a born and bred tosser. Not a hope of him taking a pay cut to go elsewhere and looking to get out of his contract. We will be paying him off to leave so might aswell try and integrate him back him in rather than the Maloudaesque situation continuing. His biggest problem is his complete lack of heart on the pitch. Despite that there is a degree of revisionism with him too as he was one of our better players in the second half of the McLeish season and if he were getting the same wages as Bannan there would be complaints that he wasnt getting enough chances.

But at his wages he has been a dead loss.

[Big Dick Edwards]

Like N'Zogbia, Ireland is a very talented player who could play at the very highest level. It's a shame players blessed with such natural ability don't appreciate how lucky they are. What Ireland can't see coming is the day his Villa contract expires and future offers from clubs will reflect his reputation as a waster and be a fraction of what he's currently earning.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Can we do something like Apollo Creed Coaching Rocky to get his eye of the tiger feeling back to get fire and hunger back after losing to Clubber Lang for Stephen Ireland to get his fire, passion and heart and love of the game and motivation. There must be a way to unlock it.

[eamonn]

Can we do something like Apollo Creed Coaching Rocky to get his eye of the tiger feeling back to get fire and hunger back after losing to Clubber Lang for Stephen Ireland to get his fire, passion and heart and love of the game and motivation. There must be a way to unlock it.

Clubber lang? In Stephen's own Cork vernacular he'd be known as the biggest langer at the club.

[Tayls_7]

Can we do something like Apollo Creed Coaching Rocky to get his eye of the tiger feeling back to get fire and hunger back after losing to Clubber Lang for Stephen Ireland to get his fire, passion and heart and love of the game and motivation. There must be a way to unlock it.

"You crazy fool". Cut your jibber jabber. I predict pain for Ireland.

[supertom]

Can we do something like Apollo Creed Coaching Rocky to get his eye of the tiger feeling back to get fire and hunger back after losing to Clubber Lang for Stephen Ireland to get his fire, passion and heart and love of the game and motivation. There must be a way to unlock it.

"You crazy fool". Cut your jibber jabber. I predict pain for Ireland.

What I'd really like is for Randy Lerner to pull out Irelands contract, take a look at it and say: "I must break you!"

[Des Little]

Can we do something like Apollo Creed Coaching Rocky to get his eye of the tiger feeling back to get fire and hunger back after losing to Clubber Lang for Stephen Ireland to get his fire, passion and heart and love of the game and motivation. There must be a way to unlock it.

Can't we just tell the arrogant, idle tosspot to sling his hook ASAP?

[OzVilla]

It still amazes me how people manage to use a spike in form over 6 months of one season over 5 years ago into whether the player has genuine talent.  If we used that rational then J Lloyd Samuel is still potentially a world beater.

Stephen Ireland is the worst of both worlds - a hugely over rated footballer with a shocking attitude.

[Karl Bridges]

He has apparently changed agents recently to one based in the US. Hopefully that will see the back of him.

[danno]

Can we do something like Apollo Creed Coaching Rocky to get his eye of the tiger feeling back to get fire and hunger back after losing to Clubber Lang for Stephen Ireland to get his fire, passion and heart and love of the game and motivation. There must be a way to unlock it.

He's gonna need a montage!

[Steve67]

He has apparently changed agents recently to one based in the US. Hopefully that will see the back of him.

Wasn't Ireland linked with a move to the MLS a while ago?  Hopefully to be rekindled sometime soon.  A complete waste of wages for the club.