Ireland's position.

[Ted Hughes]

He says he wants to stay & fight for a place, which I'm actually delighted about but which place is he fighting for? Imo, however clever he is in 5 a sides etc, in a real game he frequently misses the opportunity to get through the kind of passes that are the bread & butter of a great 'playmaker'. He either over/underhits it, fails to see it or gets caught in possession through dallying too long or the player is offside for the same reasons. He just isn't the 'playmaker' some claim him to be IMO.

I recon Ireland's best moments are when he's making runs breaking forward & receives a pass rather than when he's trying to be the creative force. I would like to see him tackling, passing & moving & KEEPING THE BALL rather than giving away possession, so that someone like Silva can provide the pass, maybe even for Ireland himself to score or at least break away.

I want to see Ireland as an alround hard working but classy midfielder who's extra workrate & tackling means we don't need 2 defensive midfielders in most games & can play him instead of one of them, rather than a second rate midweek replacement for Silva.

Ideas anybody?

[john@staustell]

I reckon within the next 2 weeks his position will be Aston Villa or Sunderland.

[JB]

I reckon within the next 2 weeks his position will be Aston Villa or Sunderland.

You're probably right. I would like to see him loaned out to Mallorca or Palermo, as he seems to like the heat and humidity so much, rather than sold to another EPL side.

[john@staustell]

I reckon within the next 2 weeks his position will be Aston Villa or Sunderland.

You're probably right. I would like to see him loaned out to Mallorca or Palermo, as he seems to like the heat and humidity so much, rather than sold to another EPL side.

Yeah but have you ever tried moving a 30-ft fish tank to Mallorca, with it's fish??????????????

[mr_nool]

He says he wants to stay & fight for a place, which I'm actually delighted about but which place is he fighting for? Imo, however clever he is in 5 a sides etc, in a real game he frequently misses the opportunity to get through the kind of passes that are the bread & butter of a great 'playmaker'. He either over/underhits it, fails to see it or gets caught in possession through dallying too long or the player is offside for the same reasons. He just isn't the 'playmaker' some claim him to be IMO.

I recon Ireland's best moments are when he's making runs breaking forward & receives a pass rather than when he's trying to be the creative force. I would like to see him tackling, passing & moving & KEEPING THE BALL rather than giving away possession, so that someone like Silva can provide the pass, maybe even for Ireland himself to score or at least break away.

I want to see Ireland as an alround hard working but classy midfielder who's extra workrate & tackling means we don't need 2 defensive midfielders in most games & can play him instead of one of them, rather than a second rate midweek replacement for Silva.

Ideas anybody?

This might sound ridiculous to a lot of you, but if Ireland could adapt to paying wide, he could be a very good Freddy Ljungberg type player. I want to see him making lethal runs behind the centre backs, and showing a lot of grit both going back and forward. He should still have the mandate to step in more central and every now and then deliver that killer pass.

[Ted Hughes]

He says he wants to stay & fight for a place, which I'm actually delighted about but which place is he fighting for? Imo, however clever he is in 5 a sides etc, in a real game he frequently misses the opportunity to get through the kind of passes that are the bread & butter of a great 'playmaker'. He either over/underhits it, fails to see it or gets caught in possession through dallying too long or the player is offside for the same reasons. He just isn't the 'playmaker' some claim him to be IMO.

I recon Ireland's best moments are when he's making runs breaking forward & receives a pass rather than when he's trying to be the creative force. I would like to see him tackling, passing & moving & KEEPING THE BALL rather than giving away possession, so that someone like Silva can provide the pass, maybe even for Ireland himself to score or at least break away.

I want to see Ireland as an alround hard working but classy midfielder who's extra workrate & tackling means we don't need 2 defensive midfielders in most games & can play him instead of one of them, rather than a second rate midweek replacement for Silva.

Ideas anybody?

This might sound ridiculous to a lot of you, but if Ireland could adapt to paying wide, he could be a very good Freddy Ljungberg type player. I want to see him making lethal runs behind the centre backs, and showing a lot of grit both going back and forward. He should still have the mandate to step in more central and every now and then deliver that killer pass.

There's no reason he shouldn't fill in there but as a specialist position? I'm not convinced. If he signed for Arsenal for instance, they'd just have him supporting Fabregas & I don't see why he can't play a similar role for us.

[kinkylola]

I have tried that actually, and I have just one thing to say about it: Disaster.

[Blue Blood]

I reckon within the next 2 weeks his position will be Aston Villa or Sunderland.

Gotta agree.

What exactly has happened to the Ireland who won Player of the year btw? On this tour and in the past season he has looked a shade of himself.

Extremely worrying stuff. Feel bad for saying this given he is one of our home grown lads but i think he has to go.

[Ted Hughes]

I reckon within the next 2 weeks his position will be Aston Villa or Sunderland.

Gotta agree.

What exactly has happened to the Ireland who won Player of the year btw? On this tour and in the past season he has looked a shade of himself.

Extremely worrying stuff. Feel bad for saying this given he is one of our home grown lads but i think he has to go.

Imo the big difference is the 'Superman' Ireland was alround the pitch running his balls off doing a bit of everything. Last year's version was ambling along letting 35 year old rags run away from him to score then waving his arms around complaining afterwards. We need the one that grafts.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

I find it weird that Stevie seems to have energy to burn but when he is given the wide right role he seems to play within himself and not show a great deal of effort.He hasn't got the skill to take his man on and get past him but he also doesnt seem to try the runs whether inside or down the line to stretch teams.
When he is central it seems to me he doesnt take responsibility enough.Too often he gets the ball and just gives it back.Maybe he thinks he is very tightly marked but often he isn't and just gives it back anyway.However even if he is marked he should have the ability to know exactly where they are and still receive the ball and play with it. Sadly he doesnt seem to have that time and ability.I agree with Ted that histrue quality is based on the runs he makes from central positions into the box.

[Wooders]

has all the other tools in spades but severely lacks the mental strength to make the best use of them

[Goaters 103]

I reckon within the next 2 weeks his position will be Aston Villa or Sunderland.

This - Villa as part of a deal for Milner. Perhaps he might stop sulking, wallowing in self-pity and have a long look at himself and then he might just start playing football again.

[Mase]

I reckon within the next 2 weeks his position will be Aston Villa or Sunderland.

This - Villa as part of a deal for Milner. Perhaps he might stop sulking, wallowing in self-pity and have a long look at himself and then he might just start playing football again.

Or he might just buy a new car to celebrate the move. I've heard he needs a new one.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

has all the other tools in spades but severely lacks the mental strength to make the best use of them

He has plenty of tools yes but they don't include taking a man on in the wide right position and beating him.

[Wooders]

SAme could be said of a lot of players who the wide right is not their natural position though

[Crossie]

Fully fit and focused and he is an asset.

Last season he was neither.

No sign of fell running this summer, good, he fucked himself up last summer doing too much when he should have been letting his body rest.

[Goaters 103]

I think its pretty clear Irelands biggest problem lies between his ears, like quite a few others we've had over the years. A change of scenary, a dose of reality and maybe a new manager to hold his hand and tell him how wonderful he is and build a formation round him, and he might, just might decide to turn it on again.

[TonyM]

There is no problem with Ireland's attitude. All this talk of him sorting out his head is bollox. Mancini was a foolish IMO to say such at the end of last season as it has only served to be a stick for all the numpties to beat him with. Like Bellamy he has a reputation now but everytime I see an interview or see a clip of him he looks and sounds like a nice quite lad (who has an unfortunate taste in music and style). So off the pitch and in trining his head is fine. Do people mean that his head is screwed up on the pitch? I don't think it is -If I was him I'd be gone mental by know - playing with players who can't seem to string a couple of passes together unless it's playing tippy tappy around the back 4.

Every single time I see him play I see him backpass because no one is making space or make fantastic runs that noone choses to pass into. When Elano, Petrov and Robinho played with him he was deadly. When Barry, DeJong and Johnson play with him he's crap. IMO we need to fix our core issue - we play shit football. We need to see some emphasis on pass and move. We need to see some movement. I'm hoping the new arrivals will bring this. It they do Ireland will fit in perfectly... without any mental adjustment. If we continue to huff and puff we'll go nowhere and Ireland leaving will be the least of our issues.

I have to admit to being more and more nervous about Mancini. I see a lot of faith in the guy from others but I've yet to be convinced. I really hope to see signs that he's making us a better team. the arrivals are positive but just as important will be who he lets go. The next few months are vital. If things do not go swimingly I can see a lot of tormoil. People are talking about uis winning the title.... it's crazy talk unless we get off to an abolute flyer over the next month or 2. the transition that is required is almost as much as when Sven came in or Hughes came in. Though he had a better squad there is a mountain of changes required to get us up to the next level.

[Sister of fu]

I reckon within the next 2 weeks his position will be Aston Villa or Sunderland.

You're probably right. I would like to see him loaned out to Mallorca or Palermo, as he seems to like the heat and humidity so much, rather than sold to another EPL side.

Yeah but have you ever tried moving a 30-ft fish tank to Mallorca, with it's fish??????????????

I bet Carl_feed the goat has......

[dazby]

Just wait til he and Silva start getting it on. We are all going to cream our pants.

Cream them. Totally cream them.