Fitting Punishment for Stephen Ireland

[anglocelt39]

Missing Stephen Ireland could go a bit on the back burner if Stephen Reid was to make it back to full fitness. Really rate him and think it's an awful pity he's been rode with injuries.

Got through 75 minutes for Blackburn there last night I see, a couple of Premier League games over the next few weeks and he should be ready for the Italians. Although its hard to be too optimistic about him.

The way things are shaping up it looks like the play offs is the best we can hope for and that"s what we have to hope Reid might be available for. I'd be delighted to see him get some action over the next two world cup fixtures (an hour in total) if I thought he could play a full role over two legs of a play off. Would give a far more solid look to the side. But as has been said the poor divil has an awful time of it with injuries

[rosnarun]

Don't know the motivation of Houghton, Aldridge or Cascarino but MCarthy is a case apart. His father (who played hurling for Waterford) like many others had to leave Ireland to find work. This was in the north of England coalmines yet he brought up his family as Irish and to his credit Mick adhered to that identity long before he was capped or managed the team.
In contrast some prima donna players come from a background where their fathers lived off state benefits all their lives and the suspicion is that their offspring would be more takers than givers.I believe Kevin Kilbane is another who was brought up in a strong Irish tradition in England and might have more of a gra for the oul sod than some of the jackeen Manu Utd supporters who populaate the FAI terraces for the big games only.

balls all of these guys were well into their 20's before they condescended to accept an FAI pay check, long after their country of chioce and birth had rejected them (much more lucrative to be play for the british teams) . as lamented by houghton several times . sure they  tried when playing under the FAI just as they did for LIverpool FC  or Oxford united or whoever .
I think the refereces to state benefits points to a lot of people problem with Stephen Ireland.
you know his family is  on benefits? or is that just your mammy boy snobbery getting in the way?

[mylestheslasher]

Apart from being a total twat, Stephen Noland is also totally over rated. To mention him in the same breath ability wise as Roy Keane is a laugh. Keane would put him in his back pocket just like he did with EPL legends like gerard and viera. Playing for your country is a honour and if you turn it down for no good reason other than it doesn't fit with your appointment with the hair transplant clinic then really you are not worth a thought. If he declared interest again I'd play Gary Breen ahead of him.

[mountainboii]

Apart from being a total t**t, Stephen Noland is also totally over rated. To mention him in the same breath ability wise as Roy Keane is a laugh. Keane would put him in his back pocket just like he did with EPL legends like gerard and viera. Playing for your country is a honour and if you turn it down for no good reason other than it doesn't fit with your appointment with the hair transplant clinic then really you are not worth a thought. If he declared interest again I'd play Gary Breen ahead of him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykp9m_zG6K8

[Yes I Would]

Apart from being a total t**t, Stephen Noland is also totally over rated.

Heard his radio show is wick and that there are rumours going around about him as well.

Couldnt agree more Myles..

[The Real Laoislad]

Stephen Noland is also totally over rated.

You haven't a clue do you 
He is the best outfield Irish player in the Premier League at the moment..

[GBXII]

Ireland is underrated in my opinion not overrated...He has a lot more natural talent than Roy Keane did especially in the attacking part of the game..also has a better touch and better vision..Keane would be a better tackler, reader of a game..

[Shamrock Shore]

Best punishment for the bald cnut would be to get him hypnotised to think he was from Longford.

That'd learn him!

[new devil]

Ireland is underrated in my opinion not overrated...He has a lot more natural talent than Roy Keane did especially in the attacking part of the game..also has a better touch and better vision..Keane would be a better tackler, reader of a game..

Thats the funniest thing i have seen on here in a long time

[mylestheslasher]

Stephen Noland is also totally over rated.

You haven't a clue do you 
He is the best outfield Irish player in the Premier League at the moment..

Obviously I don't have a clue, thanks for pointing that out to me.
He may (or may not be) the best outfield Irish player at the moment but that is hardly a great achievement! One award he does scoop is the gold medal for "biggest ex Irish gobshite award", I don't think anyone will ever compete with him on that.

GBXII - If you were manager of a team and you could select Roy Keane or Stephen Ireland for your team, who would you pick??? There is no contest.

[ludermor]

First things first, I really cannot stand the little p***k. He should have just come out at the start and said he didnt want to play beside strining along everyone for ages ( and thats not getting into the whole granny thing) but if he doesnt want want to play for ireland so what? He doesnt owe ireland anything, he obviously doesnt feel the need to represent his country so let him off but it is his decision. Id love it if we were in a position in a couple of years when/if he wanted to come back and we could affford to tell him to f**k off but doubt that will happen ( on the 2 fronts)

[space rabbit]

As was said earlier he will get his wake up call when City sign a few world class midfielders and will look to ship him out.  It's only a season or two ago that Sunderland were looking for him and City were willing to sell.

[BennyHarp]

I agree with Myles - if people say someone is a great footballer enough times everyone believes it ala Beckham! I've watched Ireland at the City of Manchester stadium on quite a few occassions and to put him in the same bracket as people like Keane or any other world class midfielder is a bit of a joke! He is a decent player who has had one decent season and this year is beginnning to struggle a bit to match last years achievements - hardly makes him our world cup saviour! Like someone said before - Man City will buy a "superstar" midfielder and it will be bye bye Steven to Sunderland or the like as there is no way any of the big four would touch him with a barge pole!

[ludermor]

I agree with Myles - if people say someone is a great footballer enough times everyone believes it ala Beckham! I've watched Ireland at the City of Manchester stadium on quite a few occassions and to put him in the same bracket as people like Keane or any other world class midfielder is a bit of a joke! He is a decent player who has had one decent season and this year is beginnning to struggle a bit to match last years achievements - hardly makes him our world cup saviour! Like someone said before - Man City will buy a "superstar" midfielder and it will be bye bye Steven to Sunderland or the like as there is no way any of the big four would touch him with a barge pole!

Nobody is saying he is a world cup saviour but he is without any doubt better than all of our other midfielders. One person mentioned him in the same breath as Keane and then everyone thinks he is been compared to him!! A bit of perspective is needed every now and then. He has been very good the last 2 seasons and has been ok this season and is the currently one of the top irish players so for him not to be a rt of the irish team is a loss but it is his choice not to be there so we should move on.

[GBXII]

Stephen Noland is also totally over rated.

You haven't a clue do you 
He is the best outfield Irish player in the Premier League at the moment..

Obviously I don't have a clue, thanks for pointing that out to me.
He may (or may not be) the best outfield Irish player at the moment but that is hardly a great achievement! One award he does scoop is the gold medal for "biggest ex Irish gobshite award", I don't think anyone will ever compete with him on that.

GBXII - If you were manager of a team and you could select Roy Keane or Stephen Ireland for your team, who would you pick??? There is no contest.

I would have Roy Keane in my team but Roy was an unbelievable centre midfielder, over a 15 or so year period, and we have the ability to look back over all of Keanes career but Ireland is only 23 so we shouldn't really be making that comparison (i.e. how would you pick in your team). However, my point is that while Ireland probably hasn't finished developing as a footballer, I think its clear to see (IMO) that he has more natural talent/skill than Keane had, and by that I mean 1st touch/control under pressure, ability to unlock a defence with a killer pass. This doesn't mean he is better than Keane but if he manages to be as focused and clever as Keane was on the pitch then he has the potential (natural ability) to be as good and better. Thats just what I think..