bigquinn772
Well-Known Member
Here's what else is up on the Mirror's site, much of what we've all read before.
Poison players tried to sabotage Manchester City, says Stephen Ireland
Published 23:00 11/11/09 By Oliver Holt in Abu Dhabi
A group of poison players tried to sabotage Mark Hughes' Manchester City revolution almost before it had begun, Stephen Ireland claimed last night.
Ireland said several high-profile players at the club refused to accept Hughes' vision of the future when he took over at Eastlands at the start of last season.
And Ireland said the City boss had to spend much of his time struggling to bring them into line while he was trying to build a team capable of challenging for a place in the top four.
"The first ever meeting the gaffer had at the training ground at Carrington, it was clear he wanted big changes," the City midfielder said.
"He gave a speech saying 'we are going to do things differently and either you get on board or you're going to find yourself in a hard place and it's going to be very difficult'.
"Some people didn't change. Some players were 28 or 29 and it looked like it was all new to them and a big shock, this new regime.
"How can you get to that age and not have a regime of being professional? You do the simple things right. That's what the gaffer's added to us.
"He got a hard time off some players, definitely. That's why he's needed time. That's why, last year, he was fighting his corner all the time."
Ireland did not identify the individuals he was talking about but he made it clear later in his interview at the City team hotel in Abu Dhabi that he thought former City playmaker Elano had been a bad influence on fellow Brazilian Robinho.
"Not many players were pulling in the right direction," Ireland said, "but most of them were the kind of players who are not here now so clearly the players were not more important than the gaffer.
"He's brought in the right calibre of players now, all professional, all wanting to be on board, all wanting to achieve certain things. Every player he has signed I was over the moon about because I knew it was the right calibre of player to bring to the club."
Poison players tried to sabotage Manchester City, says Stephen Ireland
Published 23:00 11/11/09 By Oliver Holt in Abu Dhabi
A group of poison players tried to sabotage Mark Hughes' Manchester City revolution almost before it had begun, Stephen Ireland claimed last night.
Ireland said several high-profile players at the club refused to accept Hughes' vision of the future when he took over at Eastlands at the start of last season.
And Ireland said the City boss had to spend much of his time struggling to bring them into line while he was trying to build a team capable of challenging for a place in the top four.
"The first ever meeting the gaffer had at the training ground at Carrington, it was clear he wanted big changes," the City midfielder said.
"He gave a speech saying 'we are going to do things differently and either you get on board or you're going to find yourself in a hard place and it's going to be very difficult'.
"Some people didn't change. Some players were 28 or 29 and it looked like it was all new to them and a big shock, this new regime.
"How can you get to that age and not have a regime of being professional? You do the simple things right. That's what the gaffer's added to us.
"He got a hard time off some players, definitely. That's why he's needed time. That's why, last year, he was fighting his corner all the time."
Ireland did not identify the individuals he was talking about but he made it clear later in his interview at the City team hotel in Abu Dhabi that he thought former City playmaker Elano had been a bad influence on fellow Brazilian Robinho.
"Not many players were pulling in the right direction," Ireland said, "but most of them were the kind of players who are not here now so clearly the players were not more important than the gaffer.
"He's brought in the right calibre of players now, all professional, all wanting to be on board, all wanting to achieve certain things. Every player he has signed I was over the moon about because I knew it was the right calibre of player to bring to the club."