Re: Stevie Ireland.
I think Ireland is a very technically gifted footballer with a clever football brain. His problem at City, is that he struggles to settle in a rigid formation. As some have mentioned, his best position is probably just behind the front two (as Elano during his first season under Eriksson). It is his ability to play the 'berkovic' / 'benarbia' pass which would make him a great player if playing in that system behind a quick striker who plays on the shoulder of the defender, aka a young Anelka or Torres
Unfortunately, this is not a system adopted by most top clubs anymore. The 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1 means it is likely that the attacking emphasis comes from the wider players and less through the middle, hence he doesn't fit into this formation as easily.
I have always liked watching him, but he looks out of place out wide, he lacks pace of bellamy, the trickery feet of johnson etc. I think it would be great if he stayed so to provide a different option / way of playing if we wanted to change formation etc, but I think he will move on. Whether he will be successful, will depend on who he goes to, and whether they will provide a less rigid and more fluid formation where he play in holes rather than strict positions.
