Is Stevie Ireland being wasted???

[Owain]

Allowing Ireland the free role surely means Tevez or Robinho doesn't get a game? I think it can't do him any harm to be a little more disciplined in a four man midfield. A midfield which would be a lot more effective if it also comprised Martin Petrov.

 

[Grand Master Ram Rod]

i'm with the op, the team should be built around him, not the other way round.

dont think the team should be built round him - im thinking Hughes is hoping the barry ireland partnership develops into something similar to xavi - iniesta with soemone covering maybe in certain games.

They have Yaya behind them though which gives them more freedom.

 

[AntonDonJuan]

Surely the answer to this is we've played 4 competetive games and won 4, so whatever your view of Ireland as an individual player is not relevent. It's the overall team that is the only consideration.

Not really. Would you be happy with Adebayor playing left back if we won the first 3 games??

 

[citoeast]

FFS Ireland scored 15 goals last season, if he was a forward clubs would pay £20m for that number of goals. He should have the free role, Barry less of a free role and we should have a stronger anchor on the right of midfield, a more defensive player.

Getting the balance right in midfield will be key. Robbie and Ireland were awesome late last year with their interplay.

 

[gingerman123]

I'd love to get wasted with Stevie, when he retires I'm inviting him round mine for a toke.

I wandered who would say something like that first

 

[bluedub]

I just don't think he imposes himself on a game enough. There was an exceptional performance last year in the 6-0 over Portsmouth, when he pulled the strings a la Fabregas in the middle of the field and played some nice through balls, but I don't think it's anything to do with the manager, just the player himself seemingly not believing enough in his own ability to orchestrate from midfield. I've noticed that on several occasions, he seems to be more interested in tackling back or bursting into the box rather than taking full control of the ball and looking up for the options around him. It's these attributes that make Fabregas such a great player, but I honestly believe Ireland could be just as good doing a similar job, if not better.

 

[Bluemoon115]

Six wins out of six suggest Hughes has got it right.

 

[scousemanc]

Surely the answer to this is we've played 4 competetive games and won 4, so whatever your view of Ireland as an individual player is not relevent. It's the overall team that is the only consideration.

Not really. Would you be happy with Adebayor playing left back if we won the first 3 games??

You've got me on the logic!

 

[MCFC OK]

I think it might be better if we dropped SWP and played kompany / de jong along side barry, giving superman more freedom.

 

[Bluemoon115]

Surely the answer to this is we've played 4 competetive games and won 4, so whatever your view of Ireland as an individual player is not relevent. It's the overall team that is the only consideration.

Not really. Would you be happy with Adebayor playing left back if we won the first 3 games??

So your saying that playing an attacking midfeilder as a central midfielder is the exact same as playing a striker as a full back?

If not, admit your above point is idiotic.