Gérard Houllier has delivered a damning assessment of Stephen Ireland's contribution since joining Aston Villa from Manchester City in the summer. The Villa manager accused Ireland, who was dropped for the 0-0 draw against Birmingham City today and remained on the substitutes' bench throughout, of not working hard enough for the team, neglecting his defensive duties and squandering possession too readily.
Ireland, an £8m makeweight in the transfer that took James Milner to Eastlands in August, has yet to score for Villa in six appearances and has struggled for form.
Houllier said last week that Ireland looked "lost" against Sunderland and Burnley, in Villa's previous two matches, but the Frenchman went a step further with his criticism today, when he claimed the 24-year-old was not worthy of a place in the team because of the shortcomings in his game that he needs to address.
"He needs to work harder," Houllier said, explaining his decision to omit Ireland. "He played against Chelsea and did well, he played against Sunderland and it was not good enough to me, as simple as that. He needs to work harder. The skill is one thing but you need to compete.
"It's a difficult period for him. We support him. We back him. He comes to a new club and there's a change of manager inbetween. We will be 100% for him.
"We know he is a good player. But I don't want to have players who you say: 'He's a good player but ...'
"If you say: 'He's a good player but he doesn't defend, but he doesn't run back, but he loses too many balls in crucial areas', that's difficult. He needs to get rid of these 'buts' and be a good player. We put him in at Sunderland behind the striker and he needs to get hold of the ball and play," Houllier said.
Ireland joined Villa after Martin O'Neill resigned as manager but before Houllier took over more than a month later. When he signed a four-year contract as one of the highest-paid players at the club he fiercely rejected suggestions from the Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, that he had an attitude problem and needed to "change his head".
The midfielder made great play of how in training he "worked the hardest of anyone" in City's squad and was "practically always the best player".
Ireland made his Villa debut in the 6-0 defeat by Newcastle in August and has been substituted in each of the other four matches he has started.
Although Ireland's performances have been disappointing, there is no suggestion Houllier is considering moving the player on. The Villa manager stated the importance of increasing rather than reducing his squad when the transfer window opens in January after the paucity of his options were highlighted against Birmingham. "If some players get injured, we will be in real trouble because we are lacking in numbers in some areas," he said.
