Stephen Ireland

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Elk

Active Member
Joined
3 Aug 2004
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31
Enjoyed seeing him play in the testimonial. He was one of my favourite players "back in the day".

How good was he in his prime? Would he have fitted into this side?

I always felt he was a tidy player who linked up the play nicely, and had good composure. Being on the same wavelength with Robinho was perhaps an indicator of quality. I don't think he'd look out of place in the current team.

Apologies if this has already been discussed elsewhere.
 
There’s a great interview with Ireland in The Athletic today.
Comes across very well and he’s still gutted how it didn’t work out for him here.
 
I can't think of a single player I grew up watching in the 90s or 00s before our first title winning season who would get close to this squad, even the ones who looked like they might do something.
 
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Have always liked Stephen Ireland, thought I was ahead of some of the players around him at the time. Abit like Sterling in the England team. When Robinho and the other Brazilian cant remember his name ( it's my age ! ) not Joe ! . We seem to have 3 players on the same wavelength than and it brought the best out of Ireland.
 
give it to gordon said:
Have always liked Stephen Ireland, thought I was ahead of some of the players around him at the time. Abit like Sterling in the England team. When Robinho and the other Brazilian cant remember his name ( it's my age ! ) not Joe ! . We seem to have 3 players on the same wavelength than and it brought the best out of Ireland.
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Elano? Loved the lad but it was the Robinho-Bellamy-Ireland axis that brought the best out of Ireland, Elano barely played under Hughes.
 
ccr said:
Pleased he was there. I heard his Gran died ?
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Yeah but those jokes should be left, i know he regrets it, he says in the recent interview how as soon as he said it he regretted it but his teamates were patting him on ghe back wishing him all the best and he didn't think he could back track. He said it as his partner had just lost their baby, they didn't want people to know and he desperately needed to get home from the squad. All of which is understandable. I knwo what he said isn't.. but with the stress and family problems he had, he made a very very wrong choice, but it's not really a laughing matter, it hurts him, as city fans cshouldn't we let it go?
 
kippaxkid74 said:
Yeah but those jokes should be left, i know he regrets it, he says in the recent interview how as soon as he said it he regretted it but his teamates were patting him on ghe back wishing him all the best and he didn't think he could back track. He said it as his partner had just lost their baby, they didn't want people to know and he desperately needed to get home from the squad. All of which is understandable. I knwo what he said isn't.. but with the stress and family problems he had, he made a very very wrong choice, but it's not really a laughing matter, it hurts him, as city fans cshouldn't we let it go?
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Ireland's fans let it go long ago.
 
give it to gordon said:
Have always liked Stephen Ireland, thought I was ahead of some of the players around him at the time. Abit like Sterling in the England team. When Robinho and the other Brazilian cant remember his name ( it's my age ! ) not Joe ! . We seem to have 3 players on the same wavelength than and it brought the best out of Ireland.
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Can anyone interpret this for me please?
 
One good half-season, thanks to Robinho being doubled-up-on. Mentally weak.

No thanks. Didn't get all the wanking over him at the time, less so now.

Great volley against Reading though.
 
aguero93:20 said:
Elano? Loved the lad but it was the Robinho-Bellamy-Ireland axis that brought the best out of Ireland, Elano barely played under Hughes.
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Not sure that's totally true mate.

As I recall, the majority of Ireland's goals arrived in the first half of the 08-09 season, (just after the takeover), when he played at the front of a midfield diamond, often arriving late for crosses from the left from Robinho.

Bellamy arrived the following January, and for some reason, Ireland's goal ratio was never quite the same. I can only remember the early goal at Hamburg, and then a chip over the keeper at Everton, but his form seemed to suffer in tandem.
 
Seem to recall him going to ground for no apparent reason in a league cup game holding his head, never looked the same player after that, under Peps guidance I think he would have made an impact at the level we are now had all the attributes.
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
Not sure that's totally true mate.

As I recall, the majority of Ireland's goals arrived in the first half of the 08-09 season, (just after the takeover), when he played at the front of a midfield diamond, often arriving late for crosses from the left from Robinho.

Bellamy arrived the following January, and for some reason, Ireland's goal ratio was never quite the same. I can only remember the early goal at Hamburg, and then a chip over the keeper at Everton, but his form seemed to suffer in tandem.
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He might not have scored as many goals, but the early part of the next season was the best of his career.
 
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