roadoftrinity

Ireland for me is still technically our best fit and attacking midfield option but is there any fight in the kid ? No one is coming in for him to my knowledge either so either he is too expensive wages / fee or he has now seen as too much of a risk ? . Mark Hughes knows him better than anyone and yet seemingly took Sidwell over him . I know they are different midfield players but still it seems odd to me .

Sidwell was cheep and Fulham don't have much money. Plus I guess Ireland is a bit of a luxury player, and an expensive one at that.

Houllier needs to sort it out, at least to have him on the bench. It's got to better than pushing Richard Dunne and Collins up front if we go behind.

Ridiculous that he wasn't even on the bench for the Sheffield United game. There was no need for Hogg and Herd when we had Petrov on there a well. Should have had Ireland on instead of Herd.

I'm not planning renewing, I can pick and chose my games and with the cheep tickets offers they do it will save me a load of money as well.

Nowt to do with Houllier really as I just go because I enjoy the day out, the football is rubbish sometimes but then it was under MON at times and absolutely dreadful before MON under DOL and Taylor (2nd) and I still went then.

Nope, it's the cost that puts me off going.

I thought it was a little bizarre to bring him back in for a start. I would have expected a couple of 30 minutes or so as a sub at least to get him back to match fitness i.e. ease him back in gradually. I know football is not about keeping everyone happy but this must have really hacked off NRC as well - if we do have aspirations to keep him I can't imagine this helped.

I think you can then assume that we have no aspirations to keep NRC, if his salary demands are correct as reported in the press, then that is completely understandable, plus the fact, I think we could improve on NRC quiet easily.

Houllier confirmed this on the offical site, also said that Gabby had a groin injury but should be ok for Sunderland.

Friedel

Cuellar Dunne Collins Warnock

Petrov Coker

Gabby Young Downing

Heskey.

I think this will be the team, however he might play Delph instead of NRC.

I reiterate that Ireland would have been at least as well off sitting on the bench at Manchester City and picking up his paycheck like SWP, and he wouldn't have had to commute to Brum every day either.

He wouldn't have been on the bench, he wasn't going to be in their final 25.

Gazton, has Ireland mentioned why he doesnt seem to be able to run when the opposition attack? Is this because he is injured or just **** lazy?

I say every season I'm not going to renew, mainly due to the cheap ticket offers etc and missing a couple of games a season. But I like having a season ticket and going to the Villa, plus it's a chance to have a few beers with my mates.

I ain't really bothered what Houllier did at Liverpool if we win these next two games as I never really expected to get anything at Anfield anyway.

Mods should just change the titled, same as they do with a speculation thread when we sign them.

Great to see.

Barry Bannan penned a contract extension with Villa until 2014 after a whirlwind few weeks and admitted: "I am over the moon."

Bannan has been in sensational form for the claret and blue troops this season, with the midfield maestro excelling in the central ground.

Boss Gerard Houllier has said on several occasions that Bannan has what it takes to be a top-flight star with his "skill, vision, tenacity and desire."

And the manager has shown his faith by handing the classy central star a new deal.

Bannan said: "Everything this season has been unbelievable. I could never have imagined it going so well for me.

"To get the deal is icing on the cake really.

"I knew I was capable of playing the way I have been playing and it was just about getting the chance.

"When Kev came in and took over I was in and around things, playing in Europe, and that was a big boost for me. From there, I have really kicked on.

"The new gaffer has come in and really taken to me. I've had chances and I've taken them.

"It's all come around so quickly, I haven't really had chance to think about it. It's just been an unbelievable start.

"I am over the moon to be at the club - it's one of the biggest in the country.

"To be here and handed a new contract is unbelievable. It's a pleasure to be in and around a club like this.

"For me to get a new contract is brilliant. I'd sign my life away probably here the way it's going at the moment. It's fantastic."

Bannan is the latest young lion to sign a new contract, following Ciaran Clark and Marc Albrighton.

The Scottish international, in brilliant form for the Tartan Army on his senior debut in midweek, admits it's amazing playing in the top-flight alongside friends he has grown up with.

He added: "We've all grown up together and we're best of mates on and off the pitch.

"To be given the chance to play in the biggest league in the world alongside each other and contribute to the team is just unbelievable.

"A few years ago we were training together in the under-14s and the under-15s. Then it was about going out and enjoying yourself. Now we're performing on the big stage.

"A big thanks has to go to all the coaches that have led us on the way - Sean Verity, Gordon Cowans, Tony McAndrew and Kevin MacDonald. They all have contributed and bought us on as players.

"The gaffer has given us a chance too so a big thanks has to go to him too."

link

Did anyone who watched the match get to see Bannan standing next to Shaun Maloney - just curious as to who appears "taller" out of the two...

Bannan looked like the better player, not sure who was taller though.

Think that the original post is bollocks.

I wouldn't have posted if i didn't have a reliable source...

Fingers crossed he has a good game though!

Hold my hands up here for been a tit and completely wrong :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Against Blackpool when he wanted to bring on a bit more strentgh to central midfield he brought on Lichaj, a right back coming on for his

Premier League debut instead of Hogg. Think that the original post is bollocks.

Did ok against fulham, should have scored at least 1 but there are positives to take from his performance.

Might have helped him if he'd played against burnley instead of watching Stephen Ireland upfront

Agree with that, we should have play Delfounso with Stephen Ireland that night, strange decision that was.

"It will be an opportunity for young Nathan to step up. Definitely Nathan will be the striker.

"Young players don't stay young all their life. At some stage they will grow and get mature but the career usually starts when there is an opportunity.

"I would say the reason 80 or 90 per cent of the players arrive on the big scene is because they started when there was an opening.

"I know that Nathan is not a newcomer because he has played under Martin - he knows the Premier League.

"To him, maybe it's an ideal opportunity to put his footprint on it."

Hi General

I'm sure this has been covered before, but I have had a look back and cant see anything recently. Since we have changed beer supplier, on a several occasions in the Lower Doug Ellis, they have no draught lager available, this has happened in both the last two games against Birmingham and Burnley. This means, that you have to buy a small beers for £2.80, so basically you are then having to pay £5.60 to get just over a pint of lager. At least with the previous supplier, the bottles you were buying were near on a pint.

Is there any reason for this? Just seems like the club trying to make more money from the fans inside the ground.

I've been to away games at grounds in London, and these bottles make it more expensive that all of these grounds, even Wembley, surely this cant be right?

Ive not once said that about Ireland - infact the post that youve just quoted said - I agree - give him more time.

I know, I knew it when I posted as well so apologies for that. It's just you are banging why should Ireland be given time, when other players aren't. But then you want to give Ireland time? It was just confusing me.

In fact when ppl tried using that excuse for dj last season it caused uproar (well not quite) but u get my point.

Most of the posts I saw about Downing last season we about give him time, he had been injured. There were some people saying he is shit and wont improve and is a waste of money, same as there are in this thread about Ireland and you been one of them.

Maybe if we sign Kaka, Ronaldo, Terry, Cole, Villa, Iniesta, Xavi, Drogba and Cech, then we'll see the best of Stephen Ireland.....

Do you really think, that playing Stephen Ireland as our main striker, which we did last night as Young was going walk about, shows the best of him? Do you believe that?

I am referring to the posters who tried to tell me he was better than Milner. Because I dont believe wed get 18m and a better player. I totally agree with giving people time, but we dont treat every player like that.

The way ppl were talking about him on here, I was expecting a lot better tbh. So far ive seen basically what i expected.

Why don't we? I give every player time, some people dont but that's up to them.

Ireland showed some good touches last night, and I think he could work out to be a good player for us.

I think you can only judge Ireland is when he has Gabby running off him. He is a good player and it'll take him a bit of time.

Pity we dont judge other players based on one thing. If we can only judge him on when gabby is running off him then thqat shows what a limited and poor player he is

Or the fact that we don't have any decent strikers.

Think yesterday is the only time hes played and weve won isnt it? And even then he got taken off before we scored.

Was he on against Blackburn?

Yet to see anything (bar a few glimpses against chelsea) that shows any sign of the player ppl on here were suggesting was beta than Milner

Lets be realistic here, he isn't likely to be better than Milner, and I dont think many people think he will be. We received 18 million plus Ireland for Milner, do you seriously believe we are going to have got a better player and 18 million?

Lets just judge Ireland over the season, on how he does and not in comparision to Milner.

And I agree with the poster that we will see the best of Ireland with Gabby one the shoulder of the last defender.

All three actually showed their potential before reaching it, SI has shown little potential thus far so I can't accept bracketing him in with the likes of Young and Downing.

Ireland looked decent enough last night to show he has potential to be a good player for us last night.

You seem to have something against him. All of Young, Milner and Downing were relatively disappointing in their first seasons, writing SI Villa career off as such an early stage is ridiculous.

I'd rather have Osbourne in there than Ireland, a proper CM.

Ha ha, I have heard it all now.