AshVilla Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Ireland is a good player when he's played in the correct position as shown for the first 45 minutes last night and the first 20 minutes against newcastle, when he's shifted into a holding midfielder role like he has been in the past 2 games he's shit but he's not to blame for that its the manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Jesus i thought this was going to another thread to slag off Randy. I agree Ireland looked handy last night and when gets a few more games and fitness should become a good player for us. I like how he always looks for a forward pass if possible, good at the through balls too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AV82 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Class act He 'glides' around the pitch and his awareness is top notch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted August 27, 2010 Author Share Posted August 27, 2010 Jesus i thought this was going to another thread to slag off Randy. With a title like Stephen Ireland? Or was this just your attempt at PFE? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaztonVilla Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Always good at finding space, was always effortlessly aware of where his teammates were and was always looking for the ball. Just wondering why NRC seemed so reluctant to give him the ball at times? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nath182 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 He has shown glimpses of a very good player from what I've seen. Looking forward to seeing more of him in the season. Seemed he was the only one willing to have a run and get at Rapid last night, everyone else was more than willing to play a boring game of pass the **** ball to the back four. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Jesus i thought this was going to another thread to slag off Randy. With a title like Stephen Ireland? Or was this just your attempt at PFE? No no, i thought it would be you going on about him being signed without a manager again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will87 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 I think he'll end up being our best player quite comfortably. Only Young is really on his level, but he's far too inconsistent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob182 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Great player! I might even get Ireland on my new Villa shirt! I agree that he'd be effective further up the pitch, but I'm not opposed to him playing centrally if we're playing a 4-3-3 like last night. It's all well and good having him further up the pitch, but if you can't get the ball through to him theere's no point him being there! In a central midfield 3 he's going to be in amongst the action for most of the game. As someone has said, we just need the other players to get onto his wavelengh so they can all link up as well as he intends! I also think that with Luke Young and Warnock as the fullbacks, we will play a lot better as they can push forward and link up with the central midfield 3 and attacking 3 (as opposed to last night, when we had fullbacks with no confidence and ended up keeping the ball in defence constantly). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyangel Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Just wondering why NRC seemed so reluctant to give him the ball at times? NRC was also reluctant to pass to Albrighton last night too..... I don't think it was personal, just think NRC doesn't have the capacity to look up and pick a pass. (also looked like someone had swapped his boots for clogs last night!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beasley14 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 I labelled him a "rich mans Lee Hendrie", he may still turn out to be so and maybe it was because most the team last night looked woeful BUT I thought he looked good for a while there. Distribution was good, he was box to box at times all over the middle a genuine midfield player. I think he tired in the second half and obviously needs games but thought he looked decent last night. I agree. Showed his vision, range of passing and willingness to get forward early on but faded very badly. He'll be good for us. He just needs a little help from his team-mates while he finds his feet. Help he didn't get last night. Agreed, he has a touch of class an he worked hard until he tired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choffer Posted August 27, 2010 VT Supporter Share Posted August 27, 2010 Just wondering why NRC seemed so reluctant to give him the ball at times? NRC was also reluctant to pass to Albrighton last night too..... I don't think it was personal, just think NRC doesn't have the capacity to look up and pick a pass. (also looked like someone had swapped his boots for clogs last night!) There were a number of times last night where NRC had an easy pass on and he decided to take on the opposition. Can't remember him managing it successfully though. I do wonder if maybe it's harping back to the tiff with MON about his distribution. Back on topic, I was looking for the Ireland thread this morning as I thought (particularly in the 1st half) he was the one ray of light in an otherwise gloomy evening. I know as Villa fans we are somewhat bipolar so I'll be careful not to be too effusive in my praise but you could tell with his runs, passing and positional play that once he's bedded-in, he is going to be a real asset to the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Great player. I enjoy watching him, bit quicker than I thought. Needs a bit of help in the middle, not sure who from, I'm still gutted that Delph blew his knee out, I think he'd be perfect in there with Petrov and Ireland. Ash and The Concorde out on the wings, lovely. It'll come, when we stop getting hammered, it'll come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazmonkey Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 I thought Ireland played well until late second half, what he showed was that he has good energy and is very comfortable on the ball, many of his touches last night were one touch no more than 2-3 and it was quick, he kept the ball moving. What he shown and this doesnt relate to himand id a bit off topic but the rest of team are simply not good enough on the ball, and move it slow and take too many touches, NRC could have played Albrighton down the wing a few times and this was apparent with Albrighton throwing his hands in the air in frustration a couple times. This also happened willMilner he looked frustrated especially towards the end of last season with the same thing, also coinsidered with him playing for England......better players. Anyway, I think Ireland in a few weeks will become very good I hope the rest of the team match him as otherwise he wont be as effected if you see what I mean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fran_villa Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Great player. I enjoy watching him, bit quicker than I thought. Needs a bit of help in the middle, not sure who from, I'm still gutted that Delph blew his knee out, I think he'd be perfect in there with Petrov and Ireland. Ash and The Concorde out on the wings, lovely. It'll come, when we stop getting hammered, it'll come the Concorde ha ha,good one that..i think Downing and Ash for the wings at the moment with Reo Stan holding with Ireland just ahead of the midfield,and with Gabby as the main man up front.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theunderstudy Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 I might add, Concorde looked very sharp, and that delightful run he did was superb. Irleand was very good IMO. He played deep, which he shouldn't, but he looked great on the ball and rarely, if ever gave it away. As for Gabby, he looked brilliant, he can really make a splash this season and push for the Euro 2012 qualifiers. He's beefed up again, and now looks like Carew with speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Look forward to combo when Young, Ireland and Gabby combine. I see real potential Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabbygabbygabbygabbygabby Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Look forward to combo when Young, Ireland and Gabby combine. I see real potential Add to that a real box to box midfielder and a consistent Albrighton or a Downing of old and things don't look so dreary all of a sudden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briny_ear Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Jesus i thought this was going to another thread to slag off Randy. I think you may be getting a little paranoid, Jez, although your one-man mission to defend Randy against all hint of doubt/criticism is impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jez Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Jesus i thought this was going to another thread to slag off Randy. I think you may be getting a little paranoid, Jez, although your one-man mission to defend Randy against all hint of doubt/criticism is impressive. Thanks briny Probably because he's done nothing to deserve all the shit apart from do his best for Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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