roadoftrinity Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bromsgrove_avfc Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I reckon we'll see more of him once we get some decent DM's in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYSTERYMAN Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Maybe I have missed something but what surprised me is these players who are not even in the 18 now didn't even make the reserve game Monday ? Are they that far down the pecking order now they are not even in a Squad or we forcing them out the Door ? He has had , it appears a U turn with Dunne to the extent there is no interest in Samba this Jan window now so something positive has happened and can only think Dunne has knuckled down and shown the staff he is up for the fight ? 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 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracker1234 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I thought it was odd when he didn't even get reserve match time to build up his fitness...Something isn't right. We just haven't heard anything about him other than what Gazton tells us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis_B Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 But thefact he isn't even getting a reserve game and is still 'happy to stay' sums him up as a non-interested money grabber. If he is never going to make it we might just as well loan him to Walsall and pay his wages! That might wake him up a bit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaztonVilla Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I think there's a difference between "happy to stay and not be involved" and "not wanting to leave and wanting to get back in the team". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadoftrinity Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracker1234 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Don't expect to see much of him this month but, if he's still here in February, I hope Houllier is true to his word about him having a role to play. Gazton, if you don't expect to see much of him this month, what's going to change come February? What is stopping him from playing now, well apart from Houllier not picking him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Well, the only other club in the world who would give him 70k a week are, er, Manchester City. Of course he is happy to stay here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderball Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 A decent manager should be able to get something out of him. I would suggest at present GH has bigger problems to sort than squander a first team place on someone who lacks concentration - he can't afford the indulgence of bedding him in yet as he needs 90 minute of fight from every player? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulver Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 What is stopping him from playing now His lack of effort perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulver Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 A decent manager should be able to get something out of him A decent player wouldn't need a manager to get anything out of him. He'd just do it naturally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracker1234 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 What is stopping him from playing now His lack of effort perhaps? I don't think that's it Ulver, Houllier said something along the lines of him showing better signs in training. I'm sure if he wanted to stay as Gazton said he would have to show Houllier and the backroom staff that he wants to fight his way into the team. It's just strange that he hasn't even been picked for the reserves to build up match fitness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I still can't see any valid reason for not picking Ireland ahead of Pires in the squad. I'm not exaggerating when I say that other than maybe Mark Kinsella, Pires is the least effective player I've ever seen at Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brommy Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I still can't see any valid reason for not picking Ireland ahead of Pires in the squad. I'm not exaggerating when I say that other than maybe Mark Kinsella, Pires is the least effective player I've ever seen at Villa. Two points: 1) Us fans don't get to see what goes on in training all week. If Ireland's effort, application and attitude are p!ss poor all week, why should he be in the squad for the weekend? 2) Balaban? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaztonVilla Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 GH has said a number of times that Ireland is working hard in training. Houllier said: "With Stephen, we will see. I have been pleased with him. "He has a different attitude to the beginning so he will be soon back. "But I've got to find a balance in the team at the same time. I've got Agbonlahor, Young, Heskey, Downing, who all are attacking type players." Houllier on 2nd January. Houllier says he has asked to leave, then says he's improved in training, then says he'll be back in the fold soon. Yet continues to pick Pires (and his mouth) ahead of him. My opinions on the matter are well known so I won't repeat myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I still can't see any valid reason for not picking Ireland ahead of Pires in the squad. I'm not exaggerating when I say that other than maybe Mark Kinsella, Pires is the least effective player I've ever seen at Villa. Two points: 1) Us fans don't get to see what goes on in training all week. If Ireland's effort, application and attitude are p!ss poor all week, why should he be in the squad for the weekend? 2) Balaban? I don't care if Ireland stands around in the centre circle smoking a packet of fags and drinking a cup of tea, he's more use than Pires. And the few times that Balaban played, I'd say he contributed more than Pires has to date. At least he could run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brommy Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I still can't see any valid reason for not picking Ireland ahead of Pires in the squad. I'm not exaggerating when I say that other than maybe Mark Kinsella, Pires is the least effective player I've ever seen at Villa. Two points: 1) Us fans don't get to see what goes on in training all week. If Ireland's effort, application and attitude are p!ss poor all week, why should he be in the squad for the weekend? 2) Balaban? I don't care if Ireland stands around in the centre circle smoking a packet of fags and drinking a cup of tea, he's more use than Pires. And the few times that Balaban played, I'd say he contributed more than Pires has to date. At least he could run. For all Balaban contributed on the pitch he might as well as kept running... straight off the pitch - Forrest Gump style! My point was that none of us wanabee football managers have the information and evidence available to us that the club has. I'm sure GH had hoped for a better standard from RP when he signed him but GH also made it clear that SI's attitude was all wrong. GH has indicated an improvement (although how much of that was just to make SI worth something to sell?), so hopefully we will see more of SI than RP before May. How much, I'll leave to the better informed judgement of GH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Risso Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Actually, given the performances and results to date, I'd back your judgement over Houllier's to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry'sboots Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Maybe SI just needs a nice new Mercedes with a DVD player in the back to pick him up from Manchester and drop him back off, allowing him to have a little snooze on the way back so he is fully refreshed after his exertions?? :winkold: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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