Grob wrote:Original Dub wrote:Niall Quinns Discopants wrote:Jeezes. Give me a fucking break.
People are slagging off Stevie when it's obvious that he was playing with an injury. He has dropped little further down but has generally been good this season as well. They have adopted box-to-box role with Barry meaning he isn't as much involved with attacks but it doesn't make him shit.
And just for the record, I was never willing to drive him anywhere and always saw potential in him pretty much since he made his debut. Some people didn't think he'd make it but I always did, and I'm bloody proud about it.
Excellent post.
So that's two of us that would completely like to disassociate ourselves with RIG's comment that ALL of us wanted to drive him out of the club then...
As we're doing I told you so's, i never advocated and plans to sell him either.
RIG's post is so wierd
How does he know Hughes wouldnt drop Ireland??
He also said that Ireland plays deeper than our other midfielders. Well he didnt on Saturday. He was the most advanced. He hasnt played as a defensive midfielder all season.
Then theres this new position he's playing in. Last season he played central midfield. This season he's played in central midfield. Last season he got forward a great deal. This season he's got forward just as much. He's just not seen as much of the ball or has not done good things with it when it came his way. Its not like he's playing as a defensive midfielder or a full back or striker. Is he so much of a 1 trick pony that he cannot adapt to role barely any different to his role last season??
Then theres his Ireland missing Elano line. Is that the same Elano who was a bit part player last season and when he did play passed exclusivly to Robinho?? You could count the ammount of times Ireland and Elano hooked up for chances and goals on 1 hand.
Its just a load of rubbish.
Well mate, I agree with you for the most part, but both hughes and Ireland have confirmed that while he is playing central midfield, it is a new role in that he has been asked to hold back more and keep the link with Barry. He's definitely playing deeper and while he does and will make those runs into the box, I don't expect it to be with the same freqency as last season. It doesn't overly bother me, he's still scored a goal for us already this season and I'm sure he'll slot into any role that can help the team, just like he has always done without complaining.
RIG's posts were beginning to make more sense of late, but you're right - that last post was downright wierd.
First of all saying everybody on here wanted Ireland gone from the club last summer and would drive him there ourselves. That was a complete lie and I'm sure he won't apologise to us for that. Also implying hughes will play him regardless of form or fitness?!! How strange!
I think RIG didn't rate Ireland and went to town on him last summer and is somehow implying that he is now a hughes favourite and that's why he's being played... ignoring the fact that he was our player of the year and he's now carrying an injury.
The overall important thing is that the team continue to gel at the same rate they are currently. We are winning all of our games so every piece is fitting nicely. But soon, our defence will be used to playing with each other, as will our midfield and attack.
Everyone seems willing to give time to both attack and defence gelling as a unit - the same has to be given to midfield as a unit.