Ireland

[blues-clues]

Only heard the match on the radio but it sounded like he was MUCH better tonight then they said he collapsed at the end of the match!! That was it though never mentioned it again. Was he ok?

[9secondlegend]

didnt show on tv?

[10.Goater_Legend]

Never saw anything on ESPN and i'm sure they would have highlighted it. Changed the game when he came on, like the Superman of last season. Well in Stevie.

[Blue in the face]

Was it not Toure on the ground getting help at the end?

[smurfsdabomb]

Was class when he came on, set up everything good city did and defended now and again too. Was the hearbeat of the team and surely would have got MotM if he was on for the whole game.

[blues-clues]

Ok thanks. It was Motson so there were plenty of inaccuracies but I thought with his virus he may have had a relapse or something. Good to have superman back though!

[Vhero]

Did good until the last 10 minutes of the game then gave away 2 clumsy passes. Hopefully he back to his old self. Toure had problems at the end but nothing too serious it seems.

[Nick]

Ireland changed the game, his passes are fucking glass. He did look ill at the end of the match!!!

[Grob]

Changed the game as he was the first midfield players to meaningfuly support the attack down the middle.

Better than what hes served up so far this season. Needs to show authority and take games by the scruff of their neck in midfield.

[colincollins59]

I was at the game tonight and I didn't see Ireland collapse or anything at the end. Toure did though.

Incidentally, yeah Ireland was much better tonight!

[Crossie]

I think your getting mixed up with 2 weeks ago

[Ted Hughes]

Changed the game as he was the first midfield players to meaningfuly support the attack down the middle.

Better than what hes served up so far this season. Needs to show authority and take games by the scruff of their neck in midfield.

Yep. I don't think he did take charge when he came on but he improved things for 10 mins or so. Ireland & Robinho are a great pairing & we play a totally different style & formation, intentionally or not, when they play together. We also have a side that's potentially just as good but more orthadox without either of them. Both sides have strengths & weaknesses but I don't think any other team has the same kind of potential. Very exciting.

[The Original Special One]

Not starting last night was probably the wake up call he needed as he was buzzing from the moment he came on like he did all the time last season.
Hopefully he'll push on from here and get back to imposing himself and not retreating behind Barry's shadow

[Colin the King]

his passes are fucking glass.

They're pretty sharp alright.

[john68]

his passes are fucking glass.

They're pretty sharp alright.

Well spotted Eoin...:-)

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Ireland had no problems at the end of the game and was doing extra training this morning.

[Original Dub]

Yeah, he was a fantastic substitution alright, and no denying he changed the game.

His ability to spot a pass is exactly what Ade thrives on. Ireland needs to be Ade's Fabregas to get the full potential out of him. He will be too, if De Jong and/or Barry looks after the covering moreso that Stevie.

Sure, he'll track back and intercept passes before turning them into attacks, but there's no denying he's exceptionally gifted in finding space for the def mid to get it to him and picking out that one special pass that unlocks the sternest of defences. Just like he did all of last season.

Doug did say that he was looking exceptionally sharp in the last training session before the game and I was suprised to see him left out on that basis.

Well in Doug, accurate as ever chief!