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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has told midfielder Stephen Ireland he must sort out his mental approach if he wants to be a success again at Eastlands.
Ireland has gone from his club's player of the season to a permanent substitute over the last nine months and admitted last week that he doesn't know what the future holds.

Last night Mancini said: 'I spoke to Stephen two weeks ago but we must speak again soon. I don't know what he is thinking abut his future but for me he is a fantastic player and if he can change his head he can start to play like last season again.'



He's already changed his head once. What will he do with the other heads? He'll end up like Worzel Gummidge.

He has to buck up or it's no more monster fish tanks and lamborghinis, or whatever those his-and-hers cars are he buys!

The guy,s got too many fucking mental issues imo and it,s been like that for donkeys.
I have serious doubts he will rediscover that one season form again.

How about one of these heads?

[youtube]0fPD9xDtx94[/youtube]

Ted Hughes wrote:Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has told midfielder Stephen Ireland he must sort out his mental approach if he wants to be a success again at Eastlands.
Ireland has gone from his club's player of the season to a permanent substitute over the last nine months and admitted last week that he doesn't know what the future holds.

Last night Mancini said: 'I spoke to Stephen two weeks ago but we must speak again soon. I don't know what he is thinking abut his future but for me he is a fantastic player and if he can change his head he can start to play like last season again.'

He's already changed his head once. What will he do with the other heads? He'll end up like Worzel Gummidge.

Wise words, Bob. Every player needs looking after, not just the "stars".

carl_feedthegoat wrote:The guy,s got too many fucking mental issues imo and it,s been like that for donkeys.
I have serious doubts he will rediscover that one season form again.

I agree with carl.

I've a feeling Ireland's city days are numbered, he's been a shade of the player we saw last season this season. Seriously makes you think it was a one season wonder year after all.

From Superman to Wurzel Gummidge in 12 months

john@staustell wrote:How about one of these heads?

[youtube]0fPD9xDtx94[/youtube]

He'd be lethal at set pieces.

It could be that Mancini sees himself as a better motivator than Hughes and thinks that given a pre season with the lad that he can sort him out, he may well favour at least giving it a go rather than showing the lad the door, it's not like we need the money. Plus he is a home grown player and so can placate any future legislation. I reckon he'll give him till christmas to prove that he can realise his undoubted talent

Do you think that maybe Ireland needs to feel that the manager has confidence in him and needs more "one on one" type of coaching? and maybe Mancini what with being new to the club and with lots of pressure and other things on his mind has not had the time to do this?
and maybe as irblinx says, in the summer Mancini can spend more time with him to build up the confidence again.
just a thought...

Fans can be very fickle and brutal tbh. Ireland is one of the best football players in the Prem. He is also highly creative lad. Having worked with creatives a lot i can tell you that ironically they tend to like stability around them in order to shine.
Mancini will give Ireland at least one season to get himself back in the groove.. why? because the payoff if it comes will be more than well worth it. Now we have at least the stability of a manager that is going to stick around, the only other aspect is the changing face of the team. It may still take Stevie a while to get settled in again after the summer signings come in, but we have a season coming up with a lot of games in 4 different campaigns, so there is plent of opportunity for Ireland to get games and settle down.

Bottom line is that the payoff for City of an on-form Steven Ireland is more than worth the effort of all concerned to try as much as possible to make that happen.

Completely agree with opening part of your post, creative players need stability, unfortunately that will not be at this club for at least another 2-3 years because any game city lose there will be uncertainty about mancini and we will constantly be replacing players, like i expect in the close season (i know its not mancinis team blah blah), hence this new team will need time to gel, mancini has recently come out saying he would prefer to win every game 1 nil, Ireland simply isnt this the 1 nil type of player, Ireland is looking for, and will be nurtured in a team that is already settled where he can drop in for someone of a lesser quality or replace a leaver/retiree.

This squad rotation that he could get with a long season will not suit the player or appeal to him.