Ireland: "I want out"

[Mike J]

[Dameerto]

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

[avoidconfusion]

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

[avoidconfusion]

[Vhero]

[The Foggy Blue]

Just saw this:

http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/soccer ... 8.html?via

It's from the only real broadsheet daily newspaper published in Ireland. It doesn't really get involved in gossip or rumour so it's fairly conservative (eg only states fact). However, it's sport section (apart from Irish sport/GAA) is mainly a selection of aritcles bought in from other newspapers and media sources so often, the editorial standards on some topics can be a little more loose. As is the case here.

Basically the article says Ireland wants out and has handed in a transfer request, but they don't feel the need to offer any direct quotes or give details as to when and how the request was lodged.

In other words it's utter bullshit.

[aaron bond]

If these rumours turn out to be true, then I think we should see how much we can for him. For the majority of his career, he has shown he is not good enough for the team we want to become.

My preference would be for him to stay one more season, and try to rekindle his form from last season. But if he's going to spit his dummy out because both managers this season rightly kept him on the bench due to his shit performances then he can leave.

[Original Dub]

A lot of threads getting locked these days.

I suppose we better just nod and say that this is all down to the media, as it is with Tevez, Onouha and Bellamy. The players are not unhappy and Roberto Mancini has everything under control.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

[ant london]

[Original Dub]

[BobKowalski]

Well I was going to post this in the 'locked' thread - what is the point in locking threads just because its getting a bit heated? Anyway I've written it and I mention Stevie so I'm going to bloody well post it! :)

"The media 'unhappiness' reports are largely correct. Ireland is unhappy, as is Ned and probably SWP. Bellers is Bellers and has been banging heads with Mancini but then he bangs heads with most so what the hell. The one thing I do like about Mancini is that he didn't let it interfere with team selection. Tevez with his interview before the derby was out of order and having a pop at the owners, the marketing dept and the manager was ony going to end one way and that was Tevez getting his card marked which judging by his subsequent backtracking in the media it was and rightly so. The club has to be more important than the players if it is to be successful and players stepping out of line cannot be tolerated.

I suspect a lot of the unhappiness is down to the training and the discipline that has to be shown during the match. Shay talked about 'just wanting to play footie' without all this tactical stuff and during the game we have to be controlled and disciplined with attackers being the first line of defence etc. The idea is that you drill the players so that no matter the circumstance every players knows where they should be and what they need to do that it becomes second nature. This partially worked under Mancini. The defence looked more solid. The zonal marking reduced the goals conceded at corners to pretty much nothing (the weak point was short, quickly taken corners) and we did start to look like an organised unit. Going forward we were much more circumspect even if we did score more under Mancini but reducing the goals conceded was the immediate aim which we did. To say we didn't improve as a unit under Mancini is just ignoring the facts and it is as a unit that we will ultimately be successful. Some weaknesses remained namely the inability to 'concentrate' for the full 90+ minutes. Conceding last minute winners in 3 derby matches is a damming statistic and until we 'concentrate' like the top sides do then we will never get there.

Concentration is a mental quality and this is where Mancini is aiming. Mental fragility is not something City can tolerate and as 'concentration' is a Mancini mantra then you can bet your house that players who do not measure up in this dept will be looking for the door and Mancini will let them go irrespective of talent. Ireland has two options. Show the right sort of attitude and stay or run away from the problem. Ned is been sidelined by emerging players like Boyata so I can understand his bitterness if not the way he displayed it. Ned let himself down there. SWP I don't know what will happen as it seems to be as much down to the club as Mancini. I think Mancini regards SWP as a useful option coming on as sub but thats just my guess. Bellers is an odd one. His high fiving of Mancini and press story about him being okay with Mancini strikes me as someone who wants to stay and I don't see Bellers making any sort of public gesture becuase the club told him too. Bellers just ain't the type to do things he doesn't believe so I really don't know what will happen to him. The press have him on the way out but I am not so sure. It will be interesting to see how that goes.

The one player who I think will stay and does have it in him to stay the course under Mancini is Micah. Out of everyone I do think he has the talent and the mental aptitude to make it. Saying that he will probably get sold off next week

No idea why I have rambled on. Is there a media conspiracy? No not really except the one where everyone wants the new rich kids on the block to f**k up and until we win things its something we will have to live with. Has Mancini improved things? Playing as a team and a unit yes he has and the stats bear this out even if you are pining for the Barca type football we played under Hughsie :)"

[Ted Hughes]

His mates on the forum at 'the other place' are adamant that he wants to stay & City want to keep him so it would appear this is press/agent shit stirring. I'm happy with that provided he's going to put 100% in & not sulk if he's asked to do a job.

I hope both City & Ireland are being straight with each other though & not doing stuff behind each other's backs, so it doesn't end with him suddenly leaving under a cloud.

[ant london]

[lythamblue]

I too was going to post this on the locked thread.

I think we can all safely assume that there is no smoke without fire and quite obviously some of our players are unhappy at this moment in time.

However this has very little to do with Mancini or Hughes for that matter. It is purely a reaction to change and would have happened whoever we had selected to be the new manager. Key players in any organisation are often affected by management change, some like it ..... some don't.

This was always going to be problem the moment we decided to change 'the manager' and remains the singularly most important reason why this constant manager merry go round has to finally stop. Hopefuly, it now has and the present incumbant (for better of for worse) will be given a chance to make and correct his mistakes over a period of the next few years.

Mancini will do things his way and recruit the personnel that are comfortable to work in that environment. If that means upsetting a few which we could probably do without losing to our competition ..... then so be it. He must do things his way and create the environment which suits him alone and not the previous manager.

This time next year we will have a Mancini squad full of his recruits and members of our current squad who believe in what he is trying to do. No doubt, he will get the best out of them ....... I just hope that that is good enough.

Either way ...... this is just the way it has to be and we have to be prepared to see it through.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

[Ted Hughes]

[brite blu sky]

i'm sticking to what i wrote earlier in the thread. it is no surprise that the media printing this are the ones that continually snipe at us and exaggerate whatever they want to make their point.

MEN are reporting this story and have stated that no written request has been made.. that the club do not want to lose Ireland and will meet him to discuss what exactly his grievances are and if they can be resolved. Also that no-one will be allowed to go before replacements are recruited.

It is safe to say that Ireland is going to be worried about his position ( as indeed will others ) after a poor season. So the 'smoke' that is being suggested is fire, could be the attempt by Stevies camp to force some clarification from the club.. because he is sat at home fretting about it.. and thinking he is going to get sidelined.
So what im suggesting is that it is an appeal for attention from a hurting Ireland.. and possibly nothing more at this stage.

I mentioned higher up the thread that the club will see the old guard academy lads in a different light to the other players we have.. and imo they will be sophisticated enough to realise there will be teething problems as we attain a better quality side.. they will be aware i think that they have to allow a certain amount of tantrums from the old guard as they struggle to adjust from being adored stars to just another part of a star laden squad.

in my view we all need to hold our breath for a while and see what the club as an organisation does to try and resolve the issues with Stevie, Ned, Shaunie and possible Micah.

As for Ireland what we know is:
He wants to be at City his whole career and be a City legend no less.
He understands that all players must fight for their place in the team.
He is loved and coveted by the fans.
Mancini has said he believes he is an important part of the teams future.

My view is that they will try their best to resolve the issues at stake. But ultimately Mancini is right and Stevie has to get his head in the right place, as the team comes first and right now that is Mancini's team.
The responsibility is with Stevie to imagine himself as one of the key players in that new system, learn how to be it and start to show it. Mancini and the clubs responsibility is to encourage him to fight for that.

I stated a few times at during the season that change takes a toll, it demands a price.. the swapping managers thing was not a light and free thing to do mid season, but what the players have to learn is that the past is gone. If it takes a lot of work to re-adjust and to learn new methods, then so be it.. as individuals they must understand that the ability they have as players is still there and after they have been through the pain of re-learning their responsibilities on the field the good times will come back.

Barry and DeJong also took a knock on their performances which they battled through to eventually start to get on top of. Stevie needs to look and learn from this and not look and learn from the Robinho school. He can be a better player by learning new disciplines and i hope that Mancini and the club explain that clearly and with patience.