Superman displays Superbia in Proelia!
Stephen Ireland has come a long way from his Manchester City debut when he came on for Joey Barton during a 1-0 loss against Bolton in September 2005. He is now one of the best players at a club whose future is a combination of excitement and intensity.
What Ireland has managed to do this season is perform at a high level consistently, meaning he has completely over shadowed Brazilian Robinho and even been tipped to win the club’s player of the year. His development as a player is actually unbelievable.
He now has the ability to play any pass, create space and bring the best players into the game, especially at home. These are all attributes that when Ireland started out he could not do on a consistent basis, which was why we never saw him play much at a young age. Mark Hughes, recently said “Stephen has arguably been our best player all season. He has put in some fantastic performances.”
He worked so hard during the summer and came back with a real determination to show that he wanted to be part of what we are doing. He has worked exceptionally hard from day one and is reaping the benefits now and so are the club and the fans, after a very good performance in the UEFA Cup.
The scale of what Ireland has achieved this season is marked by his own comments. Ireland stands at the helm of a brand new Manchester City adventure and he lays down the roots of his success to the manager, statements that in my opinion have saved Hughes’ job. Ireland said: “He is my ideal manager. He wants to be involved in every area of the club. That’s important for players and for the stability of the club. In some games we are unstoppable and other games we don’t even get off the bus. I don’t think that’s his fault. I think as far as the manager goes, he’s the full package.”
If City have European success ina few seasons and build a foundation that will attract high quality stars to Eastlands, then Ireland is one of the players that has cemented his place in and around all the high salaries and price tags. Ireland has proven that regardless of wealth and club size in football there is still a place for nurturing youth talent and raising academy players to levels that would not have been dreamt about previously. In a season where there was such massive expectation from City fans, someone that has stuck by the club through his tough spells has emerged this season as the star. He has guaranteed himself a place in every starting 11 and whoever City manage to buy in the summer, there is no doubt that the little shiny bald head of Stephen Ireland will line up beside them in nearly every game!
Ireland look-a-like! Britney!
One thing however I could like to rant about is that fact that Superman did not win Young Players of the Year, but Ashley Young did?
He should return to International football soon though, it would be a shame for such a footballing talent to not waste the international career and caps his talent deserves, but ultimately only Ireland can make the decision.
He’s been one of the best midfielders regardless of age this season. The constant linking of his employers to top quality players seems to have become a driving force behind his play. He was always a great passer of the ball, but now he makes more bursts into the box and his eye for goal has really sharpened up. His set piece deliver is consistently dangerous, his link up play is also eye catching. At only 22, he sometimes shows dazzling maturity.
Nice feature Matt, a fair few typos though.
You sound like you’re surprised he’s “even been tipped to win player of the year”. More like if he doesn’t win player of the year the vote will have to have been highjacked by Robinho rimmers who know nothing about football.
I hate his tattoo though, it’s hideous! And also, what he said about his Grandma was a little stupid!
Out of interest, did he get booked for taking his shorts off?
Did you know there was once a match between Ireland and Holland, and two players dropped out of the Ireland squad at late notice, Stephen Ireland and Matt Holland!
Also, please can you vote on my player of the month, there’s tie at the moment and I need someone to break it.
Just noticed you already have voted, thanks.
Good idea for an article, but it seems quite rushed, with it only being produced 64 minutes after your previous article, and as VJ says, a fair few typos.
VJ – Many thanks, I am surprised at how well he has coped this season after havign had little decent football under SGE and Pearce. Yes his tattoo is ghastly and his false comments very daft, he was/is only young though?
He did get booked for takign his shorts down, but he didn’t care, it was a superb finish!
Is that a joke about the two players, I can’t tell?!
Steven, I didn’t mean to post it, I actually meant to press save. Now no-one can see my number 4?! I still do not agree it is rushed though at all…why do you say that?
Can you please point out the ‘fair few typos’ please
It’s not a joke, it’s a bizarre thing that really happened.
If you want the typo police treatment here it is:
If City have European success ina few seasons – obvious
His set piece deliver is consistently dangerous (last paragraph) – should be delivery
Also there was one where you didn’t use a capital at the start of a sentence, but that seems to have been corrected now.
If it is true then that is brilliant!
Thank you for the typo police. I knew Steven was exaggerating things by saying ‘fair few typos’!!
Cheers
Ahem, it was VJ who used the phrase first!!!
Both as bad as each other…do you admit you are wrong?!
You wanted the typo treatment; you got it!
“over shadowed” – Should be over-shadowed
“Mark Hughes, recently said” – and the comma is there because …
“He has worked exceptionally hard from day one and is reaping the benefits now and so are the club and the fans, after a very good performance in the UEFA Cup.” – The last part doesn’t make sense, and anyway, there is no need for the comma
“statements that in my opinion have saved Hughes’ job. ” – Never heard such BS in my life
Do you really think that because one player spoke out in favour of the manager, he keeps his job???
“success ina few seasons” – Typo
“raising academy players to levels that would not have been dreamt about previously” – I don’t get this bit. Why do you say the bit about levels never previously dreamt of??? SWP, John Terry, Gerrard, Carragher – they are all players who have come their their clubs academy.
“In a season where there was such massive expectation from City fans” – Actually, most normal and realistic City fans didn’t expect that much from this season – we all knew that it would/will take much longer than one season.
“starting 11″ – Journalistic convention states that any number under 20 should be written in words, for example, 12 should be written as twelve.
“there is no doubt that the little shiny bald head of Stephen Ireland” – Where are the commas after little and shiny???
“International football” – Why the capital I???
“it would be a shame for such a footballing talent to not waste the international career and caps his talent deserves” – No need for the ‘not’
“but ultimately only Ireland can make the decision” – Do you mean Ireland the player or Ireland the country???
“His set piece deliver is consistently dangerous, his link up play is also eye catching.” – Typo on ‘deliver’ and error when describing his set-peces. His corners/free-kicks hardly ever cause any danger. When was the last time we scored from one??? You should also have the word ‘and’ after dangerous and not a comma.
I’m only trying to help, remember, it was what you asked for.
By saying this was rushed, I just felt that the article seemed hastily arranged, lacking your usual finesse.
Steven, half of the above is a matter of personal opinion, I think it works, you don’t? I shall defend my work like you defend yours!
“over shadowed” – Should be over-shadowed
I AGREE
“Mark Hughes, recently said” – and the comma is there because …
I AGREE
“He has worked exceptionally hard from day one and is reaping the benefits now and so are the club and the fans, after a very good performance in the UEFA Cup.” – The last part doesn’t make sense, and anyway, there is no need for the comma
I DISGAGREE – Opinion
“statements that in my opinion have saved Hughes’ job. ” – Never heard such BS in my life Do you really think that because one player spoke out in favour of the manager, he keeps his job???
I DISAGREE – Opinion
“success ina few seasons” – Typo
I AGREE – Basic errors we all make.
“raising academy players to levels that would not have been dreamt about previously” – I don’t get this bit. Why do you say the bit about levels never previously dreamt of??? SWP, John Terry, Gerrard, Carragher – they are all players who have come their their clubs academy.
I DISAGREE – Opinion
“In a season where there was such massive expectation from City fans” – Actually, most normal and realistic City fans didn’t expect that much from this season – we all knew that it would/will take much longer than one season.
I DISAGREE – Opinion
“starting 11″ – Journalistic convention states that any number under 20 should be written in words, for example, 12 should be written as twelve.
FINE, I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO AGREE
“there is no doubt that the little shiny bald head of Stephen Ireland” – Where are the commas after little and shiny???
AGREE…JUST ABOUT
“International football” – Why the capital I???
I DISAGREE – Opinion
“it would be a shame for such a footballing talent to not waste the international career and caps his talent deserves” – No need for the ‘not’
I AGREE
“but ultimately only Ireland can make the decision” – Do you mean Ireland the player or Ireland the country???
I DISAGREE – the whole of the paragraph is about him!
“His set piece deliver is consistently dangerous, his link up play is also eye catching.” – Typo on ‘deliver’ and error when describing his set-peces. His corners/free-kicks hardly ever cause any danger. When was the last time we scored from one??? You should also have the word ‘and’ after dangerous and not a comma.
I DISAGREE
As I said, I’m only trying to help, and overall, despite your sometimes ludicrous insistence, I think I’ve done well
“ludicrous insistence” That’s brilliant! Steven, where do we slice the line of ludicrous insistence, and may I ask, who slices it?
My english skills shown in the above sentence I hope you notice!
Should the word ‘english’ not have a capital
Oh, and by the way, the correct phrase is ‘draw the line’ D)
No, I prefer the word slice, in the above, it is much more effective. The sounds of the individual words really complement each other.
There is no correct phrase, I just made it up!
Jesus! You guys really need to get laid.
Thanks…I’m comfortable at the moment and am currently getting plenty…thanks for your concern though…maybe it is you who needs to mister…
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