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Ireland was determined...
Topic Started: Mar 15 2009, 06:38 PM (121 Views)
AntMcfc
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Stephen Ireland has spoken of the extreme lengths he went to in order to turn around his Manchester City career.

The Irish midfielder has been City's standout performer this season but life has not always been so rosy for Ireland at Eastlands.

Last season's infamous 'Grannygate' incident while away on international duty with Republic of Ireland still haunts him - Ireland has no imminent plans to return to the fold - but his form this term suggests he is on the right path.

Ireland admits he hit rock bottom last season when City were thumped 8-1 by Middlesbrough under then manager Sven Goran Eriksson. While Ireland was shattered by the experience he claims some of his team-mates were not unduly affected.

Vowing to get himself perfectly tuned both physically and mentally for the new campaign, Ireland immersed himself in an arduous fitness routine over the summer.

Turning point

'It was the last day of the season and we had lost 8-1 at Boro," he told the Daily Mail.

"I didn't get the team bus. I got Jessica to drive me home and I thought to myself: 'This can't carry on. My career and my reputation are not right'.

"After that game we didn't even get a b******ing. I was so depressed at seeing that people didn't really care. People were laughing. It was the worst moment of all for me.

"I decided that wasn't a route I was going down. I didn't want to live my life travelling home from big defeats with a smile on my face. I just felt like I had to change something after everything that had happened.

"So, the next day I started training. I went up to the hills in Glossop with a martial arts expert, training from 7 to 11am. I dedicated my whole summer to working with this guy.

"I came back super fit and wanted to be number one in the team."


Never say never

While refusing to rule out a return to international football in the future, Ireland rejects claims that Giovanni Trapattoni has already asked him to come back.

"When I first got in to the Irish squad when I was 17 I was so proud," he added.

"It's not that I am not patriotic and I know much of this is my fault. But it's sad the way some people still want to criticise me. I know the Irish thing will take longer to fix. I just think I am quite happy as I am right now.

"I read in the press that (Giovanni) Trapattoni and Liam Brady have said they have contacted me. Well, they haven't. That's all I can say. Never say never, though."


It has paid off. Just goes to show how important mentality is in a footballer.
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Homer
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Stephen Ireland is a hardcore winner and im glad he really cares about City because I know there are some players who are just happyh to drift along and take their wages but no not Stephen because he will give his all in everygame and I was so impressed with him today even though City were poor.
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AntMcfc
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Homer
Mar 15 2009, 06:42 PM
Stephen Ireland is a hardcore winner and im glad he really cares about City because I know there are some players who are just happyh to drift along and take their wages but no not Stephen because he will give his all in everygame and I was so impressed with him today even though City were poor.
:greatpost: Spot on. Once again he shone today, we were pretty poor, but he constantly worked hard, was industrious and so clever on the ball. His work rate is exceptional and this article has given me the insight into why, he must be so fit. Fucking amazing player, proud to be City player and we're all so proud to have him.
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Homer
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Ireland: 6.5 – A few flashes from the midfielder, particularly a super mazy run to the edge of the box just before the break, faded in the second half.

Interesting....
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AntMcfc
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I'd give him... 7.5 - Ran tirelessly, chasing down opponents and breaking up play. Added a creative influence in a side that struggled to create.
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Homer
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Ye not surprising when you have a poor striker upfront.
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AntMcfc
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Homer
Mar 15 2009, 07:04 PM
Ye not surprising when you have a poor striker upfront.
Well I wouldn't pinpoint it on that, our midfield just got overran slightly by Chelsea's quality, without Kompany and De Jong we struggled. Zabaleta, Elano and Robinho were piss poor, Caicedo was more a victim of lack of service. Caicedo certainly has the potential, he's a mammoth striker, so powerful, did you see the way he sat the Aalborg striker on his ass for our first goal the other day? Despite that, I can't wait til Bojinov gets back, if he partners Bellamy we could have a real nice strike partnership there.

Kompany and De Jong really have become vital to us already, they allow Ireland, SWP and Robinho to create a lot more, there lies the problem.
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Homer
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AntMcfc
Mar 15 2009, 07:12 PM
Homer
Mar 15 2009, 07:04 PM
Ye not surprising when you have a poor striker upfront.
Well I wouldn't pinpoint it on that, our midfield just got overran slightly by Chelsea's quality, without Kompany and De Jong we struggled. Zabaleta, Elano and Robinho were piss poor, Caicedo was more a victim of lack of service. Caicedo certainly has the potential, he's a mammoth striker, so powerful, did you see the way he sat the Aalborg striker on his ass for our first goal the other day? Despite that, I can't wait til Bojinov gets back, if he partners Bellamy we could have a real nice strike partnership there.

Kompany and De Jong really have become vital to us already, they allow Ireland, SWP and Robinho to create a lot more, there lies the problem.
:greatpost: :greatpost: :greatpost:

SWP looked really emotional as well so he was average as well but oh well. It looks like you might have to win the uefa cup to get in there.
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Scholes
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I'd take Ireland over Robinho any day I really would.

He has the potential to become the next best thing. He's fit, quick, industrious and has a wonderful footballing brain. So composed in possession, unpredictable in the final third and can slice open defences like you would a cucumber. It's very rare to see someone so aware and classy in the final third, releasing the ball at the right time every time. That's what I love seeing in a footballer.
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Seriously, Frank Lampard is an absolute legend of the game. He needs to be recognised in some way eg. Frank Lampard OBE, Sir Frank Lampard or some kind of lifetime achievement award.

AntMcfc
 
Greatest ownage machine: Scholes. Absolute animal when he was a regular poster, I always knew I was in the right when he was backing me up, and I couldn't wait to read a topic that he was posting in because I knew he'd be tearing someone apart
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AntMcfc
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$chole$
Mar 15 2009, 07:56 PM
I'd take Ireland over Robinho any day I really would.

He has the potential to become the next best thing. He's fit, quick, industrious and has a wonderful footballing brain. So composed in possession, unpredictable in the final third and can slice open defences like you would a cucumber. It's very rare to see someone so aware and classy in the final third, releasing the ball at the right time every time. That's what I love seeing in a footballer.
Good post. I'd take Ireland over Robinho too right now, 6 months ago people were saying lets see if he can do it all season then we'll call him world class, he has done it all season now. Without Robinho this team wouldn't be too far off where we are now, obviously he is magic and a world class talent, but without Ireland this season we would truly be struggling. Out of the UEFA Cup, bottom half of the table. I really hope he stays here for a long time as it's obvious he has the talent and the right mentality. He will succeed, that is certain.
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SAFCBanned
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He's a blatant talent but does he have the potential to compete with Steve Sidwell etc?
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Scholes
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Mar 15 2009, 10:19 PM
He's a blatant talent but does he have the potential to compete with Steve Sidwell etc?
Compete with Steve Sidwell for what? :hysterics:
Scholes
 

Seriously, Frank Lampard is an absolute legend of the game. He needs to be recognised in some way eg. Frank Lampard OBE, Sir Frank Lampard or some kind of lifetime achievement award.

AntMcfc
 
Greatest ownage machine: Scholes. Absolute animal when he was a regular poster, I always knew I was in the right when he was backing me up, and I couldn't wait to read a topic that he was posting in because I knew he'd be tearing someone apart
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ManYou
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I hope he gets back into the international fold very soon or else after the World Cup. If Trappatoni hasn't contacted him then I'm sure he's thinking about it now...

He's a real class player, I think Scholes summed him up nicely.
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Vardy’s Mum
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"I went up to the hills in Glossop with a martial arts expert"

Sounds very mystic. Reckon it was Mr Miyagi?
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ManYou
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trigglebeef
Mar 16 2009, 04:50 AM
"I went up to the hills in Glossop with a martial arts expert"

Sounds very mystic. Reckon it was Mr Miyagi?
:lol: Maybe, his head looks as if it got the wax on, wax off treatment :hysterics:
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