Category: 
Retired Old Story
A run of the mill Finnish international.
A useful player who got called into the French squad once several years ago, but didn’t get capped.
And there’s no other way of describing Dean Whitehead other than he’s Dean Whitehead.
These are just some of the players that are ahead of Andy Reid in the midfield packing order at the Stadium of Light. Tainio, Malbranque and Whitehead were deemed good enough by Roy Keane to start for Sunderland at the weekend whilst Andy Reid had to make do with a place on the bench. He did play eventually a part in the game, but if he’s not good enough to hold down a regular place in the Black Cats’ first XI, then why is there such a clamour for him to be in the Ireland team?
The Andy Reid saga is the biggest non-story in Irish football for a long time. Pundits are paid to moan and when performances on the pitch don’t offer a great deal in terms of complaints, they turn to these tedious debates. They’ve picked up the Andy Reid story in the absence of having constructive points to make. The simple truth is he deserves a place in the squad by virtue of the dearth of midfield talent and little else - maybe a run-out from the bench, but unless you make your living from punditry, demanding he be selected in the first team shows a lack of understanding of football and just what a balanced team is.
A far bigger issue is the case of Stephen Ireland. Whilst Reid had to make do with around half an hour at the weekend, Ireland played a stormer for Man City. Two goals continued his great recent run of form and highlighted just what Giovanni Trapattoni is missing due to his extended exile. The first goal came about from some shocking defending, but you have to admire a player who keeps on running in the hope of picking up a scrap provided by Zayatte. 99 times out of 100 it will be in vain, but Ireland made a concerted effort to put the defender under pressure and got the reward. His superb second showcased the composure and finesse the national team could do with.
But beyond the goals, Ireland was full of running. His position was in midfield, but his work-rate meant that he combined the more combative duties of the role with a consistent attacking threat. His clever late runs into the penalty area have echoes of Frank Lampard about them and he’s a much more all-round midfielder than the all-round Reid. Ireland brings creativity but won’t ignore the many other midfield tasks and this would give Trapattoni the balance he apparently craves. Alongside a more defensive-minded midfielder, Ireland could strike up a very fruitful partnership. With Trapattoni determined to use McGeady and Duff as out and out wingers, they’re not going to offer a great deal in tracking back and ball-winning and the central midfield partnership has to compensate for this. Ireland has matured into a player who can do this.
His reasons for turning his back on the boys in green are fair enough - if they’re genuine. He may not want always to spend time with his children - particularly when it’s time to change the nappies - but while these urges strike him, it’s hard to criticise his decision. There’s more to life than football and you have to do what makes you happy.
But there are doubts that they are the actual reasons for his abstention from the Trapattoni era. The granny incident was amusing, but more than hinted at a man that was uncomfortable in the squad. Whispers of bullying would seem to back up that assertion, but given the vast talent he’s now displaying, hatchets need to be buried and bridges need to be rebuilt. He’s too good a player not to have in the squad. The fact that he’s in the form of his life at a time when opting out of international duty probably doesn’t help the cause for a return, but Ireland will be much better with Ireland.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
agreed - we need ireland back asap. come on stephen!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
He is too bust tackling fat blonde strippers when he comes back to Dublin
November 18th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Anyone that saw his second goal on Sunday for Man City will see that this guy is a special talent one that ROI cant afford to do without.I think he is the missing piece in the Trapatoni jigsaw and so much so that he would render Andy Reids exclusion irrelevent even though Im a big fan of Andy Reid and feel hes been hard done by
November 18th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
city scum
November 19th, 2008 at 12:04 am
trappatoni wants 2 defensive runners in front of our back four.they cant have too many attacking ambitions except set pieces and anything from our defenders goes over their heads.our style of play at the moment would bypass andy reid but stephen ireland has a great engine and would be a huge asset.mcshane is a player that gives his all but im pretty sure that his best will never be enough and some opposing manager will stick a winger on him and we will suffer.
November 19th, 2008 at 1:39 am
obviously irelands a prick who’s ashamed of his country
the prick shouldn’t be allowed to play for ireland, but i agree he is on form at the moment so we could do with him
November 19th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
No one in the country cared last year that Ireland didn’t play for his country.
Now that he’s good everyone is calling him a turncoat. I know he didn’t handle the situation well at the time but I don’t blame him. He was been bullied and hassle for other players on his free time. Plus I wouldn’t want to represent muppets like Danny or Addy.
November 19th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Nobody could blame Ireland for not wanting to play under Staunton but at least if the guy honestly isnt interested in playing for his country well at least hes been honest that he cant give 110% for something he dosent believe in.I find that admirable any player can put in a few days in Malahide and trek around Europe and warm the bench or put in a cameo 20 mins but what use are they to us.I thnik Trap and Brady should have one last push at it early in the New Year and if the situation hasnt changed then so be it
November 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I think Stephen Ireland is a very good player and would add to the irish team, however none of us really know what went on, obviously something occurred that is making Stephen Ireland not want to put on the green shirt. And it has to be something major as when he scored for ireland against wales in the first game in croke park he loved it.
I think its a case of Stephen Ireland being ok to play for Ireland and until he is ready to do so then we should respect his decision. Delighted to see him playing so well for city and would love to see him in a green jersey soon, so lets be more positive about the guy.
November 19th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Are you all for real (well all of you that want ireland in the team). Ok so hes on form now - yippee - but lets not forget he doesnt want to play for his country - he has lied and made up fantastic excuses not to do so. Instead of being honest at the time and not killing off both his grannies speaks volumes about he kind of guy he is. leave him in manchester after all one man does not make a team. He has been asked - he said no - move on!!
November 19th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
The guys girlfriend suffered a traumatic experience that you wouldnt wish on your worst enemy and obviously the guys head was all over the place and needed to get back to her where he was MOST needed at the time.Its time to let bygones be bygones.i agree with Johnny G its obvious that something was said or done to him that makes him not want to spend time with members of this squad but if it came to dumping these guys and getting Ireland into the fold I no what side Im on
November 19th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
shame that the best irish player at this time wont play……we look at the moment to be going forward again …and with stephen back in the team,i think we can beat the italians and claim top-spot in the group and quailify automaticly,instead of those awful playoffs where we dont seem to have much luck……..IRELAND for IRELAND……MIGHTY FROM CORK
November 19th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
The guile we so desperately need to beat Italy and Bulgaria is possesed by Stephen Ireland and Andy Reid both for different reasons not avaliable to us.In Trap We Trust
November 19th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Mighty what you make of yere hurlers.I think they have bitten off more then they can chew in taking on Gerald McCarthy.I have to say that the Gaa family as a whole are sick of Donal Og Sean Og et al and their crusade towards professionalism.I hope Gerald continues to stand his ground against and that good will triumph over evil
November 19th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
great player but if he doesn’t want to play forget him
November 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
well sully to be honest i dont think many people no whats happening in cork………..game sunday and if those giving call ups turn out to play then i think its good look to donal og and the lads……tell ya this GEARLD MAC wont stand down …im certain of that….only thing to suffer will be cork supporters because it will put cork hurlers back 10 years….(maybe shefflin and the lads might be gone by then)……mighty
November 19th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
poland 3- ireland need ireland if we have ambitions to start qualifing for finals again.one man doesnt make a team but he would certainly improve it.we simply cant afford to just forget him.my understanding is that people in power in our beloved f.a.i. showed a distinct lack of respect to him and while he had personal problems,his unfortunate response about his grannie was his two fingered reply to them.his motto seems to be treat them as they treat you.watch his display against hull last weekend,something he has done virtually every week and our team cannot afford to be without him.tonite we had our first choice defenders and we could have shipped another 3.we need more quality in midfield.
November 20th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
chelafela well done you great comment ……IRELAND FOR IRELAND…
November 20th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
ta mighty ,what about the 3 amigos for ireland,the three stephens.i suggest that we would have a serious chance of not only qualifying but of doing reasonably well in the world cup if we had finnan ireland and reid in our first 11.finnan instead of mcshane and the other two replacing whelan and gibson.i realise stephen reid has an injury but that team would upset a few of the so called bigger nations.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 am
Great piece lad!
Back in the 80’s & 90’s those lads for Ireland “Ronnie W, Ray H, David O’L, John Ald, Paul McGrath etc, etc, would routienly bust their balls and give a 100% for their country! Back then the lads hearts were were the size of their heads and ego’s rarely found. sad when a man passes up the shot to play for his country!!
Ciaran Big C O’Leary