Stephen Ireland continues his self-exile

Stephen Ireland has stated that his decision to retire from international football as, “the best decision I ever made”, all but ending, it would appear, any hope the Manchester City midfielder might represent his country again in the medium term.

In an interview with a British Sunday newspaper, Ireland is asked about the work he undertook to improve his fitness during the close season and reveals he was looking forward to the other players at City being away on international duty as it will give him a chance to resume his latest hobby of running up flights of steps!

The Man City player continued “I’m not thinking about it (coming back for Ireland) at all. It’s just my position and it feels like the best decision I ever made.”

Stephen Ireland's latest interview has caused a wave of comments on Ireland football forums with almost every supporter responding in a negative way to Ireland's continued self exile and lack of commitment to his country.

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Roy Keane on Stephen Ireland

Roy Keane has spoken about the continuing saga regarding Stephen Ireland's self inflicted exile from the Ireland international squad and the criticism of Trapattoni regarding Andy Reid's exclusion from the squad during the present World Cup qualifying campaign.


“I remember hearing about Brian Clough trying to get Archie Gemmill to sign for Forest – he slept on his sofa. That’s what I’d do with Stephen . . . well, I wouldn’t sleep on his sofa, I would sleep outside his house to try and get him back for Ireland,” he said.

“I’m sure (Giovanni) Trapattoni has done all he can to get him back, but he would obviously make a big, big difference to the Irish team. He’s pure quality, the lad. He’s been one of the most consistent players in the Premier League this season, in an inconsistent Manchester City team.

“But, having said that, if he doesn’t want to play – and he’ll have his own reasons, stuff we might never know about – then that has to be respected. Unfortunately. But you never know: never say never. He’s retired from international football, but lots of players have done that and come back,” he laughed.

Would Ireland, long-term, regret his decision not to play for his country? “Ah well, I don’t think you have regrets, but you do make mistakes. What I would say to him if I ever bumped in to him in Manchester – whether or not he’d want to chat to me I don’t know – is ‘listen, your career is over before you know it. If you have the opportunity to play for Ireland under a good manager then go for it’.

“As I said, I don’t know the lad, I’ve never met him, he might have a reason for not coming back and we have to respect it, whatever it might be. But I’d persevere – if I was Trapattoni I would literally sleep outside his house.”

The prospect, though, of Keane sleeping outside Trapattoni’s house in an effort to convince him that Andy Reid is worth an international recall seems remote. “The fuss about Reidy being left out of the squad is unbelievable, way over the top,” he said of the player he signed for Sunderland in January of last year.

“Andy Reid doesn’t deserve to be in the Irish squad at this moment in time. He’s not doing enough.

“That’s what I like about Trapattoni, he’s an experienced manager, he looks at players who are in form, who are playing week in, week out. It’s not as if Ireland are having bad results. I think they’re doing very well, I have to say I’ve been impressed – look at the players we’ve got, I think they’re all playing to their maximum. The likes of Reidy, (Lee) Carsley, one or two others, don’t have too much to complain about, to be honest with you.

“Trapattoni has more experience than all of us put together, so I wouldn’t dare question what he’s doing.”

He did, though, question Trapattoni’s “loyalty” to a couple of his players, who Keane refused to name, ones he said were “playing on past reputations”. “You pick players on their form. (Fabio) Capello seems to do it. It’s all well and good being loyal to players, but there’s a fine line between loyalty and stupidity. One or two players just turn up and they’re picked for Ireland. One in particular . . . he’s picked every time he comes over, I can’t work that one out.”

Hunt bored with Stephen Ireland speculation

Stephen Hunt has said that there would be 'a riot' if Stephen Ireland only decided to return to the Republic Of Ireland set-up for the World Cup Finals.

Reading star Hunt is clearly unimpressed with the Manchester City midfielder, who has not played for his country since concocting a story about the death of his grandmother in 2007.

On the subject of whether Ireland would return for a possible appearance in the Finals, Hunt told the Sunday Independent: "I'm sure Stephen Ireland wouldn't do that, you'd want to be very sure of yourself to do that.

"I don't think it would be healthy, that wouldn't go down well but then again we want the best players in the squad."

Hunt admits is getting bored with the constant speculation about the Manchester City midfielder.

"I think it's up to one man to come out and clarify the situation, to give someone an indication, whether it's that he'll play next year or in three games' time.

"But it seems like Stephen is just sitting there and not helping anyone. He needs to clarify it and ease the pressure so we know what he's going to do. Then it's up to the manager to pick him."

McShane enjoying life at Hull

Paul McShane is on top of the world and, against all odds, looking down on relegation.

At the start of the season when McShane accepted a loan deal to Phil Brown's newly promoted Hull City side many expected that the Kilpedder man was going to be in for a long hard season. But the overachievers have surprised everyone and currently sit in eigth place in the Premier League.

And McShane couldn't be happier at the moment and admits that he's enjoying his football now more than at any other point in his career.

'Yeah I'm enjoying it. I've enjoyed every minute of it since I've come here it's been a good experience and the team's done well overall and we've had a bit of a dip in form lately but we have to get back on track and try to get as many points on the board as we can.

'Definitely. When you're playing you'll always enjoy your football more. It's all about playing at the end of the day. But yeah, I'm definitely enjoying it a lot more.'

The 23-year-old also says he doesn't mind too much where he plays on the pitch, as long as he plays.

'I don't know really, I don't know what my position is right now. I was a centre back like, but I've played all season at right back now and I suppose that's my position for the time being but anywhere across the back four really,' stated the modest youngster before adding tongue in cheek: 'And up front, fancy myself as a bit of a striker as well, ahh no I'm only joking.'

One thing a player will never joke about is his future though and the former Manchester United man confesses he hasn't put too much thought into whether or not he will be a Black Cat or a Tiger come next season.

'I'm not sure, I'm really not sure. I'm just taking it easy, I'm just enjoying myself at the moment I haven't really put much thought into where I'll be or whatever in the next few months. I'm just enjoying myself here at the moment and we'll see what happens.'

McShane's stay at Hull could come to a premature end however as new Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia has admitted he's thinking about bringing the Republic of Ireland international back to the Stadium of Light, and he has until the end of the January transfer window to decide. One man who'll be hoping McShane remains at Hull until the end of the season however is manager Phil Brown, and he is a man who has left a mark on 'Macca'.

'He's done well, he's done very well. We've had an incredible start and he's done really well. He has impressed me since I've come here. He's very concentrated, he's specific to detail and he prepares brilliantly so I have to say he's done really well.'

Brown was of course the manager who decided to hold his half-time team talk on the pitch on St. Stephen's Day after Hull went into the break trailing 4-0 to Manchester City and McShane says he can understand his manager's reasoning.

'I felt like a little kid again! But the performance wasn't there in the first-half so everybody was disappointed and I think it was just to give us a kick up the backside really.'

If performances like that continue Hull could find themselves rapidly dropping down the table and the 6ft star is well aware of that prospect.

'You never know. We're lying eigth at the moment and we just want to keep looking ahead of us really. We just want to keep getting points on the board as I said before. We just have to re-group now and put things right.'

Putting his club situation aside for a minute, the former St. David's student spoke fondly of his achievements so far with Ireland having already won 13 caps but admits it won't be easy to force his way into Giovanni Trapattoni's plans when the Italian has a fully fit squad to choose from.

'Yeah it's pretty good. I just want to keep notching up as many caps as I can and there's some important games coming up for the Irish team and I want to be involved in them. I just want to keep playing.

'I don't know. There's a lot of competition at the back so I'll just keep plugging away, keep cracking away at it and hopefully he'll give me a chance. So all I can do is keep cracking away at it.'

Of course you can't discuss the Ireland team without discussing a certain Mr. Stephen Ireland and McShane, like most of us, wants to see the Man. City star back in a green jersey as soon as possible.

'Yeah of course. Of course I would. He's a great player and he's having a great season and we can only benefit from his talent so hopefully he does come back.'

One thing McShane must hate about playing for Ireland is the unjust amount of criticism he receives, mainly from Eamonn Dunphy, but it's like water off a duck's back to the 11 and a half stone defender.

'I just think that's football. You've always got a question mark over you no matter who you are. You'll always have your critics but it's part of the game. It's part of the modern game.

'You've just got to take it. You're not going to be everybody's flavour of the month. You're not going to keep everyone happy but that's just life in general isn't it?'

While he mightn't have found the net in those 13 appearances for Ireland, he has managed to score for Hull this season, coming against Premier League leaders at Liverpool and as expected, he was pretty happy with it.

'It was great. It was brilliant. It was my first goal in the Premier League and it was a special moment. I had got concussion a little bit before it - well not concussion just slight concussion - and then my eyesight sort of went when I got the knock on my head so I had to get taken off so it was a high and a low for me. '

Although that goal caused the Anfield men to drop two points, McShane says he would like to see them lift the Premier League come May as it's been a long wait for the Merseyside club.

One man who could be a big help to Liverpool's title charge is Fernando Torres, and McShane admits the Spaniard is the toughest opponent he's ever faced.

'Fernando Torres. He was probably the toughest. He's an overall great player. He's very clever and he's got great skill as well and he's also very quick.'

Whether at Sunderland or Hull City, the chirpy youngster is going to come up against many more players of top quality, and this will surely only make him even stronger.

Ireland hints at Ireland return

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland is ready to return to the international scene with Ireland, according to his father.

Michael Ireland claims his son wants to make himself available to Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni in 2009.

The City star, who has been in superb form for his club this season, decided to opt out of international football after the controversy surrounding his withdrawal from the squad in September 2007.

Talking to the Irish Daily Star Sunday, Michael, 39, said: "The country needs him, he's a good player and he'll go back in his own time.

"He's just focusing on his family right now and Man City. He's keeping his head down, but he'll be back hopefully next year."

He added: "I would never put pressure on him but I'd love to see him at the next World Cup."
Asked if he was considering a return himself, the Cobh-born 22-year-old added: "Yeah, but I'm trying to keep my head down at the moment."

Criticism was heaped on Ireland when he asked to return home early before a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic claiming his grandmother had died, as it later transpired that he lied about the death because his partner had miscarried.

Ireland's next game is a World Cup 2010 qualifier against Georgia at Croke Park in Dublin on February 11.