Football News

Will Ireland fulfil lost potential?

Will Ireland fulfil lost potential?


Stephen Ireland looks to for a new club in January after he told Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier – via his agent – that he wants out.

The unsettled midfielder has only been at the club a matter of months after being involved in the summer transfer of James Milner to Eastlands.



At that stage Villa were managed by Kevin McDonald, who took temporary charge following the departure of Martin O’Neill.



However, Houllier arrived soon after and quickly laid down the law to Ireland, stating that he needed to work harder in training.



Those following the score regularly might be aware that it appears Ireland hasn't heeded that advice and has since been dropped for the past two league games. It appears his days at the club are numbered.



This is just the latest in a long line of bust-ups that has seen Ireland’s career nosedive.



Just two seasons ago, pundits note how he was a full Irish international and then became City’s player of the year.



But he quickly went into international exile after a number of controversial incidents, including lying to then Ireland manager Steve Staunton about the reasons behind compassionate leave and then later quit international football altogether, scathing the Irish set-up in the process.



Back in Manchester he was caught up in the Abu Dhabi revolution at Eastlands and found himself out of the team, with the likes of Vincent Kompany, Nigel De Jong and Patrick Vieira ahead of him.



Upon joining Villa he was quick to lambast some of his former team-mates, saying they were ‘money-obsessed’.



Now Ireland looks set for another fresh start and he must realise that you only get so many chances to make it at the top.



Yes, he has had some much publicised personal and mental issues but if the murmurs from the Villa camp are anything to go by, he also needs an attitude change as well.