Stephen Ireland.
Stephen Ireland’s loan spell at Newcastle was, it’s fair to say, less than successful. The majority of his time here was spent injured before he managed to recover sufficiently enough to make his debut. Just two sub appearances later he was sidelined again and sent back to Aston Villa with an ankle injury.
Ireland was originally signed with a view to a permanent deal in the summer. That had looked highly unlikely to materialise until recently when Alan Pardew stated that he was monitoring the situation with Ireland at Aston Villa and admitted that he could be tempted to have another look at him later on in the transfer window.
It would be a good move in my opinion.
Ireland would give us some much needed Premier League experience in the middle of the park. He can create openings and is willing to run for the cause based on his two substitute appearances for us. In short, whilst unlucky with injuries, he is a good player that just needs to be given a chance.
Ironically that chance could come at Villa Park now that they have replaced their manager, but I’d like to hope that Ireland would be open to a return to St James’ Park, albeit in what is already a packed central midfield area.
So what has changed? For me it’s been the sale of Kevin Nolan. Ireland won’t replace his leadership, but he can replace his Premier League knowledge and help out whilst others adapt to life in a new country and a new league.
He is younger than Kevin Nolan and is infinitely more mobile (I know, not hard) so I’d say that it would be an improvement overall and would increase the quality in our squad. People will point towards Yohan Cabaye as being Kevin Nolan’s replacement, but Ireland is the one for me who can make those runs into the box and get on the end of things.
What do you reckon? Would you be tempted to take a punt on the lad? Or would you prefer it if we looked elsewhere? I’d give him another go, ideally on loan so he can prove to us what he really is like, but I’m not sure that will be possible and it may take a permanent transfer for anything to happen with Stephen Ireland in the forseeable future.
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121 Comments
Extremely skillful player with questionable attitude. Certainly fits the bill! Would be an extremely shrew move if we can secure him 4 mill.
Yes, if we’re looking at Gibson I’d hope Pardew hangs fire and we get Ireland, I wouldn’t pay any higher than £3/4 million though but yeah I’d like him back.
He came here and was hardly ever fit to play and just bitched about his parent club, I’d take him for nowt and on a pay as you play and shut your fcuking mouth kind of deal.
Never thought of that angle Dan
Gibson or Ireland? Ireland everyday for me.
definitely. proper footballer. media portrays him as a bit of a knob but everybody is different
Jay
Toonsy, I bet Ireland would be cheaper as well in terms of fee, maybe a little bit higher wages.
He can play off the striker which I like too.
On loan with a view to buy……if not Jay’s option would do
I do rate him when fit like
I remember Mark Douglas on Twitter saying he doesn’t expect us to sign anyone on loan.
I still think if we got him for around £4 million or maybe even less it’s still quite low risk.
I would take him for 4M. Would want to rely on him for big things, but he would be a very solid addition as a depth player
And expecting HBA to play off a striker every match will be a tall order early in the season
Is he on a free? If he is, we’ll have him, or if not wait till we sell Barton and we can use that money – we don’t want to be touching our 35m do we now.
CC – I’ve saved that ridiculous comment(imo) you made on the last thread about Whickham and I’m going to show you it back when Wickham he’s worth 20m. He’s a million times better than Carroll was at 18.
I would take him, especially if Guthrie gets sold. Still sweating on Barton leaving though
I can remember him at Man City beforethey were bought over, he was their star man by a clear mile.
Since his move and all his injurys he is the shadow of the player he once was and with an attitude to boot. I would look for another loan deal with an option to buy. Atleast then we can see him fully fit to see if he can reclaim his form and lose the attitude. Way to much risk in buying himthis summer and could turn out to be a big waste of money and space.
So would be a no from me unless its a loan, to much risk imo
His loan spell was shocking, like Jamie said all he really did was talk crap. For less than 5 million it would be a good deal he has the ability without a doubt. I would have Ireland over Gibson any day.
Stuart, technically we have so far because Nolan went for £4 million and Cabaye came for £4.3/4.8 million.
Ba, Marveaux and Abeid(when he gets confirmed) will have been given signing on fee’s, Ba’s was rumored at £2 million alone.
Just saying
jay jay
Posted June 29, 2011 at 4:57 PM
“And expecting HBA to play off a striker every match will be a tall order early in the season”
Disagree. I think the start of the season is the time when he will be fine. However, expecting him to be fit all season is a tall order
stu is that the 35 mill fatty has stuffed doon his pants
My personal opinion is that we should weigh up our options first. I would rather see what comes from our other dealings and if we still need reinforced come august then maybe take a stab at him. I still hold out hope on a decent goal scorer, but if it happens god knows.
@19
Ba is a decent goal scorer
but agree i would like another one 
Batty, his jenes have got too tight cos hes ate to many pies so he cant get his hand in has pocket to putt it oot
No toonsy, I’m right, you’re wrong
I voted yes, he’d be a great asset as he could play in place of Cabaye or Arfa if either get injured/suspended/poor run of form, and to be honest if we played 4-3-3 he might even be able to do a job on the right, wouldn’t put him there in a 4-4-2 though.
As you said in the article, if Nolan was still here it would be hard to see Ireland getting any game time, but it would be nice if we could get him on board…still, Mcleish might have plans for him, shame about Houliers health really.
batty – well his pants are big enough to stuff 35 big ones down there!
SkyNewsBreak Sky News Newsdesk
Reuters: Birmingham City FC say Hong Kong police questioning owner Carson Yeung in money-laundering case
Wonder what Hughton will be thinking
Andrew
Triad in money laundering scam. Is anyone surprised at that?
Oh and Andrew, Hughton is so ace it will have no effect. Even with no money he’ll craft a wooden army of football players with his bare hands and lead Birmingham to European glory this season
andrew @ 25 hughton dusent think thats why i call him clueless
I would go for Ireland, in the short time that he played for us he showed some class. We might be able to get him a little bit cheaper, with Nolan gone, we could bring him in to replace him. I don’t think he wants to stay at Villa, he never wanted to go there in the first place.
Looks like Nasri and Fabregas are both gona be out of Arsenal this summer great news for us
Clichy and and RVP wernt at the away kit promotional either so maybe they will lose RVP aswell.
Haha Toonsy and batty, he just needs Calderwood and Paul Barron in his coaching team and he’ll be fine
Would be a good signing if available for 2mn ;P
After listening to what fans of certain other teams have said regarding Ireland, I’m not so sure I’d want him. I mean, our midfield is already stacked. Why spend MORE money on a CM?
Toonsy- check out my new profile pic on FB
OHurley – Good lad
The mackems have went and signed 2 decent players today and we are linked with this sicknote. If they want somebody in the middle of the park who can do a job why don’t they buy Charlie Adam?
Sy- thx mate! Can’t wait. This is gonna be awesome.
Ohhhhh me lads, ye should have seen us gannin’…
Stuart79…I reckon the 3 new signings, wages over period of contract, fee for cabaye, ba’s signing on fee have already accounted for the majority of that £35m…..just like pardew told us
What is it OH? You got a ticket for one of the pre season tour games mate?
from the little I saw of ireland, I thought his positioning play was leaps and bounds better than any of our current crop.
He actually found space
I’m quite surprised how many people would take Ireland back. I thought there would be a lot more against it
He was quilty when he was on the pitch for us, hes touch is one of the best going, and he finds space, also that little snap-shot he did agains man u was nice. If we did sign him though, we would hear this, ohh Newcastle signing injury prone players
Moreno agreed. Plus his tricky little runs into space which we didn’t really see from anyone else except Ben Arfa.
@ Toonsy me to
for one we dont need him and two he is sh*t
He couldnt even get a game for villa so why the hell do we want him or am i the only one that thinks we are better than villa
I thought he linked well with Barton when he came on in the blackpool game. Had a couple of shots too which was really nice to see.
Santii – Was it because of lack of talent that he didn’t get a game at Villa though? As I remember it was more political than that. I mean it’s hard to play when your manager say that “he’ll never play under me” or whatever he said.
And yes, Villa ARE better than us. Their league positioning for the last x number of years backs that one up.
The league lies toonsy
Spencer-
Yeah mate, gannin to the Columbus game. I took a pic of the ticket and made it my FB profile pic haha!
On a funny side note, there’s a woman outside my store now that looks like Didier Drogba with a big set o’ dorty pillas lol
@46
i worded my statement wrong
what i ment to say is am i the only one that thinks we are going to be better than villa next season 
I still dont think he is good enough to play for us and yes does have trouble with injury, we dont need another player with a ? over his fitness.
The reason Houllier dropped him was because he had no will to play and didnt even try during training.
Witters – That’s why were forever doomed to mediocrity at best under this knob!
Don’t worry though, we’ll turn a profit every year!
We’ll be a poor mans Arsenal, a very poor mans Arsenal.
………. Because he didn’t want to be at Villa. Give him somewhere where he does want to be then bingo
I could honestly go either way on Ireland. On the one hand, he has the talent to be amazing on his day. On the other hand, he has been known to have attitude/emotional issues before. There is also the crap going on with his injuries. I would actually lean towards ‘no’ since I wouldn’t see him as a starter and he would undoubtedly get pissed about it
I’d buy Ireland and play him up front before Shola or Mcloven.
I’d by Captain Birdseye and play him up front before Shola or MvLoven
@toonsy
He dosnt even whant to play for his country what makes you think he will want to play here?
he maybe enjoyed his time here i dont know but i cant see him being happy warming the bench at any team. He is the type of player that wants to be the star man and if he is not he wont try.
Shola is quality, why am I the only one that sees it
@56
His penalties are quality
Off topic
http://www.leazesterrace.com/season-in-numbers-newcastle-united-2010-11/ fun read
I’d love us to sign hiM!
OH- Congrats mate, have fun
Jobey, im still jealous of joey barton replying to you on twitter
What he say to you jobey??
He said he is going to beat him up
Everyone vote in this http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=question&id=230881930267486¬if_t=question_forward_success . We are in the quarter finals against the mackems, we are losing and need the votes
Spencer – He’ll reply to you one day
LST – Joey7Barton
@Jobey07 it’s irrelevant now after watching BBC2…….the black hole will one day destroy everyone’s best goal footage ha
ohurley- i will be at the Columbus game also. can’t wait
Rather Irland than Gibson any day!!
@Jobey so jealous you got a reply from Joey!!!
“CC – I’ve saved that ridiculous comment(imo) you made on the last thread about Whickham and I’m going to show you it back when Wickham he’s worth 20m. He’s a million times better than Carroll was at 18.”
What a coincendence, Ive been looking on .org for a comment you made this time last year about wigan making us look stupid when they bought Boselli, It stuck in my mind so i paid extra attention to him when they were playing to see what fat micks tightness was depriving us of and it wasnt a huge ammount surprisingly…
Ireland? Another midfielder?
No thankyou .
alreet lads … any signings 2day
only joking!!! 
im w8n on this marveasux lad 2 come on the blog , he was 100% sure nzog was gna be signed today and i told him 2 b on here 2nyt so i could tel him he was wrong !!
nah we dont need ireland like , hes to injury prone!!
Class Army
And Goose – Haha, shameeeee ;D
Jobey did Barton delete his reply to you? Just because I can’t see it on his profile
Just realized it’s only two weeks until the Darlo game
God I’ve been football deprived
Jobey- Your so lucky
Andrew – It’s still there, it’s a few pages back though, from the 27th
I think marvaeuxlous is going to be realizing the perils of believing random people on twitter tonight. Poor kid
Just seen it there Jobey, lucky man!
i wud b feckn gutted if joey barton goes like , him and collo were our best players last season , oh and mr tiote
Morning bummers!
Cwarro reckons Barton to be offered 3 year deal as pards wants him as skipper. Great news if true.
And on subject yes I would take Ireland back in a shot no danger
andrewt he was going on and on all day wasnt he
he woulda belived it if messi was cumn that poor little sod 
raffo – is that on twitter???
Cwarro reckons Barton to be offered 3 year deal as pards wants him as skipper. Great news if true
—————————
Fantastic news if true. unfortunately it is from cwarr so there is a better chance of Pardew naming me skipper
Raffo he’s the biggest bull shitter going
Joey7Barton Joseph Barton
Contract negations not re-opened am off now to watch Mr.Nice DVD…… #someonestellingporkies
I’d like another fooking striker please & maybe a couple of defenders…
Think that proves Cwarr is the biggest piece of crap going on twitter…
Also I;ve just seen this
http://knowyouritk.blogspot.com/2011/06/cwarr07.html
Big Daves got a reply too ;D
what was it jobey?
I wish people would just ignore that cwarr….
Asked him what the chances were of reopening contract talks….
Barton said slim to none
@Andrew that article about Colin is great
Barton said slim to none
tbh if barton signed a new deal it would be like a new signing imo cos i really think hes a gonna
Reet Lads whats the craic have we signed anyone yet
I duno, I reckon it could still happen but taking anything said with a vat of salt!!
Army – yes it was Twitter
dave have we signed messi yet??
ya never gana drop that are you
Andrew @ 86 brilliant mate
dave the bairn is stil canny bad , he luks ill
its not fair on him hes only 2 weeks old , poor bugga
F*cking brilliant
Joey’s just told Cwarr he chats shit
Army I was going to ask you about the wee man
its shit when their not well at such a young age mate, hope he gets well soon 
is joyey barton on twitter jobey?
@100
lol FAIL
Aye – @joey7barton.
He’s just class.
Joey7Barton
If anything changes on the contract front, I’ll be 1st to let use all know don’t worry. Forget all this nuggets talking rubbish #toonarmy
hes not well at all matey , and thers nowt u can give him for being so young
hahaha is tht what he said
get in
Jobey I always said that Joey is an honest down to earth guy that wears his heart on his sleeve, i’m just glad that a lot more people have now realised that he is not the devil that loads thought he was.
As my Dad used to say to me respect the man that has danced with the devil and returned to live a better life
Army does he have bother breathing at night times
Joey7Barton Joseph Barton
by MsiDouglas
@ @Patty_518 @cwarr07 stop talking rubbish mate……..ur mugging ur self off big time on here
21 minutes ago
Richie are you on twitter
i know that cwarr is full of it, but he claims the club has decided to make a 3-year offer to Joey, not that they have done so already.
I know I’m clutching at straws here, but I’m just really hopeful Joey is re-signed.
@MDS
Did you not see Jobey @104
Joey7Barton Joseph Barton
@
@KevinAshford7 why would a drop down a league when I can more than hold my own in the premiership???
Well, that sure told Nolan
@112. i don’t undertand. i said maybe the club hasn’t yet offered Joey but they have decided that they WILL do so…
@MDS
i dont understand what you mean with your last post?
We havnt offered Joey any contract and i dont think we are going to offer him a new one.
i know they they haven’t offered him. i said may they have decided that they WILL do so….
MDS it is possible that they have now seen the errors of their way and know that Joey commands a lot of respect from the other players and is a natural born leader. and maybe just maybe Pards has told MA that he wants and needs Joey
That is my hope as well Big Dave. You can tell Pardew wants him. Don’t forget to add that us supporters, for the most part, have fully voiced our desire that he stay- especially since the Nolan departure.
Dave…nope, nae idea about it really but occasionally have a look at msidouglas’s et al.
MDS I dont think what the Fans want means owt tbh but maybe Pards
Yes. In an ideal world, I’d get him to sign a pay-per-game contract but doubt that would happen.
I think he’s a good quality player who would show loyalty to us, who knows…
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