Stephen Ireland’s debut had a bit of Shakespeare in it, and not just because the Bard might well have been a Villan given his hometown’s proximity to the Holte End, or because, like Shakespeare, AVFC’s new midfielder now knows a thing or two about an unpleasant birthday.
Twenty-four candles down the drain
Ireland’s 24th wasn’t quite as dire as Shakespeare’s 52nd, but you could forgive a Villa supporter his panicked morning visit to the local apothecary.
And it all began so brightly. An incisive pass from midfield mate Petrov, and there stood Rod Carew at the penalty spot. The sleeping giant had its hand on snooze…
Like the Norwegian’s subsequent moonshot, Ireland’s parting words (his long-awaited departure from Manchester City was finally completed last week) are floating around somewhere further north today, where Newcastle delights in their renewal and Citeh fans were singing for James Milner not 15 minutes into his Manc career.
On what’s to come for James Milner:
“I guess [he] must think the grass is greener on the other side. He’s going to get a shock soon because it’s definitely not that way.
On the humility and good money-management habits of Villa’s young stars:
“At City they’re not like that. They’re coming in with £10,000 watches on their wrists and walking around as if they have played 200 Premier League games.”
The nightmare is over for Stephen Ireland
On the new regime’s attitude toward the Citeh old boys:
“I don’t think loyalty is much in anyone’s mind at Manchester City… I felt like I would be next [to leave]. A lot of players felt like that as well – the homegrown guys.”
On Mancini, il crudele Italiano manager:
“He doesn’t really build relationships with players… He brought Patrick Vieira in and when I spoke to him about his relationship with Mancini, he said he doesn’t really have one, and he’s worked for him for years. I think that’s the way he is.”
Yesss, yesss, the Ireland boy is gone at last! Muhahaha!
On his shock at the revelation that the better-paid players will, in fact, play:
“I worked the hardest. With all the heart-rate monitors and tests, I was always number one, far ahead of everyone. You see the performance in training and I was practically always the best player in training.”
On his uncomfortable final years at City. (Whilst ignoring the fact it was not a one-to-one swap. Ireland is an attacking player, not suited to the box to box play City needs and Milner provides. If you don’t believe me, watch Ireland at the center of a simple 4-4-2 for Villa at Newcastle):
“I can honestly say Manchester City have tried to replace me for the last three or four seasons and it’s never happened. I can easily say I’ve got, if not more ability, as much ability as any player they have signed this year.”
Alas:
“Some people have used the phrase that I’ve been forced out. I couldn’t be more happy to be forced to come here, to a club like Aston Villa.”
Awesome, Lad. This interview’s a weekend old. You couldn’t have posted it before fate combined to s**t in Villa’s breakfast cereal?
I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume “Rod Carew” was deliberate.
@LE actually i had some “joke” about carew’s kick being like a rod carew home run. then i changed something and now it’s unclear. but yes, i’m aware that unlike the jewish slugger carew, this carew is a gentile john.
@Keith
Don’t worry, I linked the story in the last backpasses before all the fecal matter showed up in part of your balanced breakfast.
But speaking of looking back in anger, THAT WAS MICAH RICHARDS’ F**KING GOAL!!!!!