Ireland Has 6 Games To Prove Himself, Bench on Tuesday

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sp...reland_gets_a_six_game_ultimatum_from_Pardew/

Pardew:

 

Ireland can **** off. CM/CAM is the last position we need to sign players for. We already have Nolan, Barton, Tiote, Guthrie who play in CM/CAM and we have Gosling, Ben Arfa and Smith coming back.

 

He's better than guthrie, gosling and smith and i'd imagine we'll carry on playing barton out wide.

 

Break it down though:

Nolan - key player yes, but hasnt got many years left as he isnt in as good shape as he should be
Guthrie - squad player
Barton - plays on the right most of the time
Gosling - unproven yet
Smith - surely off in summer

Ben Arfa and Tiote are class, but Ben Arfa is going to play much further forward, on the shoulder of a striker, as a number 10. Plus the amount of cards and suspensions they pick up collectively means our last CM pairing was Colo and Guthrie. I think Ireland could fit in the squad, especially on City form, but as you say it is far from priority.

 

Give the lad a chance, even though we do have other options. Smith will be off I'd expect. I'm looking forward to seeing Gosling next season, he never really got a chance in his preferred CM position at Everton so will be good to see how he does there for us.

 

Good to know we're only have him on a pay as you play basis so isnt costing us anything atm, I hope he gets a good run off the bench against Man U. He needs time and if he finds his City form (which I think relies on confidence and apparently hes loving it up here so should be full of it) then we have a great player on our hands and would love to sign him permanently. If he doesnt find his form then he goes back and its cost us next to nowt. its a win - win in my eyes

 

Totally agree, if he does well then great but even if he doesn't, we don't lose much. Quite astute bit of business from NUFC for once.

 

I echo those sentiments but more because of concerns about his attitude. I said this before he signed, so far he has been here 3 months, hasn't made a single appearance, has one minor tabloid scandal under his belt. Not what we want.

Also I think Gosling's a better player, he just hasn't had the chance to show it. I'm not sure what his injury situation is but I'm hoping he can get a start or two under his belt before the end of the season.

 

I think Ireland could be a great player for us. Him and Nolan playing in cm would scare defences so much they brick themselves. Imagine this midfield/attack(not including any transfers either):

-------------Tiote-----------
Barton--Nolan--Ireland--Jonas
-------Ben Arfa--------------
---------------Best---------

That, with Gosling/Guthrie covering for injuries, and with plenty of mutations depending on situations (Barton dropping back next to Tiote, HBA on right etc.)

I agree it's not a high priority position, but with us not losing any money, its a great bit of business for us.

 

That would leave us with just three defenders.

 

Or no goalkeeper

 

It would be a risk, but it may pay off. (Back 3 would be Simmo, Collo and Jose, Willo/Saylor if he leaves).

If Pardew is determined to play 4 at the back, then Jonas drops to the bench, and Ireland moves to LM (not as a winger, though)

 

He's potentially better than Barton to be honest. As good deliveries, passing but with better pace and skill.

 

How old is he?

 

24

I know i'm suprised at how young he is aswell

 

Great age really, he could end up being one of the best midfielders in the country if he can keep himself fit.

 

Name a team which has played consistently well with three defenders.

Colo is good, but he would get massacred trying to look after the centre area on his own.

 

Peterborough did it for a month, and did well (back three of Kelvin Langmead, Ryan Bennett and Lewin Nyatanga). And that was with Gary Johnson, who has no clue how to coach a defence.

 

Not filling me with confidence mate.

 

Not the best example, but the only one I could think of off the top of my head.

Anyway, maybe we could be the first to make it work, especially with the defensive powers of Tiote.

I think we need to do something different or we'll just end up being another mid-table, nothing special club, not going anywhere club, like Fulham or Stoke or 5under1and.