Stephen Ireland leaves Villa on loan
Monday 31st January 2011, 8:10PM GMT.
Stephen Ireland has completed his move from Villa to Newcastle on loan until the end of the season.
The 24-year-old midfielder has not featured for the claret and blues since the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on December 6.
And Villa boss Gerard Houllier admitted it will give the Irishman the chance to get some first-team football under his belt in the remainder of the season.
The manager said: “The door remains open for him as an Aston Villa football player.
“I think Stephen was, first of all, a bit unlucky because he has had several injuries.
“I remember the first game he was about to play and he picked up a dead leg and maybe when he was given his chance the team wasn’t at its best.”
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew insists Ireland comes to St James’ Park with the chance to show Villa what they are missing.
Pardew added: “Stephen has shown over the past few season that he’s a real top player so we’re really pleased to have got him until the end of the season.
“As a creative midfielder he can create chances for others and score goals himself, so we think he can be a big factor for us in the second part of this season.
“I think Stephen feels he can delivered more than he’s shown at Villa so far.
“He’s got a point to prove.”
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Great news! Hopefully Newcastle will be stupid enough to let him loaf around the opposition penalty area waiting for the ball and then keep passing it to him to make him look good. Maybe then they’ll buy him. When they get better and ask him to run and tackle because they have other players worth passing to they’ll find out he’s useless! With any luck – good riddance!!!
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Villan – In fairness to Ireland, he never wanted to come to Villa in the first place and had to be dragged kicking and screaming to come here.
Personally, I wouldn’t have had him as part of the deal in the first place and would have asked for the £28 million up front! After all, it’s not as if they couldn’t afford it!
And while we’re on, where are all those moaning minnies now who weere slagging Villa off blind last week for signing Bent? Why aren’t you on here spouting rubbish at Liverpool and Chelsea for spending over 2 and 3 times more than Villa on ONE player! Why? Because it was pure jealousy!
And on another point, Villa didn’t need to go into debt like Liverpool and Chelsea because basically, Bent and Makoun have cost Villa the fee we received for Milner! Ha Ha!
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PsychoVilla
VERY well said.
A lot of talk about GH and his signing last week and now Bent is looking like a bargain!!
If Young could just keep his current form for the rest of the season either get him signed up on a new contract straight away come the summer and play him just behind the striker or sell him for 15 mil and laugh all the way to the bank.
Albrighton, Gabby, Downing can play in the wide spots with Bannan as a possible alternative if desperate.
Bent up top with Heskey or Delfonso as back up.
Bradley and Makoun holding midfielders with Petrov, Rio Coker (sign new contract or get rid) and Bannan as back ups.
We’ve got to keep trimming the squad of all these aging players that aren’t good enough for Villa that Martin bought in on massive money!!
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