afar

Are you serious? Gosling has no experience, Guthrie is either playing hurt or in worse form than Ireland, Vuckic is not an option, and Ben Arfa is still not back, nor do we know what his form will be when he gets back. Let's throw in the fact that Tiote is likely to be suspended again, Nolan has been playing through pain, and it would probably be best if we don't have all four MF playing 90+ minutes per match. You need depth to survive in the Prem. And depth in the middle is the most crucial. I'm not saying Ireland is the best option out there - hell, I'd rather go get Sulley Muntari if he's really interested in England - but Ireland's the only one I've heard showing interest. As for the concern about getting a player in great shape on a loan only to give him back to his club, how often does that really happen with a club like Villa? If a player is out of form, goes to a new club, and finds form, he usually doesn't want to go back, does he? If this were ManU or Chelsea, maybe. But not Villa. The only player Ireland can cover for is Nolan, he certainly can't cover for Tiote, are you fucking serious There's 17 games left, we can limp through that period comfortably with the players we have covering for Nolan without adding this tool to our dressing room. Do I think we are covered completely in our squad. No, I don't for a second think that and never said we were. We need to better utlise the small amount of money that appears to be available, get some cover in for Tiote, get in another wide player to fill the gap left by Routledge and/or bring in a striker who can complement Carroll.

Anyone who does want Ireland, a player that has regressed backwards to his former average self, with character issues on a high wage, who's failed to prove anything after being cast aside by Man Shitty, is fucking mental. Two can play at this game.

Then why the f*** loan him. He's already pissed off because he's not getting a game at Villa. We are not that thin in his role tbh, Gosling, Guthrie and Vuckic all do a similar job. We'll never know if he'll recapture that form because he'll never bloody play. If we are looking for a loanee then lets bring in someone for a position we are a little light on, DM for example. Why loan him? Because he's obviously desperate to come here if he'll agree a loan deal. None of those three midfielders you mentioned can do what Ireland can, he's a genuine midfield play maker who can score goals AND run with the ball. And that's the lie, that keeps getting perpetuated. He's not those things, he was in one great season but outside of that he was simply an average footballer. A player we don't need, a player with personal issues we do not need to be suckered into. A player we don't need? You're clearly not watching the games, mate. And you are clearly not watching Ireland circa 2011.

Then why the f*** loan him. He's already pissed off because he's not getting a game at Villa. We are not that thin in his role tbh, Gosling, Guthrie and Vuckic all do a similar job. We'll never know if he'll recapture that form because he'll never bloody play. If we are looking for a loanee then lets bring in someone for a position we are a little light on, DM for example. Why loan him? Because he's obviously desperate to come here if he'll agree a loan deal. None of those three midfielders you mentioned can do what Ireland can, he's a genuine midfield play maker who can score goals AND run with the ball. And that's the lie, that keeps getting perpetuated. He's not those things, he was in one great season but outside of that he was simply an average footballer. A player we don't need, a player with personal issues we do not need to be suckered into.

You would do if you'd seen him play or heard some of the stories circulating about him this season. I'll be delighted for someone else to pay his wages for the next five months. What are the stories circulating about him out of interest? That would be my one major concern as we don't want cocaine sniffing train wreck players here, but if it's a notch down from that I'd be willing to give him a chance to rebuild his career with a loan move. The Nolans and Smiths in our squad aren't fit to lace his boots talent wise. I'm not one of Brummie's biggest fans, but listen to the guy, he watches Ireland a lot more than anyone on this board.

Then why the fuck loan him. He's already pissed off because he's not getting a game at Villa. We are not that thin in his role tbh, Gosling, Guthrie and Vuckic all do a similar job. We'll never know if he'll recapture that form because he'll never bloody play. If we are looking for a loanee then lets bring in someone for a position we are a little light on, DM for example.

Thats what people use to say about Joey Barton before.... I know Ireland have some problem but he is not as half bad as Barton. 18 month ego he was voted Manchester city best player of the year and I don't think that a fluck..... Some people compare him with smith but to compare the two players are just criminal...... What We didn't we didn't try to fix Barton on the pitch, he was a quality player for Man Shitty. There were character issues with the guy, as there are with Ireland brw. But the big difference is Barton had talent and showed it on a regular basis. Ireland had one season where everything clicked for him but outside of that he was a very average footballer.

We will only pay a % of his wage while on loan, if he does well and perks up then we can make an offer to Villa and make a reasonable offer to himself for wages in the off season. I dont think he'll be pushing for 70k a week if he can rescue his career. We'll pay a loan fee anyway between 100k and 500k. Even if we paid just 50% of his wages it would still probably be more than most of the squad including Andy Carroll would be taking out of Newcastle. For what reason ? Who's he going to replace in our starting 11 ? Tiote ? Barton ? Jonas ? Nolan ? I would take any of those ahead of Ireland any day of the week. So we are basically giving up all that money for a benchwarmer, when we have Gosling, Guthrie, Vuckic and Ben Arfa who'll be back at some point. Loan's aren't free and can become pretty expensive if you chose the wrong player and I think Ireland is most deffinately the wrong player.

I've never liked the loan system tbh. Think it should be scraped completely. You be playing against your oppositions best team not their best 8 or 9 players plus a couple they've borrowed for other teams with better squads.

I can't believe people think we can fix him ? Seriously look at his recent form, look at his form before that one wonder season he had. It's terrible, could he get it back ? Possibly, but why the hell should NUFC take a chance on that with the wages he'll command, he's not worth the risk. Not convinced he'll be good for the dressing room either.

A complete and utter waste of a loan fee and wages, iyam. We would not be getting that player who had a great season a couple of years ago a Man Shitty, he's reverted back to his complete average self and wouldn't even provide us with any cover I would rather stick with Gosling and Guthrie covering for injuries and suspends, at least they both have chins. f***ing ugly useless t***.

They are showing Arsenal Wigan here in Canada on sportsnet, I mean what's the point we know how that game's going to go before it started, our game is by far and a away the best match up. Oh and setanta have Manure v Brum, yeah that's going to be a game that could go either way.

Sunderland are fucking shit, how come no one else in the PL has worked that out

Disagree, I think the lad is a one season wonder, he looked nothing but average before his breakout year, and has loooked nothing but average or worse since. I for one would be hugely disappointed if we wasted a loan fee and wages on that piece of piss.

My boss is a big stoke fan and he's delighted that they are getting 3-4 million for Fuller. The bloke' 32 and more of an impact sub than a first choice striker, I think we'll see a bit of his attitude problems resurface at the mackems too. I think this will be a great signing for everyone bar Sunderland, fingers crossed the deal goes through.

This is a crazy move if we have not got someone else coming in. Personally feel Routledge gets way too much stick here, and although never hit the heights of last season, he's been a valuable member of the squad, and a bit of pace we can bring on when late in games. Gotta hope there's other stuff going on.

I would like to see us keep Forster for next season, I feel he is probably the best keeper at the club, but I would like to see if he can handle the Prem and Newcastle, he's done well at both Norwich and Celtic but not played for us yet, I don't think. Krul out on loan, stck with Harps for another season, then battle between Forster and Krul for No. 1.

6 million is lunacy, then add on the multi year contract on high wages, Brum are stupid. Spuds always seem to land on their feet though with these types of deals, twats.

I would be tempted to play Colo in midfield for this one, assuming Taylor or Sol are fit, if not forget I said anything. Think we'll get tonked with the players we are missing though either way

Pardew just handed them the points on a silver platter, of course Tiote is to blame too, but why put him in the situation at all.

Fucking idiot today, I'm just amazed that he would take such a risk with Tiote.

I don't really give a shit about getting knocked out but the loss of Tiote for three games is a killer.

We can kiss goodbye to getting anything at the dirty Mackems no, just stupidity by Pardew

How fucking stupid, why bring him on ???

Fuck, pictures back