• Premier League

Houllier gives Ireland a public dressing down

ESPN staff
November 1, 2010
Stephen Ireland has struggled to get it going at Aston Villa © Getty Images
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Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier has publicly criticised Stephen Ireland by bemoaning the midfielder's inadequate workrate.

Ireland's form has been underwhelming since he joined the club in August as part of the deal that took James Milner to Manchester City. The Irishman was dropped from the team for the goalless draw with Birmingham City at the weekend, with the inexperienced Ciaran Clark preferred.

Houllier, whose record has been underwhelming since taking over as Villa manager earlier this season, has now lifted the lid on the reasons for Ireland's omission from the team. "Ireland needs to work harder," he said. "He played against Chelsea and did well, he played against Sunderland and was not good enough to me - simple as that.

"He needs to work harder. The skill is one thing but you need to compete. It is a difficult period for him. We support him, we back him. He comes to a new club and there is a change of manager in between.

"We know he is a good player but I don't want to have a situation where you say 'he is a good player, but...'. "If you say 'he is a good player but he doesn't defend, he doesn't run back, he loses too many balls in crucial areas', then that is difficult.

"He needs to get rid of these 'buts' about him and be a good player. He needs to work harder in games."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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