Why Man City can't afford to repeat Dunne mistake with Ireland, and bore draws suit Motty

By Brian Reade

Published 06:01 13/02/10

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When Roberto Mancini opted for three defensive midfielders with new-boy Adam Johnson ahead of them against Bolton this week, rumours spread that Stephen Ireland saw the writing on the wall.

Throw in Mancini sniffing around top-class midfielders Gago and Mariga in January, and Ireland is right to be worried about his place.

He's been City's best player for the past two years and, at 23, won't want to sit on the bench as Mancini builds a team of over-priced superstars. However two words explain how foolish City would be to force Ireland into the arms of their rivals: Richard Dunne.

Another fans' favourite (he was named their player of the year four times) who was cast aside because he wasn't a sexy name who flogged shirts.

Or as City's Clown-in-chief, Garry Cook, said:  "China and India are gagging for football content to watch and we're going to tell them that City is their content. We need a superstar to get through that door. Richard Dunne doesn't roll off the tongue in Beijing."

He rolls off the tongue in Birmingham though, where Aston Villa fans rightly hail him the transfer bargain of the season. Especially when City paid £20million more than Villa paid for Dunne, to replace him with arguably an inferior defender in Joleon Lescott.

Many City fans fear that Ireland could be one of many excellent youth products cast aside in the rush to put stellar names on the back of shirts.

If so, Cook can expect to hear many words rolling off the tongues around east Manchester.

Most of them unprintable.

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How apt that John Motson should have commentated on four goalless draws on the trot. Let's be honest, this man is not so much an anorak as a glove compartment within a car coat, and Bore Draw should be the title of his autobiography.

I've never bought into the idea that he's one of football's national treasures because to me he's just been, for 30 years, Statto with a microphone. His command of facts is second to none, but I struggle to remember one piece of insight or analysis which impressed me.

In fact only one recent observation has stuck in the memory bank. This one, watching Spurs last March: "You have to ask, is there a better all-round player in the Premier League than Robbie Keane."

What premier league would that be then Motty?

You also have to wonder if there's a better named Facebook site than the one entitled: "I'd Rather Eat My Own Face Than Listen to John Motson."

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