STEPHEN Ireland has vowed to knuckle down and win his Manchester City place back after winning our Greater Manchester Player of the Year award.
Ireland was voted the top player by readers of this website, the MEN paper and Channel M for his superb performances last season.
But the squad-strengthening at City over the summer, and an ill-timed stomach bug have meant Ireland is now back at square one, having to earn back his starting place in the star-studded side.
And he revealed how adjusting to a more cautious 4-4-2 set-up this season has also forced him to make adjustments which have made it harder to make an impression under the new regime.
"It's tough for everyone to get into the team," said Ireland. "But if you look at the likes of Chelsea and United over the last few years, that is the way their squads have gone, so if we want to achieve great heights, that's how it has to be.
"Also, I have never played in a 4-4-2 system in five or six seasons, so it has been about adapting to that as well.
"Last season we played a 4-3-3 and I was just bombing forward regardless, getting in the box and being creative.
Ireland discipline
"This year I have to be more disciplined, but I can't complain because it's a team game, and it's not just about me getting in the box.
"What we are doing is playing as a team, and it's obviously right because we are playing really well, winning away from home, and scoring from set-pieces - something we haven't done for a long time.
"Hopefully it will make me a more rounded player eventually. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard both started off in 4-4-2 before their teams' formations changed to give them a bit more freedom.
"But I want to be as complete a midfielder as possible, so playing in a 4-4-2 can only help that."
The stomach bug followed just days after Ireland was rushed to hospital in a heart scare, after being substituted in the West Ham match after feeling dizzy and unwell.
But he has been given the all-clear to resume a punishing training regime which sees him hill-running and kick-boxing in the summer to stay on top of his fitness.
"They ran a lot of tests, and at the moment we don't know the answer, but it definitely wasn't over-training," said Ireland. "But what we do know is that it was nothing to worry about, just a minor scare."
Wigan next up
Ireland bounced back by coming on as a substitute at Aston Villa and instantly provided the killer pass which set Emmanuel Adebayor through to tee up Craig Bellamy's equaliser.
"I came on against Villa and felt fine," he said.
"I never come off the field thinking I have done well, or proved my case - I was just glad to help get a draw for the team.
"That's important when you have squad rotation, and we have that now.
"With Roque back we have options up-front as well, and with Robi only a week or so away, that competition is only going to benefit us."
Now the Blues face Wigan away on Sunday, followed by home games against Fulham and Burnley punctuated by a trip to Birmingham.
And Ireland wants his team to make a statement by winning all four: "We look at every game as winnable these days," he said.
"Those four games are ones we can realistically win, but the problem is that teams like that will sit in front of us, and be hard to break down.
"When you play the best teams it is much more open. Against Arsenal it was end to end, but Wolves just sat in front of the ball and defended.
"But these four games coming up are the kind that we have to win if we want to win the title.
"Last year we had teams turning up on the day to play us, but I think now they are all doing their homework on us
"They perhaps thought they had to work on two or three players last year, but now they have to take a look at every one of our players."
Should Ireland be first choice for City, and will the Blues beat Wigan? Have your say.
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Waspish (14/10/2009 at 11:19)
That kind of talk is what I like!
There's only chelsea for me who have a better team.
All our players need is the mentality to win the league and listening to
ireland the management must be talking about winning the league the more you talk about it the more it will get into the players minds that
they are capable of winning the league.
The Admiral Mann (14/10/2009 at 11:21)
Can we win the league this season,methinks we can.
Blue_heart (14/10/2009 at 11:33)
As you say the squad is much stronger now and that can only be a good thing. We can now rotate, chop and change to suit the opposition. Hopefully you'll get your hands on even more awards this season.
Keep up that hard work Stephen.
Things are looking very healthy indead.
Blue Benny (14/10/2009 at 11:52)
Peter Doherty. As good as it gets. (Debt free) , Levenshulme (14/10/2009 at 12:02)
Blue Pete, Manchester (14/10/2009 at 12:27)
Once everyone is fit Hughes will have a selection headache but from a manager's point of view it's a good headache to have. Without getting too carried away and from what I have seen this season, I think we have enough about us to force our way into the top four.
jo alves (14/10/2009 at 13:05)
blue moon risin , manchester (14/10/2009 at 13:11)
ethan, Gloucester (14/10/2009 at 13:16)
In him City have the new Paul Scoles a diamond!!!
TV, Anglesey (14/10/2009 at 13:32)
MUFC1878 (14/10/2009 at 14:10)
Could some-one please advise 'Cathy turn the telly up Hen' and 'Private Frazer' (no, I hadn't heard of them either until after all the money came piling in at the Wastelands).
It's just that they are making city look like the comedy club we know and laugh at, and generally embarrassing the hell out of you lot - arguing with each-other over how many titles you've not won, talking about 'The Greatest Derby Match of All Time' and, oh well, it's really pitiful.
Please dispense with them.
Rick Jenks, Bury (14/10/2009 at 14:10)
We have a squad that entertains and is full of pace Bellamy, Robinho, Santa, Adebayor, Weiss, Petrov all match winners. In Superman and Barry we havde 2 awesome pros level headed and with vision and commitment. In Given we have the best keeper in The Premier and one of the best in The World.
I look at other teams and they have some great players but City have more. Just need more time to deliver consistency we have gone through rapid change in such a short space of time. Has any other team in Premier history gone through the same rapid transition?
Winning The Premier this season would not be a shock.
senseii, the third elephant under the turtle (14/10/2009 at 14:22)
True Blue,Galway.Ireland, Galway (14/10/2009 at 14:25)
Rick Jenks, Bury (14/10/2009 at 14:25)
United 18, Huddersfield Town 3, City 2 (League Titles), Wilmslow
14/10/2009 at 10:33
You know like the rest of us. That Scholes career has diminshed over the last 3 years and he will shortly hang up his boots. He has had a decent career but Superman has a decade ahead of him. In fact and I keep asking you Rags who is going to replace.
Ferguson, Van Der Sar, Foster, Scholes, Neville, Giggs, Nani, Anderson, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Brown (very mediocre but Capello can't see it).
You have major problems and you know it where are you going to get the cash from as United have such an awesome debt. Apart from Rooney and to a degree Berbatov you have no players who excite the fans. City have a bagful, full of seering, pace, strength, in your face, no no nonsense crowd pleasers. World Class entertainers. We are Manchester City!
a dictata in superbia , Manchester (14/10/2009 at 15:27)
Stu Bailey (14/10/2009 at 15:28)
Andrew Shaw (14/10/2009 at 15:44)
wahablue (14/10/2009 at 16:47)
tony 1finga, wythenshawe (14/10/2009 at 17:33)
Chapman (14/10/2009 at 18:18)
He is far more effective when he is playing his natural game than covering God knows how many Kms in a match.I believe the latter has affected his effectiveness this season and towards the end of last season as well.
Tameside Blue, Tameside (14/10/2009 at 18:30)
Superman is back
dingdongbell, north (14/10/2009 at 19:12)
Rick Jenks, Bury (14/10/2009 at 19:29)
Rick, Glos (14/10/2009 at 20:08)