Stephen Ireland put his flailing celebrity career on hold to play a bit of football last night. He made his Newcastle debut, coming on for Peter Løvenkrands in the 69th minute. It was a mostly uneventful loll around St. James's Park for Ireland. The highlights were a completely impossible volley and a pretty 1-2 with Coloccini that went nowhere. Still, it was compelling to watch Ireland drift around the pitch. He was the anti-Joey Barton. Whereas Barton often seems to have a magnetic attraction to the ball and the incident, Ireland always seemed to be searching for dead space in pursuit of a safe spot where a pass could not arrive or a tackle would not be required. Someone played a high ball towards him as he was marked by Smalling - Ireland didn't even jump or nudge Smalling, he just lamely conceded possession. He seems perfectly placed among the thugs and misfits of Newcastle United, but he has none of their edge and hunger. There was a still a spark about Ireland, but his Newcastle debut was more notable for what he didn't do.
