O'Shea in Midfield?

[tricky_colour]

I believe John O'Shea played in midfield for Man U v Celtic
on their USA tour today ( I can't confirm this though as I got
it off Man U's chat forum.

If this is true what implications does it have for the national
team?

[carnstien]

He can play there,when the Br*t doesn't turn-up....... :eek: ....should get a regular slot then?! :D
You wouldn't mind me asking what exactly you business in North London is, I thought the IRA had stopped bombing there?

[The Legend]

O'Shea didnt have a great game in midfield, i'd say he'll be warming the bench for most of next season unless he cops on...

[Pat O' Banton]

Hope rather then moving positions around the place he is given a role that suits him consistantly and is allowed to develop there.

[Metrostars]

I saw the game, he wasnt all that great.

[1MickCollins]

I don't think he has a great football brain, his play is one-dimensional but he has a good engine, still plays like a 20 year old unfortunately not maturing at the rate I would expect.

[John83]

I don't think he has a great football brain, his play is one-dimensional but he has a good engine, still plays like a 20 year old unfortunately not maturing at the rate I would expect.My thoughts exactly. That said, he may get an even better chance in midfield now - Nicky Butt is a Newcastle player. That leaves the injury-prone (and often rested) Keane, the crap utility player P. Neville and the unproven and disasterously injury-prone Djemba-Djemba to beat him to the covering midfield role. Neville's form last season may well not be repeated, and Djemba-Djemba has no more claim to a starting role than O'Shea. It'll be interesting at the very least.

[Peadar]

Funny how people think O'Shea deserves to fit in somewhere for Ireland just because he's a Man Yoo player. He's had very few "good" games for Ireland. We've loads of midfield players and would only use him if we're really stuck. It's bad enough that he get's his game at left-full.

[Greenbod]

Funny how people think O'Shea deserves to fit in somewhere for Ireland just because he's a Man Yoo player. He's had very few "good" games for Ireland. We've loads of midfield players and would only use him if we're really stuck. It's bad enough that he get's his game at left-full.

Couldn't agree more Peadar. O'Shea has been terrible for us when it's mattered.

[John83]

Couldn't agree more Peadar. O'Shea has been terrible for us when it's mattered.I disagree. He's been terrible even when it didn't matter. The problem is that I rate Harte even worse.

O'Shea shouldn't be accommodated because of his club, but I don't think we have a lot of alternatives.

[Peadar]

but I don't think we have a lot of alternatives.

Danny Murphy?

Seriously though, I'd play Finnan there before O'Shea at this stage.
Any chance Ashley Cole could defect?

[John83]

Danny Murphy?

Seriously though, I'd play Finnan there before O'Shea at this stage.
Any chance Ashley Cole could defect?Maybe we sould try someone radically different there. Finnan has been touted there for ages, and never gets tried. Maybe he's crap there in training sessions. Yeah, maybe it's time to look at the EL for a left-back. At worst, they'll stink up some friendlies like Maybury.

[Greenbod]

I disagree. He's been terrible even when it didn't matter.

Yea, but that doesn't matter :)

[Peadar]

At worst, they'll stink up some friendlies like Maybury.
Maybury seemed to settle after a few games but there's no way on earth that such patience would be shown if that was an eL player.
Anyone who's seen Danny Murphy will know that he's a hard tackler but has great distribution as well.
He's proved himself on the European stage.
One Cockney Rebel, there's only one Cockney Rebel, one Cockney Rebel... :D

[Adrianovic]

I think a few of you are being a bit harsh on Josh. He had a meteoric rise first season, and got voted in second place for PFA young player behind some chav called Rooney, but maybe the saying is true - the second season is always the hardest.

However, I do concede that he has not been the shining star we expect when we've needed, i.e. the Swiss game - but he definitely deserves more starts because he has the quality, but not yet the maturity. To a degree he will be accomadated a bit more as a Man U player, but that's only because of the quality they demand and how the club should build him up further as a player.

Ade

[brine3]

I thought John O'Shea has been decent enough for Ireland, except for the Swiss game, where he looked nervous. But the whole team had a stinker in that game, save maybe Duff. Even Shay Given had a bad game.

I think people are expecting too much of the O'Shea, he's been decent enough in the most of the matches he's played for Ireland. Give him a chance, Robbie Keane was inconsistent in his early years too, remember. In fact, he still is.

[Slash/ED]

Maybury seemed to settle after a few games but there's no way on earth that such patience would be shown if that was an eL player.
Anyone who's seen Danny Murphy will know that he's a hard tackler but has great distribution as well.
He's proved himself on the European stage.
One Cockney Rebel, there's only one Cockney Rebel, one Cockney Rebel... :D

Whatever about Murphy, Heary is definitely better than Maybury as anyone who saw the match on wednesday would be able to see.

[EamonD]

I thought John O'Shea has been decent enough for Ireland, except for the Swiss game, where he looked nervous. But the whole team had a stinker in that game, save maybe Duff. Even Shay Given had a bad game.

I think people are expecting too much of the O'Shea, he's been decent enough in the most of the matches he's played for Ireland. Give him a chance, Robbie Keane was inconsistent in his early years too, remember. In fact, he still is.

And long may Robbie's inconsistency continue, should finish his Ireland career with 50 goals the way he is going.....

[Condex]

O'Shea was poor today at center half imporved a lot when he went out to right back.

For a big man is very poor in the air, his timing is atrocious.

[Peadar]

O'Shea was poor today at center half imporved a lot when he went out to right back.

The Man Yoo defence were torn apart today by a relatively young Arsenal team who'd failed to score in earlier games against Ajax, River Plate and KSK Beveren. O'Shea Fortune and Silvestre looked like players from a division lower who just couldn't cope with the game.
Worrying times indeed for Ireland.
Ian Harte has to be first in line again.
Best of a bad lot.
Had a good game for Ireland the last time he played.


Since when was Reading,anywhere near Bow Bells......?Newbridge is closer to Dublin,FFS..........


It's and eircom League thing, you wouldn't understand.

[Bowsy]

Watching Wolves Vs Stoke yesterday have to say Clive Clarke might be worth another look at left back. Played in midfield yesterday rather than left back but looks a tidy and accomplished player. No mean feat being captain of your team at 24 either.

[tetsujin1979]

Noticed he scored a penalty as well, which brought up the question, with Robbie Keane and Ian Harte (presumably) out of the first team, who's our penalty taker?

[Slash/ED]

Ian Harte has to be first in line again.


No he doesn't.

I didn't think O'shea played too badly yesturday, he got in alot of good tackles and wasn't at fault for the goals.

[eirebhoy]

Bowsy, I was just about to write absolutely everything you wrote about Clive Clarke. I even looked up his date of birth as he is a very young captain :) He definitely deserves a squad place ahead of Maybury.

[carnstien]

Ian Harte has to be first in line again.

You must be ****ing joking scan. O'Shea had a good game by the standards of the United team. There were only 4 players on the Man U team capable of passing the ball, O'Shea, Keane, Scholes and Silvestre, because of this they were murdered for possesion and if Arsenal have that much of the ball they will rip you apart.

There is a trend of people who don't like Keane seemingly painting O'Shea with the same brush and deciding that he is **** because of the club he plays for. Lets see if the same happens to Miller.

[eirebhoy]

O'Shea started tonights match in midfield and Keane at the back. I watched the Shels match but have the United match taped, I'll let you know how he got on.

From what i hear he set up Giggs for the first goal. Miller came on in the second half and put a cross in for Dinamo to put it into their own net.

I'll have a look at the match anyway.

[EamonD]

What was the story with tonights match? Does Ferguson not trust O'Shea at centre-half or not trust Keane in midfield :)

Still the more I see O'Shea it is full back or midfield where he will spend his future days.

[carnstien]

Lads O'Shea had an absolutly storming game in midfield for United. He dominated the park the way Vieira would on a very good day and his passing was spot on. I think it is the best performance I have ever seen from O'Shea.

I think against the French, especially in Paris, a midfield of Duff, Keane, O'Shea and Finnan would be well able handle anything they could throw at us.

Miller was also excellent when he came on, he set up a goal and played another pin point pass to put Giggs through, who as usual made and arse of it.

Keane had a very average game at centre back, but he's not a centre back now is he?