John O'Shea

[Paddy Garcia]

Yeah good one. It's my fault JOS is poor for Ireland.

I thought you liked having a scapegoat. :D

[Collyontour]

O'Shea gets stick because he doesn't play well for us. Does anyone that's sticking up for him here go to the games, because I can't understand how anyone can defend his performances. And I haven't heard him being booed.

[as_i_say]

yeah i think booing is out of order cos at this stage if stan cant see how bad he is then i would blame stan. it beggars belief how he keeps his place.

[danonion]

If O'Shea was sold to the likes of Newcastle, he'd be a central defender for 38 league games a season. He has the technique, size and physical attributes to be a good if not great centre back. I rate him higher than Bramble any day of the week.

[eirebhoy]

If O'Shea was sold to the likes of Newcastle, he'd be a central defender for 38 league games a season. He has the technique, size and physical attributes to be a good if not great centre back.
In fairness, it takes a lot more than that. He doesn't have the intelligience, aggression, bottle, etc. to play centre half imo.

[bellavistaman]

played for a club like Birmingham, Sunderland, Man City, or Blackburn you would all be singing his praises. I know im going to get abused for this but he would stand out and people just like to hand out fierce abuse when he makes obe mistake while others mistakes go ignored. Yes he has had alot of bad games for us down the years but Shay Given aside who hasnt? The fact is he along with Steve Finnan is the only player who plays any sort of first team football for a top 4 club and you dont do that by being an absolute shocker at the game. Most of the players you hear around here that people claim should take his international place would be nowhere near the Manchester United first team and to put it simply we have few alternatives at international level, and if any of you were international manager i sincerely doubt you would actually follow through with your claims that he should be dropped.

couldn't agree wit u anymore think john o'shea is a great player. :ball:

[billybunter]

i dont think o'shea can mark a forward as "Titus" bramble...

[as_i_say]

couldn't agree wit u anymore think john o'shea is a great player. :ball:

:eek: and :eek:

[as_i_say]

If O'Shea was sold to the likes of Newcastle, he'd be a central defender for 38 league games a season. He has the technique, size and physical attributes to be a good if not great centre back. I rate him higher than Bramble any day of the week.

sure he's totally unproven at any level as a CB...

[OwlsFan]

In fairness, it takes a lot more than that. He doesn't have the intelligience, aggression, bottle, etc. to play centre half imo.

They don't all have to be built like Babo Balde ;) Kenny Cunningham played centre-half for a number of years. If you have the talent, you can do it.

[John83]

sure he's totally unproven at any level as a CB...
He proved that Yakin could tear him a new one before Ferguson switched him to left back.

TBH, I think he played his best football for man utd in hsi first season as a left back. After that, he found his level... sitting on the bench behind real left backs like Evra and Heinze.

[eirebhoy]

They don't all have to be built like Babo Balde ;) Kenny Cunningham played centre-half for a number of years. If you have the talent, you can do it.
Aye, Cunningham was a really intelligient player. I don't think O'Shea has the intelligience. A bit like Phil Babb. :)

[as_i_say]

at least phil babb put in a few decent displays for us over a short period of time, although once mcgrath retired that was the end of him. O shea has yet to do that. He needs to be completely and utterly dropped from both Man u and Ireland and made work for a place on each team. then we might find out whether he is @rsed or not.

[Metrostars]

He should be for Ireland what he is for Man Utd - a sub and a emergency utility player. For all his weaknesses, he does that role well for Man Utd. Putting him into a starting 11 for Ireland usually at center back, the position he performs least at for Man Utd (goalkeeper excepted :p), does him or the team no favours at all.

[The Legend]

He should be for Ireland what he is for Man Utd - a sub and a emergency utility player. For all his weaknesses, he does that role well for Man Utd. Putting him into a starting 11 for Ireland usually at center back, the position he performs least at for Man Utd (goalkeeper excepted :p), does him or the team no favours at all.

I think the only place he hasnt played is up front, yet ironically he is prone to having a few balls go in the net off his a**.

[Wolfie]

In fairness, it takes a lot more than that. He doesn't have the intelligience, aggression, bottle, etc. to play centre half imo.

The point in relation to aggression / bottle is pertinent to O'Shea. He seems to allow opposing players to bully him off the ball and then at times over compensates by giving away needless free kicks.

Many celebrated centre half's have built a career based on bottle, sheer determination and moderate ability. The point is - players in the past have acquired a sh*t load of caps based on a battling attitude and will to win.

If O'Shea scrapped for every ball and battled, added to his basic ability on the ball - his effectiveness would increase and he would be a much more viable option for Ireland.

United's back four are a solid unit without O'Shea and he's not a midfielder. His performances in midfield for club and country have clearly illustrated that he has no natural instinct for the position.

He too often takes the wrong option, picks the wrong pass and doesn't make the correct intervention. Most midfield players have played there since they were 10 years old and naturally pick the right option - what chance has O'Shea got.

A move to another club, under the right circumstances, could rejuvenate his career - although he seems happy on the bench at the minute.

[old git]

Heres one. (http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42533000/jpg/_42533419_ab8.jpg)
nice one ... who knows it might give steve staunton another option now :ball:

[RogerMilla]

steve staunton has only one option, resignation!!

[geysir]

If O'Shea scrapped for every ball and battled, added to his basic ability on the ball - his effectiveness would increase and he would be a much more viable option for Ireland.
All the points you made are well presented.
If he could only improve one part of his game then that would be more than enough to compensate for other weaknesses and maybe even improve them. He has so much ability that you'd think it would burn a hole in his brain that a battling decent enough defender like Vidic has taken his position.

[youngirish]

I rate him higher than Bramble any day of the week.
High praise indeed.

[Aldini98]

O'Shea is picked for Ireland because he at the Scum, note he hardly ever starts for them but hes a "big" name player. His performance for Ireland have been nothing short of shambolic.

[osarusan]

O'Shea is picked for Ireland because he at the Scum, note he hardly ever starts for them but hes a "big" name player. His performance for Ireland have been nothing short of shambolic.

Your use of the word "Scum" suggests to me that you are not the most objective when it comes to this issue.

[Qwerty]

The fact that O'Shea came through the youth setup at ManU and made the break through into the first team meant that he was hyped by the media. You can't ignore the fact that the last Irish player to come through the youth setup at one of the top 4 clubs in England was probably Steve Staunton. It doesn't happen very often and list of players who have done it is impressive in terms of quality, it is usually a very good indicator of future international success. John O'Shea seems to be the exception to the rule.

[geysir]

O'Shea went to England after his leaving cert. No more went through the youth set up than most other Irish internationals who went to play for English clubs.
I'm almost afraid to ask, how did he play last night?

[tetsujin1979]

For someone you would hope was trying to force his way into the first team, he wasn't bad, but not outstanding, could have had his second goal in 2 games from a corner.

[irishfan86]

He played alright, did his job, and hit a crossbar from a header off a corner.

[as_i_say]

apparently a ball bounced off his head and hit the crossbar:D

agh too late

[citizenerased]

hes a below average footballer, who is always lathargic and uninterested when playing for ireland

[carloz]

Ferguson seems to rate him very highly though and id rate his opinion higher than most of the people who bad mouth O'Shea. Before the game Ferguson during the interview was bigging up the job that O'Shea had against Lille. He can be sloppy at times with his passing, its as if he switches off at times but personally i felt he looked more impressive than Carrick. But the one big problem i have with O'Shea was evident last night. United had a free 30 yeards out. O'Shea stood infront of the Lille player on the side of the wall. The Lille player pushed him away and O'Shea simply walked away. For a guy of his size and stature i really really wish he would toughen up. If he had the attitude of Alan Smith even he would be a much better player IMO

[irishfan86]

He looked alright today against Boro. Made some very good passes and I don't remember him giving away possession at all.

I raised an eyebrow at the commentator saying "Intelligent pass by O'Shea!"

Now that said, I think he should be used more as a utility player for us unless we get creative working with formations.

Man U's 4-3-3 they've been playing the last couple of games could be an option with our generally poor midfield options.

--------------Given------------

Finnan----Dunne---O'Dea---Carr

---O'Shea---Carsley---Kilbane---

---McGeady---Doyle---Keane----

Any takers?

[eirebhoy]

Not for me. What does he offer? He's not great at tracking back, he's not a great passer, he's just not a great player. I'd stick him in at left back because there's nobody else but there's much better options than him for midfield.

Unfair on Duff btw. One of the few players that couldn't be trying harder when playing for Ireland.

[irishfan86]

Not for me. What does he offer? He's not great at tracking back, he's not a great passer, he's just not a great player. I'd stick him in at left back because there's nobody else but there's much better options than him for midfield.

Unfair on Duff btw. One of the few players that couldn't be trying harder when playing for Ireland.

I'm a big fan of Duff but he's in a bad patch of form.

My lineup is definitely not an obvious route to take, but if we're to salvage anything from this campaign I think a fresh tactical approach may be necessary.

Duff and McGeady are interchangeable for me on that lineup for the record, don't see much between the two at this point.

[SligoBrewer]

Not for me. What does he offer? He's not great at tracking back, he's not a great passer, he's just not a great player. I'd stick him in at left back because there's nobody else but there's much better options than him for midfield.

Unfair on Duff btw. One of the few players that couldn't be trying harder when playing for Ireland.ah now, we all know that its just a matter of time before keith foy covers the left back slot so were fine there.;)

[geysir]

In the game against Boro my remote control hit the floor when I saw O´Shea with elbows sharpened (a la Heinze) go up for a ball against 2 opponents, flatten one of them, then squared up to the other with eyes blazing in a flash of anger. I thought that's great John, show them who's boss, but no he spends the next 5 minutes apologising to the player.

[eirebhoy]

In the game against Boro my remote control hit the floor when I saw O´Shea with elbows sharpened (a la Heinze) go up for a ball against 2 opponents, flatten one of them, then squared up to the other with eyes blazing in a flash of anger. I thought that's great John, show them who's boss, but no he spends the next 5 minutes apologising to the player.
haha.:D

[limerickblue]

For all the stick he gets he gets through it. probally the most average player in the premier but very versitile.

[John83]

ah now, we all know that its just a matter of time before keith foy covers the left back slot so were fine there.;)
Every cubic centimetre of it.

[bigmac]

In fairness to his comment about winning trophies, there were many people slating Damien Duff for lack of ambition at leaving Chelsea to get first team football, now the same voices are raised calling for JOS to leave Utd for first team football. I agree that he'll never be a great player as a utility stop-gap though and an extra bit of agression could really make him.

[as_i_say]

never gonna happen with o shea. watched him against lille in the game in old trafford and his passing was so appaling. i mean unless it was a square 5 yard pass it was going astray.

he's happy with his 25k a week or whatever he's earning. a journeyman if ever there was one.

Oshea out
stan out.

[OwlsFan]

I see John O'Shea has now scored more Premiership goals than Shevchenko this season. May be Stan should play him up front :D

[youngirish]

I see John O'Shea has now scored more Premiership goals than Shevchenko this season. May be Stan should play him up front :D

I always thought O'Shea to be the Diego Maradona of the Irish training ground. That could be the only reason he gets picked consistently. Now he's starting to show it on the United pitch also (though unfortunately not the Ireland one).

[Stuttgart88]

Credit where it's due - that's two very important goals he's got for them. Very fortunate circumstances on Saturday though & he was a bit lucky not to cost them the game against Middlesbrough. It's a fine line...

[as_i_say]

indeed credit where its due-he's performed way better than his usual atrocious standards and is only playing badly now as opposed to "how did he get a contract" badly.

nice lad still though.

[dr_peepee]

May be Stan should play him up front :D


SHhhhhh... Shudd uupp!!!

[passinginterest]

SHhhhhh... Shudd uupp!!!

Why? Look at Keane and Berbatov, O'Shea would be perfect in the Berbatov role... Go on Stan ya know you want to... :p

[citizenerased]

ur u havin a laff?.....is he havin a laff??

[NeilMcD]

O Shea is playing very well at the moment and it was not a penalty against Middlesbrough as he touched the ball in my view.

[passinginterest]

ur u havin a laff?.....is he havin a laff??:D :D:D

[youngirish]

O Shea is playing very well at the moment and it was not a penalty against Middlesbrough as he touched the ball in my view.

He did indeed touch the ball in fairness. Unfortunately it was about 2 seconds after he kicked the Middlesboro player's legs out from under him.

[jbyrne]

indeed credit where its due-he's performed way better than his usual atrocious standards and is only playing badly now as opposed to "how did he get a contract" badly.

nice lad still though.

another blinkered view on this forum.
o’shea has been playing well recently with a few important goals thrown in. doesn’t always do it for us but not as bad as some people on here make out