Considering it was probably O'Shea's best game in an Ireland shirt in a few years (apart from the incident we dare not mention) it was probably to give him a kick in the backside!Quote:
Originally Posted by cavan_fan
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Considering it was probably O'Shea's best game in an Ireland shirt in a few years (apart from the incident we dare not mention) it was probably to give him a kick in the backside!Quote:
Originally Posted by cavan_fan
Love the fact that people who've seen him play ONE game have decided he should be playing instead of the people working with him every day.
In fairness it is a bit much to think McShane is the saviour of the Irish back four after one game, but, it only took one game to realise Paul Butler was never good enough, so I guess you can learn a lot! Everything you read about him or hear him say is positive and it's hard not to be excited about him. Hopefully he'll be back in the West Brom team now too.
Spoke to season ticket holder at West Brom today and he said Macshane is an excellent player. he said that Robson went looking for O Shea and got MacShane and they feel they got the better player. amen to that!
Claridge is at it again, review #3 I think of an Irish player:
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...058588,00.html
Steve Claridge
Tuesday April 17, 2007
The Guardian
Consistent, committed, even predictable - just some of the words you wouldn't associate with many players at West Bromwich Albion. But Paul McShane goes against the grain somewhat after his summer transfer from Manchester United.
In a team where shape and balance sometimes play second fiddle to players just wanting to be on the ball, McShane tries to bring those much needed qualities simply by doing the horrible things well. He can play centre-half - as he did against Sheffield Wednesday last week - and right-back and is equally at home in either position as he is comfortable on the ball with bags of energy and enthusiasm, which is evident in the way he plays.
He sees no fear in the challenges he makes: his one aim is to get the ball, whether it be in the air or on the ground, but such bravery can sometimes get you injured. It must be hoped that with experience will come the recognition of when it is the right time to make a challenge and the right time to hold back.
Crowds love people who look as if they enjoy playing the game and, when the team is not doing well, players with the willingness to run that bit further or chase lost causes can have the same effect as a great bit of play in raising supporters' spirits. I like the way that, even when the team is struggling, he does not hide from his responsibilities on or off the ball. Equally, do not think for one minute that he cannot play because he certainly can.
His abilities on the ball are shown best at full-back. He gets forward at every opportunity, which is invaluable because, as in the 3-2 defeat by Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns last month, his winger didn't always give the width he might have. This enabled McShane either to link up and play one-twos or to overlap, getting himself into good crossing positions from which his delivery was very good, particularly when on the run.
Good in the air, with decent pace, this former Manchester United trainee will always be the type a manager appreciates because he knows exactly what he's going to get every week. This fact was not lost on his international manager, Steve Staunton, who gave him his first Republic of Ireland cap against the Czech Republic in a Euro 2008 qualifier last October, in which they gained a creditable draw and McShane was named man of the match.
McShane had a couple of loan deals before his move to West Bromwich - at Walsall and Brighton - and made quite an impression at the latter, winning both the player of the season award and the away supporters' player of the season award. That's some achievement for a loan player - particularly one who knows he is unlikely to sign for the club - and it says an awful lot about his attitude and application.
This may not be a player who finds the game as easy as others in his team but that does not mean to say they couldn't do with a few more like him.
How he rates
Age 21
Born Co Wicklow, Rep of Ireland
Position defender
Height 5ft 11in
Weight 11st 5lb
From Manchester United
Heading 8/10
Attitude 9/10
Tackling 8/10
Pace 8/10
Team responsibility 9/10
Value £1.5m
Value only 1.5 million?? Any chance he goes to Sunderland in the summer?
Anyone else reckon he could do a job in Lee Carsleys role as an anchor?
Pretty fair assessment of McShane I'd say.
As for McShane stepping up like McGrath or Lawrenson, I'd be happier trusting a young midfielder to do that. It takes an exceptional player, and a very experienced one, to do that kind of job. O'Shea has more of the type of game required and he's been shown up at international level, so I'd think McShane would struggle. Leave him to do what he does best methinks.
Agreed, McShane has played 4 games for Ireland at centre half and in that time we've only conceded 2 goals. In the previous 4 games (admittedly against superior opposition) we conceded 11 goals (1 VS Chile, 4 VS Holland, 1 VS Germany, 5 VS Cyprus).
Let's not try to fill a position he's not familiar with, leave him at centre half.
I reckon McShane would have made a big difference in Cyprus. Cyprus are hardly "superior" - not in the German / Dutch league by a long long way!
According to some stories, Stan was ready to play McShane in Cyprus, due to his performances in training. But when he was discussing it with Sir Bobby, he convinced him to start with Andy O'Brien instead.
*disclaimer* this is entirely rumour, and I can't find anything concrete to back it up, but was mentioned in several reports in the build up to the Wales game.
Yeah I think I remember Stan actually saying that, or at least quoted as saying it.
A stupid thing for Staunton to say in my view. As the old saying goes, you are the gaffer dont blame it on the international consultant.
yes I remember that quote by Stan. Said he was convinced by bob to play O'Brien despite McShane playing well in training,
I understood Stan's comment to be more of a pre-match boost to McShane's confidence before his debut in the Czech game than a pass the buck effort.
At least if Stan knows anything it's about setting up the defence at the back. We could have the makings of a back 4 as good as any that we have had before.
Claridge is the real suprise here, a pleasant obsession with writing out positive essays on our young talent.
Seems like McShane will be a Sunderland player before the weekend. Fee has been agreed with West Brom.
It would be a great move for him. I'd be delighted to see him moving to the premiership with such an ambitious club who are going places.
Hopefully Steven Elliot will move to the Baggies as well.
Where'd you hear this?Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
I saw it earlier on elevenaside.
Elliot not going to West Brom though. At least not yet. But he is on the way out of Sunderland. Good move for McShane. Should be first choice and if he keeps improving then great for us.
The eleven-a-side article does not mention a fee being agreed yet.
http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrosst...p?newsid=28201
Great move, Keane has always shown a keen interest in and being impressed by McShane from the time he arrived as a trainee at Old Trafford.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
great move for him and for us... hell have a chane to really establish himself
Been inpressed by him at centre back with Ireland. Type of player we love up here in the North East. He gives 100% & rarely does anything wrong. Does anyone know the fee? Also heard Keane has made a bd for Stephen Carr.
I met Robbie Keane 2 years ago & told him McShane was good. He'd never heard of him!
From http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...rd-798096.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBohs
Quote:
And Keane's green-fingered dealings won't stop there as the former Irish international is pursuing Newcastle's unsettled full-back Stephen Carr as he looks to assemble a squad at the Stadium of Light capable of prospering in the top flight.
I've heard the Carr story is a journo make up but could be wrong. The player I believe Keane is switching his intentions to is Kevin Doyle. Thats only if Nugent decides to stay on at Preston and wait for Everton to come in for him. Lita is "only" being offered 20 grand a week. So Doyle must be on something close to that figure. I'm sure sunderland can better that.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Regarding Nugent, and Elliott going to WBA:
Last season David Nugent scored 15 goals in the Championship & was credited with 5 assists from 42 starts, 1 sub appearance.
In 2004/5 Stephen Elliott scored 16 goals in the Championship & was credited with 5 assists from 29 starts & 13 sub apperances.
Why is one worth £6 million, the other £1 million?
cos that was last season and elliot has been injured on and off for 2 seasons?!?!
or are you alluding to the english thing again stuts, i dont think it can be in this case....
I agree! When Sleeves is fully fit he's top class. The reason one worth £6m & the other is worth £1m is because one is English the other isn't. If Keane is to pay big money on a forward I'd rather it was Doyle. Doyle is only valued at £8m. That's a bargain for proven prem striker!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I'm not blind to Elliott's injury record, but I think if a young English lad did what Elliott did 2 years ago Premiership clubs would pay an arm and a leg for him.
I'd like to hear what the Sunderland watchers (the old ones like Zinedine) think of Elliott. I saw him once last year - at Loftus Road against QPR - and he worked his socks off out of position on the right & was arguably Sunderland's best player, behind Leadbitter anyway.
Elliott wasn't our best player last year. I can think of at least 6 players who were better. But the previous 2 season was by far our best player along with Deano. Even this season when he was fit he showed he good he was. Chipping in with a few vital goals. But that's the lads problem. He can never get a run of games because he always seems to pick up injuries to often.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBohs
ANother problem is that he is a midget. Not too many major vertically challenged forwards succeed (Maradona apart) at the top level.
True:)! Over looked that part!Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
The reason is that he is injury prone and hasn't been playing regular football recently.Quote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBohs
That's the main. I haven't gone away from that. My point is when Elliott is fully fit he is just as good as Nugent. Either is worth £6m, far from it. But if Sleeves can get fit & stay injury free he can be a bargain at £1m. Any this is Paul McShane's thread not Elliott's.Quote:
Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge
A midget who scored 16 goals in 29 starts in his first season, many of them crucial, not the 4th or 5th goal in facile wins.
Those 16 goals included goals of all types, distance, poachers' tap ins, headers, 1-on-1s, the lot. In fact he may be a shortarse but he can head a ball. Robbie take note.
Sunderlandbohs, there was a crucial game late in the 2004/5 season (Ipswich away?) where Sunderland were 2-1 down late on. Do you remember?
A rightsided midfielder sent a deep ball to the back post to Deane (I think). I was watching Elliott, he sprinted 25 yards to the other post. Lo & behold Deane headed the ball into space across the goal where Elliott headed it in to equalise. They went on to win. That was pure goalscorer's instinct. It looked like a tap in but there was far more to it than that.
If fit & if trusted, he'll score goals for anyone. I'll post FIFA's description of him after UAE 2003 again if anyone wants.eirebhoy had Richie Patridge & I'll be singing Elliott's praise for a long time to come.
Was it this game - http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=450008Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Finished 2-2, Ipswich went 1-0 up, only for Elliott to equalise minutes later. Robinson then put them 2-1 up, and Darren Bent equalised late on for Ipswich
I agree that neither is worth £6m. Nugent's price has gone up because a number of clubs are after him.Quote:
Originally Posted by SunderlandBohs
The last time I saw Elliott play he was the best player on the pitch. Against Southampton. Think he went off injured at half time though.