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Different types of players - McShane has been described in the Kevin Moran mould, O'Dea would be pereceived as havibng more finesse.
A year and a half ago O'Dea had played superbly in a CL last 16 game at the San Siro.
I'd say both looked better then.
Can't say I ever remember O'Dea having a bad game. He just hasnt got that much game time but whenever he does get it he impresses. Think he is seriously thinking of getting out of Celtic Park if he is not getting regular football next season.
If McShane, as you suggest looked better a year and a half ago than O'Dea is now, then God help us!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ciaran
Both are little more than squad players for their clubs
McShane is low on ability, not confidence, he's been found out, He's fast becoming the Douglas Bader of Football!
A year and a half ago, McShane had just moved from the Championship to the Premiership with Sunderland as one of Roy Keane's first close season signings, had made his debut for Ireland, and was looking good.Quote:
Originally Posted by the doc
O'Dea has spent the last 2 season as a barely used substitute.
So yeah, McShane did look better 18 months ago than O'Dea does now.
I can't emphasise enough to people how good a player it would take to get Stephen McManus out of Strachan's team. He's the captain of the team. If a player came through the ranks to displace him you're pretty much writing McManus' Celtic career off. It's really impossible to say how highly Strachan rates him but McManus has gone through his career so far under Strachan without injury so we've not had a chance to see O'Dea get a decent run at centre half. I would take a lot of encouragement out of him helping Celtic keep AC Milan scoreless for 180 minutes though. A bad defender could have very easily embarassed that Celtic team over those 2 legs.
In a way its a pity that loan move to Burnley did not go ahead.
Darren needs some first team football but he is still young for a centre back but as I said he needs some first team football.
I think playing such a key role in a cup win will be good for his career long-term, even if he doesn't stay with Celtic.Quote:
Originally Posted by seanfhear
I agree that he needs to seek out a new home for next season though if Strachan doesn't guarantee him first team football.
Maybe it is semantics but are you saying McManus is really THAT good or just that Strachan really rates him.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Darren O'Dea has really impressed when I've seen him on tv. McManus looks very average to me. Now I appreciate Strachan has won the league every season and looks like doing so again. I would take it as apositive that he really rates McManus as it probably means he could still really rate O'Dea.
I suspect he's saying that McManus' leadership material makes him undroppable. I'd agree. I think he's limited as a player but he has the kind of attitude we could do with. I reckon Paddy McCarthy is the most similar of the younger Irish.Quote:
Originally Posted by gspain
The latter. I think O'Dea is a lot better than McManus was at the same age. I think with a run of games it's possible that O'Dea is already at the level McManus currently is. But McManus is Strachan's captain at the peak of his career. The only way McManus is going to be displaced is if Strachan spent £6m+ on a proven international class left sided central defender. For O'Dea to become first choice at Celtic McManus would basically have to be sold.Quote:
Originally Posted by gspain
On McManus - I've never had as much difficulty trying to rate a player. He's just a very solid player but even when he looks solid his team are capable of conceding 3 or 4. If McManus was 1 of your 2 central defenders, I think the central defence would be as good as his partner. McManus beside Nesta would be top class. McManus beside John O'Shea wouldn't be great. While a really good player could form a good partnership with O'Shea.
If that makes sense...
I agree with much of the above. Basically, I think what you are saying is that McManus does not set the tone for the defence - which I suppose seems strange given that he is the club captain, but there you go. Another reason is that O'Dea is left-footed and Strachan probably would not want two left-footed players to make up the partnership in central defence.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
Definitely no way there would be 2 leftfooters in the centre of the Celtic defence. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by The Fly
Seems valid enough but as McManus never seems to be injured it would make sense for O'Dea to move on unless he can nail down the left back spot.
Nice to see him play in a cup final alright but sometimes you can't have everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by irishfan86
It might have been better if he had gone to a good championship club(Burnley) with a very promising manager and gotten a series of games with a club fighting to get into the play offs.
Ironically McManus has pulled out of the Scotland squad today with an injury
Scored in 90th minute for Celtic tonight
on a side note McCourt came on in the 82nd minute replacing Nakamura.
Just thought I'd bump his thread to see what peoples thoughts on how he will get on this year, with a change of management at the club he has a chance to make a fresh case for himself.
Pity he's injured because there's a good chance that Celtic won't have 1 centre half available for the first game of the season. McManus is definitely out, Caldwell suspended, Misun out for months and Loovens has a disciplinary meeting in a couple of weeks.
What's the story with his injury?
There's no news at all on his injury. He's been injured over the summer.
[QUOTE=eirebhoy;1196022]Pity he's injured because there's a good chance that Celtic won't have 1 centre half available for the first game of the season. QUOTE]
I've a feeling they will have more than one!;)
Whats Celtic's current CB's and Defenders like anyhow?