John O'Shea

**Noelys Guitar** · 17/11/2006, 6:52 PM

Originally Posted by Soko

I agree 100%. But what about the one moment where he AWOL, turned his back on the play and exposed his central defensive partner, making his debut, to an experienced European striker. That does not absolve McShane and particulary Henderson but if he had bust his balls to get back then who knows what might have happened. What did happen is he meandered back and we conceded the only fraction of a chance we had of qualifying. We were playign amateurs on Wednesday and he didn't look out of place for a pub player

I take your point about him seeming to amble about sometimes (which will always be punished against good teams like the Czechs). But surely it is up to Staunton as manager to get him to play to his potential or drop him. We are still lacking a team leader on the pitch overall and that might explain why players like O'Shea, Duff and a few others seem to be going through the motions at times. For me Duffs decline is almost incredible. What has happened to him?

**eirebhoy** · 17/11/2006, 7:21 PM

Originally Posted by micls

But that makes it even more frustrating.

Players who just arent any good youll accept as long as they give their all.

Now either he doesnt have the talent or he doesnt give his all. The first you can defend the second is indefensible

Or confidence. I don't think he's any better for Man U than he is for us tbh.

**Den Perry** · 19/11/2006, 9:32 PM

Originally Posted by barney

You sir epitomise everything that I hate about football fans. Just because O'Shea doesn't run around like a headless chicken does not mean that he doesn't care. Not everyone has to show Roy Keane's level of visible passion.

If O'Shea had sprinted back against the Czechs he still probably wouldnt have gotten back to deny Koller. McShane got caught out for the goal, but he seems to have been absolved from all blame because he's a fan favourite with bandwagoners like you.

Furthermore, John O'Shea frequently comes back to Ireland and makes himself available to his schoolboy clubs to help train their youngsters. Hardly something that sits comfortably with the caricature you'd like to peddle but nonetheless, thems the facts.

John O'Shea is a decent footballer. He rarely makes mistakes that cost either Ireland or United goals. The people that booed him the other night have no place at football games.

I agree wholeheartedly. O shrea takes far too much abuse..Although I have bbod Matt Holland ...because he is a treacherous b astard. And I 'm only waiting for the chance to boo staunton

**Den Perry** · 19/11/2006, 9:37 PM

Originally Posted by nedder

Was in the lower west stand, and couldn't hear any booing. I think this whole thing has been blown out of proportion.

Anyone who boos their own players during a game clearly has no real interest in supporting the team. Ignorant fools...

that is a rubbish point Nedder. I always support Ireland but booed Matt Holland and I had a very real interest in supporting them I also booed Hasslebank at leeds and had a very real interest in supporting Leeds

**Den Perry** · 19/11/2006, 9:39 PM

Originally Posted by nedder

I bet he couldn't give a sh*t about a certain section, and rightly so.
A manager picking a team based on who the fans boo, thats ludicrous. What next?????

well he is f ucking capable of anything

**nedder** · 20/11/2006, 8:16 AM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

I agree wholeheartedly. O shrea takes far too much abuse..Although I have bbod Matt Holland ...because he is a treacherous b astard. And I 'm only waiting for the chance to boo staunton

Not sure what Holland did to you Den, maybe he shot your dog?

Sounds like you want Staunton to fail, in other words you'd prefer to see us lose....

**as_i_say** · 20/11/2006, 9:34 AM

Dont know how people could boo Matt Holland, a player who made a telling contribution to our team if only in a short space of time. Besides he's retired now-its not worth mentioning when talking about O'Shea. JOS needs to be dropped.

Agree with other posters that McShane and Henderson in particular could have saved Kolllers shot but Ive been analysing OShea for Ireland and Man U lately and there is serious lack of concentration about the way he plays.

He was absolutely dreadful against SM-constantly giving the ball away, yet he gets a special mention from Staunton after the game!! Its not his fault he keeps getting picked but once Carr and Harte come back he should be benched unless we have injuries at center back and even then I'd be very worried

**lionelhutz** · 20/11/2006, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

that is a rubbish point Nedder. I always support Ireland but booed Matt Holland and I had a very real interest in supporting them I also booed Hasslebank at leeds and had a very real interest in supporting Leeds

I have to say that people like you Den anger me.How can you say you support a team but you boo them at the same time? Thats not support, thats just being an idiot. How could booing one of the players you ''SUPPORT'' help the team in any way?!!

And could you please explain why you booed Matt Holland? I know he wasnt a great player by any means but he did put in consistently strong performances. As for your statement ''I'm just waiting for the chance to boo Staunton'' - i must say you sound like someone who knows nothing about football - you probably read the Sun every morning and take it as gospel

**Billsthoughts** · 20/11/2006, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by nedder

Not sure what Holland did to you Den, maybe he shot your dog?

Sounds like you want Staunton to fail, in other words you'd prefer to see us lose....

no. sounds like he thinks staunton is a **** manager who didnt deserve the job in the first place and has done nuthin since to justify his appointment. the loyalty card is always the last refuge of the loser. People can boo or cheer anyone they want. The JOS thing has been exagerrated. I could pick several players that played as bad if not worse than him on wed. Damien Duff and Kevin Kilbane being the most obvious. Paul Macshane and Kevin Doyle both made errors but cause they are flavour of the month nobody mentions it. Staunton is a very poor manager who is making a lot of mistakes early on in his reign. Any Ireland fan is fully justified in venting their frustration at the rubbish they have had to endure since he took over. Saying that not supporting Staunton is not supporting the team is ********. Keeping this man in a job is killing the team.

**youngirish** · 20/11/2006, 1:16 PM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

And I 'm only waiting for the chance to boo staunton

You've missed about 4 good chances already.

What's the story with all the Mattie Holland negativity? How is he a traitor?Has he recently said/done something deragory about our beloved nation's football team?

I'm now starting to feel optimisitc Staunton will get O'Shea out of the Ireland team sooner rather than later. Even he must realise by now that the lad isn't up to the task and the fans are getting restless with his inept performances and this is why he feels he has to single him out in his post match comments and justify his inclusion. He's not playing for United regularly anymore either so hopefully that's another nail in the coffin of his International career.

One positive thing I will say about Staunton (only thing) is that he's not as afraid as Kerr to drop the underperforming sh*te in the team. Kerr persisted with the same drivel over and over again without ever giving a chance to any new players (exception being A Reid). Staunton IMO had every reason to give fat Kenny the boot from the squad after his dire Irish perfomances and seems now to have kicked Andy O'Brien out of the team for the same reason. Maybe when Kenny does get back into the squad he'll give a performance more similar to his club form than the comedy of errors we've seen from him in his last 2 Ireland games.

**Billsthoughts** · 20/11/2006, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Maybe when Kenny does get back into the squad he'll give a performance more similar to his club form than the comedy of errors we've seen from him in his last 2 Ireland games.

O brien was an accident waiting to happen cause he wasnt playing regular football. He isnt a bad player otherwise and to jettison him completely would be a mistake. Kenny did let in 9 goals in 2 games which is awful so he cant have too many complaints about losing his place. however both performances were collectively awful and its doubtful whether given would have come out of either looking that much better.

**eirebhoy** · 20/11/2006, 1:31 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Maybe when Kenny does get back into the squad he'll give a performance more similar to his club form than the comedy of errors we've seen from him in his last 2 Ireland games.

What errors were these? Obviously one error sticks out but what were the others?

**bennocelt** · 21/11/2006, 8:43 AM

Originally Posted by Eire06

I don't think O'Shea is as bad as everyone is making it out, as it was said earlier in this thread he wouldn't get half as much stick if he didn't play Man United!
Stay at home if you aren't happy with him, but don't boo at matches it ruins it for the majority of fans and players

i live in the UK, and even here, any time O shea is on TV playing for Manure utd, the whole pub has a good laugh, he always manages to make himself look shi te, maybe becasue he is really shi te

as regards booing, supporters are entitled to boo any player they want, they paid good money to follow their team, the least they can expect is something resembling a half decent performance

**bennocelt** · 21/11/2006, 8:49 AM

Originally Posted by KildareFan

He has suffered because he rarely plays two games in succession in the one position and he is not, i repeat, not a midfielder. Whether it's at club level or international level, he always seems to be shunted around.

.

actually i think most irish fans would rather see him in midfield, would be less of a danger than having in him defence, cause he is NOT a defender!

**lopez** · 21/11/2006, 9:29 AM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

...The JOS thing has been exagerrated. I could pick several players that played as bad if not worse than him on wed. Damien Duff and Kevin Kilbane being the most obvious. Paul Macshane and Kevin Doyle both made errors but cause they are flavour of the month nobody mentions it...

None of these players have had the run of bad matches that O'Shea has had. Wasn't this the man that Keane Senior wanted in the squad and one of the many things he fell out with McCarthy? I don't know what his performances are for ManUre as I don't watch any English football, so maybe someone can tell us if is he a. Cr*p, b. Going through a bad patch (for the last four years it has to be said with Ireland) or c. a good player who for one reason or another leaves this side of him in the dressing room when he pulls on an Ireland shirt.

As for booing your own players, oh ffs p*ss off! We all slag off the players for not trying and yet sit there in stadiums doing very little ourselves to get the players going in comparison to, say, NI fans. I've got no time for this 'I've paid my money' sh*te. Anyone feels that way, do yourselves a favour, save your money, stay at home and watch a team you can really identify with like England.

Most of this character of 'supporter' (sic.) follow their clubs with abandon so the step up should be no problem whatsoever.

**Billsthoughts** · 21/11/2006, 11:32 AM

He was ok against the Czech Republic. Unfairly taking the blame for a shot the keeper should have got to. He was poor against Cyprus as was Steve Finnan(Finnan was poorer if the truth be known) and a good few others. Before that he was played in midfield which he is totally unsuited to. I dont think he should be a deffo starter and agree he should be dropped. but the booing thing and the JOS to blame for everything that is wrong with us at the moment is a load of crap. Take JOS out of the team and the same problems will still be there.

**nedder** · 21/11/2006, 4:05 PM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

no. sounds like he thinks staunton is a **** manager who didnt deserve the job in the first place and has done nuthin since to justify his appointment. the loyalty card is always the last refuge of the loser. People can boo or cheer anyone they want. The JOS thing has been exagerrated. I could pick several players that played as bad if not worse than him on wed. Damien Duff and Kevin Kilbane being the most obvious. Paul Macshane and Kevin Doyle both made errors but cause they are flavour of the month nobody mentions it. Staunton is a very poor manager who is making a lot of mistakes early on in his reign. Any Ireland fan is fully justified in venting their frustration at the rubbish they have had to endure since he took over. Saying that not supporting Staunton is not supporting the team is ********. Keeping this man in a job is killing the team.

There is a difference between thinking Staunton is way out of his depth, and actually wishing the man to fail. I think he is a poor manager, and a poor choice, but I don't hold a grudge against the man like Den or yourself clearly do.
And people can boo all they want, doesn't mean I have to think its right.
Whats the point in abusing our own players??

Agree with you totally on O'Shea, Its the easy option to jump on the bandwagon and slag him off, but over the last two games he's not been any worse that a few others. It's like people always need a player to slag off : O'shea is only taking over from Breen,Kilbane, Doherty, Carsley ( yes, current flavour of the month), etc etc...

**Billsthoughts** · 21/11/2006, 4:14 PM

Originally Posted by nedder

, but I don't hold a grudge against the man like Den or yourself clearly do.

Not true.
I dont hold any grudge against staunton.
show me were I said that?
I think he has been poor so far.
People who were on here p*issin and moanin about kerr for losing to WC finalists seem to have a different set of standards now we are the whipping boys of Europe. 4-0 v holland? 5-2 v Cyprus? Its nothing personal its just not good enough.

**lopez** · 21/11/2006, 4:39 PM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

Not true.
I dont hold any grudge against staunton.
show me were I said that?
I think he has been poor so far.
People who were on here p*issin and moanin about kerr for losing to WC finalists seem to have a different set of standards now we are the whipping boys of Europe. 4-0 v holland? 5-2 v Cyprus? Its nothing personal its just not good enough.

I never wanted to see Mick McCarthy go in the first place.

Staunton can't be blamed. I'm sure you work with people who are out of their depth. It's not their fault. It's the people that employed them. Staunton was appointed in some crazy relationship with Snowflake. Snowflake - and let's face it, he's blameless too, poor man - has been not up to the task too, as who would be with his health problems. Maybe the FAI are not only keen to show that they are not racist or sexist, but they're not ageist either.