Jamie O'Hara

**Kingdom** · 15/02/2011, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by ifk101

. Sean St. Ledger (the doc) posts here a semi-regular basis so maybe he can provide some insight.

I lol'd!

**DannyInvincible** · 17/02/2011, 4:16 PM

Just happened to be looking at goalkeepers in the Arsenal ranks for my Fantasy PL team and stumbled across the surname 'Shea'. Obviously it stood out as being distinctly Irish. Had a search for any mention of him on here but didn't come across any. Maybe I missed it; apologies if so.

http://www.arsenal.com/reserves-yout...ers/james-shea

Anyway, although Islington-born, and in the absence of being able to find a more authoritative source, according to a Wikipedia page presumably pre-prepared by a user for inclusion on the general site once Shea makes a senior appearance, he's eligible to play for both us and England.

James Shea (born June 6, 1991) is a is an English footballer. He currently plays for Arsenal and his position is goalkeeper.

After excelling in the triumphant FA Youth Cup and Premier Academy League �double' winning-side of 2008�09, James played six times for the Reserves in 2009�10, signing a new contract with Arsenal in February 2011.

His first inclusion in the first team squad was against West Bromwich Albion in the Football League Cup in September 2009.

In August 2010, due to a goalkeepering shortage while the England team trained for an upcoming match Shea was drafted in to help Joe Hart practice. Shea can represent both England and the Republic of Ireland at international level, but has yet to play at any level for either nation.

**DannyInvincible** · 17/02/2011, 4:23 PM

Found an article from the Daily Mail about his training session with the England team: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...s-deepens.html

Faced with injuries to Foster (knee) and Scott Carson (back), Fabio Capello had to turn to Arsene Wenger in desperation and ask to borrow a goalkeeper for a practice match.

So up stepped 19-year-old James Shea, joining Hart for a few training drills before being chipped � so Theo Walcott said � by Wayne Rooney from 18 yards.
�It was a good experience for him,� added Walcott.

Born in Islington but eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland, Shea began as a midfielder before being converted into a keeper.

Presumably, Wenger could have thrown in any of his reserve keepers so I don't necessarily think a training session with the England team at Arsenal's training ground, most likely because Shea just happened to be there anyway, would be indicative of any current or future national allegiance...

**Stuttgart88** · 17/02/2011, 6:11 PM

I saw him in the FA Youth Cup Final against Liverpool. Arsenal were so dominant my missus could have been in goals.

**gastric** · 18/02/2011, 9:24 PM

James Shea has gone on loan to Southampton for a month. It will be good to track his progress and see what potential he actually has. Arsenal and quality goalkeepers is something that doesn't often come to mind!

**SkStu** · 19/02/2011, 12:02 AM

Pat Jennings, John Lukic, David Seaman and possibly even Lehmann ??

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/02/2011, 12:13 AM

They don't really produce them though, do they? Jenning was Spurs, Seaman was QPR and Lehmann was... Dortmund. Never really rated Lukic.

**SkStu** · 19/02/2011, 12:30 AM

oh okay fair enough! Thats not what i got from gastrics post.

I was a big Lukic fan.

**gastric** · 19/02/2011, 1:12 AM

Thanks Charlie! We live in hope that Shea and McDermott break the mould!

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/02/2011, 2:01 AM

I think I was always put off by Lukic's stupid hair. Not the most relevant criteria on which to base my judgement of a footballer, granted, but good enough I think.

edit: seems Lehmann came through at Schalke and Jennings at Watford. Shows what I know.

**Stuttgart88** · 19/02/2011, 9:21 AM

The Polish guy Szczezny or whatever his name is looks the real deal. He has massive self confidence / presence which is an important asset.

**Yard of Pace** · 19/02/2011, 12:23 PM

Stick him in midfield, I say. He can't be any worse than PG.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 19/02/2011, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

They don't really produce them though, do they? Jenning was Spurs, Seaman was QPR and Lehmann was... Dortmund. Never really rated Lukic.

Lukic was Leeds anyway first off. Seaman was his understudy at Leeds funnily enough. To think that Leeds released Seaman, Irwin and Phelan when they were in Division 2 in the 80's, madness....

**CraftyToePoke** · 19/02/2011, 2:25 PM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

Lukic was Leeds anyway first off. Seaman was his understudy at Leeds funnily enough. To think that Leeds released Seaman, Irwin and Phelan when they were in Division 2 in the 80's, madness....

I know, I saw Irwin interviewed once about his release and move to Oldham and he was asked by the interviewer about the reasons given by Billy Bremner, and Irwin just said 'oh, not good enough' folllowed by a smirk suggesting he had enjoyed proving Bremner had gotten that one wrong, to put it mildly.

**gastric** · 19/02/2011, 9:16 PM

It seems that I have inadvertently started a bit of debate here about Arsenal goalkeepers. One mentioned as being a quality goalkeeper is Lehmann. Lehmann to me was a flapper under pressure who tended to punch the ball rather than catch which often lead to Arsenal conceding goals and a defence looking on in derision. Throughout his Arsenal career, replacement keepers were regularly mentioned and he did not enjoy the best relationship with Wenger and the other players. Such memories give me the impression he was a functional goalkeeper rather quality, whose Arsenal career lasted longer than it should have.

**Stuttgart88** · 19/02/2011, 9:30 PM

Agree re-Lehmann being functional rather than quality, although he played very well throughout their 2006 CL campaign. For such a big guy he was a total pussy, over-reacting to any contact from a forward, even the slightest touch. However, he had a self-confidence and assuredness, possibly a bit misplaced, that was a key part of that team. They had natural leaders all the way up the middle from back to front.

I think attitude is a key ingredient for a winning 'keeper,

**Colbert Report** · 20/02/2011, 1:30 AM

Is it too late to give Darron Gibson back to the north?

**Plastic Paddy** · 20/02/2011, 7:18 AM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Is it too late to give Darron Gibson back to the north?

Did you watch the last Ireland game? Or yesterday's FA Cup match? You've clearly forgotten the goal he scored against Wales and failed to notice the number of passes he picked out for team-mates yesterday. What a daft comment.

PP