O'Shea in Midfield?

**tricky_colour** · 29/07/2004, 2:32 AM

I believe John O'Shea played in midfield for Man U v Celtic
on their USA tour today ( I can't confirm this though as I got
it off Man U's chat forum.

If this is true what implications does it have for the national
team?

**carnstien** · 29/07/2004, 6:11 PM

Originally Posted by davros

He can play there,when the Br*t doesn't turn-up.......

....should get a regular slot then?!

You wouldn't mind me asking what exactly you business in North London is, I thought the IRA had stopped bombing there?

**The Legend** · 29/07/2004, 6:23 PM

O'Shea didnt have a great game in midfield, i'd say he'll be warming the bench for most of next season unless he cops on...

**Pat O' Banton** · 29/07/2004, 7:02 PM

Hope rather then moving positions around the place he is given a role that suits him consistantly and is allowed to develop there.

**Metrostars** · 29/07/2004, 8:26 PM

I saw the game, he wasnt all that great.

**1MickCollins** · 29/07/2004, 11:00 PM

I don't think he has a great football brain, his play is one-dimensional but he has a good engine, still plays like a 20 year old unfortunately not maturing at the rate I would expect.

**John83** · 03/08/2004, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by 1MickCollins

I don't think he has a great football brain, his play is one-dimensional but he has a good engine, still plays like a 20 year old unfortunately not maturing at the rate I would expect.

My thoughts exactly. That said, he may get an even better chance in midfield now - Nicky Butt is a Newcastle player. That leaves the injury-prone (and often rested) Keane, the crap utility player P. Neville and the unproven and disasterously injury-prone Djemba-Djemba to beat him to the covering midfield role. Neville's form last season may well not be repeated, and Djemba-Djemba has no more claim to a starting role than O'Shea. It'll be interesting at the very least.

**Peadar** · 03/08/2004, 2:44 PM

Funny how people think O'Shea deserves to fit in somewhere for Ireland just because he's a Man Yoo player. He's had very few "good" games for Ireland. We've loads of midfield players and would only use him if we're really stuck. It's bad enough that he get's his game at left-full.

**Greenbod** · 03/08/2004, 2:50 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Funny how people think O'Shea deserves to fit in somewhere for Ireland just because he's a Man Yoo player. He's had very few "good" games for Ireland. We've loads of midfield players and would only use him if we're really stuck. It's bad enough that he get's his game at left-full.

Couldn't agree more Peadar. O'Shea has been terrible for us when it's mattered.

**John83** · 03/08/2004, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by Greenbod

Couldn't agree more Peadar. O'Shea has been terrible for us when it's mattered.

I disagree. He's been terrible even when it didn't matter. The problem is that I rate Harte even worse.

O'Shea shouldn't be accommodated because of his club, but I don't think we have a lot of alternatives.

**Peadar** · 03/08/2004, 3:20 PM

Originally Posted by John83

but I don't think we have a lot of alternatives.

Danny Murphy?

Seriously though, I'd play Finnan there before O'Shea at this stage.
Any chance Ashley Cole could defect?

**John83** · 03/08/2004, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Danny Murphy?

Seriously though, I'd play Finnan there before O'Shea at this stage.
Any chance Ashley Cole could defect?

Maybe we sould try someone radically different there. Finnan has been touted there for ages, and never gets tried. Maybe he's crap there in training sessions. Yeah, maybe it's time to look at the EL for a left-back. At worst, they'll stink up some friendlies like Maybury.

**Greenbod** · 03/08/2004, 5:31 PM

Originally Posted by John83

I disagree. He's been terrible even when it didn't matter.

Yea, but that doesn't matter

**Peadar** · 04/08/2004, 9:23 AM

Originally Posted by John83

At worst, they'll stink up some friendlies like Maybury.

Maybury seemed to settle after a few games but there's no way on earth that such patience would be shown if that was an eL player.
Anyone who's seen Danny Murphy will know that he's a hard tackler but has great distribution as well.
He's proved himself on the European stage.
One Cockney Rebel, there's only one Cockney Rebel, one Cockney Rebel...

**Adrianovic** · 06/08/2004, 11:56 AM

I think a few of you are being a bit harsh on Josh. He had a meteoric rise first season, and got voted in second place for PFA young player behind some chav called Rooney, but maybe the saying is true - the second season is always the hardest.

However, I do concede that he has not been the shining star we expect when we've needed, i.e. the Swiss game - but he definitely deserves more starts because he has the quality, but not yet the maturity. To a degree he will be accomadated a bit more as a Man U player, but that's only because of the quality they demand and how the club should build him up further as a player.

Ade

**brine3** · 08/08/2004, 11:33 AM

I thought John O'Shea has been decent enough for Ireland, except for the Swiss game, where he looked nervous. But the whole team had a stinker in that game, save maybe Duff. Even Shay Given had a bad game.

I think people are expecting too much of the O'Shea, he's been decent enough in the most of the matches he's played for Ireland. Give him a chance, Robbie Keane was inconsistent in his early years too, remember. In fact, he still is.

**Slash/ED** · 08/08/2004, 2:49 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

Maybury seemed to settle after a few games but there's no way on earth that such patience would be shown if that was an eL player.
Anyone who's seen Danny Murphy will know that he's a hard tackler but has great distribution as well.
He's proved himself on the European stage.
One Cockney Rebel, there's only one Cockney Rebel, one Cockney Rebel...

Whatever about Murphy, Heary is definitely better than Maybury as anyone who saw the match on wednesday would be able to see.

**EamonD** · 08/08/2004, 4:17 PM

Originally Posted by brine3

I thought John O'Shea has been decent enough for Ireland, except for the Swiss game, where he looked nervous. But the whole team had a stinker in that game, save maybe Duff. Even Shay Given had a bad game.

I think people are expecting too much of the O'Shea, he's been decent enough in the most of the matches he's played for Ireland. Give him a chance, Robbie Keane was inconsistent in his early years too, remember. In fact, he still is.

And long may Robbie's inconsistency continue, should finish his Ireland career with 50 goals the way he is going.....

**Condex** · 08/08/2004, 10:43 PM

O'Shea was poor today at center half imporved a lot when he went out to right back.

For a big man is very poor in the air, his timing is atrocious.

**Peadar** · 09/08/2004, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Condex

O'Shea was poor today at center half imporved a lot when he went out to right back.

The Man Yoo defence were torn apart today by a relatively young Arsenal team who'd failed to score in earlier games against Ajax, River Plate and KSK Beveren. O'Shea Fortune and Silvestre looked like players from a division lower who just couldn't cope with the game.
Worrying times indeed for Ireland.
Ian Harte has to be first in line again.
Best of a bad lot.
Had a good game for Ireland the last time he played.

Originally Posted by davros

Since when was Reading,anywhere near Bow Bells......?Newbridge is closer to Dublin,FFS..........

It's and eircom League thing, you wouldn't understand.