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.
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!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.
54,321 sold - wws will never die - ***
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New blog if anyone's interested - http://loihistory.wordpress.com/
LOI section on balls.ie - http://balls.ie/league-of-ireland/
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.
In Trap we trust
yes I remember that quote by Stan. Said he was convinced by bob to play O'Brien despite McShane playing well in training,
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
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?
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.
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