John O'Shea

[Crosby87]

Everyone on Man U cant make crazy money. That's where he comes in, a good, solid, cheap player.
Will he be captain of Ireland after Keane?

[Colbert Report]

O'Shea is the perfect squad player. He can play anywhere along the backline, including goalkeeper. This negates the need to dress two defenders and a goalkeeper. Instead, Ferguson wastes only two out of seven possible subs on goalkeepers/defenders. Don't underestimate this. It allows him to put another winger/striker on the bench. Gives him more options than most teams.

O'Shea must be on more money than most players that are playing for Stoke, West Brom, Reading, etc. Surely?

[elroy]

[QUOTE=Colbert Report;1096525]O'Shea is the perfect squad player. He can play anywhere along the backline, including goalkeeper. This negates the need to dress two defenders and a goalkeeper. Instead, Ferguson wastes only two out of seven possible subs on goalkeepers/defenders. Don't underestimate this. It allows him to put another winger/striker on the bench. Gives him more options than most teams.
QUOTE]

Good point but crucially JOSH always put in a decent performance for united in whatever positions Fergie plays him. He is not going to change a game or be instrumental but what he does he does well. For united he is largely very consistent and reliable.

[Razors left peg]

[quote=elroy;1096550]

O'Shea is the perfect squad player. He can play anywhere along the backline, including goalkeeper. This negates the need to dress two defenders and a goalkeeper. Instead, Ferguson wastes only two out of seven possible subs on goalkeepers/defenders. Don't underestimate this. It allows him to put another winger/striker on the bench. Gives him more options than most teams.
QUOTE]

Good point but crucially JOSH always put in a decent performance for united in whatever positions Fergie plays him. He is not going to change a game or be instrumental but what he does he does well. For united he is largely very consistent and reliable.

As he has for Ireland under Trappatoni

[Colbert Report]

Serious question: How do you guys think O'Shea would fare if he was played in place of Darron Gibson in one of the two defensive midfield positions Trappatoni likes to play? Personally, I'd rather have someone like O'Brien in as a central defender and push O'Shea into the midfield.

[NeilMcD]

No I think we have found the position for O Shea for Ireland that works. Where did O Shea get us playing him in midfield Disaster at home to Switzerland, Away to Germany also. He is not a natural central midfielder and his partnership with Dunne is looking good. We conceded easy goals in the last campaign and we are not doing that now.

[dr_peepee]

Serious question: How do you guys think O'Shea would fare if he was played in place of Darron Gibson in one of the two defensive midfield positions Trappatoni likes to play? Personally, I'd rather have someone like O'Brien in as a central defender and push O'Shea into the midfield.

I think he would do alright in that role.. I wouldn't move him from centre half though.

[Noelys Guitar]

I think he would do alright in that role.. I wouldn't move him from centre half though.

He is probably the best player we have at this moment in time. Very impressed with his recent performances for United and Ireland. I would love to see him tried in midfield again for Ireland at some later stage when we have real competiton for places in the back four.

[Dr. Ogba]

I thought he did ok in that role away to Germany (pretty sure I was the only one who thought so at the time) but as said above you would be needlessly changing a settled back 4 in order to accomodate this so its prob a no go...

Edit: 1000th post I really need to do more work....

[Stuttgart88]

I thought he did ok in that role away to Germany (pretty sure I was the only one who thought so at the time) but as said above you would be needlessly changing a settled back 4 in order to accomodate this so its prob a no go...

Edit: 1000th post I really need to do more work....

I thought he was ok in Germany too, first half especially. I couldn't believe the extent of criticism he got. I think he could do ok from time to time in CM but he's too careless in passing to be trusted there. His partnership with Dunne is the best we've had in about 6 years so it's best left alone. As Neil said cheap goals aren't being conceded now.

[Stuttgart88]

congrats on the 1000 Doc.

[limerickblue]

Its simple we need O'shea at centre back, he is finnaly lookin comfortable there, He might be Uniteds fifth choice centre back, But for Ireland he is definatley number 2, Yes i would but him ahead of O'Brien. My Ireland Lineup would be: Given

Finnan(if fit) Dunne O'shea Kilbane


Mcgeady whelan Reid Duff



keane DOYLE

[BaZmO*]

O'Shea is the perfect squad player. He can play anywhere along the backline, including goalkeeper. This negates the need to dress two defenders and a goalkeeper. Instead, Ferguson wastes only two out of seven possible subs on goalkeepers/defenders. Don't underestimate this. It allows him to put another winger/striker on the bench. Gives him more options than most teams.

O'Shea must be on more money than most players that are playing for Stoke, West Brom, Reading, etc. Surely?

Good point but crucially JOSH always put in a decent performance for united in whatever positions Fergie plays him. He is not going to change a game or be instrumental but what he does he does well. For united he is largely very consistent and reliable.

As a squad player O'Shea is invaluable. He might not give you a 10 out of 10 performance in every game. But in almost every position he plays (and that's quite a lot) he'll give you a solid 7 most times.

Considering that there are a lot of players out there that get their game week in week out can only manage a 5, and that's only in one position, their are very few managers out there that wouldn't have O'Shea in his squad.

[Scram]

As a squad player O'Shea is invaluable. He might not give you a 10 out of 10 performance in every game.

But in almost every position he plays (and that's quite a lot) he'll give you a solid 7 most times.

Yeah, I bet you'd like a solid 7 from him alright

[BaZmO*]

Yeah, I bet you'd like a solid 7 from him alright

Haha! Brilliant!

[ofjames]

I think John has been a class act for Ireland this season and has really been defensively solid for united for the last 2 or 3 months. Another very good performance tonight against inter as well.

After 3 or 4 years where his career seemed to stand still, I think he's showing increasing signs of maturity this season and beginning to justify all the faith ferguson has shown in him during his career.

United fans are much much happier with him now aswell, moreso than has been the case eversince his outstanding breakthrough season.

Well done John i'd say!

[Stuttgart88]

People have been banned from this site for far less

[irishfan86]

He's was okay tonight, and made some crucial challenges- he was especially good in the air.

I still think he's a centre-half playing at full-back. He is confident but uncreative in possession which means he will never be more than cover with United (good thing their full-backs are made of glass!).

[drummerboy]

Thought JOS had a great game tonight and I have criticised him in the past. He has, at long last, matured and is beginning to fulfill his early potential.

[Razors left peg]

Im a massive fan of O Shea and have been for a while but I think what has stood out for me about him recently is the aggression he has added to his game.