John O'Shea

**gustavo** · 12/04/2011, 3:00 PM

I still think that if both were fit and Man United were playing a really important match he would go with O'Shea

**Charlie Darwin** · 12/04/2011, 4:31 PM

It's hard to tell since it's been a long time since the two of them were both fully fit at the same time for a sustained period. O'Shea's injury troubles are becoming chronic and Rafael is playing well so you'd have to say he's got the shirt now, however Ferguson does tend to select certain players for tight games and O'Shea invariably gets the nod. Given that Chelsea have some big men and away goals could be costly for United, I think he'd have chosen O'Shea tonight even if Raf hadn't been injured.

That said, we're probably going to see the teamsheet later with Rafael at right back and I'll look a damned fool.

**rebelmusic** · 12/04/2011, 6:02 PM

And it seems you look like a fool xD

**SkStu** · 12/04/2011, 6:40 PM

Originally Posted by rebelmusic

And it seems you look like a fool xD

or not...

**SkStu** · 12/04/2011, 7:31 PM

he just did brilliantly for the goal.

**Stuttgart88** · 12/04/2011, 7:50 PM

Great to see an Irishman doing well in a CL Q/F.

**elroy** · 12/04/2011, 8:39 PM

From what I saw of the game tonight, JOSH was very good, great ball for the goal and a few top pieces of defending, one particularly when Ashley Cole looked free on the right hand side but JOSH marshalled him back.

**paul_oshea** · 12/04/2011, 8:42 PM

why doesnt he play the ball on the ground for us the way he did tonight?

**Charlie Darwin** · 12/04/2011, 10:03 PM

Lack of options, I think. He always had Giggs or Chicharito coming short for the ball when Park was tied up. He doesn't get that enough for Ireland.

I thought he had a poor first half - some bad touches and a needless yellow card - but then he pulled out that no-look pass for the goal. A real class act.

**rebelmusic** · 12/04/2011, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

or not...

Ya i read that wrong, you may now begin the paddling of the swollen ass Charlie

**SkStu** · 13/04/2011, 2:04 AM

Originally Posted by rebelmusic

Ya i read that wrong, you may now begin the paddling of the swollen ass Charlie

and now you're calling Charlie a swollen ass!!!

**geysir** · 13/04/2011, 10:19 AM

Josh looked a very accomplished player out there. It will be good to have him fit for the Macedonia game, pity he will just be replacing Dunne rather than playing at RB.

**boovidge** · 13/04/2011, 11:07 AM

he was muck first half except for the good pass to giggs.

**awec** · 13/04/2011, 11:09 AM

I actually think he's poor. Rafael is twice the player of him.

**ifk101** · 13/04/2011, 11:25 AM

Anytime I've seen Rafael play he has put in some very dodgy and quite frankly sly tackles. Very much a liability in United 's team when he plays IMO.

**tetsujin1979** · 13/04/2011, 3:21 PM

Apropos of nothing, O'Shea was the third top passer in the game last night, and second best United player behind Rooney
From https://twitter.com/#!/Zonal_Marking...99101027405824

Most passes last night: Malouda 56, Rooney 55, O'Shea 52, Giggs 51, Essien 47, Carrick 46, Lampard 45, Park 45, Evra 42 via @totalfootballfc

**paul_oshea** · 13/04/2011, 3:22 PM

I think Ferguson was just trying to put a challenge up to Rafal whilst at the same time let O'shea know he still has a big part to play at United. Anyway last night showed that he was well able to perform at that level. I actually think the time out has given him new impetus, perhaps he realised the threat from Rafal, as I thought yesterday was one of his best games in a United shirt in a long time.

**Closed Account 2** · 13/04/2011, 3:34 PM

Basic economics indeed!

**geysir** · 13/04/2011, 3:45 PM

I see Paul edited that post 10 minutes after he posted it. What part of it was edited? Did he miss the obvious?
I suppose it all goes to prove the veracity of his first line "looking in from outside you see things a lot clearer than the pig rolling around in the sh1t,"