John O'Shea

[DannyInvincible]

The only strike against him is his nationality.

If he was Van Buyten or Demichelis, it wouldn't be a "shock" and look how consistently crap they turn out to be; Vertonghen and Dawson too for that matter.

There's no doubt O'Shea is a top professional, but you exhibit a real persecution complex. Talent shows through and the cream rises to the top, whether it's Irish cream or not. You think the English media and clubs harbour a vendetta against Irish players in particular? Sure, Gary Cooke's comments in relation to City's sale of Richard Dunne were idiotic, but the English media were creaming all over Seamie Coleman for his exploits last season. I like O'Shea, but I'd be stunned myself if Spurs brought him in to take the first-team place of Michael Dawson next season.

[Olé Olé]

Dawson is 30 and Pochettino didn't appear to be too interested in increasing his squad's average age while at Southampton. I think that may be where the shock emanates from, as opposed to some anti-O'Shea complex. I think that complex is primarily saved for some of us Irish football supporters.

£3million ain't exactly cheap either for a veteran centre-half.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/...sive-options/?

O'Shea compares favorably to Spurs other defensive options.

[DannyInvincible]

But sure we have been down this road before with Given, Dunne, McCarthy, Doyle and Coleman and a big move never does/never will materialise..

If I recall correctly, Arsenal were interested in Given, but weren't they reluctant to bring him in due to his lack of command over aerial balls? He made his "big move" to Manchester City anyway, didn't he, only to lose his place to Joe Hart after a year or two?

Dunne did exceptionally well with Manchester City - winning numerous "fans' player of the season" awards in the process - and, as I've said, Gary Cooke's comments upon his sale were farcical, but he's always been prone to an error or two and can get caught off-balance at times. I remember Graeme Sounness once commended his defensive strength, but qualified his praise by opining that Dunne has a "ditzy" streak. Maybe Dunne's high own-goals record is indicative of that.

Doyle did well with Reading and Wolves but when has he consistently shown form that would justify a top Premier League side investing in him?

Whether McCarthy and Coleman move on to bigger and better things remains to be seen. If they perform again this season like they did last season, I don't see why not. It's not their Irishness that's stopping anyone from banking on them.

Your argument is simply nonsensical. Didn't Duff and Robbie get their "big moves"? Duff was signed up by Chelsea in 2003 and became a Mourinho favourite whilst Robbie had spells at both Inter and Liverpool but failed to seriously impress at either. They were both Irish too...

[Charlie Darwin]

As disrespectful as Cooke's comments about Dunne were, I don't think City would have won the league for the first time if Dunne was a regular in defence. Last season is another matter.

[BonnieShels]

O'Ohea's big move to Spurs eh...

He did play for Manchester United didn't he and won 5 league titles and a Champions League...

This is hardly his "big move" as we would state as part of a conversation re Seamie and Jimmy Mac.

If this happens more power to JOSH. I hope it does. But if it doesn't it's hardly a career that went unfulfilled.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/socc...laughs-3746191

Former Champions League finalist and multiple time League winner, John O'Shea, laughs off Tottenham link, just like everyone else did.

[GypsyBlackCat]

It's sad that a transfer rumour like that is a "shock". He's a good age for a centre half, he has approximately a hundred caps, Champions League experience, Intl. tournament experience, he has more medals than the whole Spurs team combined, he showed excellent leadership for Sunderland towards the tail end of the season (I know this contradicts what I said a week ago)..

The only strike against him is his nationality.

If he was Van Buyten or Demichelis, it wouldn't be a "shock" and look how consistently crap they turn out to be; Vertonghen and Dawson too for that matter.

In fairness JOS had a long career with Man Utd and people were surprised when SAF sold him. It was also classed a a real coup for Sunderland at the time. In fairness he's in the twlight of his career so a move to Spurs would be more so for cover than a first team regular.

[DannyInvincible]

It seems FIFA won't be acknowledging O'Shea's cap tomorrow night as his 100th: http://balls.ie/football/fifa-none-j...-cap-business/

Despite what the FAI records might say, John O’Shea won’t be winning his 100th cap against Germany tomorrow night according to FIFA. By Ireland’s reckoning, O’Shea is set become the sixth Irish international to play 100 games for his country following in the footsteps of Steve Staunton, Shay Given, Kevin Kilbane, Robbie Keane and (a FIFA disputed) Damien Duff.

However, the legitimacy of O’Shea’s cap record is in doubt because FIFA struck one of those games from the official records. The game in question came against Hungary in June 2012. It later emerged that one of the referee’s assistants, David Vang Andersen, was not on the official FIFA list at the time of the game and, as such, FIFA refused to recognise the fixture.

The FAI decided to award caps for the fixture, thus allowing Damien Duff to retire on 100 caps as opposed to the 99, which he finds himself on according to FIFA’s records.

According to an FAI source quoted in the Sun, it doesn’t look like FIFA are likely to change their stance just because Ireland have ignored them so far. “They don’t view it as a full international and that won’t change” the spokesperson said.

There had been rumours that O’Shea would be handed the captain’s armband to mark the occasion (even more likely if Robbie Keane doesn’t start in Gelsenkirchen) and, given the situation with Duff, it’s unlikely FIFA’s assertion would change that.

Out of interest, why are they content to count his cap against Gibraltar as his 98th if they won't recognise the fixture for ranking purposes? Do the Gibraltar players also have FIFA-recognised caps for participating in the fixture?

[tetsujin1979]

It seems FIFA won't be acknowledging O'Shea's cap tomorrow night as his 100th: http://balls.ie/football/fifa-none-j...-cap-business/

Out of interest, why are they content to count his cap against Gibraltar as his 98th if they won't recognise the fixture for ranking purposes? Do the Gibraltar players also have FIFA-recognised caps for participating in the fixture?

Pretty sure the statement from the FAI after Duff's 100th cap was reported as being under threat by The Star still applies here: http://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/fai-s...-hungary-match

The Football Association of Ireland has decided that the players who participated in the fixture deserve caps, particularly Damien Duff for the service that he gave to his country.

but international week is slow, and Keane's book was out last week, so it was probably easier to write that than do some research

[ArdeeBhoy]

Perhaps they need to recall Duff for the last 30 seconds of a game so he can get that 100th cap...

[DannyInvincible]

I'm aware the FAI recognise those caps gained by our players against Hungary, but I thought it kind if odd that FIFA might not recognise caps gained the because the fourth official wasn't properly registered, whilst they do appear to be recognising the caps gained against Gibraltar despite the fact the latter caps were won against a team that isn't even registered with the organisation.

[tetsujin1979]

I'm aware the FAI recognise those caps gained by our players against Hungary, but I thought it kind if odd that FIFA might not recognise caps gained the because the fourth official wasn't properly registered, whilst they do appear to be recognising the caps gained against Gibraltar despite the fact the latter caps were won against a team that isn't even registered with the organisation.

there's another quote from that article that's relevant

FIFA and UEFA also confirmed this morning that the decision to award a cap is at the discretion of the National Association and that they do not keep a central record of caps.

I was actually surprised at that, you'd think FIFA would oversee this to stop caps being awarded for every kickabout a team participates in

[DannyInvincible]

O'Shea signed a two-year extension to his contract at Sunderland today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29650944

Fair play to him; he's certainly not getting any younger.

[kingoffifa]

total boss

[Charlie Darwin]

Fair play to him; he's certainly not getting any younger.

You wash your mouth out! Josh is no mere mortal.

[Stuttgart88]

total boss

Looking at it again it was an extraordinary piece of agility and eye-foot co-ordination on Hendrick's part to play such a dangerous ball back in. The ball was over his head and at one point he was running towards the touch line, yet he played the ball back with accuracy and a great deftness of touch. Sheer quality.

I'd fall over my own feet if I tried to cushion a high dropping ball on the turn like that.

[DeLorean]

It was an amazing piece of skill. O'Shea's finish gets better each time I see it as well... and I think I've seen it about 800 times now thanks to that gif.

[BonnieShels]

Looking at it again it was an extraordinary piece of agility and eye-foot co-ordination on Hendrick's part to play such a dangerous ball back in. The ball was over his head and at one point he was running towards the touch line, yet he played the ball back with accuracy and a great deftness of touch. Sheer quality.

I'd fall over my own feet if I tried to cushion a high dropping ball on the turn like that.

Your skill set is married to a pair of gloves.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

The honeymoon is over for O'Shea.