John O'Shea

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/08/2015, 2:21 PM

0-0 after 20 minutes so his legs seem to be holding up.

**Colbert Report** · 22/08/2015, 3:01 PM

Two and a half matches into the season and Sunderland are now two to one on to get relegated.

**GypsyBlackCat** · 24/08/2015, 1:51 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

0-0 after 20 minutes so his legs seem to be holding up.

What are you on about broken brain? He's 34, of course he's not going to have the same level of fitness as he did 3/4 years ago. He looked a yard or two of the pace in pre-season. But his experience and leadership is vital. You could see how well the defense was organized on Saturday. He's an intelligent player so he knows he has to have those '5 yards of pace' in his head. You're making it out as if I said he was in a wheelchair!!!!

**OwlsFan** · 26/08/2015, 9:10 AM

Saw him being out jumped for one of the Exeter goals last night. We need O'Shea at the top of his game.

**DeLorean** · 03/10/2015, 2:17 PM

Starts at home to West Ham as Sunderland take an early lead through Fletcher.

**DeLorean** · 25/10/2015, 11:37 AM

Gone off with hamstring injury in derby!

**tetsujin1979** · 16/12/2015, 9:39 AM

Didn't see it posted here, made his 400th Premier League appearance last weekend. According to OptaJoe, Richard Dunne and Shay Given are the only other Irish players to have done this: https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/675678683689033730?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

400 - John O’Shea will be the third Republic of Ireland player to reach 400 PL apps after Shay Given (443) & Richard Dunne (431). Charm.

I looked up who the Irish player with the next highest amount of Premier League appearances, and currently playing in the Premier League, is.

Was a little surprised actually, any guesses?

**DeLorean** · 16/12/2015, 9:45 AM

Glenn Whelan or James McCarthy? I'd probably go with Whelan out of those two for obvious reasons but McCarthy has a serious amount played for his age, so wouldn't be surprised if it was him.

**OwlsFan** · 16/12/2015, 10:09 AM

Right so we have a choice of Coleman, McCarthy, Gibson, Wilson, Brady, Hoolahan, McLean, Whelan, McGeady, Long and Walters (hope I haven't forgotton anyone obvious there). Has to be Whelan ??

**DeLorean** · 16/12/2015, 10:11 AM

Just thought of Given? Is he considered 'in the squad' seeing as he only missed out through injury? Technically he's still in the PL too, if not quite 'playing' in the PL.

**tetsujin1979** · 16/12/2015, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Glenn Whelan or James McCarthy? I'd probably go with Whelan out of those two for obvious reasons but McCarthy has a serious amount played for his age, so wouldn't be surprised if it was him.

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Right so we have a choice of Coleman, McCarthy, Gibson, Wilson, Brady, Hoolahan, McLean, Whelan, McGeady, Long and Walters (hope I haven't forgotton anyone obvious there). Has to be Whelan ??

Nope, none of those. Whelan was my first thought too, but he's second on the list.

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Just thought of Given? Is he considered 'in the squad' seeing as he only missed out through injury? Technically he's still in the PL too, if not quite 'playing' in the PL.

Given's ahead of O'Shea on 443 appearances, I'm looking for the player who's after O'Shea, and currently in the Premier League

Keane has 343 Premier League appearances, but is playing in MLS so it's not him either

**DeLorean** · 16/12/2015, 10:18 AM

Had a look through the most recent squad and I'm completed baffled. Can't see how anybody else in it could have played more than Given/Whelan/McCarthy. Extended squad member, perhaps?

**Yard of Pace** · 16/12/2015, 10:21 AM

Stephen Ireland perhaps?

**Yard of Pace** · 16/12/2015, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Had a look through the most recent squad and I'm completed baffled. Can't see how anybody else in it could have played more than Given/Whelan/McCarthy. Extended squad member, perhaps?

The original question just asked for a Republic of Ireland player still playing in the EPL.

**tetsujin1979** · 16/12/2015, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

Stephen Ireland perhaps?

Very good, its Stephen Ireland, with 235 appearances. He's not the first player you'd think of, but he's been playing regularly since 2005, and never outside the PL.
Whelan's just behind him on 226, then Walters, McCarthy and Long

**Yard of Pace** · 16/12/2015, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

He's not the first player you'd think of,

He actually was the first player I thought of! I knew it'd be someone odd, and not only do they not come much odder than Mr. Ireland, but he's been playing EPL football for the best part of 10 years now.

Y'know, I bet at the time, with Stan in charge, he never thought his stayaway antics would mean he'd miss playing in a tournament for Ireland. Fair chance it'll be four by the time he hangs up his boots and flys off into the sunset with his angel wings and Superman y-fronts....