He proved that Yakin could tear him a new one before Ferguson switched him to left back.
TBH, I think he played his best football for man utd in hsi first season as a left back. After that, he found his level... sitting on the bench behind real left backs like Evra and Heinze.
You can't spell failure without FAI
at least phil babb put in a few decent displays for us over a short period of time, although once mcgrath retired that was the end of him. O shea has yet to do that. He needs to be completely and utterly dropped from both Man u and Ireland and made work for a place on each team. then we might find out whether he is @rsed or not.
I
He should be for Ireland what he is for Man Utd - a sub and a emergency utility player. For all his weaknesses, he does that role well for Man Utd. Putting him into a starting 11 for Ireland usually at center back, the position he performs least at for Man Utd (goalkeeper excepted), does him or the team no favours at all.
"Jacques Santini...will be greeted in every dugout of the country by "one-nil, one-nil" - Clive Tyldsley, 89th minute of France-England June 13, 2004.
"Ooooohhhh Nooooooo" Bobby Robson 91st minute.
The point in relation to aggression / bottle is pertinent to O'Shea. He seems to allow opposing players to bully him off the ball and then at times over compensates by giving away needless free kicks.
Many celebrated centre half's have built a career based on bottle, sheer determination and moderate ability. The point is - players in the past have acquired a sh*t load of caps based on a battling attitude and will to win.
If O'Shea scrapped for every ball and battled, added to his basic ability on the ball - his effectiveness would increase and he would be a much more viable option for Ireland.
United's back four are a solid unit without O'Shea and he's not a midfielder. His performances in midfield for club and country have clearly illustrated that he has no natural instinct for the position.
He too often takes the wrong option, picks the wrong pass and doesn't make the correct intervention. Most midfield players have played there since they were 10 years old and naturally pick the right option - what chance has O'Shea got.
A move to another club, under the right circumstances, could rejuvenate his career - although he seems happy on the bench at the minute.
steve staunton has only one option, resignation!!
Was he crazy!! Yeah , in a very special way , an Irishman.
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
All the points you made are well presented.
If he could only improve one part of his game then that would be more than enough to compensate for other weaknesses and maybe even improve them. He has so much ability that you'd think it would burn a hole in his brain that a battling decent enough defender like Vidic has taken his position.
O'Shea is picked for Ireland because he at the Scum, note he hardly ever starts for them but hes a "big" name player. His performance for Ireland have been nothing short of shambolic.
Bye bye Stan. Go off back to collecting cones you useless git.
The fact that O'Shea came through the youth setup at ManU and made the break through into the first team meant that he was hyped by the media. You can't ignore the fact that the last Irish player to come through the youth setup at one of the top 4 clubs in England was probably Steve Staunton. It doesn't happen very often and list of players who have done it is impressive in terms of quality, it is usually a very good indicator of future international success. John O'Shea seems to be the exception to the rule.
O'Shea went to England after his leaving cert. No more went through the youth set up than most other Irish internationals who went to play for English clubs.
I'm almost afraid to ask, how did he play last night?
Last edited by geysir; 08/03/2007 at 11:10 AM.
He played alright, did his job, and hit a crossbar from a header off a corner.
apparently a ball bounced off his head and hit the crossbar
agh too late
Last edited by as_i_say; 08/03/2007 at 11:54 AM. Reason: guh.
I
hes a below average footballer, who is always lathargic and uninterested when playing for ireland
Ferguson seems to rate him very highly though and id rate his opinion higher than most of the people who bad mouth O'Shea. Before the game Ferguson during the interview was bigging up the job that O'Shea had against Lille. He can be sloppy at times with his passing, its as if he switches off at times but personally i felt he looked more impressive than Carrick. But the one big problem i have with O'Shea was evident last night. United had a free 30 yeards out. O'Shea stood infront of the Lille player on the side of the wall. The Lille player pushed him away and O'Shea simply walked away. For a guy of his size and stature i really really wish he would toughen up. If he had the attitude of Alan Smith even he would be a much better player IMO
He looked alright today against Boro. Made some very good passes and I don't remember him giving away possession at all.
I raised an eyebrow at the commentator saying "Intelligent pass by O'Shea!"
Now that said, I think he should be used more as a utility player for us unless we get creative working with formations.
Man U's 4-3-3 they've been playing the last couple of games could be an option with our generally poor midfield options.
--------------Given------------
Finnan----Dunne---O'Dea---Carr
---O'Shea---Carsley---Kilbane---
---McGeady---Doyle---Keane----
Any takers?
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