Steve Finnan a "role model".

[Stuttgart88]

What concerned me was that he has no "instinct" for the right ball to play from midfield.

The midfield instinct can't be taught and tends to be acquired from playing there since childhood. The correct ball is played from midfield without hesitation and with total assurance, particularly at the highest level.

John O'Shea is another who was converted to midfield but he never looks comfortable there as he doesn't have the acquired instinct of those around him.

Yeah, I too buy into the central midfielder's "instinct". O'Shea doesn't have it, Kilbane doesn't have it, Steven Reid does. I've been watching Didi Hamaan at City lately, what a master, always turning awy from trouble, effortlessly taking hard passes and then playing easy passes. A delight to watch.

A pal of mine over here, an oldish (55+) London east ender, knew Bobby Moore. He asked BM what the most important thing in football was. "Always know your out ball" was the reply.

I was at QPR vs Sunderland last year. Before the game Sunderland made a square out of cones, bibs vs no bibs, and played one touch possession at a high tempo. Graham Kavanagh was a master, always finding an accurate oblique pass and flummoxing the tackler. Liam Miller was a disaster, Stephen Elliott interestingly did quite well.

Joey O'Brien: I forgot about his spell at Wednesday. I remember eirebhoy nearly wetting himself when he & Whelan were playing CM together live on SKY one Friday about 3 years ago

His performance against Cyprus? Rabbit in the headlights, I charitably put it down to nerves which in that position is understandable.

[Stuttgart88]

On Saturday's evidence maybe Finnan is no loss!

[OwlsFan]

O'Brien had made his name as a defensive midfielder when he was coming through the ranks. When he was on loan with Sheffield Wednesday, he and Glen Whelan formed the central midfield partnership, and Wednesday only lost three games in the 2 months he was there.

Yes, Wednesday tried to sign him on a full time contract.

I remember eirebhoy nearly wetting himself when he & Whelan were playing CM together live on SKY one Friday about 3 years ago

As for eirebhoy nearly wetting himself at the performances, I needed a new nappy after every game O'Brien was class during his spell at the Owls.