Andy O'Brien v John O'Shea

**Scram** · 03/10/2007, 8:25 PM

Which would you have at center back

!

The O'Brien Dunne combination worked well other than a couple of positioning errors by AOB but surely he's a better option than O'Shea who has been a disaster in the position.

**backstothewall** · 03/10/2007, 9:09 PM

O'Brien every time. Would never have dropped him

**inexile** · 03/10/2007, 9:35 PM

jos as much as im not a fan has performed quite well in his last 2 games at centre half for ireland against denmark and the czechs, whereas andy o brien was a disaster against cyprus and hasn't done anything except mainly sit on portsmouths bench and play a couple of games for bolton in the intervening period so id go with o'shea

**Stuttgart88** · 03/10/2007, 9:48 PM

I don't know if it's the same people, but there were 2 themes on this forum a couple of seasons ago: John O'Shea was a crap left back and Andy O'Brien was a crap centre back. Now everyone wants O'Shea at left back and O'Brien back at centre back.

O'Brien's 06/07 season was a write off. He actually played well enough in Stuttgart but was harshly penalised for the free that led to their goal. That said, he was clumsy and left himself open to the decision.

He was awful in Cyprus along with 5 or 6 others, including one of my favourites, Finnan. He was injured beforehand and not match fit. Bobby Robson thought McShane should have played but Stan overruled him.

However I think O'Brien has always done pretty well for us and deserves another chance in my opinion, but probably not against Germany. O'Shea has done ok at CB the last 2 times he played there for us and much as I'd like to see him off the team I think he's our best option at CB alongside Dunne.

**eirebhoy** · 03/10/2007, 9:59 PM

O'Brien without a doubt. Himself and Cunningham had a superb partnership and he's had very few bad games.

**NeilMcD** · 03/10/2007, 10:08 PM

They should be both in the squad and after seeing them both in training etc I would then make the decision with maybe O shea slightly ahead at the moment.

**tetsujin1979** · 03/10/2007, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Bobby Robson thought McShane should have played but Stan overruled him.

Other way around, Stand wanted to play McShane after seeing him in training, but Robson said to play O'Brien (remember he had O'Brien at Newcastle and probably trusted him aginst Cyprus), despite being in England because he was too ill to travel

**tetsujin1979** · 03/10/2007, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

O'Brien without a doubt. Himself and Cunningham had a superb partnership and he's had very few bad games.

Cunningham was very much the organiser in that partnership. With Dunne having matured massively over the last 2 seasons, and now organising the Man City defence (just watch him order Richards, Corluka, Onuoha, etc around). It wouldn't be a big step up for him to do the same at international level.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 03/10/2007, 10:38 PM

O'Shea over O'Brien at the moment but I'd prefer to see O'Brien CB and O'Shea LB to accomodate Finnan at RB.

**Superhoops** · 03/10/2007, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by inexile

jos as much as im not a fan has performed quite well in his last 2 games at centre half for ireland against denmark and the czechs, whereas andy o brien was a disaster against cyprus and hasn't done anything except mainly sit on portsmouths bench and play a couple of games for bolton in the intervening period so id go with o'shea

Problem was that against the Czechs he was selected at Right Back but kept drifting into the centre. Maybe he thought he was playing at centre half

JOS only good game for Ireland in 40 starts was against Denmark, whereas AOB has had the odd howler, but was generally relaible for us.

**NeilMcD** · 03/10/2007, 11:08 PM

he is talking about the czech home game when he played centre back

**mrtndvn** · 03/10/2007, 11:13 PM

John o'shea is the worse excuse for a footballer I have ever seen in my life.

**danonion** · 03/10/2007, 11:27 PM

O'Brien will be 32, 33 tops by the time WC 2010 rolls around, why alienate him? McShane is too small and not very good - his "pashun" and aggression have made a few fans think he has a football brain, I haven't seen evidence of it. We need more players in this position, Stan is just too stubborn.

**Stuttgart88** · 04/10/2007, 9:49 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Other way around

Ooops, fair enough!

**eirebhoy** · 04/10/2007, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Cunningham was very much the organiser in that partnership. With Dunne having matured massively over the last 2 seasons, and now organising the Man City defence (just watch him order Richards, Corluka, Onuoha, etc around). It wouldn't be a big step up for him to do the same at international level.

Yeah I agree but O'Shea equally needs an organiser beside him.

**as_i_say** · 04/10/2007, 12:46 PM

john o shea sh ite. at centerback, left back, right back, center mid, left mid.

i think he saved a robbie keane effort when in goals for man u but i'm pretty sure they put him in there because he is in fact, sh ite.

i'd go one more than the post above. he has never had a good game for us. good game for denmark? yeah suppose he hadnt the ball that much except for when he nearly headed it into his own net under pressure from his own shadow.

worst irish international to accumulate more than a few caps. EVER. OF ALL TIME.

**dynamo kerry** · 04/10/2007, 2:10 PM

was anyone else at the game when o'shea made his debut

I was on the south terrace and in the last 2 minutes in a goalmout melee (against paraguy or croatia or someone) a skinny arm stuck out it's paw to stop a shot heading wide. who's arm?

well i'll tell you this.. it's not a skinny arm any longer.

o'brien please.