A young Irish fullback plays against Real Madrid in the CL and theres no discussion of his performance?We'll just see about that... In the first half O'Shea was impressive,getting forward,linking with Giggs,nutmegging Figo--a good day at the office Id say. As I was at work I didnt catch too much of the second,but I believe O'Shea was moved to right back for Wes Brown who was awful.All in all the fact that Figo was barely mentioned says it all about the boys performance.I know Giggs gets some credit there too but there you go.
Well, we've been praising John all year in the United forum. It's too bad Mick didn't see fit to use the lad... He's truly something special, and has a great future ahead of him.
Although he has just played a few games for Ireland he has yet to play well for the boyz in green. But he will. The future is bright.
Re: Re: O'Shea [R] (ish) So McCarthy should have picked a player unproven at international level, not holding down a regular place in his club side over more experienced international and club players? In the 2 competitive games he has played this year for Ireland - Georgia and Albania - he has been decidedly dodgy in defense. No doubt he looks good going forward, but it is no coincidence that both Albania and Georgia's primary attacks came down O'Shea's side. And more so in the Albania game where he looked lost on too many occassions. He has certainly played better for Utd. than Ireland. It's too bad Mick didn't see fit to use the lad... Just another snide attempt to proclaim that everything McCarthy is shit and Roy the wanker was and always will be whiter than white. Get over yourself..............
What kind of knee-jerk reactionary crap was that?!?!? You put about 38 words in my mouth from one half sentence.... O'Shea off the bench against 10 man Spain would've been a good option, IMO. Who said phuck-all about Roy Keane?
Maybe Charlton could really have used him off the bench against Romania in 1990 also. It's too bad Jack didn't see fit to use the lad, either.........
I wouldn't get too worried he's like that... Anyway, O'Shea is amazing, I still say despite his attacking talents (THAT nutmeg on Figo) he's a class defender when played centrally, remember the job he did on Hasslebaink? Amazing.
At the time, Mick was right not to use him in the competitive games, IMO - he'd only just begun his first full season. He obviously had potential, but he didn't even have the relatively meagre experience he has now. Could have used him more in friendlies though. Having said that, you were a bit over the top Samarkand.
I agree about the talent's of O'Shea, I've never seen a central defender dart down the wing like him, the chance he had in the Newcastle game leading to Gigg's goal was top class...Have to admit I was a bit concerned about him getting forward too much & leaving gap's at the back against Albania. But it's great to see some class young talent coming through at last for ireland. By the way, I enjoy this forum, but some entries into are well over the top e.g Just another snide attempt to proclaim that everything McCarthy is ************ and Roy the wanker was and always will be whiter than white. Get over yourself.............. Just another excuse to drag the old Keane/Mccarthy crap un again, that's history now & should be forgotten!!
Too soon to tell. O’Shea seems to be playing very well over the past couple of months, word has it that he may even win the young player of the year award. There is no doubt that he has the potential to be a world-class player but I think he has a way to go and needs some work on some big weaknesses. While he is definitely top class when his team has possession but I wonder about his defensive qualities mainly his technical movements and his positional decision-making. He jockeys on his heels and brings his legs too close together (watch him), these are real bad technical movements for a defender and very hard habits to break. His positional play on defense is very questionable, he seems confused at times and does not make any movements to cue his other defenders, leaving them on organized. Look at the first goal for Real Madrid last Wednesday, Ronaldo’s run was into space behind O’Shea, he never made the decision to step out or drop back and forced Ferdinand to track the offensive run. On the second goal O’Shea keeps Ronaldo onside as the ball is ball is played to Roberto Carlos. Positional play will improve with experience but technical movements are hard to change. Time will tell. I hope he lives up to what seems to be expected of him.
Most if not all of that is down to the fact he's a central defender playing full back, very full are successfull there, which makes his preformances there all the more amazing.
Personally I think O'Shea is going to have a harder time convincing a section of the Irish footballing public of his worth than a similar talent not playing for Man U would. I know several Irish football fans who are sick to death with the love affair many sections of the Irish media have with Man U, a state of affairs which has been exacerbated by the various Roy Keane sagas. With certain journos now trumpeting O'Shea as God Almighty simply because he plays for Man U, there are people who are, understandably, sceptical. (Witness the particularly sharp backlash after what were adequate, not dire performances against Georgia & Albania) I personally think he is a great prospect, but also think that if he does manage to win over the vast majority of Irish fans, he'll have done it against more onerous odds than others face.
O'Shea loses Jenas of Newcastle was awarded the English premiership young player of the year. Despite John's achievements and potential I guess none of us will be too surprised that he didn't get it. On a positive note, Stephen Carr was named in the team of the year.
Has O'Shea ever played in the centre of the park? And if so, how has he done? Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Old Whisky Cheeks making noises about slotting him into midfield at one stage? Anyways, I have to agree with Sausagepump, I don't who else on this forum has the misfortune to read the Irish media, but the constant beatification of O'Shea by certain sections is verging on the ridiculous. He has an awful lot of potential and I'm delighted to see that he's made the breakthrough at United, and reckon that he could be a pivotal part of our side for the next decade or so - provided he steers clear of injury and United don't attempt to convince him to retire from the rigours of international football at the grand old age of 22. But to read the Irish papers, you'd think he's more God than man. In a sentence I think he's good at the moment, very good, but has the potential to be great. Still, can't see him playing on Wednesday, though. The ruddy faced one will undoubtedly be on the phone to Kerr in the next couple of hours claiming that O'Shea has a "twing" or "pulled up in training".
I haven't been reading that much Irish media of late as I am in London, but I have to admit that I think O'Shea has got great potential for ManYoo & Ireland. You have to take into consideration that he has been playing ahead of some quality defenders this season, Brown, Blanc, the nevilles(don't rate them myself), ferdinand, silvestre... It's good to see that the Irish defence is looking strong at the moment, especially if we can get rid of donkey Breen, Carr & Finnan are quality, Cunningham is having a blinder at Brum & have undoubted talent between the post's. I do have slight concernes about O'Shea getting too far forward & not getting back to cover. Does anyone think he would do a job in midfield for Ireland, as we certainly are the weakest in that part of the pitch we have been for years??
it's a difficult one to call. even pug-nose doesn't know what his best position is. so far this season he's played all 4 defensive positions and one outing in midfield in the worthington cup. one thing is for certain is that he offers an extra attacking edge that ireland hasn't had for a long time. he's got fantastic skill, control and pace for a big lad and will (scarily) only get better. i do think he could offer something in midfield but perhaps in a few years as he matures. IMHO he's comfortable at left back so i would leave him there for the minute.
O'Sheas best position is central defence, while his attacking flair is amazing, his best preformance came against Chelsea in central defence for me. His pace, tackling and awareness inside the box were amazing for one so inexperienced at the time. Only injuries have forced him into full back, he's been a central defender all through his career up until now. You can't doubt he's already a fantastic player, potentially world class, and if you deny that just because of who he plays for then you're just being a bitter clown really, he quite clearly is worth a place in our starting 11 and is a quality player, he played well against Georgia and below par against Albania, no worse then that. Also, it's not just the Irish media that are all over him, it's the same in England, didn't one of the ITV pundits at christmas say he was the player of the season so far (Player, not just young player) while you could call that Man U bias, to pick him ahead of any other Man U player says alot. For me he should have won young player of the year, but with someone young getting capped for England preformances don't come into the equation and it was always going to Jenas or Rooney despite O'Shea playing more games and playing better imo. But his long term position for Ireland and Man United will probably be central defence or central mid field, can't see him staying on the wing for much longer.
There is no doubt that he has positional deficiencies, especially when the Utd defence are under pressure, but they are, in general, only minor and will certainly be ironed out as he becomes more experienced. Let us not forget that this is his first full season as a first team defender and he has been asked to fill in all across the back line. 21 year old defenders, no matter how good, are going to make positional mistakes. This is totally normal. It is certainly totally unfair to criticise O'Shea over his performances in his first international games as he is young, was undoubtedly very nervous and was playing with new team mates. What makes him stand out is his confidence and physical/technical ability. He has clearly got all the technical and physical attributes needed, in order to be a top class player. His awareness and positional sense will be honed over the next few years as he comes up against top class attackers.