O'Shea

[Rams]

My tip to break through big time this season. Got everything; agility, speed, command, technique, tackling etc. Just needs to beef up a little. Reckon he'll get a lot of games in the PL whilst Blanc is rested for CL games.
Keep an eye on him!

 

[reddermo]

Agreed. Plays the game the United way as well.

MacCarthy doesnt rate him so he will do for me.

 

[mu77]

he's got alot going for him. time for one thing. i look forward to MU's cb's playing together for a long while. brown can play rb and cb and form a formidable back line for 10yrs. rio will supply the culture and o'shea the bloody noses.

 

[Rams]

The dutch were ranting and raving about him after the Parma game, they thought he was our best player. They were wondering where he turned up from. And the dutch have an eye for talent....

 

[reddermo]

Originally posted by MU77;

rio will supply the culture and o'shea the bloody noses. <hr></blockquote>

You have never seen O'Shea play have you?

 

[Tomo]

Originally posted by Rams:
<strong>The dutch were ranting and raving about him after the Parma game, they thought he was our best player. They were wondering where he turned up from. And the dutch have an eye for talent....</strong><hr></blockquote>



still remember last season when he stepped up during the injury crisis. Awesome he was

 

[reddermo]

So where is your young cultured centre half dipper?

 

[mu77]

yes in fact i have. i believe that he'll get his chance. and between the two , o'shea will get more grass and dirt on him then rio. are you of the opinion he won't do the business?

 

[reddermo]

O'Shea is nothing like a brutal, hard man centre half. His game is all about reading the game and timing his tackles.

So what is the blood reference?

 

[mu77]

sorry i've upset your day m8. really , i'll never post again - does that make you feel better.

 

[reddermo]

Are you mistaking O'Shea for somebody else?

Mick MacCarthy or Terry Butcher for example?

Very easy mistake.

 

[sa77]

I think the future of our defence is in Rio and Wes, Oshea will be a great player but i think Rio and Wes will reform the Bruce-Palister partnaship in our defence.

 

[uranushk1]

Originally posted by sa77:
<strong>I think the future of our defence is in Rio and Wes, Oshea will be a great player but i think Rio and Wes will reform the Bruce-Palister partnaship in our defence.</strong><hr></blockquote>

It's difficult to say. Currently you can say Wes is better, but that's mainly due to he is older and have far more first team experience than O'Shea. If O'Shea can get more games under his belt he may become an awesome player.

 

[elmoyju]

O'Shea is rated by McCarthy but he's considered too young yet to step up (which is a shame because the Breen anyone else patrnership doesn't inspire confidence).

O'Shea has just been named captain of the Ireland U21's so he'll obviously make the senior team sooner than later.

 

[phunky]

And seeing that Fergie opted for him over Wes Brown after Rio's early departure, we all can guess who's the new centre pairing gonna be i think....

 

[Julian Denny]

O'Shea has terrific potential. I hope he's not left languishing on the bench whilst fergie persists with Laurent. John needs the experience now - I see him as a better equipped cente back than Wes although the latter oozes talent. Put Wes at right back and give John his chance alongside Rio. Fergie thinks that everyone, including Rio, can learn from Blanc's experience which I suppose is fair enough. Notwithstanding that, I just hope John in particular can be given a fair chance - ie a run in the team.

 

[Penny]

The key there IMO ... is Fergie think Wes is a bit more mistake-prone .. so my guess is Fergie will field O'Shea even more often as CB compare to Wes this season ... while Wes could - at least for the moment, fight out the RB role with Phil ..

Great to have both of them around though ... young and promising both they are . .

 

[benny]

Ive been saying it for yonks this boy is a special player,himself and Rio will become the most formidable partnership in Europe,of that there is no doubt.

 

[christiepark_boy]

O'Shea will definitely step up this season...he's good on the ball and steps in at the right point..his positional play looks a strength.

Its a very important season therefore for Wes, who I rate very highly, but he's never looked as strong in the centre as he did at right back...time for him to work out where his best position is...expect him to finish the season at right back again.

 

[Dumbstar]

Originally posted by reddermo:
<strong>So where is your young cultured centre half dipper?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Fishing again? Well reel 'em in here.

We don't have young pretenders such as Wes Brown OG and OShite-I-Can't-Even-Make-The-Irish-Team. We have 'proper' defenders who aren't slow, aren't complacent and certainly know how to 'defend'. Something your lot could have learnt this season had Rio not got injured already.

We also have Traore who is better than all your young hopefuls, but he's nowhere near our first team with the likes of Hyppia, Henchoz and Babbel ahead of him.

 

[Dans]

Kinell, since when have you followed football mate?

 

[dar10nian]

O' Shea came on for Rio and played lke a 30 million pound player. He is class no doubt. The defence seems to be ok. Larry still class, Roy Carrol looks the part. It's upfront where we are thin, cuase Forlan still looks shite to me.

 

[elmoyju]

OShite-I-Can't-Even-Make-The-Irish-Team. <hr></blockquote>

Read Captain of Irish U21's as above.

 

[benny]

scourge that fecking dipper,quickly

 

[Rams]

Originally posted by Dumpstar:
<strong>
"We have 'proper' defenders who aren't slow,..."

"...Henchoz and Babbel."</strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

 

[cD]

O'Shea will probably partner Rio in the long term, while Brown will probably play RB, he seemed quite good against Parma, better than Phil Neville to be honest and better than Gary for the simple reason that he has a fair bit of pace that GN lacks.

 

[gulli_G]

Originally posted by cd:
<strong>O'Shea will probably partner Rio in the long term, while Brown will probably play RB, he seemed quite good against Parma, better than Phil Neville to be honest and better than Gary for the simple reason that he has a fair bit of pace that GN lacks.</strong><hr></blockquote>

He could be used as a rightback, or Fergie is saving him, as we only have 2 first team right backs left with Gaz injured.

If he put him on ahead of O'Shea? 1: what other non important high profile games would O'shea get to play for experience, and 2: if Wes was put on and got injured, we would only have Phil as our right back, and that does not inspire confidence.

IMO Wes has all the credentials to be another Thuram (RB for france, not as a CB). Wes has it all: Height, Power, speed, Agility, and the bone crunching tackles.

Plus at RB his mistakes will be less detrimental, for the team.

 

[Neil Thomson]

Great defenders are 28. We have 3 defenders who for their age are fantastic. Our central defense is sorted for the future. Its the flanks that are weak. Hopefully Escude, and one of our other targets, will come.

 

[golden_blunder]

Originally posted by Dumpstar:
<strong>


We also have Traore who is better than all your young hopefuls, but he's nowhere near our first team with the likes of Hyppia, Henchoz and Babbel ahead of him.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Is that the same first team that he was part of yesterday when they got beat by Arsenal?

 

[An Extremely Boring Man]

Originally posted by Dumpstar:
<strong>

We also have Traore who is better than all your young hopefuls, but he's nowhere near our first team with the likes of Hyppia, Henchoz and Babbel ahead of him.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Apparently Traore is a big hit among the Southampton supporters <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

 

[Davo]

Originally posted by An Extremely Boring Man:
<strong>

Apparently Traore is a big hit among the Southampton supporters <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

OG is a big hit amongst the Bayern supporters..

amongst others

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

 

[An Extremely Boring Man]

Originally posted by Davo:
<strong>

OG is a big hit amongst the Bayern supporters..

amongst others

<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

I would have thought the Bayern supporters would hate the sight of Ole Gunnar

 

[Davo]

Originally posted by An Extremely Boring Man:
<strong>

I would have thought the Bayern supporters would hate the sight of Ole Gunnar</strong><hr></blockquote>

I was talking about Brown OG

Your calamity like defender

 

[Lion]

Originally posted by Dumpstar:
<strong>

Fishing again? Well reel 'em in here.

We don't have young pretenders such as Wes Brown OG and OShite-I-Can't-Even-Make-The-Irish-Team. We have 'proper' defenders who aren't slow, aren't complacent and certainly know how to 'defend'. Something your lot could have learnt this season had Rio not got injured already.

We also have Traore who is better than all your young hopefuls, but he's nowhere near our first team with the likes of Hyppia, Henchoz and Babbel ahead of him.</strong><hr></blockquote>

You should be praying hard that Hyppia is fit all season <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

 

[uranushk1]

Originally posted by Dumpstar:
<strong>
We also have Traore who is better than all your young hopefuls, but he's nowhere near our first team with the likes of Hyppia, Henchoz and Babbel ahead of him.</strong><hr></blockquote>

But Houllier complained that the two full backs didn't give them enough width after yesterday's defeat by Arsenal. It seems your boss would rather have Silverstre instead <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

 

[Neil Thomson]

Originally posted by gulli_G:
<strong>

He could be used as a rightback, or Fergie is saving him, as we only have 2 first team right backs left with Gaz injured.

If he put him on ahead of O'Shea? 1: what other non important high profile games would O'shea get to play for experience, and 2: if Wes was put on and got injured, we would only have Phil as our right back, and that does not inspire confidence.

IMO Wes has all the credentials to be another Thuram (RB for france, not as a CB). Wes has it all: Height, Power, speed, Agility, and the bone crunching tackles.

Plus at RB his mistakes will be less detrimental, for the team.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I think until Gary is recovered, Alex would hope that Wes can be backup because he should be better than Phil at it, and so far in the reserve games I think Wes has been the better player at right back. It makes sense therefore to keep playing O'Shea at centre back, his only position, to get him ready to deputise for Rio in any big games that come up in which Rio is unavailable. One Gary is back, the options change, with Gary able to play right back or centre. You never know who's going to get injured, or how long for, so we need these options. I wouldn't read too much into Wes playing right back, and think that he must now be 4th choice centre back - if Wes does well, and Rio comes back soon, then I would expect Gary Rio and Blanc to start, and if one of them needed a rest or got an injury, I'd expect Brown to come in for any of them. This combined with the possible Escude transfer makes very understandable Phil's pre-season comments and nervousness - he's in danger of losing his backup status on both flanks.

 

[Neil Thomson]

From Soccernet:
Wes Brown is beginning one of the most critical phases of his short career as he bids to prove he should be the man to replace the injured Rio Ferdinand at the centre of the Manchester United defence.
Ferdinand is not expected to play for his new club for at least a fortnight after straining ankle ligaments during the final pre-season fixture of the summer on Saturday.

Ferdinand and Brown are close friends, spending a fortnight on holiday together in Las Vegas last month and hoping to one day form a long-term defensive partnership for United and England.

But the indications from Old Trafford suggest it could be 21-year-old John O'Shea, rather than his more experienced team-mate, who will partner Laurent Blanc when United travel to Hungary for their Champions League qualifier against Zalaegerszegi on Wednesday.

As Ferdinand limped away down the tunnel midway through the first half of Saturday's win over Boca Juniors, it was O'Shea who was immediately summoned from the bench by manager Sir Alex Ferguson. And that speaks volumes for the pecking order at the club.

O'Shea - the new captain of the Republic of Ireland Under-21s - is certainly a fine prospect and performed admirably when pressed into action in the midst of United's dreadful Premiership run last winter.

But the fact that he is threatening to leapfrog Brown perhaps says more about the England player's problems than anything else.

Certainly, the knee injuries that have dogged the 21-year-old over the last two seasons have not helped him push on since he first made the England squad in December 2000, when Ferguson described him as 'the best natural defender this club have had for years and years'.

But there is also a feeling at Old Trafford that this is a crucial season for Brown - a time when he has to show the mental strength and determination to re-assert himself and illustrate to Ferguson that he is ready to make the next step. Given the opportunity, Ferdinand would undoubtedly push his friend's case.

The £30million signing is definitely out of Wednesday's tie and, in all likelihood, the Premiership's opening fixture against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, as well as the following Friday's meeting with Chelsea in London.

By twisting his left ankle in the 23rd minute on Saturday, Ferdinand cast a rather unexpected shadow over proceedings.

Not until Paul Scholes appeared for the final 35 minutes to contribute his own impersonation of a bull let loose in an expensive china shop, did this fixture rise above the mundane level of most pre-season friendlies.

Scholes - perhaps seeking to prove a point of his own ahead of what is also an important season for him - began his peculiar cameo by kicking Carlos Tevez in the air and it was not long before the Boca striker took his revenge, courtesy of an elbow to the side of the United player's head.

The subsequent red card was appropriate but the level of leniency shown by referee Mike Riley in the face of a manic display from Scholes was puzzling.

Tevez said: 'Scholes is not a fair player. He kicked me twice and I regret what I did, but he is a dirty player. The referee was soft on him but hard on our team. If we had been playing in Argentina, he would have had the red card, too.

'I know about David Beckham and Roy Keane, they are players respected in my country. But everyone in Argentina knows about Scholes, too. He was unfair in the World Cup game.'

Ruud van Nistelrooy won Saturday's match with two goals of quality in the first half while the contribution of the day came from Juan Sebastian Veron.

Much maligned - and rightly so - this was nevertheless a performance of high order from the Argentina international, whose passing and vision provided an insight into his real capabilities.

All he has to do now is repeat it every weekend for the next nine months.


This is a make or break season for a lot of players. So far, it looks like they are hungry to avoid the chop, but its going to take a high level of consistency, and top performances in the big games, to get ahead of Arsenal this season.

 

[finto]

As Roy said this man is not a player for the future he is a player for now

he is the future of mu i havn't seen better since the mighty paul mcgrath

 

[MancFanFromManc]

Micky --- Blanc --- OShea --- Brown
------------- Carrol --------------

I think they'll handle WBA and all things Hungarian

 

[dixie]

If we can't handle WBA at home with any version of of a back four,then we can forget about about winning Championships or Champions Leagues this year.