John O’Shea

.John O’Shea has clearly learned the canny defender’s art of letting his brain do all the running. The theory is if you get in the right position in the first place, you don’t have to chase to recover.

In 90 minutes of helping Sunderland keep a clean sheet against Newcastle, the Ireland international logged just 11.9 metres at sprint speed on the EA Sports performance data.

It clearly works for him – he’ll be 34 at the end of this month but remains the sole Premier League outfield player to have appeared in every minute of every game in all competitions for his club this season.

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John O'Shea only sprinted 11.9 metres during his impressive display in Sunderland's 1-0 win over Newcastle

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O'Shea (third left) celebrated Sunderland's win with Costel Pantilimon when the final whistle was blown

For good measure he’s also completed the full 90 minutes of all five European Championship qualifiers for the Republic.

 

There was **** all for him to sprint after!

 

too true mate...........

 

Fingers crossed he's got just as little to do in our next 5 games.

Have to add, still not a fan.

Yes, he put in a captain's shift yesterday. But he's also had some stinkers this season and I don't think he's still got what it takes in the PL.

Not for another season.

 

I think JoS has learnt so much from a fit Wes. His reading of the game has improved so much since a long spell of playing with him.

 

JoS is definitely a happier lad with Wes alongside. He's visibly more confident.

 

They both compensate for their lack of pace extremely well.

 

lets hope he can play in his slippers with pipe in hand against Palace

 

Lets get behind JOS on this run in, he is a strong and steady character in our dressing room and seems to have all the players behind him, this can only be a good thing under present circumstances, if we survive we will need to improve all over the pitch, and I have a feeling that JOS will have a big part to play in any future development the club has in mind, I for one certainly hope so.

 

Brought up on football from a different era I still believe a well drilled defence is held together and commanded by the CB, don't buy into "the game has changed" philosophy either. His speed has never been great but he has generally been our most reliable defender over the time he has been here.

 

We have to get behind all of the lads mate for the last 7 games, including our favourites and less so, but I agree, we need to improve all over the pitch, at least 6 regulars just aren't good enough.