Right, i'm hoping that by now the vast majority can see the importance that JOS has to our defence and the squad as a whole, his leadership qualities are unrivaled at the back (excluding Catts who is a BIG miss) and his great ability to read the game and make an important tackle are evident most weekends. The problem is that JOS is one man of a potentially very good CB pairing, and one man is not enough. Bramble, Killa and Cuellar are all players i'm happy to have in the team, but they MUST have JOS with them or they're, being polite as possible, ****e. Fortunately MON has seen this and addressed this by bringing a beast of a CB in Mangane, however his lack of experience in the premiership and only a 6 month loan deal rather than a permanent move shows MON's hesitance to sign him long term, admitting himself he hasn't gave up too much time to watch him compared to N'Daiye, however i'll wait for Mangane to have a full 90 minutes under his belt before i judge him. Wes Brown was excellent for us last season and formed a good relationship with former united man JOS, but his injury stricken career seems to have followed him to the NE and sadly it looks like his career is over thus rendering the United old boys CB pairing dead. So it seems clear to me that we need a new CB who has similar leadership qualities to John. I firmly believe that we won't see one in this transfer window and that the summer period is when we're most likely recruit such a player, so i'm asking you fellow not606er's to help out Marty and the gang is finding JOS's + 1 to the party. Now lets get this sorted right now, Samba won't come here, we could never afford his wages and they're are other clubs out there that are better, and i can't see Dawson coming up north so lets forget that one shall we? I player that i'd personally like to see, but wouldn't join til the summer (if at all) is Ashley Williams at Swansea, Looks solid most weeks and organises they're team every week. Would like to hear everyone else's opinions for who would be a good fit.
Don't think anyone doubted his ability mate its his fitness that is the problem. As for replacements we should be looking now as he will only get worse and, I don't think we'll see much more of Brown this or next season. Who we should go for us the big ask, for me we should be looking at why we can't attract players like Samba rather than just admitting defeat and not even trying for him.
Im a big O'Shea fan and lets be honest our defence is ****e without him! I always thought/ hoped he and Brown would be our defensive rock but i actually forget Brown plays for us nowadays! Cuellar made a great start, and looked a bargain but his last couple of games he looked clumsy and was at fault for both of Spurs goals, Boltons 1st and our thrashing off Liverpool. Bramble and Killa are out of contrct this year, so I hope Mengane can be our equivelent to Samba!
It's not necessarily that we can't attract him it's just other clubs that will be able to pay silly money for his wages
I am glad I am not alone. For me O'Shea has been one of the players of the season for me and a calm, steady head in the centre of defence (lousy a **** RB mind) and we look piss poor at the back when he isnt playing. I hope we can keep him fit for another 18 months to 2 years at least, as I am happy to build the defence around him. Another good strong CH (Haangerland would be perfect) to complement Manganes arrival, a RB and we will be set in the defence.
I wouldn't say 2 years but 18 months is very possible, providing he can stay fit, the problem with hangeland is he so slow, very good yes but really slow, that's why I prefer Williams, who has more pace and presence at the same time
the thing is with jos he is'nt getting any younger so imo mon has to start looking for a replacement pretty soon while he can buy at reasonable price and get him bedded in.
