I've noticed that these two seem to get a lot of stick on here, particularly O'Shea. I just wonder in 4 or 5 years time how their time at the club will be remembered? Both signed from Man U in 2011 and both have pretty much been in the team when fit every since, only cost around £5 million between them. Are they just easy targets at the moment or is the general opinion that they're just ****? Personally I think that they've been good signings both a bit old in the tooth now but still capable of doing a decent job (though I think Brown is a use in case of emergency player now). Obviously both need phasing out in the not too distant future but the club seem to be taking steps towards that already.
Overall, good signings for the price. But they really stink now by epl standards and have been subpar for around the last 2 seasons. We should have brought in upgrades a while ago and now we're all frustrated. Part of our scoring problems lie in the fact that we have to sit everyone back so much and slow the whole game down - all because the centre of our defence would get run off the park if we played open football. Centre backs don't need to be greyhounds, but these two are another extreme altogether these days. Certainly not their fault and I'm grateful for O'Shea showing up every week and for Brown giving it a go when he easily could have taken the easy way out.
O'Shea ive never really been a fan of and wasnt that thrilled when he signed. For me personally he has had half a decent season in his time while he was here. Brown is one of those players who is either fantastic or does a complete howler and costs you the game. Plus he is made of glass.
They've both been 6 out of 10 signings IMO I was concerned that they both got long contracts, and I thought Brown would be a disaster with his injury record. We tried to replace them with Diakite and Roberge, but obviously failed dismally there I don't expect either to be first 11 players this season, but I do expect both to play a role (circa 10 - 15 appearances each) through the course of the season
If you consider the standard of defender we had before then yes, Bramble, Turner, da Silva and Ferdinand were all poor looking back, though we did have Mensah who was good but he was only ever a loan deal. I wouldn't say they've pushed the team massively towards the holly grail of mid table mediocrity but they are a big step up from the four players mentioned above.
We sit too deep to compensate for the lack of pace. Puts us on the back foot. Playing either one is fine with a pacey centre back, but both together we're going to lose the possession battle everytime, and we do and have been for a long time, even under Gus' 'possession' based football.
I'd agree with that mate and I'm fairly hopeful that we won't have to see a Brown and O'shea pairing starting too often this year, I think that O'shea has still got a role to play in the starting 11 if he's paired with someone more mobile like Kaboul.
FFS, haway man! One's made of tinsel, the other has a turning circle of the Exxon Valdiz. I'll leave you lot to work out which is which.
O'Shea is good in the air, if the ball is aimed directly at him. Brown reads the game well, if his legs are attached. The balls don't go directly at O'Shea, and Browns legs are rarely attached. That's my view.
Brown was good at times but injured too much and the longer it goes on the more howlers he seems to commit. O'Shea isn't a footballer. I don't know what he is or where he belongs but it's not on a football pitch playing premier league footie.
I don't think he was outstanding at Man United. I think he was a ****e squad filler of a player who was carried by the quality around him. I've never seen anyone describe him as outstanding. We don't know each other well enough to be giving each other nicknames but I'm happy to take Aussie boy. My nickname for you will be ****. Enjoy it, you earned it.
I'm hoping the CB pairing will be Kaboul and Coates. But I suspect injuries will dictate. Thinking about it, it could be a busy season for Beadling.
