Dear Johnny,
I’ve decided to write this letter of apology to you following your performance in Saturday’s derby.
Over the past few months I’ve made no secret of my doubts as to your ability and value to the team.
After the Fulham game I labeled you ’embarrassing,’ at the game at Upton Park, I described you as ‘the worst player on the pitch.’
Following the league game at the Reebok, I devoted a whole paragraph to you, claiming you were: ‘a six out of ten player at best’ and then comparing your appearances for United to ‘putting away the good china and bringing out the paper plates for less important guests.’ The nadir of my tirade was actually questioning Sir Alex’s sanity in preferring you to Rafael and Wes Brown.
It wasn’t always like this though, it’s not like I doubted you from the start. I remember you bursting onto the scene in 2002. I proclaimed you as the ‘new Denis Irwin’ – admittedly somewhat over the top. I shouted that Jermaine Jenas getting Young PFA Player of the year ahead of you only proved that footballers were stupid and ignorant. I can recall you cutting inside and hitting the bar against Newcastle like it was yesterday.
Who could forget your goal against Arsenal in 2005, you’re Schmeichel worthy stint in goal at White Hart Lane?
Then there was the goal against Liverpool.
That winner in front of the Kop sealed your entry into both mine and every other United fans list of heroes. It was my favourite moment of the season as we wrestled the title back from Chelsea- with your winner being an important part, your post match interview was even better: “The winner in the 90th minute at Anfield in front of the Kop, Gary Neville has told me that it’s his dream and I have just gone and done it.” Genius.
Yet for some reason things seemed to go sour between us, your performances seemed to get gradually less and less impressive, until they became rather worrying. I must admit my own problems with you weren’t helped by my love of Wes Brown and then Rafael, both of whom I’ve always thought of as far superior.
Don’t get me wrong, despite my misgivings about you, I still cheered you on, Porto at home 2009 was a case in point, everyone was screaming at you as you gave the ball away numerous times, yet I got behind you, “Unlucky Johnny Lad!” When you gave the ball away, “Great ball O’Shea, that’s more like it!” every time you made a simple pass.
I may be wrong, but standing right near the tunnel in the right back position, I was sure you could hear me drowning out the doubters. I was as pleased as anyone to see you score the winner in the next Champion’s League game at Old Trafford against Arsenal. That’s the O’Shea of old I said to myself with a smile.
This season, I’ve had my doubts I’m not going to lie, in fact that’s putting it mildly, against Spurs, I whispered “thank god O’Shea’s not playing” when the greatest player in the universe visited, and breathed another sigh of relief when Sir Alex brought on Brown instead of your good self.
Upon hearing on Talksport that you’d been given a £80,000 a week new contract, I almost crashed my car, even finding myself agreeing with Adrian Durham AND Darren Gough for the first ever time.
Before the game against City, I nearly spat my tea all over my breakfast when I saw the team news: “O-fooking-Shea, is Fergie p*ssed?” No, Fergie knew exactly what he was doing and so did you. Your performance against City was quite simply colossal, Rooney’s goal may be the talking point- and rightly so, Chris Smalling may be getting all the defensive plaudits but for me it’s all about the resurrection of John O’Shea.
The signs were there against Villa only a week earlier where in the second half you went on a Gazza- ’96-esque run in the second half that had me choking on my previous words. Against City though, you took it to another level.
I’m not too big to admit when I’m wrong and although ‘one swallow does not a spring make’, I’m confident that this is a turning point, that I’ve been grossly unfair on you these past months and that you are more than worthy of wearing the Red shirt. In the derby – arguably the biggest game of the season-your passing was inch perfect, the timing of your challenges infallible, in the air you were a towering inferno, unflappable, unbeatable and unstoppable all rolled into one.
Johnny I’m sorry, welcome back, you’ve been sorely missed.
Follow Redflagflyinghigh on twitter @RFFH and the writer @jaymotty
[bet_365 type='generic' size='468'af_code='
365_061447']
Alan Bernard… You should learn to love your O’Shea from now onwards.
I have never doubted John O’Shea, an unsung hero to United.
John ur one of the most reliable player in United History.I just cant think of any player so wud hv played in as many positions as u n sacrificed so much as u did.We all United fans SALUTE YOU….RED TILL I DIE…LOVE U JOHN..ALL THE BEST!!!!
One swallow doesn’t make a summer! A decent performance from O’Shea doesn’t make up for all the crap ones we’ve had to put up with over the years! The amount of times i have shouted “we are playing in red John!” would i think go into the hundreds! One or two decent performances a season isn’t good enough for a Utd player, he lacks concentration and his passing stats must be the lowest in the squad! So what you really should be saying is ” John O’Shea had a decent game for a change”
Are you kidding me,I never read your articles before but on hearing the 6/10 quote I could not agree more. Yeah his had some good performances in the past like the Man City game,but what player hasn’t especially one who has played as much as O’shea. I cannot think of one player who springs to mind that has actually regressed as much as John has since he first come on the scene.
He was once young and ambitious when on the ball,slipping in one or two nutmegs here and there as I recall.Now however,I do not think I have seen him take one possitive step when in possession of the football. If this was the NFL,he would be accused of playing for the opposition for the amount of yardage he would lose!
Point being,he has now become this gutless shell of a player that has absolutely no ambition and desire to improve United as a team but simply to get his job done with causing as little harm as possible. Maybe a decade a go, it was vital to have players of this calibre in the team however since at least 10 years, total football has spread far and wide and full backs are now fully responsible for adding an attacking element as well as a defensive one.
I would like to add in O’shea’s defence, that I do not know who is more to blame for his current style of football. Him or the coaching staff for scaring the crap out of him in his development. Whilst many may defend O’shea, if were all being honest,O’shea is simply put in to defend and add height whilst defending set pieces and IMO that is a waste of a ever more important role that full back’s can offer. Patrice Evra springs to mind.
I would just like to further add,I would be a happier United fan if him,Gibson and Evans were to be replaced,I would be a happier United fan. Gibson and O’shea simply lack the technique and abillity required in the Prem,where as Evans lacks the mentality to become a regular United centre back (and may I add strength).