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Football

13th Aug 2016

People are baffled by David Moyes’ new position for John O’Shea

Patrick McCarry

David Moyes is laying down an odd marker at Sunderland.

Silva. De Bruyne. Fernandinho. Sterling. Nolito.

JOHN FRANCIS O’SHEA.

In a perhaps thinly veiled suggestion to his new paymasters that he needs a new centre midfielder, Moyes has selected O’Shea to stem the flow of Manchester City’s phalanx of attacking talent.

The Black Cats are up against City at Eastlands, this evening, and the former Everton and Manchester United boss had to get creative. By creative, we mean sticking in a 35-year-old defender in the middle and praying for the best.

Classic Moyes.

Sunderland XI

O’Shea has been a fine Premier League player and will forever be in Irish footballing folklore. His legs are going, if not gone, however and was dropped by Sam Allardyce and Martin O’Neill in the past six months.

These are not his halcyon days at Manchester United and there’s no Luis Figo around.

O'Shea nutmeg

There is a likelihood that the Waterford native could be a screen in front on Sunderland’s back four when City put the squeeze on. Still, there was some confusion, anger and mirth on Twitter about O’Shea’s new role.

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