Sunderland should consider Alan Shearer criticism before handing John O’Shea new deal

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John O’Shea’s performance in Sunderland’s 2-0 loss at Swansea City had Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer seething.

In the eyes of many supporters, John O’Shea is a bona fide Manchester United legend.

From nut-megging Luis Figo, netting a last-minute winner at Anfield and keeping a clean sheet after being forced between the sticks late on at Tottenham Hotspur, the Irish international’s tally of five Premier League titles, three League Cups, a FA Cup and a Champions League is not too shabby either.

However, it is fair to say he may not go down in folklore at Sunderland, despite being a loyal servant at the North East strugglers in the six years since arriving from Old Trafford.

Sunderland finished no higher than 13th since O’Shea rocked up on Wearside and, after three narrow escapes, finally succumbed to relegation this season.

And the affable Irishman was far from impressive. Starting 25 Premier League games, age appears to have caught up with the 36-year-old. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, most assumed relegation signalled the end of the line for O’Shea at Sunderland.

However, The Chronicle reports that the Black Cats are mulling over offering him a new deal as they prepare for a new era in the Championship.

Irish eyes are crying

But perhaps they should take note of comments from, of all people, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer.

“O’Shea gets himself all over the place,” Shearer ranted on Match of the Day (broadcast on BBC, 13 May, 10:20 PM) after the veteran left Swansea City’s Fernando Llorente free to open the scoring in last week’s spineless home defeat.

“You see David Moyes blaming the ‘keeper, but how can you blame the ‘keeper with them two [Lamine Koné and O’Shea] playing in front of him all season?

“O’Shea had a terrible game.”

It was far from the first time that O’Shea had failed to convince this season. Therefore, maybe The Black Cats should think twice about whether the centre-back actually deserves to remain on Wearside.