Robson hails midfield duo
Bobby Robson believes John O’Shea and Steven Reid can form the Republic of Ireland’s central midfield pairing for years to come.
After four months in his role as international football consultant, Robson is beginning to form ideas on certain players, with Reid and O’Shea two he has been particularly impressed with.
With Roy Keane now retired, Ireland are in need of a strong midfield axis going into the European Championship campaign, which starts against Germany in Stuttgart on September 2.
Reid, 25, enjoyed a particularly impressive season for Blackburn, yet was out of position for the majority of Ireland’s 1-0 defeat to Chile at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday night.
He played on the right wing and at right-back, as well as his favoured central midfield role.
That was noted by Robson, who said: “I like him.
“We know he can play wide on the right and right-back, but he showed he has such a shot on him.
“He’s like Bobby Charlton. He had that explosive shot in him, and we have to utilise what we have.
“He would get that shot in more if he was playing orthodox midfield, rather than ight-back or right-wing.
“Of course, he can get crosses in, but he’s such a good player coming onto the box and feeding off the strikers.
“Going into the European Championships, we need to score goals. If we can get a couple from midfield that will be very fruitful for us.
“He is also strong and aggressive, and we think he’ll be a top player for us.
“I would say his best position is in the midfield with O’Shea, and that’s without knocking anybody else out of the team.”
As for Manchester United man O’Shea, Robson feels there is more to come from the 25-year-old as he said: “I felt he could have been more physical.
“He certainly needed to take care of their number six [Jorge Acuna] a bit more than he did.
“He is a better player than what he gives us sometimes, but we like him because he is big, strong and good in the air.
“As long as he keeps his passing simple, rather than trying to be a genius, then I think he will be a very effective, influential player for us.”
