John O’Shea talks Chris Coleman, Sunderland’s youngsters and what motivates him to continue playing…
John, thanks for your time, how have the last few weeks been since the new manager came in?
JO: “We’ve had to adapt to a change again with the new manager. He’s come in and things have been very positive. Performance-wise down at Villa, I don’t think we got what we deserved but we got what we deserved at Burton. You hope his ideas come across as quickly as possible and you get that impact. We’re working hard on that on the training pitch and we’ve shown glimpses of that so far, we just need to do that consistently. I’m confident we can and that we can get the results we need.”
Have you noticed an uplift around the place since the manager’s arrival?
JO: “I’ve been here a few years now and I’ve seen the change in managers. It’s all about the results on the pitch, but there has been, and the manager is coming in for a reason. He has to lift the place and get the reaction he needs. Hopefully, that’ll transfer itself onto the pitch.”
Have you felt an extra responsibility as a player the lads look up to?
JO: “Yeah, well I’ve had that here for a while. We’re lucky that we’ve got the experience at the club, look at Catts, he isn’t as old as me, but he’s got a lot of experience and the lads look up to him as well. Then Marc Wilson, there’s plenty of experience around for the younger boys to lean on. We do need those younger boys to add to the team. It’s needed, and it gives the lads a lift. It has an impact and pushes everybody on and provides healthy competition for places.”
How far do you go to offering advice, or an arm around the shoulder?
JO: “That’s where the manager will make it clear and he knows from playing himself at certain times, things might be needed like the arm around the shoulder or a kick up the backside. It’s just trying to find the right time to do those things and making sure the circumstances are right.”
What’s the best advice you offer the younger lads?
JO: “Practice! And being ready to take your chance because you never know when you might get the call to come up and train with the first-team. I suppose reminding a few of the young boys of the importance of first impressions when there is a change of manager. So, when they do come up and train with the first-team, it’s the first time the manager sees their attitude and their ability. It’s important to take that chance when there are injuries, that generally means there may be a chance for a younger player to impress, so it’s important they’re ready to take it.”
The Championship demands a lot, how have you found it?
JO: “You soon realise when you hit 30 that the extra work is needed, whether that’s stretching before or after training and different conditioning work. Your recovery in between sessions is important and you can’t necessarily do the exactly same as all the other younger lads.”
Do you have one eye on what’s next for you in terms of your career?
JO: “I’ve been doing my coaching badges for the last three or four years. It’s been enjoyable, it’s been tough work too at times, to get the work in and stuff done. It’s a real eye-opener when you have ex-professionals who come in to talk to you.”
Something a lot of retired players say is ‘play as long as you can’, is that something you’ve listened to?
JO: “Definitely, I’ve heard that many times! But your body will dictate that, and you have to make sure you’re doing yourself justice. I laugh at some of the younger boys who might complain at having to do this or that, and I think to myself ‘you’ll soon realise when you get older!’. But after recently playing three games in a week, I woke up after the Burton Albion game and I could feel it a little bit, but the three points made it worthwhile for use, and gave me a spring in my step.”
Do you get that buzz like when you first started?
JO: “Yeah, without a doubt. The preparation and game week, you want to go out and perform. It’s the first season in the sense that I’ve been out of the Premier League and it’s been an eye-opener. I’ve had friends and colleagues tell me what the Championship is like, it definitely hits you right between the eyes. One thing is for sure, it’s competitive and there’s very little between top and bottom. We have to make sure those fine details are right and if we do that. We’ll certainly climb the table.”
