Wesley Brown and John O’Shea each agreed moves to Sunderland on Thursday, ending more than a decade of the pair at Old Trafford. Between them the players have appeared on more than 750 occasions for Manchester United, not representing the very best players at Old Trafford, but invaluable members of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad nonetheless. With the pair’s departure Ferguson loses not only experience and loyalty but a genuine sense of what being a United play entails.
Brown, 31, completed a medical at the Stadium of Light on Thursday and has agreed a four-year with Steve Bruce’s Wearsiders. The fee, which is officially ‘undisclosed’, will net United £1 million for youth team product. Meanwhile, O’Shea, 30, also completed a move to Sunderland, having passed a medical and agreed a four-year contract with the club. United will earn a fee of around £5 million for the Waterford-born Irishman.
Each has lost his place in the United first team – some might say neither ever fully earned it – with Brown falling out of favour following a well-publicised argument with Ferguson during last summer’s tour of North America. Few players have ever returned from falling foul of the Scot’s ire; that Brown reportedly called Ferguson a “c*nt” cannot have helped the Longsight-born player’s cause.
Despite the breakdown in the relationship between player and manager Ferguson was magnanimous with his praise of Brown today, praising the 31-year-old’s commitment to the cause since his début in 1998.
“He was a product of the youth system and marked himself out from an early age as one of his generation’s most natural defenders,” Ferguson told ManUtd.com.
“In his time with us, he certainly became a favourite with the fans for his no-nonsense approach to the game and his infectious personality.
“It’s always the hardest of decisions to let loyal servants go. But life moves on and, unquestionably, Wes will get the chance to make a real contribution to Steve Bruce’s Sunderland and I’m delighted to be passing him into such good hands. Everyone connected with United wishes him a long and happy stay at Sunderland.”
Brown has always been one of the most naturally gifted English defenders; a home-made Rio Ferdinand whose talent was only ever limited by injury. It is no disservice to say that had it not been for one of the game’s most lengthy injury records Brown could have amassed more than a century of caps for England, and not just 23. He would surely have also made more than 500 appearances for United bar for frequent trips to the treatment room.
The player earned rave reviews for early appearances at right-back, including the 6-2 thrashing of Brondby in Copenhagen during the treble-winning season, but it was at centre-half that the defender was at his natural best, offering the Reds acceleration over 20 yards, a fearless competitive streak and perfect timing.
“It was disappointing not to have played as much as I could at Manchester United over the last couple of seasons so just to know that I’ll be back in, playing, I’m focusing on that really and looking forward to it,” said Brown.
“Last season, I couldn’t get into the team and that was frustrating but that’s football and you move on. Sunderland is a big club and Steve Bruce was a big factor coming into it. That’s what it came down to really. When I was younger, I used to watch Steve and I’ve known him a bit as well so it was fine. I know a couple of lads who have been here and they say it’s a wonderful club and I thought this was the place for me to come.”
Brown will join former Reds Phil Bardsley, Kieron Richardson and Fraizer Campbell on Wearside, together with O’Shea. United midfielder Darron Gibson is also wanted by Bruce, although Sunderland baulked at the midfielder’s opening salary demands during negotiations. Together the trio were the subject of a £12 million bid in late June.
Meanwhile, O’Shea arguably has never possessed the same natural talent as Brown but won over United’s supporters with a vibrant début campaign, largely at left-back. The popular chant of “Johnny marching down the wing” began during O’Shea’s early years at the club that promised so much but rarely delivered in subsequent campaigns.
O’Shea’s versatility undermined his attempt to earn a regular first-team place, while also offering the Irishman a longevity at Old Trafford that bemused many fans. The player appeared across the back-four, in central midfield and even in goal during more than a decade at the club.
“John has been a solid, consistent part of Manchester United’s squad for well over a decade which goes to show the fantastic pedigree of player we have signed,” claimed Bruce on Thursday.
“He is a wonderful professional both on and off the field and his wealth of experience and versatility will be great attributes for us. I’m delighted with the players we’ve been able to secure ahead of the new season.”
Allowing Brown and O’Shea to move on for relatively modest fees is part of an unwritten Old Trafford policy of rewarding loyalty with minimal barriers for the players involved. The reward: long-term security at Sunderland that would not have been available at Old Trafford.
Supporters and ex-colleagues will wish the pair the best, while room has been made in Ferguson’s squad for younger players to come through.
Sad to see them both go, loved browns no nonsense tackling style.
Are united not now light in the fullback area?
Neville, Brown, Oshea all gone in the past season leaves Evra, Fabio, Raphael as first teamers with the latter 2 regulary injured!
Has Phil Jones played full back or is there a youth player ready to step up?
bit worrying when you consider the twins are still prospects
Im surprised fergie went ahead and sold O’shea. He is valuable backup, who could be relied upon at full back. Who will back up for Rafael/Fabio?
However, this could be signaling that fergie is freeing up some wage and transfer budget for a big name player. Nasri, Sneijder?
Sad to see them go. Wish them all the best!
Something tells me that both of them would do wonderfully well at Sunderland. Bit like PNeville at Everton. OShea for Sunderland captaincy!
…and fucking injury prone too
I am genuinely sad to see O’Shea and Brown go
Neville & Scholes too
Next season is going to be weird
yeah….
cal, we still have giggs
Johnny Evans can play right-back as well, and I’m sure Fergie will have put a clause in Ritchie De Laet’s loan contract so he can be recalled if we do get hit by injuries.
smalling also looked pretty good at right back at end of season. left back is more of an issue as fabio looks more like a right back so leaves just evra who is massively over used as it is.
Not to worry… we’ve always got the ultimate utility man…
Rooney!
So Gibson is holding out for more money? Says it all. Will he be happy at OT with a handful of games and maybe a cup run, and hated by 99% of supporters?
lets be honest, osheas best season was his first one and since then hes been atrocious bar a few comedy moments
as for brown,
called fergie a cunt
legend
the only one whos had the bollocks to call a spade a spade and he gets sold for it
fascist
LKHF
faffing
Brown might not be a legend to those non united fans, but to me he is very close to one.
With orange hair beware!!!!
As a visiting Sunderland fan to this website I am delighted to have got both Brown and OShea. Compared to the comedy defending we had to endure from Xmas to the end of the season either of these twos worst day will be better than the garbage we had to endure. We also need a Captain – which one would be best?
In all honesty, O’Shea. He’s smart and he’s vocal. I seem to recall Brown has had the armband on occasion too. We might give O’Pie/O’Shite stick, but he’ll do a good job for a mid table team. I think I speak for all Utd fans when I wish them well at Sunderland… we like you! More than we like Newcastle anyway :o)
p.s. in Brown you’ve got a top defender if he doesn’t get crocked. He was instrumental in our 07-08 double campaign.
If absolute rubbish footballers like Lou Macari can be called legends then Wesley Brown is a proper Legend. Fantastic man. Loved the club to bits and am sure he is really hurting that he has left.
Orange hair and all. The man loved to tackle. Broke his ankle in a Champions League qualifier because of those tackles at the start of the ’02/’03 season but came back in time to help us win the title back. Honestly, I could go on forever about his moments. Thanks Wesley. You will be sorely missed. I just might buy a shirt with his name on it to go with the one I bought after Ole retired.
If you can keep him fit, you’ll happy as fuck with Brown in your team…
me you mackem cunt
Thanks for the various responses – with the exception of Captain Hormone who is unfortunately the type of infantile retard who gets Man Utd Fans a bad name.
O’Shea is probably the best man to skipper, Wes will pick up a knock or two i think.
Bruce has made 3 good signings in Larsson, O’Shea and Brown but the other 7 so far don’t seem to be increasing the quality of the squad that much.
Would agree -Bruce seems to be replacing out going players with similar grafters but no creativity. That said, Jordan Henderson , whilst he works his bollocks off, was the best bit of business we have ever done at £16 million. Dalglish must be mad.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
tbf he is right
cunt
LOL
You did get owned though…
i dont know pikey…. i was only stating a fact