The Republic of Ireland player's Old Trafford career graph has been a roller-coaster ride.
The late starter in United's reserve ranks, he made his regular senior breakthrough as a 21-year-old in 2002 and ended his debut campaign as a Premiership title winner with 41 starts behind him.
The following season he was in 46 of Sir Alex Ferguson's XIs and ended up a 2004 FA Cup winner.
The Stretford End and K Stand were so impressed they composed an exclusive terrace chant for him.
The appearance record then dipped in 2005 before rising again in 2006 but his stock was beginning to slip and the `When Johnny Goes Marching Down The Wing' song was shelved.
In the wake of Roy Keane's banned MUTV outburst, allegedly blaming the Reds youngsters for United's poor form following a 4-1 hammering at Middlesbrough, O'Shea and Darren Fletcher were subjected to boos when their names were read out in the Stade de France in Paris before United's Champions League match against Lille in November 2005.
But despite his 27 starts this term slipping to its lowest level in his senior career, O'Shea is hitting the right notes again with the fans.
Vital Premiership title goals at Liverpool when he poached the late Anfield winner, and against Everton when he sparked the remarkable Goodison revival, plus his versatility helping United through their spring injury curse, have revived his fortunes.
Abuse
But did the abuse in France make O'Shea's confidence as fragile as the crystal made in his hometown of Waterford?
"No. At the time it didn't get to me," said John. "I knew that what was being said was all coming from the outside. But I knew myself what was being said on the inside at the club.
"So it wasn't affecting me in that sense. I was aware of it but it was easy for me to shut out because I know my ability. I know why I am at the club and I know the people at the club have confidence in me. It's the fans' choice who they have a go at, and when you are at a massive club, it is not always going to be nice and rosy and you just have to accept it. That is what builds your character.
"It has to be overcome but it is all done and dusted now and I am just enjoying my football. The last few years have been about finding consistency and I think I have found that now."
O'Shea now appears to be in a straight fight with Wes Brown for the right back role at Wembley.
"It does look like it is down to me or Wes, but that is down to the manager. Both of us are capable of going in and doing a good job," said John.
"You do hope things like my goals might come into consideration but the manager knows what Wes and I are all about. Neither of us would let him down.
"I don't see my versatility as a burden. I wouldn't have played so many games for United or my country if I couldn't play in so many positions.
Comfortable
"Internationally I have played the last few games at right back and I am certainly more comfortable there than left back. But I am also very comfortable in the centre of defence or the centre of midfield."
This campaign more than ever has seen O'Shea's name lumped in among those considered as squad players, but the 26-year-old isn't prepared to sit back and accept his lot.
"You don't accept it but you just have to get on with it," he said.
"That's the way it is at a big club. There is no player who goes out training every week who accepts that but you just have to focus on trying to get into that XI.
"Players at other clubs might moan about it, but they are not at United.
"You never hear players here moaning about it.
"The manager tells you why you are not in the team and you just have to take it on the chin. You want to keep that good atmosphere and that is what we have had this season. We have seen the benefits of it.
"We celebrated when we won the league but the manager keeps you in control.
"But he said as long as we win the Cup final we can do what we want for a few weeks.
"Hopefully the real party will start on Saturday night!"
What is your verdict on O'Shea's season? Have your say.
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Macca, Cornwall (18/05/2007 at 09:15)
Hilton (18/05/2007 at 09:17)
His biggest weakness is he does not read the game very well.
What happened to the O'shea who started his first season with United on fire?
I used to love him! He was the new Denis Irwin when he started and slowly he became a different player.
bobbydazzler (18/05/2007 at 09:20)
Lee , Heywood, Heywood (18/05/2007 at 09:57)
VALTINHO, LISBON (18/05/2007 at 10:06)
Djemba D., Kleb weren't good enough and the same goes to the above. United was lucky to go through at the group stage with a win in Lisbon that didn't really deserve. Never really convinced and were lucky to get the likes of Lille. Roma was no doubt the only performance that United produced and that was just at OT (they looked bad in Roma). Don't you all take it wrong but United needs to invest to be able to achiev this seasons results. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and even Spurs( if Berbatov stays) will be stronger. I know that most of you will agree that United did the impossible and went far at the three most important competitions with a squad that has just a good 11 players squad. Ronaldo played an huge role but I don't believe he is like Rooney that can play every single match of the season( although not at the same level as CR). CR needs a rest once in a while to keep is explosivity in the important matches. He needs to miss playing football. My point is that United needs to get a player that can take Ronaldos role of making the difference...Rooney should have done that but he wasn't good enough......
Macca, Cornwall (18/05/2007 at 10:32)
secondly, i dont think u can doubt our squad as much as u have when we are champions, in the final of fa cup and semi's of champs league. to win the champs league u need that bit of luck, by having the freaky situation that pretty much our whole back four were out didnt help things in milan, it coulda been a completely different result. also, would u say liverpool have a stronger squad than us? no, and it looks like they will prob jam another champs league win doesnt it. and the same goes for arsenal the year before, and liverpool again the year before that! if u want another treble like we all do, quite simply i just dont think it can be done now, the amount of games played to figth it out on three fronts is ridiculously hard.
certain players eg richardson are not good enough i agree, but players like fletcher, o shea, smith are good players to have in the squad and they know there roles so dont complain, u cant have 4 high profile strikers fighting for 2 positions coz they will kick off when they dont play affecting the spirit - LOOK AT CHELSEA!
Demo, Glossop (18/05/2007 at 10:53)
its good to have squad players who can do a job but dont moan all the time!
ronaldo has played the majority of games and has shown little sign of dropping standard so valentinho all things portuguese i think your wrong about your boy CR!
just watch next season when rooney comes to form along with ronnie add a signing or two and we will storm it all....you heard it here first
ged (18/05/2007 at 10:54)
On the O'shea goal v's Liverpool, he took that goal brilliantly so calm and placed it exactly where he wanted it, giggs would have slammed it straight over the bar.
btw name the only goalkeeper at utd never to have conceded a goal? great squad player deserves to come on at some stage sat
VALTINHO, LISBON (18/05/2007 at 11:24)
Agree with you that you can't have top stars to every position and you are right about the need of luck to win throphes.I still believe that Fletcher, KR, O'shea, Silvester and Smtith aren't players at Uniteds level even to be in the bench. I am not with you about CR. I am one of the first to defend him through good and bad times even when people were saying that he was/is a show poney, can't shoot, etc. BUT I have to be honest and saw a dicline to his form at the end of the season and as I mentioned before in my last comment he was in need to be rested. Results came straight away at West hams game at home when he came in and gave the injection that we all got used to BUT thats because he got a couple of games rest. I am not taking credits of Uniteds squad to reach so far in two competitions and win the PL( in his case the most important of them for United to stop Chelseas dominance). If you notice my comment I didn't say that this squad wouldn't be enough for domestic competitions but I doubt it at the CL. Sorry Macca but United lately has been just Ronaldo and without him United is a sad team. Milan still Milan without Kaká and the same goes for a few other top clubs in europe.
george (18/05/2007 at 11:26)
JOS has good personality and seems to be liked in the dressing room.He also does ok in the premier.
Some players are always on the teamsheet because their performances make them undropable.JOS,DF etc are not undropable and so are always in peril of being transfered out.He and Solksjaer tho may actually contribute a lot to squad moral and that can be very important.
john taylor (18/05/2007 at 11:35)
John, Warstein, Germany.
manc abroad, OT (18/05/2007 at 11:44)
This season he has the best shots on target ratio of any Premiership footballer, and he has the best saves record as goalkeeper. Not bad.
VALTINHO, LISBON (18/05/2007 at 11:48)
Macca, Cornwall (18/05/2007 at 12:02)
O'shea didnt look to comfortable away at Milan, but the point is, he is a squad player and wouldnt have done so bad if we had 3 of our 4 1st choice defenders next to him, we had a mix and match back 4 who had never played together so were punished. i feel we are being too harsh on some of our squad. Both fletcher and O'shea maybe no Scholes or Neville, but that is why they are not in our strongest line up, u can gaurantee if they were put up for sale 17 of the teams in the prem would be interested at least. They are good enough to fill in, i expect both a couple of the squad players starting tmrw, whether it be Brown/O'shea and smith/Fletch, and if one of them notches the winner there will be a completely different view come monday morning!
by the way, does anyone know if there will be an open top bus parade through the city this season or when this is penned in for?
Reds4Ever, Entrance N410 (18/05/2007 at 12:05)
george (18/05/2007 at 12:10)
In that case Sven showed his weakness.He allowed the media to pick the team.
You've been watching UNITED since the Bolton game.Wow!
Ronaldo took some flack last season,and to those who don't view him thru rose tinted spectacles it was deserved.The reason no one has anything bad to say about Ronaldo now is because the player himself has improved.He's changed.He's matured.Perhaps Ronaldo took some of the criticism on board.If a player keeps doing things wrong and everyone tells him he's great he'll never improve,will he? He'll just go on believing he's fantastic when he isn't.Ronaldo always had ability that was obvious.The difference now is he's punishing teams with that ability.He's one of the best players in the world and the fans love him for it.You need to drive another bus.
Red Seven (18/05/2007 at 12:39)
Red Max (18/05/2007 at 12:40)
From your very exacting standards I must assume its a squad of galacticos the like of which european football has never seen before. Cant be a Portuguese team, can it?
Jimmy the gent, south coast (18/05/2007 at 12:47)
Your comments only thinly disguised your bias against English football general and Man Utd in particular.
The England team have always flattered to deceive and have underachieved whoever has been put in charge...and as memory serves I don't think Sven 's record anywhere is particularly impressive.
You can have a team littered with techniquely gifted players but still not win anything.....The final of Euro 2004 springs to mind. Portugal 0 Greece 1.
SAF will sell many other players before JOS because in a long demanding season every squad needs at least one versatile, uncomplaining player who can do a job for the team, if not set the world alight, and O'shea has done [at least] that this season.
His only downside is that he supported Liverpool as a kid....but then we all have our cross to bear.
VALTINHO, LISBON (18/05/2007 at 13:03)
Some of you are defending Ronaldo like I said something against him....you must have missunderstood me.
I just said that he was tired and needed a rest...By the way I do want United to win against Chelsea and hopefully with CR in the scoring list. Mourinho is getting on everybody nerves with his ridiculous comments. He is going over the limits to excuse himself over eventuall defeat. Can understand why he have a go at Ronaldo...he wants to affect him but how low can a person go. Shame on you Mourinho.
Good luck guys.
VALTINHO, LISBON (18/05/2007 at 13:13)
Alias Smith, over the moon (18/05/2007 at 13:19)
Incidentally, Keano's alleged comment "don't see what all the fuss about" re DF has been quoted on here a few times this week in support of arguments against that player. But do you remember the great man also saying last season that JOS had all the attributes to be his replacement?
Just goes to show what HE knows! LOL!
Alias Smith, over the moon (18/05/2007 at 13:20)
redarmy, rochdale (18/05/2007 at 13:40)
Utds team of fletcher jos ect have come on leaps and bounds from when they first started out,im not totally impressed but they can only get better i hope,and when you suffer abuse you usually come back as roonie has shown and try harder with a desire to become a better player.
Now on the sven note as england manager yes ok the media didnt help,but i think sven was dazzled by big names in the top clubs,even star struck to be honest.
Saying that he didnt do too bad considering,com on youve got to look at his record it wasnt bad.
He was just a boring guy really and allways in the press for the wrong reasons.
Tommy (18/05/2007 at 13:42)
But to say people are singing his praises is nonsense. He's a very average player who is neither a dependable fullback nor a solid enough midfielder.
If the rumours are true, and Fergie has to sell before he buys again this Summer, I would hope O'Shea is one of the players who leaves. Newcastle or Vila would surely give us a few million for him.