Aiden McGeady

[DannyInvincible]

I meant 'are'. Remember mypost started this by saying that McGeady wouldn't get called up because he is playing in Russia. mypost included every country outside of Britain in his shun policy. So I was highlighting that a higher proportion of people playing outside of Britain and Ireland get capped than those playing in Britain (selective I know but so is mypost).

Sorry, yes. I think I see what you're saying. The way you worded it above meant it could be read to give two different meanings. I think. :confused: Just to clarify that I have you right this time; your personal feeling on the matter is the League of Ireland players aren't being shafted, contrary to the belief of 'mypost' in an official or active shun policy?

[Closed Account]

Sorry, yes. I think I see what you're saying. The way you worded it above meant it could be read to give two different meanings. I think. :confused: Just to clarify that I have you right this time; your personal feeling on the matter is the League of Ireland players aren't being shafted, contrary to the belief of 'mypost' in an official or active shun policy?Of course they aren't being shafted. You'd have to be myopic to agree with mypost.

[mypost]

mypost included every country outside of Britain in his shun policy.

Who's picking the team?


Exactly. When Doyle and Fahey were looking promising in Ireland, Trapattoni/Kerr didn't have the luxury to call him into the Ireland squad for a trial like club managers do. There is a natural progression to international recognition and it generally follows the same path save for exceptional talents. Work your way up, through youth systems/lower leagues etc until your playing at your level. Just because Doyle and Fahey are good enough now doesn't mean they always were, and if you believe that mypost, then your incredibly naive.

In Doyle's case, he waited 4 months after going to play for a lower league English team, before getting called into the squad. Now, what in his game changed in those 4 months? Not a lot, imo.


Indeed. Which explains why certain League of Ireland players who've stood out as exceptional talents in the league have been given the chance to shine now and again over the years. Only thing was they generally failed to make a considerable enough impact to confirm their status as permanent, international-standard players.

At one stage, it was 16 years before a home-based player got into the team. He made one more appearance as an injury-time sub. The next one got two minutes as an injury time sub. In the 6 years since, one sole home-based player has got into the side. That's not a fair chance in my eyes. Over recent years, we've had players from the Championship, League 1, and League 2 playing for Ireland. Few of them have experience of playing European games, (unlike players here) yet they're expected to come in and perform against top ranked countries. Even fewer of them can cope.

When Irish coach's complain that we have a "small pool" of players, they're taking the pis. We have an entire league of players here to call upon if necessary, but they're not allowed to play, because they're all perceived to be not as good as lower league players in the UK. I have to strongly disagree with that.

Across Europe, countries big and small, have players playing in numerous leagues. They get regular football, at club and international level. They get experience which helps to make them better players. They're not entirely dependent on UK clubs as ours are. That's why I don't think McGeady will feature as often for Ireland from now on. It's either England/Celtic or bust as far as Ireland are concerned.

[boovidge]

Mypost, in recent years who are all these players from below Championship level that have played any meaningful part in the Irish squad?

[boovidge]

Westwood is the only example i can think of and he was soon transfered to a Championship side and has since been linked with Premiership clubs.

[Charlie Darwin]

Wes Hoolahan played in a friendly or two. He might have still been in the Championship at that stage though.

[Closed Account]

Hoolahan was at Blackpool in the Championship when he was capped.
The last League 1/2 player was Peter Murphy, on the summer tour to the US. The fact that it was at the same time as Joe Gamble and Alan Bennett won't appease mypost though. Neither will the fact that Graham Gartland could've been there too if he'd answered the phone.


Anyway this thread has gone way off topic.
The McGeady deal has gone through. Expected to make his debut on the 21st of August.

Best of luck to the wee lad. Hopefully he impresses and increases his reputation, but most importantly learns something about the game and turns up for Ireland a more complete player.

[DannyInvincible]

Confirmation of the move from Sovetsky Sport: http://www.sovsport.ru/news/text-item/402608

My browser's translator translates it as follows:


Makgidi signed with "Spartacus" four-year contract

According Bobsoccer, football team of Ireland Aiden Makgidi signed a contract with Spartak for four years. Recall that the player's salary will be 1.5 million euros per year, and "Spartacus" will pay for his passage, 12 million euros.

Couldn't put it better myself. Beautiful.

This is the original story from Bobsoccer: http://bobsoccer.ru/user/13/blog/?item=4455

And translated:

MAKGIDI moved to Spartak

Saga titled "Throwing Irishman Makgidi" completed. Completed successfully for "Spartacus." Player Team Ireland has signed the same contract with the Moscow club - for four years. His salary in Russia is about 1.5 million euros per year. A "Spartacus", according to British sources, will pay for the player about 10 million pounds.

Makgidi arrive in Russia next week, but not as a tourist, but as a full member of Spartak team. No bodyguards, nannies and personal submarines, as it slipped in the Russian press, he is not allowed. Makgidi will for the first time only a driver, which is understandable.
Actually trying not to keel over with laughter here. He must be raging he couldn't bargain a sub out of the tight-arses. And isn't it about time someone changed the thread title to 'Aiden Makgidi'?

[boovidge]

HAHA, that is actually one of the funniest things I've read on the internet. How long is it before players actually start demanding submarines? I know I would if I was a footballer.

[Closed Account 2]

Yeah they type things as they are pronounced... so Keith Andrews -> Кит Эндрюс -> "Kit Endruys", Robbie Keane -> Робби Кин -> "Robbi Kin"... also county Meath is simply Мит -> "Mit", Drogheda becomes the somewhat easier to spell "Дроэда" -> "Droeda"

[Lionel Ritchie]

...and "Spartacus" will pay for his passage, 12 million euros.
:-O

He'd want to read the small print of that contract very carefully. Might've signed up for more he bargained for.

[tetsujin1979]

I wish I had a personal submarine...

[geysir]

"only a driver, which is understandable"
:D

I like the understatement.

[superfrank]

Best of luck to him.

He's moving to a vastly more competitive league and at a higher level too. It can definitely benefit him, as he's still young enough to learn a few things.

The settling down may be difficult but I still imagine he can do it.

[Sullivinho]

Onwards and upwards for Aiden. The very best of luck to him.

[Stuttgart88]

He's moving to a vastly more competitive league and at a higher level too.
Didn't Pats beat the 4th placed team in Russia last year? He could have just moved to Ireland and spared the necessity of a driver. :)

[yapster]

I wish him the best of luck as it is a make or break move for his footballing career. Maybe he needs that cutting edge!

[seanfhear]

Best of luck Aiden and Celtic will be very happy with the fee you have commanded for them.

Hopefully you will make it back again to Celtic Park after a sucessful and rewarding career with your new club.

[tommy_c12000]

Delighted to see him finally move on from Scotland. Could be the makings or breakings of him. Best of luck to him!

[aidinho]

I wish him the best of luck as it is a make or break move for his footballing career. Maybe he needs that cutting edge!

hes only 24 FFS mate I hardly think its make or break for him. if anything you have to credit the guys balls to venture out of mainland Europe to further his career because he was stagnating at Celtic playing the same 4 defenders 4 times a year and their managers telling them to double and even treble up on him every game.

Watched part of the Ireland game during the week and yous are crying out for a player with a bit of flair in your team, as far I could see yous looked like a bunch of championship cloggers.

[Charlie Darwin]

Nah, we're not as bad as Celtic.

[aidinho]

Nah, we're not as bad as Celtic.

your not as bad as Celtic because yous flood your defence with cloggers like McShane and Dunne and that English guy from Preston North End. We are an attacking team and if we get bet 5 - 4 fair doos but atleast we have a go.

anyway heres some biased totally ****ed off BBC Scotland highlights of McGeady's career through the years because he picked Ireland.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/default.stm

[boovidge]

your not as bad as Celtic because yous flood your defence with cloggers like McShane and Dunne and that English guy from Preston North End. We are an attacking team and if we get bet 5 - 4 fair doos but atleast we have a go.

anyway heres some biased totally ****ed off BBC Scotland highlights of McGeady's career through the years because he picked Ireland.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/default.stm


No, we're not as bad as Celtic despite having McShane in defence.

[Razors left peg]

your not as bad as Celtic because yous flood your defence with cloggers like McShane and Dunne and that English guy from Preston North End. We are an attacking team and if we get bet 5 - 4 fair doos but atleast we have a go.

anyway heres some biased totally ****ed off BBC Scotland highlights of McGeady's career through the years because he picked Ireland.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/default.stm

Dismissing Dunne as a clogger just proves u havent a clue

[Charlie Darwin]

He's no Glen Loovens.

[aidinho]

Dismissing Dunne as a clogger just proves u havent a clue

ok I'll give you that one mate but he's a bit of a take man, ball and anything that's in his way type of defender, incidentally just what Celtic need but just hearing now that we have apparently just signed a Swedish International of his type.

[Razors left peg]

ok I'll give you that one mate but he's a bit of a take man, ball and anything that's in his way type of defender, incidentally just what Celtic need but just hearing now that we have apparently just signed a Swedish International of his type.

absolutely he is that type of defender, and he is one of the best in the business at doing that.
Seen that about the swedish guy, hes needed but I just hope to god Celts can get a proper striker and not be relying on Fortune and Samaras for the season, was tough to watch today

[aidinho]

absolutely he is that type of defender, and he is one of the best in the business at doing that.
Seen that about the swedish guy, hes needed but I just hope to god Celts can get a proper striker and not be relying on Fortune and Samaras for the season, was tough to watch today

I know mate Fortune and Samaras are murder at times, hope Mowbray gets another job soon and takes Fortune with him. Maloney also missed a few heavy sitters but the wee guy Forrest (only 18) looks like a cracking player.

[pineapple stu]

Didn't Pats beat the 4th placed team in Russia last year? He could have just moved to Ireland and spared the necessity of a driver. :)
They (Krylya) were mid-table at the time I think. And they were going bust; they're bottom of the table this year, fielding youth-team players of necessity and getting standing ovations from their fans for losing competitively. Don't know how much that would have affected them last year. (Not that it wasn't an excellent achievement obviously; just there may have been mitigating circumstances).

[Ciaran W]

Spartak Moscow beat Lokomotiv Moscow 3-2 today. . Does anyone know if McGeady played ?

[Razors left peg]

Spartak Moscow beat Lokomotiv Moscow 3-2 today. . Does anyone know if McGeady played ?

no not involved today

http://en.uefa.com/memberassociations/leaguematchcentre/index.html

[aidinho]

his debut is on the 21st of August against some Chechnian team, don't expect him to pull up any trees though in it as he has only played about 45 mins of football in about 4 month now. hope to see a few stepovers though.

[yapster]

his debut is on the 21st of August against some Chechnian team, don't expect him to pull up any trees though in it as he has only played about 45 mins of football in about 4 month now. hope to see a few stepovers though.


a couple of decent crosses more like

[aidinho]

prefer stepovers myself mate but McGeady is naturally right footed so obviously crossing with his left for Ireland as you mostly see him do they can be a bit hit and miss however when he gets it onto his right foot he can put Beckhamesque balls into the box. have a look at youtube mate.

[Charlie Darwin]

Almsot always plays on the right for Ireland.

[aidinho]

Almsot always plays on the right for Ireland.

he always played on the left for Ireland when I've watched your matches. I think Trap even shunted Duff over to the right to accommodate him once.

[irishfan86]

prefer stepovers myself mate but McGeady is naturally right footed so obviously crossing with his left for Ireland as you mostly see him do they can be a bit hit and miss however when he gets it onto his right foot he can put Beckhamesque balls into the box. have a look at youtube mate.

"Beckhamesque balls" is a joke. McGeady has his attributes but crossing is not one of them.

[Wolfie]

Hopefully the gamble pays off. McGeady is undoubtedly a talented footballer but I think he needs to develop a more direct attacking style and more of a ruthlessness when he works an opening.

Its too often he can weave his way past a defender but doesn't follow up with a decent pass or an accurate shot.

The new coaching staff will hopefully work with him on realising the untapped potential he's still yet to realise at 24.

[osarusan]

however when he gets it onto his right foot he can put Beckhamesque balls into the box. have a look at youtube mate.

My abiding memory of McGeady's right foot is the last minute of extra time in Paris, when we had a freekick on the right. On the one occasion when we desperately needed a quality delivery into the box, McGeady ballooned a hopeless, aimless kick up in the air.

I know it's not fair to reduce his reputation to one moment on the ball, but I'm doing it anyway.

[Stuttgart88]

I know, how frustrating was that? Reminded me of Shaun Maloney in exactly the same circumstances in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final. Need a goal, last play of the game, deadball specialist...hopeless delivery.

[geysir]

He has more evident ability than Arjen Robben but only has about 10% of his aggression.

[Maroon 7]

McGeady talks about his move to Moscow.


THE smog cloaking Moscow could not obscure Aiden McGeady’s vision of the future.

Being shuttled around a city wreathed in the smoke from spectacular forest fires, the 24-year-old was quickly coming to a decision. Or, rather, two decisions.
He wanted to be in Moscow and he wanted to be out of Glasgow. The move from Celtic to Spartak Moscow was thus inevitable.
McGeady is aware that his £10m transfer caused surprise, even shock in some quarters. The player had been linked with Barclays Premier League clubs, with Aston Villa leading the chase. Surely, the winger would be joining up with Martin O’Neill? But that move foundered as the squalls at Villa Park gathered to produce the perfect storm that led O’Neill to walk away from the club.
In contrast, McGeady took a voyage of discovery. He flew to Moscow, talked to Spartak officials and seized the chance to accept another challenge.

He will, of course, be handsomely compensated for his career move. Estimates of his wage range from £40,000 to £60,000 a week. McGeady will not discuss financial terms, but as a wealthy young man his protestations that money was not the deciding factor carry some weight.
“What they were offering, not in terms of money but on the football side, was far greater than any other team who came in for me,” he said of Spartak. “The lure of the Champions League was huge. And this is a better league, too. I also know that people get transfers from the Russian league to Serie A, to the Premiership, to La Liga. Frankly, it was best for everyone if I moved on.”
His first experience of the city sealed the move. As pedestrians coughed and spluttered under the fumes from fires, McGeady sat and quietly assessed what lay before him.
“It was hectic, very cosmopolitan. I liked it immediately. I was trying to get my head round the idea that I would be here permanently. I wanted to see if I could see myself living there, and I could.”
His mind was almost made up before he stepped on the plane to leave Glasgow. McGeady was becoming restless, tired of living in a city where he could rarely feel at ease and increasingly appalled at the level of abuse directed at him.


“I was getting fed up with Glasgow. I wanted to leave. Nothing against Celtic – it’s Glasgow,” he said.
“If you are not a footballer, it is a great city to live in. There are loads of things to do and the people are very friendly but as a footballer it can be a nightmare. When you are out everybody either wants to shake your hand and praise you or they want to have a go at you. If you have a bad result, then even going to the shops is difficult.
“You are hiding your face as you go past a group of people because they will shout at you. Moscow is bigger and maybe I can disappear into it a wee bit.”
McGeady’s decision to play for the Republic of Ireland made him a target for a heightened level of abuse from the stands. “There are a lot of horrible places in Scotland for that type of thing: Tynecastle, Ibrox obviously is always going to be bad with the Celtic-Rangers rivalry, Motherwell, Falkirk. Some fans there hate everything Celtic stand for and everything I stand for as an Irish Catholic playing for Celtic.”


There is a defiance, however, to McGeady. “You enjoy going to those places because it makes it even better when you win,” he said.
He was always aware that to play for the Republic was to place himself squarely in front of ferocious criticism. He was warned when he made the decision as a teenager that the reaction would not be pleasant, but McGeady was surprised at the vehemence of what followed.
“It begins in the warm-ups before games with all sorts of stuff being shouted at you, even from little kids,” he said. “Fair enough, you can have a shout at somebody. Every footballer expects that, but some of the stuff … you would not get away with it in any other walk of life but because you are a footballer you are expected to tolerate it. But if it happened in public, on a street, then nobody would be surprised if it developed into a fight. It is unbelievable what some people shout.”


He has never regretted his decision to choose to play for Ireland. “When I made my debut for Celtic there was a huge fuss made about it. Now I am fed up talking about it.”
McGeady is, though, content about how his life has developed. “I am not afraid to make decisions. If I feel it is the right thing to do, then I will do it. It is that simple. And I will live with the consequences. I have lived with the Ireland thing for years. But I am happy with what I decided. Yes, it turned people against me. But I am not there to be anybody’s mate.”
He deals with criticism boldly and without any attempt at false modesty. “I know what level of footballer I am. I know I can be better but some of the stuff levelled at me was just nonsense.”
McGeady addresses the two major criticisms he has faced as a Celtic player. The first is his goalscoring, though his record of one goal every five games is not too shabby. “I want to score more,” he said. “I remember when I was younger and was in the youth team I used to score a lot of goals. I was a great finisher. I made my debut playing as a second striker but as I have played more and more out wide I have seemed to lost that part of my game, that ability to slot in the chances. I have lost that instinct to score. I want that back.”
The second criticism concerns the “no end product” mantra that has been a constant refrain by McGeady’s critics.


“How many times have I heard that from people saying that my end product is not good enough? Everybody can improve and I will try to do so, but what other winger sets up 14 goals in a season and does not take corners or free-kicks?
“It is funny how people ignore statistics when they do not suit them. Pundits say it all the time and viewers and readers have it driven into them so they start to believe it. To be honest, it does my head in a wee bit and I will be glad to get away from that.”
The overwhelming impression is of a young man ready to move on. “It is a life experience. It is one of those things I will enjoy,” he said of life in Moscow. “If I was not a footballer, I would like to go travelling.”
He added: “I hear people saying it is a bad move. Can anybody explain that to me? What if I stayed at Celtic and they were struggling and I am off form or am injured? I would be regretting the chance not to go. I don’t see in any way that it can be a bad move.”
McGeady, though, knows it will be a wrench leaving a club he loves and a family that is close.
“Of course, there will be will be difficulties at first. I expect that. I can see why a lot of people would say no to Spartak because it is a tough move to make. I accept that but I am determined to get through it. I like the city already and it is a better level of football with the Champions League in the offing.”


He will, of course, be back in Glasgow regularly, perhaps on football business. The Champions League draw could bring him back to the city to face Rangers. He chuckles at the prospect.
McGeady could also return later in his career to the club that nurtured him. “I will definitely miss Celtic Park,” he said. “It is a great place to play football. It was an exhilarating arena especially when you were playing well. The noise level was incredible on Champions League nights or Old Firm matches. It was tremendous to hear the roar if you got past the full-back.
“So every footballer would want to play there. Never say never. I am a Celtic fan so anything is possible. Celtic would be a good place to come back to play the last years of my career if they wanted me and I could still perform at that level.”
That is in the distant future. McGeady remains focused on his challenge in Moscow. “I am just desperate to play,” he said. “I have only been on the park for 55 minutes this season. I want to go and win trophies for my new club. We are capable of doing well in the league and the Champions League is a fantastic prospect.”

[aidinho]

"Beckhamesque balls" is a joke. McGeady has his attributes but crossing is not one of them.

if you have a look on youtube at the McGeady vids he can put in some wicked deliveries with either foot. I take it you only watch him for Ireland when basically he has to clip it into the box as he and probably Keane are the only ones inside the oppositions half.

[Junior]

aidinho - Are you yapsters little brother?

[tetsujin1979]

Aiden McGeady lifts lid on bust-up with Gordon Strachan: http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/celtic/exclusive-aiden-mcgeady-lifts-lid-on-bust-up-with-gordon-strachan-1.1048856

[geysir]

It's not really a lid lifting exercise on the bust-up with Strachan, more stating that there was a bust up - to be expanded upon later- maybe.


'McGeady will play on the left or right of a midfield three, bolstered by two holding midfielders.'

That bit made me smile.

[Junior]

I really hope this move works out for him. Will be great for him personally and the Irish team in general if it does.

[aidinho]

I really hope this move works out for him. Will be great for him personally and the Irish team in general if it does.

so do I mate.

McGeadys first press conference after going back to Moscow from Glasgow to collect his stuff

Aiden McGeady gave his first interview in Moscow today. This is what he had to say:
“It’s a great privilege and honour to play for as big and popular a Russian club as Spartak. When I played in Scotland I heard a lot about Spartak, but despite this, coming here was not an easy decision. My whole life I have played for only one club and in only one country, you must understand, leaving Celtic was a big decision.
“This was why I visited Moscow earlier this month, to find out what I could expect from the city and from Russia, but I knew Spartak were a big club with many supporters before I came, just like my Celtic.
“I liked Moscow, it is very like London.
“When you play for a big club like this supporter demands are great, I know what it is like playing under this pressure, so I am ready for it. I know Spartak are sixth in the league right now, I am here to help them rise higher.
“Many people told me not to go to Spartak and to Russia but this did not influence me, however others told me the Russian league is strong and that this is a step forward. I am sure the Russian league is stronger than the Scottish league. I know Spartak are a big club who play attacking football, which is great for me.
“My father wished me good luck and told me I made a good decision.
“I was no. 46 and Celtic so I am going to be no. 64 at Spartak.
“It’s true, I had a chance to join Arsenal as a boy but my dream was to play for Celtic.

http://celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=2917

people on here seem to think I'm sort of an idiot because I only post late night but I actually work the late shift most nights on a security job. and its boring as feck tbh.

[Brendan 82]

I like you aidinho! You're not so bad; especially considering some of the others around

[geysir]

people on here seem to think I'm sort of an idiot because I only post late night but I actually work the late shift most nights on a security job. and its boring as feck tbh.
The thoughts that you were an idiot had little to do with a perusal of the time of your posts.
The timing was merely a possible explanation for some of them, namely that you were as 'drunk as a skunk'.
Now that you claim sobriety when making posts here, could be interpreted as more disturbing.