Aiden McGeady

[Charlie Darwin]

To be fair, it's the sort of the thing that would get reported regardless of whether Sky were sponsoring it. I've seen far worse examples of product placement in newspapers.

[TiocfaidhArmani]

That's one of the most ridiculous articles I've ever read crowned by an advertisement tacked on to the end. Why on earth would they publish that.

This Nicholas fellow sounds like a clown as well. "You go as far afield as he did, in a way it's hiding, just passing time, like when guys go to America" is the most nonsensical Sky-esque anglo-centric comment I've ever heard. People over there seem to really believe the world game revolves around the EPL, its laughable.

He moved from the 17th ranked league in Europe to the 7th, of course its a positive move

Coming from Charlie who turned down Liverpool for a mediocre Arsenal team because of the lights and glamour of Landan, he has a cheek. Aiden has been excellent for Ireland since his move and as a Celtic fan I have to look at our coaching and wonder why we couldn't develop his game like that, but fair play to Spartak. One bad game since his move where he pretty much hasn't played for two months and he's slated!

[seanfhear]

Coming from Charlie who turned down Liverpool for a mediocre Arsenal team because of the lights and glamour of Landan, he has a cheek. Aiden has been excellent for Ireland since his move and as a Celtic fan I have to look at our coaching and wonder why we couldn't develop his game like that, but fair play to Spartak. One bad game since his move where he pretty much hasn't played for two months and he's slated!
I don't actually like saying this but I think Aiden stayed too long at Celtic. His game has come on since he moved to Russia but how much further on could he be if he had left the sectarian goldfish bowl that is largely Scottish football sooner. Aiden has great feet on the ball but his end product is not up to other parts of his game and you are right why could Celtic not improve Aiden in this respect.

[TiocfaidhArmani]

Sean, I would maybe agree with that.

[Closed Account 2]

I think he's improved a lot, he seems to time his runs better, doesnt give the ball away as much and is much better defending than before. I don't know what all this guff about Spartak being a poor move is. If he'd moved to a club like Amkar or Tomsk then fair enough, but he's at one of the biggest clubs in Eastern Europe. Some of the top Russian clubs (Zenit, CSKA, to a lesser extent Rubin) can compete near the top level of European football, Spartak's form has deserted them over the last 5 years or so but they are not far off that level.

He's in a much stronger squad than he would have been at Birmingham or Celtic, if he doesnt do well the Kombarov twins can take his place so there is significant competition for him.

[zero]

i've often criticised mcgeady for his lack of end product but he was brilliant last night covering ward's wanderings, and an outlet on those few occasions when we had posession. dunne man of the match no doubt but from the front 6 mcgeady gets my nod.

i can't really remember him tracking back pre-spartak for the ireland team. i'm sure he did it to a degree but hardly to such good effect.

since leaving celtic he's scored his first goal for ireland and made a starting position his own.

[the bear]

mcgeady has very visibly improved since the move. a step up in class. starting position for us nailed on

[Sullivinho]

i've often criticised mcgeady for his lack of end product but he was brilliant last night covering ward's wanderings, and an outlet on those few occasions when we had posession. dunne man of the match no doubt but from the front 6 mcgeady gets my nod.

i can't really remember him tracking back pre-spartak for the ireland team. i'm sure he did it to a degree but hardly to such good effect.

since leaving celtic he's scored his first goal for ireland and made a starting position his own.

It's strange how people see things in wildly different ways. I happened to read another discussion today where someone was lambasting McGeady as a waster who offered Ward no protection and was basically at fault for all our problems down that side. Ward was made exempt from criticism and ridiculously, this opinion was met with a chorus of agreement. Different strokes and all that.

For what it's worth, I'm with you. He showed a lot of responsibility yesterday, one last ditch sliding tackle in particular comes to mind. No idea where Ward was at the time. You expect it from Duff but it's good to see McGeady following suit.

[BonnieShels]

McGeady was excellent last night given the difficulty that Ward put him under for some reason being constantly out of position.

How many times was Ward in the box instead of tracking his man which is what McGeady had to do in the end. I wouldn't be adversed sticking Aiden at LB if it came to it. There would be no harm in it and who knows it could be where he blossoms??? I know I am reading a lot into one game but he was great.
And sure we can stick Fahey in at LM.

[the bear]

McGeady was excellent last night given the difficulty that Ward put him under for some reason being constantly out of position.

How many times was Ward in the box instead of tracking his man which is what McGeady had to do in the end. I wouldn't be adversed sticking Aiden at LB if it came to it. There would be no harm in it and who knows it could be where he blossoms??? I know I am reading a lot into one game but he was great.
And sure we can stick Fahey in at LM.

he's our best attacking player , would be madness to play him LB

[Irish_Praha]

McGeady was excellent last night given the difficulty that Ward put him under for some reason being constantly out of position.

How many times was Ward in the box instead of tracking his man which is what McGeady had to do in the end. I wouldn't be adversed sticking Aiden at LB if it came to it. There would be no harm in it and who knows it could be where he blossoms??? I know I am reading a lot into one game but he was great.
And sure we can stick Fahey in at LM.

Hunt and McGeady on one side with Duff and Lawrence on the other side would be interesting for the game against Andorra.
Anyones choice as to which one would play in defence or MF.

[magicman]

I think the criticism towards him is understandable in part. I'll be honest, he does my head in. He just has bags of talent, so much so that even when he plays badly its evident how good he could be. But the problem is the inconsistency and the lack of an end product. How many step overs does he need to do? What I find most frustrating though is he always races for the end line looking to cross the ball. Now I know I will be attacked by his defenders but for a player who is a brilliant dribbler of the ball, why cant he link up with his front 2 and head in field where he would put the opposition under pressure? As it is, if a full back has pace to match McGeady he just can sheppard him on the outside the whole way to the line.
Maybe it is Trap's tactics, maybe its the way he was coached at Celtic, but compare him to Duff. He has the same type of dribble, low and hunched over, which should win him a number of free kicks; he will learn this in time I'm sure. Duff's main contribution isn't beating players, its his passing game. How many times to you see Duff double teamed and picking out a pass to somebody in a bit of space?

His defensive game has improved no end. He is a completely different player than last season already. He has become an important part of the team, but I dont see him being integral just yet. Another year an Spartak and perfecting the basics and he will be a star in Poland if we qualify.

[AlaskaFox]

Hunt and McGeady on one side with Duff and Lawrence on the other side would be interesting for the game against Andorra.
Anyones choice as to which one would play in defence or MF.

Don't think we need a midfield then. Maybe Trap and Tardelli can apply for Irish passports, give themselves a run.

[Mr A]

McGeady was defensively brilliant the other night and played a big role in keeping us in it, but the only dangerous cross he produced was into our own box, not the Russian one. That aspect of his game will have to improve a lot before I really rate him.

[TiocfaidhArmani]

It's strange how people see things in wildly different ways. I happened to read another discussion today where someone was lambasting McGeady as a waster who offered Ward no protection and was basically at fault for all our problems down that side. Ward was made exempt from criticism and ridiculously, this opinion was met with a chorus of agreement. Different strokes and all that.

For what it's worth, I'm with you. He showed a lot of responsibility yesterday, one last ditch sliding tackle in particular comes to mind. No idea where Ward was at the time. You expect it from Duff but it's good to see McGeady following suit.

You see Ward plays in the EPL so doesn't get it in the neck. It's the centre of the footballing universe, hadn't you heard? Welcome to the Irish football fan. Some of Ward's crosses are absolutely woeful. Under no pressure he's ballooned a few now.

[geysir]

I´d have no complaints about Ward except for his crossing and positioning.. (scratching head) ... I suppose that would be about 50% of a full back's game.

But you could see Ward grew into the role in the 2nd half, the most frustrating moment was when McGeady laid it on a plate for him to cross late in the game and he wasted it. Anyway I don't get the focus on the 'get the ball high into the box' all the time, the more dangerous cross is the cutback to a midfielder's foot coming in at pace or just waiting in space to lash it goal wards. But in Ireland we are zoned into the high ball into the box and see what happens. The chances of the cross being good and something happening, are slim.

[Kingdom]

McGeady was defensively brilliant the other night and played a big role in keeping us in it, but the only dangerous cross he produced was into our own box, not the Russian one. That aspect of his game will have to improve a lot before I really rate him.

The pass Glenn Whelan couldn't control?

[TiocfaidhArmani]

The pass Glenn Whelan couldn't control?

I couldn't see why Ray Houghton was slating him. I thought that at the time, it was a simple pass to Whelan, he made an ar*e of it and McGeady gets utterly slated by the commentators. I can't stand Houghton as a commentator.

[Mr A]

The pass Glenn Whelan couldn't control?

I find it does not pay to set the bar too high when it comes to 'crosses' from McGeady.

[EastTerracer]

Aiden just scored Spartak's second goal against Krylia Sove - a right-foot volley from about 8 yards out.

Busy day trying to watch All-Ireland, Man United-Chelsea and Spartak at the same time.

Final score: 3-0 to Spartak and another 90 minutes of match-practice for McGeady

[Stuttgart88]

I find it does not pay to set the bar too high when it comes to 'crosses' from McGeady.Actually, the bar can't be set high enough :)

[Philly]

Here it is:

o4qEP_Kz1RY

Good finish!

[EastTerracer]

The number 90 for Spartak, Andrei Tikhonov, who had the assist for McGeady's goal seemed to be playing his last game for them today. They made a big deal of substituting him just before half-time and then they gave him a big flash car at half-time. Seemed to be something of a fans' favourite as well.

[SwanVsDalton]

The number 90 for Spartak, Andrei Tikhonov, who had the assist for McGeady's goal seemed to be playing his last game for them today. They made a big deal of substituting him just before half-time and then they gave him a big flash car at half-time. Seemed to be something of a fans' favourite as well.

Russians seem to love mixing cars and football. During the Ireland game they had a fleet of Merc's (I think) driving around the Luzhniki running track. They stopped periodically in front of the crowd and they suitably went bananas. I think it might've been a competition to win a car but wasn't sure.

Back on McGeady, I got regular shouts of 'Mah-gee-he!' in Moscow, which took me a while to decipher but was heartening to hear nonetheless.

[pineapple stu]

The number 90 for Spartak, Andrei Tikhonov, who had the assist for McGeady's goal seemed to be playing his last game for them today.
What a wierd career (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrey_Tikhonov)!

Nearly 41 years old; that was his first league game since re-signing (as a coach), 11 years since his other spell with them. So they basically took the **** in a league game, throwing in a veteran last seen in Division Two last November, and he still rewarded them with an assist. Bizarre stuff.

[geysir]

Still no comment about the lack of marking on McGeady?

[Spudulika]

Russians seem to love mixing cars and football. During the Ireland game they had a fleet of Merc's (I think) driving around the Luzhniki running track. They stopped periodically in front of the crowd and they suitably went bananas. I think it might've been a competition to win a car but wasn't sure.

Back on McGeady, I got regular shouts of 'Mah-gee-he!' in Moscow, which took me a while to decipher but was heartening to hear nonetheless.

Tikhonov is a Spartak legend, he earned his stripes during some fistfight regarding insults levelled at Spartak supporters. Supposedly he's suffering from some sort of terminal disease, though nothing surprises here. He basically reminds the trash that follow Spartak of their glory days - plus Karpin made sure to bring him in (in connivance with the backers) to ensure he wasn't fired.

The cars at half time were Volkswagens (chief sponsor of the RFS) and they stopped at certain points in the stadium where the camera then pointed to a fan who cheered the most and who was then picked out by a rep in that zone to be given a prize. Also all the prizewinners went into a grand draw to win a Passat.

[theworm2345]

McGeady scored for Spartak in their Cup match today, was 1-1 at full time in extra time now.

[EastTerracer]

McGeady scored for Spartak in their Cup match today, was 1-1 at full time in extra time now.

Aiden's goal is the first thing in the highlights package below. Looks like he may have been subbed before the penalty shoot-out as he doesn't seem to be in the centre-circle. Spartak lost 6-5 on penalties.

Ms7c0fl-V6I

[seanfhear]

Nice to Aiden scoring a few goals.

[hunt4the]

hats off to mcgeady, he's outdone himself.....
what an absolute stinker of a game he had last night

[Charlie Darwin]

He didn't do much wrong last night. The Armenians had done their homework and made sure to surround him whenever he got the ball but any opportunity he had to run at the full back he looked dangerous. He faded as the game went on though.

[pineapple stu]

He didn't do much wrong last night.
:eek:

Thing is - fair enough that he has two lads on him when he gets the ball. But if you can't go forward, then turn around; play backwards; keep the ball. Instead, he repeatedly lost possession needlessly (and not just last night; in other games too).

He got one cross in in the hour he was on, and was fortunate the keeper had a brain fart for it.

And the less said about the "shot" he had immediately before being subbed off, the better.

I don't think he did much right last night.

[shakermaker1982]

He was muck. If he went for the simple option he'd improve so much.

[ifk101]

He played an absolute peach of a through ball last night. Pity he meant it as a back pass.

[drummerboy]

Very disappointed with Aidan last night. He was playing very well last season and really looked like an big asset to the team but since his injury he really seems to lack confidence. Can't imagine Coleman doing any worse in that position.

[bennocelt]

He didn't do much wrong last night. The Armenians had done their homework and made sure to surround him whenever he got the ball but any opportunity he had to run at the full back he looked dangerous. He faded as the game went on though.

Wow - that's delusional:D

[tetsujin1979]

he was right in front of where I was sitting in the first half, and was consistently surrounded by at least two players whenever he was in possession.
He needs to learn in these situations to release the ball as early as possible instead of trying to beat the defenders every time.
As for the "shot", if he had it first time, at least it would have been something, instead he tried to take it under control and shoot, which resulted in nothing. Hunt tried the same thing, should have hit it first time, but is getting noticeably less criticism, I see.

[Closed Account]

he was right in front of where I was sitting in the first half, and was consistently surrounded by at least two players whenever he was in possession.
He needs to learn in these situations to release the ball as early as possible instead of trying to beat the defenders every time.
As for the "shot", if he had it first time, at least it would have been something, instead he tried to take it under control and shoot, which resulted in nothing. Hunt tried the same thing, should have hit it first time, but is getting noticeably less criticism, I see.
Neither were really an option to hit first time. McGeadys was slightly behind him. He should have switched it to his right. The pass to Hunt just went past him taking him away from goal. Releasing the ball early when two men are on you was his main flaw. He consistently takes his first touches towards the defender cutting out his own space for a cross or pass. It works for him when he has a fullback isolated but he's got to be cleverer.

[Drumcondra 69er]

he was right in front of where I was sitting in the first half, and was consistently surrounded by at least two players whenever he was in possession.
He needs to learn in these situations to release the ball as early as possible instead of trying to beat the defenders every time.
As for the "shot", if he had it first time, at least it would have been something, instead he tried to take it under control and shoot, which resulted in nothing. Hunt tried the same thing, should have hit it first time, but is getting noticeably less criticism, I see.

Hunt took 1 or 2 touches too many, McGeady took about 5. I did make that point at the time last night though, there were similarities and Hunt got far less stick.

However, McGeady was very very poor last night bar the cross for the goal (which the keeper really should have gathered anyway) and Hunt looked far more effective in his time on the pitch. I'd have Hunt ahead of him in the play offs.

[TiocfaidhArmani]

I don't get how he could have been so poor? Put it down to a bad night and move on and hopefully regain the form he had recently. It was a poor night for Duff as well imo. Bloody awful team performance full stop.

[tetsujin1979]

despite the poor night's work for both wingers (and I'm not arguing that it wasn't) both goals did come from crosses from each of them.

[chelsea]

foolishly backed mcgeady 1st goal 11/1.. rookie mistake.

[geysir]

McGeady had a good enough 20 minutes in the 2nd half until his weak shot on goal. A woeful pass back after scrapping hard to win possession, but he played his part in that period of play as much as any other player.
A plus to his game is that he has an infinitely better awareness of defensive covering and positioning than Hunt.

[nigel-harps1954]

I still believe McGeady is a waste of space.

[the bear]

he wasn't great last night but has had a strong campaign and deserves his place on the teamsheet

[The Swordsman]

One thing I noticed about him on Tuesday was how he was inclined to mope when things went wrong for him.

He had a poor game, but overall in the campaign, he has been very good.

If he doesn't start in the play-offs, who do we play in his place?

Hunt is an impact player, much better when he comes off the bench than when he starts.

Coleman hasn't really played for us and when he has, he hasn't shined.

[irishfan86]

Coleman hasn't really played for us and when he has, he hasn't shined.

Thought he looked pretty good against Italy in the summer friendly, but I agree he hasn't done much apart from that. He's probably just a victim of our relative depth in the wide positions right now.

[tetsujin1979]

Despite the criticism McGeady's had over the last few days, I felt he's been a solid contributor to the team over the course of the qualifiers. With this in mind, I did some research and this is what I came up with


Game Score Goalscorer Assist
Armenia(A) 1-0 Fahey Doyle, possibly Keane
Andorra(H) 3-1 Kilbane Lawrence
Doyle Lawrence
Keane McGeady
Russia(H) 3-2 Keane N/A - penalty
Long McGeady
Slovakia(A) 1-1 St Ledger Fahey
Macedonia(H) 2-1 Keane Gibson
McGeady
Macedonia(A) 2-0 Keane None
Keane None
Andorra(A) 2-0 Doyle Whelan
McGeady Whelan
Armenia(H) 2-1 OG Duff
Dunne McGeadySo, he finished the group with the most assists, and was directly involved in more goals (either scoring or assisting) than anyone else bar Robbie Keane.
There's never been any doubt to his talent, but he's still a very frustrating player to watch. The next four years will probably be the prime of his career (he'll be 29 in four years) so hopefully he can learn to iron out those aspects of his game.

[Crosby87]

Nice Work Tets. Actual factual.
Facts and the internet are like oil and water though, and opinions are like *******s.