Aiden McGeady

[boysingreen]

His name is M'Gedy.

[seanfhear]

Fair dues to Aiden for having a go at Keane. Keane likes to dish it out but does not react so well when he gets some back.

As Kingdom has already said, did'nt Keane say he did not watch Ireland matches.

[geysir]

Maybe he's faking it.

[Junior]

Where's Keanes comments then?

[Colbert Report]

I heard Niall Quinn talking about McGeady's lack of a final ball tonight on OTB. He wasn't really slagging him, just saying that if he were playing he'd prefer Duff.

[geysir]

Where's Keanes comments then?
In an Indo article
Aidan McGeady hits out at Roy Keane (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/euro-2012/irish-news/aidan-mcgeady-hits-out-at-roy-keane-3116993.html)

[Junior]

But that's the same article? Where's Keanes comments 'dissing him? They're not quoted in there.

[geysir]

Keane and Townsend were reported to critical of McGeady in an ITV thing.
McGeady-tells-Roy-Keane-to-shut-it.html (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/irishsun/irishsunsport/euro2012ireland/4333449/McGeady-tells-Roy-Keane-to-shut-it.html)
Keane claimed McGeady ‘has threatened to become a top, top player but hasn’t pulled up trees and needs to do more’.
Townsend said: “It’s a toss of a coin whether he turns up or whether he doesn’t.”

McGeady doesn't criticise Keane, just probably does not value Keane's opinion about him :)

[DannyInvincible]

When do Keane and Townsend ever see McGeady playing on a regular basis?

[boovidge]

How many other players from Britain and Ireland have moved so far out of their comfort zone to improve their game like McGeady? He's mostly been crap for Ireland but in the last couple of years he's really improved and this should be acknowledged.

[DannyInvincible]

I bet neither Keane or Townsend have ever seen McGeady play a full 90 minutes in the Russian Premier League.

[geysir]

And we know that Keane has never seen McGeady for Ireland, ie if they didn't actually play together for ireland.

[Murfinator]

He has the potential to be our best player we know that, I hope he carries this drive into the Euros and shows everyone what he's capable of.

[Fixer82]

I think McGeady is well up for it and well focussed for these finals. He loves showing off and show offs often turn on the style and shine on the big stage. i'm excited!!

[DannyInvincible]

Trap comes to McGeady's defence: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/republic-of-ireland/9293424/Republic-of-Ireland-winger-Aiden-McGeady-shrugs-off-jibe-by-commentator-Roy-Keane-following-defeat-of-Bosnia.html


Yet perhaps maintaining the psychological mind games in an effort to protect his player, Trapattoni rounded on Keane and Townsend on Sunday with a staunch defence of McGeady.

“For me, the first thing is that maybe they don’t follow the Russian League,” Trapattoni said. “And secondly, I played the football. And I wish to ask them, did they always play well?

“From the moment that they were born, did they play beautifully in every game? They did so for their whole careers?

“McGeady is in a very good moment. He is improving his confidence and his personality. Two years ago, he was good, but he was young. Now he plays with maturity.”

[OwlsFan]

Does McGeady have an international future? He had one good half against Bosnia a month ago and he was redeemed but once again he (not alone I hasten to add ) has been to me at least a terrible disappointment. One good cross in the second half and that was it. Loses possession so easily, head goes down and drifts. He was to be the golden boy of his generation. Perhaps when we play our fellow minnows there may be room for him but over his career for Ireland (and I am not talking about these past couple of games) I don't think he has cut the mustard.

Hopefully McLean will continue the progress he is making and Coleman on the other side, the days of Messrs McGeady and Duffer appear to be numbered.

Or is this too harsh an assessment?

[passinginterest]

I think it's too harsh. Our current system relies completely on our two wingers to create chances, they are our sole outlet, the full backs offer nothing as an attacking threat and one centre mid is allowed a rare foray forward. It's all too easy for opponents to double and even treble mark the wingers which makes their task almost impossible. I saw a stat after the game the McGeady completed 23/25 passes, made five successful tackles and 3 interceptions. I don't know if he could have done much more considering he was absolutely starved of quality ball and at least double marked whenver it came near him. I find him frustrating at times too but I still think he's arguably our best player, the problem is all of our opponents also know this and our system makes it so easy to almost eliminate him from the game.

[Carrigaline]

Does McGeady have an international future? He had one good half against Bosnia a month ago and he was redeemed but once again he (not alone I hasten to add ) has been to me at least a terrible disappointment. One good cross in the second half and that was it. Loses possession so easily, head goes down and drifts. He was to be the golden boy of his generation. Perhaps when we play our fellow minnows there may be room for him but over his career for Ireland (and I am not talking about these past couple of games) I don't think he has cut the mustard.

Hopefully McLean will continue the progress he is making and Coleman on the other side, the days of Messrs McGeady and Duffer appear to be numbered.

Or is this too harsh an assessment?
Way too harsh. McGeady is an attacking player who is basically being played as a full back for us. When you watch him for Spartak, if he is given the chance to get 1 on 1 with a player, he is lethal, unfortunately with Ireland, he is almost never given that chance. Also, when McClean came on, he struggled just as much as Duff and McGeady did.

[Closed Account 2]

I think it's too harsh, he's set up our only goal in the tournament so far. His delivery has improved a lot since joining Spartak. People say his crossing isnt good and he delays too much, but a lot of the time against Spain none of our players were in their box when he had the ball out wide, so he had to delay the cross to allow our players to get in position. I think it was him who hit the cross that had Ramos and Cassillas in a bit of a mix up. He wasnt great but very few were last night, I think he has a future, even if you were to say he shouldnt be in the team surely he merits a place in the squad.

[brine3]

Our wingers have been double marked during the whole tournament, because the opposition knows that they don't have to worry themselves about Whelan and Andrews.

On top of that, our wingers are asked to do defensive duties.

It's very difficult to judge how good they are.

[Charlie Darwin]

McGeady was our best player last night. He made some uncharacteristic concentration errors in the first half, but then again the whole team did, and he put in a massive defensive shift.

[tetsujin1979]

The problem isn't with McGeady, it's that the team is so clearly set up with him as the main creative threat that it's easy for the opposition to identify this and deal with him effectively. For whatever reason, we still haven't found a way to deal with the fact that he is double marked every time he is in possession.
For what it's worth, I'd still start him in the world cup qualifiers.

[nigel-harps1954]

McGeady was our best player last night. He made some uncharacteristic concentration errors in the first half, but then again the whole team did, and he put in a massive defensive shift.


Not sure what game you were watching mate. McGeady was f**king awful last night.

The man should be nowhere near the starting team. Disgrace.

[geysir]

No doubt, McGeady put in a serious shift in the 2nd half.

[OwlsFan]

McGeady is the most naturally talented Irishman of all time. If he even half fills his potential he'll make Liam Brady look like Kevin Kilbane!

Such were the expectations for Aiden back in 2006, albeit from a biased source. Is McGeady10 still with us and I'd like his opinion now.

[the bear]

mcgeady was very bad in the firts half and very good in the second. To expect more than a commited defense display and ball retention from him with the way we set up last night would be unrealistic imo

[Carrigaline]

Not sure what game you were watching mate. McGeady was f**king awful last night.

The man should be nowhere near the starting team. Disgrace.
Read on boards.ie that Mcgeady made more successful tackles than any other Irish player

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rvUUV-Yc9gg/T9sVMrX4eaI/AAAAAAAAAVk/c6hd1QeisKo/s1600/IMG_0069.PNG

[SkStu]

He's just an easy target to some cretins on here because he's not Maradona.

Tets and Carrigaline summed up perfectly the reason McGeady has been ineffective in this tournament.

[Charlie Darwin]

He's still been our most effective player.

[SkStu]

Realizing that we may be thinking that effective means something different, Andrews has been that player for me...

[dong]

I think McGeady is well up for it and well focussed for these finals. He loves showing off and show offs often turn on the style and shine on the big stage. i'm excited!!

Oh dear.

[Stuttgart88]

Hey, he's got all of our assists so far.

[AlaskaFox]

19 out of 21 passes successful against Spain, and people say he was rubbish. My word.

[Charlie Darwin]

If McGeady was bad, just imagine what people are saying about the ones who actually did play badly. Like Shay Given and Richard Dunne.

[BonnieShels]

19 out of 21 passes successful against Spain, and people say he was rubbish. My word.

People say he is rubbish on the basis that they judge him alone on the final ball. Most football observers don't see all of what a player does on a pitch.
Sure I would rate myself at the low end of the analysts on this forum but would still see more than most clowns who overtly criticise McGeady.

Listen, these are the same people who I have heard criticise Keith Andrews and Sledge and have called for their exclusion from the team.

[Stuttgart88]

Linked to Sunderland in today's Examiner

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/irelands-mcgeady-in-sights-of-sunderland-198865.html

[boovidge]

Hope he stays at Spartak or moves to a top league other than the Prem. Not healthy having all our players in the same league.

[tetsujin1979]

one thing that occurred to me watching McGeady in the Italy game. As usual, he was being double marked in possession, but he still managed to thread the ball between the two players. Unfortunately, there was an Italian defender waiting to take the loose ball. However, there was an Irish midfielder standing still just off to the right, behind one of the markers. Watching it, I could only think that, if it was Spain, or Italy for that matter, the midfielder would have anticipated the pass and moved to intercept, but instead he remained static and possession was lost.
Not quite sure what point I'm trying to make, but I think it's along the lines of "a more intelligent midfield would make better use of McGeady's talent"

[mark12345]

Wonder what category I'm in. I like McGeady and think he deserves his place in the team because he is an outlet for our overworked defence. We can criticize him for his final ball but none of us see what he sees when looking to cross in front of goal.

As far as SLedge goes - yeah keep him for now. He's a decent defender. But he is replaceable just like Dunne. Neither of them appear capable of taking the ball on their chest and turning attack into counter attack. And as much as Andrews deserves credit for the effort he put out at the Euros he simply does not have the skill to play in the Irish midfield or any midfield. He is technically one of the worst midfielders we have ever had, and Whelan is not much better.

[brine3]

McGeady has come on leaps and bounds since he went to Spartak.

The last place he needs to go is Sunderland and have Martin O'Neil turn him into a caveman footballer.

[Spudulika]

A move from Spartak would help him as his coach is a clown of the highest degree. He's looking to get rid of Aiden for some time now so that he can put his own players (he's an agent) in - the financiers of the club won't allow it when Aiden's there, so he's been pushing and pushing in order to make his case. Lots of teams in Russia would snap him up but Spartak wouldn't let him go local, couple that with the fact that the coach has been told he won't be able to buy unless he sells and our man could be out the door.

[BonnieShels]

To Germany hopefully...

[Junior]

Aiden stated he wants to play in the EPL though hasnt he? I'd like him to give the Bundesliga a crack but I get the impression he might think "I've done my bit of cultural stuff back to norm now".......

[Colbert Report]

He's wearing #8 today according to soccernet.

[EastTerracer]

He's wearing #8 today according to soccernet.

He changed his squad number at Spartak to 8 before the start of last season.

Played the full 90 minutes in the first league game of the season today at Alania Vladikavkaz. Spartak won 2-1 courtesy of a late OG.

[theworm2345]

Got a goal today.

[tetsujin1979]

goal online here on 4 minutes: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/spartak-moscow-2-volga-1-russian-premier-league-july-29-2012/
Long distance shot, right in front of goal

[Carrigaline]

Have to say I would be happy enough if McGeady remained with Spartak for another season. They have a better manager at the helm and some really decent players at the club. If Spartak can win their qualifier and get into the Champions League, that would be the icing on the cake.

[EastTerracer]

goal online here on 4 minutes: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/spartak-moscow-2-volga-1-russian-premier-league-july-29-2012/
Long distance shot, right in front of goal

That link didn't work for me but McGeady's goal is at 1:07 here

lFQS73pW1jA

[SkStu]

Lovely strike.