Aiden McGeady

[seanfhear]

A great shame Aiden never learned how to cross the ball or stop giving the ball away considering all of his ability. Maybe he was just to arrogant to admit that he had to learn these two basic skills when he was a young player ?

[Olé Olé]

Plenty plonkers in that Sunderland dressing room going by the Sunderland Till I Die Documentary. It is hard to interpret Morgan's words. There is a touch of the Roy Keane in his demand for higher standards. Hard for me to envisage though, given his on-field demeanour and demeanour in interviews. It doesn't take Walter Mitty to imagine Keane in a dressing room.

[seanfhear]

Maybe the Russian money went to Aiden's head ! !

[Fixer82]

They had a very public falling out. Can’t remember where but McGeady was an unused sub in the first of two qualifiers and they made all the unused players go through an intense workout and McGeady was having none of it.

Mustn’t have been that public. Never heard of it til now

[elatedscum]

Well. It was in front of all the travelling Irish fans who were waiting to leave. So public in that sense

[Fixer82]

Well. It was in front of all the travelling Irish fans who were waiting to leave. So public in that sense

Gotcha. So it was after a match then?
Interesting. Certainly seems a more forceful character than I thought he was

[brine3]

They’re different players.
McClean is an absolute workhorse who will track back all day.

McGeady could be a handful for any defence when he’s on form. Which is sporadic.

McCarthy was a CB. So I’d say he’s a McClean loyalist

McGeady did immense amounts of tracking back in the Trappatoni days. He put in quite a shift. Trap didn't pick players who didn't track back and McGeady was always one of the first names on the team sheet for Trap.

He was immense in the Russia away match, and many others. He also held the ball up well.

McGeady between about 2010 and 2014 was probably one of the best Irish there was. But people don't like him for some reason. Very underrated player at the time.

[John83]

McGeady between about 2010 and 2014 was probably one of the best Irish there was. But people don't like him for some reason. Very underrated player at the time.
People notice players who waste possession; whatever their other qualities, they're frustrating to watch because things often end with a groan when they're on the ball. If McGeady had a half decent cross in him, he'd have been a big fan favourite.

[seanfhear]

People notice players who waste possession; whatever their other qualities, they're frustrating to watch because things often end with a groan when they're on the ball. If McGeady had a half decent cross in him, he'd have been a big fan favourite.
For all his “ Talent “ he couldn’t cross a ball to save his life and he gave the ball away like a Toddler with a roasting hot potato = very frustrating player because of that, and pretty much all of the fans are not wrong ! !

[Fixer82]

McGeady did immense amounts of tracking back in the Trappatoni days. He put in quite a shift. Trap didn't pick players who didn't track back and McGeady was always one of the first names on the team sheet for Trap.

He was immense in the Russia away match, and many others. He also held the ball up well.

McGeady between about 2010 and 2014 was probably one of the best Irish there was. But people don't like him for some reason. Very underrated player at the time.

He was immense in his work rate against Russia, I remember. His final ball was very disappointing, often failing to beat the first man. Also, often tried a trick when there was no need. Hell of a talent on his day though.

Also very good against Germany in Gelsinkirchen which I don't think he gets credit for.

[Demesne Lad]

Aiden McGeady started for Sunderland U-23s v Crystal Palace on Monday 23rd. Evening Chronicle wonders if Phil Parkinson wants to get him fit and move him on in January.

[seanfhear]

Aiden McGeady started for Sunderland U-23s v Crystal Palace on Monday 23rd. Evening Chronicle wonders if Phil Parkinson wants to get him fit and move him on in January.
He might be just trying to improve Aiden’s Crossing and Retension of the Ball ~ ~ Two things for all of Aiden’s ability he was always very poor at.

[Fixer82]

He might be just trying to improve Aiden’s Crossing and Retension of the Ball ~ ~ Two things for all of Aiden’s ability he was always very poor at.

True. The rentention didn't bother me too much as that can happen with a creative player trying to make something happen.
But some of his crossing over the years was shocking. If he had a good cross on him he'd have been World Class

[seanfhear]

True. The rentention didn't bother me too much as that can happen with a creative player trying to make something happen.
But some of his crossing over the years was shocking. If he had a good cross on him he'd have been World Class
But McGeady gave it away too easy and too often for the top level or even near the top level and how could an admittedly skilful player not learn to cross a ball. He lacked the ability to improve which is a major drawback. Was he just too up himself ? He wouldn’t be the first footballer to get carried away with himself and think he was way better than he was.

[Fixer82]

But McGeady gave it away too easy and too often for the top level or even near the top level and how could an admittedly skilful player not learn to cross a ball. He lacked the ability to improve which is a major drawback. Was he just too up himself ? He wouldn’t be the first footballer to get carried away with himself and think he was way better than he was.

His game developed in certain aspects. He improved defensively.
But his job was to beat players and create.
When he did that it was fantastic.
Problem was he tried to do it every single time.
His decision making was often poor. That’s the part of his game that didn’t improve enough.

But when he was on it he was a joy to watch.

[irishfan86]

Really fun player to watch in his prime. Had his limitations but on his day virtually unplayable. Obvious deficiencies in overall game which were found out at Prem level but some great outings with Celtic in Europe.

[seanfhear]

His game developed in certain aspects. He improved defensively.
But his job was to beat players and create.
When he did that it was fantastic.
Problem was he tried to do it every single time.
His decision making was often poor. That’s the part of his game that didn’t improve enough.

But when he was on it he was a joy to watch.
Is it a problem with Celtic ? There is no doubt McGeady had ability but Not to learn how to cross a ball and to keep procession at the highest level is pretty much unforgivable. He turned out to be pretty much a waste of a potentially high quality player. Was this Celtic’s fault or McGeady’s fault ?

[Bielsa´s irish]

with all the problems we had creating chances and the mcgoldrick leaving the boat, I wouldnt mind to bring him to the fold for one last campaign, even more if he goes to Celtic, I think he will go there in January

[Fixer82]

Is it a problem with Celtic ? There is no doubt McGeady had ability but Not to learn how to cross a ball and to keep procession at the highest level is pretty much unforgivable. He turned out to be pretty much a waste of a potentially high quality player. Was this Celtic’s fault or McGeady’s fault ?

Probably a bit of both.
I thought the move to Moscow was a good one at the time. He didn't get a great run of chances at Everton afterwards.

[seanfhear]

Probably a bit of both.
I thought the move to Moscow was a good one at the time. He didn't get a great run of chances at Everton afterwards.
He wasn’t good enough at Everton and its no surprise that he slipped down the leagues. How can a skilful player not cross a ball and hold on to procession ?

[John83]

hold on to procession ?
You've used this a couple of times, so I'll just reamark that it's possession, from to possess. Procession is something else.

(No big deal. We all have blind spots.)

[Charlie Darwin]

Traditionally, it's the other side of the community in Glasgow/Ireland who hold processions :)

[seanfhear]

Traditionally, it's the other side of the community in Glasgow/Ireland who hold processions :)
I was in Glasgow once when they were doing one on a Sunday ( not the 12th of July ) and the only People interested were the members of the Band. The Public showed no interest what so ever !

[backstothewall]

I was actually there on the 12th once (which in Glasgow is held on the Saturday before the 12th to allow them to make the trip to Belfast for the actual 12th)

There was about a hundred there. Having had an actual 12th parade walking past the end of the driveway it was rather pathetic looking in comparison.

[seanfhear]

I was actually there on the 12th once (which in Glasgow is held on the Saturday before the 12th to allow them to make the trip to Belfast for the actual 12th)

There was about a hundred there. Having had an actual 12th parade walking past the end of the driveway it was rather pathetic looking in comparison.
Seems to be dying death in Glasgow anyway if our experiences are anything to go by.

[liamoo11]

Back in starting 11after Parkinson got sack

[Bielsa´s irish]

An assist again

[tetsujin1979]

McGeady breaks his silence on his absence from the Sunderland first team: https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/aiden-mcgeady-breaks-his-silence-sunderland-exclusion-candid-assessment-phil-parkinson-3074302

[seanfhear]

McGeady breaks his silence on his absence from the Sunderland first team: https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/aiden-mcgeady-breaks-his-silence-sunderland-exclusion-candid-assessment-phil-parkinson-3074302
A player that never lived up to what he and others hoped for. I wonder how much of it was his attitude. When you hear his thoughts / words it comes across as he thought he was a lot better than he is. It happens to many of them. I wonder was it just too many “ yes you are brilliant “ People around him.

A could have been ~ ~ I suppose he has done alright financially out of it.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Four pases-gol today. I would bring him back as a super sub, he still has it

[Fixer82]

He certainly proved the manager wrong for dropping him/telling him he was no longer wanted

[DeLorean]

Beautiful defence splitting pass to give Sunderland the lead at Wembley.

1371133864731684865

[Trequartista20]

For all that I favour focusing on youth, Mcgeady is one of the very few potential match-winners available to us.

Should this sort of form really be ignored?

[liamoo11]

For all that I favour focusing on youth, Mcgeady is one of the very few potential match-winners available to us.

Should this sort of form really be ignored?

Agree. I wouldn't take him to Serbia just have him fresh for Luxembourg to play as a 10 and give us some chance at creativity. Unfortunately we dont have any player like him coming through from what I have seen with crowley been the closest.

[Bielsa´s irish]

For all that I favour focusing on youth, Mcgeady is one of the very few potential match-winners available to us.

Should this sort of form really be ignored?


No, we need him on one last campaign as a super sub.

[John83]

Kenny has to be looking at that and thinking about how he'd use him anyway. There are not too many players in contention for the squad with that kind of a pass in them.

[DeLorean]

It really was the one moment of quality they speak of that decided the match too, a fairly turgid affair.

[DeLorean]

Agree. I wouldn't take him to Serbia just have him fresh for Luxembourg to play as a 10 and give us some chance at creativity. Unfortunately we dont have any player like him coming through from what I have seen with crowley been the closest.

I'd like to have him as an option for Serbia but can see your thinking.

[Bottle of Tonic]

Can't understand how he's been frozen out of the Ireland set up in recent times. One of the few players of his style we've ever had. He's a creator and a threat and creating and scoring goals is our weakest point. He should have been playing in the hole for Ireland, or on the side of a front 3, for the last 10 years. He was wasted, but let's give him a final 1 or 2 years in an effective formation.

Tons of caps as well. Experience badly needed in the squad.

[nigel-harps1954]

Who gets dropped for him? Hourihane, Hendrick, Knight and Browne are just four off the top of the head starting at a higher level.

Let's face it, he's only an option in the middle of the field now, and doesn't have the legs to keep up with the style SK has adopted with Ireland.

[seanfhear]

Can't understand how he's been frozen out of the Ireland set up in recent times. One of the few players of his style we've ever had. He's a creator and a threat and creating and scoring goals is our weakest point. He should have been playing in the hole for Ireland, or on the side of a front 3, for the last 10 years. He was wasted, but let's give him a final 1 or 2 years in an effective formation.

Tons of caps as well. Experience badly needed in the squad.
How much did he ever produce for Ireland given all the opportunities he had ? he is now playing at a much lower level. He has alway been a player that flatters to deceive == For us anyway.

[DeLorean]

Who gets dropped for him? Hourihane, Hendrick, Knight and Browne are just four off the top of the head starting at a higher level.

Let's face it, he's only an option in the middle of the field now, and doesn't have the legs to keep up with the style SK has adopted with Ireland.

It's more a question of who gets dropped from the squad and you don't need to worry about that, there's so many injured he can come in pretty seamlessly. The four you mention don't really need to worry, he plays a different position, a position where we're seriously blunt, and compounded by McGoldrick's retirement.

The style SK has adopted has yielded one goal in eight games, I wouldn't be too afraid of pushing the boat out on something slightly different.

[liamoo11]

Who gets dropped for him? Hourihane, Hendrick, Knight and Browne are just four off the top of the head starting at a higher level.

Let's face it, he's only an option in the middle of the field now, and doesn't have the legs to keep up with the style SK has adopted with Ireland.

I think mcgeady would only play in games where you need to win like Luxembourg not in away games like Serbia or Portugal where you will have no e of the ball and need a three man midfield who are athletes or wide players who can work back all day which mcgeady certainly isn't st this stage. . We have plenty of artisans but no artists

[DeLorean]

I think mcgeady would only play in games where you need to win like Luxembourg not in away games like Serbia or Portugal where you will have no e of the ball and need a three man midfield who are athletes or wide players who can work back all day which mcgeady certainly isn't st this stage. . We have plenty of artisans but no artists

I hear that but I also think of the McGeady whose composure on the sideline led to the equaliser in Gelsenkirchen and turning into space led to the winner in Lille. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of quality, which we generally and otherwise lack. Seriously, who'd actually be a better option if chasing a goal in Belgrade... Curtis... Collins... etc?

[Fixer82]

I hear that but I also think of the McGeady whose composure on the sideline led to the equaliser in Gelsenkirchen and turning into space led to the winner in Lille. Sometimes it just takes a little bit of quality, which we generally and otherwise lack. Seriously, who'd actually be a better option if chasing a goal in Belgrade... Curtis... Collins... etc?

Absolutely. He was excellent in that Gelsenkirchen game and has it in his locker to take the ball forward at speed. Maybe he should've always been a no.10 instead of a winger. Cos his crossing was always a let-down

[Eminence Grise]

McGeady scored five goals for Ireland. One every 19 games. To see him now as some kind of potential saviour is rose-tinted glasses stuff, because he rarely was in the past. Who was it said a few posts up that he flattered to deceive for us? Lots of ability and flashes of guile but too little end product - finishing or crossing. Maybe he should have become a ten six or seven years ago and his career might have had a late flourish, but two bald facts stand out – he last played top flight football six seasons ago when he should have been in his absolute prime, and now he’s three weeks shy of his 35th birthday having spent his last three seasons in the third tier, where any player with his experience at international and Champions League level should look like a thoroughbred in a paddock of pit ponies. But it doesn’t follow that he’d look like a thoroughbred in more exalted company and I think he's well past being able to offer what we need.

[Bottle of Tonic]

How much did he ever produce for Ireland given all the opportunities he had ? he is now playing at a much lower level. He has alway been a player that flatters to deceive == For us anyway.

I think he was unfortunate to play a lot of his career under the likes of Strachan, Trap and O'Neill. Fairly rigid 442 set ups. Put the tricky wee guy out wide. His was a thankless task most of the time. Receiving the ball static with his arse on the side line and expected to beat 2 or 3 men and create a chance. He wasn't Messi and its no wonder he's ended up with the flatter to deceive label. Under different management or perhaps if he was coming through ten years later I think his talents would have been better utilised in more fluid or imaginative set ups.

I think he should be a Wes type player for us for a couple of years and should have been so for the last few as well. League 1 or not. We've no one else.

[Bottle of Tonic]

Edit to the above.

I didn't realise he was nearly 35. Thought 33. Ah well. That horse has long bolted anyway.

[DeLorean]

McGeady scored five goals for Ireland. One every 19 games. To see him now as some kind of potential saviour is rose-tinted glasses stuff, because he rarely was in the past. Who was it said a few posts up that he flattered to deceive for us? Lots of ability and flashes of guile but too little end product - finishing or crossing. Maybe he should have become a ten six or seven years ago and his career might have had a late flourish, but two bald facts stand out – he last played top flight football six seasons ago when he should have been in his absolute prime, and now he’s three weeks shy of his 35th birthday having spent his last three seasons in the third tier, where any player with his experience at international and Champions League level should look like a thoroughbred in a paddock of pit ponies. But it doesn’t follow that he’d look like a thoroughbred in more exalted company and I think he's well past what being able to offer what we need.

You make it sound like what we need is what we have.

[Eminence Grise]

What we need is a bloody miracle!!!