Aiden McGeady

The argument between Dolan and Townsend is priceless, I actually agree with Dolan on this but his style of arguing is terrible. Basically Dolan was saying that Celtic were far too open and should have played a 4 5 1 and did what Walter Smith did with Rangers V Barca. I think in an open game there was only going to be one winner and that was Barca.


I love the comment when Townsend said we dont need Trappattoni as we have the manager we need here (pointing to Dolan) and talking in sarcastic tones. Dolan replies with well at lest I know how to get a result in Europe

tbh I wouldn't listen to what they said. All you have to do is listen to what they said about Naka. For some strange reason I always watch Naka's every move on the pitch. Tonight he played as a 2nd right back to cover for the inexperienced Caddis. He was always back when Barca had the ball and to be perfectly honest he hardly got forward. Setanta commentators then decide to say Naka isn't doing enough to help Caddis. Townsend and Dolan repeat those comments. Naka would be slung off the pitch if he wasn't working hard enough. As it was I'd bet anyone that he ran more miles than any of the players last night. It really annoys me that someone like Lou Macari was a scout for Ireland when I think half of us are better judges. He's clueless.

Anyway, Celtic were very poor tonight but McGeady looked like a player that deserved to be playing in a better team.

EB, thats two sorta different posts, but i reckon celtic were made look poor rather than nything else. The thing is I reckon under oneill they wouldn't have scored 2 goals at home against barca, but at the same time I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have conceded 3 either.They were lucky to have scored 2 goals t be honest as thats pretty much the only chances they had in the whole game, bar the long range shot parried away.

Mcgeady did ok. His ball into robson or whatever his name is was behind his head, but he did well to get around it and loop it over the keeper. I really didnt notice him too much, and I think that when a team is under the cosh they look for players that can take the ball upfield and hold onto it and relieve the pressure, I dont think he did that ( again back to slovakia ), whether thats because he wasn't getting the ball from others or wasn't doing enough to get the ball I'm not sure.

Celtic tried to play an open game, a game that they are simply not good enough to play against a team like Barcelona. Credit to strachan for trying to get them to play a game like that but I dont think they are good enough individually to play that sorta game.

Dunphy: "McGeady benefiting from Strachan's coaching" - I think Dunphu's reading too many of my posts. ;)

Ronnie Whelan changed his tune about McGeady on RTE tonight because he was on a station that was positive about McGeady. It just shows how much rubbish he spouts.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Barca were absolutely phenomenal. Simply the best, most accomplished performance I've ever seen at Celtic park. I doubt Celtic had less of the ball at home in about 20 years. McGeady did well though and he was really the difference in the first half as his runs led to both goals.

---

when a team brngs on eto for ronaldhinio ya know your in for a tough nite. fair play to celtic. always worth a look in Europe.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

EB, thats two sorta different posts, but i reckon celtic were made look poor rather than nything else.

---

Well the defence is always rubbish but you'd expect the midfielders to be able to find a teammate. McGeady was the only one that wasn't losing possession last night.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Ronnie Whelan changed his tune about McGeady on RTE tonight because he was on a station that was positive about McGeady. It just shows how much rubbish he spouts.

---

In fairness he did say he was critical of him in the past because his final ball wasn't good and he never looked up. Not too far off the mark.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Dunphy: "McGeady benefiting from Strachan's coaching" - I think Dunphu's reading too many of my posts. ;)

---

Haha. Was thinking the same when he said that. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

tbh I wouldn't listen to what they said. All you have to do is listen to what they said about Naka. For some strange reason I always watch Naka's every move on the pitch. Tonight he played as a 2nd right back to cover for the inexperienced Caddis. He was always back when Barca had the ball and to be perfectly honest he hardly got forward. Setanta commentators then decide to say Naka isn't doing enough to help Caddis. Townsend and Dolan repeat those comments. Naka would be slung off the pitch if he wasn't working hard enough. As it was I'd bet anyone that he ran more miles than any of the players last night. It really annoys me that someone like Lou Macari was a scout for Ireland when I think half of us are better judges. He's clueless.

Anyway, Celtic were very poor tonight but McGeady looked like a player that deserved to be playing in a better team.

---

Don't agree with you on that EB. Was at the game last night and I didn't think Naka did much work at all - in contrast to his usual efforts when he puts in a serious shift.

Abidal overlapped outside Ronaldinho at least three times in the first half with Naka a few yards behind. Maybe he was just outpaced but to me he didn't seem to be really putting in his usual hard work. I was very disappointed with him.

Aiden and Boruc both looked good enough to play for Barca, which is about as high a compliment as you can give them because Barca were really top drawer. McGeady got the ball in a couple of yards of space 4 times in the first half and he beat Puyol twice on the outside and twice on the inside. Second half he was on the other wing for a while but it didn't matter. We just didn't get any sort of possession that allowed us to bring him into the game. Even when he did get it on the left hand side he fashioned a reasonable cross but as a team we'd long given up by then.

Quote:

---

Aiden and Boruc both looked good enough to play for Barca, which is about as high a compliment as you can give them because Barca were really top drawer. McGeady got the ball in a couple of yards of space 4 times in the first half and he beat Puyol twice on the outside and twice on the inside. Second half he was on the other wing for a while but it didn't matter. We just didn't get any sort of possession that allowed us to bring him into the game. Even when he did get it on the left hand side he fashioned a reasonable cross but as a team we'd long given up by then.

---

I'm not sure if I am thinking of the same times here, but mcgeady didn't actually beat him on the inside, he came inside, diagonal across to get those balls in. still he did get the cross in though.

He beat him to set up the 2nd. Just about got by the other guy (can't remember who it was) but it wasn't exactly through great skill. Similar to 2 of his crosses against Aberdeen. He didn't need to get past the players completely to send in the cross. Puyol certainly felt threatened by him for the entire game. In fact, he paid so much attention to McGeady that McDonald found himself in loads of space on the left a couple of times. Encouraging performance anyway. I wouldn't think twice about playing him for Ireland from now on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

He beat him to set up the 2nd. Just about got by the other guy (can't remember who it was) but it wasn't exactly through great skill. Similar to 2 of his crosses against Aberdeen. He didn't need to get past the players completely to send in the cross. Puyol certainly felt threatened by him for the entire game. In fact, he paid so much attention to McGeady that McDonald found himself in loads of space on the left a couple of times. Encouraging performance anyway. I wouldn't think twice about playing him for Ireland from now on.

---

A bit of sense from you EB - at last!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I'm not sure if I am thinking of the same times here, but mcgeady didn't actually beat him on the inside, he came inside, diagonal across to get those balls in. still he did get the cross in though.

---

He beat him enough to get the cross in - that's the point. He doesn't need to put Puyol on the floor to have him beaten, he just needs to make room for an unobstructed cross which is what he did the first time. The second time he did the same thing except this time he had a shot on goal.

Don't want to be pedantic about it but that's beating the defender in my book. In fact that's probably one of the biggest improvements in McGeady's game this year - he realises that he only needs to get a yard on the defender, he doesn't need to trick his way past him 3 or 4 times.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I wouldn't think twice about playing him for Ireland from now on.

---

:confused:
Thank god your not the manager then....hasnt done anything at international level to warrant a guaranteed starting place.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

:confused:
Thank god your not the manager then....hasnt done anything at international level to warrant a guaranteed starting place.

---

I thought I answered this one already. :) He was full of confidence against Brazil. That's good enough for me to show that he's gotten over his confidence problems. It started with his sub appearance against Cyprus. Than a half decent display against Wales. He feels he has finally done himself justice. btw, I can't believe some people didn't think he played well against Brazil.

I've deleted a few posts replying to BigmanCas and he's got his 2nd warning now since joining foot.ie.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ciaran

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=596596

Newcastle rumoured to be looking towards a 12m signing of McGeady in the summer.

I especially like near the bottom where a spanish pundit praised Aiden as a "blonde version of Maradonna" :rolleyes:

---

Oh God! I really hope he doesn't go to the circus that is Newcastle FC!

Agreed, Newcastle are a joke, he would be better off staying in the SPL

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ciaran

Newcastle rumoured to be looking towards a 12m signing of McGeady in the summer.

---

Can't believe these rumours. Would even Kevin Keegan be stupid enough to pay 12m for McGeady providing he's still in the job at the end of the summer? Still haven't seen much from him to suggest anything other than he'd be a fairly average Premiership player.

Reminds me of Shaun Maloney who got all the hype from Celtic a few years ago (in fact if anything he looked a more effective player than McGeady). He was rubbish in the Premiership though when playing against decent defenders with a bit of pace and strength.

He would do better somewhere on the continent than in the Premiership imo.

Newcastle would be better served signing a brand new back 4.

Moving there could be the ruination of McGeady. He'd be better off remaining a relatively big fish in a small pond for the moment. I think Liam Miller would offer the same advice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by youngirish

Reminds me of Shaun Maloney who got all the hype from Celtic a few years ago (in fact if anything he looked a more effective player than McGeady). He was rubbish in the Premiership though when playing against decent defenders with a bit of pace and strength.

---

I think you need to watch a bit more of Maloney if you think he was ever rubbish for Villa. Excellent player who the Villa fans definitely rate.

McGeady's linked with Bayern Munich in the Mirror today. Most likely made up.

Strachan:
I don't need £12million and I'd rather keep all the good players instead. You have to ask when you are selling players like that if you can get replacements. We want to keep the good players here and we want to keep them happy."

I think McGeady could probably do with a year or so more at Celtic. He's probably too young to move away just yet, especially if it's to the continent.

I think the lad is under too much pressure at the mo and it could start affecting him...he's only a young lad

Don't be fooled by the baby face, he is as tough as nails and a dedicated disciplined footballer.
He'll be 22 soon. Probably the POY in Scotland this season. If he is so inclined it would be a great time for him to move. I think he would have the pick of a number of good clubs to go to. Newcastle sounds as welcome as a graveyard though.

McGeady suffered shocking abuse yesterday at Love Street for the crime of being Irish.

This video is just a taster :(

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uQsprR3HMQk

Exile on Love Street :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by McGeady10

McGeady suffered shocking abuse yesterday at Love Street for the crime of being Irish.

This video is just a taster :(

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uQsprR3HMQk

---

Needs subtitles. Scotland seems to have a higher ratio of scrotes than anywhere else in the world.

If Milner was moving on and he would be getting a regular berth on the right with duff on the left it could be excellent for Ireland. There are very few clubs in england that would represent a good move for him at the minute. newcastle are one of the better potential moves imo. Villa or Everton would be a good step similarly, or a move to the continent. But at this stage if he was to move it is most important that he he gets a game where he goes. another season at celtic would do no harm at all.

Newcastle would definately be a disaster. How many players go there and enhance their career?

Tommy Burns:

'Aiden had some fantastic games last year, and possibly the year before, but this year he has been the difference.

'Naka was injured for a long time and it was important that if he was going to take the next step to being the player we know he is going to be then he had to step up to the plate and take on the playmaker role. And he has done that fantastically well.

'You see some of the magical things he does in games and I think some of the players are in awe of him, even in training.

'The one thing you don't want to be is a full-back coming over here on trial - I think he has been through three or four of them - because he is the guy they come up against.

'He has been sensational and there is more to come from him.

'He will get better and better because he has got the eye of the tiger - that hunger that he wants to go to the very highest level - and I think he is capable of doing that.'

Another assist by McGeady just there. Superb cross for Samaras. To have 15 assists is fantastic considering I can't remember him taking an indirect set piece this season.

maybe i'll jump on everyone's bandwagon when he does something for Ireland.

I don't know about a bandwagon. It's only a realistic reflection of his performances. It's time to get excited about the player at last. That's just my opinion so don't ask to explain the reasoning on that again. ;)

I think some people on here think that I've been playing McGeady up on here for years, or at least holding back on my true thoughts. There's only one competitive game I think I'd have called for McGeady to start and that was Cyprus away. Before then and since then I didn't think he was ready to play for us. Now I'm absolutely certain he's ready. For once I can actually play him up out in the real (non internet) world because believe it or not, I'd never sing the praises of the likes of McGeady, McShane or Stokes out in public (basically because I don't want to endure 3 or 4 years of stick before they prove themselves and then they'll forget I rated them in the first place). :D

Anyway, just had to get that off my chest in case people think this one man bandwagon has been running since McGeady made his debut.

Im with you EB.

In a nutshell, its only this season that Celtic fans have even sung his name or that he is getting recognition from the majority of the support. Until this season it seems to have been split 50:50 with some thinking he was brilliant and others thinking he was just some twinkle toed one trick pony.

Ive loved him since he first started playing for us, yes he could be naieve at time, lost the ball, tried to do too much, poor final ball etc..- but he still managed to get you on your feet and excited with a great bit of skill or run at some point in his games. As you have pointed out in numerous posts, he was performing well in seasons gone by, just not consistently enough - now he is doing that. The negativity surrounding him on this forum is ridiculous, I agree he hasnt done a great deal for us as yet but his performances have been limited, Duff took an absolute age to do anything for us and its not as though we are blessed with plenty of other players who are doing what he can do. Give him a chance and please god he'll grow in to the role for Ireland, once he has a decent run of games under his belt.

His assists stats are great as you say, but not only that, the amount of great balls he gets in (over 90mins) that havent ended in a goal - the vast majority from open play is excellent. I go to the majority of Celtic home games and a significant nbr of the away ones are on setanta. Some additional stats like number of crosses, shots,mileage covered per game would be good, because he covers some ground.

That was a ramble, but he will come good for Ireland - we should just support him in the lead up to that point.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Junior

Im with you EB.

In a nutshell, its only this season that Celtic fans have even sung his name or that he is getting recognition from the majority of the support. Until this season it seems to have been split 50:50 with some thinking he was brilliant and others thinking he was just some twinkle toed one trick pony.

Ive loved him since he first started playing for us, yes he could be naieve at time, lost the ball, tried to do too much, poor final ball etc..- but he still managed to get you on your feet and excited with a great bit of skill or run at some point in his games. As you have pointed out in numerous posts, he was performing well in seasons gone by, just not consistently enough - now he is doing that. The negativity surrounding him on this forum is ridiculous, I agree he hasnt done a great deal for us as yet but his performances have been limited, Duff took an absolute age to do anything for us and its not as though we are blessed with plenty of other players who are doing what he can do. Give him a chance and please god he'll grow in to the role for Ireland, once he has a decent run of games under his belt.

His assists stats are great as you say, but not only that, the amount of great balls he gets in (over 90mins) that havent ended in a goal - the vast majority from open play is excellent. I go to the majority of Celtic home games and a significant nbr of the away ones are on setanta. Some additional stats like number of crosses, shots,mileage covered per game would be good, because he covers some ground.

That was a ramble, but he will come good for Ireland - we should just support him in the lead up to that point.

---

ramble or not I couldn't have put it better myself, plenty nails hit on the head there. I've stopped trying to defend him with some of the begrudging on here, I know how good he is / could be and thats good enough for me!

McGeady is a player and a good one at that. Yep he has had the few bad outings for Ireland but tell us one player that played consistantly well in an Irish top for the last few years. No one that's correct not one at all.He is unfortuantly a scapegoat for many on here usually when we lose. This will all change no doubt about it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Junior

Im with you EB.
The negativity surrounding him on this forum is ridiculous

---

Another hyper sensitive McGeady fan:confused:
The majority of fans are quite positive to McGeady on this forum.
80 to 90% of Ireland fans were very positive towards McGeady for his last performance against Brazil.

Don't forget, Eirebhoy has promised to run naked in Dublin in a couple of years time if McGeady is not our best player by then.

Lad's only 21 all this speculation and stuff will be affecting him I'd say. He just wants to play football.
Best thing for him is maybe 2 years with Celtic then look to move.
What you's reckon?

if he can get a move to spain then go for it as soon as possible. We need more players playing outside of Britain. Joe Lapira doesn't count :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by geysir

80 to 90% of Ireland fans were very positive towards McGeady for his last performance against Brazil.

---

The fans weren't anywhere near as positive as I thought they'd be after that performance. He was definitely my motm and I doubt very many on here would have had him as motm. I suppose the lack of stick he took is a good sign though because when he does have a poor game there's plenty of people on here willing to slag him off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

The fans weren't anywhere near as positive as I thought they'd be after that performance. He was definitely my motm and I doubt very many on here would have had him as motm. I suppose the lack of stick he took is a good sign though because when he does have a poor game there's plenty of people on here willing to slag him off.

---

I expect Aiden Mc Geady to be recognised as one of the best ever players to don the 'Green Jersey' and although I have said this for years - I didn't expect it to happen so soon but his recent performances have been out of this world (Benfica, Brazil and Aberdeen to name three).

While support is gathering on this Island for the young lad - I cannot believe this recognition has taken so long. From day one, it was blatently obvious that the guy had serious talent - (The performance as an 18 year old against Milan in 2005 and Nesta's gesture of appreciation during the game testify to this).

Without doubt the MOTM against Brazil.

Sadly, I really do believe that the majority who post messages on this site hang on Eamonn Dunphys every word.