Aiden McGeady

[geysir]

On balance, when a new member like Crosby comes on with that amount of negativity they are trolling.
Best ignored or shot.

[The Fly]

First post by a long time voyeur. Great site!

I've been following this 'kid's' career ever since he declared for us and started to break into the Celtic first team. In my view he is our most naturally talented player by some distance and for some time. I know alot of fans get frustrated by him and have misgivings about him. I share alot of these frustrations - I know he has never really caught fire for us but I believe he will in time.

The main issue with him is that he is not a winger - he's a number 10. He does not have the out and out pace and directness to be a winger. That is not say he is slow - he has amazing footspeed but this is better used in tighter spaces in central positions.

He played as a number 10 throughout his time in the Celtic youth teams - it was only when he broke into the first team that he was played on the wing, owing to his size. This is his weakness - often he is outmuscled and easily pushed off the ball. He needs more muscle and strength in his legs and upper body. He improved on this, and his pace, last year and had his best and most consistant season for Celtic as a result. But this should be his last season with Celtic. To advance he will have to move and I agree with those who say he would be more suited to Spain or Italy at this time.

He has said himself many times that he sees his future playing in a more central position but he will have to force the issue by more improvement in his game. If he doesn't I fear his career and game will plateau. Trapattoni said in an interview that he would like to play him centrally in the future and that McGeady was the player he was most impressed with. Could there be a better judge? Only time will tell!

[Razors left peg]

First post by a long time voyeur. Great site!

I've been following this 'kid's' career ever since he declared for us and started to break into the Celtic first team. In my view he is our most naturally talented player by some distance and for some time. I know alot of fans get frustrated by him and have misgivings about him. I share alot of these frustrations - I know he has never really caught fire for us but I believe he will in time.

The main issue with him is that he is not a winger - he's a number 10. He does not have the out and out pace and directness to be a winger. That is not say he is slow - he has amazing footspeed but this is better used in tighter spaces in central positions.

He played as a number 10 throughout his time in the Celtic youth teams - it was only when he broke into the first team that he was played on the wing, owing to his size. This is his weakness - often he is outmuscled and easily pushed off the ball. He needs more muscle and strength in his legs and upper body. He improved on this, and his pace, last year and had his best and most consistant season for Celtic as a result. But this should be his last season with Celtic. To advance he will have to move and I agree with those who say he would be more suited to Spain or Italy at this time.

He has said himself many times that he sees his future playing in a more central position but he will have to force the issue by more improvement in his game. If he doesn't I fear his career and game will plateau. Trapattoni said in an interview that he would like to play him centrally in the future and that McGeady was the player he was most impressed with. Could there be a better judge? Only time will tell!

Welcome to the site... big fan of McGeady myself but disagree with you that he is more suited to playing centrally.I really dont think he has the football brain to be the central play maker, he take the wrong option far too many times... at the moment anyway, he may improve with experience

[barryk]

Tries hard ... was Irelands worst player.
I counted six passes to the opposition in the first half hour and missed a sitter

[seanfhear]

Except for the shot at goal which was a schocker I thought Aiden played well on wednesday.He made some good runs,some okay crosses,did not lose the ball as much as he sometimes does.It was also a compliment to Aiden that the full back tried to rough him up from the start of the second half onwards.It was very poor refereeing that the full back was not booked early in the second half.
If Damian Duff could come back to the player he was then we would have two good wingers.
I would say that Aiden followed the instruction that Trappatoni gave him which is a plus to any coach.

[third policeman]

Got to agree that McGeady is not a natural winger. There is a tendency in "these islands" to put technically gifted and pacey players in wide (ie peripharel) positions. If Maradonna had been Irish or British no doubt he would been a very good winger but would never have become a great player. I dont think McGeady shoud be playing in an orthodox wing position and I am not sure that we should be playing with two wingers. it's not a system that suits our strikers and at the minute it is preventig us getting the best out of our two most talented individuals, Mcgeady and Andy Reid. Just posted on the Whelan thread the suggestion that we could play a 4-1-2-3. Whelan holding, Reid and Reid ahead with three attacking players McGeady, Doyle and Keane. Its a much more fluid system and therefore more risky, but at the minute we are not creating enough chances and dont seem set up to trouble good international defences.

[drinkfeckarse]

I was thinking about his performance last night as I was watching the game. It struck me that his hype goes against him in an Ireland jersey. Don't get me wrong, he didn't have a great game last night but he played ok in my book. His problem is that a lot of people read too much rubbish in newspapers and expect him to be Ronaldo or something and when you get that kinda stuff out of your mind and actually analyse what he does then you'll see he is one of our better players.

He gave the ball away a few times, was pushed off the ball too easily at times but he also put some decent balls into the box and worked his socks off for the team. That's what I want out of my wingers and that is their main objective. He gets balls into the box in every game he plays in but because he also runs at defenders and loses the ball at times people slate the guy.

In time he'll learn when to run at more than one defender and when to keep the ball or play a pass inside to keep possession. That comes with experiance. I've no doubt that when he adds better decision making to his game he'll probably be our best player.

[colster]

I think MacGeady needs a run of games with Ireland before we seem him produce on a consistent basis. I think he needs those games to gain confidence and relax a bit more. He always seems a bit tentative to me. He has the talent to be a very good player for us. He's shown he's pretty good defensively in the last couple of games so I don't think it's a major risk playing him.

[eirebhoy]

Tries hard ... was Irelands worst player.
I counted six passes to the opposition in the first half hour and missed a sitter

I can absolutely guarantee you McGeady didn't misplace 6 in the entire match yesterday, or anywhere near it. I'm bewildered by this comment. The only conclusion I can come to is you thought McGeady was someone else.

McGeady was alright. He kept possession well for the most part. The moves tended to break down when the ball got to Hunt.

[Noelys Guitar]

I think MacGeady needs a run of games with Ireland before we seem him produce on a consistent basis. I think he needs those games to gain confidence and relax a bit more. He always seems a bit tentative to me. He has the talent to be a very good player for us. He's shown he's pretty good defensively in the last couple of games so I don't think it's a major risk playing him.

I really believe he is starting to grow into this team. Trap believes in him and his workrate so far has been excellent in the two competitive games. All it will take is one outstanding performance from McGeady (skinning a full back throughout a game) and the confidence will stay with him. He has the skill.

[tetsujin1979]

Trapattoin definitely believes his work rate is improving
From http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...i-1474199.html

"On Wednesday and the game before McGeady worked twice the amount from what he had done in the past," said the 69-year-old.

"He must understand that we can work offensively as well as defensively. Two years ago he was young and it is normal. He is still young, but he is learning."

[seanfhear]

Quote:
"On Wednesday and the game before McGeady worked twice the amount from what he had done in the past," said the 69-year-old.

"He must understand that we can work offensively as well as defensively. Two years ago he was young and it is normal. He is still young, but he is learning

Its very positive for Aiden that a manager(defensive!)like Trappatoni has faith in him.

[Billsthoughts]

I would have thought the fact that he felt the need to praise him and reassure him would suggest he was poor in both games. Which he was.

[seanfhear]

I would have thought the fact that he felt the need to praise him and reassure him would suggest he was poor in both games. Which he was.

If Trappatoni keeps selecting him then he must think that he is doing ok.

[Brendan 82]

If Trappatoni keeps selecting him then he must think that he is doing ok.

Nevermind Bill, he thinks Keith Fahey should be playing there.

[Billsthoughts]

I dont think I have ever said anything about keith fahey on here. ever?


The day mageady has a great game for Ireland I will be delighted. But that day hasnt happened yet. despite what all the rubbish emanating from the "all things Celtic are great" brigade might try and tell you. I dont doubt hes played fantastic for Celtic but he has been average and below for Ireland. As this is an Ireland forum that is the only relevant fact.

for the record I love watching Keith Fahey play football

[Brendan 82]

You say the same thing again, and again, and again. Zzzzzzzz.....

[eirebhoy]

I would have thought the fact that he felt the need to praise him and reassure him would suggest he was poor in both games. Which he was.

Same goes for Whelan, Given, O'Shea, yeah? I'm biased towards McGeady. I don't know if it's that you're biased against him or you exaggerate because you think too many people are biased towards him. You're certainly being unfairly harsh on him.

I'm certain Trap would have been impressed with him on Wednesday. He certainly wasn't poor. Keane, Hunt, Whelan, Doyle all had half chances on Wedensday. McGeady's delivery set all those chances up. He had to be fouled 2 or 3 times, otherwise he was away from his opponent. He misplaced 1 pass all game, albeit they were mostly simple passes but it's a bit improvement on Saturday.

McGeady for me was a 7/10 on Saturday. If he wasn't fouled so much he'd be at least a 7/10 for most people I feel.

[Bohemian1890]

It's an attention deficit disorder temporarily relieved by receiving some attention.
He is just trying to inject some life in the dead horse by repeating the same old sarcastic stuff about Celtic and McGeady trying to wind up people.
Patently stupid and immature.

McGeady was poor obviously anyone who knows about football can see that he has yet to do it for Ireland.

[micls]

McGeady was poor obviously anyone who knows about football can see that he has yet to do it for Ireland.

He was better than in previous games, and certainly better than Hunt.

But yes he has a long long way to go.