Aiden McGeady

**NeilMcD** · 05/03/2008, 9:08 PM

Originally Posted by Junior

Paul, you've made this type of point in a few posts, I dont think its entirely fair. Yes he would not be your number one choice as a wide midfielder with defensibe qualities, but even last night against Barca, when celtic did little in the opposition half, the number of 70 yard runs he made from deep in his own half relieving periods of pressure was significant. He certainly doesnt hide from his defenders when they need an outlet and more often than not, like Nakamura he will find a member of his own team with a pass (unfortunately the same cant be said of celtics defenders).

When he makes a run, it is inevitable he will lose the ball on occasion, especially against one of the top sides in europe. He has been criticised in this thread for not doing the simple things more often and Id agree o some extent, though lets not forget Celtic needed a three goals, we were only going to make any sort of dent in that tally if McGeady was direct - unfortunately for us, Zambrotta largely had the better of him (no shame in that).

BCM - You obviously love the bones of McGeady, but I think you will be taken more seriously if you dont portray him as MOTM in every game he plays and without fault. For example against Hibs last week he was average, great cros for the goal but not that much else - he was no where near Scott Browns performance on the day.

Yeah very balanced post fair play

**irishfan86** · 05/03/2008, 9:16 PM

Regardless of how good or bad he actually is, and I do believe he's a very good young player (not world class yet), he is a dangerous man to have on the field.

Rightly or wrongly he has a reputation as a dangerous player, and is becoming a world name if not a world star.

He will be one of the more recognizable names on a team sheet, and by simply having him in our lineup, teams may actually talk about stopping him specifically, thus perhaps giving some of our other players more space to operate.

As for the Barca matches, it was easy to see that Barca had isolated McGeady and Naka as Celtic's main danger men, and proceeded to double mark both of them, thus making them look worse than they are to the untrained eye.

Going one on one with a defender from Barca is bad enough, but getting double marked by world class defensive players?

Any player will struggle with this kind of marking, especially because as mentioned it's a huge jump from facing SPL defenders to facing double marking from the world's best.

I am fine with him staying at Celtic for the short term to get games and get comfortable playing a key role for his team, something he'll need to do for us eventually.

That said, if he truly wants to make the step up he will probably have to move to one of Europe's premier leagues eventually, which is sad on some level seeing as Celtic seem to be his favourite club.

Hard to say how far he'll go, but he's a tremendous talent and to write him off as many of you are doing is a mistake and unfair on the player at this early stage in his career.

**paul_oshea** · 05/03/2008, 9:36 PM

irishfan no one is writing him off, nor are we saying he hasn't got potential, but we are saying that he is definitely not as good as people make him out to be. When he starts doing it consistently in a green shirt and on the bigger occasions then yes we will all say, he is THAT good.

**eirebhoy** · 05/03/2008, 9:39 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

No its not, its a simple case, of we would love him starting if he were defensive minded as well. Duff almost came full circle and defends almost too much as opposed to how he used to play for us, all out attack.

To be perfectly honest I wasn't really thinking of it in relation to McGeady and therefore probably overlooked him main point. Overall though the points he made are accurate. When Ireland have tried to play a really good game style of football in the past it has failed. The football we've been successful with has contained mainly hard working, combative type players. Now we're lacking those type of players and for the first time we've an abundance of creative attacking players. Obviously we now have to play a style of football that is a bit of an unkown quantity with Irish players.

You probably just looked at the post in relation to why some people haven't taken to McGeady. If that's the case I agree with you, Irish people would be more than happy to have McGeady, Duff, Reid, etc. in the same team. I was just picking up on different points of Supreme feet's post.

great post. certain people put him up on a pedastel in terms of how good he actually is.

It's the same with every player. You just have to realise that some posters are going to exaggerate and you should try not to treat their opinion as the opinion of every Aiden McGeady fan.

**irishfan86** · 05/03/2008, 9:41 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

irishfan no one is writing him off, nor are we saying he hasn't got potential, but we are saying that he is definitely not as good as people make him out to be. When he starts doing it consistently in a green shirt and on the bigger occasions then yes we will all say, he is THAT good.

He does it in a green shirt every week.

You may not be writing him off specifically, but there are a number of posters that seemingly hate the player and almost want him to fail.

Seems bizarre to be so critical of one of our young talents.

That said, there are people on the other side who make posts about him bordering on obsessive sexual desire.

I'm just trying to give a balanced viewpoint, and there are even fewer of those floating around here in regards to McGeady.

**paul_oshea** · 05/03/2008, 9:46 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

To be perfectly honest I wasn't really thinking of it in relation to McGeady and therefore probably overlooked him main point. Overall though the points he made are accurate. When Ireland have tried to play a really good game style of football in the past it has failed. The football we've been succesful with has contained mainly hard working, combative type players. Now we're lacking those type of players and for the first time we've an abundance of creative attacking players. Obviously that isn't the traditional Irish

its obvious though EB, its not something we didn't know already, your summation would be a good history and a conclusion of Irish football. The point that it relates to mcgeady I don't think has much relevance. The whole post was accurate alright but its something we all knew, thats no offense to supreme_feet though. I thought you meant its a great post in how it brings our thinking round to mcgeady which is incorrect.

That said, there are people on the other side who make posts about him bordering on obsessive sexual desire.

haha great one

but the scary thing is it might be true

**eirebhoy** · 05/03/2008, 9:50 PM

(my) Above post edited paul.

**Billsthoughts** · 06/03/2008, 8:58 AM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

You may not be writing him off specifically, but there are a number of posters that seemingly hate the player and almost want him to fail.
.

Like who? I havent seen anyone want him to fail. YoungIrish just made the same point he always makes. Thats its stupid to build young players up into something they are not.

**BigmanCas** · 06/03/2008, 9:06 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

irishfan no one is writing him off, nor are we saying he hasn't got potential, but we are saying that he is definitely not as good as people make him out to be. When he starts doing it consistently in a green shirt and on the bigger occasions then yes we will all say, he is THAT good.

You implicit write him off every time you make a comment.

'but we are saying that he is definitely not as good as people make him out to be' - Please just speak for yourself.

I am of the opinion that he is potentially our most talented player - sorry if people are offended. Paul and Bill prefer Stephan Hunt. It just proves that some people are 'player haters'!!!!!!!

**Billsthoughts** · 06/03/2008, 9:26 AM

Originally Posted by BigmanCas

You implicit write him off every time you make a comment.

'but we are saying that he is definitely not as good as people make him out to be' - Please just speak for yourself.

I am of the opinion that he is potentially our most talented player - sorry if people are offended. Paul and Bill prefer Stephan Hunt. It just proves that some people are 'player haters'!!!!!!!

Actually I prefer Mageady....but I would play hunt as he has earned a place whereas Mageady hasnt.

**BigmanCas** · 06/03/2008, 9:34 AM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

Actually I prefer Mageady....but I would play hunt as he has earned a place whereas Mageady hasnt.

Please inform me as to how S Hunt has earned his place. He came off the bench against Slovakia at home and played well. It was then that his peak was reached. It has been downhill since - wasn't too bad (I suppose) when he came off the bench against Wales at Croke Park. He is a poor excuse for a player and should not be considered. He was tripping over the ball at home to Cyprus. Come on Billy - talk some sense. Please just a little bit of cop on.

**tetsujin1979** · 06/03/2008, 9:40 AM

Originally Posted by BigmanCas

Please inform me as to how S Hunt has earned his place. He came off the bench against Slovakia at home and played well. It was then that his peak was reached. It has been downhill since - wasn't too bad (I suppose) when he came off the bench against Wales at Croke Park. He is a poor excuse for a player and should not be considered. He was tripping over the ball at home to Cyprus. Come on Billy - talk some sense. Please just a little bit of cop on.

By the same token that Billsthoughts, youngirish, etc can't write off McGeady, you can't write off Hunt. He's proven as a decent player to come off the bench when the opposition is tiring, but I wouldn't have him as a starter. He was in good form at the start of the season, but has faded in recent months, althought the same criticism could be leveled at the entire Reading squad.

**BigmanCas** · 06/03/2008, 9:49 AM

[quote=tetsujin1979;892019]By the same token that Billsthoughts, youngirish, etc can't write off McGeady, you can't write off Hunt. He's proven as a decent player to come off the bench when the opposition is tiring, but I wouldn't have him as a starter. He was in good form at the start of the season, but has faded in recent months, althought the same criticism could be leveled at the entire Reading squad.[/quote

I believe that the guy has no ability whatsoever. I am sorry for this.

**Billsthoughts** · 06/03/2008, 10:23 AM

Hes not the greatest player ever but he has some ability. I think he causes a lot of panic in opposition. He has had a major impact in the majority of games he has played so far.

**irishfan86** · 08/03/2008, 2:47 AM

To be honest I'm glad we have both of them.

Hunt's tenacity mixed with a decent amount of talent, and McGeady's flair and pace are both decent options.

I think they're around a similar level, and it may be a case of who we are playing or the recent form which determines which player is used.

**SkStu** · 08/03/2008, 5:12 AM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

I think they're around a similar level, and it may be a case of who we are playing or the recent form which determines which player is used.

or just as importantly which player is used in which part of the game...

**Paddy Garcia** · 08/03/2008, 8:17 AM

McGeady is a vastly superior player to Hunt.

Accept Hunt can make an impression when he comes on - uusually positive, occasionally rash.

**irishfan86** · 08/03/2008, 8:44 AM

McGeady has greater potential than Hunt, I'll give you that, but right now it's hard to say which player I'd pick.

I'd think about dropping Duff and playing with Hunt and McGeady on the wings...*awaits the onslaught*

**Razors left peg** · 10/03/2008, 8:51 PM

Kevin Keegan today saying that in the summer he will look to Scotland for players as there are 5 or 6 players there that have excellent talent.... hope to god McGeady avoids Newcastle like the plague. Nothing club going nowhere and is a graveyard for players.