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McGeady out in the cold but could yet make Euro2016

Lyndon Lloyd , 24 May, 33comments  |  Jump to most recent

Aiden McGeady's season at club level may have hit rock bottom but he still has hopes of being involved in next month's European Championships thanks to the enduring faith of Republic of Ireland boss, Martin O'Neill.

The Irish winger was signed by Roberto Martinez in a cut-price deal with Spartak Moscow in January 2014 but two years later he was forced to drop down a division to the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday in search of first-team football.

The Russian club had acquired him in 2009 for what was then an eye-watering £9m based on his success with Celtic and while things hadn't gone entirely to plan for the Scottish-born Ireland international, his move to Goodison Park gave him the opportunity to prove himself on the Premier League stage at the peak of his career.

Facing competition from the likes of Gerard Deulofeu, Kevin Mirallas, Christian Atsu, Steven Pienaar and Aaron Lennon at various times in his Everton career, McGeady was never able to hold down a regular starting berth and lost his place in the first team squad completely last autumn, with the 30-year-old later admitting that Martinez had informed him he was no longer part of his plans after a poor showing in the Capital One Cup tie at Barnsley.

Initially resistant to move down to the Championship, McGeady ultimately had no choice if he wanted to remain in the thoughts of O'Neill for Euro2016. However, while it had been expected that a player with his talent and experience would be a vital part of the Owls' promotion push, he won't be in their squad at all for the Championship playoff final at Wembley this weekend.

That has surprised his international manager who will be giving McGeady and players like his Everton club mate Darron Gibson extra training sessions as they prepare for Friday's friendly against the Netherlands.

“Yes, yes, I am [surprised],” O'Neill said in the Irish Examiner. “He made the effort to go out on loan in January and that was commendable, obviously thinking about the Euros.

“If he wasn't going to get a game at Everton, he wasn't going to sit around so Sheffield Wednesday looked ideal for him.

“I could understand the manager not starting him in some games, or playing him and taking him off, because maybe he did not think his match fitness was really there. But, for whatever reason, he wasn't involved in the second (semi-final) leg at Brighton.

“Then the manager told him he wouldn't be involved in the final.”

Having fallen out of favour with Martinez, it was almost certain that McGeady would have moved on from Everton this summer had the Catalan remained in charge. The Paisley-born winger will probably await the appointment of his successor with interest but it's unlikely he will have a future at Goodison, despite having two years yet to run on his current contract.

 

Reader Comments (33)

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Mike Moore
1 Posted 24/05/2016 at 07:06:35
One trick pony, simply isn't good enough. No surprise to me that Sheff Wed have realised that too.
Anto Byrne
3 Posted 24/05/2016 at 08:34:55
Hope he gets some form in the euros. Builds up some confidence gets a few games to impress. Personally I thought he would make a better full back as had pace was defensively minded and could tackle and win the ball cleanly. Just seemed his game went to shit in the last third. Definitely has talent but after his big money moves his bank account is probably all that matters.

How many of us would like to be paid to play football. Geez we had to pay to play on a cold wet windy winters day in January for 4th division Sunday League pub team. Lol great days. We won the Shell Cup 1.0 from a 40yard screamer I think we had a Clattenburg on our side that day.

Mark Stone
4 Posted 24/05/2016 at 08:44:35
Another top quality signing by Martinez
Mike Mulhall
5 Posted 24/05/2016 at 09:30:37
When he turned up when signing and looked overweight you have to question his professionalism from the off.

Championship at best.

Brian Murray
6 Posted 24/05/2016 at 10:34:40
Anyone know how many years left on his contract.
Shane Corcoran
7 Posted 24/05/2016 at 11:17:38
At the same time, there must've been a falling out behind the scenes at Wednesday. Where's the advantage in releasing him?

O'Neill loves him so he'll definitely be on the plane.

It's about time we had another thread about McGeady anyway, considering how high profile he is.

Damian Wilde
8 Posted 24/05/2016 at 11:35:44
They'll need 'the luck of the Irish' if he is in the side.
Peter Roberts
9 Posted 24/05/2016 at 12:26:57
Best move for all parties would be a move back to Scotland. Could've worked but a lazy player with bags of talent. Sadly as Leicester proved, you have to work hard with the talent you have to reap reward.
Martin Nicholls
10 Posted 24/05/2016 at 12:28:42
McGeady, Kone, Niasse – Martinez has left some serious rubbish behind for us to remember him by.
Kieran Kinsella
11 Posted 24/05/2016 at 14:06:12
He's like Tomas Brolin minus the successful stint at Parma.
Denis Richardson
12 Posted 24/05/2016 at 15:23:06
It's like a new signing.
Iain Johnston
13 Posted 24/05/2016 at 15:23:55
Brenda's first signing for Celtic...?
Dave Abrahams
14 Posted 24/05/2016 at 15:43:20
He's got the talent but not the inclination or the temperament to make a success of his career, going on his past reputation he will act the goat and hang on at Everton to get the two years wages remaining on his contract, it's hell being a professional footballer.
Shane Corcoran
15 Posted 24/05/2016 at 15:50:26
Dave, what past reputation are you referring to? At which of his three professional clubs has he sat out his contract?
Tony J Williams
16 Posted 24/05/2016 at 15:56:42
Who?
Dave Abrahams
18 Posted 24/05/2016 at 16:58:25
Shane, well that's true maybe we'll get another mug to buy him.
Frank Thomas
19 Posted 24/05/2016 at 17:14:21
Martin (10) have you noticed that the two things the three players have in common is a lack of suitable professional fitness and a consequential lack of control of the ball.

Maybe one of the tests ALL the players must do before signing and subsequently before the start of each season for all signed players, is to run 10 miles in under 50 minutes. This would have ruled out Mcgeady and Niasse from signing for us and would have saved us over £20M (transfer fees and wages)

Mick Davies
20 Posted 24/05/2016 at 19:53:29
Showed some good touches in his early days here - like the the pass at Fulham to Kev, the goal at Leicester and the cross against Cardiff to win the game, but he just looks like a lazy sod and we've got enough of them already.
Maybe another loan next season and if he doesn't work to get it right, at 30, it might be his last chance to use some of his undoubted talent. Money in the bank alone isn't the same as a cabinet with medals in too
Tom Bowers
21 Posted 24/05/2016 at 20:26:10
McGeady is one of those wing players with bags of talent but oh so inconsistent much like Sterling, Delboy, and Oxlade-Chamberlain to name but a few.
It's one thing to have a burst of speed and some trickery but useless if the end product is wayward.
I remember an old Everton winger(Tommy Ring) who's career ended with a broken leg and who's crosses were just amazingly accurate almost every time and he didn't have great speed.
Mick Davies
22 Posted 24/05/2016 at 20:54:34
Tom @ 21, Tommy Ring was a bit before my time but Dave Thomas must be the best crosser of a ball I've seen in my time . . was there any comparison?
Steve Green
23 Posted 24/05/2016 at 21:11:21
Whilst Dave Thomas was the best crosser I have witnessed at Everton (aided and abetted by a centre forward actually wanting to get on the end of them...aka Big Bob) I would have to say that Ronnie Goodlass couldn't half cross a ball as well and land it on a sixpence.

Anyone see the two corners that Stubbsy's boy put in during the closing minutes at Hampden on Saturday when getting beat and needing something brilliant... great... or maybe just proper!!!

Get him down to Finch Farm... now! If he's not good enough to play at our level, at least he can show them how and more importantly where a ball needs to be crossed. Two great crosses equals two headed goals.

Damian Wilde
24 Posted 24/05/2016 at 23:16:11
Most of the side couldn't do sub-50' 10 miles.
Peter Roberts
25 Posted 25/05/2016 at 08:41:34
Let's hope he has a game or two where he showcases his talent (he is after all a very gifted player) and someone takes him off our hands.
Frank Thomas
26 Posted 25/05/2016 at 10:21:20
Martin (10) have you noticed that the two things the three players have in common is a lack of suitable professional fitness and a consequential lack of control of the ball.

Maybe one of the tests ALL the players must do before signing and subsequently before the start of each season for all signed players, is to run 10 miles in under 50 minutes. This would have ruled out Mcgeady and Niasse from signing for us and would have saved us over £20M (transfer fees and wages)

Andy Meighan
27 Posted 25/05/2016 at 10:53:15
League One has been waiting for a player like Aiden McGeady.

(Well, Martinez, you started it!)

Don Alexander
28 Posted 25/05/2016 at 11:46:03
Good shouts re our best crossers of the ball, but Andy Hinchcliffe is at the top on that score.
Darryl Ritchie
29 Posted 26/05/2016 at 08:00:12
McGeady? McGeady? Oh, That's right. Didn't he play a few games for us a few years back?
Brian Wilkinson
30 Posted 26/05/2016 at 16:54:49
Hinchcliffe was the best corner taker, but II still say Dave Thomas was the best crosser of a ball I've seen in an Everton shirt, did it with moulded rubber sole studs as well.

Can still see him now, socks rolled down to his ankles, and a big grin on Bobs face as Thomas shaped to cross the ball.

Mick Davies
31 Posted 26/05/2016 at 17:00:27
On the subject of the ROI; Looks like McCarthy was playing with an injury for us in the last few games according to MON. How many unfit players did Martinez use when he had plenty of replacements? He was alleged to be a qualified physio yet threatened the careers of his players and probably lost us many points by persisting with crocks . . good riddance and I hope the players appreciate our 'true-blue- chairman for allowing this to go on, then cancelling their night out
Barry Jones
32 Posted 26/05/2016 at 19:35:36
Great crossers of the ball? What about Trevor Steven? I think he was one of the best all round players I have ever seen in an Everton shirt. A wide player with pace, stamina, accuracy, vision, skill and intelligence.
Tony Hill
33 Posted 26/05/2016 at 19:40:20
Dave Thomas was one of the last who could cross on the run with accuracy. But I'm with Tom (21), Ring had an uncanny knack of floating the ball in.
James Flynn
34 Posted 26/05/2016 at 20:05:54
McGeady will likely be any list of out-bound players.

And if Frank Thomas' 10 miles in 50 minutes becomes the standard, that list will include the entire roster.
With a roster packed with Kenyans in-bound.

Dee Connelly
35 Posted 30/05/2016 at 07:16:56
Steve (23) The boy who took the corners at the Hibernian v Newco Rangers, Scottish cup final last week was Liam Henderson, a Celtic player that has been out on loan to Hibs.

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