Everton and Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady has made a decent start to the season
Last night the Republic of Ireland defeated Georgia 2-1 in Tbilisi in a Euro 2026 qualifier, courtesy of two goals from Everton winger Aiden McGeady.
The second goal came in the 90th minute and was sheer class, as McGeady picked-up the ball spun and curled a superb effort past the Georgian keeper.
Praise
McGeady’s teammates and international boss Martin O’Neill were effusive in their praise for the 28-year-old. O’Neill told : He was the only player on the field that was scoring the goal. He really is a fantastic talent,
He probably thinks at this age he should have been up there with the very finest players. He has that talent and he showed that tonight.
Mercurial
Aiden McGeady is a mercurial player. As his international boss stated in that comment he has talent, but at times it does not always shine through. He seems to go missing for large periods of games, but has the ability to produce something special on his day.
He is now at an age where it is now or never at the top level for him. His move to Everton in January was his chance to prove himself at the top level. He took a while to get fit, but is looking in really good shape, after being frozen out of at Russian top-flight club Spartak Moscow.
Good start
The winger hardly played for Everton last season, as he was working on his fitness. However, he has made a good start to the campaign. McGeady scored his first goal for Everton on the opening day of the season against Leicester in a 2-2 draw and also created a goal in the Toffees extraordinary 6-3 defeat at home to Chelsea.
Everton have not made the best of starts to their Premier League campaign, but have looked very dangerous going forward and McGeady has played a big part in Roberto Martinez’s side registering seven goals in their first three league games of the season.
When Everton brought in McGeady it was a slight surprise to most Evertonians. Some knew him from his Celtic days and knew he could blow hot and cold. When he joined for an undisclosed fee in January his signing seemed to evoke a mixed reaction from the Goodison faithful.
It seems that the reported fee of £4million could prove to be a bargain if he continues in his current vein of form. Only time will tell if he can though.
Expensive
McGeady is highly-regarded internationally it seems, as his move to Spartak Moscow from Celtic for fee of £9.5million in 2010 proved. He remains the most expensive export from Scottish football. For a foreign club to recognise his talents is testament to him being a talented footballer.
Mixed Fortunes
McGeady enjoyed mixed fortunes in Moscow and encountered a number of disciplinary problems during his time in the Russian capital. However, he did have a decent record of creating goals for his teammates with 24 assists in 72 top-flight appearances for Spartak Moscow.
His goal scoring record of 11 goals in those 72 appearances probably could have been better though, considering what he is capable of producing.
Happy
Aiden McGeady has shown promising signs that he could be about to couple his ability with consistency, which could be very good news for Everton and Ireland fans alike. In club manager Roberto Martinez he has a boss who will show faith in his ability and allow him to express himself.
McGeady has always struck me as a player who needs to be happy to produce his best football and at the moment he seems to be. The winger seems at home at Everton and enjoying his football and long may that continue, because on his day he can be such an exciting player.
Could Aiden McGeady be ready to fulfil his potential?
