With the return of McGeady imminent, is there room for our Irish international winger in the team?
Whilst McGeady is the most technically gifted player in the team hands down, how he will fit into our team is anyone’s guess. We have a surfeit of creative players at the club, an absolute abundance of wingers. We brought in two more in January, with Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke supplementing a position we already have great depth in.
On our books, we can boast the two aforesaid wide men as well as Lynden Gooch, Leon Dajaku as well as players like Alex Pritchard, Elliot Embleton and Nathan Broadhead who can be deployed out wide. There is more competition here than any other place on the pitch.
Some may argue that with a talent like McGeady, we have to find a way to slot him in. The same people might cite how exciting a footballer he can be at times and to anyone who suggests he can be inconsistent; they might just point you in the direction of his assist record from the end of last season. McGeady- Wyke- goal. McGeady – Wyke – Goal. Repeat. Last season was his most productive in red and white and 16 assists during a five-month period is insane.
A player of this quality walks into any other side in the League and immediately enriches them. That is, every side except us. Can we play Pritchard and McGeady simultaneously? Would he be more effective as a sub? At his age, will this injury alter the playing style of our dynamic winger and will he recapture last season’s superb form?
It will be hard for him to even make the subs bench. Out of those aforementioned players, when all are available, someone has to be left out of the matchday squad. We haven’t played with the greatest width recently, although we utilised the flanks well in our match against Wigan. This game is a turning point in terms of thinking about the ability of the Lads. We know they can play well because they demonstrated it.
Our pressing was crucial to the way we played and it remains to be seen if McGeady can press as effectively as the others. Against Wigan we were highly functional, well regimented and kept Wigan quiet, forfeiting the possession to the Latic’s safe in the knowledge that they wouldn’t trouble us. If (and I recognise this is a big if) we keep putting performances of this quality in, McGeady has no chance of playing.
Having McGeady is a luxury both on the pitch and behind the scenes. Sunderland Till I Die highlighted his professionalism and drive and on his day, his performances speak for themselves. His pretty illustrious career will be ended with us and it has been a privilege to have him at the club. But, that being said, he cannot simply walk back into this team as easily as he beats defenders.
How Alex Neil will choose to utilise McGeady is unknown. Having him back means we can turn to him if necessary, but he will not automatically be a key part of the squad for the rest of the season. Neil obviously likes Gooch because he went back into the team instantly after injury, ahead of the numerous others. Gooch was preferred because of his acumen defensively (I know this sounds stupid, having watched him play full back) and he kept McClean quiet all afternoon. He did a job that none of our other wide players could do. If Gooch is preferred over our more flash wide players, perhaps this is indicative of the style of play and tactics we will utilise going forward, the kind of robust workmanship that McGeady is not cut out for.
In conclusion who knows what role McGeady can play? He might be trotted out like Defoe has been, picking up minutes here and there and starting the odd game. Or he could be a glamorous substitute for when the game hangs on a knife edge. Or, he could not make the bench. For the first time in League One, McGeady’s position is in jeopardy.
