Lee Johnson has recently described Aiden McGeady as one of the most talented players he has ever coached, as well as one of the most difficult. He reflected on his time at Sunderland with rose tinted glasses, and I suspect he is the only one looking back at his tenure with plenty of positive things to say.
GOT TO GET BETTER AT MANAGING 'MAVERICKS'
“Honestly, I think it's something I've got to get better at. I am very much a team player, and I want my team to [be better than] the sum of parts, if you like, to be better or greater than any individual. So, you know, the mavericks I've had in the past... I haven't been, I would say, elite in terms of that management. You know, I'd say the sort of mavericks I've had are probably Jose Baxter, Oldham, then I had Lee Tomlin at Bristol City, and probably Aiden McGeady at both Sunderland and Hibs. So, you know, three top players at the time for the level, if you know what I mean."
BRINGING GEADS BACK INTO THE SQUAD
"And it's difficult because they do think differently. Part of their quality is that sort of maverick ability to go against the norm, if you like. Aiden McGeady is an example. It was a bit of a quick win for me, really, going to Sunderland and bringing Aiden back because he'd sort of been banished into the 23s by Parkey [Phil Parkinson] at the time. And Aiden came back, and Aiden was fantastic."
WYKE & MCGEADY > MESSI & RONALDO
“You know, he scored or created almost a goal a game. You see those stats on Messi and Ronaldo. And between him and Charlie Wyke, we were basically one or two nil up before we’d started, data-wise."
LOST THE RELATIONSHIP AT HIBS
“But then he came to Hibs and Aiden wasn't playing, and it became difficult to manage, and in my view, not conducive to the first-team environment. We didn't get on anywhere near as well as we did at Sunderland. So I think there's always a balance. I think the team has to come first.”
BEST PLAYER HE'S COACHED?
“Probably Aiden McGeady, in terms of sheer skill. His nutmeg success was like 98%, something like that - unbelievable. You’d forever see players laughing, rolling their eyes just as he’s about to nutmeg them, knowing that they’re trying to stop it but it’s still happening. Again, fantastic player to watch, whether it be in training or games, but difficult player to manage.”
