Everton manager Roberto Martinez began his January shopping spree on Saturday afternoon by snapping up winger Aiden McGeady from Spartak Moscow. The 27-year-old joins up on a four-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee, with the Toffees deciding to splash the cash rather than waiting for his contract to run down over the summer:
Speaking to the club’s official website, McGeady admitted Martinez was a key factor in his decision to sign up on Merseyside, having almost joining the Spaniard at former club Wigan in the season gone by:
“I am absolutely delighted. It has sort of been a long time coming. There was talk over the summer that something might happen, but I am just delighted that it’s done and dusted now. I was close to joining the manager a year ago when he was at Wigan. He has obviously come here and proved a lot of people wrong. He plays football the right way and got a few good results along the way. I just want to play for a big club like this and I am relishing the challenge…I just want to concentrate on getting myself fit. I have not played for a long time and I have been off for the last month or so. Hopefully I can get into the team and start playing and winning games.”
The History
A product of the Glasgow Celtic youth academy, McGeady made his debut for the Parkhead club as an 18-year-old back in April 2004. Under the guidance of Martin O’Neill, he produced nine goals and 15 assists over 51 league matches before finally cementing a regular role for the 2006/07 campaign.
Over the following four seasons, McGeady’s creativity was key to the Hoops’ attacking endeavours and helped him serve up 22 goals and 42 assists in 129 league matches. In 2008, he became only the second player ever to be voted SFA Young Player of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season and eventually persuaded Spartak to shell out £9.5m for his services in August 2010.
The winger lasted four seasons in Russia, racking up 11 goals and 24 assists over 72 league matches – his most impressive campaign produced three goals and 10 assists in 2011/12. On the international stage, McGeady has represented the Republic of Ireland on 63 occasions, scoring three times and teeing up 16 assists.
The Prospects
Clearly, the fact that Martinez is a long-term admirer of the new boy’s talents bodes well for McGeady’s game time. The Everton manager discussed the wide man’s prospects with the club website after the deal was announced last weekend:
“We’re delighted. Delighted first because it looked as though it was going to be a signing for the end of the season but we were able to reach an agreement with Spartak Moscow and we have him in now, which is the perfect time. That’s because he needs a little bit of an introduction to the English game after such a long time in the Russian League. He’s a perfect player for our style and the way we are as a football club. Aiden will fit in perfectly well and I think the timing couldn’t be better. I’m really, really excited and delighted to get him over.”
A natural right-footer, the 27-year-old could also be utilised on the left as an inverted winger in Martinez’ 4-3-3. Whilst regulars Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas are perhaps renowned for their industry and eye for goal respectively, McGeady’s trickery and creativity will be a welcome addition for the Toffees and are likely to boost Romelu Lukaku’s chances of further goals. Over the first 21 Gameweeks, Pienaar has chipped in with just two assists and, although Mirallas has registered double that tally, the Belgian’s somewhat selfish streak has, at times, proved detrimental to the Merseysiders. Bearing in mind full-backs Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman have supplied just a single assist apiece, it’s clear Martinez needs more from the flanks.
Yet to be added to Fantasy Premier League (FPL), McGeady is likely to come in at 7.0 or 7.5, and has so far been priced at 6.8 in the Sky Sports game. With games against West Brom, Villa and Palace in the next five, the Toffees schedule remains favourable, though victories over the likes of Chelsea and United highlight the impact of the new man in charge.
Given that McGeady’s last match for Spartak was a couple of month ago, however, a current lack of match-fitness suggests he’ll will be tentatively eased into the first-team fold. Initially, game time looks likely to arrive off the bench until his match sharpness is up to speed and, with Gerard Deulofeu edging towards a return from injury, competition for places out wide look set to heat up as Martinez continues his rebuilding program. Once fully fit, though, the former Celtic man could well be set to establish a regular role in Martinez’ XI, with Mirallas perhaps the likeliest to eventually make way.
