EARLIER THIS MONTH Aiden McGeady swapped life in Moscow for life on Merseyside.
The latest chapter in his career took him to a club that was new yet also populated by familiar faces.
Fellow Irish internationals Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy are established figures in the Everton side while Darron Gibson is battling back from the cruciate he snapped last October against Kazakhstan at the Aviva Stadium.
Factor in Shane Duffy, who is currently on loan to Yeovil, and the addition of McGeady swelled the Irish numbers in the Everton ranks to five. Little wonder then that when McGeady was paraded before the Goodison Park crowd before Everton’s recent game against Norwich, Ireland’s assistant boss Roy Keane was in attendance to observe the game.
The home faithful have reacted favourably to the greening of Goodison according to Greg O’Keeffe, the Everton correspondent for the Liverpool Echo.
“Liverpool has always had a very strong Irish community and you can trace that all the way back to the Famine. The nature of Liverpool as a city is that it’s very welcoming. But realistically modern football fans welcome anyone from any country. And particularly players who are doing well for their club.”
So what’s the verdict then on the five Irish players in the Everton squad?
Seamus Coleman
In January 2009, David Moyes invested £60,000 in a unknown Donegal youngster. Five years on Seamus Coleman is a fixture in Everton’s side who has dazzled this season and bagged some memorable goals.
“The only element of surprise this year has been the confidence and surety of Seamus in front of goal”, says O’Keeffe. “In the past he did very well to get into the final third but might have made the wrong decision on the ball.
“His decision making has improved. The sheer confidence he now has was shown in the goals he scored against Swansea and Southampton in December. Initially when he joined Everton and then went out on loan to Blackpool, we were talking about his attacking qualities and his fearlessness.
“There were questions marks over his defensive side but he has technically improved. He now complements Leighton Baines on the opposite wing.”
There have been murmurings that Arsenal or Manchester United might swoop in for Coleman
“I certainly can’t see anything in the transfer rumours”, admits O’Keeffe. “I was talking to Aidan McGeady last week and he mentioned about how Seamus can’t stop enthusing how much he loves working with Martinez. He recently got engaged to his girlfriend and he’s very settled over here.”
Seamus Coleman
Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Archive/Press Association Images
James McCarthy
When the transfer window shut last August, the £27m splashed out by Manchester United on Marouane Fellaini raised plenty eyebrows. Equally so, there were some question marks over the decision of Everton to reinvest £13m of that fee in the purchase of James McCarthy.
“The price tag did create some doubt amongst fans”, admits O’Keeffe. “This was a player who had been with a club that got relegated last year. Was he good to enough to fill Fellaini’s boots?
“Now the fans are starting to think he’s a better player and his all round game means the fee is seen as a bargain. McCarthy’s got great potential. He’s so assured in possession and his reading of the game for someone of his age is pretty remarkable.
“You can see as well that he’s learning so much from playing alongside Gareth Barry. That’s really benefiting him.”
James McCarthy
Pic: Lynne Cameron/EMPICS Sport
Darron Gibson
The emergence of McCarthy has helped offset the loss of the luckless Darron Gibson. Roberto Martinez was in the crowd when Gibson tore his cruciate last October and is a manager who has plenty faith in the Derry native.
“Gibson was a player that Martinez immediately talked up when he took over”, reveals O’Keeffe. “His range of passing fits into the Martinez approach to the game. I know he was very excited to work with Gibson but then he suffered that serious injury.
“His loss has been offset by the form of Barry and McCarthy. The jury is still out on Gibson because of injuries. He certainly has the quality but there’s a question mark as to whether he can be a 38-game a season player.”
Darron Gibson
Pic: John Walton/EMPICS Sport
Aiden McGeady
McGeady is the latest Irish acquisition and a player who his new manager has tracked for some time.
“He really is a Martinez type of player. Martinez says he excels in one on one situations and that’s what he wants his players to be doing. It’s less about where he’s from and more that he fits the mould in the team.
“You can see in the example of a Coleman, a player who has developed astoundingly under Martinez. He’s discovered a real confidence and verve. The hope is that something similar will happen to McGeady.”
Aiden McGeady
Pic: John Walton/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Shane Duffy
Derry’s Shane Duffy hasn’t been present for Everton’s progress this season. He’s been on loan with Yeovil Town since last September and his future is unclear.
“He hasn’t had many opportunities under Martinez. He’s still highly thought of and is very young for a central defender. There’s no reason why he can’t have a future at the club.
“But he has been overtaken by John Stones in the pecking order. He’s at the club and is playing games at this level. It’s going to be a very important time for Duffy at the end of this season to decide his future. Is he going to want to go out on loan again or play another year with the Everton reserves?”
Shane Duffy
Pic: Barrington Coombs/PA Archive/Press Association Images
Champions League
The Irish contingent have helped Everton stand sixth at the moment in the Premier League table, just a point adrift of a Champions League place. There is potential for them to feature at the elite level of European football next season as they get set for Tuesday’s pivotal Merseyside derby against Liverpool.
“Everton are looking like genuine contenders at the moment”, says O’Keeffe. “They don’t have the same depth in the squad as other teams but hopefully the arrival of someone like McGeady will give them that push. They need to try to avoid injuries though and get back the players that are currently out.”
