Every time I’m at Celtic Park I take a close look at the wing on the Main Stand side .. just to see if I can spot a Darren Young shaped piece of patchwork on the grass.
My old Dunfermline mucker will hate me for bringing this up but it’s the best illustration I have of the genius that is Aiden McGeady.
And an example of why Hibs should be doing everything they can to get the winger in the door at Easter Road.
I’d just signed for the Pars back in 2007 and we were playing Celtic at a time when McGeady was at the peak of his powers.
Our regular right back was a guy called Aaron Labonte who went down injured in the warm-up.
Believe me when I say it was the best injury he will ever have picked up.
Poor old Darren Young, a cracking central midfielder, was told by the gaffer Stephen Kenny to go in and cover at right back for Aaron and try to stop McGeady.
I’m actually creasing myself remembering his attempt.
I was on the bench so got a close up of what turned into 90 minutes of McGeady tearing poor Daz a new one.
He must have done a triple, double drag back at one point and the groundsman was still trying to unscrew Daz out of the Parkhead pitch an hour after full-time!
It actually got so bad we were laughing on the bench .. not professional I know but when you can’t help yourself then you can’t help yourself.
Unfortunately nobody could help Darren Young out that afternoon either and the biggest surprise was we only lost 2-1.
McGeady might be 36 now but if Hibs have a chance of getting him in on a free then they’ve got to grab it.
He’s still a top player, he’s still hungry to succeed. I saw him for Sunderland a good few times last season and he had lost none of his magic. Or his boundless confidence - and that’s exactly what Hibs need.
McGeady would add guile, the ability to see a pass, take risks and eliminate an opponent one on one to open the game up. A maverick basically.
Hibs have really lacked that since Martin Boyle left.
If McGeady was to arrive then it would have the likes of Kevin Nisbet licking his lips coming back from injury thinking of the service coming his way from the wings.
Hibs need leaders, experienced signings and guys who have played at the highest level.
They’ve already brought one in at the other end of the park in David Marshall. What an unbelievable signing the big keeper is.
It’s a department they needed to strengthen. Matt Macey was good in his first season but I felt he was culpable for a few goals last year.
Marsh might be 37 but that’s still two years younger than a man whose just been named the country’s player of the year.
Scotland could be going to the World Cup so there’s no doubt Marsh has come back up the road to play every week and fight Craig Gordon for that number one spot. That would be quite a capital glove rivalry.
It’s a decent start for Lee Johnson considering he’s only been in the door a week.
I like what he’s had to say. Especially the bit about telling Robbie Neilson he’s coming after him and Hearts.
It’s good natured banter of course but Hibs have to target finishing as high as possible.
Johnson will know that. There’s never been a better time for a manager to come in because last season the team was in freefall and the fans were brassed off and bored.
It reminds me of when we finished in the bottom six and then Tony Mowbray came in. The fans will be bursting for him to do well and he should be well backed by the board.
Recruitment is absolutely key. Over the last couple of years it’s not been good enough.
Getting the likes of Aiden McGeady and David Marshall in would be a great start.
