Former Ireland winger Aiden McGeady has claimed that the Irish players under Martin O'Neill found it hard to grasp the former Ireland manager's style of play when he was there.
O'Neill held the Irish reins from 2013 to 2018 and guided the Irish team to Euro 2016. However, after a number of poor results, he was replaced by Mick McCarthy.
McGeady, who made his Celtic debut in the early 2000s, played twice in two different teams under the Kilrea native and explained that the newer generation of players required more instruction than those from his generation.
"It was almost the exact same. But I started to see the change we were talking about—the changing culture from older players not really expecting to be told what to do... to players who were coming away a lot with Ireland... expecting to be talked through the game and talked through tactics," said the former Ireland winger on the official Celtic FC podcast
"Every single buildup, whether we're going to play out from the back, is what we're going to do in every single phase of play. That was when I started to see the changing culture in the way that he managed players back then, when he was with Celtic. That was the biggest thing for me.
"You would see players come in going, "I don't know how we're playing. I don't know if I have to drop and pick up the ball." It would be a bit of excuse-making at times.
"Then again, I'm not having a go at these players, saying they shouldn't be asking questions about formations, tactics, and style of play. That's just the way they've been brought up with football. They would get that at their clubs, and they'd come away with Ireland."
However, McGeady does not hold any ill will for Martin O'Neill and his methods. The former Celtic winger believes that O'Neill, who is successful, shouldn't have to change his methods.
He believes that because football has changed, that's why O'Neill and Ireland's tenure ended in divorce.
"Martin's style never really changed—and why should it? He was a very, very successful manager. That was what he knew how to do best. Even with Ireland, he was very successful as well; he got us to the last 16 at EURO 2016 and the World Cup play-offs, where we lost to Denmark. A very successful manager who is very, very good at what he's done and knows football inside out.
"I'm not talking Martin down here with the way he managed his team; I just think that football has changed. He's always had the same style, and that was just the way it was back then."
Celtic play Rangers at 12:30.
