Darron Gibson is having a bad season; possibly the worst he has had in a short professional career to date. The Irishman’s performance against Blackpool can perhaps be written off as a bad day at the office. The abysmal appearance against Southampton – a League One side – is harder to justify.
As one of Carrileros – “shuttlers” – in Manchester United’s midfield diamond, Gibson’s role is to provide box-to-box running and auxiliary width. The task requires little technique and is thus independent of one’s innate talents – many players can train themselves to run all day. Certainly, Gibson has the stamina to fulfill the task. The United midfielder just lacked the willingness.
Gibson’s laziness had already got him into trouble with his national team manager. Giovanni Trapattoni fairly argued that the midfielder must do more work off the ball. It is weird, if not downright unbelievable, that the Irishman, someone of clearly limited talent, does so little work on the pitch. When Dimitar Berbatov and Eric Cantona are reprimanded in the British Isles for “not trying,” one must wonder why pundits aren’t more critical of Gibson – surely the mundane and lazy are worse offenders.
In this sense, the Darren Fletcher argument cannot be applied to the Irish international; the Scot has always worked his socks off on the pitch. In addition to the work on the pitch, the Scottish captain is of sound personality. Take the infamous “Keanogate” incident in November 2005. Fletcher was one of the players harshly criticised by the former United captain before the move to Celtic. Instead of hitting back at Keane à la Gibson at Trapattoni, Fletcher took the criticism on board. Realising that he lacked the guile and natural talent of Paul Scholes, Fletcher set about becoming a defensive midfielder, instead of the attacking midfielder he was mooted to be in youth.
In addition to suspect temperament and work rate, Gibson is let down by his technique. The Irishman has a poor first touch for a ball-playing midfielder. Consequently, Gibson often loses the ball under pressure and very rarely gains possession in 50/50 situations – even when he wins the initial challenge.
Perhaps Gibson’s biggest weakness is his tactical naiveté. The Irishman still doesn’t have the feel for spatial aspects of football. He relies heavily on others to create space for him. Coupled with indolence, the tactical shortcomings cause the United midfielder to be far too static. This is primarily why Gibson noticeably drifts in and out of games.
Gibson does have strengths though. He is a good finisher and an excellent athlete. To take advantage of his excellent finishing, the Irishman must improve his movement. He must learn to make clever runs to create space for other midfield players, to support forwards, and to get into positions where he is able to strike at goal. The physical attributes are a great asset in this endeavor.
If Gibson works harder on the pitch and matures a little tactically, the Irish international can become essentially a more attacking version of Darren Fletcher; someone who can be deployed to do a bit of everything.
It is difficult to see Gibson making vast progress, however. He is 23 and only has about hundred appearances under his belt. Fletcher had made 50 odd more games at a comparable stage in his career and it still took the Scot two more season as a rotation player to establish his place in the first team. With Anderson ahead of him, Gibson will find it hard to play the games that he desperately needs to develop.
There is an argument to be made for Gibson staying at Old Trafford. If, for example, the Irishman will progress with a ‘good kick on the backside’ then Sir Alex Ferguson is the best in the game for that particular task. Certainly, United lacks a midfielder who can score goals from distance and Gibson can be brought on to provide that threat.
The ball is squarely in Gibson’s court though. His contract runs out in 2012 and it is up to the 23-year-old whether he stays at Old Trafford. The midfielder has done little to earn a new contract. The likelihood is that Gibson will be moved on but if the midfielder wants to be a United player makes he has to make a case on the pitch.
The next few games will be crucial – they will show whether Gibson has the bottle to ante up when it really matters.
he’s a Theo Walcott of midfield – completey lacking in footballing nous and unable to pick out a pass that requires vision. it’s embarrassing to see him line out for Utd. When i was growing up Utd had Strachan, Robson, Whiteside and Olsen in midfield – all intelligent footballers who had vision above all else. None of the present crop have that vision apart from giggs. That’s why its so torturous to watch them play away from home. It’s like watching 2/3s of a team play
of course Scholes has that vision but he’s too static now
JUST LET HIM GO…
Gibson is simply not good enough for Manchester United. He has no pace, lack of awareness and creativity. He’s also not a good passer, as most of his passes is going backwards and always produce some errors. He has no dribbling skill and most of his crosses are poor.
Our rivals are very strong in midfield. We need better player to compete with the like of Fabrecas(Ars), Nasri(Ars), Lampard(Chel), Essien(Chel), Bale(Tott), Modric(Tott), VDV(Tott), Y.Toure(City), Silva(City), etc.
Spot on. Gibson is the luckiest person to wear that shirt since Ralph Milne. Part of the problem with his “strength” is he shoots every time he gets the ball wherever he is on the pitch. You need a chip on your shoulder to make it at that level but Gibson’s is to big for his body of work.
Perfectly summed up. With the right attitude and practice he can become a Lampard. His crossing and deadball ability is often under-rated. If anything, he takes the best corners of all our players and has sound crossing ability. As you said, its upto him to work his arse off if he is to have a career at United.
taggart don’t help putting him right wing usually with oshea behind him, its a 35 stone right wing
Absolutely spot on Knobby!! Our manager does know how to dick around his young players and rip apart their confidence!
Gibson is a central midfielder and we will be better served with him in an advanced midfield position alongside Fletcher. He is for me better than Anderson as he is a goal threat.
Once again you display your ignorance. Gibson makes Anderson look positively dynamic
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LAFFIN LIKE FUCK!
😆 Funny Noblets. 
Gibson better than Ando?? Having a laugh mate… no way close.
Anderson has energy, vision, just lacking goals.
Gibson makes the other midfielders look shocking he managed to make Scholesy look shocking recently.
Gibson and O’Shea and Evans not United class… get rid.
You look at United, and we are meant to be in the same esteem as Barca, Real, Ac, Inter etc etc… well can you say that the above 3 players would get into any of the mentioned teams?? NOPE.
We need to spend money… and soon coz otherwise we are in the doo doo big time.
Also…the Ferdinand injury is a big blow.
For me if he doesn’t score like he does, he’s semi pro at best! Get rid, throw 2million and gibson in for adam.
File with Jonny Evans — not up to it. Seeing Evnas on the team sheet yesterday is knowing you’re giving the opposition a gola start. Some serioius weeding out and buying needed in summer.
right so darron gibson is as talented as lampard and ferguson doesnt know how to develop young players. iv officially heard it all
Sorry Should finish by saying adam is a very good squad player, a reliable player to bring in when needed, but bring in a quality mid in summer also sell, shoot or bury o’shea and try de laet who looked good whenlatyed look to the future. Also why did smalling not figure off the bat? Thought he was rio’s replacement
He’s shite, a fairly accurate assessment of him. At 23 he ain’t young enough to justify being that bad.
His terrible decision making was also missed out of the article, to be fair it’s easy to forget when he’s got so many holes on his game
I don’t think Gibson is all that bad when it comes to decision making. Nor does he lack vision.
It’s just that his technique is so bad that good majority of stuff he tries fail. He’ll be a much better player if he just keeps things simple.
Spot on article.
This dude won`t make it in the PL if he does not change his attitude. Even then, he will not make it in on of the top 10 clubs. Players like Adam, Brunt, Gardner, Parker, Murphy, Barton, and so on are much better players than this bloke.
Another thing that annoys me is when he loses these 50/50 duels, or loose the ball, he stops running to get it back. Instead he waves his arms and screams at his teammates.
He is 23, and not a young player any more, but given our history with CM, he still has time on his side (sadly). Can any one remember the latest a young CM which where given a reasonable run in the CM? Butt? Personally, I fear this made Eikrem leave us, and that it will take years until Pogba is given a run in the team. What´s your thoughts?
Truly hope Gibsinho is finished in our club. Best for everybody.
Gibson is dreck! Pure and simple. For the position he plays we need world class… he showed early promise, and that earned him a chance to show what he’s really got… OK, now we’ve seen what he’s got and it’s not good enough…
OUT!
its away from home when a midfield appears for what it is. It’s when you need poise and abve all bottle. Gibson is truly awful away from home. When he plays there’s a general of interplay – basic, one twos, pass and movement that can break down physically strong opposition. If Gibson is the best midfielder to come out of the Utd academy in the last ten years,hen, for the size of the club it truly is a crisis.
This article is 100% spot on.
I would like Gibson to succeed but the odds are firmly stacked against him due to his poor performances lately.
Apart from his sweet right foot,what else does he have to offer?
He hides from the ball. You can’t be doing this. No one will pass to you if they can’t see you. Thats politics innit.
The guy is shite full stop..not even Good enough for the premier league..he even looks shite wen he warming up..sell him to fc united
Someone on here said Fergie is only playing Gibson in the hope he scores a belter and ups his transfer fee
And look how that worked out with O’Shite…
Gibson has just scored a belter for Ireland against Wales
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/golazo-darron-gibson-wales-8440972
That’s his first international goal. Will hopefully add a few extra mil onto his transfer fee
Gibson’s going to start in the derby isn’t he?
FFS.
After the goal he scored tonight… I’m sure Ferguson will consider it… ffs… oh well, who knows… maybe he’ll thump one in on Saturday that wins the game… that would be nice.
No it wouldn’t! The shitter Gibson plays, the more likely he’ll leave.
He’s got one hell of a cunt foot that for sure.
Doesn’t mean he’s any less of a one trick pony.
Does anyone here remember our match with Bayern Munich at home last season? Gibson was played in an advanced midfield role from where he did score a belter and was part of a sensational first half that was ruined by that idiot Carrick allowing that cheap goal and young Rafa getting sentoff. THAT is the position where he plays his best football. He sees a pass, can tackle better than Carrick and has a hell of a shot on him. A proper goal threat which Anderson is not.
However, when he is asked to play alongside Scholes in a 4-4-2 or Anderson in the same formation he looks not so good. Or when asked to play once ever 12 games how can he get his game going? We have a very good player on our books here and am really sad that again we are misusing him. The worst time is when he is told to play wide. There is nothing about him to suggest that he can even make a fist of being a wide player at all. Also quite mystifying that when we have so many wide players on our books.
must say i agree with most of your analysis cal
however, how many more games before he clicks with some consistency?
more often than not, he is a plain liability and unable to stamp any authority in any position he is asked to play in even if that is not his 1st choice – he shows no running on or off the ball and has v little footballing brain from what i have seen of him
having said that, i hope i’m wrong and that he scores a cunt of a goal on saturday – lets face it, SAF will be playing him
My post has disappeared
Test.
Edit – found it.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12010_6742649,00.html
Giovanni Trapattoni believes it is crucial for Darron Gibson to play regular first-team football and has advised him to leave Manchester United.
Go on Gibbo… listen to the man… he speaks a lot of sense.
for gods sake man – go
“Excellent athlete”. “Does not lack vision”. Well, well. If he stops at OT & does not cause trouble SAF wil pick him. What can’t be forgiven is that he is bone idle, unfit & uncommited.
he’s just too fucking slow.
Terrible attitude n all
He’ll be bitter when he’s sent packing and will spend the rest of his career moaning about United, like Tevez
Purely because he scores spectacular goals people label him a ‘goal scoring’ midfielder, but he hasnt actually knocked that many in.