Darron Gibson

[Eminence Grise]

I think it could be the end of his career. Out of contract in a few months, so it won't cost Sunderland much to sack him. Then there's the problem of a court case and - given he's been down that path before - a custodial sentence couldn't be ruled out. Who'd take a chance on an underperforming, injury-prone, (serial?) drink driver in his 30s who could be missing for a chunk of next season? I feel genuine sadness for him. Whether it was the alcohol at fault or whether it was covering some deeper issue we'll never know, but his was a glorious talent that was never fulfilled.

[OwlsFan]

"Glorious talent" is stretching it a bit I think. Reasonable midfielder who wouldn't have been out of place playing for the Stoke Cities, Brightons, Watfords etc of this world but I am not sure he was an unfulfilled genius.

[DannyInvincible]

"Glorious talent" is stretching it a bit I think. Reasonable midfielder who wouldn't have been out of place playing for the Stoke Cities, Brightons, Watfords etc of this world but I am not sure he was an unfulfilled genius.

He won the prestigious Jimmy Murphy Award as Manchester United's youth player of the year in 2006. When Ole Gunnar Solskjær managed Gibson as United's reserve team manager, he said Gibson was "like a Ferrari, but we just need to get him out of the garage". I think it's fair enough to say Gibson never fulfilled his potential. Unfortunately, it would seem it has been due to poor application or mentality. This latest sorry episode is just another example of that. I've no idea where it all went wrong, but perhaps he could have been given better psychological and pastoral guidance by his clubs, particularly United.

Gibson was two years below me at St. Columb's College in Derry and, although I didn't know him personally, I remember an old GCSE English teacher of mine expressing his relief (and the school's too supposedly) rather than real excitement that the player was to be leaving the College to sign for United. The teacher had been Gibson's form-teacher and openly declared to our class that Gibson had been one of the worst "trouble-makers" he had taught. Thinking back, I recall seeing Gibson out drinking in Derry a few times during those early years at United as well. Players are allowed to socialise, sure, but I'd be confident that players from different backgrounds over in England, say, weren't doing the same, or certainly weren't doing it as regularly as Darron was. It seems that possible self-sabotaging behaviours (certainly not helped by the local drinking culture here) were never really stamped out or steered in a more positive direction, which is certainly sad.

I would hope he's able to make a comeback from this setback and maybe do something special in the final few years of his career, but it's hard to see how his approach to things will change now all of a sudden. This was the second time he's been caught drink-driving, but who's to know how many times he hasn't been caught because he didn't happen to crash his car? It's entirely possible it's a regular pattern of reckless behaviour in which he engages. I should say I have no evidence for that whatsoever, besides personal suspicion, but it would seem plausible to me.

[tetsujin1979]

Left Sunderland by mutual consent: https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2018/march/darron-gibson-leaves-sunderland-afc
I hope he gets the help he needs for his issues with alcohol

[Fixer82]

Probably the end of his international career. He's been injury-plagued for a long time.
I remember feeling sorry for him in the game against Belarus when he was trying everything to have an influence on the game to make the Euros squad. But it just wasn't happening for him. He cut a very frustrated figure. Perhaps he wasn't the same player after that bad injury for Ireland.
He had huge promise when with United.
Perhaps a mixture of attitude and injuries hampered all that.
Hopefully he gets his act together before his career is finally over.
He may need the money.

[CraftyToePoke]

Probably the end of his international career.

Can't see too many clubs rolling the dice on him either, unless a good, incident and injury free stint on pay as you play someplace might resurrect things.


I remember feeling sorry for him in the game against Belarus when he was trying everything to have an influence on the game to make the Euros squad.

Yeah, he looked decent that night and was doing a job we needed doing well. Seems a long while ago now.

[Stuttgart88]

I wish he was back home in Derry.

[seanfhear]

Bar injuries ( maybe attitude ,I don’t really know enough ) he probably could have had a reasonable career at mid/ lower premiership or perhaps upper championship .

Sport can be tough , I suppose thats why its so hard to make a go of it .

[geysir]

It wasn't just a matter of driving over the limit, it looks more like a scene from the Blues Brothers.

https://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:low,c_fill/https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimage/1.9069595.1521383725!/image/image.jpg

https://res.cloudinary.com/jpress/image/fetch/w_700,f_auto,ar_3:2,q_auto:low,c_fill/https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimage/1.9069592.1521383719!/image/image.jpg

[tetsujin1979]

Training with Wigan, according to reports this morning

[samhaydenjr]

Signed on a "Short-term contract" by Wigan: https://www.balls.ie/football/darron-gibson-wigan-athletic-394129

[Olé Olé]

Brave move by Paul Cook but he's getting a player that will be great for them if his head and body are right. Cook always had plenty Irish lads at Chesterfield and Portsmouth but had none at Wigan until he signed Gibson.

Maybe he was temporarily adverse to the stereotypical Irishman for a while but Gibson's recent drinking travails have rescued his faith in Paddy :D

[liamoo11]

Signed on a "Short-term contract" by Wigan: https://www.balls.ie/football/darron-gibson-wigan-athletic-394129

Im delighted for him batting drink in my own experience Is traumatic still the best footballing midfielder we have

[liamoo11]

http://www.cockneylatic.co.uk/forum/5-cockney-latic-main-forum/117540-darron-gibson getting good praise for role in Win today

[Siberian]

Maybe we shouldn't write of Gibson yet. Back from injury and impressed from the bench last night ''''a great cameo from Gibson, just watch him he sat in there for twenty minutes and our two centre halves and midfielders suddenly became a unit'''

[Fixer82]

Could he make his way back into the Ireland squad?
He’s playing regularly in championship now and, although I don’t know his form, he is a good footballer and was playing well for Sunderland before he got injured/sacked last season

[liamoo11]

Could he make his way back into the Ireland squad?
He’s playing regularly in championship now and, although I don’t know his form, he is a good footballer and was playing well for Sunderland before he got injured/sacked last season

Great to see him turning his life around. Has he the mobility to play centre mid for us if we are trying to play a higher line than under o neil and play with some element of a higher press?our best passer of a ball by a mile

[NeverFeltBetter]

If he's playing well and his, ahem, personal issues are behind him, I don't see why he shouldn't be a contender. But he'd presumably have to be playing more.

[DeLorean]

Released by Wigan - https://www.wiganathletic.com/news/2019/may/2019-20-wigan-athletic-retained-list/

[tetsujin1979]

Signed for Salford City in January after training with them, starting for them tonight against Newport County
1230204284937129984

[DeLorean]

Scored in their penalty shoot-out win over Newport tonight in the EFL Trophy semi final. Towell and Amond also started, while Rooney came off the bench and also scored in the shoot-out. They will play Portsmouth in the final at Wembley on the 5th April.

[Eminence Grise]

Salford say 'ta ra, Gibbo' - https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0517/1138922-former-ireland-international-gibson-released-by-salford/


Where to next? Can't imagine many doors opening for him now given his age, recent years and the havoc wreaked by Covid-19. Doesn't strike me as the coaching or commentary type if he doesn't find a club.

[seanfhear]

Salford say 'ta ra, Gibbo' - https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0517/1138922-former-ireland-international-gibson-released-by-salford/


Where to next? Can't imagine many doors opening for him now given his age, recent years and the havoc wreaked by Covid-19. Doesn't strike me as the coaching or commentary type if he doesn't find a club.
He must be getting near the end of the football career. I hope he has invested his money wisely and everything goes well for him from here on.

[Fixer82]

Unlucky in his career with injuries.
I imagine he was a higher earner at Salford so they were happy to get him off the wage bill in the current crisis.

[Colbert Report]

Does anyone know why he only played four times for them in League 2 this season? Was he injured? This is probably the end of the road for him if he's not willing to play up in Scotland or non-league football if and when things come back.

[pineapple stu]

Only joined in Feb - so he played all their games once he made his debut

[nigel-harps1954]

Wouldn't be surprised to see him land at Derry

[seanfhear]

Why not have another siege of Derry ! :wink:

[Diggs246]

He was an excellent passer and had a long range shot to beat the band, but that's it
terrible tackler, terrible in the air , awful positioning, lazy <MOD EDIT - slur removed>

[tetsujin1979]

Excellent interview with Gibson on the42 today
https://www.the42.ie/darron-gibson-interview-6202349-Oct2023/

[John83]

Excellent interview with Gibson on the42 today
https://www.the42.ie/darron-gibson-interview-6202349-Oct2023/
Yikes. I hadn't realised he'd had issues like that. Definitely worth a read. Article is paywalled, I should note.