Darron Gibson

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Some players are expressly instructed by their managers not to do this. There was a reason why Whelan and Andrews rarely, if ever, got stuck into tackles in the middle of the field under Trap; doing so would have drawn them out of the position they were instructed to occupy. They were to act as a wall rather than press. Just because Gibson mightn't be getting stuck into tackles, doesn't mean he's not up for a game. It's entirely possible he's under orders to restrain himself.

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imo Gibson does neither. i've watched him many a time fail to even close down players on the edge of our own box for example. surely that cant be a tactic?

As Brendan Rodgers would say... he dominates the space! :o

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

imo Gibson does neither. i've watched him many a time fail to even close down players on the edge of our own box for example. surely that cant be a tactic?

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Gibson's primary strength/role is neither. Alex Ferguson's quote one page back is insightful. Gibson's former manager explicitly instructed his then-players to keep his former man off the ball in space in midfield. They failed to do this and Gibson ran the show, in Ferguson's words. Gibson is a ball-playing catalyst. He's a passer and helps create variation in attack; he's not primarily a tackler or a wall. He remains in or finds ball-receiving space so he can first receive the ball before moving it onward.

It's a few years old, but there's a very good analysis of what he offers here: http://eplindex.com/18008/everton-im...-analysis.html

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Originally Posted by Matt Cheetham

As players bathe in the glory of Monday’s win, one man unlikely to experience a similar surge of public admiration is Darron Gibson. Since his Manchester United days there has tended to be an almost apathetic perception of his ability, as much of his fine on-field work generally passes by unnoticed. For example, how many non-Everton fans acknowledged the delivery for Fellaini’s goal on Monday? Additionally, the fact Gibson never played a minute of Euro 2012 was seen as an outrage to Evertonians, yet Giovanni Trapattoni’s decision to opt for Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews fuelled few debates elsewhere. His unheralded reputation is strange, yet undeterred Gibson continues to complete his on-field business in an uncomplicated, low-key manner.

So why the sudden urge to highlight his input? Given that fact that when Gibson played last season Everton were victorious 55% of the time – the highest win-percentage for anyone in David Moyes’ squad – his presence is clearly useful. An even more impressive statistic was the fact the Toffees are yet to lose with Gibson on the team-sheet. In fact, the Irishman has not tasted a Premier League defeat for over two years now, and his part in the victory on Monday takes his unbeaten run to 28 games – which raises further questions about why opinions of him are so average among football fans.

His influence for Everton has clearly been significant, but what has he contributed to make the Toffees so troublesome to overcome? Here is a look some of his numbers from last season.

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps5hys1wcc.png

Whilst he doesn’t sprint away with any category, he is among the front-runners in several areas, and his consistent, rounded results emphasise his polished technique that’s effective in both halves of the field. However, the key statistic to explore further is his – and Everton’s – average passes per match. By viewing the Toffees’ tendencies before he arrived, and comparing them to what’s been achieved with Gibson at the club, it becomes apparent just how much he has helped transform Everton’s approach.

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...psebuowdaz.png

As is patently clear, thanks to Gibson and his fellow January arrivals, David Moyes has been able to adopt an ideology far more pass-friendly and attractive on the eye. By spreading the play and deliberately choosing to cross less, Everton have found scoring and – most importantly – results, far easier to attain. By already being the fourth most frequent passer at the club, Gibson is clearly very central to this.

What had stalled them before January was their one-dimensional offence, which was all-too-easily negated. Once in possession, players would slowly shift the ball laterally, waiting for an opportune moment to cross. The primary objective of attacking from wide seemed the only option after Mikel Arteta’s departure left Leighton Baines as the club’s chief creative source. Void of alternative solutions, Everton would relentlessly pepper the penalty area, even recording over 40 crosses in the 2011 home games against Stoke, Norwich and Wolves.

Thankfully David Moyes can now add variety. With Gibson and Steven Pienaar boosting the passing game, and the movement and potency of Nikica Jelavic troubling defences, Moyes’ tools are drastically upgraded. The wide approach is still employed, though with better, quicker and more frequent passes, the Toffees can now play through a team instead of only looking to go around. Being able to dissect a defence by other means, incorporating a duel threat, naturally enhances the success-rate of both approaches – hence Everton’s glut of goals post January. It’s worth noting Gibson hasn’t featured in every game since his arrival, but his purchase was certainly crucial in enabling this change of concept.

Further insight into this evolution can be gained by taking into account the contribution of Darron Gibson compared to Jack Rodwell. Conveniently they both enjoyed an almost identical time on the pitch last season and were assigned similar roles – as the central midfielder with more of a focus on distribution.

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/c...psljkap411.png

Gibson’s production compared to Rodwell shows just how transposed the passing game has become with him in this role. Having far more touches and passing more frequently is one thing, but Gibson almost entirely dominates the board, making significantly more impact at both ends of the field, with the final third entries a particularly revealing discovery. As well as decorating his value, this also entirely explains and validates the Toffees’ decision to offload Rodwell.

As well as this rejuvenated passing game, Gibson has even helped reintroduce another style of play. Against the very top sides and on some away days, the possession Marouane Fellaini can grant his side up the field often tempts Moyes to employ a direct brand of counter-attacking football. By bringing the ball down with his chest, Fellaini allows Everton instant possession in advanced positions, ideal against sides keen to occupy the ball – a ploy demonstrated against Manchester United. Fearing a weakened midfield, this was something Moyes was never entirely comfortable to persevere with, but the presence and security Gibson brings has seen it feature far more prominently since January.

While his team-mates grab the headlines, the addition of Darron Gibson may well prove to be one of David Moyes’ most shrewd manoeuvres, and his transfer is undeniably as coup. He augments the passing game, helps adds variety in attack and brings stability to midfield. Since January, the Everton manager has been afforded more structure, depth and tactical flexibility, all thanks to his well-judged January additions. Jelavic’s goals and Pienaar’s artistry will always attract attention, but the less-glamorous part Gibson plays seems every bit as essential.

This coming season, given the options at Moyes’ fingertips, Everton’s midfield is likely to become as situational as ever. Players will shuffle in and out, roles will interchange and vary and Fellaini seems likely to alternate between his defensive and offensive duties. Yet while the rest of the personnel fluctuate, expect the one constant to be Darron Gibson, pulling the strings in the heart of Everton’s midfield. Maybe by the end of the season, a few more will notice.

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Another article on his under-appreciated role here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...low-to-everton

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Originally Posted by Matt Cheetham

His signing wasn't especially celebrated by Evertonians, but he's consistently impressed since making his debut, and most fans now consider him an integral selection.

The Irishman plays as a midfield general and tempo setter, moving the Toffees around better than anyone in the past few years. He initially formed an effective partnership with Marouane Fellaini and, when fit, was instrumental in the Toffees' impressive run to the 2012 FA Cup semifinal.

His excellent positional sense complemented Fellaini's more aggressive approach, while his ability on the ball and accurate diagonal passes kept his side moving forward.

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Despite Martinez introducing a new style, Gibson was one of the more natural fits into a possession-based approach, which will further frustrate his manager.

The Irishman's comfortable bringing the ball out of defence, continually shifting Everton's shape as he moves between the lines.

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Originally Posted by Matt Cheetham

Additionally, the fact Gibson never played a minute of Euro 2012 was seen as an outrage to Evertonians, yet Giovanni Trapattoni’s decision to opt for Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews fuelled few debates elsewhere. His unheralded reputation is strange, yet undeterred Gibson continues to complete his on-field business in an uncomplicated, low-key manner.

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Had to laugh at that bit.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Gibson is a ball-playing catalyst. He's a passer and helps create variation in attack; he's not primarily a tackler or a wall. He remains in or finds ball-receiving space so he can first receive the ball before moving it onward.

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i've played junior football with lads with similar "qualities". its the same lads who went missing from training and matches when it got cold and thought their grannys birthday was an excuse to miss a game

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

i've played junior football with lads with similar "qualities". its the same lads who went missing from training and matches when it got cold and thought their grannys birthday was an excuse to miss a game

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You played with Stephen Ireland ?

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Originally Posted by OwlsFan

You played with Stephen Ireland ?

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No that was their 3 funerals

I remember this from the time but just came across it again there. The Soccer Saturday lads discussing Gibson's move from Manchester United to Everton is pretty funny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPIFOoz3Bmk

That's absolutely brilliant!

Darron's playing in this league cup game against Wes' Norwich, it's gone to ET and he's lasting the pace.
I wouldn't be surprised if he's first in line to partner James at CM in the first leg.
At least he's a viable talented option, which we are short of.

Played the full 90, and extra time, and scored in the shoot out. Not bad!

Not just an ordinary shoot out penalty but he emphatically scored the pressure penalty kick.

similar to Hoolahan, it'll be interesting to see if he plays this weekend

That's a super amount of football to get into his legs anyway. Badly needed.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

similar to Hoolahan, it'll be interesting to see if he plays this weekend

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Gibson played a defensive midfield role in this game, more similar to Whelan i would have thought.

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Originally Posted by geysir

Gibson played a defensive midfield role in this game, more similar to Whelan i would have thought.

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similar, as in "in a similar fitness situation", not "playing in a similar position"

It will be interesting to see if he can break up the McCarthy/Barry partnership, hopefully at Barry's expense obviously. Besic is expected back shortly too of course. Barry turns 35 in a couple of months.

I always consider the real pressure ones to be those where if you miss you're team is out. I think Gibson was in a relatively comfortable situation knowing that even if he missed Everton would still be well in it. Hardly a criticism, just sayin'! They're all pressure kicks in that scenario really I suppose. Brilliant penalty anyway, similar to Meyler's but probably more powerfully struck.

Seemed to be involved in the game generally going by the highlights, lovely pass at the start of that clip.

Interview here-

Good to see him play 120 mins. The penalty was quality. He was rusty though, giving the ball away sloppily near his own goal on a few occasions. Also, he was playing CB for the last hour of the match. He did ok there generally since Norwich weren't really a threat from open play and this repositioning probably helped him last the full 120. Same hopes as usual for him now; stay fit and don't break down!

Gibson seems to be the fifth choice central midfield option for Everton now when everybody's fit. I wonder would Everton have conceded as many goals if Gibson had replaced McCarthy instead of Cleverley?

A lot has been made of Everton's leaky defence but the sh!t has only really hit the fan since McCarthy got injured, which was with twenty minutes remaining against Bournemouth, in which they were keeping a clean sheet at the time he was replaced and ended up conceding three! They weren't exactly flawless with McCarthy in the side either but they've definitely looked more vulnerable in his absence, particularly at Goodison. Cleverley might get around the pitch a bit quicker but I would say that Gibson is the more intelligent footballer and would offer more protection to his defence, while having more ability on the ball also.

Besic came on for the last half hour against Tottenham on Sunday and he was excellent to be fair. More bad news for Gibbo!