Darron Gibson

**Crosby87** · 18/04/2012, 11:16 AM

Gibs says he did not fail at The U:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...an-utd?cc=5901

**Scooby Doo** · 18/04/2012, 11:34 AM

"So I've come here to start showing people how good a player I am. I wouldn't say I failed I'd say I never got the chance I wanted."

No harm in publically defending yourself but I think Darren is wrong in suggesting that he never got a chance. He got plenty of chances at Man United but he failed to take them alot of the time. He has his much heralded long-range shot and can pass the ball well times but he never demonstrated the midfield 'steel' that was required of him in the MU midfield - Trapattoni spoke of this at one stage I think.

**geysir** · 18/04/2012, 12:23 PM

I wouldn't be too picky about analysing what he was quoted as saying.
In general he feels he has the making of a credible EPL player, that he's better than being described as a Man U failure. That's fair enough. The pertinent point is that he has to continue with his game and maybe after he has proven himself over the course of a full season, he can then talk about it.
At the moment, he's still in the 'could'a been a contender' category.

**seanfhear** · 18/04/2012, 5:34 PM

Footballers should do most of their talking on the football field.

Thats where the vast majority of people form their opinion of footballers.

**Stuttgart88** · 18/04/2012, 7:50 PM

As per my post from Saturday morning where I pointed out that almost every newspaper ran the same article on Gibson, which included that quote, it's obvious he was put in front of a mike at a press conference and asked that question. Not his fault people hang over every word footballers are quoted as saying.

For what it's worth, it's a dumb question to ask in my opinion. If he was a roaring success he'd still be there, but calling him a failure is pointless.

**liamoo11** · 22/04/2012, 9:47 PM

Played well today continues to show he is premiership class. Really thought he pushed forward and took loads of responsibility when everton went behind winning one great challenge to keep posseseion. delighted for those idiotic utd fans who hounded him off twitter. i really hope starts in the euros

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/04/2012, 10:07 PM

It's unfortunate that Gibson's blossomed during a period when there's been only one international game, which he had the bad luck to be injured for. Hopefully his fitness lasts through the end of the season and he can make his claim for a starting place in the warm-up games.

**DeLorean** · 23/04/2012, 12:29 PM

I agree with you about the twitter cowards Liamoo but didn't think he played well yesterday at all. Yet to see him play well to be honest, watching all the wrong games obviously. He does seem to make himself available to receive possession more than he used to though.

**Charlie Darwin** · 23/04/2012, 12:38 PM

Apart from one loose pass yesterday I thought he was excellent. Perhaps he hangs back a little too much but that's probably on instruction from Moyes as Fellaini is unlikely to cover.

**Irwin3** · 23/04/2012, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I agree with you about the twitter cowards Liamoo but didn't think he played well yesterday at all. Yet to see him play well to be honest, watching all the wrong games obviously. He does seem to make himself available to receive possession more than he used to though.

Burning Question: Have you seen him win a tackle yet?

I thought he played quite well yesterday. Tbh he was probably the most impressive out of the 4 CM's (Carrick, Scholes, Neville, Gibson) on show for me. How would you rate him compared to those 3 based on yesterday's game?

**DeLorean** · 23/04/2012, 2:58 PM

Originally Posted by Irwin3

Burning Question: Have you seen him win a tackle yet?

I thought he played quite well yesterday. Tbh he was probably the most impressive out of the 4 CM's (Carrick, Scholes, Neville, Gibson) on show for me. How would you rate him compared to those 3 based on yesterday's game?

Thought Carrick was the best out of those four by a distance. Scholes was unusually average by his standards and Neville did his usual solid job. Fellaini was very good in a more advanced role. As for Gibson, I just don't see it yet. Even if he was as good (or average) as Scholes yesterday, that means nothing really. Scholes had a poor enough game but the jury is hardly out on him, for me it's out on Gibson in a big way.

**Stuttgart88** · 23/04/2012, 3:02 PM

I thought he was lying deeper than usual yesterday and wasn't on the ball much from what I saw (about 30 mins of the second half).

**DeLorean** · 23/04/2012, 3:08 PM

As a side note, if Everton showed half the attacking ambition at Wembley that they did yesterday I believe they would have a cup final to look forward to. They showed Liverpool a ridiculous and undeserved amount of respect that had the odour of an inferiority complex.

**Predator** · 23/04/2012, 3:19 PM

I think that Gibson has had a calming effect on Everton's midfield.

**Irwin3** · 23/04/2012, 6:46 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Thought Carrick was the best out of those four by a distance. Scholes was unusually average by his standards and Neville did his usual solid job. Fellaini was very good in a more advanced role. As for Gibson, I just don't see it yet. Even if he was as good (or average) as Scholes yesterday, that means nothing really. Scholes had a poor enough game but the jury is hardly out on him, for me it's out on Gibson in a big way.

Carrick's been a class above this season for sure, but yesterday I would say there wasn't much in it at all. Anyway here's a H2H of yesterday's game (I know you love stats):

Passing Accuracy: DG 83%, MC 79%
Total Passes: DG 70, MC 73
Touches: DG 83, MC 85
Tackles: DG 3, MC 5
Interceptions: DG 2, MC 1
Long Balls: DG 10, MC 13
Accurate Long Balls: DG 7, MC 8

For me the only things that Carrick was miles better at yesterday was to be a bit taller and a bit leaner. I hate to seem like I am picking at you, but I am genuinely curious as to what you saw in Carrick that made him appear to be miles better than Gibson yesterday.

**Irwin3** · 23/04/2012, 6:48 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

As a side note, if Everton showed half the attacking ambition at Wembley that they did yesterday I believe they would have a cup final to look forward to. They showed Liverpool a ridiculous and undeserved amount of respect that had the odour of an inferiority complex.

Absolutely agree. Shame for them that they seized up and blew a great chance to get to the final.

**SkStu** · 23/04/2012, 8:53 PM

Originally Posted by Irwin3

but I am genuinely curious as to what you saw in Carrick that made him appear to be miles better than Gibson yesterday.

Probably the harrying...

**elroy** · 23/04/2012, 10:21 PM

DG is at a great club with a great manager. He has a (At least) solid start to his career and seems to have established himself in CM there. Not saying he is responsible but since he has arrived (and Jelavic), everton have turned their season around. Given more playing time, I think DG could develop into the player we all hope he might be. Dont think he will ever be a Roy Keane type player or even a Paul Scholes for that matter, but think he has the makings of very solid very good premiership player.

**Predator** · 23/04/2012, 10:38 PM

Darron's only a year and a bit older than James McClean, by the way.

**DeLorean** · 24/04/2012, 8:08 AM

Originally Posted by Irwin3

For me the only things that Carrick was miles better at yesterday was to be a bit taller and a bit leaner. I hate to seem like I am picking at you, but I am genuinely curious as to what you saw in Carrick that made him appear to be miles better than Gibson yesterday.

Don't worry I'm not that sensitive

Basically Carrick looked like a guy trying to make things happen, doing his best to force the issue. Gibson, at best, was trying to keep things ticking over. That's all well and good but even at that his performance was patchy to say the least. Gibson has obviously got a decent passing range and it seems his positional sense for both breaking up the play and receiving possession has improved. Maybe with more games and more confidence he will really impose himself on the games. Of course, some of you already believe he is doing this, I just haven't seen it yet myself.