Darron Gibson

**paul_oshea** · 01/03/2009, 5:32 PM

he looked slow and i think he tired to be honest. He only hit about 2 balls astray, he did ok, but that was about it and was always going to be the first one to be subbed if changes were to be made that weren't necessary. He needs to get more stuck in. He seemed to be letting scholes take on too much work.

**shakermaker1982** · 01/03/2009, 6:17 PM

Very few players stood out in that game today. Anderson however was like a breath of fresh air when he came on. It's also very rare to see Evra get skinned that many times so it's a good job that Lennon cannot cross a ball!

Gibson did ok and put a steady shift in. He didn't look out of his depth and didn't shy away and I'm sure he'll have plenty of better games for Man Utd.

**eirebhoy** · 01/03/2009, 6:17 PM

Yeh he always seem to me that he's just doing his job and not trying to do that little bit more. I didn't like to see him standing or walking when a teammate is looking for a passing option. He should be making himself available all the time.

Sean McCaffrey:
"The thing with Darron is I don't think he realises how good he is.

But, you know, there's quite a difference in surviving in a top team and actually making an impact and I don't think Darron has done that yet. But when he realises that he's capable of making an impact, we're going to have some player on our hands, mark my words."

http://www.tribune.ie/sport/soccer/a...forward-march/

**geysir** · 01/03/2009, 6:29 PM

All he has to do is bring the impact of this goal celebration into his game

**elroy** · 01/03/2009, 6:58 PM

He is like JOSH in a sense in that he has quite a lazy style. He reminds me of Carrick a few years ago and look at Carrick now. Give the guy a chance. I think he needs to look for the ball a bit more and seemed willing to leave Scholes do most of the work with the ball but he rarely gave away the ball and certainly did not look out of depth against a decent Spurs midfield.

The difference between united and us is that Gibson had one of the best ever midfielders alongside him today whereas for us he is partnered with fellow novices.

**Stuttgart88** · 01/03/2009, 8:57 PM

Saw nearly all the game and think he was tidy enough but should be more assertive, both looking for the ball and when he has it. It looks like he's more concerned with avoiding errors than looking to be positive. One time in second half he actually took it on, carried the ball and took a shot with his left that was deflected wide. It was a pity that this was the only time. Scholes on the other hand had the confidence & willingness to add value where possible. I hope Gibson was taking notes.

Only other criticism is that on receiving the ball facing his own goal it seemed to take time for him to turn, if he even did. Scholes did the classic foot on top of the ball and swivel move nearly all the time.

**DeLorean** · 02/03/2009, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

he's more concerned with avoiding errors than looking to be positive

I think this is very true. He is clearly not a naturally confident player. There was one moment in particular where this was evident. Scholes had possession some time in the first half and Gibson was in a great position to receive the ball. Instead he signalled to Scholes to play the ball forward to one of the strikers when that ball was never really on. It was a big occasion for him yesterday and there were bound to be nerves, especially after one or two hairy moments like his mix up with Evans where he should have been more assertive and taken control of the situation. He needs regular game time to become more comfortable and allow him to play his natural game and it's difficult to see this coming at OT.

**EalingGreen** · 02/03/2009, 1:27 PM

Was at Wembley yesterday and Gibson was one of a handful of players I paid particular attention to.
I thought he started brightly enough, including a very good early shot, but he made a bad error around the quarter hour mark(?), where he stumbled and gave away possession, allowing Spurs to break through and necessitating a last ditch tackle by a MU defender to retrieve. Thereafter, I thought he was very poor (nerves?) for the rest of the half, probably giving away possession more than any other MU player.
Tbf, however, he was better in the second half, I suspect because Ferguson instructed him to keep it simple, since every time he got the ball, he just played it short to Scholes and Nani etc, to let them build the play. There was one late occasion where he burst forward and had a deflected shot, but it was no surprise when he was subbed after 90 mins, since I'm sure Ferguson wanted to win it in extra time, and Gibson was showing no sign of "hurting" Spurs.

So overall, if you want to take the "Glass half full" position, with more experience of the big time, he may develop into a very tidy player - he was certainly better e.g. than Welbeck, who was clearly out of his depth.

But if you are a "glass half empty" man, you'd say he still has to demonstrate that he has more to his game than mere competence. For example, he was clearly not so confident as Foster, or comfortable as Evans, even after the latter was moved out of position in extra time to replace O'Shea at RB.

The Jury is still Out for me.

Btw, there was a piece in yesterday's Sunday Times which supported my contention that despite getting game time with the senior team lately, Gibson is still "only" a Reserve/Second String player at OT, i.e. yet to be considered a genuine member of the first team squad.
The article was comparing the present MU team with the Treble Team of 1999, and concluded that whilst the First XI's are of v.similar quality, further down, the "Class of 2009" has much greater strength in depth.
They divided both teams into First XI, Second XI and Third XI, with the following being the 2009 assessments (4-4-2 formation):
First XI
Van der Sar

Brown
Vidic
Ferdinand
Evra

Ronaldo
Carrick
Fletcher
Giggs

Rooney
Berbatov

Second XI
Foster

Da Silva
Evans
Neville
O'Shea

Park
Scholes
Hargreaves
Anderson

Nani
Tevez

Third XI
Kusczak

Eckersley
Simpson (loan to Blackburn)
Cathcart (loan to Plymouth)
Fabio

Wellbeck
Gibson
Possebon
Tosic

Manucho (loan to Hull)
Campbell (loan to Spurs)

**ifk101** · 02/03/2009, 1:35 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

I thought he started brightly enough, including a very good early shot, but he made a bad error around the quarter hour mark(?), where he stumbled and gave away possession,

I wouldn't call it an error as such because a lot of players were stumbling yesterday on that pitch for some reason. But I'd agree with you that it probably did unnerve him for the rest of the half.

But overall I thought he had a good game.

**DeLorean** · 02/03/2009, 1:36 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Ronaldo
Carrick
Fletcher
Giggs

Park
Scholes
Hargreaves
Anderson

I'd prefer the midfield from tier 2. Ronaldo for Park though!

**geysir** · 02/03/2009, 3:07 PM

I hope, after that penalty shoot out, that Shay invests in an iPod.

**DeLorean** · 02/03/2009, 3:13 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I hope, after that penalty shoot out, that Shay invests in an iPod.

Possibly his biggest (only?) weakness. Nearly always goes way too early.

**OwlsFan** · 02/03/2009, 4:10 PM

Got a 6 rating in the Daily Telegraph:

"An energetic performance from the young midfielder but too often he gave the ball away in vital areas"

**DeLorean** · 02/03/2009, 4:28 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Got a 6 rating in the Daily Telegraph:

"An energetic performance from the young midfielder but too often he gave the ball away in vital areas"

Twas far from energetic anyway. I'd probably agree with the 6 though (at best). Started brightly but faded would be a more suitable assessment I think.

**tricky_colour** · 02/03/2009, 6:48 PM

Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

Twas far from energetic anyway. I'd probably agree with the 6 though (at best). Started brightly but faded would be a more suitable assessment I think.

Yes 6 indicates more of a "Started badly and got worse".

**Hibernian** · 02/03/2009, 7:19 PM

Originally Posted by BarelyLegal

I think this is very true. He is clearly not a naturally confident player. There was one moment in particular where this was evident. Scholes had possession some time in the first half and Gibson was in a great position to receive the ball. Instead he signalled to Scholes to play the ball forward to one of the strikers when that ball was never really on. It was a big occasion for him yesterday and there were bound to be nerves, especially after one or two hairy moments like his mix up with Evans where he should have been more assertive and taken control of the situation. He needs regular game time to become more comfortable and allow him to play his natural game and it's difficult to see this coming at OT.

i was at the game yesterday and I remember that incident too and taught that it showed that he was nervous..

I taught he was average at best he seems to lack confidence yesterday to be fair it was big occasion for him must remember he hopefully has his best years still to come.

i still like see him get more time at united before I make decision on how good he is..

He far from united player (at moment) but hopefully he brings his game on another level which i think he has the talent for that.