adexkola
Doesn't understand sportswashing.
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Who do we have, or who can we get, that's willing to take his spot on the bench?
I remember the same things being said about Darren Fletcher.
I have major doubts about whether Gibson is good enough for United. In fact, I have doubts about whether he's good enough to start for Ireland, which says it all really!
That said, he did look good towards the end of the season.
The CL semi against Schalke is the obvious one but it's easy to forget that he started probably our one and only really good away performance in the league - against West Ham.
All of which might mean he's earned another season at the club. Time will tell.
Now that Scholes is gone, and Hargreaves has been sold as scrap, we have
Carrick
Fletcher
Anderson
Gibson
Giggs
As central midfielders. If we bring a midfielder in, that brings the tally to 6, a decent number for a team that plays 4-3-3 in Europe and against the big teams at home. I think we would have enough games to please everyone, and Gibson has shown his quality at times. I say we keep him, but this season is a make or break for him. Shit, it should be for Anderson, but he's a caf favorite so...
Aye, this 'look at Fletcher' argument is all well and good but he's one example. There are dozens of others who've been in and around the squad only to be proven not to be good enough.
I remember the same things being said about David Bellion.
And Kieran Richardson.
And David Jones.
I firmly believe Gibson is more in that class of players than in Fletcher's class. He's the sort of player who we, after he is gone, will admit was never good enough for United, and was never going to be.
I hope I'm wrong.
But why, when Gibson has shown signs of maturity and improvement in the last few months, flog him on when we already have him in our squad, he is a home grown talent that we could always sell on in 3 years if he doesn't produce? Not all players develop and produce from day one, some take time.
I would love to see him have another couple of years to prove himself.
I'm not saying flog him, just that this reductive argument of 'Well Fletcher came good' doesn't prove anything really, apart from the fact that one talented footballer made it. Looking at what Gibson has been doing will give you a far better idea of where he'll end up than pointing to Fletcher and assuming he'll develop along the the same lines.
FWIW I don't think he is good enough to be a first team regular. He's okay as someone who plays cup games and the occasional league game. But I'd also be of the view that the fact he's even made it this far is as much down to the relative lack of strength in the midfield in comparison to previous teams.
He is probably going to be 6-7th choice next season so in my opinion we should sell him.
But why, when Gibson has shown signs of maturity and improvement in the last few months, flog him on when we already have him in our squad, he is a home grown talent that we could always sell on in 3 years if he doesn't produce? Not all players develop and produce from day one, some take time.
I would love to see him have another couple of years to prove himself.
Your spot on with your last point there.
I'm not saying 'look at Fletcher, now Gibson will do the same', but I am pointing out the fact that people can be so quick to write a player off at United, down to the fact that they make slow progression each season. Not all players cycle to their match and smash a screamer past David Seaman at 16. If Gibson continues progressing all be it slowly each season, like he has been doing so far, then I believe in 3 or 4 years he could well be in the reckoning for a first team place, and he will have cost us nothing.
Look at Charlie Adam, probably never been considered to be Premiership quality until a year ago, and yet now at the age of 25 he is seen by some as good enough to play for United.
All i'm saying is, we should keep hold of our potential talents because it could prevent us spending money one one in a few years time.
how do you work out he's going to be 6-7th choice? Considering 2 CM's have just gone
how do you work out he's going to be 6-7th choice? Considering 2 CM's have just gone
Wait... what? I'm thinking Scholes but who else?
If he is ever going to realise this potential that a lot seem to see in him he has to be playing regularly and in big games. With his current form and our current midfield we really can't afford to play him regularly or in big games. He is probably going to be 6-7th choice next season so in my opinion we should sell him. Maybe whack a buy-back clause into the sale agreement.
It's no coincidence that the form of Nani, Rafael, Fabio, Anderson etc has come after a run of matches.
Chicken and egg. I think it's much more likely that they've played a run of matches because they've improved to a point where they've earned a place in the starting line-up.
Then one good performance earns another and so on...
Obviously, being in the best XI for a club will bring a player on in leaps and bounds but squad players can do a lot of developing just through training, regular reserve games and the occasional first team appearance.
Giggs, Carrick, Anderson, Fletcher, New central midfielder, Park, Cleverley/Gibson.
If we buy 2 central midfielders then he could be even further down the pecking order.
you're assuming we're going to buy a new CM
that being said, if United accepted the 8 million, i'd say its a fair price and wish him good luck. I do think he will go on to have a strong career at PL level, regardless of where it is
What do you mean by 'strong'? It would suggest to me less bold a prediction than 'great' or even 'successful'.
I really don't see it with Gibson, he has had 6 years since his debut and has shown little to suggest he can be the quality of midfielder we require at OT.
I am not saying he is shit or anything, but how do people write off Charlie Adam's credentials after the season he has had, whilst proposing Gibson's contribution as being worthy of yet another season.
Adam played last season like the player we all hoped Gibson could become, unfortunately it has not happened for him, and i for one would not lose any sleep if he were allowed to leave this summer.
I'm not saying flog him, just that this reductive argument of 'Well Fletcher came good' doesn't prove anything really, apart from the fact that one talented footballer made it. Looking at what Gibson has been doing will give you a far better idea of where he'll end up than pointing to Fletcher and assuming he'll develop along the the same lines.
FWIW I don't think he is good enough to be a first team regular. He's okay as someone who plays cup games and the occasional league game. But I'd also be of the view that the fact he's even made it this far is as much down to the relative lack of strength in the midfield in comparison to previous teams.
and yet despite these extremely favourable conditions for Gibson to stake his claim, he has repeatedly failed to raise his game sufficiently to do so.
Is this the Charlie Adam that made his debut in 2003 and Rangers let go because the player we see now hadn't manifest?
I have yet to see any significant improvement with Gibson over quite a lengthy period of time and therefore should he leave, i for one would not be that bothered, he has had many chances to succeed and simply not taken them.
Criminally under-rated on here.
His claim is to do what he does. Play as back up to the senior player. John O Shea is a centre back, has never staked his claim on that position and is one of the players with most appearances in our history. If you are arguing Gibson is not Roy Keane, then fair enough; to argue that he can't play in 15ish wins a year is arguing against fact. Those 15 games mean someone who cost 40 million and is on 6 times Gibson's wages can rest and score bicycle kicks in CL finals. And to me being able to contribute in that respect means he's good enough; to do that, which we need someone to do.
Would you suggest i am being unfair to propose that Gibson has not done enough, to be held in a similarly high regard?