Gibson on the right wing?

Like you said. His pace is average so not what we need on the wing. He's perfect in the middle linking play up & spreading the ball about.

John
some good points but you lost me when you suggested Gibson could be another Sheedy.

Now that would take a real stretch in the imagination.

For me Gibson is just a simple "Hod carrier", covering the back 4,keeping MF tight picking the ball up and laying it off to the more skilfull players.

To me he looks more like Carsley than Sheedy.

Two thoughts, really.

1) Forget Trappatoni, just refer to how well he performed in a Blue shirt and the positive impact his presence in the middle had on Fellaini's form.

2) The game has changed a lot since Sheedy was banging goals in from left midfield with nary a defensive duty to perform! Nowadays, wingers need pace and the ability to beat a man, qualities Everton sorely lack and Gibson is most definitely not going to provide those.

Funny article this, I agree with almost everything except the main point: play Gibson on right wing. You must be crazy!

I think this has to be the most bizarre article I have ever read on Toffeeweb!

Gibson is a cast iron DM. A quarterback role if you will. His passing is best used in the middle of the pitch to link defence and attack. He always brings the best out of Felliani as well. Yet you want to bin all that and stick him on the right wing. He is also one of our slowest players.

Quite simply insane.

No. Just, no.

The reason Gibson didn't kick a ball at Euro 2012 was simply because he didn't play a part in Ireland's qualifying campaign.

He didn't play a part in the qualifying campaign because he was warming the bench at Old Trafford. By the time he joined us the Republic had already qualified.

He is easily the best central midfielder at Irelands disposal, and will feature heavily in World Cup 2014 qualifying - hopefully.

A challenger for the Ballon D'Or he is certainly not, but he is a solid midfielder who retains possesion excellently and sets up attacks. He has also been a positive influence on the likes of Fellaini, who have been able to push higher up the field.

Remember Jelavic's reaction at Old Trafford when he scored the first with his head from a deep cross? Amusement. Amazement. It's not what he does. He isn't Big Dunc, he's not a 'centre forward'.

He thrives on pull-backs and short passes in the area ? on the ground ? where he makes space and is quick to react. Fellaini, Timmy and Ossie work well with him. Baines and Pienaar are excellent suppliers. We do need a 'right winger', someone like Donovan, and that isn't Gibson ? who, incidentally, has been very successful playing where does for us.

Interesting article, but I'm pretty sure Kevin Sheedy was born in Wales, Builth Wells or however you spell it.

It'll be interesting to see how Gibson looks after a full pre-season, and after a run of games. No matter how he turns out we've got a bargain out of Man Utd, given how much they do tend to flog their "not gonna make it" players for.

Interesting John and I more or less agree with your assessment of the player.

But you say..

"In summary what have we got? For me, a player whose offensive qualities far outweigh his defensive ones. I certainly don?t see him in the defensive midfield role that some believe he should play".

Well imo we definitely need SOMEONE in 'that' role (very deep midfield) so if not him then..who?

When he plays there he does little that is spectacular but I feel a LOT safer having him there

(I felt the same way about Carsley - just made it that little bit more difficult for attackers to get through)

Don't fix what isn't broken... let Gibson and Fellaini play in the Centre.

Though I like your reason No 3...

A good article, John, that shows a bit of imagination and innovation. Coleman and Gibson on the right and Baines and Pienaar on the left , who knows. I certainly believe that Gibson on the right is as viable an option as Osman.

The way you describe him, I'd think he's more suitable to a Pirlo-esque role - pinging the passes and through balls from deep.

Nah, don't think it would work with Gibson on the right wing. The modern game today demands huge stamina for players on the flanks (wingers, wingbacks, fullbacks etc) to be covering pretty much the lengths of the pitch in succesful teams... and as you said, his engine doesn't really seem to last the full 90 does it?

Gibson has no pace so he will never make a winger. And anyway, why move him from the middle when he is doing an okay job there? He is not the best player ? a bit like Carsley but not as good.

John, Eugene is right. Who do we get to replace Gibson in the defensive role he played last season? If Barkley is the player we hope he's going to be, we don't want to waste him as a purely defensive player. Felliani has shown that he is also wasted in this role. If we have both Barkley and Felliani then one would have to focus more on the defensive side of things. If both are to push forward then it would leave gaps in midfield. There's no point in having wing backs and wingers bombing forward if there in nothing in the middle of the park to help the back four.

Darron Gibson is a decent player and we definitely look a better unit with him in the team. However, there is no way I would want him out wide. Once again it's a round peg in a square hole and, moreover, he seems totally ill-suited to such a role.

He lacks any mobility or pace and is less likely to dribble than that decomposing little shithouse who narrated Tales From The Crypt. I've seen no real evidence of any innate crossing ability and I don't think he has the necessary fitness or stamina to be sprinting back and forth, with or without the ball.

The position he has been playing so far seems to suit him to a tee. He can just sit, receive the ball, lay it off and keep things ticking over. He doesn't have to run himself into the ground, try and beat a man or attempt anything too fancy. Leave things as they are in this instance.

Just one more thing though......

Comparing Darron Gibson to Kevin Sheedy? Really? It's a bit like comparing James Corden to anyone who isn't a twat.

Hmm. An attempt at alliteration foiled again as the word 'c#nt' instantaneously transforms into 'twat' of it's own volition!

I'm sorry but James Corden is a c#nt and that fact can't be sugar coated,

Gibson has fitted into the holding role well and I dare say stamina issues will be rectified with further regular football. He reads the play well, gets and gives it simple, plays a fair bit of one/two touch as is required in the role, which is about the keeping of and continuity of possession, keeping it moving.

I agree with Jay Harris here are certain similarities to Carsley, but he is better in possession, better at keeping it as he has come through the system at Utd. He's less crash, bang wallop and more of a reader, I suppose just a more modern breed of player basically. Tackling is going out of the game and I'm waiting for the day the authorities say you can't leave your feet at all.

Gibson plays it well. For me he's a nailed on holding player for us. The midfield balance improved immeasurably, we tightened up and it freed Fellaini up to have a bigger impact.

He is nothing remotely like Kevin Sheedy. There's a bit more to attacking midfield play than being slow and having a shot.

Another Man Utd cast-off that came to the Man Utd cast-off retirement home known as Goodison Park. It's fair to say no-one got excited when we announced our first permanent cash signing in 2½ years.

The one thing Gibson does is keep it simple. I've been quietly impressed. He keeps it neat and tidy and has given Fellaini licence to play more offensively and it's worked really well. One or two comments about his fitness, moreover, his lack of it... but give the guy a chance, he only bascially took part in training at Man Utd. Let him have the gruelling pre-season fitness camp in Austria under his belt and a full season and I think we will see a much fitter engine-room man.

I suppose he could be used right midfield in a game against one of the better teams where we need as many midfielders to keep things tight and to make up for our lack of quality compared to the free-spending clubs. But he is not the answer to our right-sided problem area.

I would suggest you take a look at the highlights of the Newcastle game to see the several long-range shots Gibson had from central positions. He packs a powerful shot and I envisage him scoring 5 or 6 belters for us next season. He won't get those chances from wide positions.

This is one of those "Irish" things isn't it?

He's not enough pace for the wing and out on the wing pace is the name of the game - he couldn't beat a man for pace if he had a rocket pack strapped to his arse. Moyes has worked out that Gibson's perfectly suited where he is - deep and playing director of operations with Felliani freed to go on adventures further upfield.

Comparisons with Sheedy are frankly ludicrous - they're completely different type players. Sheedy had much more of a delicate touch and his default mode was cutting inside the fullback to deliver precision chips and through balls rather than genuine crosses - I'm not sure Gibson has that type of movement in him.

Also - the best football I can ever remember Everton playing in the 1980s was a spell when Sheedy played central midfield - Reid was injured and Sheedy was a revelation. He'd hinted to HK a few times (according to The Echo) that he wanted to play central midfield and when he did get the chance he was spraying precision balls around like he had second sight - he didn't have the bite in tackle that Reid or Bracewell did but he could put a ball through a bluebottle's bollocks at 30 metres without even looking up.

" a bit like carsley but not as good"

Also insane. carsley was a likeable guy but could not pass more than 5 yards! He never had half the ability Gibson does.

Have to agree with those that think that moving Gibson to the right wing is more likely to adversely affect the balance of the team than provide something essential, though the idea is well presented.
Loose comparisons with Sheedy and Beckham are not enough without understanding how their teams were well off for good players in other complementary positions.
My vague impression is that Sheeds had a knack of getting the ball past the defender (probably with a lot of curve, and definitely not all of the time) whilst being in relative close proximity, whereas Gibson seems to require more space to operate in. Also think that Gibson is good enough in the air to be some sort of asset in that area in front of the defence.
Have to admit my judgement may be clouded because I am still hoping for the next Trevor Steven or Andrei Kanchelskis!

Thanks for the comments.


Unfortunately it appears that the first reason I gave for moving Gibson to the right is missing on the article that's been put on the website. It was in fact the reason I started to think about moving him from central midfield and it was this:
" 1. I believe we may be about to witness the emergence of a truly great central midfielder in Ross Barkley. But someone has to make room for him in the centre of midfield and it certainly won?t be Fellaini (assuming he stays)."

I personally can't see Gibson playing in the defensive midfield position with Barkley playing attacking central midfield. Barkley is all about creativity and defending isn't his game at all so he'll need a strong defensive midfielder who will have to cover a hell of a lot of ground. Eugene asks who if not Gibson? Fellaini could definitely do it, possibly Rodwell though I have my doubts.

What I do believe is that Gibson couldn't, his lack of pace, tackling and stamina would leave us wide open through the middle on occasions. A lot of people saying they see him in the defensive midfield role which surprises me as I don't think he's a very good tackler. Surely that's the main requirement for that position. I think Moyes recognises that as well.

In the big pressure games towards the end of the season against Man Utd and Newcastle I thought it was significant that he brought Neville in to play the defensive midfield role and Fellaini was pushed up front to play off Jelavic. So you see my view is that if you want to see Barkley come through then Gibson will have to move from the centre. If Barkley does prove to be an outstanding central midfielder then unless Gibson does find a position on the right then I can't see him getting in the team. That would be a real shame as he's too good to be a squad player. He's already been in that role at Man Utd for years, that's surely the last thing he would want.

I agree with a lot of comments that they would like to see a winger with pace who can take on the opposing full back and put in a cross. Well, unfortunately those players cost big money which we don't seem to have.

All the above pre-supposes a certain formation. And that formation seems to include wingers.

Why does it have to be the case?

Back to my point.
We all know a good, pacy winger cost too much.
Let's work with what we have.

Don't have wingers.

Why not a diamond-sque type mid field comprising Rodwell, Gibson, Fellaini & Barkley?

Gibson #@ the base of the diamond.
Have Fellaini, Rodwell and Barkley occupy the space infront, as a 3-man midfield.

No need to specify who goes at the top of the diamond; rather it's to keep it fluid.
With Baines and Coleman possibly as full-backs, they can have room to come further upfield.

That will still leave a striker short to complement Jelavic.
That could be Vellios.

Either that, or we have a 5-3-2 (or 3-5-2 if you prefer) formation:

Jelavic
Fellaini
Barkley / Gibson / Rodwell
Baines / Distin / Jagielka/ Heitinga / Coleman

So you might ask "how about Donavan and Pienaar?" Well, we don't have these players yet. When we do, let's worry about it.

Of course, before any of you go slagging that Moyes will never do that. That's isn't quite the point ? cos if it is, then much of what goes on TW is moot.

I'm surprised you put so much time and thought into this article over a fairly average player (who will never be a winger).

Wing? ...erm, nah.

Rob (750), don't think you get the best out of Bainesy without a decent wide man operating in front of him to occupy defenders and play him in when he overlaps.

Would be concerned that your formation has too many similar players to offer enough flexibility which comes back to John's initial concern that Gibson would be a spare part in the centre of midfield. I would agree that potentially we have a glut of central midfielders but don't think pushing Gibson out wide is the solution. A reasonable rotation policy, proper use of substitutes and the usual injuries throughout the season should keep them all happy and productive.

The only place I would put Gibson is on the transfer list. He is simply not good enough: poor passing ? he can keep it safe but doesn't create enough. Very slow ? cant see him skinning anyone ? and very poor shooting in front of goal. "It's embarrassing," to quote YouTube... have you actually seen him live sky the ball into the Park End?

I like Gibson. He's brought a lot to the table, hence the upturn in form since January... but the comparisons with Sheedy are quite frankly ridiculous. You're talking about someone who will go down in Everton folklore in my opinion. It wasn't just that magic wand of a left foot but the number of times he pulled us out the shit with important goals. The best bit of business Kendall ever did. Keep Gibbo where he is; he's doing a great job and long may it continue. But another Sheeds? Nah... don't think so.

David -

Can't believe you'd offload Gibson. He's very steady, a rock in front of the back 4, and he distributes well. IMO we are clearly a better team with him in the side.

As for the balls rocketing into the Park End, at least he'll have a go. Before Gibson, when did you last see someone in a blue shirt rip the snot out of a ball from 25 yards out? Which, by the way, stretches the defenders b/c they have to respect the threat, opening more space for Jelly and others in and around the box. We haven't done near enough of that in the recent past, and we aren't good enough to walk the ball into the back of the net.

Summer hiatus on posting ended.... TY David.

Trade Gibson.... jeezuz please no.

For 500k he is a good signing.

I think he brings discipline to the midfield and is sadly more effective than Rodwell has been in a blue shirt. Sell him - you must be off your rocker.

Jamie, good post. David would put Gibson on the transfer list. Maybe we could double our money on him. In my view the transfer dealings of David Moyes have been, overall, excellent. Gibson is a fine example.