posted Jul 15, 2009

He's well ahead of Possebon now. Possebon looked good before the injury he got in the Boro League Cup game, but that seemed to set him back. Maybe the loan in Portugal will help him, but in all honesty I think Possebon might end up staying in Portugal.

Gibson is a developing player but he wouldn't have got this contract if Fergie didn't think he had potential.

The problem for all young British and Irish players who are unproven is that the fans will always want a foreigner ahead of them and feel better about their club signing a foreigner, even a young foreigner. I'm reading what that Irish guy said above, that Irish pundits were saying "He's not good enough for the irish team, never mind United" - well, who was saying that? This must have been after he'd made, what, 10 appearances for Man Utd maybe? Not even that probably.

With that kind of media and fan expectation, it's a miracle any young players can come through nowadays because you have to be a prodigy like Rooney or Giggs to be valued and accepted.

Comparing someone like Gibson to a player like Xavi, when you look at the stage of his career Gibson is at, and compare that to Xavi's progress and career, is just so far from the mark it's unreal. I know the implication after Barcelona winning the Champions League is that people ideally want Man Utd to go out and sign players as good as or better than Xavi and Iniesta are now. I'm afraid that doesn't connect with reality for me.

I'm sure that if Gibson was called Gibsinho some fans would feel better about him. How much flak did Fletcher take over the last few years? Who did fans suddenly claim Man Utd missed in the CL final? Fletcher: suddenly a key player. A mark of Fletcher's development and for all young players when they're given a proper chance to develop.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

Subterranean (U1734775)

You make some good points.

At the start of the season Possebon was ahead and was looking settled when called upon. But then Possebon looked very light weight after his injury, and a Premier League game he looked like he would have been destroyed.

Gibson however, is powerful and deceptivly quick. He looks like he might has the passing skills an vision to do a sort of Carrick role. But he has the physical presence and shot to play a role more like Gerrard or Lampard.

Its nice see we could have a British spine to our side in a few years. With Foster, Evans, Gibson and Welbeck being the core of the side.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

Well said Subterranean, I agree with practically everthing you said.
I must admit that when I went to see Ole's testimonial I wasn't at all impressed with Gibson, but that may have been due to it being a friendly, and being put on the right wing. However, he's really come along alot this season, and I also agree with you in that I would love it if our midfielders started learning to shoot!
Gibson seems the only one really capable; Carrick does, on occasion, shot, and when he does (Roma or Wigan) he can do so brilliantly, but we need more of it. It's nice to see a player like Gibson who can strike it, actually go ahead and strike it!!
I think he's ahead of Possebon now; Possebon looked brilliant until Pogatetz nearly killed his shin, but hopefully the year at Braga will help him build his confidence. Out of the two,

I think that Possebon has more talent, but he seemed to lose alot of confidence after the Boro game, so it's up to Gibson to prove that he's worth the new contract.

He can pass, tackle, and shoot to a high standard, and he seems to dictate play with a measured approach similar to Carrick or Scholes. He's well built, but I'd still like to see him impose himself more, and demand the ball, as he can use it well.
Also, I'd like to see him imporve his stamina and his speed, which can thankfully be done in training. If he can do this, there's no reason why he can't make it with us. It all really depends on how he does over the next two years.

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posted Jul 15, 2009

Decent enough player, I still see him going to
Sunderland in a year or two for 7 or 8 mill as United will always be able to buy someone else.
Possebon and Welbeck will be off as well. Good players but as soon as someone comes in with a bid for 5 - 8 mill they'll be off. Don't get startted on Foster, he has to be the most overrated keeper I've ever seen.

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posted Jul 16, 2009

that goal against Hull was a belter in fairness and he's been doing that for years in the youth and reserve teams.

Once he gets confidence in playing alongside other top players them i think he will be quality.

He could easily be a free goal scoring midfield player with a shot like that.

I'm Irish and i'm dreaming of a midfield partnership of Stephen Ireland and Gibson.

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posted Jul 16, 2009

Utd fan. Doesn't do it for me. Certainly not CL standard or even a prospect and I don't see him being a key player at a PL bottom half club either. I'm struggling to remember the game when he went the whole of the first half with hardly a touch and his team-mates appeared not to want to pass to him. When he's played more recently I haven't seen anything that I don't see from any average player.

As always though who are we to question SAF? But I don't envisage Liverpool, Chelsea, Barca or Real etc. trembling at the thought of coming up against Gibson in our midfield and as far as I'm aware nobody has been scouting him.

Please don't tell me that we've become a nuturing-to-sell club as a primary means of paying off the horrendous debt that the Glaziers have saddled the Club with. Coz that's what this summer is looking like!

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posted Jul 16, 2009

londonprideplease - your username says it all really, pipe down.

Agree with some others that weren't impressed with Gibson at first but as a season ticket holder at OT I have been impressed with the way he developed over the 2nd half of the season.

And, yes, he can score from long range which is something only Rooney/Scholes/Nani(that's all he can do) seem capable of.

Give the lad a chance

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posted Jul 16, 2009

absolutely brilliant!
i sense another paul scholes coming up
he has a cracking outside shooting ability and great passes. Give him few more appearances then he will replace carrick!

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posted Jul 16, 2009

Some great comments on here. People forget that for every wonderkid like Rooney there is a guy who has taken his time to blossom. Frank Lampard was plodding along at West Ham until his mid 20s. Now he is one of the best goalscoring midfield players in world football.

I'd like to see Gibson get more games next season at the expense of the legends Giggs & Scholes. For all their incredible skill I think their experience will be better utilised from the bench this season.

And why is everyone so down on Carrick? He's a class act?

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posted Jul 16, 2009

Frank Lampard was plodding along at West Ham until his mid 20s. Now he is one of the best goalscoring midfield players in world football.

**********

proof selling players without a.) giving them enough time and b.) playing them in their right position, and you could lose out. lampard was played in a withdrawn role for westham, but for chelsea he was played closer to the box. zidane, forlan the list can go one for a while

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