Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me...
Over the past 18 months or so I feel like I’ve been a member of a small select club, whose members can be counted in the hundreds and who are often chastised by our fellow man.
I’m not talking about any cults or secret cross dressing society I’m involved with- at least not on this site- rather about being one of the few United fans who seems to rate Darron Gibson.
I know to many people this may seem like a rather alien idea, after all Gibson is the sole reason for all of United’s failings, if it wasn’t for him then we would have won at Wembley against both City and Barca.
If it wasn’t for Darron Gibson and his penchant for shooting then David Hasselhoff would not be on our television screens each night sharing his thoughts on geriatric plate spinners. The problems in the Middle East? Look no further than United’s number 28 for the reason that particular crisis hasn’t been solved.
If for one minute you’re not buying the idea that this fatal strain of E-coli isn’t somehow connected to Gibson’s lack of assists you must be a mentalist.
I’m all for raising certain criticisms of United players- in a none foaming at the mouth fashion- I feel its part and parcel of being a fan and contributing to a website.
However I’m also just as keen to stick up for players that I feel do have a contribution to make to the team-regardless of how unpopular that point of view may be with the vast majority of fans.
I’m fully aware of Gibson’s shortcomings- he shoots a little too often, he’s not the quickest or most skilful of players, he’s not the first person you’d ask to man-mark a tricky midfielder, yet believe it or not he still has his good points.
I’m not about to make any suggestions that Gibson is the man to step into Paul Scholes’s shoes or that Sir Alex Ferguson should reconsider that bid for Luka Modric or Wesley Sneijder or whoever.
What I will say is this, despite what many claim, in a squad based game like we have today more than ever, Gibson more than plays his part.
In the past three season Gibson has made 57 appearances in total, many of them against lower opposition in the league or in the early stages of cup competitions.
People will point to a mere ten goals in the past three seasons as scant reward for a player that’s known for his shooting –even if he is often mocked for it. Ten goals is far from disastrous and as I’ve argue many a time before, had his superb strike against Bayern Munich in 2010 helped United to go through to the Champions League semi finals then he may have received a lot more plaudits than he does now.
Gibson is a very useful squad player who has shown his worth time and again yet suffers from the fact that if he plays well it’s considered “only because he’s against poor opposition” or if he’s not having the best of games is labeled “not as effective as Paul Scholes” which is a bit like telling a scientist he’s not quite as on the ball as Einstein was.
It seems its almost become fashionable to despise Gibson, to mock him with chants of “shoot” no matter how far from goal he is. The whole twitter debacle was a case in point, telling a United player he’s “sh*t” “not fit to wear the shirt” “a disgrace who should f*ck off” is beyond a joke. Why some so-called ‘Reds’ think this is acceptable I’ve absolutely no idea. Okay he’s not the best player on the pitch I’ll admit that, but he’s a lad who came through the youth system who tries his best –even if that may not always be the same standard as others and who has never shirked his responsibilities even in the face of a ridiculous amount of denigration.
The news is that Gibson may well be on his way to Sunderland and I’ll bet that many United fans will lose about as much sleep over that loss as they would if the Glazers house caught fire.
I for one will be sad to see him leave should he depart and if you’re wondering who that bald headed lad giving him a standing ovation is next time Sunderland visit Old Trafford is, well that’ll be me.
Feel free to comment, suggest or abuse below.
Lots of comments from plastic armchair reds here. Probably the same no-mark lowlifes who abused gibson on twitter. Im a real united fan therefore i will back whoever wears the red shirt. It may sound crazy but i wouldnt mind having a an awful year where we finish 5 or 6th, just to lose all the spoilt cunts that now claim to follow our club. Get rid of the owners and get the real red army fans back behind the team. MUFC is being diluted by shallow plastic cunts and im sick of it.
i still dont knw y people come up to defend gibson and carrick. Even backing it up wit funny stats that dnt tell d whole story. I say…sell them as they re not good enough. Just imagine playin 4-4-2 wit carrick n gibson in d middle…there is no worse sight than that. Pogba n petrucci need chances too. Pls stop bringin up crap abt being a true fan because u love gibson, carrick and berbatov. Its lame!
A lot of comments about Gibson on here that are pretty identical to the ones aimed at Anderson last summer.
Ando had a good run in the team, got sharp and consistent as a result, and we’re reaping the rewards.
I believe that we’d get that from Gibson if there was a chance for him to get a good, solid run – and if not, get rid of him for HIS sake.
I also think that if him and Carrick play together they under perform – similar to Lampard and Gerrard…all that has to be taken in to account with this guy.
I think a lot of the anti-Gibson venom comes from lads who aren’t happy he is playing for the Republic of Ireland. That said he isnt United qualiy
You’re dead on. He’ll probably never become “world class”, but likely to be a good solid player whom you’d want in the squad. Morever, he started to look better as the season went on and put in some strong performances to close the year. At 23 he’s too old just to loan out, so they should make a decision. I hope he stays.
United fans( specially the glory hunters) always find some scapegoat every season just to inherit their blames to the player…Gibbo is not as goood as Scholes and most of thew midfielders are not but he should be given more chances..Sceptics would say he has been given chances but most of them were cameos..hope he gets this season to prove himslef and the verdict will be next season…Good luck Gibbo
I WILL MISS HIM HE IS AN AMAZING PLAYER AND HOPEFULLY HE WILL BE LOYAL TO UNITED AND STAY HE COULD BE SUCH AN AMAZING PLAYER 10 TIMES BETTER THAN CARRICK COULD EVENTUALLY BE A NEW ROY KEANE!!!!
Darron Gibson is better than Darren Fletcher and Michael carrick, period. There is only Gibson and Anderson left in the “decent midfielder” category, at the club. I ain’t sayin he’s the best midfielder in the league but at 23 he’s better than carrick and fletcher who are years older than him. The kid should be given a break and a chance he hasn’t been given at the club. He tries his best and has had nowhere near the dier performances that carrick or fletch have had over the last 2 years. Some people need to keep any problems they have about him, which are minimal, based on football! Gibson can flourish at united.
He has so much potential. You wont be the only one and o hope you wont have to
I have been watching Utd for many years and I really think Gibson has the ability to become a top Utd midfielder. He possesses decent passing and an ability to find the back of the net, more so than the rest of Utds current midfielders. The problem he has is that he has never had a extended run to show his true worth and unfortunately Utd fans can be some of the most impatient and vocal if someone doesn’t deliver, like a Keane or a Scholes. The lad needs continuity of games and then we can judge. His lack of confidence is apparent but then he as cult following of boo boys ready to let rip into him if he shoots wide or misplaces a pass, and then instead of being able to work on it the next week, he might have to wait a month to get more game time and by that stage he is desperate to impress and is too eager and not playing to his instinctive qualities. give him time, as he gets older and matures and finally gets a continuity of games to build up confidence, the world will open up for him!! His pass for Valencias goal against Schalke and his overall performance that day is a sign of what he is capable of. Ferguson wouldnt have kept him at the club this long if he didnt think he had something in him.