Why United should offer cash + Gibson for Charlie Adam
Irishman has failed to take chances
Right, this is a bit of a knee-jerk post, but it is also the culmination of witnessing too many poor, apathetic performances by Darron Gibson.
A couple of seasons ago, the young midfielder looked like he was a real prospect and had the ability to add goals from midfield – something we have lacked since Scholes started to play in a deeper role. Fast forward to this season and at the age of 23, Darron Gibson can no longer be considered a young player. He’s been at the club for 5 seasons and should be playing his heart in order to become a regular feature on the first-team setup, but instead every time he takes to the field, his displays are absolutely apathetic.
I understand that some players can really suffer when they lack confidence and Gibson appears to be one of those players who blossom when their confidence is high. But what I cannot except is that he plays as if could not be bothered. Going through a bad patch of form is something which all footballers go through and for which you can legislate, but not being bothered and trying to make up for you poor form through effort and getting stuck-in, is unforgivable.
For me this is the difference between Darren Fletcher and Darron Gibson. Up until 3 seasons ago, Fletcher was largely disliked by most United fans and indeed he only seemed to be able to put in two or three good performances a season, but he tried in every match. He might have misplaced passes, he might have been dispossessed easily, but at least he tried. He was always dynamic, never shirking responsibility and never shirking a challenge. The same cannot be said for Gibson.
The matches against Blackpool and Southampton both started poorly for Manchester United and there were several reasons for the poor showing in the first halves of both matches, but when Sir Alex needed to make a change it was Gibson to come off in both games.
In comparison, Blackpool’s Charlie Adam was very impressive. He was dynamic, got stuck in, made tackles, attempted 40 yard passes, whipped in fantastic corners, delivered good deliveries from dead-ball situations, helped out his defence and even nutmegged Darren Fletcher.
Adam might not have completed many of his passes, but anybody who saw the match will know that many of the passes stretched United’s defence and had United’s defenders scrambling to clear their lines. As you will see from the chalkboard comparisons, Gibson completed most of his passes, but they were mostly safe, uninspiring passes, while Adams cross-field diagonals stretched United’s defence and played team mated into space.
It was one of the better midfield performances I’ve seen this season and Adam seems to be the sort of midfield player whom Fergie would appreciate. He does everything well and isn’t afraid to graft. His performance waned a bit in the second half, but this is something that can be worked on. Adam might not be a regular starter at Manchester United, but he certainly would add quality and definitely be several times the player that Darron Gibson is. In light of Hargreave’s injuries, Gibson’s performances and Scholesy’s age, Charlie Adam would bolster the ranks with ability and determination.
At 25, Adam would fit into United’s transfer policy and so one has to ask why United shouldn’t put in a bid of cash + Darron Gibson for the talented Scottish International.
Passes
Interceptions
Tackles
Free-Kicks
January 30th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
The pictures don’t lie, but let’s hope Holloway doesn’t see them or he’ll turn down any offer involving Gibbo.
January 30th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Don’t like to criticise our players but defending Gibson is getting increasingly difficult now. He is in the last chance saloon. Think he will be sold in the summer
January 30th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
Not a bad shout that totally agree at 23 you should be doing the business we need to sort this squad out can’t keep relying on gigs and scholes players like Gibson obertan and even Anderson need to show they deserve to be at man utd
January 30th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Darron Gibson is utterly RUBBISH. shouldnt be a United player. suitable for mid-table teams like Blackburn, West Ham, Wolves. seriously go out already Gibson!
January 30th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
NO. We can do alot better than Charlie Adam and I would rather keep Darron Gibson, get some standards feller. If you want rid of Gibbo and bring in someone than name a top quality guy, not Charlie Adam for god sakes. We are Manchester United. Charlie haves 1 good half against us and you become so boring and predictable with this lets buy him crap, he is not good enough for United. We need to buy Alexis Sanchez and bring Tom Cleverley in to the side next season….we do not need Charlie Adam.
January 30th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
In the blackpool game he was pushed out on the left which isn’t his favourable position he cannot run past defenders.But when he played in the centre of park this season he looked good.Moreover he hasn’t had the chance to play regularly in his favourite position which is again a problem as it doesn’t help his confidence.And coming to fletcher he only started playing well at the age of 25 so guys just give him a break he will come good becase if SAF believes he’s good then I do to.
January 30th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
I agree but it would depend on how much cash they would want plus gibbo and it would be a deal for this window as i feel we could do alot better in the summer.
£5/6m, gibbo and maybe chuck is another kid on loan as a sweetener then it might help as our midfield has been struggling for a few years and passing up some very good players (like hernandes.)
plus getting him this window would allow us to see if he his manu quality without risking a summer transfer window on him.
I also would love to see sanchez
January 30th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
Eh, actually, I think we’d have to offer cash with Gibson just to have someone take him off our hands – forget about throwing him as part of a package deal for Adams!
January 30th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
The stats don’t lie unfortunately and it is becoming increasingly hard to defend Gibson. If all he brings to the game is a powerful shot then it is time to let him go.
He is no longer a young player and have not seen any signs that it is just a patch he is going through either.
Not sure Adam is the answer but would certainly be a cheap alternative.
January 30th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Forget about Charlie Adam all together, he is not good enough for Manchester United. We have to buy Alexis Sanchez and bring Tom Cleverley into the first team. Stuff that Adam guy, he is not good enough.
January 30th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Fergie is God – Sanchez is not a central player although he does play as an AM for Chile at times, but he’s definitely not a central midfield player which we need. Adams has been good the whole season, not just in one half against United. I always cringe when United fans want big names, rather than an honest player with ability who’s proven he can handle the premier league. Is Adam a Luka Modric? No. Can he be a better squad player than Gibson and keep in mind SAF has used O’shea in midfield? Most definitely!
January 30th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Sanjog. If SAF believes he’s good, then I do to. Well, he also believes in o’fucks sake shea, and although he’s not embarrassed himself for as long as the joke Irishman yet, Obertan, who has performed some of the poorest touches/passes I’ve ever seen from a red shirt.(O’shea already mentioned so exempt, of course).
January 30th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Spot on article.
Can remember one performance from him which made me believe that we had a future regular CM in the making. His top level is just not good enough. Not creative, defensively the worst in the entire squad, and scary how slow he is. This is particularly highlighted when he tries to defend. Shockingly easy to get away from him. To be honest, I dont believe he will even make it at another 10+ PL-team. Every time he plays, he he overran by at least one of the oppositions CM.
Dont have problem giving players enough chances to prove themselves, but when given what his top level has been in the last 5 season, I have lost my patience.
January 30th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
I know where Sanchez plays feller, he can help replace Giggs when the time comes. Charlie Adam is not good enough for Manchester United and thats a fact, where he go when we started to play, thats right, he vanished because he is highly over-rated and not that good. Adam is not good enough for Manchester United and thankfully we wont waste time trying to get him. I’d rather keep Gibbo than go for a nobody like Charlie Adam.
January 30th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Even though I see what Adam would bring to our game, I still think this is a bit harsh on Gibbo. He’s been decent this season, but recently his performances have suffered due to him being used out of position. The Old Trafford crowd does not make it easier for him to influence a game either; by screaming “shoot” everytime he’s near the oppositions box. Because of this he’s being closed down constantly, and rarely gets a chance to fire off that cannon of his.
Adam seems to be lacking fitness, but his corners ARE worth £10m alone. We haven’t had a proper corner swung in at Old Trafford for years. Nani, Carrick and Giggsy have all had their go, but not since Beckham had we had a proper server of the ball. Imagine Adam whipping them in towards Vidic and Co in the box…
There are some alternatives to fill the void after Scholesy, but most of them would cost an arm and a leg. Modric, Schweinsteiger, Sneijder are all world class, but would require a fee reflecting that as well. Charlie Adam is a Liverpool supporter, so I have my reservations about him.
January 31st, 2011 at 1:15 am
@matty g, adam is NOT a liverpool supporter, but supported glasgow rangers, who he left to join blackpool. liverpool is simply a bigger club than blackpool so obviously he is excited by a move, it would be like if you yourself played for motherwell in scotland and rangers or celtic wanted you, of course you would want to go and play at a better club.. so dont let that put you off.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:25 am
Everytime Gibson plays, we’re in trouble….
Everytime SAF changes Gibson out, we’re winning….
We’ve given him to prove his calibre for a long time. It’s not about lacking confidence or out of form. It’s simply because he’s not good enough to play for Man.United.!!!!
Gibson is not quick. He has no pace which is very important in modern football. He’s not a good passer either. He has no creativity and lack of awareness. No dribbling skill and cannot run pass the opposite sides. Most of his time on the field is therefore to make some back passes, poor displays, and produce some errors…. That’s all…
January 31st, 2011 at 5:50 pm
lol, i remember talking to you like a year and half back about the “potential” of darron gibson – and i said how he doesn’t have ANY potential to play for the top club and you said : “right, darren the donkey fletcher has the potential to play for us but gibson doesn’t ?”…lol :p
January 31st, 2011 at 10:23 pm
For the record, Darren Fletcher couldn’t even complete simple passes 2 seasons ago, but I always acknowledged he provided energy and fight.
At the moment, Gibson doesn’t provide anything at all and has gone backwards. He is now not as good as he was 2 seasons ago and that is very, very worrying. Unlike Fletcher, he doesn’t even try. I still stand by my assertion that 2 seasons ago he displayed more potential than Darren Fletcher did at 21.