Manchester United’s Darron Gibson has turned down moves to Sunderland and Stoke within the past year. The Irishman’s last telling contribution was a goal and an assist in the Champions League semi-final but now he is deemed not worthy of a place in the Carling Cup side.
So what has gone wrong and what does the future hold for Republic of Ireland international Darron Gibson?
His breakthrough season came two years ago. His long range shooting ability saw him make an instant impact, with his goalscoring prowess from midfield even compared to Paul Scholes.
Last year this part of his game deserted him, as did his confidence.
Take away the top part of any players game plus self-belief and you are left with a shell of a player. Look at Michael Owen and Fernando Torres shorn of their explosive pace.
As his goals dried up, the focus on the rest of Gibson’s game intensified.
He was judged to be ponderous in possession, especially in comparison with the quick-zip passing of Tom Cleveley, and he fails to offer anything of note defensively.
International boss Giovanni Trapattoni told him a year ago he needed to move on to progress, to get regular first team football, Stoke expressed an interest. Gibson ignored this.
This summer United accepted a bid from Sunderland for Gibson along with Brown and O’Shea. He again chose not to go.
Sir Alex Ferguson has made up his mind. Only a midfield injury crisis would see him return for United in the coming months.
You get the feeling Gibson enjoys the glory, and accolades that comes with being a United player, so much that he puts it above all else, even his career.
He was left out of United’s tour of America, and has fallen so far down the pecking order he is off the radar.
He is behind Tom Cleverley, Paul Pogba, and even rising star Ryan Tunnicliffe when he comes back from loan next season.
Its time to move on. If he wants to hang onto his dream of being a United player for a little longer, he should push for a loan move.
There should be several clubs willing to take him on loan in January. Everton, West Brom, Wigan and Stoke, to name a few.
He might just find out he enjoys playing regularly and its good for his career. It may even get him into Ireland’s first team if they qualify for Euro 2012, to show Sir Alex what he can do on the biggest stage.
If not, do everything to secure a permanent move.
He must take a chance, because no player should ever be satisfied with a career on the sidelines picking up the wages for doing absolutely nothing.
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