Since his move to Sunderland fell through, think he'll be here next year? Or will Fergie find someone one else to take him off our hands. Either permanent or on loan. Or do you think he could actually see some playing time? Unless we bring in another CM, we'll have same number in our squad. (Cleverly taking Schole's spot in the squad) Or will he not be in the 25 man squad and just rot in the reserves?
I think it's harsh on Gibson. He probably would have gone on the US tour but only left back because of his protracted move to Sunderland so as Fergie said, he was left in limbo.
I'm pretty big on giving youth a chance, Gibson included. He looked out of his depth on most of his appearances last year, but was phenominal in 2nd leg against Schalke, but Fergie was ready to let him leave, so he originally wasn't in our plans for this season. Dave, I'm assuming it's sometime after the Transfer Window closes.
if there is room in the squad to have him around and we haven't sold him before we need to confirm it there is no harm in addig him, an extra player is an extra player and he's not all that bad, though it would be best to move him on as was clearly the plan originally
He's a home grown player (I think) and we have so many U21s that I can't see him not being in the 25 man squad if he stays. Kusczak, Neville, Scholes, VDS, Brown, Hargo and O'Shea were all in the squad last year and we only had 24 players named so we will have plenty of space to spare. Jones and De Gea are U21 so there's only Young, Cleverley and Lindegaard to go in the squad this year - we'll only have 20 players named at this rate! Squads are named on 1st Sept, so day after the window closes. I reckon Cleverley has now jumped him in the pecking order, so he'd still be sixth or seventh choice CM if he stayed, probably getting even less games than last season as he missed the tour this time around. He'd probably end up like Obertan, getting the odd meaningless game to keep him ticking over and give him a chance to break back into 1st team consideration whilst we wait for a suitable offer to come along. Apparently Blackburn are interested in him at the moment, so as long as he's happy to be paid in crispy strips he may be outta here fairly soon. I'm sure that'll get the Blackburn fans off Venky's back...
I'd imagine that if he isn't sold this summer, he will be on the market in January and next summer. It is kind of weird to think we only have about 20 players that would be listing in our 25 man squad, even though our squad is probably the strongest in the EPL if not the world. I blame the Da Silva's, Welbeck, De Gea, Jones, Smalling, and Macheda!
I agree - I don't think Gibson will make the jump in quality needed to break back into the first team so it's more a matter of when he will leave not if. Re: the squad, I read somewhere that we now have a younger squad than Arsenal's, and one with far more academy graduates in it than any other PL club. Just goes to show, you'll still never win anything with kids Although the squad size will take a bit of a jump over the next couple of years with Rafael, Fabio, Amos and Smalling all turning 22 before next season and De Gea, Welbeck turning 22 before the season after.
