Brentford bulbeyes A Weds Jan 1st KO 1730

[Limerick Gooner]

Gilberto was the Xhaka of his day.

[Retro Gunner]

I agree with retro I never rated him and the time and thought we could do much better. He wasn't bad but was not a patch on others before him imo, petit especially.

I understand others think he was great but personally never saw it and shat myself whenever he took a penno but think TBF he was quite reliable

This is only my opinion, but occasionally a myth inexplicably grows around a player and it tended to do so around Gilberto. Ramsey was another example and it's often fueled by the media. I was sick of the constant line trotted out by commentators and pundits that Ramsey was a goal threat, when his average was barely 4 league goals per season.

Likewise with Gilberto was this notion that he was some top quality midfielder and I always remember that he was pleased when some journo called him the invisible wall. Half right in my opinion...invisible, but not much of a wall. It actually said it all, because who wants a player that no one notices? Interestingly, where I sat at Highbury, there were plenty around me that didn't rate him and a bloke 3 seats from me used to scream at Wenger "Get him off Wenger!!". He also used to say "Why did we sign the only Brazilian that can't pass?".

His passing was indeed poor and he'd often play us into trouble. While I'm not putting him in the Xhaka category, he did have the knack of making bad passes that put the would be receiver bang in trouble and by the time the opposition had turned the ball over, the majority failed to realise that the initial cause was Gilberto's rank pass. As I've already said, look up the CL Final incident and watch his pass to Hlebb. Another Gooner I knew didn't particularly agree with my opinion about Gilbeto, but like me he was in Paris and when I saw him a couple of weeks later he said "I thought of you when Gilberto fucked up that pass.". He's the only other person who I've ever known to spot it, but there must be loads (even if not IW8 ).

He was also weak in the tackle for a big fella. I was always surprised he didn't get a leg broken because he'd dangle a leg out and lean backwards, often ending up on his arse. He was however, good in the air in both boxes.

His time with us overlapped with Edu, who though unlucky with injuries, was a far better footballer than Gilberto and also tough in the challenge.

OBG will now be telling me that my ego is out of control and that I'm a global danger.

[IW8Goalmachine]

Gilberto was in the invincibles first 11 so he had something about him.

People comparing him to Clive is ridiculous.

Paddy V was brilliant but I seriously doubt they'd have gone unbeaten if he had to carry his midfield partner.

Ray Parlour explaining what he did for the team

https://x.com/talkSPORT/status/13195315 ... =talkSPORT

He also scored 5 out of 7 penalties.

[Retro Gunner]

Gilberto was in the invincibles first 11 so he had something about him.

People comparing him to Clive is ridiculous.

Paddy V was brilliant but I seriously doubt they'd have gone unbeaten if he had to carry his midfield partner.

Ray Parlour explaining what he did for the team

https://x.com/talkSPORT/status/13195315 ... =talkSPORT

He also scored 5 out of 7 penalties.

I did say that he wasn't in the Xhaka category, but no one is.

PV4 could make any partner look far better than they were. For me, Gilbo comes nowhere the likes pf Petit, Edu, or Cesc, who Paddy sadly didn't play with.

I couldn't get the Parlour link to open.

I agree with Mantis re the penalties, my heart was always in my mouth. A 70% success rate is meh. If he'd missed 4 out of 14, or 6 out of 21, it wouldn't look too clever.

You're not on your own, plenty liked him, but you might be surprised how many were far from enamoured. I'm probably more anti than most.

[IW8Goalmachine]

Gilberto was in the invincibles first 11 so he had something about him.

People comparing him to Clive is ridiculous.

Paddy V was brilliant but I seriously doubt they'd have gone unbeaten if he had to carry his midfield partner.

Ray Parlour explaining what he did for the team

https://x.com/talkSPORT/status/13195315 ... =talkSPORT

He also scored 5 out of 7 penalties.

I did say that he wasn't in the Xhaka category, but no one is.

PV4 could make any partner look far better than they were. For me, Gilbo comes nowhere the likes pf Petit, Edu, or Cesc, who Paddy sadly didn't play with.

I couldn't get the Parlour link to open.

I agree with Mantis re the penalties, my heart was always in my mouth. A 70% success rate is meh. If he'd missed 4 out of 14, or 6 out of 21, it wouldn't look too clever.

You're not on your own, plenty liked him, but you might be surprised how many were far from enamoured. I'm probably more anti than most.

https://x.com/talkSPORT/status/1319531501059538945

That should open.

Well have to agree to disagree on this one.

[DB10GOONER]

Gotta admit I thought Gilberto was a bit over rated.

I liked that initially he read the game well enough and often did a lot of off the ball covering and work that benefited the team and that sometimes went unnoticed.

But he was never a great passer or creator. And that last season he had with us his legs were gone and he was shockingly bad far too often. He just seemed to be shambling around the pitch like a drunk half the time.

Still, he is an Invincible and I respect him for that.

[TeeCee]

I'm with you Retro. Gilberto was a real weak link for that side. He infuriated me with how often he gave the ball away and he hardly made many tackles from what I remember, he got into positions to tackle but didn't actually manage it.

Seems to be a nice guy but way overrated just because he was carried by an excellent team at the time.

[Red Army 2]

I agree with retro I never rated him and the time and thought we could do much better. He wasn't bad but was not a patch on others before him imo, petit especially.

I understand others think he was great but personally never saw it and shat myself whenever he took a penno but think TBF he was quite reliable

This is only my opinion, but occasionally a myth inexplicably grows around a player and it tended to do so around Gilberto. Ramsey was another example and it's often fueled by the media. I was sick of the constant line trotted out by commentators and pundits that Ramsey was a goal threat, when his average was barely 4 league goals per season.

Likewise with Gilberto was this notion that he was some top quality midfielder and I always remember that he was pleased when some journo called him the invisible wall. Half right in my opinion...invisible, but not much of a wall. It actually said it all, because who wants a player that no one notices? Interestingly, where I sat at Highbury, there were plenty around me that didn't rate him and a bloke 3 seats from me used to scream at Wenger "Get him off Wenger!!". He also used to say "Why did we sign the only Brazilian that can't pass?".

His passing was indeed poor and he'd often play us into trouble. While I'm not putting him in the Xhaka category, he did have the knack of making bad passes that put the would be receiver bang in trouble and by the time the opposition had turned the ball over, the majority failed to realise that the initial cause was Gilberto's rank pass. As I've already said, look up the CL Final incident and watch his pass to Hlebb. Another Gooner I knew didn't particularly agree with my opinion about Gilbeto, but like me he was in Paris and when I saw him a couple of weeks later he said "I thought of you when Gilberto fucked up that pass.". He's the only other person who I've ever known to spot it, but there must be loads (even if not IW8 ).

He was also weak in the tackle for a big fella. I was always surprised he didn't get a leg broken because he'd dangle a leg out and lean backwards, often ending up on his arse. He was however, good in the air in both boxes.

His time with us overlapped with Edu, who though unlucky with injuries, was a far better footballer than Gilberto and also tough in the challenge.

OBG will now be telling me that my ego is out of control and that I'm a global danger.

agreed never a great despite being in a great team....more of a water carrier...picking up the ball and giving to someone who could play

[OneBardGooner]

Do you have a White Puddy Tat?

[OneBardGooner]

Gilberto was the Xhaka of his day.

THere's Only ONE Xhaka Only One Xhaka....


Thank the fuck.

[General]

Gilberto, Vieira and Fabregas played together in the 2004/05 season. Gilberto had a lot injuries that season but all 3 started the FA cup final against United. It was after this season that Wenger lost the plot.

[Retro Gunner]

Gotta admit I thought Gilberto was a bit over rated.

I liked that initially he read the game well enough and often did a lot of off the ball covering and work that benefited the team and that sometimes went unnoticed.

But he was never a great passer or creator. And that last season he had with us his legs were gone and he was shockingly bad far too often. He just seemed to be shambling around the pitch like a drunk half the time.

Still, he is an Invincible and I respect him for that.

Fuck! For a minute I thought you’d been watching the dying embers of my footballing “career”. I realised it wasn’t me when I read “like a drunk” rather than “definitely drunk”.

[Retro Gunner]

Do you have a White Puddy Tat?

I do OBG. A long haired one that never leaves my lap.



Btw, I used to say that about the missus, but I found out that the cat argued a lot less.

[Retro Gunner]

Gilberto, Vieira and Fabregas played together in the 2004/05 season. Gilberto had a lot injuries that season but all 3 started the FA cup final against United. It was after this season that Wenger lost the plot.

Fair enough G. I didn’t really recall Cesc playing with Paddy. Imagine both at their peak, what a partnership that would have made.

You’re right about the end of that season being the beginning of a long, slow end under Wenger. We never recovered from letting Paddy leave. Dennis B remains my all time favourite player and no one can ignore how vitally important Henry and Pires were, but it was Paddy who was the beating heart of that side and who was truly irreplaceable.

People were trying to justify selling him by saying he’d had a poor season, but it was bollocks imo. From memory he might have missed some games through injury, but his performance levels when playing were still excellent. Anyway, 50% of Paddy was 100% of most other midfielders. A colossus.

[Retro Gunner]

I'm with you Retro. Gilberto was a real weak link for that side. He infuriated me with how often he gave the ball away and he hardly made many tackles from what I remember, he got into positions to tackle but didn't actually manage it.

Seems to be a nice guy but way overrated just because he was carried by an excellent team at the time.

Exactly as I see it TeeCee.