As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
northbank123 wrote:Nos I agree that the obsession with full-backs being great attackers is too much, bread and butter is defending. But there are a few reasons why Gibbs' attacking ability is relevant to this thread.
1. The game has moved on in the last two decades and you have to accept that full-backs do have more of an attacking role than in Winterburn's day. They don't need to grab 10+ goals a season but being able to chuck in a good cross and cause genuine problems getting forward is a minimum for a really good full-back.
2. Winterburn was a considerably better defender in my book, even allowing for the farcical disorganisation Gibbs plays amongst.
3. We are comparing Gibbs with other left-backs with similar defensive abilities and debating who is better, it's an obvious separator.
4. Some people labour under the impression that Gibbs is very useful going forward.
northbank123 wrote:Nos I agree that the obsession with full-backs being great attackers is too much, bread and butter is defending. But there are a few reasons why Gibbs' attacking ability is relevant to this thread.
1. The game has moved on in the last two decades and you have to accept that full-backs do have more of an attacking role than in Winterburn's day. They don't need to grab 10+ goals a season but being able to chuck in a good cross and cause genuine problems getting forward is a minimum for a really good full-back.
2. Winterburn was a considerably better defender in my book, even allowing for the farcical disorganisation Gibbs plays amongst.
3. We are comparing Gibbs with other left-backs with similar defensive abilities and debating who is better, it's an obvious separator.
4. Some people labour under the impression that Gibbs is very useful going forward.
^^ This. Very well put. Agreed 100%.
You wouldn't think that these things would need to be pointed out but i guess NB is showing the way. Forget the emotion, clear bullet points, job done.
olgitgooner wrote:Gibbs must be the only Full Back in the country who never actually scores any goals
I was referring to olgitgooner's post about goal scoring. Bertrand at Southampton has barely played until he went to Southampton and barely got a look in last season at chelski. Baines has been a pale shadow of his form 2 seasons ago and been ever present in a floundering everton defence. Baines benefitted by being a regular penalty taker to improve his goal scoring record. If we are looking at modern left backs, then on form Ashley Young is the best in the league, and he's a winger.
No one has suggested a left back which we can all agree is better than Gibbs, tells me Gibbs is amongst the best which shows he is good enough.
olgitgooner wrote:Gibbs must be the only Full Back in the country who never actually scores any goals
I was referring to olgitgooner's post about goal scoring. Bertrand at Southampton has barely played until he went to Southampton and barely got a look in last season at chelski. Baines has been a pale shadow of his form 2 seasons ago and been ever present in a floundering everton defence. Baines benefitted by being a regular penalty taker to improve his goal scoring record. If we are looking at modern left backs, then on form Ashley Young is the best in the league, and he's a winger.
No one has suggested a left back which we can all agree is better than Gibbs, tells me Gibbs is amongst the best which shows he is good enough.
barnetgooner wrote:
franksav63 wrote: I agree with this, Gibbs is over rated and injury prone also, he maybe good going forward although his crossing is shit but in the first place I would like my defenders to actually defend and Gibbs just doesn't do this imo!
Name a better left back in the PL then
Foreign? Kolarov, Aspelacuta (spelling??)
and (English) on today's showing Bertrand!
The main issue with the glass ankled Gibbs is that he lets the player he marks get the cross in too easily every time, which for a left back is the main objective in stopping! Imo all the current English left backs aren't up to much, very average!!
olgitgooner wrote:Gibbs must be the only Full Back in the country who never actually scores any goals
I was referring to olgitgooner's post about goal scoring. Bertrand at Southampton has barely played until he went to Southampton and barely got a look in last season at chelski. Baines has been a pale shadow of his form 2 seasons ago and been ever present in a floundering everton defence. Baines benefitted by being a regular penalty taker to improve his goal scoring record. If we are looking at modern left backs, then on form Ashley Young is the best in the league, and he's a winger.
No one has suggested a left back which we can all agree is better than Gibbs, tells me Gibbs is amongst the best which shows he is good enough.
barnetgooner wrote:
franksav63 wrote: I agree with this, Gibbs is over rated and injury prone also, he maybe good going forward although his crossing is shit but in the first place I would like my defenders to actually defend and Gibbs just doesn't do this imo!
Name a better left back in the PL then
Foreign? Kolarov, Aspelacuta (spelling??)
and (English) on today's showing Bertrand!
The main issue with the glass ankled Gibbs is that he lets the player he marks get the cross in too easily every time, which for a left back is the main objective in stopping! Imo all the current English left backs aren't up to much, very average!!
I posted this in reply to someone else but the same applies... imo, Gibbs is an injury prone crock, has he even played 10 games in a row?
I agree with that FrankSav. I think Gibbs is scared of getting skinned so he stands off his man and lets him get the ball away rather than risk it. Gibbs positioning used to be appalling, he would tuck in so close to his CB for the same reason. Although he doesn't seem to do the latter so much anymore.
northbank123 wrote:I agree with that FrankSav. I think Gibbs is scared of getting skinned so he stands off his man and lets him get the ball away rather than risk it. Gibbs positioning used to be appalling, he would tuck in so close to his CB for the same reason. Although he doesn't seem to do the latter so much anymore.
The game a few weeks ago at stoke was a shocking example of that - that day he showed zero interest in closing down the cross and against any team that is poor form, but against the hoof ball team that has a giraffe up front, it is absolute suicide
I always go back to the game away in the leeds shithole a few years back where o'dreary finished our league challenge (and had a celebration dance at the end ), and I remember le cock absolutely slated vivas for dirty leeds winning goal - he chose to totally ignore lee Dixon's non interest in closing down the cross, but instead chose to slate the argie playing out of position at left back, for getting caught the wrong side of the attacker when the cross came in Typical bullying cowardice by le cock as he blamed the less established player
northbank123 wrote:I agree with that FrankSav. I think Gibbs is scared of getting skinned so he stands off his man and lets him get the ball away rather than risk it. Gibbs positioning used to be appalling, he would tuck in so close to his CB for the same reason. Although he doesn't seem to do the latter so much anymore.
The game a few weeks ago at stoke was a shocking example of that - that day he showed zero interest in closing down the cross and against any team that is poor form, but against the hoof ball team that has a giraffe up front, it is absolute suicide
I always go back to the game away in the leeds shithole a few years back where o'dreary finished our league challenge (and had a celebration dance at the end ), and I remember le cock absolutely slated vivas for dirty leeds winning goal - he chose to totally ignore lee Dixon's non interest in closing down the cross, but instead chose to slate the argie playing out of position at left back, for getting caught the wrong side of the attacker when the cross came in Typical bullying cowardice by le cock as he blamed the less established player
Game has moved on. Modern day fullbacks. MY BOLLOX
Sansom and Viv would walk into any team in the world to this day. I know Viv fucked off "to win the league" but he was absolutely top of the range. I still love his dive in the little woods cup final - got a yellow for it when cards weren't given for diving
Nobody has said that those players wouldn't get into teams nowadays. Do you really think that the dynamic of the game and the expectancy/role of the full backs is the same as three decades ago??
Games totally changed hasnt it for backs now, but somehow they seem to have lost the plot and the defensive art has dwindled.
for me I still like Gibbs, he is still (For a back) relatively young, but TBH the way that Jenkinsons playing for The Shammers makes me wonder if Gibbs would turn out a whole lot better if he went out on loan
), and I remember le cock absolutely slated vivas for dirty leeds winning goal - he chose to totally ignore lee Dixon's non interest in closing down the cross, but instead chose to slate the argie playing out of position at left back, for getting caught the wrong side of the attacker when the cross came in 
