Seasons » 2015-16 » Everton News
Gibson signs new deal at Everton


The 28-year-old had been widely expected to leave Goodison Park this summer as a free agent following a succession of injury problems which have restricted him to just 12 starts in all competitions over the past three seasons.
The club have announced, however, that the Republic of Ireland international, who missed the cut for his country's Euro2016 squad, has agreed new terms which tie him to Goodison Park until June 2018.
“I am absolutely delighted,” Gibson said after concluding the deal. “I had a few options but as long as Everton were giving me the option I was never going anywhere else.
"People say, ‘Once Everton has touched you,' and it is true. It is a great club, there are great people here and the dressing room is great, so I was never signing anywhere else.
“Obviously, I have had a tough few years but thankfully the Club have stuck by me and I have signed for another two years, so hopefully the next two years go a lot better."
Reader Comments (181)
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3 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:41:39
4 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:42:13
We need to stop being sentimental and ask this question when thinking about contracts and signings "would this player get into Man City, Man Utd, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, RS?" If the answer is negative then get shut or do not sign.
5 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:43:04
6 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:44:15
7 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:44:37
8 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:45:00
10 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:46:48
I can only think we want to sell him for money rather than releasing him for free. What's next, McGeady the first to get 𧴜k a week?
11 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:47:47
Better be appearance/fitness based pay...
12 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:47:50
13 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:47:54
14 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:49:01
15 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:50:56
17 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:53:21
When he's fit (which is all too rare) he's one of the best passing midfielders we have. Still think he should have been heavily punished for the drink driving though.
18 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:54:37
19 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:57:30
20 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:59:23
21 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:59:28
Surprising? No
Unbelievable? Absolutely!
22 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:00:00
23 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:00:25
24 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:01:06
25 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:01:34
27 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:05:43
28 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:05:50
29 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:06:56
I can live with it though as long as that waster McGeady does one out the Exit door. Martinez had some kind of deluded vision that he was a top class player, tried to sign him for Wigan before he unfortunately shipped up on our doorstep.
I watched him for years with Celtic & my national team and always came to the same conclusion, overrated, overpaid &, a lot of the time, overweight. Free transfer to Cowdenbeath with the taxi fare thrown in.
30 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:08:17
31 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:08:20
I think he has barely lost a Premier League game that he started. He had some incredible record for never loosing when he first joined us.
However - I have lost patience with him and would rather give his "pitch time" to young Davies or Ledson to develop them. I think they'd be a safer investment.
32 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:08:26
Very disturbing.
34 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:11:44
35 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:11:49
Besides, the only other backup for Barry and Macca is Besic, who is just as fragile. And none of the young guys coming up are defensive mids. So I'd say it's a reasonable precautionary signing if he's not expensive.
36 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:13:13
Like Gibson, but this is strange indeed.
37 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:14:24
That's some record, his signing will have the Premier League shaking in their boots.
38 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:15:16
39 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:15:41
However, I am surprised he wants to stay. I would have expected him to look to move on to another club to get a regular start.
Interesting times, especially with the crop of younger players appearing on the scene.
40 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:16:28
He should've got one season tops and counted himself fortunate to get that. We'll be lucky if he plays 12 games a season. Absolute joke. Luck of the Irish isn't in it.
41 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:20:35
Only thing I can think is that they done it so they can sell him in the January window, rather than let him leave for nothing.
Apparently he turned down other clubs to sign a new contract with us.
Who?? No one else would touch him.
42 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:21:12
43 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:21:42
44 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:25:25
Mr Moshiri MUST have money to throw away. It would not surprise me if Martinez came back after this. Ambition, what ambition?
45 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:27:46
46 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:27:56
No disrespect to the Irish team, but they ain't one of the best teams around, when Everton fans are expecting bigger things with better players for next season. And I do believe Darron Gibson is not one of them.
47 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:32:34
49 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:33:46
50 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:38:19
I'm more concerned with his representation of the club given his recent legal problems. Tbh, I'd have sacked him over that.
51 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:41:12
52 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:42:32
53 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:45:17
Yep, this is the club looking to bank a few quid down the line I would say.
54 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:46:47
55 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:47:17
56 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:50:33
If he's healthy (and sober) some club could take a punt for a small fee. As much as its gone to waste, he does have talent.
On the other hand, who knows what Koeman's view will be once he's seen the players in pre-season training.
57 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:51:23
58 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:55:24
59 Posted 09/06/2016 at 16:58:51
If the guy can just stay fit then I believe he has a chance of making the team, I'm Irish and I genuinely believe he's better then McCarthy who is highly over rated and had a stinker all year with pathetic displays.
If he can't make the team next season at the very least he would be a great sub to deploy and just sit in front of the CB's, he was under used last season because Martinez didn't believe in defence or holding on to winning margins.
60 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:02:25
61 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:03:47
63 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:05:32
In the meantime he offers cheap back-up, knows the team, probably a decent influence in training for the young lads.
64 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:08:19
65 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:09:04
" he's been stealing a wage for far to long now" - disgusting comment.
66 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:10:37
67 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:11:35
68 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:24:16
69 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:27:38
Gibbo strides into Grand Moff Kenwrights office wearing a simple hooded cloth Robe.
BK "Ah, Darron ! Glad that you're here, come in.... Bit awkward this I'm afraid. I'm sure that you'll understand that the club really has little option but to let you....."
DG (mystically waves hand in Grand Moff Kenwrights face) "20 grand a week for two years".
GMK "So, how does 20 grand a week for two years sound ?"
DG (whips out Mattel light sabre pen)
70 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:28:21
71 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:29:51
This is genuinely not a dig at you (specifically) but personally, I'd ban any 'I heard' comment not accompanied by an accompanying link or some attempt at substantiation (I've read a few 'I heard' comments in the last 24 hrs)
We (quite rightly) knock the rags for their nameless 'a source close to..', 'an insider has revealed..', 'a family friend stated' bollocks.
I think from an accuracy perspective, we (certainly on TW) would benefit if 'I heard' had to be followed by from'
Just helps us (all) form an opinion.
Eg: 'I heard from Moshiri's brother' = wow!
'I head from Moshiri's mam's gardener's mate's grocer's cleaner' = as fucking if.
72 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:32:14
73 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:36:34
74 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:37:16
75 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:37:41
As Dave@ 40, says, maybe a one year deal, as he was looking the part again in his few appearances this season, and put him on the market in January. As it stands, we've got decent back up for Gaz-Mac, and we should all get behind him now he's staying.
Let's hope the new gaffer get's him fit and motivated, and he can start repaying us what he owes
76 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:48:44
77 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:49:56
New stadium possibly, here's hoping
£100 million to spend apparently
Then the bubble of optimism is soundly blown .
I said at the time(not on here) that Everton had a chance to make a stand and get shut of him after the drink driving debacle.
Now by all accounts we have a tough, no nonsense man in charge, we give him a new two year contract. Hardly a statement of intent nor is the rumoured speculation surrounding Pelle.
Typical Everton, love you dearly but sometimes you do my head in
78 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:51:49
Either that or Kenwright asked Martinez for his list of retained players before he got the sack and Gibson's name was on it.
79 Posted 09/06/2016 at 17:57:28
80 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:00:25
Now Bobby the Physio has gone the new manager will actually work on getting players fit by running, jumping etc and this will benefit Gibson?
81 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:00:47
It would never be fair to the people who I badger all the time when I bump into them, but of course as I have stated on here before, I do know relatives of a few Everton players as I'm sure lots of toffee webbers do.
I was actually told last week that Gibson was going to be offered a new one year contract which I genuinely did not believe by the same person.
I do agree with you that it is unfair without backing up "hearsay" rumours, so perhaps in future I will refrain from this unless given permission by the people who pass the information to me.
82 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:00:52
Gibson if fit and when he is on he really can control a game.
I say good signing and good luck to him becoming the player he has promised to be since he was a young teenager.
85 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:12:39
86 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:13:36
87 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:14:18
"Better be appearance/fitness based pay"
Better not be or he'll starve to death. What I'd like to know is who is agreeing to these deals? After all it's not like we've got a manager right now.
88 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:20:53
89 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:25:49
90 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:41:45
What about this brave new world and aiming for the stars that we've been reading about for the last few days?! I think we've had our wings clipped with a touch of realism with this news.
91 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:45:58
He will likely be a sub player but I am surprised we offered him a new contact
92 Posted 09/06/2016 at 18:54:37
Admirable.
93 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:02:34
Unless he's signed for massively reduced wages, or pay as you play in the literal sense. I don't see how it's admirable for Gibson to do us a favour by signing another deal. I'm sure he'll still be picking up 10's of thousands to stay on the gravy train.
94 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:02:40
96 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:13:56
Have we a new DoF we don't know about yet?
97 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:14:11
He's playing for free then is he? That's fantastic, what a nice man to sign for two year's and not be paid, just so he can repay us for the three years he has been paid and done nothing.
That's restored my faith in man, or have I misread your post?
99 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:19:05
100 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:25:13
How many of the rest of those popularly and justifiably expected to have their services dispensed with are we going to be similarly stupid with?
Gibson can ping it as far as he likes - but it's only any good if he does it for 30-plus games a season.
Unfathomably nonsensical decision. We continue to be a charity for unwanted (manager's) pets it seems.
If Osman gets another two years, I'll fully expect David Moyes to be unveiled in a shower of Finch Farm confetti and fireworks next week!
101 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:26:39
Those who remember Koeman the player will know that Gibson (on top of his game) is about the closest thing we have to him.
Not comparing the two in terms of health, determination, professionalism, but there are similarities, both men liked to sit deep and read the game, but more than capable of switching play with long accurate passes and both were far happier when the game played in front of them.
Anybody who has watched Gibbo on one of his better days will know that its not his ability which is being called into question. Maybe RK witnessed one of these rare games and made note
Just a thought
102 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:32:25
103 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:32:26
104 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:33:44
Admirable.
How can he "pay back" what he hasn't got to give. Since he has been at Everton he has played an average 12 games a season, and as he gets older his injuries will get worse, if he had more money than Mr Morishi he could not pay back what he owes this club.
105 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:34:19
Who's next in the queue for the gravy train - Hibbo, Ossie, Pins ? And look how quickly Elstone and Big Dunc had their future employment guaranteed !
Soppy BK is still calling the shots and keeping the arse lickers close at hand.
Brave new world ? It's bollocks if this is anything to go by !
106 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:35:25
107 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:38:42
108 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:40:13
109 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:41:30
110 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:41:34
111 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:42:18
My guess is that his contract wasn't extended without Koeman's go ahead.
112 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:44:41
113 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:46:00
114 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:49:38
I like the thought of him giving it the okay and saying, steely-eyed "I'll sort him out."
115 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:54:22
Not the worst decision to keep him and he is the only "talker" in the squad.
How anyone can be so angry/distraught with him signing a new deal is beyond me.
Just hope he can stay fit......
116 Posted 09/06/2016 at 19:57:24
117 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:01:37
118 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:05:42
119 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:05:44
Good player but no longer an athlete. Wasted salary. Also, Pelle seems a strange one unless he is a backup striker.
Neither of these players hint at the sea change that the media have suggested is on the cards.
120 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:06:39
I don't think there will be much debate about Pienaar. I expect he'll go home, where he can earn a crust kicking a ball around in SA, where he is a national hero, and good luck to him. He was a magical player at his best, and really got the best from Baines as an attacking left back.
The 'Everton Way' would be to offer either or both of Hibbo and Ossie some sort of backroom role, and if it suits either of them, that too is an admirable trait within the club which I support. It's not about a gravy train. It's about ensuring that the club's unique values are carried through the generations, and two long standing and model pro's get those values to their cores. With the money now coming into the club, I think it is an affordable and totally appropriate step to keep their experience and expertise in house if at all possible.
121 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:15:22
If Moshiri is genuinely going for the top 4 I am afraid he will have little choice but to run the club as a business, with all the lack of sentiment that often entails.
122 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:17:20
123 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:19:37
124 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:20:14
125 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:22:24
126 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:23:07
127 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:25:50
128 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:26:38
129 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:29:45
Gibson wasn't even that impactful when he was on the pitch recently, he's crocked FFS so surely we could await the new manager before making these sort of decisions?
130 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:31:17
131 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:38:48
I'm sure Gibson thinks he's worth at least a couple of mill if he stays fit so imdoubt hell see it as a blocker to his career. Leeds, Newcastle etc could be a good fit. He'll also get a nice cut of the transfer fee.
132 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:41:10
133 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:44:13
Hope he does well, but the odds on playing more than 1/2 the games must be worth having!
134 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:50:02
135 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:53:32
Surely a new Manager would want to have a say or determine who stays and who goes?
Then, I guess, who negotiates the deal and again, who approves it?
Just need someone to put me straight on this.
136 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:55:05
The club has a number of players who are just not good enough anymore either because of age or injury problems.
Why keep them any longer ?
They should have a clear out, Gibson, Pienaar, Osman,and dare I say Oviedo, Delboy and Niasse if they are not 100% fit to start the new season.
Talent is one thing but if they are not continually playing how can they ever have the consistency in their game to benefit the team?
137 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:56:03
The lad is only 28, is not costing bling bling money and can be an effective sub when available. He would also appear to be good around the dressing room so why let him go on a free.
He would fetch a couple of million so the contract is hardly breaking the bank is it.
138 Posted 09/06/2016 at 20:58:13
I also think Gibson has been around long enough to know that when a new manager is coming in nothing can be guaranteed. He may of course be backing himself to impress Koeman, another reason to sign as far as Gibbo is concerned perhaps.
It's all guess work on my part, but as you say I think the key is mutual benefits.
139 Posted 09/06/2016 at 21:06:26
He has played twelve times in the last three years, that is in any competition for Everton, four times a year on very good wages, I could have done that and I would have at least brushed up and been handy at going on messages.
Come on Mr. Moshiri start getting the whip out, I've been counting on you.
140 Posted 09/06/2016 at 21:11:08
141 Posted 09/06/2016 at 21:16:46
142 Posted 09/06/2016 at 21:25:50
Any unfit so-called professional could do what this guy has done over the past three years... virtually nothing. He stunk the place out playing for his country a few days ago and it is mind boggling that he continues to get paid buy a club which is supposed to have ambition.
I repeat: I am disgusted!! I would rather see Osman and Pienaar kept rather than him and they are also well past their sell-by date.
143 Posted 09/06/2016 at 21:49:21
If this deal makes perfect commercial sense to you don't ever go into share trading.
The deal is bizarre.
144 Posted 09/06/2016 at 21:54:21
145 Posted 09/06/2016 at 21:57:21
146 Posted 09/06/2016 at 22:37:00
147 Posted 09/06/2016 at 22:44:07
Closed my buy spread bet on Genel yesterday by the way at 1.30pm. If your a trader you'll know what that means. Thanks for the advice though.
Back to football again, he would be an attractive asset to a lot of smaller EPL clubs, recently promoted ones, or Championship teams with promotion aspirations.
The alternative is that Moshiri is a naive businessman who pisses his money down the drain, or doesn't know what's going on in the club. I don't accept either.
148 Posted 09/06/2016 at 22:56:31
Good luck with your spreadbetting. You'll need it.
149 Posted 09/06/2016 at 23:07:45
Doubt he's been given a contract so we can sell him, every manager in the country knows his injury record. Predict he'll be spending most of the next two years where he normally does, on the treatment table (if he's not crashing into petrol stations!).
Really poor move by the club imo - waste of wages with a few kids coming through. The guys must have earnt about 6m over the last 3 years doing next to fk all. Really cannot believe we've given him another contract and two years at that!
150 Posted 09/06/2016 at 23:07:45
Doubt he's been given a contract so we can sell him, every manager in the country knows his injury record. Predict he'll be spending most of the next two years where he normally does, on the treatment table (if he's not crashing into petrol stations!).
Really poor move by the club imo - waste of wages with a few kids coming through. The guys must have earnt about 6m over the last 3 years doing next to fk all. Really cannot believe we've given him another contract and two years at that!
151 Posted 09/06/2016 at 23:09:24
Gibbo is gold when he's healthy in my opinion. His range of passing is superlative, and he's one hell of a footballer.
But...
Some athletes are just simply injury prone. Look at USA National and Bolton ex-player Stuart Holden. Wonderful player who simply had crap knees. Same thing here - Gibbo's body for whatever reason is prone to injury. I'd never spend a lot of money on a player who simply is prone to injury.
It's a business, and the players are investments. Gibbo, as much as I like him as a player, will most likely get hurt.
I pray we didn't pay a lot for him resigning.
152 Posted 09/06/2016 at 23:10:36
Who has agreed this deal we have no manager.
I cannot believe this.
The bloke never stays fit so what is the point of extending his contract.
Just when I thought we might be turning the corner with some real ambition.
Absolutely gobsmacked, disappointed and massive feeling of being let down.
Only at Everton FC.
153 Posted 09/06/2016 at 23:24:11
154 Posted 09/06/2016 at 00:01:44
Can't believe he's still only 28. I remember commenting that he must have had a tough paper round back when he was 26 and that feels like a decade ago!
155 Posted 10/06/2016 at 00:05:35
If he stays injury free, then a great asset; if not, we can sell and recoup some of the wages, so win-win for me...
156 Posted 10/06/2016 at 00:11:04
I am not writing Gibson off just yet - I reckon he is a good footballer and he is only 28.
157 Posted 10/06/2016 at 00:26:48
Welllll, I'm going to take his signing and, more specifically, this thread as a positive indication of a near-miraculous, newly-discovered "endurance" for young Darren. We MUST keep him.
This season will display, finally, a fit Gibbo fulfilling his promise. At Everton. Unless Koeman sees it differently.
Talk about a ToffeeWeb tempest in a teapot.
158 Posted 10/06/2016 at 01:09:02
Fucking pathetic to be blunt.
What next, Ossie, Hibo, and Pienaar?
We need to push on by moving dead wood who play 10 or leas games a season out.
159 Posted 10/06/2016 at 01:18:54
Hibbert I feel would be a good character to keep in some role at the club but Pienaar, Osman, Gibson should all go. What next... McGeady on on a new 3 year. I don't find this announcement positive. Hardly a good role model either?
160 Posted 10/06/2016 at 01:35:49
161 Posted 10/06/2016 at 02:26:04
No way that Koeman would have any say in this.
Could have been a top premier league player, so it's a shame.
162 Posted 10/06/2016 at 03:45:01
To just dismiss them after their years of service to the club is disgraceful. Fans demand loyalty from players but are quick to get rid of them after a bad year. Rubbish!
163 Posted 10/06/2016 at 04:35:56
"I'll join, but don't make the Gibson contract look like it was my decision"
164 Posted 10/06/2016 at 04:58:02
Thought he would've been shown door, oh well, let's see if he can spend more time on the pitch than the mascots next season.
165 Posted 10/06/2016 at 06:47:52
166 Posted 10/06/2016 at 06:48:55
I really don't get the outrage expressed by some on here for making sure Gibbo is on a contract. He must be worth £2m of anyone's money, even at £1m we'd make money. Moshiri isn't an idiot, it's his commercial judgement and I back him. Clubs are desperate to keep players that have ANY value on the transfer market, on a contract. This comes down to one simply question, does Gibbo have a value in the transfer market? I happen to think he does, unlike Osman, Hiibo or Pienaar.
Really don't think I'm taking an extreme position here, but based in the reaction of some you'd think we'd just signed Robbie Savage.
167 Posted 10/06/2016 at 06:50:16
168 Posted 10/06/2016 at 07:03:39
First, he's got a contract tied to number of appearances.
Second, there's a belief that better fitness coaches will keep him fit. Wouldn't bet on that, but he is only 28.....
Third, there's a belief that we can make a profit selling him, especially if he's on an appearance-based contract.
We're not Arkwright's corner shop any more. He's a good squad player. If the youngsters are better they'll leapfrog him.
169 Posted 10/06/2016 at 07:10:47
170 Posted 10/06/2016 at 08:00:03
171 Posted 10/06/2016 at 08:38:13
This is a new era for the club, and somebody has to be ruthless and get rid of the excess baggage. It's not pleasant and goes against the current ethos of the club to be like this. However, you either need to stake your claim for potential greatness or drown in a sea of mediocrity.
172 Posted 10/06/2016 at 09:08:37
However, if I was to chose one player to keep from all those above (as a squad player) then it would be Gibson. Only he warrants any kind of inclusion in and around the first team from any of them and he has got bags of talent. No other player in the central area can pass the ball the way he does and just maybe Koeman sees him as an asset (if he had any say in it). He's 28 years old, which is a good age for a midfielder and even though he hasn't played much maybe that's because of the Martinez philosophy and reluctance to play him as he's stated he was actually fit last season.
On the flip side I'm not sure about retaining a player in a position that's bound to be strengthened with the new man in charge. This means that we have him, Besic, McCarthy and Barry still on the books with Davies looking on in that central area. I'd have liked to have seen a signing of the likes of Bazoer, Vilhenna or Wijnaldum for that position but maybe that would be unlikely now.
It's a strange one but maybe more of a business decision where we can get a fee for him next summer if he doesn't play much this season. I can't see that he'll have been given any kind of pay rise though, my guess is just an extension of his current terms. As long as the other three are released I can live with this one.
173 Posted 10/06/2016 at 09:10:49
174 Posted 10/06/2016 at 09:18:34
The drinks are on you I assume!
176 Posted 10/06/2016 at 10:45:58
177 Posted 10/06/2016 at 11:05:45
Whoever scouted him must have seen him in a good light for the club to pay his transfer fee.
Agree with your point about the midfield, if we don't buy a top quality creative midfielder ( not Gibson ) we can forget any thoughts of a high finish.
178 Posted 10/06/2016 at 11:08:23
He is not an asset, he is a liability !
179 Posted 10/06/2016 at 11:23:38
180 Posted 10/06/2016 at 11:45:01
Andy et al: there is zero chance he's been re-signed as a transfer asset. He would not have been sold at all this summer as his contract was due to run out this month. Anybody that interested in Gibson was eligible to offer him a pre-contract last January. If any of the clubs he's been talking to had offered him a better deal than us, he'd have taken it. Let's assume that he's been offered a base salary of £20k plus incentives and will play at best a handful of games between now and January. That's 500k in salary, minimum. I'd be shocked if anyone ordered more than £2m for a player who's entire career has been one long series of injuries. Why bother for, at most £1.5m? Pointless. No-one wanted him permanently last Winter, just loan offers. No commercial sense to re-sign him whatsoever.
Osman wants to continue playing so will be leaving. Hibbert should retire and I do not believe he's taken any coaching qualifications so neither will be incorporated into the backroom staff.
181 Posted 10/06/2016 at 13:23:22
To me Gibson and Barry are blocking Davies' development. I'd have seen the back of Gibson and got Barry to mentor Davies next season. Never Barry's biggest fan but he was our best player last season and he's only got one more year left on his contract so he has to see it out really, if only for his experience. As for a creative player being brought in, I thought this would be one of the first things on the list to do.
Koeman has a habit of getting performances out of average players though, just look at Shane Long. So maybe Gibson, McCarthy and Cleverley will come good under him.
Trevor #178 - I'm with you on that, pretty sure these "offers" would have been Championship sides.
182 Posted 10/06/2016 at 15:26:15
Some of the faux outrage on here is a little strange.
Let's look at this for what it is.
We will have quite a number of players either moving on or hanging up their boots this summer.
We have an International on our books who when/if fit is certainly an asset to the team.
The powers that be have decided it's a risk worth taking and kept him on.
What's the problem? Nothing to do with having no ambition, he is a squaddie and will be used as such.
As for blocking youngsters, if they are good enough, they are old enough. It won't be Darron stopping them playing, but the manager thinking that they are not ready/good enough for the first team.
I don't have a problem with him being given a few more years. Hopefully he will do a Gray/Reid type resurrection season for us and play out of his skin for 20/30+ games.
Strange reason to start claiming all doom and gloom.
183 Posted 10/06/2016 at 15:53:40
If not, and he can only play in fits and starts, I guess the contract will reflect that. Who knows what'll happen with his fitness but its well worth a try. I'm sure that EFC have considered all these aspects . and spoken with Koeman, before offering a contract.
187 Posted 10/06/2016 at 17:42:13
"What do you think Ronald"? He would Deffo have heard of Gibson (ahem) but surely his appearance/injury record would not have been on big Ron's radar. I don't believe he was in an informed position to sanction a new deal, maybe the DOF model is already in place and its someone else making the first team squad decisions and a case of work with what we give you Mr Koeman, cos this is how we now do things.
188 Posted 10/06/2016 at 19:27:44
189 Posted 10/06/2016 at 23:06:24
Maybe, with the right regime, he can overcome his obvious physical frailties and become if not a regular starter then a regular impact substitute. I believe in recycling, let's give him a chance, it probably won't cost us a lot.
190 Posted 11/06/2016 at 10:19:29
191 Posted 11/06/2016 at 12:03:02
193 Posted 11/06/2016 at 16:08:26
I think he is better than anyone else in midfield with regards to his passing ability and at 28 still has a lot of mileage.
Gibbo may yet develope into a top player as his injury record has slowed down his career and progress thus far.
194 Posted 11/06/2016 at 17:40:20
195 Posted 11/06/2016 at 17:54:16
196 Posted 11/06/2016 at 18:12:35
197 Posted 12/06/2016 at 12:05:41
Someone to wait in the wings in case Ryan Ledson, Tom Davies, Liam Walsh, Joe Williams & Kieron Dowell are all unavailable!
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1 Posted 09/06/2016 at 15:39:12