Improved Gibson can make up for lost time
With little over a week gone since the departure of Giovanni Trapattoni as national boss, Darron Gibson has felt the time is right to tell his side of the story and explain why he hasn’t been involved in the Irish set up since the European Championships in the summer of 2012.
Darron’s frustration at not featuring in the Euros led him to decide that he should take some time out from international football and not make himself available for selection.
Judging by his comments, he clearly felt that Paul Green coming on ahead of him during the encounter with Spain aggrieved him to such an extent that he felt he couldn’t play for the manager anymore.
I think his comments about Paul were unfair, as it’s not as simple as saying that just because Paul was out of contract at Derby (before ending up at Leeds United) and Darron is at Everton, Paul is an inferior player.
Of course, I can understand the frustration that players must have felt at not getting the chance to play in a tournament of such magnitude. Equally, I’m sure it didn’t come lightly to Darron to put himself into voluntary retirement as, temporary as it may be, it is still a massive call. No doubt, he must have consulted family and close friends to come to this agonising decision.
Being frank, however, I have to say it’s not a decision I would have taken, even though I know how badly I too would have felt had I been in the same boat as Darron at the Euros. But now that he has signalled his clear determination to play for Ireland again, I can’t see it being an issue with any of the players in the squad. Everyone will be looking to the future now, not the past, and we need all our best talent available if we’re to progress in the way we all want to. And there’s no doubt that Darron Gibson has a big role to play in that.
Back when he was in the squad, the manager would often tell Darron publicly — and I’m sure privately — that he needed to leave Manchester United to get regular first team football to reach his potential. Ultimately Trapattoni was proved right, as I have seen a big difference in Darron in the last 18 months or so. At United, he was more of a squad player and regarded as one of the young lads, but at Everton he has made himself very much a first team regular who is vital to the way they play.
Under the guidance of David Moyes, Darron made the holding role his own in that team, whereas at United he would have been employed as a box to box midfielder with a ferocious strike. He has also matured a lot, as shown in the consistency of his performances since the move to Goodison Park. Funnily enough, though, I can’t help noting that the role he plays very well at Everton is similar to the one that a certain Giovanni Trapattoni expects of his midfield pairing.
On a related note, I bumped into a very familiar face on Wednesday evening in Richard Dunne, when my Brighton team faced QPR at Loftus Road. Richard found himself in a very similar position to Darron during the World Cup in 2002, when he was an unused substitute in all of our games. I wasn’t in the squad in those days so I can’t comment on the circumstances, but if you wind on a few years and look at how important and influential he became for Ireland, then I would suggest it was worth the wait.
I certainly remember how much it meant to him when we qualified for the Euro 2012 as he obviously had to wait a very long time to get his opportunity at a major tournament. Darron is more than capable of becoming a big player for us, Like Richard, and with Darron still only being 25, I believe he has a lot of good years ahead of him to shine in an Irish shirt.
Meanwhile, life continues to go well for me with Brighton in the Championship, although our encounter with QPR didn’t start as smoothly as it might have. After the team meeting at our London hotel, we started to make our way to the bus outside but instead were met with a line of taxis as the bus wouldn’t start. Our player liaison officer was orchestrating things and ordering four players per taxi. Such is the team spirit we have down here — as well as the welcome absence of big egos in the ranks — we initially found the whole thing hilarious.
But I have to say that the funny side did wear off halfway through the journey when we all started badly needing the toilet. Before matches you obviously have to make sure you’re well hydrated, but this normally isn’t a problem as there is a toilet on the bus. The upshot on this occasion was that we were all obliged to give in, and ended up running into McDonald’s in Shepherds Bush to use their toilet — so thanks for that, Ronald!
The result was a scoreless draw which counts as a good away point for us. Unfortunately, being a loan signing at Brighton, I cannot feature against my parent club Bolton today as it’s not permitted. It’s a shame as I’m feeling really good and loving my football and being at the club. The team, despite a few injuries, are starting to gel and get to know each other. Despite Bolton having a poor start to the season, they will be tough opponents as I know they have some very good players.
All that said, I have found it amusing when asked this week which team I will be rooting for today. My reply? Which one do you think — the one that wanted me or the one that didn’t?
