Gibson comes of age to solve United’s succession problem

THERE are two schools of thought about why Alex Ferguson has so far failed to dip into the £80 million (€94m) banked by the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid last summer.

On the one hand, there are growing concerns about the Glazer family’s ability to finance the massive debts they incurred when they bought the club – now believed to stand close to £700m (€775m) – and the consequential impact on Ferguson’s transfer budget.

On the other, there is the more rose-tinted view that in a summer of spiralling asking prices, the manager simply refused to pay over the odds and, besides, was happy with the players at his disposal.

If the latter is true, then there has been precious little evidence this season to justify Ferguson’s optimism as his side have blustered their way through the opening months of the campaign without truly hitting their stride.

At last, though, there are signs that at least one of the youngsters in whom Ferguson is investing such faith is beginning to blossom.

Certainly, if Darron Gibson can continue to improve, he can provide the reigning champions with a much needed option in midfield when Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs’ legs inevitably begin to tire.

Two goals against Tottenham in the Carling Cup quarter-final last week confirmed what most people already knew: the young Ireland international has a tremendous shot.

That quality was underlined in spectacular style at Upton Park on Saturday when Gibson produced his third long-range effort in a week, a sumptuously driven first-time shot that flew past Robert Green.

What Gibson also demonstrated, though, was a growing confidence of the sort that comes when the manager retains a young player’s name on the team-sheet while a vastly experienced international is held in reserve on the bench.

Admittedly Ferguson named Michael Carrick on the bench in case one of his patched-up back-four succumbed to injury as Gary Neville, predictably did after just 34 minutes. That meant Carrick was pressed into the unfamiliar role of centre-back for the first time in his career.

Gibson’s growing maturity, however, had given Ferguson the confidence to employ that strategy in a game they had to win to maintain any sort of pressure on Chelsea at the head of the table.

The youngster’s response will satisfy the manager that he is close to having a new, fully-fledged, member of his senior squad.

Gibson certainly thinks so. “I was buzzing after the Spurs game on Tuesday and ready to play again,” he said.

“It was a massive boost for me (to start against West Ham]). My two goals during the week got my confidence up and the gaffer’s stuck with me, which is great.

“It was a massive win for us and shows how good our squad is. We have players who can step in and do a good job. I’ve not seen Michael (Carrick) play at centre-half before... and Fletch (Darren Fletcher) was playing out of position too.’’

Gibson’s progress is helped, of course, by playing alongside Scholes, who set United on their way to victory with an expertly taken goal in first-half added time, that paved the way for a second-half onslaught capped by goals from Gibson, Antonio Valencia and Wayne Rooney.

“Darron has got that ability and power to score from outside the box which he did again today and throughout the game he did try to score from outside the box,” said Ferguson.

“That gives us an extra dimension to our game, we don’t normally have midfield players who can do that.

“He and Anderson are young boys and are going to be great players. But they have to accept that in Paul Scholes they see the finished article, a man who has been doing it for 15 years at the highest level and it’s a great example to them. It will rub off, I’m sure.”

Ferguson’s more immediate concern is the number of defenders currently sidelined, with Wes Brown following Neville from the field and forcing United to finish the game with a back four of Fletcher, Carrick, Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs.

Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans are definitely out of tomorrow’s Champions League clash at Wolfsburg although the manager is hopeful Nemanja Vidic will be fit again after missing the trip to West Ham with flu.

Carrick is again expected to play at centre-back, an arrangement that can only be viewed as temporary.

Gianfranco Zola has similar injury problems to contend with but far fewer options when it comes to plugging the gaps.

Without Carlton Cole they lacked potency up front and with Matthew Upson missing at the back, they were always likely to collapse.

“Right now we are down there towards the bottom and considering all the problems we have with injuries we have to realise that is our situation and make an effort to get away as quickly as possible,” said the Italian.

REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northants) 7: The match official won’t have many easier games to control than this.

MATCH RATING: *** It took Paul Scholes’ goal on the stroke of half-time to kick-start United but from that point on, their attacking play left West Ham bewildered.