Was Woy Wight To Leave Out Gibbs?

The England squad was announced today and overall, the reception to it has been positive from fans and experts alike. The Manchester United duo of Carrick and Cleverley have been rightly left out, as well as the Toronto-bound Jermaine Defoe.

For Southampton, it’s a triumph as they have 3 players going in Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw.

Now I don’t profess to know a huge amount of Luke Shaw, and I’ve only seen him play a handful of games this season. But from what I’ve heard and read, he is supposed to be the next big thing (when it comes to left backs anyway) and Manchester United have been after him all season.

And however well he’s done this season (and congratulations to the lad by the way) I can’t see how he’s a better choice that Kieran Gibbs in that position. You already have Leighton Baines as Ashley Cole’s successor but for me, Gibbs is next in line.

Gibbs has played at the top level, for a top team, for the last 3 seasons. He has Champions League experience (surely an important trait for an International player) and has competed at the top of the Premier League. And possibly more importantly, if Arsenal do lift the FA Cup next weekend he will have experience of winning a major trophy in a major knockout competition.

You all know how I feel when Nacho Monreal is playing for us and that’s partly down to how poor defensively the Spaniard is, but also down to the fact Kieran Gibbs is fantastic defensively. He has fantastic pace, can deliver a good cross and is more than willing to support attacks.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere making the squad, it would have made sense to take Kieran and if you’re talking about the number of appearances the young English lads have made this season – you could even argue that Gibbs is more worthy of a place on the plane than The Ox and Jack.

 

8 thoughts on “Was Woy Wight To Leave Out Gibbs?

  1. That’s the English for you. Always overhyping their players. Gibbs should have been on the plane more than shaw.

     
  2. People may laugh when I say this but Cole is 100% better than Baines.

    Although Cole has not played this season as much Baines has also dipped in form from what he was two seasons ago. Shaw has been fantastic as has Gibbs. If you were going purely on form it would have to be Gibbs and Shaw.

    I am pretty sure as soon as the world cup failures come home Baines will be booted out by the new England manager.

     
  3. I think Baines is better than Gibbs and Shaw is the star of the season. He has been great and is a real threat down the left hand-side.

    If Gibbs was a right-back I think he would go, however, as a left-back I think he is probably third best (without Cole).

    As important as the CL experience is, I think he needs to play every week for the next two seasons (within reason) to have a chance of going to the Euros.

    With Baines getting older and Cole retired, Gibbs has a chance to take on Shaw. However, if Shaw is at UTD and still showing the same promise I think Gibbs will always be his understudy. No shame in that, and could be good for us. Theo, The Ox & Wilshere will always play when fit so its good to know one or two players will be fresh for our games.

     
    • For me it’s Bains and Gibbs,the world cup is not a tournament to test players,both Bains and Gibbs have both play for England and there clubs in the international level,they have both at the same time play against professional players in the UEFA tournaments nothing to fear,nothing to say for Shaw I would still prefer Ashley cole than Shaw although he didn’t play many games these season he has experience in playing against professionals and in the international level than Shaw

       
  4. If only the rest of the defence was as good as the left backs. Imo we have 4 decent ones.

    however the two we have taken are both known more for their attacking and not defending. Baines is brilliant going forward but gets caught out alot. Shaw is a lil inexperienced but will prove to be the best one. Id have taken Cole and Shaw personally, with Gibbs on reserve.

    Only coz Gibbs has a better all round game than Baines. But all four are good. With England likely to be on the back foot more often than not.

    Shaw and Gibbs could develop as good as Cole.

     
  5. I would have taken Baines and Gibbs myself. Baines adds a bit extra with his free kicks and penalties. Shaw should debut at the next euro tournament IMO

     
  6. For me it’s Bains and Gibbs,the world cup is not a tournament to test players,both Bains and Gibbs have both play for England and there clubs in the international level,they have both at the same time play against professional players in the UEFA tournaments nothing to fear,nothing to say for Shaw I would still prefer Ashley cole than Shaw although he didn’t play many games these season he has experience in playing against professionals and in the international level than Shaw

     

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