Rejoice! Darron Gibson Transferred to Everton

Sometime last year after Manchester United defeated Blackpool 3-2 after being 2-0 down, I wrote a post explaining why midfielder and all-around liability Darron Gibson needed to go. Gibson hasn’t seen much playing time for Manchester United beyond the odd League Cup and UEFA Champions League matches, but for some reason he kept a spot on the squad. Well with the transfer market open, Sir Alex Ferguson has mercifully put an end to the Gibson experiment.

Everton have signed Darron Gibson from Man United for an undisclosed fee, on a contract which runs until the end of the 2015-16 season.

Gibson, 24, has only been a bit-part player at Old Trafford, and made just two starts this season before the club decided to cash in. He was out of contract in the summer, with the Toffees believed to have paid £500,000 with another £1.5 million possible in add-ons.

A Republic of Ireland international with 17 caps, he made 60 appearances for United, scoring 10 goals.

“I can see a hunger,” manager David Moyes told Everton’s official website. “He is young and wants to prove himself.”

Gibson, who has a reputation for scoring some spectacular goals, is hoping to bring some much-needed firepower to Everton.

Of course, Gibson’s reputation is he scores the occasional 30-yard screamer right into the top corner of the net. In reality, this is a list of things Gibson does whenever he’s in the game:

- Inject zero pace in his attacking movements.

- Complete a multitude of square and backwards passes.

- Tries to score from 35 yards but instead hits Row Z. The ratio of goals he’s scored from that distance to the ones that fly miles above the crossbar is probably 1 to 15.

- Runs about doing nothing off the ball.

- More backwards and sideways passing.

 

Good luck to him at Goodison Park, but Gibson was easily my least favorite player on Manchester United. There’s rumors surfacing that Tomasz Kusczak and Mame Biram Diouf are also set to go out on loan, so maybe the time has come to take out the trash and make way for star attractions who could help the team pry the Premier League title away from Manchester City.

 

Manchester United vs. London Clubs – The Running Total

Despite a Champions League exit, Carling Cup exit, countless injuries, and a lack of midfield usefulness, Manchester United are at least still in the title race with Manchester City, and won 5-0 today at Fulham. Phil Jones is gone for six weeks after Clint Dempsey broke his cheekbone, and Ashley Young went off injured as well but I don’t know his status.

Alas, United’s domination of London teams this Premier League season continues. The London squads in the Prem are Arsenal, Chelsea, QPR, Tottenham, and Fulham. Here’s how each game has gone:

vs. Tottenham – W 3-0
vs. Arsenal – W 8-2
vs. Chelsea – W 3-1
at QPR – W 2-0
at Fulham – W 5-0

If you did the math, Manchester United are up 21-3 against London teams this season and haven’t trailed in any of those matches.

The best football in England is played in the Northwest, and the Manchester sides provide it. It’s just up to United to keep up their resurgent run and hopefully we avoid the ultimate disaster of Manchester City winning/buying the Premier League title.

VIDEO (EDIT: NOW GIF): Fernando Torres’ Embarrassing Miss vs. Man Utd

This clip is certain to get taken down so just enjoy it while you can. I’ll know I’ll enjoy this for all eternity.

VIDEO: Didier Drogba Suffers Scary Head Injury

Very scary moment in this morning’s Premier League clash between Chelsea and Norwich City. Video is after the jump but be warned it’s somewhat disturbing.

Raul Meireles Makes Flipping Off a Teammate Fun!

He’s surely not flipping off his own teammate (Lucas comes later in the picture), so I deduce he’s giving the bird to the Arsenal fans after being a part of the totally offside 2nd goal against the Gunners. Wait, he was? Yeah in case you missed it (and you probably did), Arsenal’s Emmanuel Frimpong flipped off Lucas after getting sent off for his 2nd yellow card. In turn, Meireles decided to poke fun at the whole incident and give Lucas the finger, too. Unfortunately, it’s not the controversy I wanted, which would then provide more reason to dump on Liverpool. Pictures without context can be deceiving.

Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1 – It Wasn’t Meant to Be

FC Barcelona really are the best team in the world and it showed. They marched right into Wembley Stadium and beat Manchester United 3-1 to win the 2011 UEFA Champions League Fial. Their trademark possession was on display nearly the whole 2nd half and they broke a 1-1 deadlock with sublime goals from Lionel Messi and David Villa. Pedro scored the opener in the 27th minute before Wayne Rooney fired in a fantastic equalizer 7 minutes later.

Yes it’s painful, yes my teams lost by a combined 9-3 today, but I have to tip my hat to Barcelona. Wonderful performance from them, their midfield bossed Man Utd’s around, and once they got the go-ahead goal from Messi it was destined to be their night.

Sadly today marks the end of Edwin Van Der Sar’s career and it ends in defeat with 3 goals conceded. He couldn’t do anything about them as all of Barca’s goals were great. Wish you the best in retirement, VDS!

The season is officially over for Manchester United, having won the Premier League and making the Champions League Final. This is definitely a flawed side and their biggest weakness is the midfield. There just isn’t enough creativity particularly in the central area with Michael Carrick looking mediocre at times. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes aren’t getting any younger so that’s another issue to deal with as far as finding replacements. This midfield can’t maintain possession and 30% today won’t do the job. Dimitar Berbatov was left out of the squad tonight and was reportedly pissed off to the point of leaving the stadium. Presumably he’ll be gone so that leaves a void in the striking depth a little after Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. Goalkeeper may be solved by signing David De Gea from Atletico Madrid and that would be a splendid signing.

The night belonged to Barcelona and congratulations to them for once again outplaying Manchester United and winning the UEFA Champions League. They won in Rome 2-0 in 2009 and now in London 3-1 against the same team.

Now the offseason is upon us and I eagerly look forward to Sir Alex Ferguson working his magic again.

And on another note, would anyone like to ask Curt Menefee where “Hungaria” is located on the map? Because that’s where tonight’s referee is from according to the FOX anchor.