Gibson out with metatarsal fracture

, 5 April, 88comments  |  Jump to most recent

Darron Gibson will unable to play for at least the rest of the season after sustaining a small fracture to the fifth metatarsal in his foot.

The Irish international will find out in the next week whether or not he needs to undergo surgery but he faces a minimum of six weeks on the sidelines, ruling him out of the remainder of Everton's season.

Roberto Martinez said: "We don't know yet how long Darron will be out because, obviously, the specialist needs to give us an answer as to how we are going to treat the injury.

"It is disappointing and very unfair. Darron had to work extremely hard from a long-term injury, the cruciate ligament injury he sustained a long time ago and now I thought he was back at a very good level.

"His performances against Newcastle and Queens Park Rangers showed he was ready, that he was full of enthusiasm and full of energy. [On Friday], in a very innocuous action just in the box, he rolled his ankle and didn't realise anything was wrong.

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"Then, this morning, it was swollen and when we checked it he has a fracture in his metatarsal which is really devastating and our win today is for him.

"It's such a tough period, we need to support him and make sure we get him back as quick as we can."

Quotes sourced from Everton FC.com



Reader Comments (88)

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Sam Morrison
1 Posted 05/04/2015 at 20:50:49
Poor guy. Some players are just destined to go from one injury to another, and unfortunately for him and us it's one of the few players who can pass in a forward direction.

He must be really down.

Patrick Murphy
2 Posted 05/04/2015 at 21:01:42
It’s a good job he was fit enough for those games against Newcastle and QPR, things may have been very different if he hadn’t have played his part in those fixtures. He must have run over several Black Cats in his time to have such poor luck with injuries.
Ian Jones
3 Posted 05/04/2015 at 21:53:51
Such a shame. I half expected Gareth Barry to have tackled him in training! Hope he recovers quickly and is good to go in August/September.
Ste Traverse
4 Posted 05/04/2015 at 22:09:28
Not too long ago, I thought he was heading for the Goodison Park exit door, but his performances on the occasions he's played have been excellent and his forward passing much needed.

Hope he's fit and ready to go come August. I feel sorry for the lad. It's just one injury after another.

Colin Glassar
5 Posted 05/04/2015 at 22:29:22
Ste, I think he's a really decent player but I think enough is enough and, like James Vaughan, we are going to have to cut him loose. I thinks he's played even fewer games than even Andy van der Meyde played.
Michael Winstanley
6 Posted 05/04/2015 at 23:34:07
When fit, he starts.

I wish him a speedy recovery.

Teddy Bertin
7 Posted 05/04/2015 at 23:48:34
Doesn't look like it's ever going to work out for Gibson at this level. I hope I'm wrong because when he's fit and his confidence is up he's one of the best passers of a ball that we've seen at Goodison Park for years.

I can't wait for this season to end.

Laurie Hartley
8 Posted 05/04/2015 at 23:50:33
A real shame for Gibson. A good footballer who will have to dig deep to get through this.

Perhaps he can take heart from Jonathan Woodgate – one of the best centre halves I have ever seen and still making a difference at the Riverside.

Paul Smith
9 Posted 06/04/2015 at 00:04:43
Gutted for him & us. He was over the moon with the win at QPR; you could really see what it meant to him at the final whistle. I beleive he loves playing for us (unlike those that will remain unnamed) and his day is a class apart.

I'm not willing to write him off just yet.

Ciaran Duff
10 Posted 06/04/2015 at 00:04:46
Sorry to hear this. Really need more of his positivity in mid field. Glad it didn't happen on international duty or we'd get the usual flurry of "who pays your wages" comments.
Andrew Presly
11 Posted 06/04/2015 at 01:17:02
These are the kind of frauds who keep you 11th.

Nobody wants to win at this club anymore.

Darryl Ritchie
12 Posted 06/04/2015 at 01:19:37
A very good player. He has the tools to be an Everton legend if he could stay healthy, but he just can't seem to.

Gibson needs to get well, refocus for next season, and become the offensive mid we desperately need. We've seen flashes of his potential between bouts of injury. If he could only stay fit for an entire season.

Jamie Crowley
13 Posted 06/04/2015 at 01:46:03
I really like Gibson as a player. Always have.

It's time to cut the cord though. He simply can't stay healthy.

Minik Hansen
14 Posted 06/04/2015 at 01:58:22
I'll pray for him, wish him all the best health, he deserves to play way more.
Colin Williams
15 Posted 06/04/2015 at 02:12:47
"Everton legend"... Ha ha. More like "What a waste of space".
Kieran Kinsella
16 Posted 06/04/2015 at 02:41:00
It's unfair to compare him AVDM. That guy had self-induced issues, Gibbo has been unlucky.

All this "cut the cord" stuff is pretty hypocritical when you consider the outrage over comments made by Mirallas and Lukaku's agent. Their attitude is that when the going gets tough they quit the club. We criticize them and yet take the same view when the shoes on the other foot and we've a player who is injured. Can't have it both ways, lads.

Saegaran Kana
17 Posted 06/04/2015 at 06:15:57
Owh dang... I like his vision for through passes and he's a great fighter in the middle of the park. Sadly too fragile. I wish him well and a speedy recovery.
Trevor Peers
18 Posted 06/04/2015 at 07:06:48
Looking back at all our great teams of the past, the key to success has always been having 2 or 3 combative creative midfielders. The unfortunate news of Gibson's injury, along with the excellent Osman nearing the end of his career, means Roberto must strengthen in this area in the summer and use this as his blueprint for success.

His record of recruiting central midfielders during his managerial career is not good though.

Anto Byrne
19 Posted 06/04/2015 at 07:11:18
I think Martinez has to come out now and say he wants to rebuild this aging side. We don't need big money signings as Southampton have proved. We do have a number of players in the twilight of their careers and they are safely adding a few extra quid to the bank before retirement.

We should get £10-12mil for Mirallas who will have to go elsewhere for his CL footy. I don't understand this need for 3 defensive midfielders offering nothing going forward. I would prefer attacking midfielders who can defend. Before Barry, Besic and McCarthy we always had players looking to go forward. I know Distin was getting on but surely to god he couldn't have fallen below that useless Wignanite in the pecking order.

It's going to be a tough summer as Kenwright's Everton is skint so, unless we are developing our own kids, we wont be splurging out. Now we are safe from the drop, it must be time to blood some of these kids. Get them games in the side – not just small cameos.

Sam Hoare
20 Posted 06/04/2015 at 07:33:28
Poor guy! Wish him all the best and hope we retain him but realistically we need another Gibson option to rely on. A DMC with excellent passing and vision who can transition us from defense to attack quickly.

Cabaye from PSG for £8M?

Jim Bennings
21 Posted 06/04/2015 at 07:40:09
That's a shame because he's the only midfielder we really have who can pass the ball intelligently.

Macca, Besic and Barkley run around a lot like headless chickens but couldn't find a telling pass to save their lives, as we saw on Saturday again.

It's an area we must address in the summer.

Denis Richardson
22 Posted 06/04/2015 at 08:06:51
Nice guy he may be and a decent player to boot but we need to move on. The guy joined us in January 2012 I believe – 3 years ago – and has hardly played. He's made of glass and we need to bring another midfielder, if not two, who can pass the ball forward.

He must be down but it's not exactly a hard life for him on £40k odd a week sitting in front of the TV with his foot in a cast. Despite hardly playing, he's already set for life.

I hope he can make some appearances next season but once his contract is up in 2016, it bye-bye time. The amount of injuries this guy has had is just ridiculous – he should start doing his coaching badges as his body is obviously not up to it.

Michael Polley
23 Posted 06/04/2015 at 09:02:28
Good player when fit, but that's been a rarity. One season left on his contract, so a few decent cameo appearances next season maybe.
James Stewart
24 Posted 06/04/2015 at 10:02:10
Tough one I like him as a player but have to echo some of the above comments.

Time for him to move on. He isn't worth a squad place/wages for the time he is fit. Or its a pay as you play deal.

Colin Glassar
25 Posted 06/04/2015 at 10:20:33
Kieran (#16), I wasn't comparing him to AVDM as a pro (AVDM was a shameless hussy IMO) as that would be insulting to any man of honour. The comparison I was making was in the amount of appearances both made for the club. I just wanted to make that clear.

Gibson is a very good player but he was injury-prone at Man Utd and he's had even worse luck with us. At some point both sides will need to part ways.

Liam Reilly
26 Posted 06/04/2015 at 10:31:12
If there's any silver lining to this; it's not the worst time to be injured, with a handful of meaningless games to close out this awful campaign.

He needs to get fit and get a full preseason under him and make the call then. His luck has to change at some point with the law of averages.

Denis Richardson
27 Posted 06/04/2015 at 11:03:19
Understand what you're saying Liam but the only way the club should even consider giving another contract is on a 100% pay if you play deal, even then I'd still think its not worth it as the manager (whoever he is) just cannot rely on him at all.

Don't care if he goes the whole of next season injury free. The guy has hardly barely managed to string more than 3 appearances in a row in over 3 years.

Joe Hurst
28 Posted 06/04/2015 at 11:38:17
It's an old "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" joke from radio, so I can't claim any credit for it, but it always makes me smile and this story reminded me of it:

Metatarsals -
(translation: 'were first introduced at a dinner party at Jeffrey Archer's house').

Tony Draper
29 Posted 06/04/2015 at 11:35:48
I've already said here in other discussions that I'd let him go. But I'd just as easily accept hanging on to him.

I can't help but feel for a guy who has real talent and is repeatedly thwarted by injuries. His off field activities draw absolutely no interest (unlike the continually intoxicated giraffe once employed by our adorable neighbours).

Peter Reid was around Gibbo's current age when he joined us and he too had seen enough of the treatment table by then.

Gibson genuinely deserves a few seasons trouble free and if he did then I'd be certain that he'd reward us for our sticking by him.

Colin Glassar
30 Posted 06/04/2015 at 12:01:58
I see Barry has come out and said he didn't expect to play so many games this season but injuries to other MF players has forced Martinez's hand.
He has recovered his form since the Xmas debacle thankfully.
Minik Hansen
31 Posted 06/04/2015 at 11:54:21
Maybe it's the food he eats? A proper diet I wonder if it has been tried by him. No big deal if he loves playing that game.
Ernie Baywood
33 Posted 06/04/2015 at 12:07:25
Nearly always rated Gibson very highly... I say nearly as I was underwhelmed with his signing then changed my mind. Does a lot of the unglamorous but brilliant stuff. Quick one two's in tight areas, wins the ball simply, moves the ball quickly and passes it with proper pace on it.

When he did his knee I posted on here that it was time to cut him loose. Strangely I've actually changed my mind. This is just terrible luck – a metatarsal isn't an 'injury prone' type of injury, it's just appalling bad luck.

Incredibly he's still only 27 (must have had a tough paper round as a kid). He'll miss games which are largely pointless and get one last crack at a full pre-season and a decent year.

I hope to God he manages it. He's a good player and seems a decent sort.

Paul Tran
34 Posted 06/04/2015 at 12:53:25
I just hope that Gibson's last significance will be making it clear to Martinez that his type of player is what we need. With him in the side, we have balance, he encourages our forward players to make runs and we actually look threatening.

Despite our hopes for exciting football under Martinez, the forwards he has brought to the club have been poor:

Lukaku: gets goals but vastly overpriced.
Kone: not good enough.
Deufelou: good on his day, inconsistent. He wasn't as good as people are now saying he was.
Atsu: so good he never plays him.
McGeady: the new McFadden - talented with poor decision-making.
Lennon: fast, works his socks off, not sure about his end product.

I could stomach a transitional mid-table season if we were playing good football, blooding youngsters and showing some form of pattern for the future. As it is, we've watched old men, out of form and position, playing slow, ponderous football with 1 or 2 shots per game.

I was a big supporter of Martinez last season. I liked what he was doing and the results he brought us. Not anymore. He's looked hopelessly out of his depth this season. If he stays, gets his credibility back with the players, buys some decent players, gets them fit preseason, I think I'll bang my head and wake up!

Gonna be an interesting summer.

Jim Hardin
35 Posted 06/04/2015 at 15:14:05
Andrew (#11),

Pretty harsh and mostly inaccurate don't you think? How does breaking a metatarsal make him a fraud? He didn't pull himself out of the squad claiming a sore knee after being cleared by the club medical staff like Balotelli did. Granted he has been often injured and may be made of glass but he has genuinely been injured.

Sad though since per some of the stat sites, he was the most accurate passer in his appearances versus QPR and Newcastle, not only on the team but in the EPL as a whole.

Duncan McDine
36 Posted 06/04/2015 at 16:16:23
Just one or two idiotic posts so far which isn't bad for TW standards, but this news was only too predictable.

A real shame as he's one of my favourite players, but I think we can all agree that this should probably be the end of the road for the lad.

John Gee
37 Posted 06/04/2015 at 16:17:23
Has anyone seen Gibbo have a poor game? I realise his bad luck with injuries has hampered his number of appearances but I, genuinely, can't remember ever reading or seeing that he had a poor game.

This broken bone is a shame for him and the team.

Brian Hill
38 Posted 06/04/2015 at 16:19:53
Minik @31:

"Maybe it's the food he eats? A proper diet I wonder if it has been tried by him. No big deal if he loves playing that game."

Please explain this as I find it incomprehensible. ~ Thanks.

Ian Jones
39 Posted 06/04/2015 at 18:03:49
Peter Reid's name was mentioned earlier as a player that took time to get injuries out of the way and he started producing when he was about 28. Appreciate that it was a different era but I think Gibson has time. Worth persevering with him. If he wants to carry on at Everton then that's good enough for me.
Colin Glassar
40 Posted 06/04/2015 at 18:16:44
It WAS a different era Ian. Players used to get kicked lumps out of them but they'd play on through the pain barrier. Today players get a 'knock' and are out for weeks (not that I'm putting Gibson in this category) or a 'strain' and disappear into some sort of twilight zone.
I know, I know, they're all super athletes these days. Bloody bunch of pansies if you ask me.
Kieran Kinsella
41 Posted 06/04/2015 at 19:41:58
£12 million for Mirallas? You're having a laugh. Maybe 2 or 3 at most but who'd want him that plays Champions League? Maybe Anderlect, Olympiakis... someone like that in which case a loan or $500k is more likely.
Andrew Laird
42 Posted 06/04/2015 at 20:24:27
If he was a racehorse, he would be glue by now.
Lewis Barclay
43 Posted 06/04/2015 at 21:21:40
We paid £500k for him from Ferguson who I think I remember described him as something like "a classic Ferrari, amazing when you can get it running".

I feel sorry for him but I think we should be responsible with where we spend our wage budget!

Andy Meighan
44 Posted 06/04/2015 at 21:21:41
I like Gibbo, I really do, and my heart goes out to the lad because he's been so unlucky with injuries but, and I've said this before, it makes you wonder why Ferguson let him go for such a small fee. He obviously knew he was made of glass and that's why he let him go.

But, his injury record apart, i'd have him in the side any day ahead of McCarthy, Barry and Besic who gives the ball away far too much and doesn't look physically strong enough for this league. Gibson is by far better than the three I mentioned; it's just a pity we haven't seen him on the pitch enough.

Andrew Presly
45 Posted 06/04/2015 at 21:33:51
He had a stomach and/or groin strain already lined up before this latest ailment. Just all so predictable.

After this season from hell, I just haven’t got any patience left for jokers like Gibson. File under Alcaraz, McGeady etc & ship out this summer. Where? Celtic, the lot of them.

Kieran Kinsella
46 Posted 07/04/2015 at 00:12:54
If we're talking glue farm, then Pienaar and Hibbert should be in that shipment too. No offence to them – good servants to the club for a time – but the demand for glue never wanes.
Eugene Ruane
47 Posted 07/04/2015 at 00:46:03
Jesus wept, it's getting worse re posters who have incredible trouble dealing with stuff that just happens.

For Andrew Presley (11 & 45) Gibson isn't dead unlucky, he's 'a fraud' and a 'Joker' who is lining up injuries.

And his proof for these insults?

None, no proof, not a fucking shred of evidence at all, just someone venting like a narked, red-faced toddler because he's (patently) unable to deal with the type of disappointment life sometimes throws up.

Last week McCarthy was a 'coward' (because he wasn't winning games all by himself or some nonsense), this week Gibson is a fraud because he's had terrible luck with injuries.

Pathetic.

Victor Jones
48 Posted 07/04/2015 at 03:18:36
Gibson is a good player, not a great player, but a good player. He can do a job for Everton, when fit. As clearly the team looked better when he played. They looked more positive, they looked more on the front foot. It just shows that we are crying out for forward passing midfielders.

Just think what an Arteta type player would now bring to this Everton team (if we are praising Gibson) who is not in the same league. I also hope that Gibson is fit and ready to start in August. But let's hope that he is not injured again around September. Not much good hanging on to an injury prone player. Tough, but that's football.

Sam Morrison
50 Posted 07/04/2015 at 08:17:49
Andrew Presly – might be worth remembering injuries actually cause pain before posting that somebody 'lines them up' in order to... what, exactly? Some players avoid playing, but they tend to feign injury rather than deliberately pick them up.

And how do you engineer a metatarsal fracture anyway? Do let us know, I've got a game this Sunday myself and I might not feel up to it.

Andrew Presly
51 Posted 07/04/2015 at 08:59:45
His "career" is the proof.

Good player on the rare occasions he plays and obviously I don't wish him physical pain but he'd reached the mandatory 3 games in a row so was time for another injury.

Yeah he's unlucky. Martinez is unlucky. We're Everton, we're all unlucky.

Eugene Ruane
52 Posted 07/04/2015 at 09:54:16
Andrew Presly (51) - "His "career" is the proof"

Of what - that he's 'a fraud' or that he's extremely unlucky with injuries?

If he's a fraud, provide evidence of exactly how he has defrauded Everton and Manchester United.

Presumably, if as you're suggesting, the injuries aren't real or are somehow self-inflicted (for reasons you don't state) let's see the evidence.

As for "he'd reached the mandatory 3 games in a row so was time for another injury" - again says nothing about Gibson (other than he's dead unlucky) and everything about how you deal with disappointment.

I'll spell it out - imagine how frustrating (and wrong) it would be, if people called you a thief, yet you'd never robbed anything and there was no evidence that you'd ever robbed anything (maybe just a bit of stupid gossip).

Well your calling Gibson a fraud, yet offering no evidence of fraudulence is the same.

Andrew Presly
53 Posted 07/04/2015 at 11:01:41
One (helpful) definition of Fraud - "abuse of position causing loss to another party".

He's abused his position as the only centre midfielder at the club capable of playing a through ball.

The loss is to the team, me, you, our points haul this season etc. If he was rubbish nobody would care.

A fraud!

John Audsley
54 Posted 07/04/2015 at 11:24:06
"He's abused his position as the only centre midfielder at the club capable of playing a through ball"

Eh?????????????????????

Eugene Ruane
55 Posted 07/04/2015 at 11:31:43
Andrew (53) - "One (helpful) definition of Fraud - "abuse of position causing loss to another party" He's abused his position as the only centre midfielder at the club capable of playing a through ball. The loss is to the team, me, you, our points haul this season etc If he was rubbish nobody would care. A fraud!"

Congratulations!

The most desperate, pitiful, nonsensical response I've ever seen on TW.

If I forced you to walk about with a large jelly on your head, wearing nothing but your bills, I would not have made you look as dumb as you have made yourself look,

(There really should be some sort of prize.)

Andrew Presly
56 Posted 07/04/2015 at 12:16:28
That is some accolade!

Gibson is a footballer (a good one, one we could really do with) who never plays football.

To some that is down to luck. I don't believe in that concept so obviously disagree.

As I said above, I'm past taking a benign view of people like this hanging around the Finch Farm treatment room on big wages. If he agrees to alter / sever his contract (I'd prefer the former) in the summer, then great. But he won't. We'll probably be too stupid to even try.

Go pay as you play and I'll happily drop the fraud allegations, Gibbo!

Andrew Ellams
57 Posted 07/04/2015 at 12:43:03
Andrew, if we severed his contract we would need to pay it up in full for starters, so only he would gain from that as he would be able to go elsewehere and earn even more on top of that.

And in regards to altering his contract, why should he before his current one expires?

Tony Abrahams
58 Posted 07/04/2015 at 12:50:46
Listen, Darron. Andrew has been saying your a fraud on ToffeeWeb. I can get him to retract his statement, but it's going to cost yer though!
Eugene Ruane
59 Posted 07/04/2015 at 13:17:03
I've no more to add re Mr Presley's unfounded, unproven and evidence-free nonsense - his own posts make him look a whole heap of wrong, so I'm not needed.

In fact now I genuinely look forward to more unhinged, born-out-of-frustration rants from him.

Imagines..

After linesman gives iffy offside: "He's a fucking murderer!!"

(If you ask why – "Er... um... well he's killing the right decision sort of so... er... if you've killed something... er... in effect, you're a... um sort of murderer.")

Or maybe BK will come out in support of Martinez: "Him and BK are gay, they ARE honesty God, they do bummin' and everything, swear down lid."

Etc.

Victor Jones
60 Posted 07/04/2015 at 13:34:21
People, people people. Why even engage in trying to debate a serious injury of an Everton player with Andrew Presly? He is talking absolute bollocks. I'm even wasting my time, by reading his infantile nonsense.

I remember when players like Ball, Labone, West, Husband, Harvey, Lyons, Dobson, King, Sheedy and even Southall were injured... and were out for months. And there have been numerous others. Just as well back then, that we were not graced by Andrew's pearls of wisdom. Those players would have been frauds. Injuries happen. Get over it. Nobody is a fraud. FFS.

Little old me thinks that Andrew P must be the sole owner of Martinez's new book. "How to talk gibberish and make it sound believable'". Un-fucking-believable comments from a fellow Evertonian. And not really worth any more time.

Get fit soon, Gibbo. Me thinks that there is still an Everton career in your make up. But get fit. Please.

Patrick Murphy
61 Posted 07/04/2015 at 14:03:29
My God! As if Gibbo hasn't had enough injuries to endure now someone wants to sever his contract – btw, whereabouts on the body is the contract?
Mark Riding
62 Posted 07/04/2015 at 14:10:24
Victor (#60), you bringing up Southall’s injury has just ruined my mood here mate, thanks a lot! Bobby Mimms in that Cup Final, FFS. Paul Bracewell and Inchy had some shockers as well, remember.
Ernie Baywood
63 Posted 07/04/2015 at 14:15:53
A bit of an overreaction to Andrew's posts?

We all know terms like "joker" and "fraud" get thrown around. You learn to live with it?

Gibson is obviously unlucky. A broken metatarsal doesn't, on the face of things, appear to be any more than dumb luck. That said, there have been players who just seemed to cop the strangest, seemingly unrelated injuries. Young Mr Vaughan for example. Have you ever seen another player sever an artery in their ankle like he did?

But for Vaughan it wasn't just bad luck each time. His playing style contributed. Plus the fact that we're not all put together exactly the same way. Not his 'fault' but he did appear to be 'injury prone'.

With Gibson it's hard to believe there's not some common theme. Have previous injuries put extra strain on other body parts? It's it the way he trains? Is he just not made for this kind of exertion? Can one person have do much bad luck?

Pay as you play might well be an option. Gibson might decide it's what he wants. Or there might be something we can offer in exchange. A contract renewal option, greater bonuses?

Andrew Presly
64 Posted 07/04/2015 at 14:10:37
I'd happily label Martinez a dream thief using that analogy, Eugene!

The evidence / proof in what I'm saying is DG's availability or lack thereof since he signed. He a good player on reasonable money who never plays. That's the situation.

Andrew – the idea would be we'd settle on a mutually agreeable sum short of the full term of the contract so wages could be invested in someone else who can actually play for us.

Won't happen I know so yep get well soon again Gibbo.

Victor Jones
65 Posted 07/04/2015 at 14:41:54
Not really an overreaction to Andrew's comments. Would Everton or any other club even tolerate a "fraud" in their ranks. Of course – stupid me – we have a fraud: the bloody manager.

Everton need someone to look at players like Gibson, and work out a training regime that would suit. Even if it meant very little training – remember McGrath and King. And they need to work out if Gibson is worth nurturing along... and what is causing him to be injured so much.

Also check out Oviedo, Mirallas, and Pienaar. They also only seem to last for three games. But injuries do happen, even to the fittest of footballers. Hardly makes them frauds, does it?

And what about the youngsters that Martinez refuses to play? The youngsters who perform well, when called upon, but are dropped at the first opportunity. Are they frauds, for collecting their wages? And what about Alcaraz – collecting wages for doing an impression of a footballer. Sorry, hold on, he is a fraud. You may have a point there, Andrew... only you targeted the wrong player.

Anyhow, enough of this nonsense from me. Have a nice day folks. See you all in sunny Swansea. COYBs.

Eugene Ruane
66 Posted 07/04/2015 at 15:55:59
Ernie (63) - "A bit of an overreaction to Andrew's posts?"

Why an overreaction?

Why not the right reaction?

Clarence Darrow can desperately flail all he wants, but the fact remains, an Everton player who has unluckily suffered a lot of injuries, is called a fraud.

And why?

Because he has..er.. unluckily suffered a lot of injuries.

"Yes but maybe there's some other reason relating to fraud"

Fine, let's hear/see some sensible evidence.

(For the record, no court would accept 'what I reckon like' as evidence.)

Rafa fact: So far not one teeny, tiny, single shred of evidence has been put forward to show fraud.

You add "We all know terms like "joker" and "fraud" get thrown around. You learn to live with it?"

Three things 1) If the terms are unsubstantiated, they only get thrown around by poltroons. 2) The term 'joker' is very different to the term fraud. 3) Of course you can do as you please, but I don't 'learn to live with it'. If I see Everton players called cowards and/or frauds, I prefer to challenge those making the accusations to produce their evidence – do you think there is something unfair about that?

Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
67 Posted 07/04/2015 at 16:30:32
We let a lot of nonsense go on here, but I'm with Eugene and others in this case: calling a player a fraud because his career has been blighted with injury is beyond shallow; attempting to justify it is contemptible.

I hate the accusation "wind-up merchant" for devaluing reasonable alternative views but this one surely crosses the line.

Michael Kenrick
69 Posted 07/04/2015 at 17:01:00
Oops... apparently we can't say he's "injury-prone".

According to Snods, it makes the player only feel worse about himself and the misfortune suffered:

Darron has been so unfortunate with injuries and he has no doubt been working extra hard in the gym over these past few months to get himself fit again.

After some major knee problems, Darron was fully fit again and of late had been looking a different class, so this latest set-back is really cruel.

Darron has suffered with some horrible injuries in his career but I hate the phrase "injury prone".

People said it about me but all I suffered were genuine injuries and because I know how that made me feel, I don't like hearing it said about Darron.

Franny Porter
70 Posted 07/04/2015 at 17:25:52
I have it on good authority that his bones have the same density as cheese strings.....
Andrew Presly
71 Posted 07/04/2015 at 17:21:10
Honestly held opinions, Michael. I’d hope that would go without saying.

All this and the above from Snods is just symbolic of the acceptance of mediocre dross across all things EFC right now. Bill’s not a fraud either, I guess?!

That was part of my first comment on this thread, we’ve all given up on winning really, haven’t we. Just drifting on through like Gibson with the "unlucky, see you next season" mentality.

Andy Meighan
72 Posted 07/04/2015 at 20:17:10
Eugene. I remember waking around around the red light district of Amsterdam one Friday night years ago with a jelly on my head and in my bills. My god... when I look back at the pictures now, did I look a twat!
Nick Armitage
73 Posted 07/04/2015 at 20:26:14
No matter how good he is (and he's no world beater) he is a crock. He gets injured more often than Frank Spencer. If I was paying his wages I'd want him off the payroll.
Tony Abrahams
74 Posted 07/04/2015 at 21:19:03
Funny that, Franny, only on ToffeeWeb could we get crackers (post 53), and cheese strings!
Eugene Ruane
75 Posted 07/04/2015 at 21:17:40
Nick (73) - "No matter how good he is (and he's no world beater) he is a crock. He gets injured more often than Frank Spencer. If I was paying his wages I'd want him off the pay roll"

Erm... I don't think anyone is saying he doesn't get injured a lot.

I mean we know he gets injured a lot and I suspect the club knows and I'm fairly sure the player knows, so...

And 'iffing' til you're blue in the face isn't going to change his contract.

Nick Armitage
76 Posted 07/04/2015 at 21:38:12
Eugene (75 ) – you evidently didn't catch my drift so I'll spell it out for you; sell the crock because he doesn't earn his wedge and he isn't that good anyhow. Simple really.
Andy Crooks
77 Posted 07/04/2015 at 21:51:06
Nick, this injury is a new one. It's not like this is a long-running thing that the club have been negligent about. He's a good player who has had truly dreadful luck. Also, who do you suggest we sell him to?
Ernie Baywood
79 Posted 07/04/2015 at 21:54:58
Eugene (#66). The point is that people use words like "fraud" but no-one genuinely believes him to be a fraud in the true definition if the word.

You know that, I know that, even Andrew knows that (despite having his back up now due to the response to his post).

Challenge it by all means but I'd say there are actual opinions worth discussing ahead of the use of embellishment.

Eugene Ruane
80 Posted 07/04/2015 at 22:04:48
Nick (76) - "Eugene (75 ) - you evidently didn't catch my drift so I'll spell it out for you; sell the crock because he doesn't earn his wedge and he isn't that good anyhow. Simple really."

Yeah really simple - "Hey other teams, want to by a crock who doesn't earn his wedge and isn't that good anyhow?"

(look out, wouldn't want you crushed in the stampede).

Ernie (79) - "Eugene #66. The point is that people use words like "fraud" but no-one genuinely believes him to be a fraud in the true definition if the word"

What do you mean 'the point is'?

'A fraud', hasn't got 5 different meanings, the true definition of 'a fraud' is 'a fraud'.

And if I was in any doubt as to it's meaning, when it's followed up with 'He had a stomach and/or groin strain already lined up before this latest ailment', that little doubt vanishes.

Not sure why you're going to such lengths to excuse/justify such nonsense when the poster himself went to great (but garbled) lengths to 'explain' why the player is a fraud.

Ernie Baywood
81 Posted 08/04/2015 at 07:49:20
I'm going to great lengths?

If you're going to defend every player who ever had an embellished label thrown at them on the internet you'll find little time for anything else.

There's actually an interesting discussion hidden within this.

How long do you persist with an 'injury prone' player? How good do they have to be for a lengthier persistence? Where does Gibson fit in this assessment?

Ernie Baywood
82 Posted 08/04/2015 at 08:01:05
And the definition of a "fraud" isn't a "fraud".

According to Dictionary.com it's:

Fraud
noun
1. deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage.

2. a particular instance of such deceit or trickery:
mail fraud; election frauds.

3. any deception, trickery, or humbug:
That diet book is a fraud and a waste of time.

4. a person who makes deceitful pretenses; sham; poseur.

Andrew Ellams
83 Posted 08/04/2015 at 08:43:53
How about just unlucky. The current injury and the one that kept him out for pretty much all of last season were impact injuries caused by tackles in matches.

If he was a fraud, a faker, a skiver or whatever anybody else wants to throw at him surely he would just put his hand on his hamstring everytime he fancies a couple of weeks off?

And of course the irony there is he is just about the only player we have who hasn't done his hamstring in the past two seasons.

Eugene Ruane
84 Posted 08/04/2015 at 08:28:52
Ernie (81) - Yes you're going to great lengths - all kinds of daft semantics to achieve/prove..what?

Justification and/or excuses for another poster (a relative?) including four dictionary definitions that all weaken your 'case' (ie: that somehow the meaning of fraud doesn't mean being deceitful).

You add...

"There's actually an interesting discussion hidden within this. How long do you persist with an 'injury prone' player? How good do they have to be for a lengthier persistence? Where does Gibson fit in this assessment?"

Well whether such a discussion would be interesting is subjective, but what I know, is that questions like this are simply fanciful 'what if's, given the existence of a player's contract.

How long do you persist?

Until his contract runs out, would be my guess, that's where Gibson (and every other player in the PL) fits in.

As for – "If you're going to defend every player who ever had an embellished label thrown at them on the internet, you'll find little time for anything else".

Two things:

1) Go back to your dictionary – 'embellished' means exaggerated, calling an unlucky (injury-prone) player a fraud is not embellishment – the two words have entirely different meanings (and I don't need to check a dictionary to know both).

2) Me defending one or two Everton players on an Everton supporters website, is hardly me 'defending every player on the internet' (now that's exaggeration).

Dave Lynch
85 Posted 08/04/2015 at 09:30:45
I have it on good authority that he once wrote his own sicknote to bunk off PE at school.

The man's a fraud, fraud I tell you...

God give me strength.

Eddie Dunn
86 Posted 08/04/2015 at 09:47:03
The good thing for Gibson (who I have always been a fan of) is that due to all of his injuries, he hasn't got too many miles on the clock, and so may play on into his thirties... let's hope so.

I have heard that his personal sponsors, Plikingtons are thinking of pulling out.

Ernie Baywood
87 Posted 08/04/2015 at 09:51:05
You're exhausting Eugene.

It was you who provided a rather narrow definition of "fraud". I simply offered the full definition. Given your liking for attacking words rather than opinions I thought you might appreciate that.

Obviously I know what 'embellishment' means. Your definition is decent, but it does go further than just putting "very" before a statement. It can be the simple act of overstating something for effect.

For example, if you wanted to express your displeasure at a professional footballer who rarely plays professional football then you might label them a "fraud". You could do this without actually pressing charges.

The frustrating thing is that you surely understand the point I'm making. Someone made an over-the-top statement on the internet and you've gone off at them. Someone offers a fairly respectful defence and you attack everything but the opinion. It's all a bit petty and I have better things to do.

Anyway, you have a good day Eugene.

Ross Edwards
88 Posted 08/04/2015 at 10:17:26
Bit harsh saying Gibson's a fraud but there we are. I hope he recovers quickly, otherwise Roberto will probably bring Tom Cleverley in to replace him. Phenomenal.
Sam Hoare
89 Posted 08/04/2015 at 10:55:56
This injury is unfortunate but not as bad as feared apparently and should allow him to have a full pre-season. He's looked very good in the games he's been back from and if he can get fit and play the first ten games of next season then I'd offer him a contract (probably with some sort of pay-as-you-play clause).

We need Gibson in our team. Or someone else who can do what he does. Someone who can move the ball forward quickly and intelligently and with effect. I have seen very sparse evidence that Barry, McCarthy or Besic are capable of doing this regularly hence the lack of creativity this season.

Tom Cleverly is most certainly not the answer to this or I suspect any question....

Sam Morrison
90 Posted 08/04/2015 at 12:04:42
Ernie (88) I follow your logic that these words do get tossed around and we shouldn't take them too literally.

But I think there should be a limit as to what gets tossed and accepted. Calling Gibson a 'crock' is one thing because although it might not be particularly sympathetic, you can at least argue it's accurate. Calling him a fraud quite another. It implies – actually, it overtly states – that the situation is of his own deliberate making, which you surely agree is nonsense.

It might seem petty to some but I think it's more than reasonable to contest the use of that word.

Eugene Ruane
91 Posted 08/04/2015 at 13:23:26
Ernie (87) - "Someone offers a fairly respectful defence and you attack everything but the opinion"

Ahhhh, poor you.

Nothing 'fairly respectful' at all and I have continually attacked the opinion (you're fooling no one)

You have, for reasons best known to yourself, continued to justify and/or excuse the ludicrous idea that it's fine/justified to call an injury-prone (and consequently unlucky) player, a fraud.

"Look at what my dictionary says" "Maybe he only meant.." "Fraud could mean.."

THAT is disrespectful, as it assumes I don't know the meaning of a word in common use and assumes I can be thrown off course by badly thought-out diversionary tactics.

As Sam (90) points out (and I have spelled out) - "Calling Gibson a 'crock' is one thing because although it might not be particularly sympathetic, you can at least argue it's accurate. Calling him a fraud quite another. It implies – actually, it overtly states – that the situation is of his own deliberate making, which you surely agree is nonsense."

Simple, logical, true....yet you're reaching for your dictionary (and it's ME that's exhausting!?)

You say "It's all a bit petty and I have better things to do."

Good for you – let's hope you're off to Waterstones to buy your copy of 'How To Debate Without Resorting To Desperate Semantics'.

Tim Michael
92 Posted 08/04/2015 at 15:34:45
I was at Villa Park for his debut game in January 2012. He played central midfield alongside Fellaini. Gibbo looked a really good player. Solid, positive and could strike a ball. A real good buy by Moyes. Three years on that optimism has gone. Continuous injuries have meant only 10 league appearances in two seasons and without a goal in any competition in that time and it could happen all over again next season. For EFC the brief period with Gibbo is over. Just cannot afford to have players consistently on the treatment table.

The concerning and bigger problem is players like Gibbo getting injured in training..............and on a Friday. Consistently over the years the top clubs have had a schedule on training where the bulk of the fitness/intense work is done early in the week, particularly if there was no midweek game. By the time they reach the day before the game, the routine was confined to a very light work out and without any competitive involvement..........so why are our players involved in a completely different routine. Anybody correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Barkley injured the day before the opening game at Leicester, Baines recently picked up an injury on a Friday and now Gibbo. Many comments have made on ToffeeWeb over the season about unnecessary injuries. It still raises the question about what is really going behind the scenes in the club's fitness/training programme.


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