Gibbs needs a harder edge to take the next step

[Flat White]

This knee jerk 'sack / drop / punish Player A-B & C' is very ordinary. Yes, like everyone posting here I was frustrated with the game and also with a few of Gibbs' efforts but suggestions that contract speculation is contributing is a absolute joke.

I would imagine that anyone playing on Saturday night would have had zero confidence in one another during the game because everyone was working so hard to get the footy or make position only to see a simple fumble or poor handpass cause a turnover or it kicked straight back to Essendon.

Once this set in it robbed most of the group of any confidence, not to mention the lack of cohesion in the F50.

The same thing happenend in the Port V Lions game, turnovers caused a loss of confidence for the Port players.

He will never be that Daniel Cross / Matt Boyd inside player, he should just play (or be played by the MC) to his strengths IMO last link in the chain delivering to FF / kicking goals or linkman from back 50. It is the game style the teams plays and his specific instructions from the coach that will dictate this not lack of desire.

/rant

 

[Bluebear]

What are people's thoughts on this.

My thoughts are he is 21 years old. Do we really expect him to be a champion in the Voss, Buckley mould this year?

He had an off night. It was contageous. Lets judge teams and individuals after 6-8 weeks rather than jump after 1 game.

 

[Sublime]

I was most definitely at the Richmond game. Gibbs ended up being in our best because he got a heap of the ball. But he is that talented a footballer that he isn't doing enough. As I said, he's a brilliant footballer when he wants to be. I want to see that desire burning in him. I haven't seen that yet.

Dropping Gibbs back to the 2's won't address these things that you're thinking you see. Is it possible he's just not going through a good patch at the moment? Gibbs running at 60% will offer more to Carlton than 100% of anyone else who is going to come in from outside the 22 and play his position.

Fair enough, get into him, give him a rev up, a kick up the arse if you will but to drop him will just be detrimental to what we are trying to achieve.

 

[Jeremias]

Dropping Gibbs back to the 2's won't address these things that you're thinking you see. Is it possible he's just not going through a good patch at the moment? Gibbs running at 60% will offer more to Carlton than 100% of anyone else who is going to come in from outside the 22 and play his position.

It is very possible that he is just not going through a good patch at the moment, in fact I believe that to be the case - because as I said, he is a brilliant footballer when he wants to be & has all the tools to be up there with the elite midfielders of the competition.

I do however disagree that Gibbs running at 60% will offer more than others offering 60%. Yes, that is the case in terms of skill and ball use. But it is certainly not the case in terms of effort. How many times did we see Gibbs trailing his man, standing all alone whilst opponents hurt us because there is noone pressuring him? We can't afford to carry so many passengers and Gibbs was one of them on Saturday night which was unacceptable.

It happened countless times on the weekend and it has happened plenty of times in round 1 as well. We were just lucky in round 1 that we played Richmond and it didn't hurt us as much as it would have against quality opposition.

The MC could do a whole lot worse than pairing Gibbs up with Robbo in training and telling Robbo to show him what constant 100% effort is all about.

Fair enough, get into him, give him a rev up, a kick up the arse if you will but to drop him will just be detrimental to what we are trying to achieve.

Dropping him, even if it is for the one week, will teach him and the rest of the squad a lesson. Noone can take their spot in the team for granted, not even our top few players, and a below-par performance & effort should not go un-noticed. Gibbs has to fight for his spot just like everyone else on the list and the sooner he realizes this the better we will be.

Drop him for a week like the Saints did last year (or the year before?) with Dal Santo. NDS was being incredibly lazy and needed a wake up call. He went back to the reserves and recaptured the hunger that makes him a fantastic player - and he & the Saints were better for it when he came back a better player.

Gibbs needs to learn that anything less than 100% effort is simply unacceptable. The sooner he learns that, the better.

 

[mac25]

My thoughts are he is 21 years old. Do we really expect him to be a champion in the Voss, Buckley mould this year?

He had an off night. It was contageous. Lets judge teams and individuals after 6-8 weeks rather than jump after 1 game.

The post is directed is asking the question, what does Gibbs need to improve to take the step from a very good player to being a elite player, as he is now in his 4th season the Blues MC would expect him to take the next step within the next 12 months, but because he is such a naturally gifted skilled player, he recently has just seemed to lack that real intensity on top of a dissapointing final against Brisbane last year.

As if we are as a team/club are going to improve and take a real step forward, this are the questions that need to be asked rather than getting so defensive about it.

 

[blues4flag]

All in the head with Gibbsy. Third year straight where he's started the season poorly. In 08 and 09 his second half was much better than his first. Hopefully he fires up sooner rather than later and plays with intensity/like he gives a **** starting this weekend.

In my opinion the most talented player on the list. Shits me when he just appears to coast along.

 

[Sublime]

It is very possible that he is just not going through a good patch at the moment, in fact I believe that to be the case - because as I said, he is a brilliant footballer when he wants to be & has all the tools to be up there with the elite midfielders of the competition.

I do however disagree that Gibbs running at 60% will offer more than others offering 60%. Yes, that is the case in terms of skill and ball use. But it is certainly not the case in terms of effort. How many times did we see Gibbs trailing his man, standing all alone whilst opponents hurt us because there is noone pressuring him? We can't afford to carry so many passengers and Gibbs was one of them on Saturday night which was unacceptable.

It happened countless times on the weekend and it has happened plenty of times in round 1 as well. We were just lucky in round 1 that we played Richmond and it didn't hurt us as much as it would have against quality opposition.

The MC could do a whole lot worse than pairing Gibbs up with Robbo in training and telling Robbo to show him what constant 100% effort is all about.



Dropping him, even if it is for the one week, will teach him and the rest of the squad a lesson. Noone can take their spot in the team for granted, not even our top few players, and a below-par performance & effort should not go un-noticed. Gibbs has to fight for his spot just like everyone else on the list and the sooner he realizes this the better we will be.

Drop him for a week like the Saints did last year (or the year before?) with Dal Santo. NDS was being incredibly lazy and needed a wake up call. He went back to the reserves and recaptured the hunger that makes him a fantastic player - and he & the Saints were better for it when he came back a better player.

Gibbs needs to learn that anything less than 100% effort is simply unacceptable. The sooner he learns that, the better.

Just on the Robbo thing while its brought up... I think he tries TOO hard sometimes. He does alot of pointless chasing where he has no hope of catching someone and by the third quarter of most matches he is pretty much out on his feet and his pressure just can't be kept up making him a bit of a witches hat.

On Gibbs, his positioning has been what gets him in and around the ball so much in the past. This year its almost like he's in no mans land alot of the time. For opposition kick ins he's zoned around 35m out directly in front and the ball either goes around the flank past him or straight over his head making him continually play catchup if they move it out quickly. I'd like to see him around 60m out where he can be at the fall of the ball or where he can follow the play for the drop of the ball of the second kick.

I think Judd coming back will help him alot as he'll be able to get into him on the field which is what he may need. Judd will be super fired up after missing the first 3 matches, so expect him to be super motivated and to motivate everyone around him.

 

[Sublime]

All in the head with Gibbsy. Third year straight where he's started the season poorly. In 08 and 09 his second half was much better than his first. Hopefully he fires up sooner rather than later and plays with intensity/like he gives a **** starting this weekend.

In my opinion the most talented player on the list. Shits me when he just appears to coast along.

He dominated the first 2 matches last year? Was just about best on ground in both of them. Hardly a slow start. It will come for him, he just needs something to click. (perhaps signing a new contract).

 

[blues4flag]

He dominated the first 2 matches last year? Was just about best on ground in both of them. Hardly a slow start. It will come for him, he just needs something to click. (perhaps signing a new contract).

He was very good in round 2 vs Brisbane last year but I thought he played far and away his best footy in the last 7 or 8 rounds, where he was probably our best performed over that period.

Just looking at the Carlton board votes last year, he received 10 in the first 12 rounds, while polling 27 in the remaining 10 (18 of those in the last month).

It was no coincidence that he was played in a more attacking role in those rounds either. Kicked 3 goals to round 12 followed by 12 in the last 10. A much more damaging player with the ball in his hands forward of centre than he is coming out of defence.

 

[Stamos]

A much more damaging player with the ball in his hands forward of centre than he is coming out of defence.

Definitely. Just needs a little more confidence. Like last week against Brisbane, had a mark just outside 50, tried to give it off, and when finally there were no other options, kicked the goal. I reckon he could also go to Full Forward for a ten minute period here and there to mix it up.

 

[blues4flag]

Definitely. Just needs a little more confidence. Like last week against Brisbane, had a mark just outside 50, tried to give it off, and when finally there were no other options, kicked the goal. I reckon he could also go to Full Forward for a ten minute period here and there to mix it up.

Does it way too often for mine. If I were Ratts I'd implore him to have a shot of goal every time he's within 55 ala Stevens in the past or Goddard at the Saints (even though he can't kick it quite as far), unless he's certain of hitting a target in a better position.

 

[Stamos]

Does it way too often for mine. If I were Ratts I'd implore him to have a shot of goal every time he's within 55 ala Stevens in the past or Goddard at the Saints (even though he can't kick it quite as far), unless he's certain of hitting a target in a better position.

Agree 100%

 

[Sublime]

He was very good in round 2 vs Brisbane last year but I thought he played far and away his best footy in the last 7 or 8 rounds, where he was probably our best performed over that period.

Just looking at the Carlton board votes last year, he received 10 in the first 12 rounds, while polling 27 in the remaining 10 (18 of those in the last month).

It was no coincidence that he was played in a more attacking role in those rounds either. Kicked 3 goals to round 12 followed by 12 in the last 10. A much more damaging player with the ball in his hands forward of centre than he is coming out of defence.

Second half of the year was definitely stronger as a whole, but i thought he came out of the blocks well early last season thats all. We need him with the ball in his hands in the centre third of the ground which is where we are breaking down. With Judd slotting in this week, i can see it helping Bryce ALOT.

 

[blues4flag]

As can I but I was sincerely hoping he'd step up in Judd's absence. He still is young but for a player of his talent, it's time he really started imposing himself.

 

[DP76]

Interesting to note that Gibbs has been removed from the left hand side of the Carlton website and replaced by Judd!

 

[Silvagnis]

Definitely. Just needs a little more confidence. Like last week against Brisbane, had a mark just outside 50, tried to give it off, and when finally there were no other options, kicked the goal. I reckon he could also go to Full Forward for a ten minute period here and there to mix it up.

The irony is Gibbs was probably a fraction closer to goal than when he drileld his monster set shot against Brissy. Needs to back himself becuase he slammed through that pearler into the wind against Port last year.

Also needs to kick more running goals like his sublime effort against the Pies in 2008.

Needs to run that hard all game.

There's some conjecture that Gibbs might be carrying another finger injury.

http://images.slatterymedia.com/image/?image_id=201671&GA_keyword=Carlton Blues

 

[Stamos]

There was also his beauty in the final last year. I thought we were going to win it after that one.

 

[Sublime]

As can I but I was sincerely hoping he'd step up in Judd's absence. He still is young but for a player of his talent, it's time he really started imposing himself.

I liken Gibbs alot to Goddard from the Saints. Neither are or will ever be imposing players as such, yet will always be very damaging. Elite kicking skills, reading the play well, but will never be tough guys as people seem to want them to be like Voss etc. Bryce just needs to find out the best way to display his full skill set to maximise production for him, and he just seems to be struggling with that at the moment.

He will be back, and when he is, look out opposition!

 

[Bluebear]

and he just seems to be struggling with that at the moment.

I hope like hell its nothing to do with his "all but signed" contract that doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

 

[I LOVE AFL]

Bloody Adelaide sports show spoke to Gibbs today. Always trying to lure him back to Adelaide. Ask him about his contract.

Gibbs pulled out the all but signed line again

http://www.fiveaa.com.au/Audio_Carl...ey-and-Cornesy-ahead-of-the-Crows-Clash_97301

 

[ESKIE]

Interesting to note that Gibbs has been removed from the left hand side of the Carlton website and replaced by Judd!

Yeh I reckon that happened today, but he;s up the top strip with Judd and Murphy..

 

[blues4flag]

Interesting to note that Gibbs has been removed from the left hand side of the Carlton website and replaced by Judd!

Strange. I was surprised to not see Juddy there in the first place but they probably restrained due to him being out suspended.

 

[chaser1]

He is our most creative player, yet Ratten uses him as a stopper.run with player. That is a joke in itself, he is gifted in many areas but utilising him in this role will not bring the best out of him.Leave him in the middle having, floating accross half forward. Let him create for god sake!!!

 

[OldBlueFan]

Got it in one. Last year Gibbs played predominantly in the midfield & showed what he could bring to the team. As you have pointed out, so far this year he has had to play more defensive roles (although his 2 goals when playing on Deledio demonstrated he can turn this into an attacking role). I'm a little concerned this may continue as we don't seem to have another player of similar size to Gibbs who is good enough to play a defensive roles on the likes of Deledio, Brennan, Goodes etc. Perhaps this is the role we should be grooming Davies for (he is the same height as Gibbs & only 1kg lighter).

Sorry for making this point 60 posts later MSR, but you'd think that with Bower back in the side then Walker could play the run with role on these sorts of guys. Hell, they've been using him as a defender anyway, he has a huge tank and he's 2cm taller/5kg heavier than Bryce.

I agree with everyone else. Both of these guys have been played out of position this year. You'd have to think that as our structure starts to resemble the norm, then Bryce and Walker will be given the opportunity to show their best footy.

As for Bryce's attitude, he's always seemed to be one of those laconic types, like Rhys-Jones and Doull. They never seemed to be going flat out, but they were just players that seemed to have more time than others around them. I reckon he just suffered the old "gettin' where the ball aint" on Saturday, and he had plenty of mates!

 

[Blue Girl 4 life]

There's some conjecture that Gibbs might be carrying another finger injury.

http://images.slatterymedia.com/image/?image_id=201671&GA_keyword=Carlton Blues

I heard on the radio at the Carlton Richmond game that Gibbs had come off with a jarred thumb, and was getting that checked out.
It might still be pretty sore.
He has injured his thumb before, I can't remember if it's the same one or not.
There's been no reports of any injury so fingers crossed theres no damage there.