Cory Gibbs

[Dr. Mario86]

He seemed really promising, but he hasn't been capped in over a year. Is he still even on the radar screen right now?

[cleansheetbsc]

He seemed really promising, but he hasn't been capped in over a year. Is he still even on the radar screen right now?

Yes he is floating around on that "if only he could stay healthy" team along with John O'Brien for the US and Jonathan Woodgate for Engalnd.

[shooter6065]

You know, nobody says this but I think if he was healthy for the Czech Republic game in the WC it might have turned out differently. Instead, Eddie Lewis went walkabout at left back.

I remember Bruce playing him in that friendly at Germany and he was the best US player on the field and did a job on the two different guys the Germans threw at him. But that game was one in a number of great performances of his.

I think his injury had huge implications that were not well understood at the time.

He is easily our fastest central defender and a great tackler also. Unfortunately, he has had a string of injuries and never seems to play a full season.

[Ringo]

He seemed really promising, but he hasn't been capped in over a year. Is he still even on the radar screen right now?

it's not like he's been available and not called in .... let's just say in the past year, he's been capped in every game he was healthy enough to play in.

[Scotty]

Whenever he get's back to full fitness I would love to see him paired with Parkhurst in central defense.

Gibbs' speed, tackling and man marking combined with Parkhurst's ability to read the game, cleanly break up plays and launch attacks. Could make for a promising partnership.

[Heathens '87]

You know, nobody says this but I think if he was healthy for the Czech Republic game in the WC it might have turned out differently. Instead, Eddie Lewis went walkabout at left back.

I remember Bruce playing him in that friendly at Germany and he was the best US player on the field and did a job on the two different guys the Germans threw at him. But that game was one in a number of great performances of his.

I think his injury had huge implications that were not well understood at the time.

He is easily our fastest central defender and a great tackler also. Unfortunately, he has had a string of injuries and never seems to play a full season.


Absolutely. Gibbs was playing excellent football heading into Germany, and that Czech game could've been very different with Gibbs in place of the aging Pope. If he can get himself back and fit shape without losing his speed and athleticism from this injury, he can be useful during this cycle as he's 27 and certainly not past-prime regarding age for a defender........

[Mr. Bandwagon]

You know, nobody says this but I think if he was healthy for the Czech Republic game in the WC it might have turned out differently. Instead, Eddie Lewis went walkabout at left back.

I remember Bruce playing him in that friendly at Germany and he was the best US player on the field and did a job on the two different guys the Germans threw at him. But that game was one in a number of great performances of his.

I think his injury had huge implications that were not well understood at the time.

He is easily our fastest central defender and a great tackler also. Unfortunately, he has had a string of injuries and never seems to play a full season.

Gibbs, if healthy, would have absolutely been Arena's first choice left back at the World Cup. Losing him and Hejduk was devasting to the US backline. And it's not just against Czech. Think about the goal that Boca gave up in game three where he could have cleared it out but instead sent it into our own box where Gooch was called for a PK. Gibbs or Hejduk would not have made that mistake IMHO, and both of them are too fast to get beat in the first place.

I hope Cory manages to get healthy this year and gets back into the picture for WCQ.

[Kevin8833]

Whenever he get's back to full fitness I would love to see him paired with Parkhurst in central defense.

Gibbs' speed, tackling and man marking combined with Parkhurst's ability to read the game, cleanly break up plays and launch attacks. Could make for a promising partnership.
Dead on this would be a great pairing beats gooch-boca by miles. In my opinion this pairing would be world class.

[Mason16]

From a preseason report on Charlton's (http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=30991&newstype=n) website last month:

Marcus Bent, James Walker and Andy Reid also found the net - and with United States international Cory Gibbs playing 45 minutes at Park View Road alongside Reid's first half in Morden, there were encouraging signs for the two players who ended 2006/07 in the queue for the treatment room.

[Kevin8833]

From a preseason report on Charlton's (http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=30991&newstype=n) website last month:
Yea, but what is he doing right now?

[new_skin]

He's training and possibly playing with the reserves while he gets back to match fitness. His injury is all healed and he's supposed to be back with the first team in about a month.

[Mason16]

Yea, but what is he doing right now?

You're welcome. He's probably hitting the sack, it's late in London. Now go do some research yourself and report back what you find. Start here:

American Soccer Daily (http://americansoccerdaily.com/news/gibbshealed.htm)

[DaPrince84]

You know, nobody says this but I think if he was healthy for the Czech Republic game in the WC it might have turned out differently. Instead, Eddie Lewis went walkabout at left back.

no one says it because it wouldn't have turned out differently, unless Gibbs could play the hole, or CAM, or create positive possession for the midfield and attack

[Dr. Mario86]

Thanks for the info, I had no idea he's been injured almost constantly between then and now. But I want him back.

And no, I doubt things would've turned out differently against the Czechs. 1v11 is still not much better when compared to 0v11.

[porkrind]

And no, I doubt things would've turned out differently against the Czechs. 1v11 is still not much better when compared to 0v11.

Dude, I have 2 words for you:

Mike Ditka

[Bigrose30]

Dude, I have 2 words for you:

Mike Ditka

I think a team of miniature Ditka's could have beaten the Czechs.

[FakeFlopper]

If he's healthy and in form, I expect him to start. I think he's our best CB all around. The sad reality is that if he didn't get hurt in run up to the WC, he would have helped a lot. The only problem is that I doubt Bruce would have started him over Pope, I just think Bruce was set on his ways.

[sregis]

You know, nobody says this but I think if he was healthy for the Czech Republic game in the WC it might have turned out differently. .

you're right, and many people have said this. ;)

[Kevin8833]

If gibbs can come back and be healthy I would love to see him in a 3-5-2 paired with parkhurst and one other person, this would be a great back and allow more options in midfield and attack, without him I don't think we can have a capable enough 3 man backline, but parkhurst is great in the center and gibbs would be awesome on the left, maybe someone like spector on the right, this would be great and something that we hopefully use.

[Dr. Mario86]

I just hope that he makes it to South Africa