New Development coach: Stuart Gibson

Gibson looks forward to new development job at Barnsley
Thursday, June 25, 2009, 07:00Comment on this story

FORMER Plymouth Argyle director of youth Stuart Gibson will start work as development coach at Championship club Barnsley next week.
Gibson will be responsible to manager Simon Davey and the purpose of the newly-created post is to bridge the gap between youth and first team football.
One of his specific duties will be to undertake a development programme for elite players outside the first team squad.
He will also have to organise a competitive games programme for a development squad and liaise directly with Davey on the progress of players in the youth programme.
Another of the tasks for Gibson will be to monitor the development of players loaned out to other clubs.
He will also have to identify talent for possible recruitment into a development squad.
Gibson has been based in Ivybridge since returning to England at the end of last year after a spell as manager of Steinkjer FK in Norway.
He was interviewed by Davey on Monday and was offered the job that evening.
Gibson told Herald Sport: "I'm really looking forward to it and can't wait to get started. The job is the kind of role I have been saying should happen for quite a while now.
"It's commonplace in Scandinavia, where young players are given time to develop longer, not like here in England.
"But in Simon Davey you have a young manager who has been a head of youth (at Preston North End) and sees the things I saw as well.
"Now he's being proactive and doing something about it."
Gibson, who holds a UEFA 'A' licence coaching badge, spent five-and-a-half years with Argyle, before leaving for Steinkjer FK in December 2006
Prior to his arrival at Home Park, he had been youth team manager at Darlington.
The job of development coach at Barnsley was posted on the FA Coaches' Association website at the beginning of April and Gibson applied for it.
He said: "I followed it up with a phone call and spoke to Simon Davey. He told me he would be in touch at the end of the season.
"I knew him from when he came on loan as a player to Darlington, and I met him again in 2005 at some exit trials at Derby County's academy."
Gibson continued: "I hadn't heard a thing about the job until late last Friday afternoon when Simon called and invited me for an interview at 10.30am on Monday.
"I left home at 4.30am on Monday and arrived at 10.05am. After the interview, I set off for home at 1.30pm.
"At about 5.15pm I had a call from Simon telling me the job was mine, which was brilliant, and I eventually got home at 6pm."

 

Getting the foundations right

Not just shouting at youngsters from now on.......</p>

Very good move imho.
</p>

 

Sounds like he knows what he's on about.

Good to see that he'll be active in recruitment and scouting. Seems to imply that a lot of the players will be loaned out next year.

Knowledge of Scandinavia can only be good as well.

Well done BFC.

 

Hopefully we'll get some Scandinavian cheerleaders now. (Female)

 

RE: Getting the foundations right

People seeing this as a good move by Davey now then?

Sounds like he know's his stuff and it can only benefit the youngsters, well done (Y).

 

Swedish is the obvious preference.

As long as they don't f.cking sing.

 

RE: Getting the foundations right

Why ? Has this move been ridiculed on here ?</p>

That normally ensures it was the right thing to do....
</p>

 

'Who will they be playing?'
'No regular fixtures'
'Cost me money as no reserve team'

Etc.

 

Aye cos throwing young'uns in the reserves has worked so well these last few years.</p>

It looks like SD's trying to address the failings of our youth developement. If it means him being a bit inventive and using techniques etc from other countries then crack on shag.
</p>

 

Amen.

He can't do reight for doing wrong. The only reason I want him to stop is in the hope he'll prove all the cocks wrong on here.

 

Brilliant

Why can't he do right for doing wrong?

Getting shot of the reserves does seem to me on teh face of it to perhaps not be the best plan, for instance where do players who don't figure on a regular basis actually get some match action and how do players returning form injury build up match fitness?

The move with this guy is a good one though IMHO, perhaps we are weeding out the mates scene and getting some proper coaches in for the youth at last.

 

Your last paragraph

With bells on.

 

The fact remains

that you cannot polish a turd. If there's talent, it will come out, imho. At 17/18 you should be able to tell if a player is going to make it, its only in very exceptional cases that the talent develops late via a load of coaching and coaxing. Either these 'development' lads are good enough, or they're not. And I dont subscribe to this opinion that Davey doesnt give youth a chance, as this appointment testifies.

 

It seems that no matter what he does, even though it's probably the right thing, he gets blasted for it.

It states quite clearly that a schedule will be sorted for games. I don't think we're going to have 16 players in this 'development squad' so the numbers required for these games will be made up by first team players, those recovering from injury etc. Or I hope anyway. It's not the be all and end all though.

Agreed about the coaching though, hope it filters down in to the academy now.

I'm quite hopeful though, when was the last time so many young players were consistently being talked about by the manager? There's always been one or two that had a chance but it seems now we've got Butterfield, Potter, Adam, Hibbert and Sodje along with RNL coming through a bit later.

 

RE: The fact remains

Look at what's happening - the problems are being addressed.</p>

We obviously aren't taking the right calibre into The Academy or aren't developing what we have correctly or a combination of the two. </p>

It depends how in the loop Davey was with regard to youth palyers these last 2 seasons with him having his hands somewhat full keeping the 1st team in the Championship - irrespective of him coming from the academy, he's relying on reports from the coaches at the time. A chat with the parents of youngsters who've gone for trials or who had youngsters in there in recent times tells a story.
</p>

 

One of the most encouraging things stated was the recognition that young players need time to develop.

Whilst I agree with the "you can't polish a turd" statement, the vast majority of young players ie. 17/18 year olds are not ready to play Championship football.

I hope that they are true to their word and give them the time to develop just as the likes of Wolves appear to be doing. There are two or three of this coming seasons 2nd years who I believe have a chance and that chance will be improved if they are given time to develop at Barnsley.

 

Stuart Gibson.....Glorifide reserve team coach.

From what I've been told, the club are hoping to play at least 12 behind closed doors fixtures, games that the club can hand pick. It's the behind closed doors bit that bothers me, not being able to get a look at their development. I would also think that RNL won't be playing much for the academy this season, so not much chance of a look in unless he gets to play for first team.

 

RNL should play every week for the Academy. The boy is just 16 years old and whilst he has great potential, that's all it is at this stage.

He needs to be given time to develop and grow. He is nowhere near fit enough or strong enough at this stage to be involved with the 1st team. Leave him alone to progress or we will ruin him by expecting too much too soon.

Don't just take my word for it, read Red Rain's reports when he states the same!

 

Exactly.

I think we'll see him on the bench quite a few times next year, especially with the 7 subs rule just for more and more experience.

 

I think they could have 5 senior players on the bench and any 2 of this dev squad on too. They could swap them around so every one gets on at least once every month