Darron Gibson

SCOTLAND star Darren Fletcher has sold his mansion to a teammate - for £1.5million.

The Manchester United midfielder was desperate to sell after his wife Hayley was subjected to a terrifying knife raid there.

Now the property in Bowdon, Greater Manchester, has been bought by United starlet Darron Gibson.

And the Fletchers have moved to a £2.5million house in nearby Hale.

A source said: "Darren put the house on the market last year shortly after the robbery.

"Hayley was left really shaken by the ordeal when she had a knife held to her throat. They installed a hi-tech CCTV system and security system but decided to move to a more private location.

"The six-bedroom house was put on the market for £1.65million while the new camera system was available by separate negotiation.

"But Darron drove a hard bargain and got the house and security system for £1.45million. He is really pleased with it."

The raid on the house took place in February last year when three hooded thugs burst in.

Hayley, who married Darren, 26, earlier this year, had her £10,000 engagement ring ripped off her finger.

The couple's two-year-old twin sons were asleep in another room.

The crooks, dubbed The Away Day Robbers, got away with cash and goods worth more than £150,000.

The raid was the 14th on a footballer's home in Lancashire and Cheshire in three years.

Police fear crooks are striking when stars are playing in away games.

WindBag wrote: hope he starts on Friday, more creative than green and best passer we have in Ireland squad, pity about his positioning sense

 

Propagandhi® wrote: Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has explained why Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson is not in his squad. Gibson was overlooked for Derby County's Paul Green in victory in Armenia. He said: "I have no prejudice against any player. You don't need to tell me about Darron's qualities. They are exceptional. "But he is not playing at the moment and that can affect a player's morale. "Also, I like my midfielders to be like Gattuso, to be mentally strong and to carry out the little details. I'm not always right but I am happy with how Green played."

Darron Gibson has become embroiled in a war of words with his international boss Giovanni Trapattoni after the Italian suggested he should leave Manchester United.

The Republic of Ireland manager suggested that the Derry man could improve his "hunger" by quitting the Theatre of Dreams.

The 22-year-old was snubbed by Trapattoni in favour of Derby County's Paul Green for Friday night's 1-0 victory over Armenia in Yerevan and he is set to miss out again for tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier against Andorra in the Aviva Stadium.

"If Trapattoni wants me to move on from a club like Manchester United to better my game, move to somewhere like Stoke where I'll get more games, but have little chance of winning anything, then I just don't know," he said.

"Where else would I go from Manchester United? At what club, other than Manchester United, could I go to improve my game?

"To be honest, if he's trying to say that I should move somewhere like Stoke City and change my game to winning tackles and not winning games, then he's having a laugh.

"To move on from Manchester United just doesn't make sense to me." Gibson admits his lack of first team action with United so far has denied him his second competitive international start, however, he hopes to seize his opportunity when it arrives.

"I have good relationship with Trapattoni," he added.

"We haven't fallen out in anyway. Personally, I just think I haven't been playing (for the Republic of Ireland) because I haven't been playing regularly at club level and he's giving other players the chance that play week in, week out."

The attack-minded midfielder is expected to play a significant part in Manchester United's bid to win back the Premier League title and he wants to help shoot down Andorra, a team ranked 201 in FIFA's world rankings.

"Like I've said before, I've proven what I can do with my performances at Manchester United last season," he said.

"I will be very disappointed if I don't play against Andorra. "I wasn't surprised I didn't play against Armenia, but I was disappointed not to get on.

"At Manchester United I've continued to do the same thing I've done all last season.

"I'm just waiting for my chance to get another run in the team. "It would be great for me if I was to play against Albania, it would be another cap and fingers crossed, I'll get the nod.

"We'll see what happens, but hopefully I can get on and make a difference. "If we play well we should get another three points which would be a great start to the group campaign."

Gibson should deffo be in ahead of Green.

Giovanni Trapattoni has denied reports that he claimed Darron Gibson would have to leave Manchester United in order to further his international career.

Reports claimed over the weekend that Gibson might have to quit Old Trafford to become a regular in Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland side.

The suggestions earned an angry rebuke from Gibson with the midfielder unhappy that Trapattoni was advising him to leave United, stating the Italian 'must have been having a laugh'.

"If Trapattoni wants me to move on from a club like Manchester United to better my game, move to somewhere like Stoke where I'll get more games but have little chance of winning anything, then I just don't know," Gibson told the Derry Journal.

"At what club, other than Manchester United, could I go to improve my game? To be honest, if he's trying to say that I should move somewhere like Stoke City and change my game to winning tackles and not winning games, then he's having a laugh. To move on from Manchester United just doesn't make sense to me."

Confusion

However, after Ireland's 3-1 win over Andorra, Trapattoni moved to clear up the confusion insisting he never suggested for Gibson to find pastures new, but to work harder to establish himself at United.

"What I told him was that, for him, the action is not finished when he does not have the ball," said Trapattoni.

"I told him that in this great team (United) it is not easy to play in this situation because he plays with ten great players and when these great players have the ball they play.

"He must ask for the ball, he must want the ball. That is important.

"He has to work to get the ball. He has fantastic vision and the long ball and he has a good personality with the ball."

Ireland4ever wrote: Doesnt demand the ball enough, which is probably tough given the players he plays with.

Every time I watched Gibson, I've felt the same way about him.
He's got a brilliant strike and a neat first touch, however, games all too often seem to pass him by.

When he got on last night, I was hopeful that he would make his mark with some telling passes, but he scarcely got on the ball to do so. This is his problem, both for us and his club, should he stay at Manyoo.

not a great player. reminds me of liam miller. anonymous in games.

Royler10 wrote: I understand why Trap doesnt start Gibson - ie "Big Club Syndrome"...however i would give him starting chance, throw him in the middle against Norway and see what he returns..I reckon eventually Man u will end up loaning him out...

i hope we don't loan him out. if fergie loans him out, that's it. he ain't a united player anymore. he's been loaned out 3 times already and he's 22 now? it's make or break. i'd love to see him used more in the team but truth is, fergie doesn't have enough confidence in him. he did play against man city and bayern munich last season which were massive games for the club and honestly, gibson had very good games. did what was expected of him and got a goal against bayern and a very good first half. unfortunately, we got too cocky after that and carrick, fell asleep completely. no fault of gibson's that we didn't go through to the semis.