Kerrea Gilbert Ruins Banfield’s Plans?
Picture from Vital Football [Cardiff City]
High’s and Lows
Cast your minds back to the 8th of January 2006, Arsenal played Cardiff City in the F.A Cup, Arsenal were having bad injury problems, and a young defender called Kerrea Gilbert started the match, a tough tackling pacy strong right back who would later go on to play left back during a mass injury problem.
He would then feature in the next 6 games, Premiership football came in 1-0 defeat to Everton, and soon Gilbert’s name was on everybody’s lips, people talking about the man to replace Lauren and many said he would be better than Justin Hoyte, the ultimate high for the Hammersmith born England Youth international came in the second leg of the Carling Cup Semi-Final against Wigan, his cross headed in by skipper Thierry Henry, Henry mobbed Kerrea and a star was born.. or so we thought.
Gilbert was injured in Arsenal’s 3-2 home defeat to West Ham United in February of 2006 he was ruled out for two months, ending his run in the team.
In July Arsenal announced he would spend the season gaining experience with promotion chasing Cardiff City, a chance to proove his worth…
But Kerrea has had issues at both his loan clubs, injuries and then a mystery problem fustrated Cardiff boss Dave Jones, and he decided against signing him in the summer, and then at his most recent club Southend he fell out with the Reserves coach, and sat out the rest of his loan spell, from either the stands or the bench.
It seems like many of the youngsters who have come through the system at the club Kerrea’s attitude has got the better of him.
Problems
Banfield had been playing Abu Ogogo at right full back, but since Gilbert’s return to Arsenal in January 2008, Abu has been pushed to right midfield for the Reserves game with Fulham a match Gilbert started and failed to impress.
Kerrea signed a new deal before he left for Cardiff and still has 2 years left on the Pro deal, so Banfield has to play him ahead of the Scholar’s.
With one of either Ogogo, James Dunne, Mark Randall or Henri Lansbury missing out.
Gilbert couldnt play in Arsenal’s Youth Cup game against Burnley so Ogogo returned to Right back and the three midfielders mentioned above all started and shone.
Randall ran the show, and scored, Lansbury hit a hatrick, So Obviously Arsenal’s Reserves dont need Kerrea’s experience.
Transfer?
Rumor has it Gilbert (20) has been offered around Championship and League 1 clubs, and is prepared to take a wage cut to finally play regular first team football.
Neil confirmed Kerrea could be on his way out after the Fulham Reserve game.
“Sometimes going out on loan works out and it can be successful. Kerrea though has had the other side of it. He has come back here, settled straight down to business and is looking to get his career going again with somebody hopefully taking him out on loan again. What happens with him now is up to Kerrea. He has been in the first-team and proved exactly what he can do at that level. He needs to get his head down, work hard and go from there.”
Quotes from Arsenal.com Link
Some Info Used In This Post From Gilbert’s Wikipedia page
Article Written By: Jamie Sanderson
[...] Kerrea Gilbert re-joined on the 2nd of January, despite showing his super talent as a kid here, his attitude problems and constant falling out with the coaching staff at Southend and before that Cardiff meant nobody wanted him permanently, he will spend the season in the Reserves, but i would expect him to be released in the summer, you can read a bit more about his future and return Here. [...]
2 In 8 Out, January 2008 Transfer Analysis « [» Young Guns ! «] said this on April 22, 2008 at 11:37 pm