Name: John Gidman
Country:
EnglandClub: Aston Villa F.C.
Position: *SB, WB
Side: RF/RS
Age: 22-23 years (10/01/1954)
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Attack: 75
Defence: 72
Balance: 77
Stamina: 86
Top Speed: 83
Acceleration: 86
Response: 77
Agility: 75
Dribble Accuracy: 76
Dribble Speed: 76
Short Pass Accuracy: 73
Short Pass Speed: 74
Long Pass Accuracy: 79
Long Pass Speed: 76
Shot Accuracy: 66
Shot Power: 81
Shot Technique: 67
Free Kick Accuracy: 71
Curling: 76
Header: 75
Jump: 79
Technique: 75
Aggression: 78
Mentality: 78
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 76
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 6
Consistency: 6
Growth type: Standard/Lasting
CARDS:
P11 - Overlapping Run
SPECIAL ABILITIES:
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Balanced
INFO:
Classy, attacking full-back, known for his overlapping runs down the right flank. Quick and determined, John Gidman was one of England’s best right-backs between the 1970s and 1980s. His style of play was marked by overlaps and sending crosses into the opposition box, while also combining rapidity and stamina.
Gidman played for the Liverpool youth team without ever playing for their first team, before he joined Aston Villa in 1971, playing in his first season in their youth side that won the 1972 FA Youth Cup, beating his former side Liverpool in the final. He was later a member of the 1977 League Cup winning side. In August 1979 Gidman demanded better terms, despite two years remaining on his existing contract; Ron Saunders agreed that he could leave the club. He was subsequently signed by Everton for £650,000 in a deal which saw midfielder Pat Heard move the other way at a valuation of £100,000. Gidman then became Manchester United's new manager Ron Atkinson's first signing as he moved to United in 1981 as part of a £450,000 swap deal, with Mickey Thomas moving to Everton. He helped United win the FA Cup in 1985. After scoring 4 goals in 120 appearances for United (including 4 substitute appearances), he left the club for rivals Manchester City in 1986. During his two seasons at City, the club was relegated to the Second Division. He then moved to Stoke City and Darlington, and retired after seeing his final club relegated to the Football Conference in 1989.
Gidman made his solitary appearance for England in March 1977. There were numerous right backs available to Don Revie in the midst of England's quest to reach the 1978 World Cup. Phil Neal and Trevor Cherry were prime contenders for the shirt, while Colin Todd and Dave Clement had also been utilised over the previous 12 months by the time a crucial qualifier against Luxembourg at Wembley came round in March 1977. England needed a cricket score against the whipping boys, so much emphasis was placed on Revie's decisions in attack, but he also chose to field another fresh right back in Aston Villa's sturdy and lugubrious John Gidman. England won 5-0 but needed more, so again the attack took the headlines while Gidman, after a not too taxing debut, quietly slipped back into the Villa fold, almost unnoticed. A recall was never forthcoming, despite ploughing a long and respectable career in top-flight football for the next decade.
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