Quote: wire-quin "Why does a centre have to step to the outside? Paul Sykes for example always comes on the inside ball. (Im not saying thats a good thing as it used to frustrate me to death) Hoppo, yes I know a second row but used to run out wide like a centre, used to step inside and catch the defender on the inside foot and any lazy defenders not moving across out of position.'"
All true.
But also true that most players have a favourite side of the pitch. Gibson at 3 for Leeds has struggled to change his game to running the lines you describe. Throughout his career, he's wanted to get outside his man and he can't do that at right centre - similar to how Keith Senior looks when he plays at 3, just stepping back into the midfield traffic. To do what Hopkins did and what Sykes can do (and Michael Shenton is another good example), you need to be pretty strong off both feet and be able to fend with both hands: step left, fend, step right, straighten. Not convinced Gibson can do this.
