Special Feature: Joe Gibbs: “Marconi can surprise a few people”

The 20 year old former Manly United player has been through a lot in his burgeoning career, making his only A-League appearance thus far in Sydney FC?s Grand Final penalty shootout victory over Melbourne Victory in 2010.
?The grand final was an amazing experience,? Gibbs said.
?It was a long time ago now, two years, but I?m really grateful for the opportunity,? he continued.
Gibbs? career has taken a few twists and turns since then, including an ill fated stint overseas in Belgium and another season at Manly United under Craig Midgley.
It is at Marconi Stallions though, where Gibbs has finally found his feet.
?Manly United were a good club to me and I enjoyed my time there,? he said.
?I?m playing in a different position at Marconi though, I?m playing up front and I think it suits my game better,? Gibbs added.
?I had planned to come back to Manly United after the last National Youth League season, but Luke Casserly gave me a call and said that there was spot at Marconi if I wanted it, and I thought it was time for a change,? he said.
Evidently the change has worked wonders, as Gibbs has scored nine goals and created two more in what has been a breakthrough season for the 20 year old.
His latest haul was a match winning double on Saturday evening against Manly United, but Gibbs paid tribute to his team mates for their part in his personal success.
?It?s down to the players I?m playing with. People like Nathan Elasi have supplied me with a lot of good assists,? Gibbs said.
?I owe a lot to Marconi and Luke Casserly for showing faith in me,? he added.
Gibbs has been trying to create another opportunity for himself in the A-League and looked to have done himself plenty of favours by scoring four goals for Western Sydney Wanderers in their first ever trial match against Penrith Nepean, but it wasn?t to be.
?It didn?t work out with Western Sydney, Poppa (Wanderers coach Tony Popovic) wanted to go in a different direction. It?s disappointing, but what can you do?? he said.
Marconi?s season is ending with a lot of promise though and Gibbs is confident that they can have a serious impact on the finals series.
?When we?re in form, we?re one of the best teams in the league. We can surprise a few people, but we don?t want to get ahead of ourselves,? Gibbs said.
?We want to focus on that and take it game by game,? he concluded.

-By Matthew Connellan