The unsung hero of the championship season for Plymouth Argyle

The 2022–23 League One Champions have maintained the momentum that allowed them to score 101 points in the previous season; thus far, only five teams have scored more goals than the Devon-based team.

Former England youth manager Ian Foster took over at Home Park with ease, so much so that even Steven Schumacher’s December departure to Championship rivals Stoke City failed to unsettle the green team.

However, the defensive rearguard has been demonstrating their value this season, with Lewis Gibson standing out as one player in particular. It’s not just about Ryan Hardie, Morgan Whittaker, and the rest of the team on the field.

Gain for Plymouth Argyle, and loss for Everton

Since donning the green shirt, Gibson has established himself as a reliable presence in the heart of the Pilgrims’ defense, showcasing his authoritative demeanor at the back, which underscores why Everton invested a reported £6 million fee in him from Newcastle when he was just 17 years old in 2017.

Having progressed through the ranks at St James’ Park, the then-teenager signed a three-year contract with Everton, where he remained until completing a permanent move to Devon in the summer of 2023.

Despite his time at Goodison Park, the 23-year-old did not make a single first-team appearance for Everton. Instead, he gained invaluable experience through several loan spells, marking his league debut during a brief stint at Fleetwood Town, where he started in a 2-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers in February 2020. He went on to make 11 appearances for the Cod Army before embarking on another loan spell at Reading in the subsequent season.

His playing time was restricted during his subsequent loan stint at Sheffield Wednesday due to a string of injuries, but he eventually established himself as the starting center back at Bristol Rovers last season, making 33 games for The Gas in League One.

The defender’s contract on Merseyside expired last summer, and Argyle’s recruitment squad saw his potential and moved quickly to entice him to Home Park.

Gibson’s early promise was demonstrated by strong performances in the Pilgrims’ triumphs over Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers. This season, as a regular at the Championship level, he has only proven to be one of his best.

Lewis Gibson’s 2023–2024 Championship season at Plymouth Argyle: The numbers

A glance at FBRef reveals that the former Everton player leads the division in blocks this season, tallying 66 stops in his 29 league appearances thus far. Sunderland’s Trai Hume and the Preston North End duo of Brad Potts and Liam Lindsay are the only other players to reach 60 blocks.

Gibson’s knack for intercepting the ball sets him apart from others, as his ability to disrupt opposition attacks often provides his teammates with opportunities to launch counter-attacks, which they have capitalized on effectively this season.

His 159 clearances in Championship matches during the 2023/24 season are surpassed only by the experienced Shane Duffy at Norwich City, who has 163 clearances, and Preston’s Lindsay, who leads this particular statistic with 179 clearances.

Additionally, Gibson boasts a tackle success rate of 72.0%, positioning him among the top ten players in the division. This further underscores his aptitude for reading situations, timing tackles, and adeptly neutralizing threats.

Only Rotherham United and Blackburn Rovers have conceded more goals than Argyle’s 57 this season. However, it’s evident that without Gibson anchoring the defense, that figure would likely be significantly higher.

With players like Bali Mumba, Mickel Miller, and Matty Sorinola frequently surging forward from the wide defensive positions, Gibson and his defensive colleagues often find themselves exposed to various threats from Championship attacks. Nevertheless, they consistently handle these challenges admirably, with the 23-year-old playing a central role in their defensive solidity.

Moreover, Gibson’s influence extends to possession, where he leads the team in completed passes while boasting an impressive 84.7% completion rate. His total of 1274 completed passes far surpasses the next-best contribution of 867 from defensive partner Dan Scarr, underscoring Gibson’s importance in initiating attacks from the back.

Having started nearly as many games as the highly sought-after Whittaker this season, Gibson’s prominence in the team reflects the high regard in which both Steven Schumacher and Ian Foster hold him. Undoubtedly, they will be eager to retain the services of this indispensable central defender beyond the summer transfer window.