Heh? That's precisely what both of them are.As for Whelan and McCarthy. My feeling is that neither is naturally a defensive midfielder. .
Gibson is an attacking midfielder with very nice passing ability, if he could stop breaking himself and running over peoples bicycles, but enough with the labels, I don't agree that Whelan is necessary at all. Put Arter, Gibson, O'Kane, Meyler or even Wilson in there with McCarthy and you automatically have a better midfield.
But I do concede he has improved a lot for Ireland in the last year as part of 5 man midfield.
My dark horse for the euro squad (he'll be back for Forest next month) - Andy Reid!