Name: Stephen Paul Gatting
Country:
EnglandClub: Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Number: 3 | 6 | 2
Position: *CB, SB, DMF
Side: LF/LS
Age: 23-24 years (29/05/1959)
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Attack: 65
Defence: 78
Balance: 79
Stamina: 82
Top Speed: 78
Acceleration: 76
Response: 77
Agility: 74
Dribble Accuracy: 73
Dribble Speed: 73
Short Pass Accuracy: 73
Short Pass Speed: 72
Long Pass Accuracy: 75
Long Pass Speed: 72
Shot Accuracy: 65
Shot Power: 79
Shot Technique: 65
Free Kick Accuracy: 69
Curling: 77
Header: 78
Jump: 76
Technique: 75
Aggression: 68
Mentality: 75
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 75
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Standard
CARDS:
S09 - Covering
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Covering
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Defence-Minded
INFO:
A versatile player, Steve Gatting was a natural left-sided player who could play as a central defender, full-back or midfielder. Pretty reliable, Gatting was a player who was calm, of moderate technique and had a good covering in defence, with a fine header. Not too fast, but well positioned. Had a silky foot, would launch well placed long balls to Michael Robinson or Ritchie and he would also take side free kicks and even corners, with a fine curve and power.
He started his professional career at Arsenal in 1977. Quickly rose up the ranks and he held down a first-team place, making 30 appearances in the 1978/79 season. He didn’t play in the 1979 FA Cup Final, where Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-2 but he did contribute six appearances en route to the final, scoring also one of the goals in the decisive replay in the third round against Sheffield Wednesday. In his youth career, Gatting played in the centre of the back four but Arsenal generally played him in midfield, where competition for places was fierce with the likes of Liam Brady and Graham Rix. He netted five goals in 58 First Division games before joining Brighton in 1981 where he reached and played the 1983 FA Cup final lost against Manchester United at the replay. Aside from a rare couple of spells back in midfield, he remained a defender for the rest of his career, often slotting in at left back – apart from when he played right-back in the Cup Final replay.
In ten seasons with Albion, Gatting played 316 league games and scored 19 goals. In 1991 he moved to Charlton Athletic to play his last two seasons.
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