No I don't think Gibson would be better sportingly and would no doubt be more expensive. He's also unproven, not used to winning, not used to the pressure of winning things etc etc. Smalling is better than Gibson. Sorry if you can't see passed players being a rag or ex rag.
I don't know whether we've had crossed wires. But. I agree. Right now. Smalling is.... Jonny Evans however. Is not by any stretch of the imagination.