Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: peter w on June 09, 2010, 06:10:35 PM
Title: Gabby
Post by: peter w on June 09, 2010, 06:10:35 PM
Its getting closer to a decision time about Gabby. He's going to have to start scoring more goals if he is to be our front-line striker for the foreseeable future. Its not that I'm just hoping he's going to become a 20 a season man but the amount of chances he gets created by his pace should see a better return in goals scored.
Its become virtually impossible to drop him because of the pace that he possesses and as good a weapon as that is it it could become a hindrance to the development of the team.
We're lop-sided in midfield because of an undroppable Petrov and the insistence on playing Ash and Downing together (although that could bear fruit in the long-term) and we have become the same up front.
At the moment if we need to hase a goal, or just need one in general, it won't be Gabby that is taken off. So, that lessens the possibility of Delfouneso coming on. And that was borne out last season.
I think we looka mess up front. when on form Carew is our best option and Gabby does contribute but neither contribute enough. If truth be told I'd probably look for 3 new forwards and sell Heskey, possibly Carew and loan out Delfouneso.
I'd be tempted to give Gabby one more season to see if he an develop other aspects to his game - become the the big man in a Carew mode - otherwise he needs to be moved down the pecking order. but, he is as much what is bad about Aston Villa as to what is good about us.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on June 09, 2010, 06:17:26 PM
The time to judge Gabby will be the end of next season. Until now he's improved year on year.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on June 09, 2010, 06:33:26 PM
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
The time to judge Gabby will be the end of next season. Until now he's improved year on year.
I said kinda the same thing to my mate today he has improved year by year but im not really convinced he can get much better than he is now. I am certain he wont get more than 10-15 league goals next season and here is the problem
Title: Gabby
Post by: not3bad on June 09, 2010, 06:35:45 PM
He went one on one on a number of occasions last season. If he had converted them he'd have scored 15 - 20 goals. Not sure if you can teach that kind of finishing though.
Title: Gabby
Post by: peter w on June 09, 2010, 06:38:00 PM
Quote from: "not3bad"
He went one on one on a number of occasions last season. If he had converted them he'd have scored 15 - 20 goals. Not sure if you can teach that kind of finishing though.
When he first started playing regularly through the middle I thought this was one of his better attributes, now its one of his worst.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on June 09, 2010, 06:42:45 PM
You can thank our coaches for that.
Title: Gabby
Post by: boboonthecorner on June 09, 2010, 06:44:46 PM
I feel a little sorry for Gabby, he's played a lot of games bearing in mind he didn't start until 2006. He impresses me a lot when he plays on his own, something I never thought he'd be capable of.
I know it's become a bit of a cliche but I honestly think this is his make or break season. I think if things don't quite work out for him this year I can see him moving on to kick start his career.
Title: Gabby
Post by: boboonthecorner on June 09, 2010, 06:46:15 PM
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
You can thank our coaches for that.
Both him and Young stood still last year. Arguably Young might have regressed.
Title: Gabby
Post by: not3bad on June 09, 2010, 06:58:18 PM
Quote from: "boboonthecorner"
Both him and Young stood still last year. Arguably Young might have regressed.
Didn't Gabby pick up a few votes as most improved player in the H & V end of season awards?
Title: Gabby
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 09, 2010, 07:00:38 PM
Not sure he's under any pressure at all tbh.
Gets goals, has pace, better at holding the ball up, more importantly seems to want to improve on aspects of his game.He is never going to be a Van Persie kind of player, but that does'nt matter, we need to get a better complementary player next to him.
We only need to consider Gabbys exit, if and when Delf develops into the player i think he will, even then i think the 2 could play together.
Gabby is the last Villa player i would sell, i think if he went to Ure or Arse he would get absolutely loads of goals.
Title: Gabby
Post by: hartman_1982 on June 09, 2010, 07:01:13 PM
Quote from: "boboonthecorner"
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
You can thank our coaches for that.
Both him and Young stood still last year. Arguably Young might have regressed.
Rubbish! Gabby has improved year on year. He is developing all aspects of his game and has added strings to his bow that i never thought he would be capable of.
Gabby is never going to be that instinct striker, I honestly think that is something you have or you don't, but what he is becoming is an all round front man. He puts in a shift and holds it up brilliantly, which is why i really don't see the point of him being played with a "big man" anymore.
Gabby and a poacher would be a nightmare for any defence
Title: Gabby
Post by: not3bad on June 09, 2010, 07:02:14 PM
Quote from: "barrysleftfoot"
We only need to consider Gabbys exit, if and when Delf develops into the player i think he will, even then i think the 2 could play together.
They certainly can't make a worse pair than Carew and Heskey.
Title: Gabby
Post by: PaulTheVillan on June 09, 2010, 07:04:17 PM
Gabby is getting better, I just wish he'd have a better brain for movement. For a quick bloke there's very rarely any one on ones with the keeper. Maybe that's down to the midfield?
Title: Gabby
Post by: garyshawsknee on June 09, 2010, 07:05:52 PM
Quote from: "hartman_1982"
Quote from: "boboonthecorner"
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
You can thank our coaches for that.
Both him and Young stood still last year. Arguably Young might have regressed.
Rubbish! Gabby has improved year on year. He is developing all aspects of his game and has added strings to his bow that i never thought he would be capable of.
Gabby is never going to be that instinct striker, I honestly think that is something you have or you don't, but what he is becoming is an all round front man. He puts in a shift and holds it up brilliantly, which is why i really don't see the point of him being played with a "big man" anymore.
Gabby and a poacher would be a nightmare for any defence
I agree,if we had another striker who could get 15-20 league goals with Gabs 12-15 we'd be in a good position. He's got better every year,and the odd time he doesnt play we really miss him as we have no one who can streach play like he does with his pace.He's homegrown local lad,theres not many British strikers who have got double figures over the last 3 or 4 years.
Title: Gabby
Post by: mcgrath_85 on June 09, 2010, 07:08:36 PM
I noticed last season that he doesn't seem to chase everything like he once did. I would even say that he'd become lazy in some games. I don't know if he did really improve last year, if so, then very little. Inthink that he has perhaps become a tad complacent, this is isndue to him being undroppable to MON. The same can be said about some of MON's other favourites. If a player isn't playing well, them drop them for a game or two. This should then give them the kick up the arse to really try and get back in the team. It's really not complex, but there is no changing MON. I honestly the think our manager and coaches are holding back certain players and I've been saying this for a while. I'm sure John m will pop up and bring up Milner as an example of this not being the case, which is true. But maybe if he didn't play every game, we would see even better performances from him.
Title: Gabby
Post by: boboonthecorner on June 09, 2010, 07:10:49 PM
Quote from: "hartman_1982"
Quote from: "boboonthecorner"
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
You can thank our coaches for that.
Both him and Young stood still last year. Arguably Young might have regressed.
Rubbish! Gabby has improved year on year. He is developing all aspects of his game and has added strings to his bow that i never thought he would be capable of.
Gabby is never going to be that instinct striker, I honestly think that is something you have or you don't, but what he is becoming is an all round front man. He puts in a shift and holds it up brilliantly, which is why i really don't see the point of him being played with a "big man" anymore.
Gabby and a poacher would be a nightmare for any defence
Maybe you're right in the last four seasons he's scored 9,11,12 and 13 league goals. Which highlights his progress, I still stand by my statement about Young though :)
Title: Gabby
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 09, 2010, 07:22:03 PM
I think if the question was about Ashley, then my answer would have been different.Needs to pick out the final ball better.He is a better footballer than SWP/Lennon/Walcott....he needs to prove it.
Gabby alongside a Kanoute player, would be as good as we aree going to get at the moment, we can't attract the Rooneys/Van Persies of this world, but i'm quite happy with Gabby, and with the right partner, more creative passing, we could have a real top goalscorer.
I said 2 years ago, that he would be Englands centre foward by now, and for me he should be, he's a better all round player than Crouch/Bent/Defoe/Heskey, and playing with Rooney and Gerrard would benefit him and us.
Title: Gabby
Post by: TheSandman on June 09, 2010, 07:22:15 PM
That is year on year improvement. Who says he can't push 20 in all competitions next season especially if we get a good run in the Europa? If there is a problem with our team it most certainly is not him and if we sell him heaven help us.
Title: Gabby
Post by: andyh on June 09, 2010, 07:49:12 PM
Quote from: "hartman_1982"
Quote from: "boboonthecorner"
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
You can thank our coaches for that.
Both him and Young stood still last year. Arguably Young might have regressed.
Rubbish! Gabby has improved year on year. He is developing all aspects of his game and has added strings to his bow that i never thought he would be capable of.
Gabby is never going to be that instinct striker, I honestly think that is something you have or you don't, but what he is becoming is an all round front man. He puts in a shift and holds it up brilliantly, which is why i really don't see the point of him being played with a "big man" anymore.
Gabby and a poacher would be a nightmare for any defence
That is rubbish !! that is exactly what Gabby is, an instinct striker. What he isn't is a striker who can bury a chance when he has time to think about it.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on June 09, 2010, 07:52:11 PM
That is year on year improvement. Who says he can't push 20 in all competitions next season especially if we get a good run in the Europa? If there is a problem with our team it most certainly is not him and if we sell him heaven help us.
Absolutely.
I bet in all those games he's probably played 90 minutes in all but a handful. I think he's done exceptionally well, whether with Carew, Heskey or quite possibly his best, on his own.
He deserves a lot more credit than gets.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Pete3206 on June 09, 2010, 07:52:38 PM
He should be in SA instead of Heskey.
Holds the ball up better, works harder, scores more goals.
Title: Gabby
Post by: eastie on June 09, 2010, 07:54:19 PM
Agree to a degree, gabby on instinct is not bad but when he's one on one and has time to think he's not so good- he needs to improve his finishing as he missed a lot of chances last season that he should have put away.
The signing of keane would maybe bring out the best in gabby but at the moment the jury is out on him In my eyes.
Title: Gabby
Post by: peter w on June 09, 2010, 08:01:23 PM
That is year on year improvement. Who says he can't push 20 in all competitions next season especially if we get a good run in the Europa? If there is a problem with our team it most certainly is not him and if we sell him heaven help us.
Absolutely.
I bet in all those games he's probably played 90 minutes in all but a handful. I think he's done exceptionally well, whether with Carew, Heskey or quite possibly his best, on his own.
He deserves a lot more credit than gets.
I think one thing Gabby gets is credit. What he now needs to do is deliver in a big way.
Title: Gabby
Post by: john e on June 09, 2010, 08:06:24 PM
he's the best we got, but overated no where near as good as people think,
he will only leave if a top team come in for him, they wont, so he's here for the long stay, should please most on here.
i'm not saying i want to sell him, we should get rid of the other two first, but he will never be a 20 league goal a season man, i know they are rare, and Gabby's not one of them
Title: Gabby
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 09, 2010, 08:08:52 PM
If he took penalties he would be john.
Title: Gabby
Post by: john e on June 09, 2010, 08:12:29 PM
Quote from: "barrysleftfoot"
If he took penalties he would be john.
you reckon he'd score then ?
Title: Gabby
Post by: TheSandman on June 09, 2010, 08:17:40 PM
He's not just highly rated on here or amongst our support but he's one of our players who is spoken most highly about by supporters of other clubs when I talk to them.
And I'm speaking as someone who didn't start to rate him until recently.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on June 09, 2010, 08:17:56 PM
That is year on year improvement. Who says he can't push 20 in all competitions next season especially if we get a good run in the Europa? If there is a problem with our team it most certainly is not him and if we sell him heaven help us.
Absolutely.
I bet in all those games he's probably played 90 minutes in all but a handful. I think he's done exceptionally well, whether with Carew, Heskey or quite possibly his best, on his own.
He deserves a lot more credit than gets.
I think one thing Gabby gets is credit. What he now needs to do is deliver in a big way.
Maybe when he starts getting some decent service he'll deliver in a big way. Until now he's done exceptionally well.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Phil from the upper holte on June 09, 2010, 08:22:25 PM
Quote from: "PaulTheVillan"
Gabby is getting better, I just wish he'd have a better brain for movement. For a quick bloke there's very rarely any one on ones with the keeper. Maybe that's down to the midfield?
Maybe but defences play very deep when they play us so maybe that has a bearing!?
Title: Gabby
Post by: john e on June 09, 2010, 08:25:11 PM
Quote from: "TheSandman"
He's not just highly rated on here or amongst our support but he's one of our players who is spoken most highly about by supporters of other clubs when I talk to them.
And I'm speaking as someone who didn't start to rate him until recently.
thats because he's the most over inflated hyped up player we have, especially in the media, certainly used to be anyway.
people just go along with what they hear.
two or three seasons ago i went to Stamford bridge with a couple of Chelsea supporters, they were telling me how much they feared Gabby and what he could do to them, it was just what they had picked up from the TV etc i told them not to worry and he was nothing like as good as everyone thinks, on the way back they said it was true, he did nothing
Title: Gabby
Post by: Dave on June 09, 2010, 08:33:32 PM
Quote from: "john e"
two or three seasons ago i went to Stamford bridge with a couple of Chelsea supporters, they were telling me how much they feared Gabby and what he could do to them, it was just what they had picked up from the TV etc
Maybe it was the fact that in spite of them having the strongest defence in the league player barely out of his teens kept scoring goals againt them?
Title: Gabby
Post by: john e on June 09, 2010, 08:35:19 PM
Quote from: "Dave"
Quote from: "john e"
two or three seasons ago i went to Stamford bridge with a couple of Chelsea supporters, they were telling me how much they feared Gabby and what he could do to them, it was just what they had picked up from the TV etc
Maybe it was the fact that in spite of them having the strongest defence in the league player barely out of his teens kept scoring goals againt them?
pity he didnt keep it up at Wembley
Title: Gabby
Post by: Dave on June 09, 2010, 08:36:43 PM
Quote from: "john e"
Quote from: "Dave"
Quote from: "john e"
two or three seasons ago i went to Stamford bridge with a couple of Chelsea supporters, they were telling me how much they feared Gabby and what he could do to them, it was just what they had picked up from the TV etc
Maybe it was the fact that in spite of them having the strongest defence in the league player barely out of his teens kept scoring goals againt them?
pity he didnt keep it up at Wembley
I agree completely.
But it doesn't change what I said in my previous post one jot.
Title: Gabby
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 09, 2010, 08:43:06 PM
Gabby was the 1st player outside of the top 4 to score at all the top 4 grounds.Hes not like Defoe whos shit against better players, he does it against the best, thats why he is probably our key player.
He tore apart Ashley Cole and John Terry at VP this season, and with a better player alongside him will get even better.
I think you are being a bit harsh on him john.
Title: Gabby
Post by: peter w on June 09, 2010, 08:44:53 PM
Quote from: "barrysleftfoot"
Gabby was the 1st player outside of the top 4 to score at all the top 4 grounds.Hes not like Defoe whos shit against better players, he does it against the best, thats why he is probably our key player.
He tore apart Ashley Cole and John Terry at VP this season, and with a better player alongside him will get even better.
I think you are being a bit harsh on him john.
But then he skips past a player and invariably does the wrong thing. Don't get me wrong, I like him, but think its time to show he can become a better player for us.
Title: Gabby
Post by: john e on June 09, 2010, 08:49:53 PM
Quote from: "Dave"
Quote from: "john e"
Quote from: "Dave"
Quote from: "john e"
two or three seasons ago i went to Stamford bridge with a couple of Chelsea supporters, they were telling me how much they feared Gabby and what he could do to them, it was just what they had picked up from the TV etc
Maybe it was the fact that in spite of them having the strongest defence in the league player barely out of his teens kept scoring goals againt them?
pity he didnt keep it up at Wembley
I agree completely.
But it doesn't change what I said in my previous post one jot.
but were are talking about Gabby, and he will always split oppinions,
i love it when he scores, coarse i do, but i love it when Heskey scores, but it doesnt change my view on him. i was behind the goal on two occasions when Gabby scored the winner at Blues, and on two occasions got chased down the street, but it was worth it
i come on here and post honestly, i watch Gabby season in season out and think , no he's just not all that, i know you dont agree cus weve been down this road before you and i,
but i honestly dont rate him any where near as high as others on here including your good self.
theres no point me saying otherwise, i wish he would change my oppinion of him, but so far he marginally improved last season, but has a long way to go to be the top class striker tht people think he is, in my oppinion anyroad
Title: Gabby
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 09, 2010, 08:50:27 PM
Hes never going to be a good footballer though peter, but he will score goals, and more importantly, and you have to give MON praise for this, he does work at his faults and tries to get better.
I think he plays better when he does'nt have to think, when he is just given easy directives, hence he plays better for me when up front on his own.
Title: Gabby
Post by: steveo on June 09, 2010, 11:29:45 PM
Ive seen gabby since he came on the scene and yes he's got better, but unfortunaly i think he's more of a sprinter than a footballer, he makes the wrong decisiion more often than not, i do however agree that in todays game you can get away with a player like gabby but you need a 20 goaler up with him. over to you mon!
Title: Gabby
Post by: Mazrim on June 09, 2010, 11:56:08 PM
Plenty of room for improvement, which is a good thing as he's already a hell of a player. Some of the stick he gets makes me laugh or simply annoys me depending on the day.
One of our best or most effective players and will remain so for some time.
Title: Gabby
Post by: hawkeye on June 10, 2010, 02:22:18 AM
He lacks touch and movement to be a top striker, he is better playing as a lone striker, he looked a better player with Moore than he does with Heskey or Carew, MON likes the big man and nother, it dosent suit his game, its a shame that we hve not seen him with the Fonz because i think that they could form a decent partnership
Title: Gabby
Post by: VillaZogmariner on June 10, 2010, 03:37:23 AM
I think Gabby could play the role that BJC/Mr. Em plays for us at the moment. He's clearly worked on his upper body strength, and holds the ball up well in my opinion. Put him alongside Keane/Fonz and I think we'd have a fantastic front 2.
Although, I still think we'd play better with a front 4.
Give all 4 players the freedom of the pitch and I think we'd score more goals as opposition defenders wouldn't know who is going to play where. Playing that way may not increase the amount of goals Gabby scores himself, but I think it would improve the amount scored by Young/Milner/Downing.
Title: Gabby
Post by: andrew08 on June 10, 2010, 06:02:07 AM
I like Gabby and I think he is one of our iconic players. When people talk of Villa he's one of the players they associate with us and he represents our style of play, certainly away from home at least.
He is good enough to play for England and for a top 6 side as he has done that for all his career.If he played within the M25 he would probably have at least made the 30 man England squad. Ok he could score more scrappy goals but he isn't that kind of striker. He's no Michael Owen but if Citeh or Spuds started a bidding war for him we'd get Milner type cash for him.
He's also my seven year olds favourite player, he has a good chant and he scores against the noses. Let him be
Title: Gabby
Post by: LeeB on June 10, 2010, 07:49:44 AM
Lest we forget.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Simon Ward on June 10, 2010, 09:59:17 AM
Best striker we have at the club at the moment
Title: Gabby
Post by: Can Gana Be Bettered!?!? on June 10, 2010, 10:17:35 AM
Quote from: "not3bad"
He went one on one on a number of occasions last season. If he had converted them he'd have scored 15 - 20 goals. Not sure if you can teach that kind of finishing though.
I thought this when I saw Robbie Keane score a one on one for Celtic towards the end of the season. As soon as he was through on the goalie, you knew he'd score. I wouldn't be very confident at all with Gabby. And then I thought, actually, I don't think there's anyone in the team that I'd feel confident about scoring from a one on one situation.
Not that I'm particuarly bothered about trying to sign Keane, it's the point that you knew he'd score. The same could be said with Rooney, Defoe, Drogbad, Anelka, Torress etc (the scoring bit - obviously I'd be bothered about them coming to Villa!!!).
Title: Gabby
Post by: Can Gana Be Bettered!?!? on June 10, 2010, 10:18:59 AM
Gabby is at his best when he doesn't have to think about what he's going to do.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Concrete John on June 10, 2010, 10:33:01 AM
The way I view Gabby, is that he's good and very useful to us, but probably not capable of becoming a truely top player. His reading of the game is not good enough for this and his actually footballing ability is only average for the standard of the PL, but it's his pace that steps him up a level. This was evident when he played for England.
So, he far from deserves any criticism, but he would need downgrade him to a squad player if we were to become a Cl club.
Sort of like having a Porsche Boxster until you can get a Carrerra II.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Risso on June 10, 2010, 10:51:24 AM
Quote from: "John M"
The way I view Gabby, is that he's good and very useful to us, but probably not capable of becoming a truely top player. His reading of the game is not good enough for this and his actually footballing ability is only average for the standard of the PL, but it's his pace that steps him up a level. This was evident when he played for England.
So, he far from deserves any criticism, but he would need downgrade him to a squad player if we were to become a Cl club.
Sort of like having a Porsche Boxster until you can get a Carrerra II.
I disagree John, I think he's potentially as good as any other English striker out there at the moment with the exception of Rooney, and is as good as a lot of the non-English ones as well. He's still only young, and he clearly works hard at his game.
The problem he has is that he's either partnered with Carew (talented but lazy) or Heskey (just fucking shit). He therefore has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. Another problem is that because of our limited tactics at home, the fact that away teams work to stamp out the supply from the wings means he doesn't get a lot of service, or is left chasing over hit crosses. A bit more guile from the centre of midfield and a quality partner would make him look as good as I think he is.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Concrete John on June 10, 2010, 10:58:57 AM
Quite possibly - one think in his favour is that he does keep improving, so long may that continue until he proves me wrong.
But in those tight games I think you need a litle more intelligence with where to be and where to make your runs, which he lacks. I don't think it's any coincidence that we're better away from home and our best striker relies on space to exploit his pace.
As for other English strikers, I'd say that in terms of touch, finishing and movement, Defoe is better. Crouch also has a better first touch and Bent is a better finisher.
And I'm not trying to do the lad down, just being realistic as to what I expect of him and what he can become.
Title: Gabby
Post by: KevinGage on June 10, 2010, 11:44:05 AM
Agreed John.
I am reminded though of a certain Dwight Yorke.
Not an obvious comparison at first, Dwight for one thing always looked like he had bags of natural ability. Even when he was struggling to break into the side. Gabby looks more limited, in touch, control and awareness.
But Dwight early on never looked like a natural 20 goals a season goalscorer (save for a brief period under BFR in 1991/92), for all his fancy footwork. Even at his best, he sat far deeper than your typical goalscorer.
With the right service I think Gabby too could be a 20 goals a season forward, and I've felt that way for some time. He's improved year on year as mentioned, so he seems to have that drive and willingness to push on. Thinking back to some of his finishes in recent campaigns there is also something to be said for the school of thought that says he's better when he plays instinctively, when he doesn't have time to think.
Speed kills, particularly at the top flight. So long as he has that he'll always be a threat. I think I'm right in saying that he has scored at least once against all of the Sky 4. That's probably no coincidence. We used to continuously moan that our previous forwards or better players were flat track bullies, only capable of doing it against the weaker sides. This kid is different.
If he's willing to work on the other aspects of his game, gets partnered with a forward who can spot his runs and play him in and doesn't have too much burden put on his shoulders too soon, he could do save us an absolute fortune in the long run.
Title: Gabby
Post by: django on June 10, 2010, 11:44:38 AM
Gabby is the second best english striker after Wayne Rooney and should have gone to the world cup.
No wonder so many of you are depressed all the time if you think Gabby isn't good enough for us. He's a better player than Defoe or Darren Bent who people get there knickers in a twist over because we didn't sign them. Sure his finishing is wayward at times and sometimes he doesn't make the right choices, but don't compare him to players highlights alone as the other players mentioned aren't perfect either.
As for Gabby being overrated? someone like Walcott is overrated. The word for Gabby is 'underappreciated'
And he's a homegrown talent who works hard. There really is no pleasing some people.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Merv on June 10, 2010, 12:01:31 PM
I don't think there's a decision to be made about Gabby's future at all. Can he get better? I think so - of course, a 'better' partner and 'better' service will always help and I believe he has more goals in him. But we're not talking about a kid who looks promising but raw here and is maybe chipping in with a handful of goals a season. We're talking about a striker who has scored consistently in the PL for the last three-four seasons, against the best sides, and very often scoring crucial, match-winning goals. If he never improves his game one iota from here on in, we've still got a very good PL striker on our hands.
Title: Gabby
Post by: eastie on June 10, 2010, 12:09:20 PM
Amazed at suggestion he's better than defoe or bent- I'd swap either of them for him like a shot!
I rate gabby but he misses too many easy chances and he will need to improve his finishing if he wishes to be a 20 goal a season player.
Bent and Defoe are much better finishers as their goals ratio proves - I think gabby would benefit immensely in a partnership with keane.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Concrete John on June 10, 2010, 12:09:38 PM
Quote from: "Merv"
If he never improves his game one iota from here on in, we've still got a very good PL striker on our hands.
Wouldn't question that for a second!
Title: Gabby
Post by: django on June 10, 2010, 12:24:52 PM
Quote from: "east19"
Amazed at suggestion he's better than defoe or bent- I'd swap either of them for him like a shot!
I rate gabby but he misses too many easy chances and he will need to improve his finishing if he wishes to be a 20 goal a season player.
Bent and Defoe are much better finishers as their goals ratio proves - I think gabby would benefit immensely in a partnership with keane.
Yes i agree Bent and Defoe are both better finishers than Gabby and i'm not saying they are bad players, but as an all round player i think he contributes more than either of them. Similarly Peter Crouch has a better touch and is more dangerous in the air but again i think Gabby is the better player because although they offer different things i think Agbonlahor offers more.
It doesn't mean that i think he is better at everything than other players, but he is good at a number of things. As others have said he is still improving, but even at the level he is already at we have had few more effective strikers in the past 30 years.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Clampy on June 10, 2010, 12:54:41 PM
Quote from: "Can Carew Be Bothered!?!?"
Gabby is at his best when he doesn't have to think about what he's going to do.
Bar his goal away at Hull, absolutley spot on.
Title: Gabby
Post by: cb on June 10, 2010, 12:59:41 PM
I was looking at his stats on the PL site and his shots to goals ratio is very competitive with all of the other top strikers. Of the top strikers, he's only behind Torres and Bent and ahead of many of the leading lights like Roonay and Drogba. Now you can read too much into statistics, but I think that shows he's pretty good at taking his chances. Where I think he falls down is in not getting enough chances in a game. That may be due to us as a team, but I also think that he doesn't get on the end of enough crosses.
He would do well to look at what Rooney did last summer in learning how to pick up positions on the edge of the box early and then make late runs onto the crosses we do produce into the box. I think if he could add that to his game he could easily add another 6/7 goals to his final tally, which would put him right up there, without the advantage of taking penalties. I think this is quite doable and hopefully he has a look at this over the summer.
I also think having a withdrawn striker or an attacking midfielder behind him, playing through balls in for him could be absolutely deadly and I would see him as being a little like Andy Cole during his Newcastle days in this regard. Maybe not the greatrest finisher in the world, but good enough that if he gets on the end of enough chances then he will score plenty.
Title: Gabby
Post by: TonyD on June 10, 2010, 01:28:02 PM
Gabby is a great player. He would score much more goals if we played a more cutting passing game rather than hoof ball. Long may he wear the Villa shirt.
Title: Gabby
Post by: UsualSuspect on June 10, 2010, 02:18:56 PM
Quote from: "Phil from the upper holte"
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
The time to judge Gabby will be the end of next season. Until now he's improved year on year.
I said kinda the same thing to my mate today he has improved year by year but im not really convinced he can get much better than he is now. I am certain he wont get more than 10-15 league goals next season and here is the problem
Tend to agree, i like Gabby but he hasnt got a football brain in the sense that I dont think he instinctively knows what runs to make or where he needs to be. I think he has virtually reached his peak.
Title: Gabby
Post by: pauliewalnuts on June 10, 2010, 03:57:06 PM
I like Gabby, he's got lots of potential, but he's got to start delivering more of it soon.
As for England's best striker behind Rooney, if you judge your strikers by the goals they score, then Bent and Defoe have scored far more last season.
As others have said, where he doesn't really deliver in the way really good strikers do, is that he rarely creates space for himself. The best strikers have an instinctive ability to do this, as well as one for being in the right place at the right time.
He can add this to his game, and work on it at BMH, but there isn't anything like enough of it in him at the moment. I suspect that's one reason why he's not at the world cup.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Chris Smith on June 10, 2010, 04:16:08 PM
If Gabby and Darren Bent were both put up far sale this summer you'd see a higher calibre of club after our man.
Put Bent in a side that has to play against a 10 man defence most weeks and he'd score less than Gabby. If it was all about scoring records he'd be in South Africa.
Title: Gabby
Post by: eastie on June 10, 2010, 04:27:57 PM
Quote from: "Chris Smith"
If Gabby and Darren Bent were both put up far sale this summer you'd see a higher calibre of club after our man.
Put Bent in a side that has to play against a 10 man defence most weeks and he'd score less than Gabby. If it was all about scoring records he'd be in South Africa.
Bent should be in south Africa and heskey shouldn't be!
Gabby has age on his side but he must look to improve his finishing and goal tally next season, he will be better off alongside a player who complements his style.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Concrete John on June 10, 2010, 04:31:46 PM
Quote from: "east19"
Bent should be in south Africa and heskey shouldn't be!
Bent isn't good enough for international football and Heskey, despite what we think of him, does a job for his country that Bent couldn't.
I'd take Bent over Heskey in the Villa side any day of the week, but I'd play Heskey for England ahead of Bent. Weird, but true!
Title: Gabby
Post by: curiousorange on June 10, 2010, 04:37:43 PM
Bent is this generation's Ian Wright - prolific at club level, completely out of his depth against international defences.
Title: Gabby
Post by: pauliewalnuts on June 10, 2010, 04:38:22 PM
Quote from: "Chris Smith"
If Gabby and Darren Bent were both put up far sale this summer you'd see a higher calibre of club after our man.
Put Bent in a side that has to play against a 10 man defence most weeks and he'd score less than Gabby. If it was all about scoring records he'd be in South Africa.
And Gabby's not in South Africa, and also doesn't have the scoring record, having not made the last 30, which Bent did.
Like I said, he's a good player who could, and hopefully will, get a lot better.
Whilst it isn't all about scoring records, we need someone in next season who will put the ball in the net more often than Gabby and Carew have done (I would mention Heskey here, but it doesn't seem appropriate). A look at the goals for column for the last two seasons shows where we need to be improving more than anywhere else.
Hopefully it'll come from Gabby.
Title: Gabby
Post by: TheSandman on June 10, 2010, 04:39:53 PM
As Chris implied in his post Gabby is a better all round striker than Bent. He lacks Bent's scoring touch but he has other attributes.
I agree that Heskey shouldn't be in South Africa as whilst it's true he plays a role in the team as he has got older and lost confidence in the last year he has become less and less effective. However, I also agree that Bent's skill as a goalscorer doesn't translate on the international scene and anyway he's unable to play this hard working, defender scaring targetman role that Heskey has made his own. I actually think that Gabby could do this but with more goals and so I think it's not Bent, not Heskey but Gabby who should be in South Africa.
That said I'd probably want to see if an effective partnership could be made with Rooney and Crouchy whose international scoring record is magnificent before I tried Gabby.
Title: Gabby
Post by: eastie on June 10, 2010, 04:53:26 PM
A striker is measured by goals- give me a natural finisher like bent or owen than heskey anyday- hopefully gabby will start finishing better and get more goals next yr.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Concrete John on June 10, 2010, 05:01:42 PM
Quote from: "east19"
A striker is measured by goals- give me a natural finisher like bent or owen than heskey anyday- hopefully gabby will start finishing better and get more goals next yr.
But these natural scorers often lack some other basics of the game and don't do too much for the team, so need a striker alongside them to do the donkey work. Hence why the Owen/Heskey partnership was so great in it's prime.
In Gabby we seem to have a player who does good work for the team and weighs with a decent goal tally himself, which is why he's so highly rated. My only issue is that he probably hasn't got the touch and intellignece to be good enough for the very top of the game.
Title: Gabby
Post by: MoetVillan on June 10, 2010, 05:54:25 PM
Bent or Heskey for England IMO is a misnomer. For starters, Bent hasnt scored enough important goals for England or for a top team. You can argue Spurs all you like, but he wasnt making it count for Jellyface, who everyone lauds on here as a great wheeler dealer. So suddenly he is not good enough for Spurs but someone MON should be buying?, I dont get the logic. As for Heskey, the stats say, he plays with Rooney, Rooney scores. Would you rather have a team, with not necessarily all the best players, or a team of indivuals. I think England will get further this year as while i thought that man for man in 2006 we had a stronger squad, this time we have a better team. And Hesky is in it for me. I also think we have a strong asset in Gab. A local lad, that wants to play for us, wants to improve and is fast as fuck. Brilliant
Title: Gabby
Post by: enigma on June 10, 2010, 06:10:35 PM
As far as England are concerned, it's not a case of having either Heskey or Bent in the squad but Defoe or Bent. Heskey isn't picked for England to score goals as such. That much should be obvious by now.
Strange as it might seem but England will score more goals with a Rooney / Heskey partnership than they would with Rooney / Bent or Bent / Defoe for instance.
I think Rooney and Crouch will be the first choice strikers if he goes with two up front anyway. Otherwise it'll be Rooney on his own with Gerrard in behind.
Title: Gabby
Post by: paul_e on June 10, 2010, 07:57:27 PM
The problem with Gabby is that he is very very good in the big games, which makes it difficult to be overly negative of him.
I think what really needs to happen is for him to be rested more as I really think he sees bolton on the fixture list and thinks "80% in that one then". I think he's doing htat, as much as anything, because he knows he needs to be able to play 90minutes 55-60 times a season, which is a hell of a lot to ask.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Ross on June 10, 2010, 10:23:32 PM
Quote from: "paul_e"
The problem with Gabby is that he is very very good in the big games, which makes it difficult to be overly negative of him.
That's a problem??!!
Title: Gabby
Post by: Osbourne4England on June 10, 2010, 10:45:46 PM
Gabby is absolutely wank. Please get rid of him! I'd snap anyone's hand off if the offered £8-£10million for him!
Seriously, his touch is crap, his finishing is woeful...but I could put up with this as he has blistering pace if he actually tried from time to time. But no, he seems content to strole about and pick up his wages. The bone idle twat
Title: Gabby
Post by: Mazrim on June 10, 2010, 10:59:33 PM
Quote from: "Osbourne4England"
Gabby is absolutely wank. Please get rid of him! I'd snap anyone's hand off if the offered £8-£10million for him!
Seriously, his touch is crap, his finishing is woeful...but I could put up with this as he has blistering pace if he actually tried from time to time. But no, he seems content to strole about and pick up his wages. The bone idle twat
Please just fuck off.
Title: Gabby
Post by: pauliewalnuts on June 10, 2010, 11:00:58 PM
Quote from: "Mazrim"
Quote from: "Osbourne4England"
Gabby is absolutely wank. Please get rid of him! I'd snap anyone's hand off if the offered £8-£10million for him!
Seriously, his touch is crap, his finishing is woeful...but I could put up with this as he has blistering pace if he actually tried from time to time. But no, he seems content to strole about and pick up his wages. The bone idle twat
Please just fuck off.
He's been fucked off already.
Title: Gabby
Post by: KevinGage on June 10, 2010, 11:54:24 PM
Quote from: "John M"
Quote from: "east19"
Bent should be in south Africa and heskey shouldn't be!
Bent isn't good enough for international football and Heskey, despite what we think of him, does a job for his country that Bent couldn't.
I'd take Bent over Heskey in the Villa side any day of the week, but I'd play Heskey for England ahead of Bent. Weird, but true!
I think the older I get the true realisation hits me that I know nowt about football.
Heskey personifies that. I get the theory, genuinely I do. "He's unselfish/brings others into play," et.c. Maybe. But he's hardly an asset phenomenon. It wouldn't be the hardest job in the world to get a semi-decent forward to hold the ball up a bit more often and lay it off. Or is that too simplistic an approach?
Find a guy who does that and Heskey becomes redundant.
He doesn't exactly excel in those areas in a Villa shirt either, lets be clear. One of the few footballers it seems in the world game who doesn't need to worry about club form to cement a place in a major international starting XI.
Perhaps I'm doing him a disservice. Perhaps he only saves his best form for the international platform, like a bulkier slightly uncoordinated Darius Vassell. With even less of a goal threat, obv.
Title: Gabby
Post by: pauliewalnuts on June 10, 2010, 11:56:25 PM
I can see he does things for England.
Whether he doesn't do them for Villa because he needs a more natural striker alongside him than Gabby, or because the way we play doesn't suit him or whichever reason is neither here nor there, really.
He hasn't done it for us, he's not going to start playing alongside Wayne Rooney for us, and we're not going to start changing the way we play to suit him, so I hope he moves on this summer.
He won't, but I'll have my fingers crossed anyway.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Villa'Zawg on June 11, 2010, 12:25:58 AM
With Heskey it is not so much what he does for the "other" strike partner, it is what he does for the midfield. Rooney and Gabby are not necessarily more effective with Heskey on the pitch compared to Carew/Crouch, the attacking midfielders are.
I'm not exactly sure what it is specifically that he does differently but it seems to be that he looks to find the counter-attacking midfield wave as opposed to trying to find his own way through on goal.
Carew = big striker, holds the ball up well, creates space for himself, finds route to goal. Heskey= big striker, holds the ball up well, makes space for others, finds route to goal for others.
I think.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Chris Smith on June 11, 2010, 08:45:56 AM
Quote from: "Villadawg"
With Heskey it is not so much what he does for the "other" strike partner, it is what he does for the midfield. Rooney and Gabby are not necessarily more effective with Heskey on the pitch compared to Carew/Crouch, the attacking midfielders are.
I'm not exactly sure what it is specifically that he does differently but it seems to be that he looks to find the counter-attacking midfield wave as opposed to trying to find his own way through on goal.
Carew = big striker, holds the ball up well, creates space for himself, finds route to goal. Heskey= big striker, holds the ball up well, makes space for others, finds route to goal for others.
I think.
Carew doesn't hold the ball up nearly as well as Heskey does. He's much more dangerous in the box but we keep hold if it far better when Emile is on the pitch. I think that's why Capello likes him because retaining possession is not something that England sides have always been good at.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Can Gana Be Bettered!?!? on June 11, 2010, 08:55:05 AM
Quote from: "Chris Smith"
Quote from: "Villadawg"
With Heskey it is not so much what he does for the "other" strike partner, it is what he does for the midfield. Rooney and Gabby are not necessarily more effective with Heskey on the pitch compared to Carew/Crouch, the attacking midfielders are.
I'm not exactly sure what it is specifically that he does differently but it seems to be that he looks to find the counter-attacking midfield wave as opposed to trying to find his own way through on goal.
Carew = big striker, holds the ball up well, creates space for himself, finds route to goal. Heskey= big striker, holds the ball up well, makes space for others, finds route to goal for others.
I think.
Carew doesn't hold the ball up nearly as well as Heskey does. He's much more dangerous in the box but we keep hold if it far better when Emile is on the pitch. I think that's why Capello likes him because retaining possession is not something that England sides have always been good at.
Carew does hold the ball up better. He doesn't allow himself to fall over when a player breathes on him as he's holding up the ball.
Emile Heskey is probably the worst signing MON has made. He's such an awful player. I really cannot believe he's in the England squad. It shows how shit Englands strikers must be for him to get in it.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Chris Smith on June 11, 2010, 09:05:56 AM
Quote from: "Can Carew Be Bothered!?!?"
Quote from: "Chris Smith"
Quote from: "Villadawg"
With Heskey it is not so much what he does for the "other" strike partner, it is what he does for the midfield. Rooney and Gabby are not necessarily more effective with Heskey on the pitch compared to Carew/Crouch, the attacking midfielders are.
I'm not exactly sure what it is specifically that he does differently but it seems to be that he looks to find the counter-attacking midfield wave as opposed to trying to find his own way through on goal.
Carew = big striker, holds the ball up well, creates space for himself, finds route to goal. Heskey= big striker, holds the ball up well, makes space for others, finds route to goal for others.
I think.
Carew doesn't hold the ball up nearly as well as Heskey does. He's much more dangerous in the box but we keep hold if it far better when Emile is on the pitch. I think that's why Capello likes him because retaining possession is not something that England sides have always been good at.
Carew does hold the ball up better. He doesn't allow himself to fall over when a player breathes on him as he's holding up the ball.
Emile Heskey is probably the worst signing MON has made. He's such an awful player. I really cannot believe he's in the England squad. It shows how shit Englands strikers must be for him to get in it.
If you actually gave some thought to it instead of posting on blind prejudice you'd realise that the reason he is in the England squad is that results in qualifying with him in the side were excellent. However, it's not too late and I'm sure that the under achieving, know-nothing, charlatan Fabio Capello is waiting for your call.
Title: Gabby
Post by: pedro25 on June 11, 2010, 09:07:14 AM
Heskey holds it up better than Carew, but doesn't do anything else better than him. The second arew goal against Wolves was the perfect example of what Heskey does so well for England and the likes of Lampard and Gerrard. He held it up and laid it off for the onrushing Sidwell to shoot for goal inside the penalty area, with it bouncing in off big John. He just hasn't done it nearly enough for Villa and when he has we have duffers like Sidwell fluffing his lines usually and not clinical finishers like Lampard.
Title: Gabby
Post by: peter w on June 11, 2010, 09:08:33 AM
Heskey isn't shit. In the right team he can be useful we haven't found it because we don't use a system whereby the hold up masn looks for the midfield to come onto the ball with a strike partner who hangs off his shoulder. We're all about pace and swift breaks. That would work if we had a side, and indeed signed the right players throughout the team to fit into that.
We haven't yet got it right and that isn't heskey's fault. Whether he is good enough is another argument.
But this thread isn't about heskey, but Gabby.
Title: Gabby
Post by: MoetVillan on June 11, 2010, 09:13:36 AM
The fact England cant find a player that can hold up the ball and do what Heskey does, implies he is the best in the country at it. The fact he cant hit a barn door with a banjo remains an incredibly frustrating part of his game, because he plays the same for England as he does for us. I would love it if he could finish, but he would still be at Liverpool or higher up if it was the case. I disagree that it is MONs worse signing, sorry. I dont think he is a bad one at all
Title: Gabby
Post by: Concrete John on June 11, 2010, 09:27:36 AM
I always find myself wondering exactly why Heskey hasn't been more effective for us? I agree with the point that he does as much for the midfield as his strike partner, but although we may not have Gerrard or Lampard, Ash, Milner and Downing are good enough that we should get some benefit from this. Yet from what I can see, we don't seem to?
Title: Gabby
Post by: peter w on June 11, 2010, 09:37:09 AM
Again, this is a thread about Gabby, not Heskey, there are and have been loads of those.
Title: Gabby
Post by: PaulTheVillan on June 11, 2010, 09:51:19 AM
Quote from: "peter w"
Heskey isn't shit. In the right team he can be useful we haven't found it because we don't use a system whereby the hold up masn looks for the midfield to come onto the ball with a strike partner who hangs off his shoulder. We're all about pace and swift breaks. That would work if we had a side, and indeed signed the right players throughout the team to fit into that.
We haven't yet got it right and that isn't heskey's fault. Whether he is good enough is another argument.
But this thread isn't about heskey, but Gabby.
Good post on Heskey.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Chris Smith on June 11, 2010, 10:11:37 AM
Quote from: "peter w"
Again, this is a thread about Gabby, not Heskey, there are and have been loads of those.
It's relevant though as with the right partner I reckon Gabby will be even more effective. I've been saying for some time that I think he'd benefit from having a Keane type striker to play off, more of a number 10 than a traditional centre forward. If we could unearth the new Yorkie that would be ideal but failing that then Keane will do for me.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Concrete John on June 11, 2010, 10:20:45 AM
Quote from: "Chris Smith"
Quote from: "peter w"
Again, this is a thread about Gabby, not Heskey, there are and have been loads of those.
It's relevant though as with the right partner I reckon Gabby will be even more effective. I've been saying for some time that I think he'd benefit from having a Keane type striker to play off, more of a number 10 than a traditional centre forward. If we could unearth the new Yorkie that would be ideal but failing that then Keane will do for me.
I would still have a concern about his footballing brain to make the right runs to fully benefit from this, but that kind of player would be best with him, IMO. I guess it would need to be an older head to tell him where to go, so someone like Keane makes sense in that regard.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Chris Smith on June 11, 2010, 10:23:54 AM
Quote from: "John M"
Quote from: "Chris Smith"
Quote from: "peter w"
Again, this is a thread about Gabby, not Heskey, there are and have been loads of those.
It's relevant though as with the right partner I reckon Gabby will be even more effective. I've been saying for some time that I think he'd benefit from having a Keane type striker to play off, more of a number 10 than a traditional centre forward. If we could unearth the new Yorkie that would be ideal but failing that then Keane will do for me.
I would still have a concern about his footballing brain to make the right runs to fully benefit from this, but that kind of player would be best with him, IMO. I guess it would need to be an older head to tell him where to go, so someone like Keane makes sense in that regard.
I think his movement is good, he has a knack of finding space in the box because he's so quick but it needs somebody who thinks at the same speed to see it.
Title: Gabby
Post by: pedro25 on June 11, 2010, 10:44:32 AM
I don't really agree that Gabby has a knack of finding space in the box. True he can get himself in there pretty quickly when he wants to but how often does he cleverly hold back for the pull back from a winger, or sniff out a rebound at the back post. He's not exactly like Owen in terms of being in the right place at the right time. This should improve with age, a few more scruffy goals and he should be up around 20 in all comps.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on June 11, 2010, 10:54:59 AM
Quote from: "pedro25"
I don't really agree that Gabby has a knack of finding space in the box.
You obviously missed his goal last season at the Sty.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Dave Cooper please on June 11, 2010, 11:04:28 AM
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
Quote from: "pedro25"
I don't really agree that Gabby has a knack of finding space in the box.
You obviously missed his goal last season at the Sty.
Managing to be in the right place every now and again isn't the same as having "a knack" of being in the right place.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Chris Smith on June 11, 2010, 11:15:29 AM
Quote from: "Dave Cooper"
Quote from: "Mark Kelly"
Quote from: "pedro25"
I don't really agree that Gabby has a knack of finding space in the box.
You obviously missed his goal last season at the Sty.
Managing to be in the right place every now and again isn't the same as having "a knack" of being in the right place.
I said "he has a knack of finding space in the box" not "being in the right place" and I stand by it. However, when you're playing against PL defences that moment is fleeting and if he's not found immediately the opportunity is gone. A second striker who appreciates that aspect of the game would, in my opinion, benefit him enormously.
Title: Gabby
Post by: pedro25 on June 11, 2010, 11:47:54 AM
You seem to be suggesting our midfielders don't pick him out when he's made space, but my biggest gripe in home matches in the seconfd half of the season was the lack of movement from JC and Gabby, whenever a midfielder on the ball looked up the movement from the front too was not what I'd expect from a Champs league chasing team.
Title: Gabby
Post by: Concrete John on June 11, 2010, 12:07:51 PM
Quote from: "pedro25"
You seem to be suggesting our midfielders don't pick him out when he's made space, but my biggest gripe in home matches in the seconfd half of the season was the lack of movement from JC and Gabby, whenever a midfielder on the ball looked up the movement from the front too was not what I'd expect from a Champs league chasing team.
I fully agree.
Everytime I see the call for a creative midfielder, I agree with it, but think it's secondary to haveing a striker with better movement.
Title: Gabby
Post by: PaulTheVillan on June 11, 2010, 12:09:00 PM
Quote from: "John M"
Quote from: "pedro25"
You seem to be suggesting our midfielders don't pick him out when he's made space, but my biggest gripe in home matches in the seconfd half of the season was the lack of movement from JC and Gabby, whenever a midfielder on the ball looked up the movement from the front too was not what I'd expect from a Champs league chasing team.
I fully agree.
Everytime I see the call for a creative midfielder, I agree with it, but think it's secondary to haveing a striker with better movement.
Everton at home was the worst.
It's like we only think we can score from getting the ball out wide and crossing it in.
Title: Gabby
Post by: peter w on June 11, 2010, 12:12:54 PM
I think that he is probably the best that we have in getting front of defewnders and getting his head on the ball. he has a good understanding with Ash and the goal he scored at Old Trafford was similar to many goals he has got from the same supplier.
But we don't see that enough.
Title: Gabby
Post by: citizenDJ on June 11, 2010, 12:54:48 PM
I'm of the belief that a better quality midfielder or strike partner will bring out the best in Agbonlahor. We're lucky to have him, he's very good and scores a fair amount of goals without really getting the best service in the world. He's also good enough to play up front by himself, as a target man. There's not many who can do that AND have the pace that he does.
What has bothered me for ages though is that we don't use his pace that often - or at least in a most effective way. Balls played along the ground, into space for Gabby to run onto, would see his goal tally increase fairly significantly, I believe. A couple of times we've seen Downing provide those killer 'slide-rule' passes, but we don't see them often.
Someone like Robbie Keane might just be able to provide more of them, or a midfielder like Steven Ireland.
None-the-less, I think Agbonlahor is a good player, getting better, and definitely worth keeping hold of.
Title: Gabby
Post by: barrysleftfoot on June 12, 2010, 02:48:57 PM
Yes think pedro is right, he reacts, rather than anticipates, his pace can get him there, but to be fair, his movement in the box is a lot better than 2 seasons ago.
What i said earlier, and the thing i like more than anything about Gabby is that hes always willing to work on his weaknesses'.
Title: Gabby
Post by: ozzjim on June 12, 2010, 03:02:10 PM
Quote from: "barrysleftfoot"
Yes think pedro is right, he reacts, rather than anticipates, his pace can get him there, but to be fair, his movement in the box is a lot better than 2 seasons ago.
What i said earlier, and the thing i like more than anything about Gabby is that hes always willing to work on his weaknesses'.
Gabby has the movement of a 3rd division striker at best. He stands, arms out behind the centre half time and time and time again. Whenever he can has the thought process to try and move in front of his man he does get the service and does get goals, he just does it too infrequently. His pace and increased ability to hold up the ball etc gets him leway, but he is woefully un natural in his movement. Downing and Young must often pull their hair out, as where you put the ball for him when he hardly moves is a bit of an issue.
To make top 4 we need someone alongside him who is top quality and scores more goals. Gabby can do the big man role better than he can the finisher role.
Title: Gabby
Post by: sfx412 on June 12, 2010, 03:06:11 PM
Some of the goals he's scored this season shows he anticipates well enough when the cross is right.
Still sell him what do Villa need with exciting young strikers we are far better off with twats like Carew and Heskey.
Or do some still think the Fonz is the finished article ?
We have trouble hanging on to decent players as it is.
Title: Gabby
Post by: ozzjim on June 12, 2010, 06:24:38 PM
I did not say I would sell him, just that he is rubbish at manoeuvring a defender to create space in the box. Get a fox in the box alongside him and we would be stronger.
Title: Gabby
Post by: KevinGage on June 12, 2010, 06:33:33 PM
Quote from: "ozzjim"
Quote from: "barrysleftfoot"
Yes think pedro is right, he reacts, rather than anticipates, his pace can get him there, but to be fair, his movement in the box is a lot better than 2 seasons ago.
What i said earlier, and the thing i like more than anything about Gabby is that hes always willing to work on his weaknesses'.
Gabby has the movement of a 3rd division striker at best. He stands, arms out behind the centre half time and time and time again. Whenever he can has the thought process to try and move in front of his man he does get the service and does get goals, he just does it too infrequently. His pace and increased ability to hold up the ball etc gets him leway, but he is woefully un natural in his movement. Downing and Young must often pull their hair out, as where you put the ball for him when he hardly moves is a bit of an issue.
To make top 4 we need someone alongside him who is top quality and scores more goals. Gabby can do the big man role better than he can the finisher role.
One of the benefits of signing a player like Robbie Keane (if we do go that way) is he is very vocal and will get his point across in no uncertain terms if Gabby is making the wrong run. Or no run at all.
JC is largely in his own world most of the time and Heskey just wouldn't have the brass neck to tell other forwards where they're going wrong.
Title: Gabby
Post by: TheSandman on June 12, 2010, 06:52:53 PM
Quote from: "KevinGage"
Quote from: "ozzjim"
Quote from: "barrysleftfoot"
Yes think pedro is right, he reacts, rather than anticipates, his pace can get him there, but to be fair, his movement in the box is a lot better than 2 seasons ago.
What i said earlier, and the thing i like more than anything about Gabby is that hes always willing to work on his weaknesses'.
Gabby has the movement of a 3rd division striker at best. He stands, arms out behind the centre half time and time and time again. Whenever he can has the thought process to try and move in front of his man he does get the service and does get goals, he just does it too infrequently. His pace and increased ability to hold up the ball etc gets him leway, but he is woefully un natural in his movement. Downing and Young must often pull their hair out, as where you put the ball for him when he hardly moves is a bit of an issue.
To make top 4 we need someone alongside him who is top quality and scores more goals. Gabby can do the big man role better than he can the finisher role.
One of the benefits of signing a player like Robbie Keane (if we do go that way) is he is very vocal and will get his point across in no uncertain terms if Gabby is making the wrong run. Or no run at all.
JC is largely in his own world most of the time and Heskey just wouldn't have the brass neck to tell other forwards where they're going wrong.
I see your point there but it would save a £10million transfer fee and £3million a year in wages if a coach or a manager would just tell him that in no uncertain terms. Surely a player can be coached to anticipate?
Title: Gabby
Post by: KevinGage on June 12, 2010, 07:20:50 PM
That sounds fine in theory.
But it ultimately happens out there - on the pitch.
MON can cram his head full of instructions pre kick-off. But once the whistle goes he's pretty much powerless.
A forward up top and alongside Gabby, a bit of a gobby prick like Keane will do the managers job for him. It also helps that Keane is still a decent player in his own right and has enough intelligence (of the football variety) to pick Gabby out with a pass or slide him through in a tight situation.
Title: Gabby
Post by: JD on June 13, 2010, 12:10:43 AM
Quote from: "KevinGage"
That sounds fine in theory.
But it ultimately happens out there - on the pitch.
MON can cram his head full of instructions pre kick-off. But once the whistle goes he's pretty much powerless.
A forward up top and alongside Gabby, a bit of a gobby prick like Keane will do the managers job for him. It also helps that Keane is still a decent player in his own right and has enough intelligence (of the football variety) to pick Gabby out with a pass or slide him through in a tight situation.
Totally agree with this. sometimes sense that Gabby needs someone out on the pitch to direct him a bit more. Much as I am not a great admirer of Keene, he would certainly do this and we may see a much improved player in Gabby as a result.