Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Legion on February 18, 2015, 07:42:33 PM
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Any truth in this?
Gabby could be out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.
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I hope not, if were going to start playing with a bit more high tempo, this game will suit him more than the slow build up, going nowhere approach. I was hoping Sherwood could get the best out of him.
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There was a photo of him in a hospital bed the other day saying he was having an op to sort out his niggling injuries. Instagram i think
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This is is I think.
http://instagram.com/p/zKGYe1G780/?modal=true
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Wouldn't wish it on anybody, including Gabby. However, he's not been great has he? Losing him, whilst a blow because we want everyone fit, wouldn't be the end of the world.
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It's a loss only in the sense he tends to play well against Smethwick
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He's in hospital whilst neurosurgeons look for his "footballing brain". He might be out for sometime...
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Has he played this season?
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Imagine visiting time when all the Agbonlahors turn up
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We'd be better off without Gabby for the run in. He hardly contributes anything these days.
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Cruciate Ligament damage. Out for the season. He has tweeted. "will update later" with clarification ........
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what's his twitter?
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what's his twitter?
Is it that thing on his top lip?
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Got it. Thanks.
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Any truth in this?
Gabby could be out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.
Are you not confusing him with Heard who did his at the weekend for Wigan?
As others have said, he mentioned an op to sort out a few niggles, no something major.
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what's his twitter?
This, does he actually have Twitter?
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I highly doubt that's his twitter.
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what's his twitter?
This, does he actually have Twitter?
https://twitter.com/G11Agbonlahor
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what's his twitter?
This, does he actually have Twitter?
https://twitter.com/G11Agbonlahor
I reckon that's fake though.
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what's his twitter?
This, does he actually have Twitter?
https://twitter.com/G11Agbonlahor
That looks like a fake account
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He's in hospital whilst neurosurgeons look for his "footballing brain". He might be out for sometime...
There is no need for that.
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If he's out it's being kept quiet.
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what's his twitter?
Is it that thing on his top lip?
It's a cracker!
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Don't official Twitter and Facebook accounts for 'celebs' have a blue tick now to show they are verified as the real person?
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You'd have to be a fucking moron to be pleased he's out given our current position a d run in.
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Don't official Twitter and Facebook accounts for 'celebs' have a blue tick now to show they are verified as the real person?
Yep
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Don't official Twitter and Facebook accounts for 'celebs' have a blue tick now to show they are verified as the real person?
Depends on the level of celebrity. Someone I know in the fitness industry was named in the top 50 most influential people within the industry but still hasn't been given his accreditation despite having 63,000 followers.
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Checked and Andi has the blue tick, so i'm assuming Gabby would get it on his, if it was official.
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Checked and Andi has the blue tick, so i'm assuming Gabby would get it on his, if it was official.
Pretty sure you're right. The club sorts it out for the players I think.
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Don't official Twitter and Facebook accounts for 'celebs' have a blue tick now to show they are verified as the real person?
Depends on the level of celebrity. Someone I know in the fitness industry was named in the top 50 most influential people within the industry but still hasn't been given his accreditation despite having 63,000 followers.
I'm not sure why but that reminded me of meeting a lad I went to school with in a pub years ago and him telling me he had won a 'welder of the year' award. I wonder how many Twitter followers that gets you these days.
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It there is any truth to this then I wish him a speedy recovery.
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It there is any truth to this then I wish him a speedy recovery.
Same here but I expect its not as serious as made out.
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How will we cope without all his goals?
He's due 1 more this season? Maybe that one would be the difference between drawing and winning and those missing 2 points will be the difference between going down and staying up.
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Hope this isn't true as Gabby has a history of scoring important goals for us when we're in the thick of it.
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Pravda reckons Gabby's back in training.
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How will we cope without all his goals?
He's due 1 more this season? Maybe that one would be the difference between drawing and winning and those missing 2 points will be the difference between going down and staying up.
Yes, that's what usually happens.
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"Gabby's on fire in training"says Sherwood. So obviously he is fit for selection should the manager wish to go that way.
Probably be on the bench.
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I'd definitely have him on the bench. He hasn't done anywhere near enough the last 6 months or so to deserve to start. He is a useful option from the bench though.
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Does that mean Tims put a rocket up his arse?
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The Clubs twitter has said he's back in training - so that Twitter is possibly a fake account then
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It was on Instagram as well, still good news we need all players fighting
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I'm not usually one to accuse players of not trying, but Gabby has either been lazy or deceptively unfit for most of the season, because he's been so sluggish and lethargic for most of the games. If he condescends to actually give a shit for the remainder of our games he could be crucial, because he's such a threat on the break when he plays well.
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Tim Sherwood set to welcome back Aston Villa duo back into the fold against Stoke
15:41, 19 February 2015 By Gregg Evans
Gabby Agbonlahor and Carles Gil are fit for the Potters clash, Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has confirmed
Tim Sherwood is close to finalising the starting XI for his first game in charge after confirming that both Gabby Agbonlahor and Carles Gil are fit.
The pair missed last weekend’s FA Cup win over Leicester but have impressed the new boss in training this week.
Nathan Baker, Philippe Senderos and Libor Kozak are the only absentees and Sherwood is looking forward to sending out an attacking team.
“Gabby was on fire today,” he said at his first pre-match press conference at Bodymoor Heath.
“Everyone is flying and can’t wait to get started.
“They just all want to play and it’s great to see.
“Nathan is not fit. Philippe didn’t train today either. Everyone else is raring to go.”
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"Gabby's on fire in training"says Sherwood. So obviously he is fit for selection should the manager wish to go that way.
Probably be on the bench.
Based on his form this season, the literal seemed more likely than the metaphor.
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Glad he's fit - we need everybody - and I look forward to seeing him score the winner against Sandwell Boro.
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Nearly the whole team, maybe exception of our centre halves and Hutton have really struggled. Everyone needs another chance under Sherwood to prove themselves.
I reckon Gabby will benefit so much more under a more attack minded and faster tempo game. If he does he'll be a great asset to have back in the squad.
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Gabby for me is like the fans. When the team is going well, and the fans are fired up Gabby becomes the player we know he can. When things are shit, and we as fans are down and going through the motions he becomes the player we have recently seen. If Sherwood gets into him, and the fans are "fired up" vs Stoke I think Gabby, whether he starts or is on the bench will be significantly improved.
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Any truth in this?
Gabby could be out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.
Load of butter ollocks, then.
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Can we just sell him to Sunderland for £3mil and be done with it already this is getting painful ;)
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Gabby for me is like the fans. When the team is going well, and the fans are fired up Gabby becomes the player we know he can. When things are shit, and we as fans are down and going through the motions he becomes the player we have recently seen. If Sherwood gets into him, and the fans are "fired up" vs Stoke I think Gabby, whether he starts or is on the bench will be significantly improved.
Absolutely this.
I'm hoping for an Adebayor-esque resurgence for Gabby under Sherwood. I'd also like Sherwood to get Gabby doing what Gabby does best (and possibly the only thing he really does well) and that's running at defenders. Have him attacking fullbacks and getting between fulls and CH's. Gabby's complete bobbins with his back to goal, or trying to drop deep to link up play. Pull him back, pull the chord in his back and let him run. Lambert never quite figured that, even when Gabby was at his best for him (Arsenal, Norwich, Sunderland 6-0). When he's full pelting it at a defender in retreat, he's a menace. So I really hope Sherwood basically instructs Gabby to do what he does best.
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He should be the shoulder of the last defender, facing goal, ready to attack the ball played into space behind. I think he a better choice away from home or when we are holding on to a lead at home. I wouldn't start him tomorrow.
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He should be the shoulder of the last defender, facing goal, ready to attack the ball played into space behind. I think he a better choice away from home or when we are holding on to a lead at home. I wouldn't start him tomorrow.
The first part is spot on, it's nothing to do with getting him fired up, it's about bloody tactics. Martin Keown summed it up perfectly yesterday when discussing Benteke and our attack:
Why is Christian Benteke no longer the player he used to be?
They don’t look to give him the ball enough. The player is becoming increasingly frustrated.
When he first came back he was animated, but he seems to be disengaged a bit now as time’s gone on. He’s not given up, but there is no point making a run if the ball isn’t played.
Sherwood needs to build a team around him. I’d try to get Gabriel Agbonlahor to play with him as a pair. Be much more direct.
I think Fabian Delph plays too high up the pitch, he needs to pull further back where he’s more effective.
There are options to make things happen. But the way they play and are set out... it's too slow.
Nobody looks forward, everything is sideways.
If I was a central defender having to play against Agbonlahor and Benteke, I’d be delighted if they played backwards and sideways passes. I’d feel they got away with it scot free.
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I'm not sure I agree with him on the Delph bit but the rest is spot on. To play 2 up front we either have to go to a 442 or we need to get creative and have someone like Gil play an almost free role where we have the fullbacks getting forward and he drifts to where the ball is to give them another option, that way Benteke and Gabby/Weimann can get close together in the box but we're not entirely reliant on the full backs. In the latter scenario all 3 of the midfielders have to be willing to step forward and make the angle for a pass, staying deep and holding their positions is a big part of why we've been so toothless.
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Neither do I. Delph surely has a goal in him.
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He's averaging something like 1 in 20 though. It would make a big difference just to have players getting into the box to provide support. The number of times where we either cross when no-one is in the box or the wide player has to make a backwards pass because there's no-one in the box is ridiculous.
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The most important thing about Delph isn't goals, it's that he beats men and has the pace to leave them behind. Encourage him to do that and to then try to find players in the space that creates and he can become a very good midfielder. Once he's got the confidence that he's having a positive impact every week then hopefully the goals and assists will come but, as with all of our players, in the first instance he needs to concentrate on what he does well. That's why it was good to see Clark thundering into a tackle and then keeping it simple and getting the play moving, that's what he's been good at whenever he's played well. Benteke is good at finding half a yard and hitting the target, if he keeps focusing on that he'll start scoring again, and the confidence and goals will come. etc etc etc
This is all Sherwood needs to do this season, get all of the players playing to their strengths and believing they can win games in this league.
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We need a goal (or ten) from a central midfielder(s). Can't see it being Westwood, Cleverley or Sanchez. Delph or Bacuna would be our best bet.
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Awful player now and even worse than that he doesn't appear to try.
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We need a goal (or ten) from a central midfielder(s). Can't see it being Westwood, Cleverley or Sanchez. Delph or Bacuna would be our best bet.
Bacuna's not a brilliant player but can finish a chance and looks like he has a goal in him. When Leandro does something decent it tends to result in a goal. He's got to play now. I'd play him, Gil and Sinclair behind Benteke and pray to the footy gods that Benteke comes good. Grealish needs a chance too.
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Awful player now and even worse than that he doesn't appear to try.
This has been the case for a long, long time. It's nothing recent.
It amazes me that people think he's suddenly going to find some form from five years ago - it's over for him at PL level and he shouldn't be anywhere near the First XI. Impact sub at the very best.
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He was fucking shit today. The fact someone like him can be a top flight professional footballer while contributing fuck all still gives me hope that I may make it as a Villa player. And i'm 45 in less than a month.
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Been saying this about Gabby for a few seasons now. He has been a disgrace this season and is just as responsible for our position as most other players. If we go down I hope the sod stays to suffer in the Championship.
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People can criticise Weimann, but I've always thought he tries his hardest. Gabby is a joke.
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Been saying this about Gabby for a few seasons now. He has been a disgrace this season and is just as responsible for our position as most other players. If we go down I hope the sod stays to suffer in the Championship.
I don't. I'd like half a chance of coming back up.
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Been saying this about Gabby for a few seasons now. He has been a disgrace this season and is just as responsible for our position as most other players. If we go down I hope the sod stays to suffer in the Championship.
I don't. I'd like half a chance of coming back up.
I was partly being ironic. But thing is I would say that Gabby is about Championship level now so he might actually do okay.
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I know mate, I can't stand the guy, he gets me so wound up!!
We just cant afford passengers, and he's the biggest.
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The way he coasts from one contract to another, offering pretty much zero for months on end, is incredibly depressing.He has offered us pretty much nothing for three years now, yet he's got a fresh four year contract to sit on.
Baffling.
Oh, and that "he's one of us" argument is nonsense, too.
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I'd love to hear what managers instruct Gabby to do because whatever it is, they keep picking him every week so they must think he's doing something right. He goes wide, he goes deep, he holds up the ball, he chases back but he rarely ever looks like scoring partly because he's not in the area.
The same for Benteke, today we broke away on the attack, everybody racing forward and Benteke drops deep, like outside the bloody area. Did he think he was covering for Sinclair? Mindblowing.
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Times up agbonlahor
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He was fucking shit today. The fact someone like him can be a top flight professional footballer while contributing fuck all still gives me hope that I may make it as a Villa player. And i'm 45 in less than a month.
You can have Gabby's place, I'll take Weimann's spot. At least I could get the fall into the six-yard box from a corner kick without it bouncing twice.
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He was fucking shit today. The fact someone like him can be a top flight professional footballer while contributing fuck all still gives me hope that I may make it as a Villa player. And i'm 45 in less than a month.
You can have Gabby's place, I'll take Weimann's spot. At least I could get the fall into the six-yard box from a corner kick without it bouncing twice.
Yeah yeah, industrial estate!
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That should be the last we see of Gabby. If he plays next week i think i'll cry.
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Dreadful player. One of the reasons we are where we are. Cannot afford to play him again if we are to have any chance of survival. Get rid as soon as possible .
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It's Sherwoods first game in charge, so I kind of understand why he picked Gabby as to outsiders he's kind of Mr Villa (doesn't fucking play like it though). But I would hope that Sherwood drops him after such an abject performance. Too many players have coasted for years here. Houllier had it right. He realised Gabby had it easy and pushed him to work for his place (he didn't respond).
Gabby needs a serious kick up the khyber. He can't keep giving bare minimum and having his name on the team sheet in permanent marker.
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I was surprised to see Sherwood played him after him missing out last week. I was even more surprised he played the full match
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Gabby was shocking today from start to finish.
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I was surprised to see Sherwood played him after him missing out last week. I was even more surprised he played the full match
The only reasoning I can think is on reputation. A lot of our squad our unknown qualities to a large extent. I guess as Gabby's been an regular for about 9 years now, and Sherwoods only been here a week now, he played our senior statesmen.
I hope he drops him pretty sharpish though. He was quick to identify Westwood and Cleverley as offering little.
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Gabby was shocking today from start to finish.
He was "on fire in training"said Sherwood. Perhaps Mr Lerner insists he plays him!
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I've said it before and I will say it again. Agbonlahor has been stealing a living for years. A complete waste of a shirt.
He has given zero for years now since his pace has gone and its pretty obvious conditioning and fitness is not one of his main priorities.
We find ourselves in a perilous position and he offers absolutely nothing to the cause.
Given a contract for another four years...When will this club ever learn.
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You could have picked any striker, from any other Premier League squad today and they'd have done better than Gabby. He is past it.
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He's in hospital whilst neurosurgeons look for his "footballing brain". He might be out for sometime...
There is no need for that.
Really? I'd also refer him to a cardiologist citing a lack of heart.
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He's in hospital whilst neurosurgeons look for his "footballing brain". He might be out for sometime...
There is no need for that.
Really? I'd also be referring him to a cardiologist citing a lack of heart.
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You could have picked any striker, from any other Premier League squad today and they'd have done better than Gabby. He is past it.
I'd have played Heskey ahead of Gabby today.
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Agbonlahor last looked really good under Martin O'Neill. A long long time ago. Get him out of the club no matter how much it costs!
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Agbonlahor last looked really good under Martin O'Neill. A long long time ago. Get him out of the club no matter how much it costs!
Yep, back when he had the likes of Ashley Young, John Carew and James Milner making him look good.
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I was never a fan of Heskey, I thought he was rubbish but at least he tried and looked like he cared. Weimann is poor this season but again he puts in the effort whereas Agbonlahor is bloody terrible and doesn't look like he gives a toss. What makes it even worse is he is supposedly a Villa fan and for some unfathomable reason has been awarded a new four year contract. He's been useless for a long time.
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If we persist with 442 it has to be Andi up front. Gabby is shit wherever you play him, at least Andi has a goal in him and some decent work rate, and it's pointless sticking him out wide.
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I was never a fan of Heskey, I thought he was rubbish but at least he tried and looked like he cared. Weimann is poor this season but again he puts in the effort whereas Agbonlahor is bloody terrible and doesn't look like he gives a toss. What makes it even worse is he is supposedly a Villa fan and for some unfathomable reason has been awarded a new four year contract. He's been useless for a long time.
In the first couple of minutes he ran as fast as I have seen him for quite a while to close someone down. That was about it for the day.
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If it's gonna be 442, then Andi has to play instead of Gabby. At least then Andi's running around might have some positive outcome
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Sherwood was fooled by his training it seems as his performance was pretty much what he's served up in the last two seasons.
I get the feeling Sherwood won't hestitate to drop him now and he'll really have to work hard in his sub appearences to get back into the starting 11 before the end of the season e.g score some bleeding goals.
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Gabby was shocking today from start to finish.
He was "on fire in training"said Sherwood. Perhaps Mr Lerner insists he plays him!
Bloody hell. I know gabby has had a rough season but immolating the bloke as an example is a bit much.
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I wonder how much Gabby pays us to let him play?
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Gabby was shocking today from start to finish.
Correct.
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Finished at this level, offers very little.
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No goals, no pace, no heart....bye and close the door on the way out!
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Waste of a shirt. Drop him please Tim
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ID love to know how a succession of managers and coaches have continued to pick this pillock, even with his once in a bluemoon displays. It seems the only one who saw through him was Houllier. Giving the guy a 4 year deal is pretty high on the list of cock ups we've made. I wouldn't have given him a contract for 4 seconds, never mind 4 years.
He epitomizes everything wrong about Aston Villa. Too cozy and comfortable. Playing on a Saturday is clearly a nuisance to him now. I can forgive him being limited, but not for being so half arsed.
He is poison. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but he needs removing from this club ASAP.
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He wanders round the pitch aimlessly like he owns the place - his attitude stinks.
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Sherwood can only go on what he has seen in training in the past few days, but after today he will have seen those who put in a shift and those that don't. If Sherwood has any sense Gabby will be dropped (and I believe struggle to get back into the team).
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Sherwood can only go on what he has seen in training in the past few days, but after today he will have seen those who put in a shift and those that don't. If Sherwood has any sense Gabby will be dropped (and I believe struggle to get back into the team).
This.
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He wanders round the pitch aimlessly like he owns the place - his attitude stinks.
This.
Sadly, we have a group of players who couldn't give toss as long as they pick up their wages and can turn up at Bodymoor in their flashy motors. He's the ring leader.
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The thing that concerns me is that he somehow managed to stay on the pitch for 90 minutes even though he was clearly the most useless player on the pitch. That doesn't give me too much confidence that he'll be on the bench for the next game.
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He has too much influence here - in fact he practically runs the place, like Shearer did at Newcastle (but at least Shearer contributed goals for them).
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Let's be honest... The bloke is not a footballer ....in justification of my saying this has anyone ever seen him control the ball or pass it well consistently....I doubt it..
What worries me most is that he is supposedly a striker ( and I hear the calls that he has been played wide and out of position) but.... I ask you this.... One on one with the keeper would you fancy him to score???? I think he bottles it and it this level that is something that can't happen.....
He gets given a lot of slack for being a local lad but it has to end
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His asset was his incredible pace. He's had a number of injuries and being a bit older the thing that made him stand out has all but left him. He was always a technically limited player so we all kind of knew this day would arrive. It all seems to have come in the last year or 18 months when he clearly can no longer do what we remember him being able to do. He's a passenger now. In 5 a sides on the training pitch I'm sure he looks great at times because over a short space he probably is still quick. But on a full length pitch he doesn't get past players much now, doesn't close down particularly well, doesn't have the speed and energy over 90 minutes to chase back and help out. He never developed a trick, and he's not smart enough to attack spaces in the box created by movement, knock downs or through balls.
It's sad to see because we can all remember a really important Gabby goal over the years. That player is now long gone and what we have now is a very well paid, at best a 15-20 minute cameo appearance substitute. I hope Sherwood realizes this sooner rather than later because we will need 11 players pulling their weight in the next 12 games.
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For years people would defend gabby saying he scored 'critical' goals. I don't buy that. His goals stand out for one reason ... they're so fucking rare.
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Gabby is done unless he can get his pace back it's as simple as that.
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For years people would defend gabby saying he scored 'critical' goals. I don't buy that. His goals stand out for one reason ... they're so fucking rare.
we're they not critical though at the time or should we rewrite the history of their significance? Just because he is poor now, or that he never had a great goalscoring record shouldn't devalue some of the goals he scored.
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His asset was his incredible pace. He's had a number of injuries and being a bit older the thing that made him stand out has all but left him. He was always a technically limited player so we all kind of knew this day would arrive. It all seems to have come in the last year or 18 months when he clearly can no longer do what we remember him being able to do. He's a passenger now. In 5 a sides on the training pitch I'm sure he looks great at times because over a short space he probably is still quick. But on a full length pitch he doesn't get past players much now, doesn't close down particularly well, doesn't have the speed and energy over 90 minutes to chase back and help out. He never developed a trick, and he's not smart enough to attack spaces in the box created by movement, knock downs or through balls.
It's sad to see because we can all remember a really important Gabby goal over the years. That player is now long gone and what we have now is a very well paid, at best a 15-20 minute cameo appearance substitute. I hope Sherwood realizes this sooner rather than later because we will need 11 players pulling their weight in the next 12 games.
Spot on and this was glaringly obvious by the end of last season tbh.
So what did McThickie and the dumbass American do, thats right, give him a 4 year contract. When we should have been shipping him out we make him one of the highest paid at the club. What a message to send!
Why can't I work for people this stupid?
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His asset was his incredible pace. He's had a number of injuries and being a bit older the thing that made him stand out has all but left him. He was always a technically limited player so we all kind of knew this day would arrive. It all seems to have come in the last year or 18 months when he clearly can no longer do what we remember him being able to do. He's a passenger now. In 5 a sides on the training pitch I'm sure he looks great at times because over a short space he probably is still quick. But on a full length pitch he doesn't get past players much now, doesn't close down particularly well, doesn't have the speed and energy over 90 minutes to chase back and help out. He never developed a trick, and he's not smart enough to attack spaces in the box created by movement, knock downs or through balls.
It's sad to see because we can all remember a really important Gabby goal over the years. That player is now long gone and what we have now is a very well paid, at best a 15-20 minute cameo appearance substitute. I hope Sherwood realizes this sooner rather than later because we will need 11 players pulling their weight in the next 12 games.
Spot on and this was glaringly obvious by the end of last season tbh.
So what did McThickie and the dumbass American do, thats right, give him a 4 year contract. When we should have been shipping him out we make him one of the highest paid at the club. What a message to send!
Why can't I work for people this stupid?
Not his biggest fan by some way, but was it his fault that the Captain messed up today?
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No but this is a thread about Gabby, not today's game in isolation.
He's been taking the piss for a while and he needs to be outed as such.
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Is he the only one then, should we have a thread about nearly all the team?
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No hes not the only one but he's the worst of the offenders IMO.
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Why is he the worst?
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Whys he not?
Gabby is the epitome of the lazy footballer. In 9 Years playing at first team level his game has never progressed. Now you might blame the many coaches for this but i think the player should take the most responsibility. Where's Gabbys trick in the same way that Tony Daley was forced by SGT to stay behind after training and 'learn a trick'.
He rarely seeks out space infact his overall movement for a player that has relied almost entirely on pace is dreadful. His ball control had never progressed beyond mediocre, he can't tackle, rarely tracks back and his finishing is on par with Devon Lock.
He's also one of the highest paid playerst the club and is a Villa fan so you'd hope as he'd have a bit more emotionally invested than some if the other tosspots. I'm sure Gabbys new contract was for the fact that he's a local lad and that Lerner was in some way trying to get in to favour with the supporters by rewarding a club stalwart. Yet another horrendous misread.
That enough for you?
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For years people would defend gabby saying he scored 'critical' goals. I don't buy that. His goals stand out for one reason ... they're so fucking rare.
we're they not critical though at the time or should we rewrite the history of their significance? Just because he is poor now, or that he never had a great goalscoring record shouldn't devalue some of the goals he scored.
I don't particularly think his few goals were any more critical than a lot of other goal scorers, yet with Gabby his goals are often referred to as 'critical'. That doesn't mean to say that some weren't but i think on the whole it is largely overstated, particularly over the last 4 years. It was often used as a reason for his inclusion whereas i would look at all the 'important' games that he has done absolutely nothing in, to which there are many. That's how I've seen it anyway. I hope for our club's sake that his time on the pitch is drastically reduced as he has clearly shown he hasn't got it anymore.
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I don't think he's lazy or not committed to the cause, after all Timahh said he has been on fire in training.
The problem is, he has no natural footballing instinct beyond attacking the space between a high defensive line and every PL club know this. Go and watch a schoolboy game and even at a quite young age some of the kids know how to make runs and to create space, and how to change the whole direction of play with a single movement. This is not coached into them, they pick it up from watching games.
Gabby was not at all interested in football when he was young, and he definitely did not go to watch the Villa. When he first broke through into the first team he did and interview on TV and candidly admitted as much. He was an athlete first and foremost and came relatively late into the game.
No point at all playing him in a front two. Wide in a front 3 is slightly better in that he will put the work in, but the problem is he will switch off occasionally. Not laziness or anything, more a lapse of concentration. What he can still do is play up front alone in certain situations - namely when the opposition play a high defensive line and are committed to attack us. If he sees the space behind the last defender he can use his pace and the few tricks in his locker quite effectively.
The most irritating thing about him as far as yesterday's game is that although he sacrificed some of his pace to build bulk, which is understandable to an extent given what refs permit in the PL these days, I didn't see him in a physical tussle with anyone. Benteke has given up in this respect as well, although in his case I think he just got fed up of PL refs penalising him.
Finally, it is often forgotten that Gabby was unpopular with the fans once before, to the point where he was being booed. I remember him being interviewed about it at the time. He will soon be getting sustained gyp again unless things change.
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Yeah, I'm not of the opinion that he's culpable of not giving a shit. It's just that he used to make up for the lack of variety in the runs he made with sheer pace; but now that he's aged and bulked up, he doesn't have that saving grace anymore.
It's really disappointing because he was genuinely excellent in the 2013 run-in, scoring important goals (the double against Norwich and the equaliser against QPR come to mind) and playing really well off Benteke. I thought he'd taken a step forward in that regard.
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I don't think he's lazy or not committed to the cause, after all Timahh said he has been on fire in training.
The problem is, he has no natural footballing instinct beyond attacking the space between a high defensive line and every PL club know this. Go and watch a schoolboy game and even at a quite young age some of the kids know how to make runs and to create space, and how to change the whole direction of play with a single movement. This is not coached into them, they pick it up from watching games.
Gabby was not at all interested in football when he was young, and he definitely did not go to watch the Villa. When he first broke through into the first team he did and interview on TV and candidly admitted as much. He was an athlete first and foremost and came relatively late into the game.
No point at all playing him in a front two. Wide in a front 3 is slightly better in that he will put the work in, but the problem is he will switch off occasionally. Not laziness or anything, more a lapse of concentration.
The most irritating thing about him as far as yesterday's game is that although he sacrificed some of his pace to build bulk, which is understandable to an extent given what refs permit in the PL these days, I didn't see him in a physical tussle with anyone.
So in effect he's not lazy, he just doesn't 'get' football and has no ability to learn. Well that's a fine line between not having a footballing brain and being a bit thick and lazy.
If we were having this discussion in the early part of his career I'd agree with you but unfortunatley he's been a professional footballer at a PL club now for 12 years. I can't believe if he really wanted to he'd have a greater understanding of the nuances of forward play. After all, isn't that partly what he's being paid to do.
It stikes metat Gabby has always played like he's a rookie, fact is he's not. He's supposed to be a leader of the group.
Maybe that's where our problems start.
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I don't think Gabbys lazy he just doesn't have a footballing brain he seems constantly to make the wrong choice same with Weimann works his socks off but he is always off balance, these players are a problem because they are just not good enough.
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You can go reasonably far in football having blistering pace and not a fat lot else. Houllier, in his infinite wisdom, decided to get Gabby to bulk up, negating his one main quality, and he's been pretty fucking atrocious ever since.
At least Weimann runs about and, occasionally, puts a dangerous cross into the box, one of few Villa players who is capable of doing so.
Agbonlahor contributes precisely fuck all, week in, week out.
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I don't think the bulking up had anything to do with Houllier, given that he only arrived in September, and I'm pretty sure a lot was said during the summer about Gabby hitting the weight room.
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I don't think the bulking up had anything to do with Houllier, given that he only arrived in September, and I'm pretty sure a lot was said during the summer about Gabby hitting the weight room.
Bulking up was down to Gabby himself. O Neill was fine with him doing it (he probably didn't give a shit either way by the end of his last season here).
Houllier actually wanted him to slim down again. This was a big part of the reason why Gabby wasn't a regular for Houllier and why Gabby was glad to see the back of Houllier, much like other bad apples at the club. To be honest I'm not sure I could call Gabby a positive influence any more. He's coasted on being good but not great for O Neill, with the odd spectacular game. The lack of effort, particularly for someone who is supposed to be "one of us" is a fucking disgrace.
But certainly Houllier publically claimed that Gabby wasn't the player he was because of the weights, and indeed did he not say something about it probably contributing to injuries? I might be embelishing. But Houllier certainly didn't rate a beefy Gabby.
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I don't think the bulking up had anything to do with Houllier, given that he only arrived in September, and I'm pretty sure a lot was said during the summer about Gabby hitting the weight room.
Bulking up was down to Gabby himself. O Neill was fine with him doing it (he probably didn't give a shit either way by the end of his last season here).
Houllier actually wanted him to slim down again. This was a big part of the reason why Gabby wasn't a regular for Houllier and why Gabby was glad to see the back of Houllier, much like other bad apples at the club. To be honest I'm not sure I could call Gabby a positive influence any more. He's coasted on being good but not great for O Neill, with the odd spectacular game. The lack of effort, particularly for someone who is supposed to be "one of us" is a fucking disgrace.
But certainly Houllier publically claimed that Gabby wasn't the player he was because of the weights, and indeed did he not say something about it probably contributing to injuries? I might be embelishing. But Houllier certainly didn't rate a beefy Gabby.
Thats exactly as I remember it as well. Agbonlahor stated he was sick of being pushed around by John Terry and players of that ilk and bulked up. Houllier called it right.
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I don't think the bulking up had anything to do with Houllier, given that he only arrived in September, and I'm pretty sure a lot was said during the summer about Gabby hitting the weight room.
Bulking up was down to Gabby himself. O Neill was fine with him doing it (he probably didn't give a shit either way by the end of his last season here).
Houllier actually wanted him to slim down again. This was a big part of the reason why Gabby wasn't a regular for Houllier and why Gabby was glad to see the back of Houllier, much like other bad apples at the club. To be honest I'm not sure I could call Gabby a positive influence any more. He's coasted on being good but not great for O Neill, with the odd spectacular game. The lack of effort, particularly for someone who is supposed to be "one of us" is a fucking disgrace.
But certainly Houllier publically claimed that Gabby wasn't the player he was because of the weights, and indeed did he not say something about it probably contributing to injuries? I might be embelishing. But Houllier certainly didn't rate a beefy Gabby.
Thats exactly as I remember it as well. Agbonlahor stated he was sick of being pushed around by John Terry and players of that ilk and bulked up. Houllier called it right.
The last year or two I think it's gone further. He's carrying too much timber that he doesn't need. I wonder if he's not even working as hard at the gym. It looks like pie weight to me.
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https://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3817303/Gabby-Agbonlahor-says-Gerard-Houllier-talked-a-load-of-nonsense.html
Houllier called it right - Gabby didn't like it.
Sounds like Keane called him out too - and he didn't like that either.
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Gabby has got away with murder because he's a local lad and scored against some of the Sky 4, Blues, and Albion and in some relegation avoiding crunchers (e.g the win at West Ham a couple of seasons ago). Crucial goals yes, but another player with a better all round game and footballing nous, playing instead of Gabby, is probably just as likely to have scored as many crucial goals and done a lot more besides, and done it over a whole season rather than in short spurts. Which is why I've never been a fan of Gabby. He is either lazy or lacks concentration or both - see how he lost his man to cost us points against both Spurs and Southampton at home. He's certainly not captain material , and it's quite laughable that Lambert thought he was. Weimann may be limited too, but his movement is light years ahead of Gabby's - only for his touch and composure to then often let him down. I don't think Gabby would have lasted at the top level at any other club and it's way beyond time for us to move on from him.
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https://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3817303/Gabby-Agbonlahor-says-Gerard-Houllier-talked-a-load-of-nonsense.html
Houllier called it right - Gabby didn't like it.
Sounds like Keane called him out too - and he didn't like that either.
and who is still there with a sparkling new contract in his pocket?.......that's right!
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Ah, ok. Well regardless of whose idea it was, bulking up was a shite idea.
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https://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3817303/Gabby-Agbonlahor-says-Gerard-Houllier-talked-a-load-of-nonsense.html
Houllier called it right - Gabby didn't like it.
Sounds like Keane called him out too - and he didn't like that either.
What I will say Lambert got right was quickly identifying the bad apples and getting rid of them. The likes of Warnock, Collins and Dunne had to go really. I think Gabby has been fortunate not to get moved on too. It seems anytime someone comes in and upsets senior players (quite rightly in many cases) Gabby's normally one of those involved. It's like John Terry at Chelsea, although Gabby hasn't earned the right to be swanning round like club mafia. Terry might be a complete fox hunt but he's been consistent for donkey's years and lead the club to trophies.
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He's had his day now, idioctic we gave him a new 4 year deal.
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Ah, ok. Well regardless of whose idea it was, bulking up was a shite idea.
Indeed. He went from playing almost every game to becoming pretty injury prone. It's got to the point now too that he's not actually that quick anymore. Even compared to 7-8 years ago, fullbacks tend to be quicker now, and many CH's, so he can't roast people like he used to.
He doesn't show much desire to either. Even Hutton yesterday knocked it round his opposite fullback at one point and left him for dead. But I also reckon Gabby doesn't have it in his tank to make too many of the barnstorming run's of yesteryear. He's rationing them. He's done at this level.
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For him to be blaming Houllier for damaging his England chances is funny. No Gabby, your England chances were hampered by your lack of ability at anything but running very fast and occasionally getting a goal. Even England a their worst did not really linger too long over Gabby as a possible answer, and there are very good reasons for that.
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he's a busted flush now but not the only one. The only thing interesting about Gabby is how the fuck he conned a four year deal out of the club. There must be a story there somewhere.
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Gabby read "Just not good enough, now and for the last 2 or 3 years", if we cant get rid ensure he knows he can be the first member of the new bomb squad, bye bye .
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When was the last time Gabby did someone for pace? It used to be what scared defences about him. For how much of a static Villa shirt is, you might as well put a clothes line across the pitch with his number 11 shirt hanging from it. It would probably move more on a windy day than Gabby would.
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Agree with the point that defenders are a bit quicker these days and he has not got a trick or the ability to run with the ball and beat a player
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Agree with the point that defenders are a bit quicker these days and he has not got a trick or the ability to run with the ball and beat a player
No. Like a lot of pacey players the best thing he could do is knock it and run, but he rarely does that now. Sinclair did it a few times yesterday, and even Hutton at one point (slow fullbacks is a weakness of Stoke we didn't exploit enough).
I genuinely don't think Gabby has the legs any more. It's not even just the pace issue, it's the stamina to go full pelt throughout a game. He used to run around like a dog on heat 5 years ago. Now he tends to manage a handful of top gear bursts every game at best. I don't know if it's desire, effort, injuries catching up with him or all of it (probably a bit of all) but he just doesn't put the afterburners on nearly enough.
Sinclair was sprinting round like a mad man yesterday. It was great to watch. He chased everything. He really put in a shift. He played like a fresh out the box 19 year old, while Gabby looked like a 35 year old in his last year. Yet there's only 3 years difference between them.
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When was the last time Gabby did someone for pace?
It was probably when he was on fire at Bodymoor and about to jump into the ice-bath.
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When was the last time Gabby did someone for pace?
It was probably when he was on fire at Bodymoor and about to jump into the ice-bath.
Or when he heard there was a sale on at Mrs Miggins' Pie Shop.
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He is overweight, lazy, overpaid and a disgrace.
Yet he still plays
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When was the last time Gabby did someone for pace? It used to be what scared defences about him. For how much of a static Villa shirt is, you might as well put a clothes line across the pitch with his number 11 shirt hanging from it. It would probably move more on a windy day than Gabby would.
That Southampton goal last season he bullet past their defence.
I didn't go yesterday but did he play through the middle or in his usual wide position. If he was central and didn't do anything that is ridiculous as Wolschied for Stoke is a very slow CB and got done time and again for pace at Blackburn.
It's a good point, a lot of full backs are pretty quick nowadays. When he's up against players like Kyle Walker, Smalling and Bellerin he can't just knock it past and outrun them as those are pretty quick themselves.
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Must admit I was surprised he started yesterday, do not think he has warranted that
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There is no positives about Gabby at the moment. He needs to be dropped, then sold. His time should be up here. He offers less than Heskey did in his last season here.
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I'd be shocked if he starts the next game. Shocked and saddened.
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Amazed and displeased.
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he has had a 4 year easy life style
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When was the last time Gabby did someone for pace? It used to be what scared defences about him. For how much of a static Villa shirt is, you might as well put a clothes line across the pitch with his number 11 shirt hanging from it. It would probably move more on a windy day than Gabby would.
That Southampton goal last season he bullet past their defence.
I didn't go yesterday but did he play through the middle or in his usual wide position. If he was central and didn't do anything that is ridiculous as Wolschied for Stoke is a very slow CB and got done time and again for pace at Blackburn.
It's a good point, a lot of full backs are pretty quick nowadays. When he's up against players like Kyle Walker, Smalling and Bellerin he can't just knock it past and outrun them as those are pretty quick themselves.
Gabby hasn't played wide for some time...when was the last time he crossed a ball? ...he plays sort of tucked in next to Benteke and too high up the pitch imho...he needs to play deeper and wider giving him the chance to run at defences and defenders like those of Stoke, Burnley and Leicester...but he doesn't and his one effective attribute is therefore nullified. Playing in the position he has this season has seen him become an almost total waste of the shirt...neither he, nor anyone else on the pitch/in the stands seems to know what he is meant to be doing.
I hope Sherwood has already seen through this and either changes where/how he plays him or drops him completely.
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There is no positives about Gabby at the moment. He needs to be dropped, then sold. His time should be up here. He offers less than Heskey did in his last season here.
I agree. We should get a mug punter to fork out 3m for him though, still youngish and people may think his past glories are more recent than they actually are.
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Amazed and displeased.
Dazed and confused.
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Not sure if anyone else saw it, but I noticed at one point in the second half Sherwood giving Agbonlahor some instructions, only to greeted by a shrug of the shoulder.
The guy is merely going through the motions. I worked up more of a sweat walking back to the car afterwards than he did in the whole 90 minutes - and I've got a bloody in growing toe nail as well.
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Talking about going through the motions what has happened to N'Zogbia. Is he injured or just forgotten?
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Talking about going through the motions what has happened to N'Zogbia. Is he injured or just forgotten?
Not Mcleish's fault but he's been fucking hopeless since the day he arrived
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Talking about going through the motions what has happened to N'Zogbia. Is he injured or just forgotten?
Not Mcleish's fault but he's been fucking hopeless since the day he arrived
He annoys me more than others, Ireland included. Attitude and useless.
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Amazed and displeased.
Dazed and confused.
For so long it's not true
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My immediate reaction when Sherwood said he'd been on fire in training, was that bonfire night had come early and he'd been confused for the guy based on how much he moves.
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Sherwood can only go on what he has seen in training in the past few days, but after today he will have seen those who put in a shift and those that don't. If Sherwood has any sense Gabby will be dropped (and I believe struggle to get back into the team).
This.
You would think Kevin Mac would know how shit he has become.
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What has happened to him? I have always stood up for Gabby, even during his spells over the years when his form was not quite there he used to put a shift in and work hard.
It's a real shame but he really does need to be dropped for a spell.
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Anyone listen to the Jonny Gould podcast last week? He revealed Gabby had said he was quite proud to have seen off another manager at the Villa.
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Burn him!
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Anyone listen to the Jonny Gould podcast last week? He revealed Gabby had said he was quite proud to have seen off another manager at the Villa.
Wonder if he realises he is part of the problem?
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Anyone listen to the Jonny Gould podcast last week? He revealed Gabby had said he was quite proud to have seen off another manager at the Villa.
Do you have a link LS?
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Anyone listen to the Jonny Gould podcast last week? He revealed Gabby had said he was quite proud to have seen off another manager at the Villa.
I'm having a hard time seeing what he even meant by that..
The fact that he's remained in favor through so many managers or the fact that he has lasted longer then all of them?
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Anyone listen to the Jonny Gould podcast last week? He revealed Gabby had said he was quite proud to have seen off another manager at the Villa.
Do you have a link LS?
Here you go Ron, apologies for the long link...
http://jonnygould.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/matkendrick-hodgsonhoward-and.html
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Go to 12 minutes into the podcast.
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Go to 12 minutes into the podcast.
Cheers LS Very good of you.
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Well I would imagine Lambert recommended he should be offered a new contract. In fact it could not be anyone else. So if he did use those words he should be grateful it is not down on tape. Or is it?
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Well I would imagine Lambert recommended he should be offered a new contract. In fact it could not be anyone else. So if he did use those words he should be grateful it is not down on tape. Or is it?
Should Lambert find another job in the near future, i wonder if he'll make a bid for Gabby seeing as he regards him so highly.
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Hope Lambert does take Gabby at some point. But first of all I would
Like to see him repeat his last battle cry when we were in trouble and
Call a team meeting to rally the players for the fight on the run in
As he is the longest serving player!
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Gabby is fucking awful. He needs to be flogged. Had enough of him.
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I've a feeling this week (at some point) Gabby is going to turn up for work. Fingers crossed it's on a match day.
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I've a feeling this week (at some point) Gabby is going to turn up for work. Fingers crossed it's on a match day.
Wouldn't that be nice.
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I've a feeling this week (at some point) Gabby is going to turn up for work. Fingers crossed it's on a match day.
Wouldn't that be nice.
Ordinarily he does tend to raise his game against the Boggies. I pray to McGrath he does so this week, because I'm not sure Sherwood fancies any alternate option to dropping Gabby. He's highly likely to play.
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A mate of mine said he had ten years of watching Shola Ameobi in a Newcastle shirt and the only player he could think of who comes close to his levels of rubbishness is Agbonlahor. I reckon he's right.
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Abgonlahor has stolen a living for the past 4 years. Quite how any manager thinks he's worthy of a start is beyond me - unless of course he's under instruction to do so? The saddest thing is that even if we dropped this year we couldn't get rid because no one would take him on the wages we are paying the useless oaf.
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Yep, as I said on the Newcastle match thread when Gabby was substituted, if I never see him in a Villa shirt again it would be sad but it would be fair. And he really only has himself to blame. Not only does he hardly ever score but he doesn't even put a shift in these days.
And we gave him a four-year contract.
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Abgonlahor has stolen a living for the past 4 years. Quite how any manager thinks he's worthy of a start is beyond me - unless of course he's under instruction to do so? The saddest thing is that even if we dropped this year we couldn't get rid because no one would take him on the wages we are paying the useless oaf.
I've believed for a long time he's suffered from the instruction of Lambert, asking him to play a 'Robbie Keane' type role which is a ridiculous request given his skill set whilst ignoring his strengths. I've mentioned before but I'd love to hear what the manager's instructions are for Gabby, I'd imagine they're a very confusing:
1. Hold up the ball
2. Get close to Benteke
3. Don't get yourself in the box, leave that area for Benteke
4. Go wide
5. Go through the middle
6. Track back and support your full back
7. Make yourself available for the counter attack
8. Get back for corners
9. Be available for a break away from corners
10. Take the ball down into the corner and pass back to a full back to cross
11. Chase everything
12. Score lots of goals
Sadly for us and Gabby, he's never had a manager/coach that could have helped him develop. His best form was under MON, the most simplistic of tacticians who probably just told him to run forward and attack. It's a real shame as he looks lost out there now but I don't believe for one minute he's not being instructed by the manager, how else would he keep being selected week in, week out?
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Abgonlahor has stolen a living for the past 4 years. Quite how any manager thinks he's worthy of a start is beyond me - unless of course he's under instruction to do so? The saddest thing is that even if we dropped this year we couldn't get rid because no one would take him on the wages we are paying the useless oaf.
Gabby was key to us avoiding relegation in Lambert's first season. Was outstanding for the last 3-4 months of that season on the left of Benteke. Norwich away where he scored twice the stand out. Started very well last season too and were calls for him to get back in the England set up.
Had a few injuries then and hasn't been arsed since. Mind you I thought he had a decent second half at the weekend but isn't a goal threat at all these days
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Started last season well? He didn't score until December.
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Can anybody think of a logical reason why at opposition corners we don't leave Gabby somewhere around the halfway line to chase any clearances?
Every Newcastle corner on Saturday we had all eleven players in our own box which meant that every clearance came straight back at us.
It seems like such an obvious and sensible thing to do that I must be missing something.
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I'll be disappointed if he starts tomorrow night.
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Started last season well? He didn't score until December.
He was an absolute menace against Arsenal in the first game.
won both penalties.
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One game.
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No case to be made really is there?
I looked at last seasons fixture list, and all I could remember were 3 performances from him all season
Arsenal away, Southampton away Liverpool away. :-\
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Impact sub is the best I can hope for him at the minute. Or use the fact everyone fears his pace when hedoesn't use it anyway. As someone said earlier, why isn't he stationed on the half way line for every free kick and corner?
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Started last season well? He didn't score until December.
He was an absolute menace against Arsenal in the first game.
won both penalties.
Outstanding at Chelsea a week or two after that too. Humiliated Glen Johnson at Anfield, maybe that was later on
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Going by Sherwood's comments, he sees Benteke and Gabby as the main 2 and wants to see what they're like when they get good supply.
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A mate of mine said he had ten years of watching Shola Ameobi in a Newcastle shirt and the only player he could think of who comes close to his levels of rubbishness is Agbonlahor. I reckon he's right.
Anchiebe's another one who seemed to be at Everton for 100 years scoring 5 goals a season and is now doing the same trick at WBA.
Tomorrow night it really should be Gil just behind benteke, Sinclair wide and I'd like to see Bacuna wide of the middle trio to bring some forward runs and goalscoring threat from there.
Gabby and Weimann should be impact subs from the 60 minute mark.
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If he wants to play someone with Benteke it should be Sinclair with Bacuna coming into the side to give width on the left coming in on his right.
Otherwise, Gil should be playing a Beardsley role to Benteke.
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I agree with the two posts above, but it is clear from several of Sherwood's comments that Gabby is impressing him in training and Gil is not.
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A mate of mine said he had ten years of watching Shola Ameobi in a Newcastle shirt and the only player he could think of who comes close to his levels of rubbishness is Agbonlahor. I reckon he's right.
Anchiebe's another one who seemed to be at Everton for 100 years scoring 5 goals a season and is now doing the same trick at WBA.
Tomorrow night it really should be Gil just behind benteke, Sinclair wide and I'd like to see Bacuna wide of the middle trio to bring some forward runs and goalscoring threat from there.
Gabby and Weimann should be impact subs from the 60 minute mark.
I agree on all points except Weimann. He's perhaps one of the most depressing impact subs to ever grace the club. When I hear a commentator say "Andy Weimann is about to come on" I know the game has gone.
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I've a feeling this week (at some point) Gabby is going to turn up for work. Fingers crossed it's on a match day.
Wouldn't that be nice.
Ordinarily he does tend to raise his game against the Boggies. I pray to McGrath he does so this week, because I'm not sure Sherwood fancies any alternate option to dropping Gabby. He's highly likely to play.
Legs and fingers crossed that tonight is the night...
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Bit quiet on here..
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I has a couple of quid on Gabby, the Derby Slayer, to score first and Villa to win 2-1. I'm happy
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Well I for one will eat humble pie. That was the Gabby we knew some time ago. Fantastic.
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Great performance. That's the benchmark he has set.
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I has a couple of quid on Gabby, the Derby Slayer, to score first and Villa to win 2-1. I'm happy
Happy for you, chap. I did think about you when we got the penalty. Luck finally catching up with us. Save the money and you can buy me all those pints of Landlord you promised, sometime in the near future.
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He was great tonight, a lot of that was down to how hard he worked but also us getting him into positions where he could do what he is good at.
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We've all been really critical of Gabby and its been well deserved. He hasn't performed to his potential. However part of that has to go down to the environment at the club under Lambert. Tonight was a blast from the past and it was clear from the off that Sherwood has really got into him for tonight. Lets hope both he and his strike partner have a lot to say between now and the end of the season. Well done tonight though. Great stuff
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We've all been really critical of Gabby and its been well deserved. He hasn't performed to his potential. However part of that has to go down to the environment at the club under Lambert. Tonight was a blast from the past and it was clear from the off that Sherwood has really got into him for tonight. Lets hope both he and his strike partner have a lot to say between now and the end of the season. Well done tonight though. Great stuff
Agreed. But why cant he do it more often?
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We've all been really critical of Gabby and its been well deserved. He hasn't performed to his potential. However part of that has to go down to the environment at the club under Lambert. Tonight was a blast from the past and it was clear from the off that Sherwood has really got into him for tonight. Lets hope both he and his strike partner have a lot to say between now and the end of the season. Well done tonight though. Great stuff
Agreed. But why cant he do it more often?
I think he is a lot like the fans. When things are down he goes through the motions. When things are good he feeds off it. He needs to be up for it and clearly the manager has lit a spark. If he gets going we know with Gabby goals can come in bunches. Well I hope so anyway and especially with the same tossers at VP at the weekend.
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It's no use just doing it once a season against our so called rivals welcome though that is. Consistency is what is needed not consistently garbage.
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I has a couple of quid on Gabby, the Derby Slayer, to score first and Villa to win 2-1. I'm happy
Happy for you, chap. I did think about you when we got the penalty. Luck finally catching up with us. Save the money and you can buy me all those pints of Landlord you promised, sometime in the near future.
I took that bet myself. A tenner at 66-1. Well spent indeed. I've been ripping into Gabby a lot all season. I love him again now.
He'd better keep it up. The key thing though, was Sherwood had Gab play to his strengths first and foremost and it worked. If Lescott plays saturday he'll be like a rabbit in headlights.
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Sherwood nailed it with Gabby (and Benteke) by realising he'd scored so few due to the utter shit service he's had for most of the season. As we all know strikers thrive on confidence. It took Sherwood's words to give both a clean slate. Tonight we saw the response.
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I has a couple of quid on Gabby, the Derby Slayer, to score first and Villa to win 2-1. I'm happy
Happy for you, chap. I did think about you when we got the penalty. Luck finally catching up with us. Save the money and you can buy me all those pints of Landlord you promised, sometime in the near future.
I took that bet myself. A tenner at 66-1. Well spent indeed. I've been ripping into Gabby a lot all season. I love him again now.
He'd better keep it up. The key thing though, was Sherwood had Gab play to his strengths first and foremost and it worked. If Lescott plays saturday he'll be like a rabbit in headlights.
I didnt quite get those odds, 52-1 was mine.
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He was superb first half. And as I say every months when he finally plays like that, it's because we know he can do that, that he gets so much stick.
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Gabby Gabby Gabby
Loves a local derby Derby derby
Whoooooa whoooooa
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I has a couple of quid on Gabby, the Derby Slayer, to score first and Villa to win 2-1. I'm happy
Happy for you, chap. I did think about you when we got the penalty. Luck finally catching up with us. Save the money and you can buy me all those pints of Landlord you promised, sometime in the near future.
I took that bet myself. A tenner at 66-1. Well spent indeed. I've been ripping into Gabby a lot all season. I love him again now.
He'd better keep it up. The key thing though, was Sherwood had Gab play to his strengths first and foremost and it worked. If Lescott plays saturday he'll be like a rabbit in headlights.
I didnt quite get those odds, 52-1 was mine.
Mine was a price boost. Too tempting to resist.
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I has a couple of quid on Gabby, the Derby Slayer, to score first and Villa to win 2-1. I'm happy
Happy for you, chap. I did think about you when we got the penalty. Luck finally catching up with us. Save the money and you can buy me all those pints of Landlord you promised, sometime in the near future.
More than happy to buy you a beer or two. Great scenes at the end, blokes in the boxes jumping into the stand to hug and shake hands with fellow Lions, it makes all the shit worthwhile. A bit.
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It's no use just doing it once a season against our so called rivals welcome though that is. Consistency is what is needed not consistently garbage.
On one of the commentators over here picked up on (exactly as several posters on here had said) that Sherwood had them playing much closer together, so they weren't so isolated, and Gabby was actually taking a few gambles on flick-ons from Benteke. All of which meant that if we wanted to hit them early we could actually get the ball in to dangerous positions quickly, whilst giving the midfield a chance to move up and support.
Previously it was either flick it on to no-one, or get the ball to feet with no-one within 25 yards.
Pretty basic stuff, but something Lambert had managed to forget for the last 2 years (after it being a big part of our good finish in 2011/12)
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I have been a huge critic of Gabby - so credit where its due last night.
He was like the Gabby of old.........and tore Lescott apart.
They will be hugely worried about him for the cup match now.
Same again Saturday - and for the rest of the season / contract please.
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Last night he was very good, but he needs to do that on a much more regular basis.
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I've a feeling this week (at some point) Gabby is going to turn up for work. Fingers crossed it's on a match day.
Wouldn't that be nice.
Ordinarily he does tend to raise his game against the Boggies. I pray to McGrath he does so this week, because I'm not sure Sherwood fancies any alternate option to dropping Gabby. He's highly likely to play.
Legs and fingers crossed that tonight is the night...
Gabby finally showed up for work. Why oh why didn't I put a bet on???! Congratulations Supertom :-)
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His record in derbies is very good.
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Yes Gabby, as I said on the match thread thread, you can still fuck off but if you keep that up until the rest of the season I may let you off.
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He was pretty good for about twenty minutes, and for the rest of the time wasn't quite as criminally anonymous as he has been. There was also one really Gabby-esque run in the second half. All in all, substantially better.
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He was pretty good for about twenty minutes, and for the rest of the time wasn't quite as criminally anonymous as he has been. There was also one really Gabby-esque run in the second half. All in all, substantially better.
the one where Lescott chopped him down was superb. When he is up for it he can be a brilliant player, full of pace and power. No defender wants to deal with it. Let's hope for a return to those days as we've barely seen it for the past two seasons.
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I liked his celebration.
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I don't know if I wanted to hug him or slap him last night, why wait until now to play like that?
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Super Tim said he thought Benteke and Gabby were the best strike partnership outside the top 5/6 teams
Now whether he actually believes this or not and even whether it's true or not is Irrelevant, this is exactly the confidence boosting stuff Sherwoods good at,
he is just so positive about things, just what we need at the moment
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They have the potential to be. It's up to them to put it together on a consistent basis and for the rest of the team to supply them.
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It's excellent player-management.
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It's excellent player-management.
Totally agree, similar to MO'N with Ashley Young.
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I liked his celebration.
Hopefully Weimann took note.
If you're doing the Shhhhhhh celebration , aim for the away end, not the home end.
#whoop whoop
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Super Tim said he thought Benteke and Gabby were the best strike partnership outside the top 5/6 teams
Now whether he actually believes this or not and even whether it's true or not is Irrelevant
He's probably not far out.
Take out the current top five, I'd say West Ham, Spurs and Stoke could probably have an argument over it. Other than that though...
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Spurs is just Harry Kane, Adebayor isn't an option anymore and Soldado is total rubbish on these shores.
Everton? Naismith's had a good season at least and it's probably the most similar in style.
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Spurs is just Harry Kane, Adebayor isn't an option anymore and Soldado is total rubbish on these shores.
I'd bet that over any of the last three seasons, last two seasons and this season alone that Harry Kane plus either one of the other two have outscored Benteke and Gabby over the same time period.
Not saying they are definitely better, but they'd be able to put up an argument on the subject.
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I noticed he was marking Lescott for their goal. Noticed it before the cross came in, didn't surprise me when they scored. Gonna watch MOTD in a bit, so I'll see if he was at fault. In any case, it's pretty poor to have someone like Agbonlahor marking their biggest threat from set pieces.
Thought he did well going forward. His touches looked a bit heavy, which made me think the chances were gone, but it was a good finish and he was unlucky with the second.
Needs to play like that consistently though!
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There was a mixture of man-to-man and zonal marking. Westwood seemed to be on Lescott originally, lost him through ball watching and then Gabby semi-latched on to him through zonal. If we can sort out defending set pieces in time for Saturday, I'm not sure Albion will have any weapons to use based on last night.
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To be fair Lescott had both hands on his shoulders and probably should've had a foul given against him, Gabby had no chance to compete for it.
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If Okore stays where he is and doesn't follow he ball, Berahino doesn't score.
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If Okore stays where he is and doesn't follow he ball, Berahino doesn't score.
It was interesting to see, and I think the co-commentator picked up on this, that Berahino basically stood on the spot and didn't move for his goal. Which from our point of view is pretty poor.
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Zonal marking deals with it, as long as you occupy your zone and keep your discipline. It's that D word that is so crucial to set pieces.
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Lescott's movement wasexcellent for the goal. BErahino just stood in the same spot
Okore was awful. I've been a big fan but I think he would ideally have a breather. We need vlaar back and in better form
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I liked his celebration.
Hopefully Weimann took note.
If you're doing the Shhhhhhh celebration , aim for the away end, not the home end.
#whoop whoop
See I was feeling all positive and now you've reminded me why deep down I think Weimann is a bit of a dick.
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Lets not forget that block Okore did on Berahino toward the end, Vlaar wouldn't have got into the same postcode.
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I think the reason Gabby had a better game is because he was played ahead of Benteke for once. Under Lambert it was about Benteke leading the line and other players getting it up to him. When he got it he had no one to flick on to.
If Gabby's played on the shoulder of the last defender the oppositions defence will either drop back to counter his pace, allowing Benteke to be a threat nearer their goal, or he will get in behind.
As I've said on here before, Gabby's been misused for years.
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Lets not forget that block Okore did on Berahino toward the end, Vlaar wouldn't have got into the same postcode.
I agree on that, made a few mistakes but he's human
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Lets not forget that block Okore did on Berahino toward the end, Vlaar wouldn't have got into the same postcode.
I agree on that, made a few mistakes but he's human
When Okore makes a mistake, there's always the chance that his athleticism will allow him to recover the situation.
When Vlaar makes a mistake, that's it.
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To be fair it was a shit goal to concede. Very poor. Far post nod back from good in the air CH to an unmarked striker 4 yards out.
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Lets not forget that block Okore did on Berahino toward the end, Vlaar wouldn't have got into the same postcode.
I agree on that, made a few mistakes but he's human
When Okore makes a mistake, there's always the chance that his athleticism will allow him to recover the situation.
When Vlaar makes a mistake, that's it.
Don't forget Stoke - I'm not bothered if I never see Vlaar in a Villa shirt again.
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I don't see how that's true given how well Vlaar played at the WC and that he was shown to be one of the quickest defenders at the tournament. He made a terrible error vs Stoke compounded by the attempt to compensate for it leading to the penalty. Let's not burn him for it and somehow make out he's an horrendous defender. All defenders including the greats make errors and have made them. Yes, even Laursen and McGrath. Vlaar isn't at that level off course but neither is he as bad as being portrayed.
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Okore looked very nervous. Not surprising given that when we conceded goals, there was no comeback so there must have been huge pressure on the defence. Hopefully that'll go with some confidence coming back and hopefully scoring goals becoming less of an issue. Otherwise the circumstances might mean we need someone of Vlaar's experience and leadership (Clark's one yellow card away from a 2-game ban too so we can't dismiss Vlaar).
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To be fair it was a shit goal to concede. Very poor. Far post nod back from good in the air CH to an unmarked striker 4 yards out.
A perfect example of the kind of naïve errors we make that most other teams never do...like not picking up players from short corners and wasting corners, free kicks will alarming regularity.
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I don't see how that's true given how well Vlaar played at the WC and that he was shown to be one of the quickest defenders at the tournament. He made a terrible error vs Stoke compounded by the attempt to compensate for it leading to the penalty. Let's not burn him for it and somehow make out he's an horrendous defender. All defenders including the greats make errors and have made them. Yes, even Laursen and McGrath. Vlaar isn't at that level off course but neither is he as bad as being portrayed.
In the Stoke game he really struggled for pace, but of course he's had so many niggling injuries this season that it has clearly affected him, and he probably wasn't full fit in that game.
I would stick with Okore. Half of the rucks he makes are simply concentration and he will hopefully sharpen up and regain the form he showed earlier in the season. I think he's going to potentially invaluable because of his pace. His interception when Ideye was put through was great and none of our other CH's would have made that.
Unless Vlaar is absolutely 100% fit, and Okore has had an absolute mare of a game, I wouldn't change at this point.
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To be fair it was a shit goal to concede. Very poor. Far post nod back from good in the air CH to an unmarked striker 4 yards out.
A perfect example of the kind of naïve errors we make that most other teams never do...like not picking up players from short corners and wasting corners, free kicks will alarming regularity.
I agree frankmoss. I was with a mate and said before the corner I didn't like Gabby marking Lescott. 5 seconds later he was saying the same thing.
An awful lot of forwards are not great at defensive work and I think Gabby falls into that category.
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To be fair it was a shit goal to concede. Very poor. Far post nod back from good in the air CH to an unmarked striker 4 yards out.
A perfect example of the kind of naïve errors we make that most other teams never do...like not picking up players from short corners and wasting corners, free kicks will alarming regularity.
you do realize that the reason we are surrounded by sides equally as bad as us is because most teams have defences that make naive errors. In fact I'd go as far as to say all teams do, just the better ones make less of them. Have you seen some of the comedic defending from Man U this year, or Liverpool over the past two or three seasons? Arsenal's defence has been slated this year for some right howlers. Cahill is hardly superb at Chelsea and has been caught out positionally, Mangala at Man City, even Kompany has made some pretty high profile mistakes. All teams have moments where they let in very soft goals. Sides like ours just make more of them.
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To be fair it was a shit goal to concede. Very poor. Far post nod back from good in the air CH to an unmarked striker 4 yards out.
A perfect example of the kind of naïve errors we make that most other teams never do...like not picking up players from short corners and wasting corners, free kicks will alarming regularity.
you do realize that the reason we are surrounded by sides equally as bad as us is because most teams have defences that make naive errors. In fact I'd go as far as to say all teams do, just the better ones make less of them. Have you seen some of the comedic defending from Man U this year, or Liverpool over the past two or three seasons? Arsenal's defence has been slated this year for some right howlers. Cahill is hardly superb at Chelsea and has been caught out positionally, Mangala at Man City, even Kompany has made some pretty high profile mistakes. All teams have moments where they let in very soft goals. Sides like ours just make more of them.
Yes. I don't think there's a genuinely rock solid defence in the league. It's a dying art. Which makes our piss poor goal record all the more galling. We need to be taking advantage.
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To be fair it was a shit goal to concede. Very poor. Far post nod back from good in the air CH to an unmarked striker 4 yards out.
A perfect example of the kind of naïve errors we make that most other teams never do...like not picking up players from short corners and wasting corners, free kicks will alarming regularity.
I agree frankmoss. I was with a mate and said before the corner I didn't like Gabby marking Lescott. 5 seconds later he was saying the same thing.
An awful lot of forwards are not great at defensive work and I think Gabby falls into that category.
I watched it on the tele yesterday and again this morning. Gabby had switched off just before the free kick was taken. If he was supposed to be marking Lescott he failed to follow instructions. He reacts about one second after the free kick was taken. That one second was vital.
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To be fair it was a shit goal to concede. Very poor. Far post nod back from good in the air CH to an unmarked striker 4 yards out.
A perfect example of the kind of naïve errors we make that most other teams never do...like not picking up players from short corners and wasting corners, free kicks will alarming regularity.
I agree frankmoss. I was with a mate and said before the corner I didn't like Gabby marking Lescott. 5 seconds later he was saying the same thing.
An awful lot of forwards are not great at defensive work and I think Gabby falls into that category.
Gabby has rarely been effective at defensive marking. He should be left upfield when the opposition have a corner as it would immediately nullify two of their players who would stay back to watch him. Especially the other night after he had scored his goal they would have been scared shiteless about him having a run on goal.
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Couldn't agree more fred...amongst all of the sophisticated possession and complicated tactics we sometimes lose sight of the really simple stuff.
Rob's description of their goal is spot on: you'll see the same move being employed on 95% of pitches at all levels this weekend, yet we fell for it.
Gabby's speed frightens defenders so employ him where he can create danger just by being there...and as an outlet/potential threat when we clear the ball.
Hope he plays the same role tomorrow as he did on Tuesday.
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If we left Gabby up at set pieces, the opposition would probably leave 3 back and it puts a question in their mind.
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I dont understand the ploy of nearly all teams nowadays to get all players back. If we leave Gabby up, there are at least two of their players back and the likeliehood that a ball out may cause problems instead of the defender having no challenge and knocking the ball back in
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I dont understand the ploy of nearly all teams nowadays to get all players back. If we leave Gabby up, there are at least two of their players back and the likeliehood that a ball out may cause problems instead of the defender having no challenge and knocking the ball back in
Me neither, absolutely mad. I'd leave two up personally, split wide across the half way line.
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The goal the other night was just the right kind of goal for him to score. It was a classic Gabby style goal, and if he is going to hit good form he needs to get back to that more direct style of play. For me if it is him and Benteke up front it is Benteke who needs to drop deep, and Gabby who should use his pace to run in behind. That way Benteke can hold the ball up, wait for the midfield runner or knock on to Gabby, or he can turn himself and head for goal, and Gabby can create space in the box. Sadly I think the other night maybe a flash in the pan. I do think CB will be leaving in the summer, and remain unconvinced that Gabby will ever return to anything like his old form. But there is hope at least ;)
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Benteke hardly looked pleased when he scored.
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Benteke hardly looked pleased when he scored.
Think you can read too much into those sorts of things though. Could just be that he was more reliefed (as were we all) to get the late winner, or that he is just quite relaxed character even on the field. It has looked like he has been playing for a move the last couple of months. If he plays his part in keeping us up then he can have one.
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Watch his reaction after he scored. Then his response to the team celebration. He then did his signatory salute to the skies.
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He looked happy enough with Sherwood at the end.
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It has looked like he has been playing for a move
Does it?
It's looked more like he's not particularly bothered where he plays to me.
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To be fair it was a shit goal to concede. Very poor. Far post nod back from good in the air CH to an unmarked striker 4 yards out.
A perfect example of the kind of naïve errors we make that most other teams never do...like not picking up players from short corners and wasting corners, free kicks will alarming regularity.
you do realize that the reason we are surrounded by sides equally as bad as us is because most teams have defences that make naive errors. In fact I'd go as far as to say all teams do, just the better ones make less of them. Have you seen some of the comedic defending from Man U this year, or Liverpool over the past two or three seasons? Arsenal's defence has been slated this year for some right howlers. Cahill is hardly superb at Chelsea and has been caught out positionally, Mangala at Man City, even Kompany has made some pretty high profile mistakes. All teams have moments where they let in very soft goals. Sides like ours just make more of them.
Sorry TV, missed your post earlier.
Agree in many ways, but to be honest I couldn't care less about other teams and no, I haven't watched them. Genuinely, I rarely watch football...I'm a Villa fan (sort of joke!).
My point is, we haven't seemed geared up to be doing the most basic things...eg marking at short corners, poor marking at set pieces, wasting our own very valuable set piece chances. Stripeys created TWO chances on Tuesday...scored from one, nearly scored from the other. The marking should have been better.
It would have been a crime if they'd scored from that second one...but it was pretty close.
I couldn't give a shit about Gary Cahill, but I do want my team to defend better against very basic tactical moves.
I'm hoping that TS and his team see that and rectify it.
If Arse, Chavski and Ci£y are bad at it, it doesn't mean it's ok for us to be bad at it too.
On thread...you know what you did up front on Tuesday Gabby?
Can we have some more of that please?
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Guardian article:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/06/gabriel-agbonlahor-aston-villa-premier-league
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We know that Gabby Agbonlahor will very soon revert to default and disappear into none scoring mode. Its no good hoping that that one terriffic half will become the norm because it will not. We know Gabby too well for that. Sherwood has got a performance out of him and with any luck he might get a second today.
But I would imagine Jonas Olsson will be in today with orders to stop him any way he likes,
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But I would imagine Jonas Olsson will be in today with orders to stop him any way he likes
Good. That prick is owed at least one red card against us.
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My guess it will take more than that duffer Jonas Olsson to stop Gabby today. Their best CB Lescott was treated like a rented mule the other night. I'll look forward to Gabby blowing by their flat back line and shooting at their gash GK.
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We know that Gabby Agbonlahor will very soon revert to default and disappear into none scoring mode. Its no good hoping that that one terriffic half will become the norm because it will not. We know Gabby too well for that. Sherwood has got a performance out of him and with any luck he might get a second today.
But I would imagine Jonas Olsson will be in today with orders to stop him any way he likes,
To be fair to him, his hot streaks have lasted at leats a few games in past seasons. In our current predicament and with the games we have coming up, that might just be enough.
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Guardian article:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/mar/06/gabriel-agbonlahor-aston-villa-premier-league
Sounds like a fair review of his career. Frightening when you read 25 goals over the last 5 years.
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Is there any info on Gabby's injury? Big miss if he's out for the semi.
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Rumours are that Gabby will be fit for Sunday, although it is the Mirror! Do you think it's a bit of kidology by Tim? Gabby and The Beast can shred their shit defence....
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Rumours are that Gabby will be fit for Sunday, although it is the Mirror! Do you think it's a bit of kidology by Tim? Gabby and The Beast can shred their shit defence....
Link to mirror article. I can't see nuffink
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I read (of heard, i forget which) somewhere that he went off with cramp. I reckon he'll be fit.
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I read (of heard, i forget which) somewhere that he went off with cramp. I reckon he'll be fit.
I do as well. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to join in the celebrations last Saturday. He could be the one player that makes a big difference on Sunday as long as Sherwood impresses upon him that its a local derby. Just tell him Liverpool is somewhere by Wolverhampton!
That should do the trick!
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Asked whether Clark and Agbonlahor are struggling to feature, Sherwood told reporters: "It looks like it, which is a real shame because it's a massive day out.
"Ciaran Clark came off with a medial knee ligament problem but I thought [Nathan] Baker did brilliantly when he came on, considering he's not played much. Gabby has tweaked his hamstring."
Two second-half yellow cards saw Sanchez earn a late red card, the latter of which came about after a foul on Danny Rose when Spurs were pressing for an equaliser.
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Kidology?
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Kidology?
Here's hoping.
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I suggest that Gabby isnt match fit, however his first touches yesterday were poor - surely that`s all about technique rather than fitness.
A pity he didnt score yesterday - his weakness to me on occasion is that when he has time to think about what he intends to do he ends up fluffing what looks like an easy chance - it was decent defending, however I think a more predatory striker would have buried the chance or at least drawn a foul/penalty and a red card for the defender.
Gabby has been great servant but it is now time to look ahead for his "replacement"
You watch him score the winner at Southampton next week :)
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He'll win us the cup.
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He was very rusty and he struggled to get into the pace of the game so mentality I suppose that can effect your technique, so his touch looked worse than normal. He also seems to look heavier after each injury. I think he needs to shed at least 7-14ibs over the summer.
He still has a part to play for Sherwoods Villa. But as a first 11 regular? We do need better now. Gabby can be a useful impact/rotation player though.
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He'll win us the cup.
that would be absolutely perfect and fitting for such a big game player.
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He'll win us the cup.
His physicality could be the perfect foil for Benteke.
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Thought he was awful yesterday. One on one, he is the worst I have ever seen. Needs to be shipped out ASAP close season. If we are to improve as a team, he wont be a part of it. Most overrated player ever.
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I agree that even if benteke stays we need another first choice player alongside or behind him. An upgrade on gabby and nzogbia
Ings or Austin are a different type of player but both like playing with a big man 😳 and can score goals.
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Both of those players would be a vast improvement on Gabby.
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Thought he was awful yesterday. One on one, he is the worst I have ever seen. Needs to be shipped out ASAP close season. If we are to improve as a team, he wont be a part of it. Most overrated player ever.
Bill, didn't see you post how horrific Gabby is and how he needs to be shipped out ASAP after his key goal vs Albion and goals bs Sunderland while he was fit and in form.
Most overrated player ever becomes a contender for most melodramatic statement ever made on here. And we've had lots of good ones.
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Thought he was awful yesterday. One on one, he is the worst I have ever seen. Needs to be shipped out ASAP close season. If we are to improve as a team, he wont be a part of it. Most overrated player ever.
A poor 20 minutes and he's being shipped out? o_O Thanks for the 300 odd games Gabby and countless goals but you should know theres no loyalty football anymore, oh unless we want a player to stay. Then show some bloody loyalty!
He was fantastic under Sherwood in March and has been injured most of April, he's not going anywhere yet
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Gabby's been good for sherwood. I can't see any chance of him leaving. I'd like a more consistent goal scoring option and I want someone more mobile than kozak or bent, and just better than weimann
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Gabby's been good for sherwood. I can't see any chance of him leaving. I'd like a more consistent goal scoring option and I want someone more mobile than kozak or bent, and just better than weimann
Which is a far fairer assessment. Sherwood clearly likes him and when fit has played well with Benteke.
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Thought he was awful yesterday. One on one, he is the worst I have ever seen. Needs to be shipped out ASAP close season. If we are to improve as a team, he wont be a part of it. Most overrated player ever.
Bill, didn't see you post how horrific Gabby is and how he needs to be shipped out ASAP after his key goal vs Albion and goals bs Sunderland while he was fit and in form.
Most overrated player ever becomes a contender for most melodramatic statement ever made on here. And we've had lots of good ones.
He is not the most overrated player ever, but we do need to get rid. He is past it. If we are to improve we need better.
You have picked out two matches where he had good first halfs. I could give you numerous other examples where he has been shocking
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Thought he was awful yesterday. One on one, he is the worst I have ever seen. Needs to be shipped out ASAP close season. If we are to improve as a team, he wont be a part of it. Most overrated player ever.
A poor 20 minutes and he's being shipped out? o_O Thanks for the 300 odd games Gabby and countless goals but you should know theres no loyalty football anymore, oh unless we want a player to stay. Then show some bloody loyalty!
He was fantastic under Sherwood in March and has been injured most of April, he's not going anywhere yet
Exactly, thanks for your efforts but goodbye. He should be thanking us for the 50k per week he has been earning.
He was awful yesterday. Not sure if you attended but off the ball he put in very little effort. The miss summed up a very poor 20 mins
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Every player under Lambert looked past it. Then Sherwood arrived and has been able to find players strengths and played to them. Gabby was really coming into the type of form we saw first under MON. Running at defenders and showing some impressive pace to be a proper threat again. Now, doesn't mean he can't be replaced or we shouldn't look for players who might be consistently better, but I certainly wouldn't say he's past it and certainly not based on 20 minutes yesterday coming off a hamstring injury.
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Every player under Lambert looked past it. Then Sherwood arrived and has been able to find players strengths and played to them. Gabby was really coming into the type of form we saw first under MON. Running at defenders and showing some impressive pace to be a proper threat again. Now, doesn't mean he can't be replaced or we shouldn't look for players who might be consistently better, but I certainly wouldn't say he's past it and certainly not based on 20 minutes yesterday coming off a hamstring injury.
He regularly doesnt put in a shift and fails to do the simple things
Compare his 20 mins with his lack of effort to that of Cleverly's who ran until he dropped.
We look better without him.
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Didn't Benteke come out and say how much he was enjoying playing up front with gabby? Around the time of the Tottenham game? Gabby was playing with lots of pace and power until the injury and although not quite down in the dumps questions were being asked before the Liverpool game about how to replace Gabby due to his influence.
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Every player under Lambert looked past it. Then Sherwood arrived and has been able to find players strengths and played to them. Gabby was really coming into the type of form we saw first under MON. Running at defenders and showing some impressive pace to be a proper threat again. Now, doesn't mean he can't be replaced or we shouldn't look for players who might be consistently better, but I certainly wouldn't say he's past it and certainly not based on 20 minutes yesterday coming off a hamstring injury.
He regularly doesnt put in a shift and fails to do the simple things
Compare his 20 mins with his lack of effort to that of Cleverly's who ran until he dropped.
We look better without him.
He was playing for the first time coming off a hamstring injury. Honestly what were you expecting?He was probably told not to go nuts chasing everything just in case it reoccurred. How are you basing your entir assessment of the player on that and versus a fully fit Cleverely who is an entirely different type of player?
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Maybe he looks Ok from Toronto. From where I sit in VP he looks a very poor player. Been watching Villa for 50 years now, I think I know a good player when I see one, and he aint one, never has been. Oh for a player with a footballing brain to play alongside Benteke, now that would make us a force . Hope to see this waste of space moved on. Ings or Austin would be a real step up in quality.
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Maybe he looks Ok from Toronto. From where I sit in VP he looks a very poor player. Been watching Villa for 50 years now, I think I know a good player when I see one, and he aint one, never has been. Oh for a player with a footballing brain to play alongside Benteke, now that would make us a force . Hope to see this waste of space moved on. Ings or Austin would be a real step up in quality.
I doubt you do if you think he's never been a good player for us.
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Thought he was awful yesterday. One on one, he is the worst I have ever seen. Needs to be shipped out ASAP close season. If we are to improve as a team, he wont be a part of it. Most overrated player ever.
So OTT. Silly.
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Maybe he looks Ok from Toronto. From where I sit in VP he looks a very poor player. Been watching Villa for 50 years now, I think I know a good player when I see one, and he aint one, never has been. Oh for a player with a footballing brain to play alongside Benteke, now that would make us a force . Hope to see this waste of space moved on. Ings or Austin would be a real step up in quality.
Yes my television set in Toronto is fantastic. We've won the league the past two seasons with Gabby and Benteke smashing in 30 each both seasons. It's also us vs Barcelona in the CL final in a few weeks. Sorry to hear your vantage point at Villa Park is so utterly depressing and miserable and especially with regard to Gabby.
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It's my opinion. Always has been. Don't rate him, never have. Goals per game over his career is mediocre, a very limited player with one asset ,pace. if you rate him fine.That's your opinion, your perfectly entitled to it. But I have in my time seen the best at VP. He is not amongst them.
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It's my opinion. Always has been. Don't rate him never have. Goals per game over his career is mediocre, a very limited player with one asset ,pace. if you rate him fine.Thats your opinion, your perfectly entitled to it. But I have in my time seen the best at VP. He is not amongst them.
Not many Villa players have scored 73 premier league goals though. Not to be sniffed at.
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Gabby for all his important goals and Derby goals gets my seal of approval. Yes he can be infuriating at times but that applies to most players.
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Over how many years. His average per season is now in single figures. Not too many have been worse.
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I've given Gabby plenty of stick the last few years as I think he's underachieved and looked like he's staying firmly in a comfort zone, but i'd never say he has never been good for us.
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It's my opinion. Always has been. Don't rate him never have. Goals per game over his career is mediocre, a very limited player with one asset ,pace. if you rate him fine.Thats your opinion, your perfectly entitled to it. But I have in my time seen the best at VP. He is not amongst them.
Not many Villa players have scored 73 premier league goals though. Not to be sniffed at.
With the biggest criticism (despite that being a decent number for a player not always played in a central striker position) is that could still have had many more goals.
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Both of those players would be a vast improvement on Gabby.
Shut up would they.
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
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Both of those players would be a vast improvement on Gabby.
Shut up would they.
Yes
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Along with those misses at Old Trafford, Anfield, The Emirates, Stamford Bridge, White Hart Lane....etc.
Oh sorry, I meant 'goals'.
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Oh ok so playing on the left wing had no affect on his goals total?
Listen, we're all for reasoned debate but clearly you've come on here to tell us how wrong we all are and how utterly shit he is and nothing is going to sway that opinion.
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It's my opinion. Always has been. Don't rate him never have. Goals per game over his career is mediocre, a very limited player with one asset ,pace. if you rate him fine.Thats your opinion, your perfectly entitled to it. But I have in my time seen the best at VP. He is not amongst them.
Not many Villa players have scored 73 premier league goals though. Not to be sniffed at.
With the biggest criticism (despite that being a decent number for a player not always played in a central striker position) is that could still have had many more goals.
Yep, but he could have scored fewer as well. I'm a big fan of Gabby, yeah he should be more prolific but boy does he have a habit of getting the big goals, and we still have a certain big game to play before this season ends.
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I've given Gabby plenty of stick the last few years as I think he's underachieved and looked like he's staying firmly in a comfort zone, but i'd never say he has never been good for us.
One thing that rarely gets a mention in his defence is the number of shit managers/coaches he's worked with since breaking into the first team squad. Is it any wonder a kid that came into the game late doesn't have the best technical ability.
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It's my opinion. Always has been. Don't rate him never have. Goals per game over his career is mediocre, a very limited player with one asset ,pace. if you rate him fine.Thats your opinion, your perfectly entitled to it. But I have in my time seen the best at VP. He is not amongst them.
Not many Villa players have scored 73 premier league goals though. Not to be sniffed at.
With the biggest criticism (despite that being a decent number for a player not always played in a central striker position) is that could still have had many more goals.
Yep, but he could have scored fewer as well. I'm a big fan of Gabby, yeah he should be more prolific but boy does he have a habit of getting the big goals, and we still have a certain big game to play before this season ends.
You won't get an argument from me SH. Some of those massive goals are worth double or triple in terms of their value.
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Oh ok so playing on the left wing had no affect on his goals total?
Listen, we're all for reasoned debate but clearly you've come on here to tell us how wrong we all are and how utterly shit he is and nothing is going to sway that opinion.
Nope 'as I said earlier , you have a perfect right to your opinion. Mine is different is all. And I still don't rate him.
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I've given Gabby plenty of stick the last few years as I think he's underachieved and looked like he's staying firmly in a comfort zone, but i'd never say he has never been good for us.
One thing that rarely gets a mention in his defence is the number of shit managers/coaches he's worked with since breaking into the first team squad. Is it any wonder a kid that came into the game late doesn't have the best technical ability.
Late? he's been with us since he was 8 and made his debut at 19, you've lost me there TSOV.
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Oh ok so playing on the left wing had no affect on his goals total?
Listen, we're all for reasoned debate but clearly you've come on here to tell us how wrong we all are and how utterly shit he is and nothing is going to sway that opinion.
Remember seeing Ray Graydon play on the wing for Villa, season 74/75.....he scored 37 goals that season. Good players will score wherever they play.
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Oh ok so playing on the left wing had no affect on his goals total?
Listen, we're all for reasoned debate but clearly you've come on here to tell us how wrong we all are and how utterly shit he is and nothing is going to sway that opinion.
Remember seeing Ray Graydon play on the wing for Villa, season 74/75.....he scored 37 goals that season. Good players will score wherever they play.
Wasn't that in the second division though?
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Oh ok so playing on the left wing had no affect on his goals total?
Listen, we're all for reasoned debate but clearly you've come on here to tell us how wrong we all are and how utterly shit he is and nothing is going to sway that opinion.
Remember seeing Ray Graydon play on the wing for Villa, season 74/75.....he scored 37 goals that season. Good players will score wherever they play.
No he didn't. 19 in the league, plus 8 in the cups. Worth mentioning as well it was Division 2.
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I've given Gabby plenty of stick the last few years as I think he's underachieved and looked like he's staying firmly in a comfort zone, but i'd never say he has never been good for us.
One thing that rarely gets a mention in his defence is the number of shit managers/coaches he's worked with since breaking into the first team squad. Is it any wonder a kid that came into the game late doesn't have the best technical ability.
Late? he's been with us since he was 8 and made his debut at 19, you've lost me there TSOV.
I thought he was a late starter as a kid? More interested in athletics than football. Never knew he'd with us since he was with us as an 8 year old. The part about only working with technically clueless managers/coaches still stands. A few months with Houllier was as good as it got.
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To me he's been used to being one of the first names on the team sheet. Past managers have picked him based upon a lack of quality alternatives and the classic "he's got pace, defenders hate pace" statement. He's either on his game or not, very inconsistent and you can usually tell within the first few minutes of a game if he's up for it.
If Sherwood can get into his head, then I'm sure he will get us of our seats again. Infuriating though isn't he.
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Must admit I thought he was about 17 on his debut at Everton ?
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Must admit I thought he was about 17 on his debut at Everton ?
Nope, 19.
Paul Hardcastle wrote a song about it.
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Oh ok so playing on the left wing had no affect on his goals total?
Listen, we're all for reasoned debate but clearly you've come on here to tell us how wrong we all are and how utterly shit he is and nothing is going to sway that opinion.
Remember seeing Ray Graydon play on the wing for Villa, season 74/75.....he scored 37 goals that season. Good players will score wherever they play.
No he didn't. 19 in the league, plus 8 in the cups. Worth mentioning as well it was Division 2.
Ah 27, is that all.My apologies. It was a long time ago. We had two 20+ goal men that season, and second division or not, it was a joy to watch.
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Oh ok so playing on the left wing had no affect on his goals total?
Listen, we're all for reasoned debate but clearly you've come on here to tell us how wrong we all are and how utterly shit he is and nothing is going to sway that opinion.
Remember seeing Ray Graydon play on the wing for Villa, season 74/75.....he scored 37 goals that season. Good players will score wherever they play.
Wasn't that in the second division though?
Yes, and I think he maybe exaggerating again.
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Bill, did you see him play in two times of the last three times we've won at Arsenal and how he virtually single-handedly destroyed them? Do you not think there's something in that that suggests he might be worth a place in the Cup Final team?
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Not that old chestnut. His miss yesterday can go along all the others over the years, from a central position.
Oh ok so playing on the left wing had no affect on his goals total?
Listen, we're all for reasoned debate but clearly you've come on here to tell us how wrong we all are and how utterly shit he is and nothing is going to sway that opinion.
Remember seeing Ray Graydon play on the wing for Villa, season 74/75.....he scored 37 goals that season. Good players will score wherever they play.
As another example, Thierry Henry was mostly played on the wing rather than centre forward before going to Arsenal. He had never scored more than 9 league goals in a season. In his first season at Arsenal he got 17. Of course being played on the wing rather than in the middle affects goal totals.
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Never Any Good I
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2khiW7-9Lsc
Never Any Good II
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hmLcwsHEh24
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The Shit away 2-1 - just after clearing off the line
The Shit away 1-0 - another lovely headed late winner
man U away 1-0
Liverpool away this season until injured (actually that was last season but also scored in the 1-0 win)
norwich away 2-1 two seasons ago
Shit at home 1-0 - brought down for Milner's pen
...there are plenty examples of him playing well and contributing even without scoring. Norwich at home 3-2, away at Chelsea 1-2 just spring to mind.
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Found this one as well, some nice Brummie memories set to a killer Brummie tune:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oEGqUwKRbmE
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I think if someone doesn't rate Gabby at the levels Bill doesn't, theres no point in trying to change his mind.. He was absolutely superb in March
He should have finished his chance on sat, but he's been out a while and it was his first opportunity, cut him some slack
He's a different option to N'Zogbia, N'Zogbia's better infront of the defence, where as Gabbys superior on the shoulder and obviously in front of goal
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Must admit I thought he was about 17 on his debut at Everton ?
Nope, 19.
Paul Hardcastle wrote a song about it.
Ss Ss Ss Ss Ss Ss Ss Ss Seventeen . That one ?
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Found this one as well, some nice Brummie memories set to a killer Brummie tune:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oEGqUwKRbmE
My word, what a throwback those goals were.. i was at the 2008/9 Arsenal away win too
Gabby Agbonlahor.. what a geezer
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He has always lacked quality and footballing intelligence for me. Of course sometimes his pace will be effective but in my opinion he should be on the fringes now, he's too inconsistent and he's no young pup.
P.S. keep him just to start against the stripey filth.
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I would keep him as a squad player too. Think on his day he can still do damage and put a shift in but think we have better options now.
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He's still our second best centre fwd for me and has done very well in a few games of late. Be very surprised if he goes