Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Tuscans on June 13, 2012, 02:53:14 PM
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Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor admits it will feel like a fresh start under new manager Paul Lambert when the players come back for pre-season.
The Brummie-born forward has been the subject of reports linking him with a potential £12million move to Sunderland and a chance to link up with former manager Martin O'Neill.
Agbonlahor's career at Villa Park stuttered under previous managers Gerard Houllier and Alex McLeish and he finished last season with a miserable run of 22 games without a goal.
However, the 25-year-old has no plans on leaving the club and aims to revive his career under former Norwich boss Lambert.
"On a personal note I'm excited," Agbonlahor told the Birmingham Mail.
"It's a new start and a new challenge. With a new manager you want to get yourself lean and ready for the start of the new season.
"So I'm excited for myself and for a lot of the squad, they'll be excited as well.
"For the whole squad, for every player, it's a fresh start. I think when everyone comes back for pre-season everyone starts from the same level really.
"I think for everyone, the squad and the fans especially, it looks like exciting times ahead."
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And how long before the rumours that he's pissed off at being behind Bent in the pecking order start up again? He's had a few new starts and a few chances to show us what he's made of and he's turned into a bit of an excuse maker. I love gabby but sentiment aside, for me, he's got one more season to prove he's good enough for us, from the subs bench.
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Wasn't he excited about McLeish as well?
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He'd be the only one is he was.
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Wasn't he excited about McLeish as well?
yes and he will about the one after this ..... ;)
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Just perform well Gabby, that's all you have to concentrate on.
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Gabby needs to stop talking to the press and deliver on the pitch. I still want him sold though
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The players who are in articles such as this are usually those whose places are in jeopardy. Finger out time now Gabby. We have paid, now you play.
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I'm hoping for a headline that states 'Hutton exited by new boss'.
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I'm hoping for a headline that states 'Hutton exited by new boss'.
'Hutton happy to be back home' following a move back to scotland would be good for me.
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Personally i'd like to see a headline that states "Gabby scores a goal"
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You'd make a shit headline writer.
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I do wish players would shut up and refuse interviews.
I put the word 'not' into this kind of headline and then ask myself what else he is expected to say.
Not interested in what you say, just how well you perform.
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Gabby starts off well so let's hope Lambert can get him to do it throughout the season I love Gabby he his one of us but we need him to be more consistent.
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Wasn't he excited about McLeish as well?
Yes, he also said how great McCatpiss was previously.
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£12m Gabby to Sunderland?
Right I am free to drive him up tomorrow !
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Like Zog, I think we'll see a much improved Gabby under Lambert.
I think they should all be given a chance, bar the Laurel and Hardy tribute act that is Warnock and Hutton.
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I'm hoping for a headline that states 'Hutton exited by new boss'.
Shouldn't that be 'exiled' in his case? ;)
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Something tells me that Cockbiscuit's pun has not been fully appreciated by a couple of posters.
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gabby needs to start pulling his finger out.
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Fucking shut up Gabby. That is all.
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£12m Gabby to Sunderland?
Right I am free to drive him up tomorrow !
I'll give you some petrol money.
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Last season I would have been happy for us to sell him but I think Lambert could get the best out of him. That's assuming Lambert doesn't come to the conclusion that he's not hungry enough and decides to sell him.
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I'm hoping for a headline that states 'Hutton exited by new boss'.
Shouldn't that be 'exiled' in his case? ;)
Exited will do.
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£12 million for Gabby . Yes please
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Sorry to see so many Gabby-haters. He very much deserves another season given the performances he has delivered in his Villa career. Senior players are asked a hundred times when a new manager comes in about it. What are they supposed to say aside from "it's exciting blah blah".
As for selling him to Sunderland, I'd rather not help O'Neill out thanks. Gabby can be devastating and on top form is worth way more than £12m in todays inflated market.
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Sorry to see so many Gabby-haters. He very much deserves another season given the performances he has delivered in his Villa career. Senior players are asked a hundred times when a new manager comes in about it. What are they supposed to say aside from "it's exciting blah blah".
As for selling him to Sunderland, I'd rather not help O'Neill out thanks. Gabby can be devastating and on top form is worth way more than £12m in todays inflated market.
I totally agree with this, but I feel we are in the minority. I would like to see some odds on Gabby being our top scorer next season.
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£12m Gabby to Sunderland?
Right I am free to drive him up tomorrow !
I'll give you some petrol money.
I'll push the car! ;D
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Sorry to see so many Gabby-haters. He very much deserves another season given the performances he has delivered in his Villa career. Senior players are asked a hundred times when a new manager comes in about it. What are they supposed to say aside from "it's exciting blah blah".
As for selling him to Sunderland, I'd rather not help O'Neill out thanks. Gabby can be devastating and on top form is worth way more than £12m in todays inflated market.
I hate the term "haters". It seems to be a chav-fueled social media term which is used to describe anyone who has the slightest bit of criticism for anything else, which is all that is being expressed.
Purely on football...
Deserving another season? What do you have to do to "deserve more time"? Not delivered for 2 straight seasons, sulked a lot when played out wide, done absoluptly nothing when played in his "best" position. No movement, and Houllier was right about him needing to lose a bit of the bulk, he has lost a good amount of pace, and will never be bright enough to make up for shortfalls as an athlete by having the movement and awareness to make up. He is a lower mid table striker, but never going to be what some think he is. His movement and finishing is simply not up to it the standard needed. If MON offered anything over 8 million I would drive him up there, and would pay the petrol.
On sentiment, I would love him to score 20 goals next season, put me right on all that I have written above, and lead us to a top 8 finish. I would love it, because he is Gabby and he is ours. But sentiment should not come into analysing his talent.
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For all the talk about how he loves the club I won't forget the way in which he ambled about without a care in the world later on last season when we were struggling and he was wearing the armband. It was just a poor show. I don't want us to sell him, but for the right price I think we should. He's just not consistent enough.
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Its just another boring article with a player using well used cliches about a new manager.
Almost as boring as Shay Given saying what a top manager he is under.
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Sorry to see so many Gabby-haters.
Don't hate him. That's a terrible word. Gabby has limited dexterity as an offensive player and his pace will go or has already gone. After that he will be even more limited. So if e can pick up that sort of money great and he will do well out of a contract given to him by O'Neill.
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Can see Gabby on the bench a lot next season. Bent and Weimann will be the starters.
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I love Gabby, but am fed up with how he goes months scoring either rarely or not at all every season. And especially unimpressed with his attitude last season when we were in the shit. "Can't wait for the season to end" which was obvious from his performances in his supposed best position after Bent got injured. Mr Villa went missing when he was needed most and at his age the excuses have to stop.
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Can see Gabby on the bench a lot next season. Bent and Weimann will be the starters.
This. See ya Gabby, thanks for the memories and no matter where you end up you'll always get a good reception when you come to Villa Park.
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I can see Gabby bagging 16 three of which will come against the Albion, two at Hawthorns.
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Sorry to see so many Gabby-haters. He very much deserves another season given the performances he has delivered in his Villa career. Senior players are asked a hundred times when a new manager comes in about it. What are they supposed to say aside from "it's exciting blah blah".
As for selling him to Sunderland, I'd rather not help O'Neill out thanks. Gabby can be devastating and on top form is worth way more than £12m in todays inflated market.
I hate the term "haters". It seems to be a chav-fueled social media term which is used to describe anyone who has the slightest bit of criticism for anything else, which is all that is being expressed.
Purely on football...
Deserving another season? What do you have to do to "deserve more time"? Not delivered for 2 straight seasons, sulked a lot when played out wide, done absoluptly nothing when played in his "best" position. No movement, and Houllier was right about him needing to lose a bit of the bulk, he has lost a good amount of pace, and will never be bright enough to make up for shortfalls as an athlete by having the movement and awareness to make up. He is a lower mid table striker, but never going to be what some think he is. His movement and finishing is simply not up to it the standard needed. If MON offered anything over 8 million I would drive him up there, and would pay the petrol.
On sentiment, I would love him to score 20 goals next season, put me right on all that I have written above, and lead us to a top 8 finish. I would love it, because he is Gabby and he is ours. But sentiment should not come into analysing his talent.
So you're a hater hater? ;)
I'll pretend you didn't infer I was some kind of 'chav' Ozzbert! This is about as social media as I get so if I inadvertently use another term to your distaste be sure to pipe up!
So you aren't a fan of Agbonlahor, fair enough, he can be frustrating to watch at times I agree and isn't top draw (Van Persie et al). But I reckon he's worth persevering with. Actually, it's a bit like the comments about Given being flogged: we have a VERY small nucleus of senior pros at the club, Gabby one of them, who, on their day are good enough for a top 6 club. Selling them because they can't take us higher than 4th is mental when we just avoided relegation.
It's a bit like when a dad takes over a junior football team and makes his son train extra hard - Gabby, if anything, seems to get more stick because he's local. So that sentiment is a double edged sword for the bloke.
Innit.
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He played well from August-December though. Let's not forget that.
Look back to most of those games and he was either scoring or setting them up for Bent.
Fcuk knows what happened to him after xmas but he didn't step up in Bent's absence at all so yes he has a lot to prove next season.
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At the start of last season gabby was the sharpest i've seen him, but towards the end of last season it was the poorest I've seen him. Hopefully he can bang a few in next season, mainly because I love the fact he's a brummy lad playing for his club.
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My guess is a total lack of confidence is what happened to him after xmas, Soccer HQ. Just like most of the team in fact. Like you say though he was great (I would say our best player) for a couple of months just before the turn on the year.
Maybe his legs have gone a bit too? But to get rid now (drive him to Sunderland etc) seems a little unfair on a player who has proved, albeit fleetingly over the past 12 months, to be up to the job of top 6 striker seems over the top to me. I guess/hope we'll see.
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At the start of last season gabby was the sharpest i've seen him, but towards the end of last season it was the poorest I've seen him. Hopefully he can bang a few in next season, mainly because I love the fact he's a brummy lad playing for his club.
Same for me.
I think it's wrong to say people hate Gabby. They shouldn't anyway as he's scored some very important goals for us down the years, goals that helped us get 6th three years in a row.
It's wrong however to rewrite history when he was comfortably our best player from August-December last season.
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It's time he left - he's been poor for 2 seasons now and he needs a new challenge. He considers himself an automatic pick but sadly his form is far from that. Time to move on IMO.
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Sorry to see so many Gabby-haters. He very much deserves another season given the performances he has delivered in his Villa career. Senior players are asked a hundred times when a new manager comes in about it. What are they supposed to say aside from "it's exciting blah blah".
As for selling him to Sunderland, I'd rather not help O'Neill out thanks. Gabby can be devastating and on top form is worth way more than £12m in todays inflated market.
This
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After the Norwich game on Nov 5th he scored 0 league goals and had 1 assist (Dec 12th at Bolton).
This season is going to be a big one for him career wise after the last 2 seasons. I really hope he can hit form and consistency as Gabby in full on mode is a great sight, but i'm not convinced he can do it.
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If anyone offered anywhere near £12M for Gabby I'd like to think we'd get him there before their tablets wore off.
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I'm not a Gabby hater, just the opposite, but please footballers let your footballing skills come to the fore, don't do slily interviews that result in this kind of thread
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I hate the term "haters". It seems to be a chav-fueled social media term which is used to describe anyone who has the slightest bit of criticism for anything else, which is all that is being expressed.
Purely on football...
Deserving another season? What do you have to do to "deserve more time"? Not delivered for 2 straight seasons, sulked a lot when played out wide, done absoluptly nothing when played in his "best" position. No movement, and Houllier was right about him needing to lose a bit of the bulk, he has lost a good amount of pace, and will never be bright enough to make up for shortfalls as an athlete by having the movement and awareness to make up. He is a lower mid table striker, but never going to be what some think he is. His movement and finishing is simply not up to it the standard needed. If MON offered anything over 8 million I would drive him up there, and would pay the petrol.
On sentiment, I would love him to score 20 goals next season, put me right on all that I have written above, and lead us to a top 8 finish. I would love it, because he is Gabby and he is ours. But sentiment should not come into analysing his talent.
THIS!
He is not good enough and at the grand old age of 25, he should be doing a lot better. Would Gabby get this much love if he wasnt an AVFC fan? I think not. If we received an offer at around 8m, personally, i'd take it and reinvest in a player who is hungrier and technically better.
People used to talk about his pace and how dangerous he is/was, well he has last that yard of pace for ignoring a manager who was advising him correctly. Now what are we left with? A player who has failed to deliver or progress in 2 seasons and is not technically there. He is a serial sulker and I wouldnt be surprised if he was causing some unrest in the dressing room.
I still hope he proves me wrong so that I can eat a large slice of humble pie but I dont believe he will.
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Must admit that I agree with Oz and Rick. Time to move him on if the right offer is received.
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I hate the term "haters". It seems to be a chav-fueled social media term which is used to describe anyone who has the slightest bit of criticism for anything else, which is all that is being expressed.
Purely on football...
Deserving another season? What do you have to do to "deserve more time"? Not delivered for 2 straight seasons, sulked a lot when played out wide, done absoluptly nothing when played in his "best" position. No movement, and Houllier was right about him needing to lose a bit of the bulk, he has lost a good amount of pace, and will never be bright enough to make up for shortfalls as an athlete by having the movement and awareness to make up. He is a lower mid table striker, but never going to be what some think he is. His movement and finishing is simply not up to it the standard needed. If MON offered anything over 8 million I would drive him up there, and would pay the petrol.
On sentiment, I would love him to score 20 goals next season, put me right on all that I have written above, and lead us to a top 8 finish. I would love it, because he is Gabby and he is ours. But sentiment should not come into analysing his talent.
THIS!
He is not good enough and at the grand old age of 25, he should be doing a lot better. Would Gabby get this much love if he wasnt an AVFC fan? I think not. If we received an offer at around 8m, personally, i'd take it and reinvest in a player who is hungrier and technically better.
People used to talk about his pace and how dangerous he is/was, well he has last that yard of pace for ignoring a manager who was advising him correctly. Now what are we left with? A player who has failed to deliver or progress in 2 seasons and is not technically there. He is a serial sulker and I wouldnt be surprised if he was causing some unrest in the dressing room.
I still hope he proves me wrong so that I can eat a large slice of humble pie but I dont believe he will.
I have to agree with this. His bright idea to bulk up to not be bullied like Heskey, was a poor one.
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Size/build doesn't always come at the cost of speed. Usain Bolt is 14 stone for instance. In fact, most sprinters are well built.
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Houllier recognised gabby had big fish small pond issues straight away. If he'd listened to the home truths about his weight etc and responsed positively who knows where he'd be now.
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Size/build doesn't always come at the cost of speed. Usain Bolt is 14 stone for instance.
I don't rate him. He's no Alf Tupper.
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He was fast and small, then MON got him to bulk up and be stronger, Houllier wanted him to lose it and be faster.
He's been used on the wing rather than an up front.
It's hardly surprising he's off the boil a bit.
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Must admit that I agree with Oz and Rick. Time to move him on if the right offer is received.
And replace with who?
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Size/build doesn't always come at the cost of speed. Usain Bolt is 14 stone for instance. In fact, most sprinters are well built.
On the rare occasions that Gabby shows up, he's a real handful for defenders (Vidic and Ferdinand usually bring out the best in him) and is strong enough not to be pushed about. I don't think that he would lose much speed by bulking up but his real problems start when he needs to play football. I think it was last season's Fulham game at VP which really showed this up. With Fulham defending deep, Gabby showed no movement or hunger and just seemed happy waiting for a killer through ball from somebody in our own half! Weimann came on and immediately started looking for the ball and linking up play and it made a huge difference. Gabby just kept on sitting on the defender's shoulder and contributed nothing. Weimann scored the winner.
Now it may be down to coaching and tactics but most players (specifically Rooney) will look for the ball and try and make something happen. More often than not, Gabby will be as far away from the ball as possible and unavailable.
I'd love to see Lambert help him turn it around but as 25 years old, you'd be expecting him to at least the basics well.
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Size/build doesn't always come at the cost of speed. Usain Bolt is 14 stone for instance. In fact, most sprinters are well built.
On the rare occasions that Gabby shows up, he's a real handful for defenders (Vidic and Ferdinand usually bring out the best in him) and is strong enough not to be pushed about. I don't think that he would lose much speed by bulking up but his real problems start when he needs to play football. I think it was last season's Fulham game at VP which really showed this up. With Fulham defending deep, Gabby showed no movement or hunger and just seemed happy waiting for a killer through ball from somebody in our own half! Weimann came on and immediately started looking for the ball and linking up play and it made a huge difference. Gabby just kept on sitting on the defender's shoulder and contributed nothing. Weimann scored the winner.
Now it may be down to coaching and tactics but most players (specifically Rooney) will look for the ball and try and make something happen. More often than not, Gabby will be as far away from the ball as possible and unavailable.
I'd love to see Lambert help him turn it around but as 25 years old, you'd be expecting him to at least the basics well.
Maybe he was playing to order! McShitface has been know to drop players who didn't, ask Ireland and Nzog.
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Where do people get the idea that MON told Gabby to bulk up?
I remember the season he came back for pre-season after he'd done it, and MON said he was surprised, hadn't asked him to do it, and wasn't sure it was a good idea.
Funny how these myths gain credence.
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I share others' frustrations and misgivings. But it is worth remembering that he was very good indeed for a good proportion of the first half of last season. Scored dime excellent goals and played very well in games like Chelsea and Swansea away, even when he didn't score.
Given the significant work needed on midfield and defence, I'd be inclined to give him another chance.
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How many of the squad actually performed for McLeish? No one really. We know we have some very good players and we have to wait to see what PL can get from them, then see who isn't up to it.
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How many of the squad actually performed for McLeish? No one really. We know we have some very good players and we have to wait to see what PL can get from them, then see who isn't up to it.
Correct. However, we can't let them piss about all season again. Sid should be able to advise on those to be got rid off with immediate effect. A handful would have until Christmas but no longer. Regardless of the manager, they have been paid good money and owe us more than they have given so far.
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I share others' frustrations and misgivings. But it is worth remembering that he was very good indeed for a good proportion of the first half of last season. Scored dime excellent goals and played very well in games like Chelsea and Swansea away, even when he didn't score.
Given the significant work needed on midfield and defence, I'd be inclined to give him another chance.
Agree with this.
Around the time of the Chelsea away match people were saying that we should get rid of Bent and play Gabby up front on his own. On the basis of a short period of analysis, I didn't agree with these people at the time. Likewise, I do not go along with selling Gabby now based on a poor second half of the season when even Messi would have struggled in a side lead by McLeish.
We have tried to play one up front for the best part of the last two seasons with differing success. Depending how Lambert wants to set us up as a team will dictate how Gabby performs in my opinion. Gabby does not have an all round game like top strikers but can be a top 6 forward played in the right formation and with the right players behind him. Until we see how Lambert wants to set the team up we should not be quick to pass judgement.
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However, we can't let them piss about all season again. Sid should be able to advise on those to be got rid off with immediate effect. A handful would have until Christmas but no longer. Regardless of the manager, they have been paid good money and owe us more than they have given so far.
Interesting point.
Cowans was always the ultimate professional. He had great talent but was never a 'Billy big bollocks' type of player. I wonder what his opinions are of some our 'only here for the money' type of players. I should imagine the attitude of some does not sit well with him, particulary when most of his time here in his playing days were in a team of generally solid grafting professionals.
It will be interesting to see if Lambert consults with him on the players in the squad.
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You're all mad for wanting to sell Gabby. We'd have gone down without his contribution in the early part of last season.
There were very few players in the squad who didn't take their foot off the gas after Christmas last season, why is Gabby the only one criticised for doing it?
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At the start of last season gabby was the sharpest i've seen him, but towards the end of last season it was the poorest I've seen him. Hopefully he can bang a few in next season, mainly because I love the fact he's a brummy lad playing for his club.
Fresh start playing under a new manager, got into the England squad, got injured, rushed back, wasn't ready, team were poor and he lost enthusiasm when it became obvious McLeish wasn't up to the job. He wasn't the only one.
If he has another poor season, then yes maybe it is time to get rid. But he deserves another chance. There have been many worse than him we've persevered with.
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At the start of last season gabby was the sharpest i've seen him, but towards the end of last season it was the poorest I've seen him. Hopefully he can bang a few in next season, mainly because I love the fact he's a brummy lad playing for his club.
Fresh start playing under a new manager, got into the England squad, got injured, rushed back, wasn't ready, team were poor and he lost enthusiasm when it became obvious McLeish wasn't up to the job. He wasn't the only one.
If he has another poor season, then yes maybe it is time to get rid. But he deserves another chance. There have been many worse than him we've persevered with.
I'd love to see what he'll do for Lambert. No one was good under McLeish. Not a one. Average was good as anyone mustered under the piss poor management of McCatpiss. Plus Gabby had a few niggly injuries. He probably played a lot while not fully fit whilst Bent was out, because of necessity. The fact he ended the season as captain, showed our dearth in reliable, senior players. It's also possible that under the last manager our fitness levels were not very good and in part led to so many injuries. Something wasn't right. We struggled because Houllier overworked the players, which led to injury. Under McLeish perhaps it was too slack. I can't base our injury situation purely to luck.
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Web have to give him a fresh start, he is a good player and hopefully for us he will get that form back. Even Bent couldn't score under the management of TSM.
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Web have to give him a fresh start, he is a good player and hopefully for us he will get that form back. Even Bent couldn't score under the management of TSM.
Apart from the 10 in 25 games that Bent did score under OVM which is pretty much his career average?
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He'll get a chance I'm sure, but he needs to sort his attitude out and lose some weight.
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Web have to give him a fresh start, he is a good player and hopefully for us he will get that form back. Even Bent couldn't score under the management of TSM.
Apart from the 10 in 25 games that Bent did score under OVM which is pretty much his career average?
The way things went I reckon the goals would have dried up at the end for him too. Only speculation I know but we became so so poor.
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Gabby and Bent were about level for the first few months of the season, so Gabby was doing well to keep pace as he was also setting up a few for Bent to tap in, and as always, Bent was not reciprocating.