Gerard Houllier

[avfcpg]

Putting a bit of bulk on is fine for players but too much can restrict how mobile and flexible they can be...especially if they do what most blokes do, just the tee shirt muscles. Given all the advice on hand at premier clubs, I am surprised that he has been allowed to bulk up too much, if indeed he has. He looks bulkier for sure but wouldn't say too much.

I would say that Beckham and Ronaldo have the ideal physiques for players these days.

[old man villa fan]

What Gabby hasnt worked out is that as a striker you need the muscle from the waist down, there is no need to bulk up the upper body unless he wants to play rugby

Tell that to Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

They both are naturally of big build though Chris.  It is a fine line with an athelete and I think Gabby has gone over that a little.

I think MON's reason for telling Gabby to bulk up was the fact that he saw him as a central striker leading the line.  I do not think Gabby has enough natural goal scoring ability or nous about movement to play that role as a lone striker.

[Toronto Villa]

What Gabby hasnt worked out is that as a striker you need the muscle from the waist down, there is no need to bulk up the upper body unless he wants to play rugby

Tell that to Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

Gabby aint Rooney or Drogba though Chris. He's not even close to those two. Gabby's primary asset is his pace and if he doesn't have that he's a shadow of the player he can be. He's improved in many areas of his game over the years, but he doesn't have close to the natural ability of those two.

[eastie]

Whether gabby gas bulked up or not is not the issue to me, my concern is that he needs to improve his finishing if he is to become a prolific goalscorer, In my view he has missed many one on one chances and is better on instinct- if he has time to think he often fails to score.

[Clampy]

Whether gabby gas bulked up or not is not the issue to me, my concern is that he needs to improve his finishing if he is to become a prolific goalscorer, In my view he has missed many one on one chances and is better on instinct- if he has time to think he often fails to score.

The above is very true and is Gabby's major downfall, which is why i'd like to see a bit more of Delfounseo than we already have.

[Chris Smith]

What Gabby hasnt worked out is that as a striker you need the muscle from the waist down, there is no need to bulk up the upper body unless he wants to play rugby

Tell that to Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

Gabby aint Rooney or Drogba though Chris. He's not even close to those two. Gabby's primary asset is his pace and if he doesn't have that he's a shadow of the player he can be. He's improved in many areas of his game over the years, but he doesn't have close to the natural ability of those two.

I think improving his upper body strength helped him be a better player last season. It's a long time since he's been able to rely just on his pace, teams are wise to him now and defend deep to counter it but he has carried on scoring goals. It's an asset but there's far more to his game.

[MarkM]

What Gabby hasnt worked out is that as a striker you need the muscle from the waist down, there is no need to bulk up the upper body unless he wants to play rugby

Tell that to Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

Gabby aint Rooney or Drogba though Chris. He's not even close to those two. Gabby's primary asset is his pace and if he doesn't have that he's a shadow of the player he can be. He's improved in many areas of his game over the years, but he doesn't have close to the natural ability of those two.

I think improving his upper body strength helped him be a better player last season. It's a long time since he's been able to rely just on his pace, teams are wise to him now and defend deep to counter it but he has carried on scoring goals. It's an asset but there's far more to his game.

Must have missed his goals?

[Chris Smith]

What Gabby hasnt worked out is that as a striker you need the muscle from the waist down, there is no need to bulk up the upper body unless he wants to play rugby

Tell that to Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

Gabby aint Rooney or Drogba though Chris. He's not even close to those two. Gabby's primary asset is his pace and if he doesn't have that he's a shadow of the player he can be. He's improved in many areas of his game over the years, but he doesn't have close to the natural ability of those two.

I think improving his upper body strength helped him be a better player last season. It's a long time since he's been able to rely just on his pace, teams are wise to him now and defend deep to counter it but he has carried on scoring goals. It's an asset but there's far more to his game.

Must have missed his goals?

You should pay better attention then as you missed 16 of them.

[MarkM]

This season?

[Toronto Villa]

What Gabby hasnt worked out is that as a striker you need the muscle from the waist down, there is no need to bulk up the upper body unless he wants to play rugby

Tell that to Wayne Rooney and Didier Drogba.

Gabby aint Rooney or Drogba though Chris. He's not even close to those two. Gabby's primary asset is his pace and if he doesn't have that he's a shadow of the player he can be. He's improved in many areas of his game over the years, but he doesn't have close to the natural ability of those two.

I think improving his upper body strength helped him be a better player last season. It's a long time since he's been able to rely just on his pace, teams are wise to him now and defend deep to counter it but he has carried on scoring goals. It's an asset but there's far more to his game.

No doubt, but when does it get to be a hindrance to his game? I think that's what Houllier is concerned about. It's good that he's strong enough to hold off bigger players, and we've seen him put it to good use, but his biggest asset shouldn't be compromised because of it. That more than anything else frightens the life out of defences.

[Toronto Villa]

This season?

I'm guessing you've missed the bit where he's been injured for most of it.

I have no idea what's going on around here, but every day someone else emerges with the sole intent of taking shots at the club, the manager or the players. Whatever happened to supporting your club, especially now when they need it the most?

[jonzy85]

Gabby is right to add a bit of bulk. There were quite a few goals he got last year due to his pace AND power. Cut him a bit of slack for this season...he hasnt had a decent run of games yet.

Anyone else pick up on Houlliers comment about Omar, saying we have so few options up front??

Gabby, Heskey, Carew, Fonz and Young playing off the front man from time to time. Makes me wonder how many arre heading out the door.

Getting worried that Houllier is gutting out our squad only to be following them not long after.

[Chris Smith]

This season?

Read the post again. I said "I think improving his upper body strength helped him be a better player last season" as that was when it was first noticeable that he's put on a bit of muscle. He's been injured on and off for most of this season so we've not had much to judge him on.

[Willie Anderson]

This season?

I'm guessing you've missed the bit where he's been injured for most of it.

I have no idea what's going on around here, but every day someone else emerges with the sole intent of taking shots at the club, the manager or the players. Whatever happened to supporting your club, especially now when they need it the most?

Don't get me wrong I'll be there on match days supporting the club. I've only become vociferous in calling for the managers head because I remember to other times I kept me gob shut & we ended up relegated.

This time I'm 100% convinced GH is a wrong 'un.

There isn't a great deal wrong with the squad, witness the first 80minutes against Man U.

They just don't want to play for GH it's not just a few "bad eggs" tho'.No doubt his former employees had put a bit of poison down before his arrival(this is speculation on my part), but after 3 months many are seeing GH for the man he is.

Whereas MON got the best out of his players GH just seems to bring out the worst.

GH will need to ship out 7-8 first team players & replace them with his own men in January which will undoubtedly mean relegation.

Wether the players he brings in will have the bollocks for scrapping in the Championship remains to be seen, IMO it will be a long haul back.

We have lost the spine of the team Milner thro' money/greed Dunne thro' unfitness, Gabby thro' injury, Carew cause he can't ever be arsed.

Get a new man in to resore confidence/respect in the management, we need a centre-back till Dunne sorts his head out or Cuellar proves man enough, a central midfielder (Scott Parker mayhap?) & striker who can put the ball in the net(I know we've been needing one of those for years) Robbie Keane this time round?

The discontent in the squad is purely down to dislike/lack of respect(personality clashes if you will) for the manager & I just can't see him changing that attitude, he hasn't the personality or the will to he'll just get rid of & I think that will be short-term disaster & long-term misery.

[Willie Anderson]

Whether gabby gas bulked up or not is not the issue to me, my concern is that he needs to improve his finishing if he is to become a prolific goalscorer, In my view he has missed many one on one chances and is better on instinct- if he has time to think he often fails to score.

The above is very true and is Gabby's major downfall, which is why i'd like to see a bit more of Delfounseo than we already have.

GH told Gabby to slim down & at the same time told Fonz he's too skinny to be a striker.