Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[Toronto Villa]

MM and others did say back in Oct/ Nov that the new management (as was) weren't overly impressed with Gabby in training. You can always choose to believe or ignore that kind of second hand info.

Little over two months later though,  we had Bent signed for Gabby's position and there were rumours of a move to Newcastle - from the Newcastle end.  Had GH remained I wouldn't have been surprised to see Gabby depart at all. But I would have hoped that his dissatisfaction left town when Houllier did.

Clean slate under the new boss, and all that jazz.

plus he was fucked most of last season stemming from his operation. He wasn't the same Gabby we'd seen the past few years. Gabby should be upset with not playing and with a new manager and being healthy he should be doing everything to secure a spot. His real issue now is that there is a bonafide top marksman in the team, and whatever you think of Gabby, and I like him a lot, he ain't better than Bent. If AM plays 4-5-1 or same variation, then Gabby won't be starting, unless he plays in an advanced wide position.

[john e]

for Gabby see NRC, thinks he's better than he is,
the only people interested will be lower table strugglers.

Gabby is a busted flush, said it two years ago and copped a load of stick, still havent changed my mind

[Chris Smith]

for Gabby see NRC, thinks he's better than he is,
the only people interested will be lower table strugglers.

Gabby is a busted flush, said it two years ago and copped a load of stick, still havent changed my mind

You were wrong then, John, and you're wrong now.

From what was said at the fans meeting the manager is looking to use him with Bent this season. If he can make it work we'll trouble a lot of sides.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

for Gabby see NRC, thinks he's better than he is,
the only people interested will be lower table strugglers.

Gabby is a busted flush, said it two years ago and copped a load of stick, still havent changed my mind

I always thought gabby would improve as a footballer but he hasn't really. a shame! his lightning pace also isn't quite what it was a few years ago when he would piss it past everyone. i want him to be really great but he rarely is.   

[paulcomben]

Yesterday, I was out so missed my call from the club asking why I have not renewed my season ticket.  Annoying, as I had a 15 minute speech prepared entitled 'Be honest and change the keyword from Prepared to Medicore.'

What part of "Summer transfer rumours" does that comment address?

Young, Friedel, Reo Coker out. Nobody in.  Plus Houllier out and a manager good at relegation in.   That part, of course.

[curiousorange]

Johnson at £7m is a good solid signing for wolves and value for money .

I agree.

I can't see why someone would think he would move for any less than that.

Particularly as some outlets were quoting over double the price when Small Heath went down. Wolves have done extremely well.

[john e]

for Gabby see NRC, thinks he's better than he is,
the only people interested will be lower table strugglers.

Gabby is a busted flush, said it two years ago and copped a load of stick, still havent changed my mind

You were wrong then, John, and you're wrong now.

From what was said at the fans meeting the manager is looking to use him with Bent this season. If he can make it work we'll trouble a lot of sides.

hope it works, but cant see it
whats the point in having two strikers who cant play football, Darren Bent is the goalscoring version of Gabby,
Bent is worth his weight in gold because he scores on a very regular basis, he wouldnt be in any side for his all round contribution, just his goals.

what Bent needs is not someone by his side who cant control the ball and has very low technical ability, he needs someone who can open things up, has a bit of vision to see things, has a bit of footballing intelegence, Gaby is not that man

in fact as bad as heskey is, and i hope we get rid of the lump of lard, he would still be a better partner for Bent
Lineker didnt need a non scoring Lineker up front with him he needed a Beardsley, i realise i'm picking on a couple of outstanding strikers to make my point, but you see what i mean

[Nirog72]

I'm with John. I wouldn't play them together and think Delf will move up to the number 2 striker slot in the near future.

[fredm]

I have said it all along, I think Fonz is better suited to playing off someone and not as the front striker.  He has pace, movement and awareness which, I think, will only get better with the more game time he has.

[Toronto Villa]

unbelievable. Gabby gets injured and his form slips. Cue people writing him off.

He's still very young, and if he's healthy he'll cause teams all kinds of problems. Gabby's pace scares defences to death, and if they are worrying about him, and if we find a way to play him with Bent, then he'll open up holes for other players just by his running into spaces. It's not all about goals for Gabby, he has other attributes that never get appreciated.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I'm with John. I wouldn't play them together and think Delf will move up to the number 2 striker slot in the near future.

and i think i could see the Fonz playing the part of a good foil for bent and creating space for him, pretty much as john e suggests in his last post. Balance and shape! Can't wait!

[KevinGage]

Hard to argue with a lot of that John.

I like Gabby, like how he has tried to push himself on to learn and improve. You'd always hope that the longer he played football, the cuter he might get (oh hello sailor), in terms of timing his runs, off the ball movement and so on.

But I'm inclined to think that aspect of the game is perhaps something you can't really teach. You either have the awareness or you don't. 

His close control has improved, as has his upper body strength (maybe a little too much) to hold up the ball.  But we generally viewed him as potentially our Darren Bent.  Not a natural footballer, by any means.  But a work in progress.  Now that we actually have Darren Bent, what function does Gabby serve?

In the short-term, I believe he still has a vital function - but very much as a back up to Bent. Either coming off the bench in the latter stages (where his pace can really hurt tiring defences)  or for those times when Bent is absent due to injury/ suspension.

After that, it really all depends on how long Bent is here.  If he does depart in 12/18 months time (and you'd probably get short enough odds on that) the way is clear again for Gabby to get back in the side. Any longer than that, and I'd say it will be Gabby who will most likely depart.

[fredm]

unbelievable. Gabby gets injured and his form slips. Cue people writing him off.

He's still very young, and if he's healthy he'll cause teams all kinds of problems. Gabby's pace scares defences to death, and if they are worrying about him, and if we find a way to play him with Bent, then he'll open up holes for other players just by his running into spaces. It's not all about goals for Gabby, he has other attributes that never get appreciated.

The problem with Gabby is he only runs into spaces when someone has knocked the ball into that space - he chases the ball.  He does not work hard enough at his movement off the ball e.g. Michael Owen etc. which gives the player in possession options. If he did, he would be one hell of a player.

[mrfuse]

for Gabby see NRC, thinks he's better than he is,
the only people interested will be lower table strugglers.

Gabby is a busted flush, said it two years ago and copped a load of stick, still havent changed my mind

You were wrong then, John, and you're wrong now.

From what was said at the fans meeting the manager is looking to use him with Bent this season. If he can make it work we'll trouble a lot of sides.

hope it works, but cant see it
whats the point in having two strikers who cant play football, Darren Bent is the goalscoring version of Gabby,
Bent is worth his weight in gold because he scores on a very regular basis, he wouldnt be in any side for his all round contribution, just his goals.

what Bent needs is not someone by his side who cant control the ball and has very low technical ability, he needs someone who can open things up, has a bit of vision to see things, has a bit of footballing intelegence, Gaby is not that man

in fact as bad as heskey is, and i hope we get rid of the lump of lard, he would still be a better partner for Bent
Lineker didnt need a non scoring Lineker up front with him he needed a Beardsley, i realise i'm picking on a couple of outstanding strikers to make my point, but you see what i mean

I disagree about the comparison with Bent and Gabby theirs no way the way that Bent finishes that he can be called a striker that cant play football!

Okay he may not be involved in the play as often as you would like like but his touch when he drops deep for lay offs and then his ability to find that space and finish i wouldnt call that a striker not playing football, you only have to look at his Arsenal goal to work that out.

I agree that Gabby is a striker that cant play football and basically he cant because he doesnt have a football brain. Gabby is fine in front of goal when he doesnt have time but if he has time to think it all goes wrong.

Houllier was right to try to play Gabby of the wing when Bent was up front but unfortunately Gabby couldn't play the role correctly because hes not intelligent enough.

This is why I want Nzogbia in the team he would suit our formation if we played Bent on his own because he is that kind of player that can get goals and link up from a wide position.

[frank black]

for Gabby see NRC, thinks he's better than he is,
the only people interested will be lower table strugglers.

Gabby is a busted flush, said it two years ago and copped a load of stick, still havent changed my mind

You were wrong then, John, and you're wrong now.

From what was said at the fans meeting the manager is looking to use him with Bent this season. If he can make it work we'll trouble a lot of sides.

hope it works, but cant see it
whats the point in having two strikers who cant play football, Darren Bent is the goalscoring version of Gabby,
Bent is worth his weight in gold because he scores on a very regular basis, he wouldnt be in any side for his all round contribution, just his goals.

what Bent needs is not someone by his side who cant control the ball and has very low technical ability, he needs someone who can open things up, has a bit of vision to see things, has a bit of footballing intelegence, Gaby is not that man

in fact as bad as heskey is, and i hope we get rid of the lump of lard, he would still be a better partner for Bent
Lineker didnt need a non scoring Lineker up front with him he needed a Beardsley, i realise i'm picking on a couple of outstanding strikers to make my point, but you see what i mean

Craig Bellamy??