Gabby Agbonlahor

[SoccerHQ]

Don't forget Gabby played imo his best football for us as a lone man in the 4-5-1 we played under MON.

IMO he's better doing his own thing than working in a partnership.

Now of course you could see this is a different 4-5-1 and we played a more possession based game but from what I've seen so far in his villa career, bent's first touch has been just as bad as Sunderland and Spurs fans said it would be.

Of course he'll make it up by scoring plenty of goals for us (just had a crap game yesterday) but I actually think the best striker at the club still to play the lone man is Gabby as I think he can hold the ball uip better.

Heskey can of course aswell but we really struggle to score when he's the lone man and of course he dosen't score much either.

[ROBBO]

Gabby baulked up because he recognised he was knocked off the ball too easily but he still doesn't have the physique to understudy Bent, Heskey is the natural backup. I don't think Gabby will be sold but he won't get as many games and may decide to look elswhere.

[SoccerHQ]

Heskey's old and injury prone plus has only one year left on his contract so I'd be amazed if we kept him and sold Gabby in the summer.

Plus the Fonz didn't even make the 18 again.

I really can't see Gabby going anywhere, he's still started the majority of games when fit under Houllier abeit out of position mostly.

[brontebilly]

It's impossible to second guess Houllier but Emile Heskey days as an EPL player particularly in our lone centre forward formation are over. He had a few good games for us this season, Wolves stands out but he was a terrible signing by MON. If Noone offers money in the summer he should be let go on a free. Same for Beye.

Agreed Gabby at his best is a superior lone centre forward to Bent. Bent at his worst though is still a goal threat. Gabby at his worst is horrible. Bent gets in positions that Gabby would never do and his instincts are way better. It's a tough one as Bent seems
incapable of holding any ball up at present.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think we should buy Odewingwe to play alongside Bent. Gabby can be our Solsjkaer, big clubs need rotation options. 4-4-2 is the future. England will never drop Rooney so if Bent wants international football he needs to learn how to play two up front. Bent+Odemwingwe (with Gabby as impact sub)= loads of goals.

No offence but I don't see why villa should line up in a formation that is designed to help Bent get into the England team.

I also don't see the logic in us signing more forwards as others have mentioned. If we cannot keep gabby, hesky and the fonz happy (through rotation) then why would we be looking to sign more players. At least gabby and the fonz are products of the youth system and are likely to stay happy longer.

[hartman_1982]

I think we should buy Odewingwe to play alongside Bent. Gabby can be our Solsjkaer, big clubs need rotation options. 4-4-2 is the future. England will never drop Rooney so if Bent wants international football he needs to learn how to play two up front. Bent+Odemwingwe (with Gabby as impact sub)= loads of goals.

Odemwingie!? Are you shitting me!? We might as well just go the whole hog and "splash the cash" on Robert Earnshaw! He isn't fit to wear the shirt, not even close to being good enough!

[darren woolley]

I for one wan't Gabby to stay i really like him GH is just using the squad unlike MON so he has had a rest for wednesday let's hope he comes out of the block scoring goals.

[PaulTheVillan]

IF Gabby starts up front tonight then he really needs to score.

This season he hasn't looked very dangerous at all, I'm sure he's lost a yard of pace since he decided to beef up.

Bent's movement makes Gabby look like a statue.

[eastie]

just out of interest ive heard sturridges name mentioned a lot on here this week, would fans be prepared to sell gabby if it meant getting sturridge as a replacement?

[Mazrim]

Tough one. I'd rather not but I do think Sturridge has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the league.

I'd say buy him and see how the others react and ship out whoever doesnt scrub up.

[Chris Smith]

Tough one. I'd rather not but I do think Sturridge has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the league.

I'd say buy him and see how the others react and ship out whoever doesnt scrub up.

I don't want him, seems to me to be only motivated by money and isn't half as good as he thinks he is.

[Concrete John]

Although I agree with the sentiment, Chris, you've just described pretty much every modern professional footballer.

[Chris Smith]

Although I agree with the sentiment, Chris, you've just described pretty much every modern professional footballer.

I know, John, but some seem more extreme than others.

A player who has moved from Man City to Chelsea is going to be on even sillier money than most.

[Mazrim]

He's only 21 and already looking a very accomplished player. He has everything in his locker to be a top player.
Yes, he has an ego too but I dont mind that in strikers.
It's when they lose confidence that the problems arise.

If Darius Vassell had a bit of that same swagger he'd be a top striker by now for instance.
In my opinion of course.

But yes, his wage demands could be an issue if they're silly and this is even if he's leaving Chelsea, which I wouldn't bet on.

[pablopicasso_10]

there is a lad over at villatalk who appears to have some good contacts, and he thinks that gabby is pretty much a goner.. whether thats the summer or after, he said that houllier doesnt rate him, and his new contract was to get good money for him when we do let him go...

its not the first time i have heard that from people who generally have good information...