The Gabby Appreciation Thread - Update: 4 year deal

[supertom]

Yes time out and get back to thread topic. This is a Gabby appreciation thread nothing else!

Here here!

I for one think we're lucky to have Gabby. He's a real threat. Last season we should call a write off. Unfer O Neill he hit double figures every season, and this year I expect the same. He's Villa to the core so he'll be unlikely to ever want out. He's also still got plenty of years ahead to offer good service, and also improve. IMO he improved a lot during O Neills reign. His overall play compared to the raw youngster we first saw, is plain to see. His touch isn't as bad as some people think, more perhaps a case of being a little sloppy at times. He's also most certainly not totally lacking in a football brain. He's no number 10, but he offers entirely different, and very useful threats.

[Concrete John]

For all the arguments for and against Gabby, who was the last player to come through our ranks that was better?  Although it's comparing apples and pears, I would personally but the Bolton Defender on more or less a par with him.  He's better than Vassell, Moore and Hendrie.  I suppose Barry is the only one during anything like recent times, if you count him as a youth product.

[Dave]

Yes time out and get back to thread topic. This is a Gabby appreciation thread nothing else!

Here here!

I think this would be a good idea.

I like a tedious bit of over-analysis as much as the next man, but I think this bit of fun has run its course.

[Concrete John]

Chris, would love to argue further but I'm going to invoke John M's signature quote and leave it there.

That's twice - once more and you owe me royalties!

[Ryu]

Its a good job you're here to take the high road, KT. Otherwise we'd all aend up looking silly!

Anyway, back to the thread. I really rate Gabby as a player and it makes it all the better that he's a Birmingham boy. And you're completely wrong about him lacking the thing you call football intelligence.

[Villanation]

@ktvillan.

You asked Chris Smith and Ryu for proof, i tell you how easy it was to get these few examples, I Google'd and asked the question "Gabby Agbonlahor" stretches defenders and works the channels" there are dozens of reports and quotes on the very subject, so not to bore you with this I just quickly lifted a few.

Here goes with snapshot headlines:

West Brom 2-1 Aston Villa
A pivotal game at the Hawthorns saw a revitalised West Bromwich Albion side under Roy Hodgson take on an equally resurgent Aston Villa under caretaker manager Gary McAllister (on that note, get well soon Gerard Houllier. All Villans wish you the best in your recovery). The home side set out in a defensive-minded 4-2-3-1, with Carlos Vela hugging the line on the right and James Morrison given license to drift across the pitch in support of the lone striker Peter Odemwingie. Villa played their customary 4-4-2 (though the 4-2-2-2 it morphed into in its attacking stages against Stoke was conspicuous by its absence, perhaps due to the more box-to-box roles the midfield took) with Gabriel Agbonlahor playing around Darren Bent and stretching the West Brom defenders, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, as ever, drifting inside off the wings.

Villa press

Villa began well, pressing high and looking to bring their dangerous wingers into play whenever they could, as well as test the Albion defence through their pace-heavy frontline. The first goal came from nothing; Gabriel Agbonlahor surged into the box before intelligently moving the ball back to Downing. Downing crossed it in low towards Bent, and Abdoulaye Meite’s outstretched leg diverted it in past the stranded Scott Carson. Within the first five minutes Villa were ahead, and continued to threaten as they simply overpowered and outclassed a shaky West Brom midfield. Quite apart from anything, the differences in work rate was noticeable, with Nigel Reo-Coker buzzing around in midfield and Agbonlahor closing down defenders and deep midfielders alike. West Brom most promising route of attack looked to be long balls over the top of the away side’s defence for Odemwingie to run onto, not such a bad strategy considering Villa’s high line and less than mobile defenders.

Blackpool 1-1 Aston Villa
Despite the free-flowing attack from both teams, this match was not a fun one to watch, mostly due to the frustration of Aston Villa fans. Blackpool supporters have more reason to be frustrated, however, as the Seasiders failed to capitalize in the last twenty minutes, even with the visitors down a man after Jean Makoun was sent off. Gabriel Agbonlahor scored in the 10th minute, Elliott Grandin equalized four minutes later, and there the scoring ended, 1-1.

The majority of Villa fans are hitting out at Ashley Young, perhaps because his last-minute shot from a Stewart Downing cross went just wide, denying Villa all three points. Also in injury time, Howard Webb failed to award a penalty to Young, although the call would have been soft, and we all know Webb doesn't do soft. Captain Ash might not deserve such vitriol today, however. He got himself into space quite often (it's not his fault Kyle Walker and Stewart Downing often dallied on the ball) and kept the attack flowing after Emile Heskey replaced Darren Bent.

This match gave glimpses of what Gerard Houllier is aiming for with his formation. This is a manager who has certain tactics in mind, and since he has yet to form his team to his mindset, is attempting to squish the team into his tactics, with varying results. But when the attackers switch places, it certainly does trouble the opposing defense, and that's what Houllier is seeking. Agbonlahor's wing play resulted in the Villa goal, with the speedster showing glimpses of his old self when beating two Blackpool defenders and easily slipping around keeper Richard Kingson. After that, though, the majority of the play went down the right, where Downing finally seems comfortable. Is it perfect? No, of course not. Do I think we'd be better served to have Gabby behind Bent and Ash on the wing? Sometimes, but Gabby moves defenders out of position and causes confusion, then I see the interplay in the England game and think that maybe Young can, in fact, play in the hole.

I don't know how many times you get down the Villa but most people I know that watch these games will tell you more than anything else the thing that Gabby does is work defenders, stretch defenders, cause mayhem in the box purely because as he moves into the box defenders can't track him properly, you witnessed that v Everton with Sylvan Distan who clearly was trying to mark Gabby but simply couldn't track him and focus on jumping for the ball at the same time, Gabby knows he can do this because of his pace and he uses it intelligently, during the League Cup Final v Man Utd, Gabby receives the ball, he keeps his body between the ball and Vidic, in the box, Vidic world class defender has 1 choice, bring him down and try and get away with it, the rest his history.

I think the problem for you is because Gabby comes over as this thick Brummie local lad you imagine it just can't possibly be true that Villa have a real gem playing for them, but let me add to this, i know a former Villa player from the squad of the eighties, you would instantly know who I was talking about, good friend I play golf with and live by, he knows Gabby well and he say's to me the fella doesn't come over like the thick kid whatsoever.

Gabby is Ok IMO and England have an asset they really should develop.

 

[Chris Smith]

So you were flat out calling me an abnormal person who suffers with learning difficulties for a laugh?  Shall I call the mods?

I think Harewood is as relevant to this thread as Petrov is. And you've mentioned him more than I've mentioned Marlon.

Ryu, would love to argue further but I'm going to invoke John M's signature quote and leave it there.

You really are one cowardly little man. You pretend that you're leaving it there but taking the opportunity to have another dig shortly after trying to tell tales to the mods.

Chris, would love to argue further but I'm going to invoke John M's signature quote and leave it there.

If I was making as big a tit of myself as you are I'd quit too.

[ktvillan]

So you were flat out calling me an abnormal person who suffers with learning difficulties for a laugh?  Shall I call the mods?

I think Harewood is as relevant to this thread as Petrov is. And you've mentioned him more than I've mentioned Marlon.

Ryu, would love to argue further but I'm going to invoke John M's signature quote and leave it there.

You really are one cowardly little man. You pretend that you're leaving it there but taking the opportunity to have another dig shortly after trying to tell tales to the mods.

Chris, would love to argue further but I'm going to invoke John M's signature quote and leave it there.

If I was making as big a tit of myself as you are I'd quit too.

Chris, would love to argue further but ... you know the rest, and I don't want to have to pay John M any royalties.

[Ryu]

Bloody hell villanation you've got more time on your hands than I have!

Great post though.

[Villanation]

This is a wind up......................

[Risso]

Chris and KT, that really is enough now.

[Villanation]

Bloody hell villanation you've got more time on your hands than I have!

Great post though.

That's how easy it was, i found and pasted that in about 4 mins, that how easy it was to find the proof........

[Ryu]

Well then columbo, if you could turn your attentions to the mystery of Petrov's invisible forward passes we'd all very much appreciate it!

[Villanation]

Well then columbo, if you could turn your attentions to the mystery of Petrov's forward passes we'd all very much appreciate it!

Ryu:

Can we all take another thread like this one Chris and you must be knackered 

[Ryu]

When it comes to a pointless argument my thumbs energy knows no bounds