The Gabby Appreciation Thread - Update: 4 year deal

[glasses]

Stick your stats up your arse.

Gabby is a top player and will come back next season in fine form.

They are not my stats. They are Gabbys. And theyre shit.

Why are you going so far out of your way to prove that a Villa player is shit? What sort of fan are you?

[Ger Regan]

Why are you going so far out of your way to prove that a Villa player is shit? What sort of fan are you?

Would you ask the same question of anyone who's criticised Heskey, Warnock, Dunne, Collins, Hutton et al?

[SHEPS]

Stick your stats up your arse.

Gabby is a top player and will come back next season in fine form.

They are not my stats. They are Gabbys. And theyre shit.

Why are you going so far out of your way to prove that a Villa player is shit? What sort of fan are you?

A realist? I suppose youve been posting how shit warnock, dunne, Heskey, Collins and Hutton are? In which case you're a hypocrite

[pedro25]

His first 5 years in the first team he improved his goal tally year on year and improved as a player.  This was always due to plateau and level off, problem is he seems to have gone backwards.  He scored 16 goals 3 years ago and looked like having the ability in his locker to better that tally.  The player we have seen in the last 2 seasons looks incapable of getting anywhere nr double figures.  Yes he's been played wide quite a bit, but Young Barry and Milner have reached double figures for us in recent yrs playing deeper than Gabby.  It's interesting how so many people are willing to write off many players in the squad who were purchased rather than brought through the ranks, who have had 2 poor seasons, such as Warnock, Dunne, Collins, even guys like Makoun who have barely had a chance and Delph who is very young and has suffered dreadfully with injuries, yet Gabby gets a far easier ride after 2 poor seasons.  I think he has a big scrap on his hands with the likes of N'Zogbia and Albrighton for a place in the team this season, we need these guys to step up a level this yr.

[Ads]

He has had two poor seasons on top of three of constant improvement. Gabby is a top player. Frustrating as hell but full of ability and when on form, completely devestating.

He can do it against anybody and his goals have brought a bucket load of joy to us.

[maidstonevillain]

But he relies (relied) almost totally on his pace. Most such players are past their best by 25. Particularly if they have a history of injury.

[glasses]

No need for the insult, SHEPS. I'm no hypocrite. I just try not to call our players shit, I don't think it achieves anything. I certainly don't think Gabby is shit. You would have to be blind not to notice he hasn't been as effective in the last two seasons as previous. He has been played out of position, and he has been out through injury, and he has been played, especially last season, in a restrictive team unit. There are some mitigating circumstances for his dip. I really hope he gets back to his best this season, because his best is a bloody good striker

[dave.woodhall]

Pack it in please. I've got a headache.

[brian green]

And I have got a shirt with Agbonlahor on the back which I am proud to wear.

[SHEPS]

No need for the insult, SHEPS. I'm no hypocrite. I just try not to call our players shit, I don't think it achieves anything. I certainly don't think Gabby is shit. You would have to be blind not to notice he hasn't been as effective in the last two seasons as previous. He has been played out of position, and he has been out through, and he has been played, especially last season, in a restrictive team unit. There are some mitigating circumstances for his dip. I really hope he gets back to his best this season, because his best is a bloody good striker

No insult intended so apologies if it came across that way. I'm as frustrated as everyone with Gabby and hope he fires again but the point I'm making is that he hasnt got it in his locker. I'm not happy with a 10-12 goal a season striker starting as many games as he does. I've seen enough of him to believe that's all he's capable of in a great season for him.  We wouldn't have spent the millions on bent if Gabby was up to it. Like I've said before I really believe well get another striker in this summer and the reason will probably be Gabbys best is not good enough.

Its a weird one. Hes neither a striker with one or two upfront or a wide player.  He's sometimes good and inconsistent with that but not great in any. A bit like to tony Daley. Pace but no substance. The game of football has moved on since then.

[jeff]

I have got to say i'm not gabby's biggest fan but the one thing he does is force (most) teams to play deeper against us because they are afraid of his pace.

Because they play deeper it should mean more room for us to play and under MON we used that room well and caused other teams problems. The last 2 seasons we haven't been able to do that our midfield has been none existant and we have especially last season been hoofing it more and when we hoof it Gabby isn't as effective.

I don't think Gabby will improve much more if any as a footballer but he does still have a part to play for us.

[danlanza]

I have got to say i'm not gabby's biggest fan but the one thing he does is force (most) teams to play deeper against us because they are afraid of his pace.

Because they play deeper it should mean more room for us to play and under MON we used that room well and caused other teams problems. The last 2 seasons we haven't been able to do that our midfield has been none existant and we have especially last season been hoofing it more and when we hoof it Gabby isn't as effective.

I don't think Gabby will improve much more if any as a footballer but he does still have a part to play for us.

Agreed, especially if we continue to play a decent passing game that Lambert wants.

[Toronto Villa]

Stick your stats up your arse.

Gabby is a top player and will come back next season in fine form.

They are not my stats. They are Gabbys. And theyre shit.

I bet you weren't saying that when he was healthy and he was banging in key goals against the shit, Stripey's, Man U, West Ham etc etc etc. He's had a couple of poor seasons where the entire club has been in tumoil. Add to that his injuries he like many players at the club went backwards at alarming pace. Get him healthy and playing for a manager that will believe in him and he'll regain his form and desire.

[SHEPS]

Stick your stats up your arse.

Gabby is a top player and will come back next season in fine form.

They are not my stats. They are Gabbys. And theyre shit.

Add to that his injuries he like many players at the club went backwards at alarming pace. Get him healthy and playing for a manager that will believe in him and he'll regain his form and desire.

On that basis then we should be all happy to keep dunne, Collins, warnock, etc. they've all played under the same circumstances.  A few years ago gabby was on fire banging in 10-12 goals a season supported by an exceptional midfield by villa standards and dunne and Collins etc were keeping one of the best defensive records in the premiership.

This gabby debate will always divide opinion. Those who see him as a local hero and defend him to the hilt versus those who see through him being a local lad and what has or has not contributed.

[Percy McCarthy]

It's painfully obvious what's going on here Shep, you don't like him because he's black.