The Gabby Appreciation Thread - Update: 4 year deal

[supertom]

Genuine question.  Have Villa ever received a firm offer from another club for Gabby?  I believe Sunderland were sniffing around once upon a time but, no bid as I recall.

There have been tenuous links. I recall rumours of Arsenal being interested, I think perhaps round the time he destroyed Gallas at The Emirates, and I think Mourinho apparently had a sniff around him. But you never know how true some of the paper talk is. The Sunderland thing was always bound to come up when O Neill went there. Ordinarily I'd have thought Gabby wouldn't have been an Arsenal sort of player as an example, but they have just gone and signed Welbeck, and they have a few similarities it must be said.
I don't think many links have come out, but I suppose in part, most clubs know he's a player we've never really wanted to sell, and who is unlikely to want to leave. He's certainly always a player identified by opposing managers and players as one of our biggest threats.

[Percy McCarthy]

Read a lot on here about his shit goal ratio. I'd be interested to know what it's like in games against top sides (say 'The Mighty Reds YNWA', Arse, both Mancs, Chelsea, Everton, Spurs), local derbies and bona fide relegation six-pointers.

His goal just before half-time against QPR the season before last was the one goal that really kept us up that season. In my opinion.

Yep.  Gabby's goal completely turned the momentum of that game.  We hadn't really been in the game up to that point, but that goal gave everyone a massive lift going into half-time.  One of my favourite games at Villa Park over the past few seasons.

The two at Norwich were pretty important too. His winner at West Ham under Houllier meant we would have stayed up without getting another point, albeit we had a great run-in afterwards. Even under TSM, he was on fire until November. Without his goals and assists up to Bonfire Night, we'd have been stuffed that season.

Last season I don't recall any pivotal Gabby moments. Only goal at Sunderland maybe? Who else did he score against?

If we'd have won the League Cup in PL's first season his performance at Man City would have been the stuff of legend. Thanks to the Bradford debacle it meant nothing.

[pauliewalnuts]

His winner at West Ham under Houllier meant we would have stayed up without getting another point

That goal provoked the largest "exhalation of sheer fucking relief" I've had in years.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Gabby's on his way to being a Villa legend but I'd love him to have a winner's medal or two to underline his place in the club's history.  The winning goal in this season's FA Cup Final would be beautiful.

Especially when added to the league title

Bit greedy Moet!
tbh can't see us finishing higher than 2nd!
;-)
UTV!

[Dante Lavelli]

Genuine question.  Have Villa ever received a firm offer from another club for Gabby?  I believe Sunderland were sniffing around once upon a time but, no bid as I recall.

There have been tenuous links. I recall rumours of Arsenal being interested, I think perhaps round the time he destroyed Gallas at The Emirates, and I think Mourinho apparently had a sniff around him. But you never know how true some of the paper talk is. The Sunderland thing was always bound to come up when O Neill went there. Ordinarily I'd have thought Gabby wouldn't have been an Arsenal sort of player as an example, but they have just gone and signed Welbeck, and they have a few similarities it must be said.
I don't think many links have come out, but I suppose in part, most clubs know he's a player we've never really wanted to sell, and who is unlikely to want to leave. He's certainly always a player identified by opposing managers and players as one of our biggest threats.

I'd imagine that most rumours surface when a club want to start a bidding war or when the player is for sale.  In Gabby's case there has been little reason to try and inflate his value so I'd imagine that the club would keep everything schtum.  Equally any club enquiring are likely to have been told to politely bugger off.

[supertom]

Read a lot on here about his shit goal ratio. I'd be interested to know what it's like in games against top sides (say 'The Mighty Reds YNWA', Arse, both Mancs, Chelsea, Everton, Spurs), local derbies and bona fide relegation six-pointers.

His goal just before half-time against QPR the season before last was the one goal that really kept us up that season. In my opinion.

Yep.  Gabby's goal completely turned the momentum of that game.  We hadn't really been in the game up to that point, but that goal gave everyone a massive lift going into half-time.  One of my favourite games at Villa Park over the past few seasons.

The two at Norwich were pretty important too. His winner at West Ham under Houllier meant we would have stayed up without getting another point, albeit we had a great run-in afterwards. Even under TSM, he was on fire until November. Without his goals and assists up to Bonfire Night, we'd have been stuffed that season.

Last season I don't recall any pivotal Gabby moments. Only goal at Sunderland maybe? Who else did he score against?

If we'd have won the League Cup in PL's first season his performance at Man City would have been the stuff of legend. Thanks to the Bradford debacle it meant nothing.

I'd say those standout results we got against the big boys last season largely contributed to us staying up. He had two of his best games against Arsenal away, and Liverpool away last year. He didn't score but he tore the opposition apart on both occasions to be fair.
Other than that, winning away at Sunderland last year was important, particularly as they had outplayed us. So Gabby pulled that one out the bag somewhat. That was also our first win in 6 at the time.

He certainly does need to do it more of course, but the whole side needs to keep up some kind of form. If Villa play well, then generally, Gabby plays well.

[PeterWithesShin]

The other angle is if he hadn't gone over 20 league games without a goal after bonfire night then we wouldn't have struggled so much in the first place.
Or if he'd scored more than 2 league goals before the West Ham game then we wouldn't have been struggling then either.

What makes Gabby being so inconsistent so frustrating is that we rarely lose a league game when he scores. Swansea away at the end of last season was (I think) the first league game we lost when he scored since Blackburn in September 2009. I'll say what i've always said, Gabby on any kind of form makes a totally different side and improves us no end, but at the same time we aren't, or certainly haven't been the last 4 years, good enough carry a player who only does it half a dozen or so times a season.

[Percy McCarthy]

His winner at West Ham under Houllier meant we would have stayed up without getting another point

That goal provoked the largest "exhalation of sheer fucking relief" I've had in years.

Yes. It provoked almost as wild a goal celebration in our end as his two late winners in the Agbonlahor End goal at the Sty.

He was also one honest ref away from winning us the cup in the first five minutes against Man Utd.

[supertom]

The other angle is if he hadn't gone over 20 league games without a goal after bonfire night then we wouldn't have struggled so much in the first place.
Or if he'd scored more than 2 league goals before the West Ham game then we wouldn't have been struggling then either.

What makes Gabby being so inconsistent so frustrating is that we rarely lose a league game when he scores. Swansea away at the end of last season was (I think) the first league game we lost when he scored since Blackburn in September 2009. I'll say what i've always said, Gabby on any kind of form makes a totally different side and improves us no end, but at the same time we aren't, or certainly haven't been the last 4 years, good enough carry a player who only does it half a dozen or so times a season.

He's getting to a now or never stage really, where he's really got to be up for it every game. When he's buzzing and when he really wants to attack defenders he's a complete menace. I'd also like to see him try to take games by the scruff of the neck when we're playing shit. If we start games brightly and get Gabby doing what he does best, running at defenders, he tends to have a good game. Sometimes we'll struggle in games, and he tries to influence the game in other ways by coming deep to try and link up play, or playing with his back to goal, when really he should just be putting on the after burners. When Gabby doesn't chase down defenders like a rabid dog in a game, it's very frustrating, because often when he does that he wins us a lot of territory just by dogged determination. That said, much of what he wins is thrown ins near the opposition box, and we're shite at them.

I'll also agree with a point previously made by someone, that he's been overplayed. Sometimes we rush him from injury too soon, or not give him a bit of respite when he needs it, because as we can all see, he's picking up more niggling injuries in the last few years. He can't play 40-50 games a season like he used to under O Neill.

[tomd2103]

The other angle is if he hadn't gone over 20 league games without a goal after bonfire night then we wouldn't have struggled so much in the first place.
Or if he'd scored more than 2 league goals before the West Ham game then we wouldn't have been struggling then either.

What makes Gabby being so inconsistent so frustrating is that we rarely lose a league game when he scores. Swansea away at the end of last season was (I think) the first league game we lost when he scored since Blackburn in September 2009. I'll say what i've always said, Gabby on any kind of form makes a totally different side and improves us no end, but at the same time we aren't, or certainly haven't been the last 4 years, good enough carry a player who only does it half a dozen or so times a season.

He's getting to a now or never stage really, where he's really got to be up for it every game. When he's buzzing and when he really wants to attack defenders he's a complete menace. I'd also like to see him try to take games by the scruff of the neck when we're playing shit. If we start games brightly and get Gabby doing what he does best, running at defenders, he tends to have a good game. Sometimes we'll struggle in games, and he tries to influence the game in other ways by coming deep to try and link up play, or playing with his back to goal, when really he should just be putting on the after burners. When Gabby doesn't chase down defenders like a rabid dog in a game, it's very frustrating, because often when he does that he wins us a lot of territory just by dogged determination. That said, much of what he wins is thrown ins near the opposition box, and we're shite at them.

Agree with that ST.  Ideally we would have someone playing behoind Gabby with the ability to get on the ball and put him in space.  Playing with his back to goal or trying to link up play aren't really his strengths. 

[Dr Butler]

His winner at West Ham under Houllier meant we would have stayed up without getting another point

That goal provoked the largest "exhalation of sheer fucking relief" I've had in years.

Yes. It provoked almost as wild a goal celebration in our end as his two late winners in the Agbonlahor End goal at the Sty.

He was also one honest ref away from winning us the cup in the first five minutes against Man Utd.

I was at the West Ham game and got very drunk that night, sadly could not find a video of his winner...but there is a great photo of Gabby sliding on his knees arms out spread.

UTV
The Doc

[Percy McCarthy]

The other angle is if he hadn't gone over 20 league games without a goal after bonfire night then we wouldn't have struggled so much in the first place.
Or if he'd scored more than 2 league goals before the West Ham game then we wouldn't have been struggling then either.

What makes Gabby being so inconsistent so frustrating is that we rarely lose a league game when he scores. Swansea away at the end of last season was (I think) the first league game we lost when he scored since Blackburn in September 2009. I'll say what i've always said, Gabby on any kind of form makes a totally different side and improves us no end, but at the same time we aren't, or certainly haven't been the last 4 years, good enough carry a player who only does it half a dozen or so times a season.

My angle is that over the last four years they've all got us into trouble, but Gabby has done more than most to get us out of it.

[SoccerHQ]

Genuine question.  Have Villa ever received a firm offer from another club for Gabby?  I believe Sunderland were sniffing around once upon a time but, no bid as I recall.

Given he got double figures three years running from 08-10 and was a regular in the England squad I'm sure there would've been enquiries at the very least.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Pretty sure we all love Gabby and he has played some match-winning games and scored some crucial goals for us. Other teams are shit-scared of his pace and his potential finishing, but I just wish he could stay turned on throughout the game - Saturday was a good example - his chasing led to the corner which he scored from, but far too many times he wasn't even looking at the play/ball when 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' defenders had the ball and so made no attempt to close them down and make life difficult for them.
Perhaps he was astute enough to know they were a bit shit?
;-)

[silhillvilla]

The day at the sty when he cleared off the line then went down the other end and bagged the winner will live long in the memory banks.