The Gabby Appreciation Thread - Update: 4 year deal

[KevinGage]

I have always liked Gabby, but I have also said that he has limitations, and have subscribed to the "football intelligence" theory: I maintained that he would improve in any areas which could be coached, but not in areas which came naturally, usually at an age when Gabby was allegedly not even interested in football.

So: football intelligence is probably the wrong term, and is certainly open to misinterpretation. If you watch young kids playing a match, even jumpers for goalposts at your local park, you can soon see certain players have an instinct about passing and movement, and some don't.   In my opinion, this has something to do with the way their brain works and cannot be coached.

The conflation of this argument with Gabby being "thick" is specious. Paul Merson is a living example of someone who possesses whatever it is in spades, but is otherwise not too bright.

The real question is: what fantasy world are we living in if our players have to be perfect in all respects. All of our players are flawed in one way or another, if they were not, then they would be playing for somebody else.

Gabby is great for us and we love him, and the noise we made when he came onto the pitch on Saturday is proof that most of the fans agree.

 

Tend to agree.

If you look at the goal average of most forwards, a good percentage have 1 in 3 or even 1 in 4 - it's only the very best in any division that consistently have closer to 1 in 2.

I won't go as far as to say Gabby will never be a 1 in 2 striker, some of his finishes over the years have been instinctive and would indicate there's a bit to work with there. But even if he doesn't make that transition it's not necessarily the end of the world, providing he's still bringing other things to the side.

Most of the arguments would centre around the fact that he often doesn't look like a natural footballer -made rather than born-  and even now he often still looks quite raw.
But he does have a worth ethic and -this season apart- has improved most seasons since his debut.

Loath as I am to go the route of criticising our own fans, but I do recall making my way into VP for the Bolton game last season and hearing some moron booing as Gabby's name was read out, before he really made a fool of himself by signing that charming B-lose ditty about the lad. On his own, thankfully. It would be nice to think that supporting Aston Villa automatically indicates a certain level of intelligence, but we're not insulated from having fuckwits following the club.

[damon loves JT]

Oooooooh, 'conflation'


That was a really good headed goal by Gabby. Having to put his brow on it while falling backwards, but still placing it perfectly in the corner.

[adrenachrome]

That was ace.

[olaftab]

Fuckin' star!

Big up the Erdington massive!

Sorry bro heez frum Nechells my end of the woods!

[Salsa Party Animal]

How is he getting on with linking up with Bent yesterday as I haven't watched MOTD yet due to doing assignment. I mean working together and passing to each other

[WikiVilla]

Fuckin' star!

Big up the Erdington massive!

Sorry bro heez frum Nechells my end of the woods!

Do you mean Neychelles

[not3bad]

You do know it's Gabby this thread is about, not Darren Byfield?

I'll say one thing for Byfield over Gabby.
Whilst Gabby was chucking his mess up three trolls, Byfield was bumping uglies with the gorgeous Jamelia.

Ouch!  Jamelia's a Villa fan too!

[hawkeye]

Play him up front with Bent till the end of the season, see if it works out, what have we got to lose? Think what we could have if it worked out.

[KevinGage]

I don't think they'll ever be a natural partnership, playing each other in with throughballs or having a telepathic understanding of where the other will run et.c.

But JC and Gabby -even close to their best- were never a partnership in the true sense of the word. If they're both contributing in their own individual way in the starting XI sometimes that's all you can ask.

As mentioned last week, if we have a scenario where Gabby's runs out wide free up more space in the box for Bent, that might be the best solution all round.

[eamonn]

Is conflation what happens when shops push-up their prices to the extent that it takes the piss?

[sfx412]

seems to me many underestimate the ability Gabby has and his contribution to the side when he's not scoring.
I'd also suggestion some need to reassess their view on Merson. He is far brighter than many give him credit for.

[cheltenhamlion]

Merson is about as bright as a shit after 15 pints of Guinness.

[Mazrim]

Yes, Merse was a genius on the pitch and that's where any claim to that description should stay.

[austin]

Big up the Erdington massive!
[/quote]

Sorry bro heez frum Nechells my end of the woods!
[/quote]

Slade road is in erdington and that is his manor.Fact.

[Olneythelonely]

Fuckin' star!

Big up the Erdington massive!

Sorry bro heez frum Nechells my end of the woods!

He's from Erdington.