The Gabby Appreciation Thread - Update: 4 year deal

[Villanation]

Quite an underrated player in a lot of ways. I guess seeing players with pace like Joachim and Vassell fade with age has always made me sceptical and he doesn't strike me as someone who naturally reads the game well, but he is a good finisher and he has a solid work ethic which has meant he has continued to learn about the game and develop as a player.

I think that's a good point and almost certainly Gabby will eventually in his career, fade, but then who doesn't, personally I think the difference between Gabby and Vassell and Joachim is that Gabby brings real fear with him, have you ever been in a game where you playing against a team that posses a particular player that can run at you, jig the ball around you and leave you not only looking like a dick head but groping fresh air, you spend the rest of the game thinking "please god don't let me have to chase him down again"

If I get the chance when Gabby picks up the ball and he's running at defender I love to try and look at the other blokes body language and face, brilliant, often comical, worth having a look at the opposition player next time just for the laugh.

[philthebar]

Villanation - agree whole heartedly with your posts

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Said it once say it a million times, this player has for 4/5 seasons now been crucial beyond belief to Aston Villa, yes at times he looks awkward, yes at times he's like a bull at a gate, yes at times he's going that fast that the end product is not about skill and application its about getting the job done, but that's the nature of Gabby Agbonlahor.

He may not be everybody's idea of the classic old style centre forward that's there to nod it home as in poacher style and he does make everything look like a full on attempt but ffs, how many times as this bloke done this for Villa, whether it be Birmingham City in the dying embers of the game to get us 3pts and a fantastic victory, or Manchester Utd to tap in for another 3pts, to run ragged world class defenders like Gallas (as he was) Vidic in a Cup final, rapping a Man City defence with the most perfect hat trick ever, I could go on and on..

He is simply Aston Villa for me, in the same way that Rooney is beyond reproach for Man Utd as they put it Gabby is for us, said on here just a few days ago, Darren Bent, bless, could fall flat on his face this season at Villa, but one thing you could bet your roof on, Gabby will still be popping them in, another point i was trying to make to one log head was yes Darren Bent has got a proven record but so has Gabby, and to those that think Gabby is only good for half a dozen goals a season, tell you what sticj Gabby in front of Arsenal, Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Man City getting the kind of service from that quality of midfield  and playing in his rightful position and his tally will be up there with the best.

First on the team sheet for Villa and him and Rooney would be devastating as England's front 2 if Capello can get his head out the UEFA guide to coaching manual.

100% this!

Hear hear!
Bloody love him!

[luke25]

Quite an underrated player in a lot of ways. I guess seeing players with pace like Joachim and Vassell fade with age has always made me sceptical and he doesn't strike me as someone who naturally reads the game well, but he is a good finisher and he has a solid work ethic which has meant he has continued to learn about the game and develop as a player.

I think he unfairly gets labelled as a fast player but there's so much more to his game than just pace, I think he's probably scored more headed goals than what he has with his feet, he has a habit of being in the rite place at the rite time and as he gets older and his pace desserts him then this should become even better.

[DrGonzo]

Let's hope the message has got thru'.  Heskey out...

[gervilla]

I spent a lot of last season bawling that Gabby cant play out on the wing.
It's starting to look like I don't know what I'm talking about but I'm o.k with that now.
I'm still bawling that Heskey is a waste of time. If I'm proved wrong on this one I'll eat my own head, mot to mind my own hat.

[hawkeye]

I am with the pro- Gabby guys. He gets played out of position and still gets on with it and how many times has he saved us? His goal on Saturday shows he can link up with Bent.
Nothing wrong with being a fan of a Villa player that is one of us.

[Caiphus]

I still think Gabby will keep getting better and better, and in 2 years time he will have the composure to overcome his greatest weakness, his one-on-ones.  His work ethic is giving him the technical and tactical ability to overcome his previous lack of a football brain and if he can start putting one-on-ones in the net he will be a 20 goal striker.

He has a better all round game than most give him credit for and scores with both feet and his head.  He plays about 4 inches taller than what he is and creates goals by making space and the occasional lay off/driven cross.  What more can you ask from a striker that cost nothing?

[Nelly]

Just as an aside, what does our all time goal scorers list look like? I can't seem to find much online.

[eamonn]

He's looking sharp at the moment which is great. He can't be dropped and Bent, when fit, will always start. We lose something when Gabby is on the wing but I can't see us pairing him and Dazza together, though they linked well for the goal yesterday.

[Percy McCarthy]

I still think Gabby will keep getting better and better, and in 2 years time he will have the composure to overcome his greatest weakness, his one-on-ones.  His work ethic is giving him the technical and tactical ability to overcome his previous lack of a football brain and if he can start putting one-on-ones in the net he will be a 20 goal striker.

He has a better all round game than most give him credit for and scores with both feet and his head.  He plays about 4 inches taller than what he is and creates goals by making space and the occasional lay off/driven cross.  What more can you ask from a striker that cost nothing?

The most oft-repeated bag of bollocks on this site I reckon.

[brontebilly]

Gabby played well in the second half yesterday and certainly seem a better player than the uninterested, out of position, overweight effort he was last season. Good to see him back playing well and he was always a good player in the air so no surprise to see him head in the equaliser yesterday from the cross of another Villa homegrown player, Albrighton. Both players were perhaps written off a little too quick by many. But saying he should be partnered with Rooney for England is an over reaction also.

Still dont know how Bent and himself will work together. Bent seemed to be getting in his way yesterday, nearly even for the goal but Gabby was so much better down the middle and showed great leadership for us in the second half yesterday I felt. Playing the two of them up top, leaves us light in midfield though. Even at the end yesterday we had a midfield 4 of Bannan, Ireland, Petrov, Albrighton. There isnt much in line of physical presence there. Decisions, decisions.

[Caiphus]

I still think Gabby will keep getting better and better, and in 2 years time he will have the composure to overcome his greatest weakness, his one-on-ones.  His work ethic is giving him the technical and tactical ability to overcome his previous lack of a football brain and if he can start putting one-on-ones in the net he will be a 20 goal striker.

He has a better all round game than most give him credit for and scores with both feet and his head.  He plays about 4 inches taller than what he is and creates goals by making space and the occasional lay off/driven cross.  What more can you ask from a striker that cost nothing?

The most oft-repeated bag of bollocks on this site I reckon.

I really should of put the part you highlighted in inverted commas.

[ktvillan]

I still think Gabby will keep getting better and better, and in 2 years time he will have the composure to overcome his greatest weakness, his one-on-ones.  His work ethic is giving him the technical and tactical ability to overcome his previous lack of a football brain and if he can start putting one-on-ones in the net he will be a 20 goal striker.

He has a better all round game than most give him credit for and scores with both feet and his head.  He plays about 4 inches taller than what he is and creates goals by making space and the occasional lay off/driven cross.  What more can you ask from a striker that cost nothing?

The most oft-repeated bag of bollocks on this site I reckon.

Except it's not bollocks. He's a decent enough hard working lad with a good finish on him,but football brain?  Do me a favour.

[Chris Smith]

Percy is right, as usual. It's just a tired, lazy cliche to drone on about the football brain thing. It's meaningless; he's a good player who keeps improving and has once again adapted to a new system and being asked to perform a different role and he's been our most dangerous attacking threat while playing from the left.