The Gabby Appreciation Thread - Update: 4 year deal

[N'ZMAV]

I agree, Pedro. We need at least 15 goals from midfield this season, with one of them, probably Ireland getting close to double figures. Won't happen though.

[Chris Smith]

Just seen all that stuff about the criticism of Gabby being associated with his race.  I don't doubt there are a few ignorant souls that would denigrate any black player but ye Gods that really is scraping the barrel to defend him.  In interview terms he's no more brainless than countless other English footballers, but if the cap fits, why should one have to tread on eggshells because he happens to be black?  I fail to see how the using the word "brainless" means you are getting at him because of his race.  Or even his accent.  This is just a wild stab in the dark but is it really beyond the realms of probability that most people who call him brainless do so because they find him a bit brainless? In much the same way that I've often seen Hutton or Warnock described as brainless.  But perhaps it's because one is Scottish and the other is - oh er hang on I'm struggling now.  Perhaps he's just brainless. 

He isn't, at least not in a footballing sense and none of us know him well enough to comment on anything else.

I've seen Gabby develop massively as a player since he first broke through. Initially he was all about pace and instinct and could only really play one way which was very direct. He's now got much more to his game and can play in a variety of positions and styles and we once again seem to have a manager who understands and appreciates his ability and we're starting to see the benefits.

[Percy McCarthy]

I think there's more chance of goals from midfield when you play strikers who are decent at keeping possession further up the pitch. One of the things I noticed about Bent which began to put me off him a bit (after being as big a fan as anyone in that first half-season) was how the midfield didn't trust him enough to make a forward run after they'd played the ball up to him, because they didn't think he'd keep it. Granted, it could just as well have been because TSM had infected them with his negativity.

Again, ktvillan is right about Gabby's need to produce. I've always talked him up, but often over the last couple of years, when I think he's cracked it he's let me down. Maybe healthy competition is the key to that, maybe it's having a good, Carew-like partner. Gabby was much more consistent and effective with him.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I've seen Gabby develop massively as a player since he first broke through. Initially he was all about pace and instinct and could only really play one way which was very direct. He's now got much more to his game and can play in a variety of positions and styles and we once again seem to have a manager who understands and appreciates his ability and we're starting to see the benefits.

Completely agree. Gabby has really developed his game. He's now so confident on the ball, he knows how to stretch defences and his delivery into the box is probably the best we have right now at Villa Park. Playing as an attacking wide midfielder demands huge effort both in getting forward and giving some protection to the full back. The fact he also manages to get himself into scoring positions demonstrates how much he's improved. Long may it continue.

[Percy McCarthy]

I agree with both Chris and Rudy. If we're all right it also backs up the most controversial and ridiculed thing I've always said about him - that he is a clever footballer.

One thing I wish he'd rediscover from his early days is his finishing in one-on-ones. He was very good at that when he first got in the team but seems to have lost that ability quite a bit.

[peter w]

Watching the highlights against Swindon, and live  over the past 3 weeks i think Gabby is now being started on the left and given the instructions to cut inside as much as possible. It opens plenty of avenues for other players to run into and means the opposition defence get narrower leaving space on the right-hand side for a cross. It happened time and time again v Sunderland and is how we scored. Gabby actually first picked the ball up on the left, was then on the right, and then drifted in. he was almost impossible to mark.

Against Fulham gabby made one of those runs that us fans love, down the left, and by the time he crossed it in no-one was there. Only Bent was trying to get in but no-one has the pace to keep up with him. So, as exciting as it was to see hi running playing him on the left gives us more options. sadly, I don't then think there's run for him to that job and have Bent and Benteke in the team. Not that there is no way back for Bent but we need more solidity behind the front 2, 0r 3, before we think of putting bent, Benteke, and Gabby into the team. Especially for the next 3 games.

[ktvillan]

Just seen all that stuff about the criticism of Gabby being associated with his race.  I don't doubt there are a few ignorant souls that would denigrate any black player but ye Gods that really is scraping the barrel to defend him.  In interview terms he's no more brainless than countless other English footballers, but if the cap fits, why should one have to tread on eggshells because he happens to be black?  I fail to see how the using the word "brainless" means you are getting at him because of his race.  Or even his accent.  This is just a wild stab in the dark but is it really beyond the realms of probability that most people who call him brainless do so because they find him a bit brainless? In much the same way that I've often seen Hutton or Warnock described as brainless.  But perhaps it's because one is Scottish and the other is - oh er hang on I'm struggling now.  Perhaps he's just brainless. 

He isn't, at least not in a footballing sense and none of us know him well enough to comment on anything else.

I've seen Gabby develop massively as a player since he first broke through. Initially he was all about pace and instinct and could only really play one way which was very direct. He's now got much more to his game and can play in a variety of positions and styles and we once again seem to have a manager who understands and appreciates his ability and we're starting to see the benefits.

Chris I didn't say he is or isn't brainless, but anyway it's a matter of opinion.  The point of the post was that people should be free to express such opinions without suspicions of racism being brought into it, where there is no evidence at all that any was intended or exists.  I do think people have over-sensitive PC antennae sometimes.

[pedro25]

For me when he plays wide left he needs to get in at the back post more like Downing and Albrighton did well in Houllier's season.  I think he has to start in that role and Benteke up top, unless N'Zog suddenly finds his form as Gabby is our best wide player currently and we'd be too narrow if he was up top.

[Dave]

He was essential for a counter attacking team, so was perfect in the O'Neill days. Even if he was going on one of his long streaks without scoring, the best teams would still know that we were a slog upfield from Gabby being through on the keeper because of his pace, giving us a territorial advantage.

Even at our very worst, I've seen a hundred defenders over the years choose to put the ball out by their corner flag when we're under pressure just because Gabby is within ten yards of them.

He won't work well in a team that has aspirations towards a high, pressing game. But I don't really see that as a bad thing. Until the day that we become that, I have no problem him being in the team.

[Karl Bridges]

Saw a stat today that in the last six seasons only Gerrard has scored more goals Vs Man Utd. He might not get the volume of goals Bent gets but he tends to score important ones.

[HK Villan]

More than any player I think I can ever recall, I always want Gabby to do well. 

When we win it doesn't feel 100% like a proper win to me if he didn't play well.   

On the other hand when we win and he plays well and scores for us, it seems like 4 points not 3!

Maybe it is because of where he is from, he's truly one of us, and some of the incredible goals he has scored for us over the years.

I'm just delighted to see him coming in to better form and long may it continue.

[Dante Lavelli]

For a striker he seems to play remarkably few games up front which will skew any scoring stats.  He also rarely takes penalties so that will not help. 

Personally I think he should concentrate on becoming a Podolski type player i.e. an attacking wide player in a 4231 or 433.  I hope he accepts that role as I sometimes suspect he wants to be the the main man and quite frankly I'm not convinced any manager would build a team around him in the Bent/Benteke position.

[gabbythelegend]

Obviously, given my login name, I'm a massive fan so bias alert - but I really think he can prosper in that left forward role in the new 4-3-3 that Lambert seems to have stumbled/decided upon. In fact, I'm expecting him to get 15+ goals by the end of the season. With Bentekkers causing havoc as the target man, and Weimann running his socks off & finally breaking the goalscoring duck, defences won't be able to shackle him as efficiently as before.

In theory anyway...

[Matt Collins]

I'd be astonished if gabby got 15 goals this season.

[Percy McCarthy]

15 goals is a touch ambitious as he'll play wide a lot, we are (like it or not) a struggling team at present, and he missed a lot of pre-season and the first few games. 11 to go.