The Gabby Appreciation Thread - Update: 4 year deal

[glasses]

How many assists did he get on Saturday?

[pauliewalnuts]

I do think we sometimes struggle to rate him objectively as he's a home town boy, one of us.

To consider him in terms of his goal output, though, strikes me as very unfair on him, as he has a lot more to offer us than that.

Rightly or wrongly, we seem to be a much better side with him in it rather than out of it.

Him, Guzan, Delph, Benteke and Vlaar are the spine of decent players we have in the squad. Our problem is that, outside those, there's not much else of note.

There no doubt Gabby is one of our best players, though, and it is a lot more than goal scoring he offers.

[fbriai]

I'd have in my England squad. His ability to run with the ball at pace is unique in the Premier League. I think he could do a useful job for England coming off the bench for the last 20-30 minutes of a game and force the opposition onto the back foot a bit.

[hartman_1982]

In a time when we haven't won anything for a while, he has been instrumental in all of our special moments in recent years. Winners at The Emirates, Old Trafford, The Etihad, hat trick against Citeh at home, winner against Chelsea and those last minute winners at The Sty. And whenever we have been in the shit and really needed somebody to step up, more often than not it has been him.

[glasses]

Gabby is a top half player for me definitely. He's also got that bit of extra self belief and so he rises to the big occasions. I'd say in the last 7 years nobody has scored the amount of important goals for us as Gabby.

He's not the most gifted we've ever had but he has heart and a true love for the Villa and more often than not produces in big games.

I'll post it again.

Gabby has scored against 34 of the 35 teams he has faced in the premier League. Only Palace (1 game) and Cardiff (injured) has he not scored against.

Two great assists on Saturday, and we didn't look the same team when he went off

He is our most important player.

[Somniloquism]

He must be as good as anyone for putting away one v one chances.

Yes, such as that chance in the first minute of the Liverpool game.

Watch it again. Getting the ball on target was going to be hard with Mignolet coming out. Probably he could have tried to chip him but that is very hard to do at pace.

[Gerrin]

I'd have in my England squad. His ability to run with the ball at pace is unique in the Premier League. I think he could do a useful job for England coming off the bench for the last 20-30 minutes of a game and force the opposition onto the back foot a bit.

I've thought the same for a while, I know Villa tinted sepcatacles and all that, but I can't think of another English player who can run at pace with the ball like he does. Maybe Walcott but Gabby has more physical strength than him. He'll not get picked though because his scoring stats aren't good enough.

[Dante Lavelli]

Good debate.

In my opinion a legend is a player who is remembered fondly well past his playing days.  On that basis I think Gabby could well be remembered as such.  Not our greatest player (by any stretch) but in a generation where footballers seem to measure their worth by how much they earn (Rooney looking to leave Man U when in touching distance of being Man U's all time top scorer being a good example) I think his 'legend' status might be earnt through his loyalty and selflessness for the Villa cause rather than just his ability.

The selflessness is demonsrated by the fact he's never really been our penalty taker.  He must realise that this debate about his ability would be heard a lot less (more international recognition too) if he was getting an extra 5 goals a season, yet he appears happy to be the team man and let the 'main' striker take the glory.

[Dante Lavelli]

I'd have in my England squad. His ability to run with the ball at pace is unique in the Premier League. I think he could do a useful job for England coming off the bench for the last 20-30 minutes of a game and force the opposition onto the back foot a bit.

I've thought the same for a while, I know Villa tinted sepcatacles and all that, but I can't think of another English player who can run at pace with the ball like he does. Maybe Walcott but Gabby has more physical strength than him. He'll not get picked though because his scoring stats aren't good enough.

I think he'd be a good squad selection too.  Not the best english goal poacher, winger, target man but he can do all the jobs adequately which would free up other places in the squad for more specialist positions.

[SoccerHQ]

First name on the teamsheet away from home without question. He's essential to how we play.

But at VP he shouldn't be starting every game imo.

Good luck being a manager and telling him that though!

[garyshawsknee]

His crossing ability from both sides is second to none.  That goes back to the days when he played with Carew.

[Jarpie]

Gabby is one of those players who (at least somewhat) manages to be a very good player due his determination and will to play despite his flaws, which makes him somewhat limited player. If Delfouneso would've had his determination, he'd be starter by now.

[Mellin]

Forwards should be rated on the importance of the goals scored, not the total. A goal on the end of a 4-0 is basically irrelevant. What Gabby does for us, more than any other Villa player I can remember, is time his goals for important games/moments. He seems to find an extra bit of drive when we genuinely need him to step up, and that is an invaluable characteristic to have.

[Jarpie]

Forwards should be rated on the importance of the goals scored, not the total. A goal on the end of a 4-0 is basically irrelevant. What Gabby does for us, more than any other Villa player I can remember, is time his goals for important games/moments. He seems to find an extra bit of drive when we genuinely need him to step up, and that is an invaluable characteristic to have.

I tend to agree, his goals last season against Norwich for example were invaluable. Gabby can be frustating player to watch though, as he sometimes doesn't pick the right runs or make right decisions.

[curiousorange]

It'll be after we can't pick him that we'll appreciate what he bought to the side.