The Gabby Appreciation Thread - Update: 4 year deal

[richardhubbard]

Gabby has played only a handful of games up front in the past 4 years.

Where he played right back, he played as part of a front 3???

[Gregorys Boy]

Can we settle for cult hero?

Yes, definitely a cult hero, more than a legend. If he's goals take us to a Champion's League place or FA Cup win, then I may revise that though.

Now that is just going to piss Harewood off!

[Ads]

Gabby has played only a handful of games up front in the past 4 years.

Where he played right back, he played as part of a front 3???

Gabby has played as a winger for much of the last four seasons. Its only been at the start of this campaign that we have seen him put a number of games together up front.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Gabby has played only a handful of games up front in the past 4 years.

Where he played right back, he played as part of a front 3???

Gabby has played as a winger for much of the last four seasons. Its only been at the start of this campaign that we have seen him put a number of games together up front.

he was played wide of a front 3 rather than as a winger and has produced nowhere near enough, not just in terms of goals but overall. Has been better the last couple of games and long may it continue but only time will tell

[Ads]

If you're playing as a wideman, then you're not playing up front. He is now playing up front on his own again and has scored two in four.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

If you're playing as a wideman, then you're not playing up front. He is now playing up front on his own again and has scored two in four.

if you're playing 3 up front, they don't all operate in the same middle 20 yards of the pitch. He has played largely up front, to the left side of the 3 with Benteke down the middle and Weimann to the right side. No way could you say Gabby and Weimann have been playing as wingers

[Ads]

Gabby and Andi, have been the two main routes of supply for Benteke over the past two seasons. Neither are wingers* and neither of them have played up front, centrally to be the men on the end of the crosses into the box.

Look at Andi's most recent postion on Saturday, how on earth could such a role be described as the same as Gabby's or Benteke last season before him? They've been playing as widemen. Both regularly find themselves with duties of covering our full backs, 60 yards from goal. That's playing up front?

On the rare occcassions they have played down the middle, they've scored goals.

*they're both centre forwards.

[fredm]

I always thought that one of the ideas about playing with three strikers was that they could interchange and be fluid.  If one moved out wide another would run through the middle etc etc.  It's all about movement off the ball, which of course we are not very good at.

[Ads]

I always thought that one of the ideas about playing with three strikers was that they could interchange and be fluid.  If one moved out wide another would run through the middle etc etc.  It's all about movement off the ball, which of course we are not very good at.

You need good full backs to play like that and that isn't a luxury we've enjoyed too often over the past two seasons.

[supertom]

I always thought that one of the ideas about playing with three strikers was that they could interchange and be fluid.  If one moved out wide another would run through the middle etc etc.  It's all about movement off the ball, which of course we are not very good at.

Ironically the Gabby, Weimann and Benteke threesome (oo-err) was most effective in that 5 months run in a couple of years back, and precisely because the movement was better. Benteke was scoring, Gabby was scoring, Andi got a few too. The following season the off the ball movement when we played those three was nowhere near as good. Consequently, and combined with poor form, Gab and Andi didn't score enough. Nor help out Benteke enough during his lean spell.

But...hopefully Gabby's turned the corner. His form always seems intrinsically linked to our own. If the team is playing well, he's generally playing well. This is the season for him to really step up as a talisman and senior statesman. His vice captain, and given Ron's injuries will likely skipper for plenty of matches this term. Some sort of consistency has to happen now. I hope it does.

[Dr Butler]

Happy Birthday today Gabby   who also shares it with our Mom.

here is a selection of his goals and my personal favourite.

UTV
The Doc

[peter w]

happy birtyhday gabby. My 5 year-olds favourite player. Close to being mine also to be fair.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Happy Birthday Gab!

Let's have a party at Goodison on Sat'dy!

UTV!

[Ads]

The eruption of bedlam in the Agbonlahor End at 2:41 into that second video is a thing of beauty.

7 years ago now. Scary.

[saunders_heroes]

The eruption of bedlam in the Agbonlahor End at 2:41 into that second video is a thing of beauty.

7 years ago now. Scary.

Whenever I see that game i keep my eye on the crowd and not on the goal. It's a fantastic sight to see.