Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[The Left Side]

I'd happily let him have Dunne for free though.

[JJ-AV]

If o neill offers the reported £7m for gabby id snatch his hand off, gabby has stagnated since mon left and a move would do him good,our squad needs a big overhaul and if the money from gabby and bent helped rebuild then so be it, im just not sure mcleish is the man to spend it!

If we remove the emotional element that comes with Gabby and look at statistics -

25 years old, senior player for several seasons at a bigger club than Sunderland, 1 in 4 Premier League record and a full England international (started a competitive game for his country too).

He'd have had a few more caps if it wasn't for 'injury' (yet I recall a few times he played with knocks and through illness for us), and his u-21 fiasco.

And all of that is without considering the amount of assists he gets, important goals he scores and penalties and free-kicks he wins.

His market value is atleast double that, and that's without considering his worth to us.

Bobby Zamora went for £9m at 31 a few months ago...

[pedro25]

Gabby scored 5 goals last season and 6 this, pathetic.

[curiousorange]

Gabby scored 5 goals last season and 6 this, pathetic.

As a winger most of the time.

[Olneythelonely]

Gabby scored 5 goals last season and 6 this, pathetic.

Not bad for someone who isn't a winger, playing as a wingers.

[ozzjim]

He has played about 60% of the time as a winger, not all the time. He goalscoring record is simply not good enough for a player of his ability, but he is hindered by a chronic lack of movement and service.

[Ian.]

Not a winger either, normally more of a wide midfielder. A big part of the role is to track back and defend and work hard for the team.

[curiousorange]

He has played about 60% of the time as a winger, not all the time. He goalscoring record is simply not good enough for a player of his ability, but he is hindered by a chronic lack of movement and service.

Gabby has previous of fluffing one-to-ones, but other than that I think he's a good striker under managers who don't know how to deal with his talents.

[Steve67]

I'd let him go but not for any less than around 9mill.  If MON wants him, I'd put some extra on it to get back the compo we paid him for, er, walking out. I can't help thinking that McLeish would happily take the oney for Gabby.

[Olneythelonely]

He has played about 60% of the time as a winger, not all the time. He goalscoring record is simply not good enough for a player of his ability, but he is hindered by a chronic lack of movement and service.

Under O'Neill he reached double figures year after year. Playing to his strengths. It might have only been 60% (I'll have to take your word for it) but its difficult building confidence when playing all over the shop. His workrate is excellent and always gives his all. That, along with him easily being one of our best players would make any effort to sell him absolutely mental.

[DrGonzo]

He has played about 60% of the time as a winger, not all the time. He goalscoring record is simply not good enough for a player of his ability, but he is hindered by a chronic lack of movement and service.

Under O'Neill he reached double figures year after year. Playing to his strengths. It might have only been 60% (I'll have to take your word for it) but its difficult building confidence when playing all over the shop. His workrate is excellent and always gives his all. That, along with him easily being one of our best players would make any effort to sell him absolutely mental.

If Agbonlahor leaves the Villa we'll know that we are beyond hope.  He has always said that he only wants to play for us.  And whatever the offer we shoud refuse it.  He is about the only player who bleeds claret and blue.

[Greg N'Ash]

Trouble with gabby, and also one of his strengths is he's not a traditional striker, and he's not a target man centre forward type but a bit of a hybrid. He worked pretty well on and off with Carew who was more a traditional centre forward, but currently we haven't got one of those and him and Bent don't go at all. Whether we keep both of them or not i think we need to bring a centre forward in as both would benefit from it IMO

[Monty]

Trouble with gabby, and also one of his strengths is he's not a traditional striker, and he's not a target man centre forward type but a bit of a hybrid. He worked pretty well on and off with Carew who was more a traditional centre forward, but currently we haven't got one of those and him and Bent don't go at all. Whether we keep both of them or not i think we need to bring a centre forward in as both would benefit from it IMO

See I've always liked Gabby's hybridness, but in my view, whether he plays as a wing-forward or lone-striker, you've got to have a midfielder or two who will break forward and provide runs into the area. Ireland will do that, but if he's the only creative midfielder playing who else is going to provide the service if he's looking to get on the end? Bottom line is, we have to be more adventurous and trusting of creativity (which we do have!) with our team selections.

[Greg N'Ash]

Trouble with gabby, and also one of his strengths is he's not a traditional striker, and he's not a target man centre forward type but a bit of a hybrid. He worked pretty well on and off with Carew who was more a traditional centre forward, but currently we haven't got one of those and him and Bent don't go at all. Whether we keep both of them or not i think we need to bring a centre forward in as both would benefit from it IMO

See I've always liked Gabby's hybridness, but in my view, whether he plays as a wing-forward or lone-striker, you've got to have a midfielder or two who will break forward and provide runs into the area. Ireland will do that, but if he's the only creative midfielder playing who else is going to provide the service if he's looking to get on the end? Bottom line is, we have to be more adventurous and trusting of creativity (which we do have!) with our team selections.

Well the midfield and the lack of attacking options therein has been a problem all season but to me Bent and Gabby can't play together. You just know if MON bought Gabby he would either play him up front on his own or more likely stick him with a 2012 version of Carew. My view is when Carew's injuries/lifestyle caught up with him, Houllier solved it buying a traditional, ball on the floor, hanging off the shoulder of the last defender, striker in Bent and Gabby probably would have been out the door. Now Bent can play on his own up front probably better than Gabby(in fact i think that technicaL Director guy at Liverpool who was at spurs thought he was too much of a lone wolf), so if that role is not open the only position i can see is if we bought in another carew type centre forward - that way both Bent and Gabby could play with him hopefully. Otherwise i think you have to sell one or the other and lets face its gabby is useless on the wings

[BedsVillain]

Bas Dost scored another two for Heerenveen this evening, both set up by the equally impressive Luciano Narsingh! Dream double signing, if we stay in the Prem...