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

[Mazrim]

So Gabby is a mindless automaton channeling the will of his handler?
Yeah, I'm not so sure about that one.

Everybody wants to see Gabby back to his blistering best for us but he has to take some responsibility too as to why that is not happening.

[Concrete John]

I can't believe people are seriously advocating selling Gabby.  When both of our best forwards have had crap seasons, can people not see the common denominator?

Bent's goals to game ratio for this season is actually pretty much at his career average.

Unless we play 4-4-2 we aren't going to get the best out of both of them.  So, with resources tight, can we afford to have one of our major assets sitting on the bench?  Selling Gabby and using the money, and saved wages, for a genuine winger would make us a better team.
 

[Villanation]

So Gabby is a mindless automaton channeling the will of his handler?
Yeah, I'm not so sure about that one.

Everybody wants to see Gabby back to his blistering best for us but he has to take some responsibility too as to why that is not happening.

No way am I saying Gabby is a robot, what I'm saying is he's not a Ballotelli or a Nasri or Tevez, these players act spontaneously of the cuff which makes them both volatile and exciting to watch, Gabby is not that kind and he obviously is extremely loyal, that's the point I'm making.

Another point a good mate of mine is one of the lads from the eighties squad and we meet up for a game of golf with some of the other lads on rare occasions, without naming names I can tell you that the general opinion is Gabby is one of the best players ever to grace the park at Villa, he's just not used right, but of course that's just opinion.

[OCD]

Having seen Holman play, I'm wondering whether McLeish is looking to play 4-3-3 next season with Gabby and Holman playing off Bent.

[nigel]

Having seen Holman play, I'm wondering whether McLeish is looking to play 4-3-3 next season with Gabby and Holman playing off Bent.

The way he's progressing, Weimann could throw a massive spanner in that theory

[Doorbell]

I take your point on board Mazrim, but I just don't see how the turmoil of being at the club (you supposedly) love, seeing all the crap that goes on behind closed doors and being torn between loyalty and (probably) a desire to abandon ship can't be affecting him....there's probably plenty of chatter about McLeish in his family life too...I'd put money on it he's being urged to move on for the sake of his career.  if it was me, I'd be under performing too.

When he was in his purple patch, if he'd been our penalty taker he'd have been a 20 goal a season striker, he missed out because we had JC and Barry taking them.

I for one would rather he be at this club when he manages to get his head straight and find his passion again.

[Concrete John]

Having seen Holman play, I'm wondering whether McLeish is looking to play 4-3-3 next season with Gabby and Holman playing off Bent.

Ireland is a good player, but doesn't really socre of create all that much.  However, he does pass it well and work hard, so I'd like to see him play more in the Petrov role, with a good DCM next to him.  Holman would then slot in as the most advanced of a central three, being the one to get up and support Bent, which would suit as he was described as a '2nd striker' in Holland.  Gabby would be cover for Bent and/or compete for one of the wide positions, although a new winger is needed.  As I said above, I think Cuellar will go and we'll get Dann, so next season would look a little like:-

Given

Hutton
Dann
Collins
New LB

Ireland
New DCM

New Winger
Holman
N'Zogbia

Bent

Rest of the squad would be; Guzan (or new No 2 if he goes), Lichaj, Clark, Baker, Stevens, Herd, Gardner, Bannan, Gabby, Weimann and Super Marc.

Dunne, Warnock, Makoun, Delph and Delfouneso to go.     

[coreyfeldman]

Jermaine Beckford wasn't that bad t Everton 10 goal in 38 games, don't remember him starting that much either.

I thought the speed with which Everton got shot of him was very fishy indeed. I wonder if there was something afoot off-pitch?

He's been outed by Leicester pretty quickly too....

Well if he's a homosexual then thats as good a reason as any why not to sign him.

i don't know if you are a homophobe or not but this joke is in very poor taste. no place for it in anywhere

[Doorbell]

Jermaine Beckford wasn't that bad t Everton 10 goal in 38 games, don't remember him starting that much either.

I thought the speed with which Everton got shot of him was very fishy indeed. I wonder if there was something afoot off-pitch?

He's been outed by Leicester pretty quickly too....

Well if he's a homosexual then thats as good a reason as any why not to sign him.

i don't know if you are a homophobe or not but this joke is in very poor taste. no place for it in anywhere

Good call.  That's why I didn't bother replying.

[johncvilla88]

Problem with Gabby he lost his best friend in Ashley Young and hasn't really replaced him. He seems an outcast of the squad and doesn't seem happy he's none long the best thing out of the academy also the fact Houllier knocked his confidence pretty much saying he's a has been.

[hartman_1982]

Problem with Gabby he lost his best friend in Ashley Young and hasn't really replaced him. He seems an outcast of the squad and doesn't seem happy he's none long the best thing out of the academy also the fact Houllier knocked his confidence pretty much saying he's a has been.

Disagree. Gabby was easily our best player this season before he got injured in November/December. Since then, I think he has struggled for form and fitness. It really does bug me that every manger we have seem to persist with him when he hits these troughs, it is like hanging him out to dry. I expect to see the Gabby we all know and love in August.

[garyshawsknee]

Until November he was flying and was our best player,he had a few knocks this season,but being played on the wing hasn't helped him and mustve knocked his fragile confidence.

[JJ-AV]

Not wanting to get ahead of ourselves, but at the very least Weimann looks an educated footballer who is capable of filling a gap in the squad for a season.

Even if he doesn't progress to the heights we hope, he should be able to contribute more than Delfouneso ever did. Which should at the very least save us a few million for a Heskey replacement to compete with Bent.

I'd imagine (providing no one leaves) we're done with forwards now. Bent, Gabby, Weimann and Holman can all play through the middle and then there's Ireland and N'Zogbia who can play off a lone front man.

[ozzjim]

He was better out wide than up front though, and scoring more goals, so his confidence must have been higher surely?

Is there not some kind of beef between him and bent too??

[ozzjim]

Not wanting to get ahead of ourselves, but at the very least Weimann looks an educated footballer who is capable of filling a gap in the squad for a season.

Even if he doesn't progress to the heights we hope, he should be able to contribute more than Delfouneso ever did. Which should at the very least save us a few million for a Heskey replacement to compete with Bent.

I'd imagine (providing no one leaves) we're done with forwards now. Bent, Gabby, Weimann and Holman can all play through the middle and then there's Ireland and N'Zogbia who can play off a lone front man.

Holman may play off the front, but I would bet a large amount on us signing a striker this summer. Managers like to have their own centre forward, almost like marking out their territory.