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

[Dave]

We moan when players show us no loyalty, yet we get on the back of one of the few that does. It's bizzare.

*nods furiously*

I'd say that anyone who whines about Downing or Milner moving and then advocates selling Gabby is a massive hypocrite. And ought to be horse-whipped across Brindley Place.

[Rigadon]

We moan when players show us no loyalty, yet we get on the back of one of the few that does. It's bizzare.

*nods furiously*

I'd say that anyone who whines about Downing or Milner moving and then advocates selling Gabby is a massive hypocrite. And ought to be horse-whipped across Brindley Place.

X2.

[villastikz]

And ought to be horse-whipped across Brindley Place.

There's people who'd pay good money for that if you're looking to make a few extra quid... 

[cdbearsfan]

We moan when players show us no loyalty, yet we get on the back of one of the few that does. It's bizzare.

This isn't a criticism of Gabby, but how has he shown us loyalty? He's playing for the biggest team he could play for. It's not like he's turned down Man United five times.

[Dave]

We moan when players show us no loyalty, yet we get on the back of one of the few that does. It's bizzare.

This isn't a criticism of Gabby, but how has he shown us loyalty? He's playing for the biggest team he could play for. It's not like he's turned down Man United five times.

One could have said exactly the same about Downing 18 months ago.

[Percy McCarthy]

While it's nice to read some positive stuff about Gabby for a change, I hope someone hurries up and informs us that 'if he wasn't a Villa fan you wouldn't rate him'.

I miss it if someone doesn't tell me every ten minutes.

[JJ-AV]

We moan when players show us no loyalty, yet we get on the back of one of the few that does. It's bizzare.

This isn't a criticism of Gabby, but how has he shown us loyalty? He's playing for the biggest team he could play for. It's not like he's turned down Man United five times.

Maybe, but he's here and he's had prolonged periods of good form. I'm sure there'd have been suitors had he stalled on a deal or let his agent find out who's out there.

I didn't just mean that anyway, he dropped out of the u21 tournament, and Capello picked him atleast twice for him to drop out... Meanwhile he only missed five league games for us in 4 years. I also remember an occasion where MON made a point of saying Gabby was playing through the pain barrier. Then there was the game he was throwing up on the side of the pitch.

Yet we all love Carew and forgave him for going out drinking the night before a big game. I wonder if Gabby would have got the same treatment?

As a collective we're way too harsh on him.

[George E]

It's Gabby's inability to convert the easy chances, the one on ones, that people remember - that's why some are harsh.

Others remember what else he brings with his work-rate and pace and then there's people like Percy who give him more rope simply because he's a Villa fan. 

[JJ-AV]

Read first couple of pages of this, I made it after his winner at West Ham under Houllier.

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=43134.0

Goosebumps.

[paul_e]

It's Gabby's inability to convert the easy chances, the one on ones, that people remember - that's why some are harsh.

Others remember what else he brings with his work-rate and pace and then there's people like Percy who gives him more rope simply because he's a Villa fan. 

I agree with this.  The chances where he has time to think are his weakness.

The great thing about a flaw like that is it gives a great insight into someone's personality.  Add to it the perceived sulking when he has a bad game and the fact that he was fantastic striker under a manager who is regarded as one of the best at getting players in the right frame of mind (for all mons fault this is undeniable).  What we have here is a classic case of a guy who doesn't have any self-confidence.

What that means is, when a manager turns up and thinks he's not worth a place in the squad he's going to struggle, exactly as under houllier.  Then with TSM we had him looking back to his best for a while, until TSM started blaming the team for the poor form, at which point Gabby withdrew into his shell again.

If Lambert can show him that he believes in him I think we'll see Gabby shine again, get the coaching right and there's a 20 a season man in there who will easily be able to play alongside Bent but he really needs someone to work with him on his self-belief.

[Percy McCarthy]

George E: thanks, spot on. Now that Rutski has enlightened me as to what I look for in a footballer, I want Lambert doing his utmost to put this team together:

Blake Fielder-Civil

Mervyn King
Nigel Kennedy
Geezer Butler
Dave Woodhall

Tom Hanks
Pike out of Dad's Army
Mrs Doyle
Prince William

David Cameron
Tracey Andrews

Fred West would be a shoe-in as a midfield destroyer if he hadn't topped himself.

[Doorbell]

George E: thanks, spot on. Now that Rutski has enlightened me as to what I look for in a footballer, I want Lambert doing his utmost to put this team together:

Blake Fielder-Civil

Mervyn King
Nigel Kennedy
Geezer Butler
Dave Woodhall

Tom Hanks
Pike out of Dad's Army
Mrs Doyle
Prince William

David Cameron
Tracey Andrews

Fred West would be a shoe-in as a midfield destroyer if he hadn't topped himself.

This is one helluva team.  I have multiple images of the carnage that would ensue following kick off...Mrs Doyle trying to serve tea, Tom hanks painting a face on the football whilst screaming 'WILSON', prince William gunning down the opposition in an apache gunship...title winning team...

[JUAN PABLO]

surely woody from Toy story is a Villa fan too

[pauliewalnuts]

My take on Gabby is that I don't think he has anything like fulfilled his promise of a few years ago, and although I wouldn't get shot oif him now, I'd want to see a marked improvement from him (amongst others) this season or we should think about moving him on.

I'd like to think that no player is guaranteed a starting place or a new contract, no matter who they are - they're all paid a lot of money to perform, and they need to do it, whether they're from Erdington or errrm ... somewhere further away that starts with an E.

I think many of us probably do give him more leeway as he's one of us (in as much as any footballer can be that these days), but that is natural, really, human nature.

I don't know where that puts me on the axis of evil on this subject, but if anyone extrapolates from the above "you're saying I only like Gabby because he's a local", you're wrong.

I also find the "he struggles when he has to think about things" line to be a bit daft on a number of levels, but I'm too tired to get into that.

[George E]

George E: thanks, spot on. Now that Rutski has enlightened me as to what I look for in a footballer, I want Lambert doing his utmost to put this team together:

Blake Fielder-Civil

Mervyn King
Nigel Kennedy
Geezer Butler
Dave Woodhall

Tom Hanks
Pike out of Dad's Army
Mrs Doyle
Prince William

David Cameron
Tracey Andrews

Fred West would be a shoe-in as a midfield destroyer if he hadn't topped himself.

Nigel Kennedy at centre half's a bold move - and I'm surprised you're not playing Cameron wide right. Oh and i just had a call from Pike's mum - she said to make sure he wears his scarf.