Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Gareth]

We do realise there is eleven weeks till the transfer deadline!!

I'm sure there will be a large turnaround of players with a number who proved they weren't up to it last year departing and several arriving.

Personally I would like to see another centre half with pace, 2 full backs as I don't think we have one who is good enough, a defensive central midfielder and a striker to replace Bowery/Helenius with pace not another lump like Holt. 

Any of Sylla, Bennett, Lowton, Luna, Clark or Helenius can be replaced in the free / loan market without weakening the squad & Baker needs to be sold for his own good as he will make a perfectly fine Championship centre half but being the scapegoat here will ruin him.

Bent / Hutton & Given is the interesting one - stick or twist?

Hopefully our players will be physically fitter this year, the Lowton's / Weimman's didn't seem fit all season.

I always think we set up to accommodate Gabby, he isn't a 'marquee' player by any stretch, he needs to knuckle down and find some consistency because 3/4/5 good games a season is a pretty pathetic return on the investment the club put into him.

[pauliewalnuts]

I always think we set up to accommodate Gabby, he isn't a 'marquee' player by any stretch, he needs to knuckle down and find some consistency because 3/4/5 good games a season is a pretty pathetic return on the investment the club put into him.

This.

To be honest, although I'm not his biggest critic, I'd sell him. He's starting to look like the poster boy for overpaid acceptance of mediocrity, he doesn't deliver anywhere near enough.

[Toronto Villa]

I find that Gabby reacts well to the situation. If the side/club is doing well and things are positive then Gabby's play and overall performances reflect that. You put him in the right situation he'll be beneficial. Just don't expect him to be the catalyst for any revival or be a leader because it's not who he is.

[silhillvilla]

Gabby seems to me he's lost his love for the game. It all seems one big chore now.

[Dante Lavelli]

I've been a Gabby fan, but I'd be inclined to let his contract run down rather than feel obliged to offer him another deal.  That hunger to prove a point (whether to get a deal at Villa or elsewhere) might be what is missing and certainly enough to keep us up.  By which time hopefully we'll have a new owner so offering a new deal (if deserved) or buying a replacement is less of an issue.

In summary, divert some of the gabby cash to delph to ensure he signs and let Gabby stew for the season.

[Tuscans]

I hope we don't sign a forward, I want Weimann to be given a chance up top as the few times he has played there he's scored and looked quite dangerous...much more so than out wide tracking back 70% of the game. I can't see there being any harm in giving him the first handful of games until Benteke and Kozack are back up and running.

I would rather us concentrate on the men around him supplying the bullets, Cole might do well the odd game but I think we're crying out for a ball dribbler with a final ball...something we don't have at all.

No one say N'Zog or Gabby...

[Tuscans]

Gabby seems to me he's lost his love for the game. It all seems one big chore now.

Is it me or when the going get's tough he shrugs his shoulders and puts out a gormless smile when he's looking for a foul. I don't see the fight in him any more during the Harewood days when he played with Young and Carew.

It's your club Gab, show me something man.

[ozzjim]

His finishing was woeful when he rarely got chances last season. Cardiff away springs to mind.. A pacey option now Bowery is gone is a bit of a must really.

[supertom]

His finishing was woeful when he rarely got chances last season. Cardiff away springs to mind.. A pacey option now Bowery is gone is a bit of a must really.

Robinson may make the step up. If he has a good pre-season and stands out, Lambert may save a bit of cash.

[usav]

Gabby's biggest attribute was pace which is becoming less effective as he gets older.   The other parts of his game aren't good enough to compensate for that.

[PeterWithesShin]

Gabby showed at Anfield last season what a difference he can make to us when on form, the problem is we're lucky if we see that Gabby half a dozen times a season now.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I think you're being massively over generous to Gabby by saying he can do that six times a season. Once, twice tops

[PeterWithesShin]

That's why I said if we're lucky. Which sadly we aren't.

[supertom]

Gabby needs to shed some weight to be honest. He was looking a tad rubenesque last season, and probably for a couple of years. In addition his general fitness isn't what it used to be either. Gabby is still quick but something has certainly changed in the last year in the amount of surging runs he'll go on. It's far less frequent. I'm not sure that's purely psychological, but I think it's related to his niggles and also his overall stamina.

Pace players suffer from injuries a lot generally, particularly once they get into their late 20's, and whether Gab is going to be capable of being back to his best again is debatable, but for a start, he should shed half-to a full-stone. It would help him. His biggest asset is running.

The weight thing is something that Weimann needs to look at too. Particularly as Lambert seems intent on playing him week in, week out, for the entirety of every game, despite him clearly not being a 90 minute player. He needs to shed a bit of weight and pick up a yard or two of pace, as well as some added stamina.

[pauliewalnuts]

Lescott apparently going to Hull on a free.