New Contracts?

[Percy McCarthy]

No thoughts on your previous post then Ozz, on how he somehow managed to produce his best form under TSM on the wing when he has not 'in any way, shape or form' played on the wing?

Or why he sulked about playing wide (despite, according to you, not playing wide) of Bent, but not sulking when playing wide (despite, according to you, not playing wide) of Benteke?

On the seeming straightforwardness of negotiations, as I've said above he could have easily let his contract run down and become a tempting free agent for any club who fancies signing somebody who scores important goals in important games, but that was never going to happen with Gabby was It? So for those Villa fans who are upset that he's signed a new long-term deal, carry on wanking over Milner, Barry and Young and wishing they had his loyalty.

[Goldie.7]

Gabby signing for another 4 years is great for him and that's about it. I'm not a fan and would have preferred it if he was moved on.

[peter w]

Delighted that gabby has signed and agree with everything Percy has said. Yes, he doesn't always play well, but who hase over the last 4 years. The soul was ripped out of a good team and only gabby remains. He now has to play a lot of the time on the wing and is usually up front as a lone striker when asked to play there. No John Carew to work off and no Ash Young to stick crosses on the nut for him. No Barry or Petrov feeding him, and no Milner working to get the ball back for him.

I'm not saying he has been our stand out player but if over the last 4 years there has been one player who has summed us up it is Gabby. Good, bad, and indifferent. But pops up when needed in big games and was brilliant in helping to keep us up two seasons ago. build a team that works for him and not one that he is just put in to run up and down the wing, or is expected to just hold up the ball, and he'll score a lot more. I think this is a good signing (contractual) and reckon he'll be in double figures for goals this season.

[ozzjim]

No thoughts on your previous post then Ozz, on how he somehow managed to produce his best form under TSM on the wing when he has not 'in any way, shape or form' played on the wing?

Or why he sulked about playing wide (despite, according to you, not playing wide) of Bent, but not sulking when playing wide (despite, according to you, not playing wide) of Benteke?

On the seeming straightforwardness of negotiations, as I've said above he could have easily let his contract run down and become a tempting free agent for any club who fancies signing somebody who scores important goals in important games, but that was never going to happen with Gabby was It? So for those Villa fans who are upset that he's signed a new long-term deal, carry on wanking over Milner, Barry and Young and wishing they had his loyalty.

I think I put it badly, and it got misinterpreted. I said he has not spent the majority of his time on the wing which is the excuse peddled for his lack of goals. He has spent some time, but I would argue about, or less than half playing a wider role in a front 3, which should be ideal for him but he just does not have the ability to make it work consistently. He has had periods of 8-9 months without scoring a goal at Villa Park, and last season the big game goals just didn't happen. He can be brilliant and when he is it makes me even more frustrating. 3, 5, 9 and 4 are his goal returns for the last 4 years. That is nowhere near what I would expect for someone on 50k a week plus. Using the players that have left as an excuse for him not scoring is even weaker when you look at how many good chances he has fluffed, and how many goals Benteke and Bent scored without many of the players mentioned. I think he is excused a huge amount because he is Gabby. His movement as a striker is non existent unless he is in the mood, if he is not then he just doesn't get into the spaces that he should, and if the opposition play deep he is nullified quite easily. I sincerely hope he knocks in 15 this season and next and justifies a new big contract, but I also hope he is not kept in the side because he is Gabby when others could be more effective in the coming months.

[Toronto Villa]

I wonder if the muted or less than positive response to Gabby signing his deal would be different had he signed after Delph, Vlaar and Grealish. It seems to me some of the apathy is because of the order of the signing and the concern that the others might not. While he might not be the Gabby we have seen in the past he's still got plenty to offer. We'd be nuts to let him walk for free. He'd be snapped up straight away by another PL club.

[Louzie0]

Delighted that we have got Gabby.
Now for the others as well.

[Goldie.7]

I'm predicting now Gabby will score 6 goals or less this season.

[Louzie0]

We'll need every one of them and he will get them at the crucial moment.

[Matt C]

Good news. One done, three to go.

[VancouverLion]

Watching the Hull game and when Gabby scored I said to my missus( she's Canadian and never watched football until we met in 06)  " I can't imagine him playing for anyone but the Villa let alone scoring against us!!"
Her comment was " Yeah he's Villa through and through even I know that" bless.
 
Good luck to to him and us, good news I reckon.

[Neil Hawkes]

Well done Gabby. Good to have someone onboard that sticks with us through the good times and the bad.

[WestleyArmsAV]

I'm predicting now Gabby will score 6 goals or less this season.

I will take that bet. He will score more than 6. A £20?

[Rigadon]

Still my favourite player, despite his runs of poor form.  He isn't absolutely top draw, but as others have said, he scores big goals in big games.  Good news that he's signed.

[PaulWinch again]

I liked his interview on the official site, whilst the news wasn't the good news I was hoping for it's still nice to have a loyal player.

[Clampy]

I thought he was great against Hull last time out. Whilst you could argue he hasn't done enough to earn a new deal, you couldn't really imagine him playing for anyone else. Let's hope he justifies it over the next few seasons.