Gabby

[manic-road]

Flabby flabby flabby flabby flabby Agbonlahor he's fat as fuck, he's fat as fuck.

[Risso]

I wonder if he is ill, like depressed? Cue the jokes or sarky comments!!

Not impossible. A good deal of his demeanour and approach to things these days, at least superficially good tickets a few boxes.

It's about the only explanation that would be palatable, as all of the others tend to revolve around various degrees of self aggrandising arsehole.

It's impossible to say, but from the pictures of him out and about in London and Dubai, I would hazard a guess that that isn't the reason.  He just enjoys the trappings of being a multi-millionaire footballer, and doesn't want to put any effort in, as his contract makes sure he's paid handsomely whether he does or not. 

I don't think for one minute he has depression, but I can tell you from bitter personal experience that people who are depressed are capable of acting normally and laughing and smiling right up to the point they kill themselves. I have dealt with this more times than I care to remember in a professional capacity. Do not underestimate the power of depression and do not think it has a fat lot to do with what what you or I would think of as being 'sad', let alone appearing to be so.

You're making an awful lot of assumptions there Mike. I'm fully aware the depression is more than feeling a bit down. I also know that it's a serious illness and shouldn't be used as an excuse to exonerate an arse like Agbnlahor when there's no way of saying that that's the problem. 

[brian green]

Depression is a very real and a very serious illness but in my experience, and I lost a lifelong friend to suicide two weeks ago, it strikes those vulnerable to it.  The mental make up of some people gives them the ability to endure overwhelming pain and misery.  Others crumble under "lesser" loads.

I once went to visit my business partner in recovery in a psychiatric hospital.  He related that he had broken down, weeping and sobbing brokenheartedly on his doorstep because he could not get his Yale key in the lock.

The lucky ones among us are better equipped to cope with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

[mike]

Depression strikes those who are vulnerable to it just as cancer or other illnesses do. *cliche alert* Churchill managed to cope with overwhelming pain and misery/slings and arrows whilst suffering from depression. May the good Lord forgive me for saying anything positive about a Tory. My professional experience over three decades has convinced me there is no correlation between depression and resilience/courage/strength of character etc.

[Mister E]

Depression strikes those who are vulnerable to it just as cancer or other illnesses do. *cliche alert* Churchill managed to cope with overwhelming pain and misery/slings and arrows whilst suffering from depression. May the good Lord forgive me for saying anything positive about a Tory. My professional experience over three decades has convinced me there is no correlation between depression and resilience/courage/strength of character etc.

You may feel better knowing that Churchill started his political life as a Liberal, Mike.

[brian green]

There is a growing body of evidence that links alcoholism with genetic make up, hence the vulnerability of aboriginal groups and Celts. My lay view is that depression could have similar genetic triggers.

[N'ZMAV]

Depression is a very real and a very serious illness but in my experience, and I lost a lifelong friend to suicide two weeks ago, it strikes those vulnerable to it.  The mental make up of some people gives them the ability to endure overwhelming pain and misery.  Others crumble under "lesser" loads.

I once went to visit my business partner in recovery in a psychiatric hospital.  He related that he had broken down, weeping and sobbing brokenheartedly on his doorstep because he could not get his Yale key in the lock.

The lucky ones among us are better equipped to cope with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

I suffer with depression and it is the slightest thing that pushes me over the edge at times. It's hard to cope with it.

[brian green]

Use the PM option N'ZMAV.  All friends on here though we sometimes seem otherwise.

[clash city rocker]

It maybe depression affects gabby or it maybe that he realises that his attitude and actions of the last few months have made him a figure of ridicule amongst villa fans.

[Rudy65]

Depression is a very real and a very serious illness but in my experience, and I lost a lifelong friend to suicide two weeks ago, it strikes those vulnerable to it.  The mental make up of some people gives them the ability to endure overwhelming pain and misery.  Others crumble under "lesser" loads.

I once went to visit my business partner in recovery in a psychiatric hospital.  He related that he had broken down, weeping and sobbing brokenheartedly on his doorstep because he could not get his Yale key in the lock.

The lucky ones among us are better equipped to cope with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Brian you are correct. However im not sure where this Gabby has depression idea has come from. Where is the evidence? I think he just cant be bothered anymore. Amazing he has gone from hero to zero in about 3 years. Unfortunately for him when he is being discussed in 10 years time it will be the current bad times that are remembered.

[Villa in Denmark]

I wonder if he is ill, like depressed? Cue the jokes or sarky comments!!

Not impossible. A good deal of his demeanour and approach to things these days, at least superficially good tickets a few boxes.

It's about the only explanation that would be palatable, as all of the others tend to revolve around various degrees of self aggrandising arsehole.

It's impossible to say, but from the pictures of him out and about in London and Dubai, I would hazard a guess that that isn't the reason.  He just enjoys the trappings of being a multi-millionaire footballer, and doesn't want to put any effort in, as his contract makes sure he's paid handsomely whether he does or not. 

I don't think for one minute he has depression, but I can tell you from bitter personal experience that people who are depressed are capable of acting normally and laughing and smiling right up to the point they kill themselves. I have dealt with this more times than I care to remember in a professional capacity. Do not underestimate the power of depression and do not think it has a fat lot to do with what what you or I would think of as being 'sad', let alone appearing to be so.

You're making an awful lot of assumptions there Mike. I'm fully aware the depression is more than feeling a bit down. I also know that it's a serious illness and shouldn't be used as an excuse to exonerate an arse like Agbnlahor when there's no way of saying that that's the problem.

The original question was could he be suffering from depression.
My answer, which appears to have kicked the whole debate off, was that it's not impossible, as a a good deal of his behaviour ticks some of the boxes.

Even the whole Dubai thing could fit, depending on the background to the decision. Running away from your problems because you can't face can be another facet of the illness.

And that's part of the problem, it's rarely a clean cut diagnosis based on one specific behavioural trait, but a collage built up from many angles, where the intent can be as important as the action.

Even The Hamilton Scale Test, which is still the primary screening for anyone suspected of suffering despite being subject to various criticisms, looks at between 17 and 29 behavioural cues.

Depressives are also notoriously good at hiding the complete picture and thereby an early diagnosis. In hindsight my psychiatrist thinks that I had an undiagnosed depression for the best part of 20 years before I finally cracked 6 years ago.

[edgysatsuma89]

I wonder if he is ill, like depressed? Cue the jokes or sarky comments!!

Not impossible. A good deal of his demeanour and approach to things these days, at least superficially good tickets a few boxes.

It's about the only explanation that would be palatable, as all of the others tend to revolve around various degrees of self aggrandising arsehole.

It's impossible to say, but from the pictures of him out and about in London and Dubai, I would hazard a guess that that isn't the reason.  He just enjoys the trappings of being a multi-millionaire footballer, and doesn't want to put any effort in, as his contract makes sure he's paid handsomely whether he does or not. 

I don't think for one minute he has depression, but I can tell you from bitter personal experience that people who are depressed are capable of acting normally and laughing and smiling right up to the point they kill themselves. I have dealt with this more times than I care to remember in a professional capacity. Do not underestimate the power of depression and do not think it has a fat lot to do with what what you or I would think of as being 'sad', let alone appearing to be so.

You're making an awful lot of assumptions there Mike. I'm fully aware the depression is more than feeling a bit down. I also know that it's a serious illness and shouldn't be used as an excuse to exonerate an arse like Agbnlahor when there's no way of saying that that's the problem.

The original question was could he be suffering from depression.
My answer, which appears to have kicked the whole debate off, was that it's not impossible, as a a good deal of his behaviour ticks some of the boxes.

Even the whole Dubai thing could fit, depending on the background to the decision. Running away from your problems because you can't face can be another facet of the illness.

And that's part of the problem, it's rarely a clean cut diagnosis based on one specific behavioural trait, but a collage built up from many angles, where the intent can be as important as the action.

Even The Hamilton Scale Test, which is still the primary screening for anyone suspected of suffering despite being subject to various criticisms, looks at between 17 and 29 behavioural cues.

Depressives are also notoriously good at hiding the complete picture and thereby an early diagnosis. In hindsight my psychiatrist thinks that I had an undiagnosed depression for the best part of 20 years before I finally cracked 6 years ago.

I suffer with depression (I am currently just typing this in bed) and that last bit is so right. I'm not good at a lot of things in life but one of them is acting. I could out 'Daniel Day Lewis'... Daniel Day Lewis. I've got a cracking 'game face'.

I don't think Gabby has it... based on nothing. Oh actually it's probably based on me thinking he's a prick. Or he could be a prick with depression. I can do that as well.

[SoccerHQ]

Depends what else is happening in Gabby's life really...I don't think anyone would get proper depression from simply the football team they're playing for losing every week otherwise half the nation's footballers would have it.

I did read a niece of his was seriously ill so that's probably on his mind, he is only human after all despite being a multi millionaire.

Above all for his own good he needs to leave this summer. I've defended him repeatedly in the past but imo there is no coming back from this. His conduct last few weeks has been a disgrace, let's remember aswell he missed a few games in November to supposedly go on a fitness boot camp to the states so how on earth has he got out of shape again so quickly in 4 months?

[Villa in Denmark]

edgy, we can all be pricks. Unfortunately being a prick with depression tends to make it easier to give it the full Spinal Tap and go all the way to 11.

Anyway back on topic.

Gabby is he depressed? Not impossible, but the balance of probabilties suggest he's a runt in a rut with too much money to care.

[tomd2103]

Depression is a very real and a very serious illness but in my experience, and I lost a lifelong friend to suicide two weeks ago, it strikes those vulnerable to it.  The mental make up of some people gives them the ability to endure overwhelming pain and misery.  Others crumble under "lesser" loads.

I once went to visit my business partner in recovery in a psychiatric hospital.  He related that he had broken down, weeping and sobbing brokenheartedly on his doorstep because he could not get his Yale key in the lock.

The lucky ones among us are better equipped to cope with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Brian you are correct. However im not sure where this Gabby has depression idea has come from. Where is the evidence? I think he just cant be bothered anymore. Amazing he has gone from hero to zero in about 3 years. Unfortunately for him when he is being discussed in 10 years time it will be the current bad times that are remembered.

I can recall speaking to someone who worked with a close friend of Agbonlahor's a number of years ago.  Even then, he said Agbonlahor often talked about retiring from the game.  Maybe he just doesn't like football.