Gabby

[Axl Rose]

Yes, I know.  But it isn't going to happen and it just doesn't help.  So, what it more important, satisfying your need to slag off a player who has badly under performed, or accepting that the new manager may wish to use him to help us get promoted?

It's time to grow up.

Nothing to do with growing up. It's about justice for his behaviour, particularly last season. He is a fucking waste of space. I refuse to even celebrate if he scores......(well, ok, maybe not)

But if he's going to stay, he needs an absolute battering(verbally) from a packed Villa Park. If he can get over that and perform, then fair enough.

But again, just because people don't share your view, don't offer the tired, old 'grow up'-you're just making a rod for your own back.

[chrisw1]

I think grow up is fair enough.  It's pretty immature to put your hatred of a player over the needs of the team - assuming the manager does want to use him.

[Le Lapin]

He needs to get out of our club. Out of the dressing room. His professionalism last season when we needed him most was non existent. I can understand a player being in bad form. But for a professional player not to be physically conditioned to play, that is inexcusable. Out out out!

[chrisw1]

He needs to get out of our club. Out of the dressing room. His professionalism last season when we needed him most was non existent. I can understand a player being in bad form. But for a professional player not to be physically conditioned to play, that is inexcusable. Out out out!

Look, I totally get the sentiment - I don't like the guy either.  But if the manager wants to play him, what then?  Will you seek undermine this because of the way you feel, or let the manager make decisions he believes are best for the team?

That is the simple point I am making.

[peter w]

And the point that has been made many many times is that the size of his contract may mean that there is no option but to keep him. if so, he owes us a big season.

[Diablo]

He's deluded. Spouting nonsense about how talented the squad is. If they're so great, how come we've only been winning a game every four months? Arse.

Almost sounds like we're being prepped for next to no signings (the squad is too big), Gabby ain't budging, and we go with what we've got. You can't fail to like the interviewer.  I wonder who has advised Gabby to launch a PR offensive?

[Axl Rose]

I think grow up is fair enough.  It's pretty immature to put your hatred of a player over the needs of the team - assuming the manager does want to use him.

We needed him last season though, mate. And he let us down, immensely. I completely understand your point of view, but surely we are done with such players and such attitudes?

[peter w]

I think grow up is fair enough.  It's pretty immature to put your hatred of a player over the needs of the team - assuming the manager does want to use him.

We needed him last season though, mate. And he let us down, immensely. I completely understand your point of view, but surely we are done with such players and such attitudes?

Hopefully yes we are. But if we do not find a willing buyer what do you suggest?

[chrisw1]

I think grow up is fair enough.  It's pretty immature to put your hatred of a player over the needs of the team - assuming the manager does want to use him.

We needed him last season though, mate. And he let us down, immensely. I completely understand your point of view, but surely we are done with such players and such attitudes?

We won't be able to get rid of him.  So all I'm saying is the bomb squad doesn't work and if the manager wants to use him then I can live with it. 

[Toronto Villa]

He let us down badly last season, but if he stays it's because the new management team have seen his dedication to change his ways. There's no such thing as too late in that regard, and especially in football when so much is tied to contracts and the ability to move a player on. If Gabby comes back determined to put right what he did, he appears to have shown in that in his willingness to become fit again, then he's going to be an asset to us. The fat wanker he became was no use, but his appearance and attitude over the past few years was what Aston Villa became. No better person to embody it than our longest serving active player.

[Axl Rose]

I think grow up is fair enough.  It's pretty immature to put your hatred of a player over the needs of the team - assuming the manager does want to use him.

We needed him last season though, mate. And he let us down, immensely. I completely understand your point of view, but surely we are done with such players and such attitudes?

Hopefully yes we are. But if we do not find a willing buyer what do you suggest?

Good point. I'd suggest paying him off and releasing him/cancelling his contract. Whether that scenario is a possibility in the modern game, I've no idea.

I just feel that he's been a trouble maker, hasnt had the clubs best interests at heart, and has made a mockery, somewhat, of the fans who've paid good money to support the team.

I guess we just have to see what happens.

[passitsideways]

He let us down badly last season, but if he stays it's because the new management team have seen his dedication to change his ways. There's no such thing as too late in that regard, and especially in football when so much is tied to contracts and the ability to move a player on. If Gabby comes back determined to put right what he did, he appears to have shown in that in his willingness to become fit again, then he's going to be an asset to us. The fat wanker he became was no use, but his appearance and attitude over the past few years was what Aston Villa became. No better person to embody it than our longest serving active player.

I guess the problem is that this apparent dedication to changing his ways has happened multiple times before in the past: he showed it for a few months under McLeish, then stopped. He showed it for a few months under Lambert, and stopped again. He had a mini-revivial under Sherwood, but was back to being useless by the start of the next season. I mean, I suppose it would be fair enough if he managed it for long enough this time around to get us a comfortable buffer at the top of the Championship before he gives it up again, but I'm not holding my breath.

[chrisw1]

I think grow up is fair enough.  It's pretty immature to put your hatred of a player over the needs of the team - assuming the manager does want to use him.

We needed him last season though, mate. And he let us down, immensely. I completely understand your point of view, but surely we are done with such players and such attitudes?

Hopefully yes we are. But if we do not find a willing buyer what do you suggest?

Good point. I'd suggest paying him off and releasing him/cancelling his contract. Whether that scenario is a possibility in the modern game, I've no idea.

I just feel that he's been a trouble maker, hasnt had the clubs best interests at heart, and has made a mockery, somewhat, of the fans who've paid good money to support the team.

I guess we just have to see what happens.

So waste £5-6m (or whatever the total cost of his contract is) paying off a player who the manager may find useful?  So we actively waste a sizable portion of our transfer budget to weaken the squad?  That makes no sense to me.

[Hookeysmith]

I think grow up is fair enough.  It's pretty immature to put your hatred of a player over the needs of the team - assuming the manager does want to use him.

We needed him last season though, mate. And he let us down, immensely. I completely understand your point of view, but surely we are done with such players and such attitudes?

Hopefully yes we are. But if we do not find a willing buyer what do you suggest?

Good point. I'd suggest paying him off and releasing him/cancelling his contract. Whether that scenario is a possibility in the modern game, I've no idea.

I just feel that he's been a trouble maker, hasnt had the clubs best interests at heart, and has made a mockery, somewhat, of the fans who've paid good money to support the team.

I guess we just have to see what happens.

So waste £5-6m (or whatever the total cost of his contract is) paying off a player who the manager may find useful?  So we actively waste a sizable portion of our transfer budget to weaken the squad?  That makes no sense to me.

Was letting NZogbia go weakening the squad?
They were about as much use as each other and cost around the same

[pbavfckuwait]

What ever they decide, someone needs to be keeping a close eye on any of the arsehole club from last year, step out of line, no bomb squad, straight to the bin squad, kept away from BMH and ensure they do not infect the place again and that is at whatever the cost, because can someone put a cost on last season.