Agbonlahor Set to be Dropped for Sinclair

Tim Sherwood has been pressure by Aston Villa fans to drop Gabriel Agbonlahor after the forward played 3 games without scoring a goal, or providing an assist. During the 5-3 victory over Notts County, Scott Sinclair stood out again scoring his second hat-trick this month (the first being against Nottingham Forrest in a pre-season friendly). For the game against Notts County, Sherwood played a very attacking side in a 3-4-3 formation, with Sanchez often dropping off into the back 4. However, Sherwood does recognise that should an offensive lineup will not be affective against Premier League opposition.

“He’s only played three games and no-one has scored (in the league) except for Rudy Gestede.
“But everyone’s position is under threat, always.

“If you’ve got a nice balance to your squad and people (referring to Sinclair) who are willing to turn in performances like that and put themselves on offer, I’ll consider everyone.
“That also includes the kids.” – Tim Sherwood

Sinclair has often played outwide on the left, however, if Sherwood wants to play Grealish as well in behind the forwards the only logical thing would be to partner Sinclair with Gestede. Or, if Sherwood is feeling ambitious, give Sinclair a Walcott-like role. That I admit is a bit of a long shot, but it’s something that Villa fans have discussed this week. So far Sherwood has experimented with a 4-4-2 formation, 4-4-1 and 4-3-3. But I reckon a formation with trying out would be a 4-2-3-1. With Sinclair out wide on the left, Gil/Traore on the right and Grealish as the number 10 with Gestede upfront. That would give us the much needed attacking, and creative edge that would put Villa above our opposition Sunderland over the weekend.

“You know when you take a lot of goals out of your side, you have to look around your club and see what goals are left,” he said.
“On history Scott is a goalscorer. He scored a few for me last season in the cameo he had.

“We might just need to find him a place in the team at some stage.
“If you look he finds himself in good positions. – Tim Sherwood

What is strange is that Sinclair didn’t necessarily have a great game, but his position was sublime and was where he needed to be at the right time. His hat trick was arguably very easy but as things stand, our midfielders have scored more goals than our forwards. And as a result, it seems that our best bet of goals is to play with 5 midfielders, 3 of those being more attacking midfielders. 


Comments

49 responses to “Agbonlahor Set to be Dropped for Sinclair”

  1. Adam I can’t see where you come to the assumption shabby will be dropped,the nearest thing Tim said was ‘ find him a place AT SOME STAGE ‘ that doesn’t sound like sometime soon imo.Tim believes shabby is a threat fuck knows why but he rates him.

    1. adam2231 avatar

      I think the best thing we can do is rest Gabby and prepare him for the week where we face West Brom and Birmingham. I think we all know that in those fixtures he’ll try extra hard and probably start a scoring spree of some sort

      1. saddened avatar

        Agreed Adam, Gabby needs rest – a very long rest at a different football club

      2. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
        OohAhPaulMcGrath

        Il never forget that last min header v blues lol

  2. Ps I could be wrong I should of added.

  3. Why only do it in local derby Adam, he’s showing inconsistency evey game, far as fans can see he’s being carried in every game, drop him I say and now.

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      Probably because he’s more fired up for Derby. But he should be fired up every game.

  4. 3 points Saturday Im not settling for anything less, to win games you need to score goals Sinclair is achieving this, shabby ain’t, hes even missing sitters.if there’s s a repeat of this Saturday & shabby stays on where’s the blame going to be pointing????

  5. Hitchens 60 avatar
    Hitchens 60

    Gabby reminds me of Aaron Lennon (or the other way around!) head down charger with little end product. Wenger has realised that and so Lennon can go. We perhaps don’t have quite that luxury – yet.

    Yes Gabby can scare defenders with his pace but they don’t fear his goal scoring ability because he no longer has one,

    Sinclair has pace but from what I’ve seen he also reads the game well and gets into good goal scoring positions – something that Gabbpy has never done. He scored two tap ins on Tuesday but for how long have we bemoaning the fact that our forwards don’t get themselves into goal scoring positions? He wears no 9 and we need someone to play off Gestede; on current form that should be Sinclair with Gil, Grealish and Traore providing the ammuntition – sorted!

    Sorry Gabby but there’s no room at the inn any more.

    1. Wonder how Spurs feel about Wenger selling their players ?

      1. Hitchens 60 avatar
        Hitchens 60

        Oops sorry 88 – Freudian slip 🙂

        1. It might liven up the transfer market if every manager was given one deal to sell any rival player to a club of his choice…

    2. That’s not sorted, too attack minded if we’re playing all 3 of Gil, Grealish and Traore together behind Sinclair and Gestede. Never would work in the Premier League.

  6. Hitchens 60 avatar
    Hitchens 60

    Off topic – see Tonev has gone on a permanent deal. Always thought he had something so good luck, I hope he makes it in Italy.

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      I don’t racist little prick allegedly glad he’s gone

  7. Hitchens 60 avatar
    Hitchens 60

    Also interesting comments from TS on Sanchez and his ability to play at CB. Notwithstanding he clearly rates him highly as a defensive mid fielder sitting in front of the back four. I think we will see a lot of Carlos this season – for me that’s a big positive, really rate the guy as a footballer.

    1. @H60

      Sanchez should be playing every game IMHO. Under Lambert he was trying to play forward passes but no-one was running forward so it made him look bad. Now, with some decent players willing to run forward, I think he’ll show us he’s the real deal.

      Best position is in front of the back 4 and recycling the ball from defence into midfield. I think he could be immense for us this season.

      UTV

      1. badger123 avatar
        badger123

        Also agreed, Pat.
        I’ve always liked Sanchez and he was a class apart from many of the team last season, as he was seeing things that others around him couldn’t, which made him look a mug at times.
        Quite like JPA, as I’ve said previously.

        Although in fairness, he did give the ball away a bit.
        He’ll improve in that area though, I’ve no doubt.

  8. badger123 avatar
    badger123

    Totally agree H60.
    There’s no room for sentiment and if you’re not performing, it’s out you go.
    I actually think a kick up the backside (in a prolonged run out of the team), might actually work wonders for him.

    1. Hitchens 60 avatar
      Hitchens 60

      It’s time for Gabby to put up or out you go. Shame in many respects because he’s one of our own but you’r right Badger – if you can’t cut it ………………….

      1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
        OohAhPaulMcGrath

        We all love Gabby and want him to do well. As he is one of our own he has enjoyed a lot more goodwill with the fans than any other player has. But that good will is rapidly running out now and for Gabbys sake a move would give him a new lease of life as he’s too stale now. Gabby will never improve now even his best asset his pace is not what it once was.

    2. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      Agree he’s had great goodwill of fans and rightly so but like you say he hasn’t cut it for years now and needs to go. Big like Vassel situation in a way

  9. Hitchens 60 avatar
    Hitchens 60

    One report has Kozac’s move to Celtic as still being ‘on’ with a £7m fee being quoted. Not sure I believe it but who knows!

  10. badger123 avatar
    badger123

    £7 mill?
    That will be an amazing piece of business if true.
    Hence I don’t believe it at all.

  11. Think this a bit of a no brainer to be honest. Especially if Traore is out of the reckoning for this weekend. Grealish, Gestede and Sinclair as the front 3.

    As for Tonev. I think he may be our worst ever signing. And that is some going considering some of the dross we have signed in recent years.

    One another note, I cant help thinking that we should have just stumped up the money for Austin. We spent 13m or so on Ayew and Gestede…why didnt we just use this money to sign him? Proven Premier League player.

    1. Badger123 avatar
      Badger123

      I think many fans think that about Austin, Benno.
      I’m surprised he hasn’t moved yet, but perhaps it’s the fact he wants to stay in London?

      Or he might force us to break our pay structure (which was a similar point asked a while back about why we just didn’t pay Benteke the extra)?

      That said, I just have a sneaky feeling Austin might still be a target.

  12. jvillan avatar

    think sherwoods been short changed got rid of 19 players nearly a miracle has nett spend of between 5 and 10 m at most leicter wba cpal stoke watford sunderland have spent well over 20 m each newcastle must have spent 50m
    we need a number 9 keeper to go straight into team right back will do for now

    1. Badger123 avatar
      Badger123

      The window hasn’t closed yet, but I intend to post about the spend, when it has.

    2. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      I’m amazed learner gave him the money from those sales in first place tbh

  13. jvillan avatar

    team for sunderland
    guzan
    bacuna
    armavi
    richards
    clark
    sanchez
    gana
    sinclair
    grealish
    trarore
    rudi

    4231 like chelsea only not as good

    1. Bum Bum avatar

      Like Chelsea but not as vile.

  14. Bum Bum avatar

    Anyone see Gabby’s Instagram posting beforw it was deleted? He said the fans are right and it’s time to have a think… Don’t want to see the guy treated badly, but he has needed a kick ip the arse for a while now. He needs to feel uncomfortable to get him playing well again…

    1. saddened avatar

      I saw it Bum Bum, “wishes do come true” was also added…. I think he may be on a wind up… Unless he is leaving !!!

  15. Good team that j dont think westwood cuts it, hope vertout turns out well makings of a good player there.

    1. I see Sherwood’s been a busy guy this week, under the radar he’s looking at Benik Adobe from Wolves along with Keita Blade Dial, both forwards, also Alvaro Domingues a defender ,along with Charlie Austin , we might be getting a surprise before Tuesdays dead line.

    2. Bum Bum avatar

      Westy’s stats are good and he’s underrated. Veretout could be cracking! Roll on tomorrow. I feel a slaughter approaching, which is sad because I have a soft spot for the Black Cats. 4-1 Villa.

    3. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      Agree Westwood is very average imo I don’t get why he’s still a regular. I like his attitude etc but his quality is piss poor

  16. Tim’s said that there’s been a sickness bug at the training camp. Hope it doesn’t leave us feeling ill after the Sunderland game though!

    1. OohAhPaulMcGrath avatar
      OohAhPaulMcGrath

      Hope it affects Gabby. At least we have an excuse for losing tomorrow now!

      1. Sickness or health no excuse for losing to Sunderland

  17. with the exception of 3 games a year gabby is shocking.
    I am sick of this one of us bollocks.
    he doesn”t show enough passion to be one of us.
    he has become a very wealthy man on the back of this reputation.
    prove me wrong weekly gabby or sod off.

  18. I think there’s only Tim who wants shabby in the team because I don’t know any VILLA fans who do.if Sinclairs sub tomorrow & shabbys starting then I’m becoming a monk.

  19. Lescott on his way, as posted here last week. Good deal. Experienced versatile and a leader. Now Senderos and Richardson can go. Just zog to shift then.

  20. No mackems preview LADS?????

    1. Badger123 avatar
      Badger123

      Erm….. 🙂

      1. There must be a big delay in a new post up notification or alert only got it 10 mins ago.

  21. I don’t know about shitting all over them tomorrow we’ll most likely puke all over them.4-0 UTV

  22. Badger123 avatar
    Badger123

    Exactly right, at I posted it at 8.00ish, just before my answer above
    I was playing you up mate.

    Now stop detracting from my somewhat confident post and move the conversation over there 😉

  23. bencey83 avatar

    if we use our pace, we can punish their ageing defence. If we try to lump it up to Gestede, we will fail miserably.

  1. I’m strangely okay with the window now. I think that Lindelof will be a better sub than Disasi and that…

  2. We have signed Boyd but as he’s under 18 it has to be ratified by FIFA and can take a…

  3. Double Happy Birthday! The soft arsed twat! 🙂 (I’d be effing furious at ManU for leading me up the garden…

  4. Hang on. Haven’t Chesty and Ollie got remarkable stats on the goals and assists with each other? For the last…