I see Gabby has come out with some interesting comments talking about how he’s 100% committed to the Villa cause and is promising to try 100% if he gets picked.
Which is big of him, after his performance or lack of it, last season.
Let me first re-iterate what I’ve said before in that I’ve often defended him, as I do truly believe his oft being played out wide didn’t help his game at all.
We quite often never played to his strengths, which to my mind were running on to the ball with his incredible pace, which we all know was by far his best ability.
Putting him out wide, expecting him to beat players and whip in good crosses was never his game, but at the time, it was almost like he had to play in any Villa side, such was the high regard that many Villa fans, including myself, held him in. That’s not to mention the influence he seems to have had.
And quite simply managers, rightly or wrongly thought we had better options in the middle of the attack.
Indeed, I could even see how it might be an excuse for his head to drop.
And while I found his antics in Dubai at best distasteful, I could even understand fans supporting him then. That’s what young lads, especially lads with the sort of money he earns, do.
And if he’d been performing on the pitch, I suspect many of us fans would have even turned a disapproving blind eye to his antics.
Unfortunately, the fact is he wasn’t and hasn’t, for a very long while.
But what capped it for me was that he was reporting in for training so overweight, Eric Black actually called him out for it and sent him on a special regime to lose the lard.
Which is about the only useful thing Black did, in my opinion.
Turning in for football training overweight is not only unprofessional, but it’s frankly disrespectful to the club and the fans. Especially when your only asset is your pace.
You do have to question how he was allowed to get into such a state, but perhaps that’s another indicator of how much influence/power he had? Let’s not forget he supposedly had the ear of Randy Lerner.
Which is all ultimately why I’m loathe to believe anything that comes out of his mouth when it comes to the Villa.
For someone who’s supposed to be Villa through and through, I feel he’s let us down massively and it’s just too late for him to recover his previous status of “one of our own”.
Hence, I think he’s only trying to keep himself in his very comfortable position, earning sixty odd grand a week, which is frankly a joke.
While I hope his words are true and he’s really willing to get his head down, I’m still concerned that he had way too much influence in the dressing room and for that alone, I’m afraid he has to go, even if it’s only to set an example.
Which means we let him go on a free and maybe even subsidise his next over-inflated contract: anything to get rid.
Still, as the player himself knows, he does still have some fans on his side.
Which is where you come in re; the poll.
For what it’s worth, I think he’ll be staying, regardless of what we fans think.
[polldaddy poll=9461528]
Part of me thinks Gabby could prove very useful in the Championship, if he could get his old pace back. He’d simply destroy defences, if we were to choose pacey players alongside him.
But I suspect it’s too late and many of the fans won’t accept him.
Cannot believe there’s an ounce of positive for him in this article. He was dreadful when played both wide and upfront. His pace caused problems 10 years ago before teams sussed out it was his only positive attribute and shut it out. If he scores these days its a scuff or keeper error. Get rid of all the bad eggs. Don’t care if we don’t go back up next season, id prefer a squad of triers than watch the same rubbish as last year!!
I’ve tried to present a reasonably balanced pov, even though it’s obvious what I think.
The fact is some fans do still support him.
They may not be many, but that’s why I’ve put the poll there.
There’s always been a ‘thing’ amongst Villa fans for players with pace- even if their end-product is usually rubbish [ – Tony Daley springs to my mind as one example in ‘modern’ times, Darius Vassell was another…].
We just love seeing someone in claret & blue tearing along at 100mph [-preferably down the wing] and running past bemused defenders. It’s one of the few things that can still cause VP to erupt in noise. Which is why I suspect that some fans might still like Agbonlahor to be rehabilitated.
Personally, I agree with #Helenius: if he was ever any use at all, it was very briefly, and a long time ago [in football terms], and it didn’t take the opposition long to realise that he could be neutralised quite easily.
Too long ago. And almost everything he’s done since then has been useless – while collecting a big pay-cheque every month and embarrasing the club by his off-field antics. He’s had enough chances to prove himself at VP.
Get rid – now!
That’s a good point Ardent.
There’s still nothing better than a pacey player attacking a defence, to my mind.
Ashley Young’s goal at Everton still stands out head and shoulders for me, in recent times, for example.
It maybe a bit primitive, but it’s bloody exciting.
Agreed – I always feel the excitement too; BUT the big problem for years has been that our players with pace have had little else to offer: poor crossing, no natural goal-scoring ability, often horrendous tackling-back when they’ve given the ball away…
To my mind Agbonlahor was just another in a line of fast, exciting players who promised much but actually delivered very little at the end of each surge forwards. I hope I’m wrong, but I’ve had the same feeling about Grealish when I’ve seen him play: can look brilliant going past people, but what’s the end-product?
Tony Morley – pace a plenty, tricky, skilful, a real trier and could score – goal of the season v Everton. Pace alone simply not enough so Gabby doesn’t cut it anymore in my book so it’s goodbye from me and I hope it’s goodbye from him
That’s also another very good point; his monthly wages.
A quarter of a mill a month! Total joke, even if he was performing.
And frightening.
You mentioned Webcam: I’ll concede that he was at least able to cross the ball to good effect [more often than not] and could even score a few goals – although his diving was embarrasing.
But I guess that’s why he got the call from SAF and went for a lot of money; whereas from memory, apart from a rumour years ago that Wenger was then-interested in signing [a much younger-] Agbonlahor, I don’t recall any serious interest in Gabby from any clubs in the last 5 or more years…
I read the bollox in the brum mail he’s canvassing himself to the new chairman & manager.I for one don’t want to see him anywhere near VP/BH he’s poison aswell as utter SHITE.how can anybody find something positive to say about him is beyond me.
It’s over for me that Abonglahor should ever play for Villa again, all his antics alone in dressing room turmoil would warrant his departure, he spends most of the match looking at the ground than getting involved. Sorry I’m in this for out on him ,none of his I’ve been here the longer than you with his attitude. Get rid.
I dis-liked your comment because we don’t have a player called Abonglahor.
Although whoever he is couldn’t do much worse than the current shower of shit that represents the club.
Sorry Teacher, I missed out the g in Agbonglahor can i have my dislike back please sir.
It’s not good enough Bill. It’s not a very good example to your grandchildren if you can’t spell or pronounce peoples names properly. especially those who play for the football team you claim to support! 🙂
I’m ever so sorry sir,I won’t do it again , I’m not ever going to use predicted text again. Given myself 100 lines I must spell agbonglahor right, for my good friend Stubs.😝😁
Good man, you’re learning.
It’s Stubbs not stubs. 🙂
Sorry err Stubbs, there I did it again didn’t I , never mind I’ll learn.
I think Gabby has burnt his bridges. Looks like Callum Robinson has joined Preston on a permanent deal. He was out of contract but Villa will get compensation because of his age, to cover his youth coaching and development.
One thing is for certain Gabby will not get a contract anywhere else even remotely near to the one he has got. He isn’t going anywhere.
So at last he is going to give 100%. Does that imply he hasn’t been for the last few years.
On his day he can be unplayable but 2 or 3 times a season is not good enough.
He is a disgrace to our club and if he truely had the clubs interest at heart he would clear off.
A bad egg with a bad smell. Troublemaker.
Need goal scorers not a over paid donar kebab, use his money on a proven, prolific goal scorer and dedicated footballers, gabby has shown none of these in how many years?
He’s been utter crap for years, a centre forward who does not score goals, disrespects the club and fans, now grovelling to our new owner and manager……. he couldn’t get any lower !!
GET RID !
We’ve just had the worst season I’ve experienced since following the Villa from 1957.
I’d like to see all the negative links to that season cut and the most negative as far as I can make out is Flabby. Disrespectful to his team mates and disrespectful to the fans.
I always say that you should judge people on what they do not what they say. If you honestly apply this then there is only one possible verdict –
FLABBY OUT!!!!
(BTW If anyone still has doubts watch the Man City game again where a snail was filmed overtaking Flabby)
CA Villan, Steve,Saddened, I’ve given you all a like, why? Because your spot on about Agbonglahor, shit got it right.spelling I mean.
Pat57, and you a like.
You almost got the spelling right Bill. Keep trying. 🙂
Any idea who Cuzan is ha ha ha.
Of cause I do Stubs, he’s that punch drunk drop a lot man between the posts.Did I get it right sir.?
Apparently we are signing Tshibor (sp?) from Reading for £5m anybody any knowledge.
Apologies in advance to Stubbs if I’ve spelt his name wrong!
Tshibola – not Tshibor!
Oh hell, I must get that right or all hell will break loose Stubbs will go barmy at me.Tshibola shit thats a hard one.
Love it Bill.
Looking at his Wikipedia page [FWIW] he might be described as a ‘promising prospect’ – England U18, etc. – but whether at 21 he’s ready to be a useful part of something new at Villa this coming season, is anyone’s guess.
Steve Clarke gave him his debut at Reading so that is the connection. Seems there are other clubs interested from the prem, but I guess he feels he will get playing time at Villa. He played a lot of games in the championship.last season
on the gabby issue, great hes gonna give us 100% now. but like others said before me. does this mean, hes admitting hes been taking the piss out of the club and fans for years. its another nzog situation, maybe not as worse, because he was completely useless. but like it or not gabby is going nowhere, nobody will offer him same or better wages on his past efforts at villa.
the reading lad we agree a fee for, i heard hes a decent player but raw. all signings have some risk attached, we just trust clarke who knows him well.
If there is any truth in the Tshibola talk I think it’s disgusting that the club haven’t released a statement.
After all there is a responsibility with the club to keep fans fully informed and updated.
omg did i read that correctly ~ mr ray wilkins has been a naughty boy. well i won’t say anything, which i might get sued for. but now he can concentrate on sumat else rather than villa for a change
Nath, Nath, what’s he done?Badger’s at work I won’t tell him.
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ray-wilkins-charged-with-drinkdriving-a3287411.html
Ego,s don’t win games and for sure impossible a team player.
Thanks Ardent, silly sod it ain’t even Christmas yet, thought he had some personal health problems when at Villa? Wonder how much he wants for the car.Sorry that’s not nice, bad luck that.
From what I hear, the police catch more [alleged] DD’s during these few so-called ‘summer’ weeks than they do over Christmas and New Year; all down to BBQ’s, cricket/tennis/golf ‘ corporate hospitality’ sessions, etc.
Guess it’s quite easy to have a couple or three pints, half a bottle of wine, or a few Pimm’s or whatever during a long afternoon/evening, and then get in the car to go home without realising that you’re ‘borderline’ [at best] if offered the breath test…
Apparently the officer, a Chelsea supporter, recognised Wilkins. He then realised the car was only going forwards, after following it for some distance, it had never turned through 270 degrees and gone off at right angles to its original course. He therefore stopped Wilkins to investigate.
I think I know where it all went wrong for Gabby. Anfield. A fews seasons’ ago Villa were giving the Reds the runaround and Gabby was nigh on unplayable. He chased a ball to the Kop end goal-line and was up-ended over a knee high barrier down into a concrete pit. He was out for months and never the same on return. Odd that of all football clubs who might be expected to be safety conscious, it should be Liverpool who continued to have this grizzly hazard.
After that statement from Gabby, I take it he is going know where. Fans have lost faith in him including myself. Gabby less of the shit talk and do your talking on the field we dropped down a level so let’s see what you made off.