It was hardly a vintage performance, but on the day Villa found a way to scrap three crucial points from visiting Norwich. Against all odds, Gabby Agbonlahor, former fixture and now starter by default, managed not to think and just react, scoring a vital second goal to dispirit a poor Norwich side and provide a margin of comfort that didn’t seem that comfortable at the end. But then, it’s never comfortable for Villa with a lead inside the last 15 minutes.
Idrissa Gueye managed to rebound from his poor performance against West Ham. Lescott again found the net, even if it was perhaps a bit lucky the ball made its way in. Among other things, Villa have not had many favorable bounces or decisions, so you’d have to say we were due. If we didn’t have any other strikers to turn to, at least Gabby gave us something.
Too little too late? Probably. I can’t say I saw anything in the game, apart from the result, to give me much hope. But it ain’t over until it’s over. And maybe it gives the players a bit of hope, a sense that maybe there is something still to play for. If nothing else, I’d like to see Villa at least put up a fight, however futile.
It’s been a rough go, obviously. I’ve been despondent, unable to watch any other games or do much more than obsessively check Newsnow for any glimmers of hope. I found only the window that wasn’t, talk of Garde’s future, the appointment of a new board member, and something from Mark Albrighton about a bit of arrogance. But his full comments were measured and he seemed to bear no ill will toward Villa. As bitter a pill as it is, I wouldn’t be quite so depressed if I could still watch Villa in the Championship. As it is, at least a year without football beckons. But that’s small beer compared to what Villans on the ground will be feeling.
Beyond that, I’ve really not been able to find anything to say. What’s there is right in front of everyone else’s eyes. Opportunity after opportunity to help ourselves have gone wanting. Injuries have kept mounting, vital decisions have gone against us, and we’ve still struggled to score—which is generally the hallmark of relegation form.
The window, of course, was disastrous, Villa’s board, and much more likely Lerner, to all intents and purposes waving the white flag. Worse, the lack of backing seems to have betrayed Garde’s expectations. I’m sure it is hard to bring players in, but it’s even harder when no one is trying besides the manager. I know I’m not alone in understanding why Rémi would walk.
So, far from jubilant, I remain largely resigned to our fate. I’m hoping that the new board that’s taking shape represents a bit of maturity and acumen. More footballing knowledge is needed, but the new blood at least seem to understand success in one way or another. Perhaps it signals that Villa can be run more responsibly.
For now, though, we can only watch and wait for the players to carry the cause. Hope can be cruel, and perhaps the result only encourages foolish hope that seems sure to be dashed. But until mathematical impossibility puts the stamp on our fate, I will continue to be a fool. Lerner may have surrendered, but I won’t.
The Author
John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.Comments 152
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Yes John, while there’s life there’s hope. 🙂
Interesting to see the attendance figure that BBC published …
47,272.
Huh? 🙂
Yes, it’s wrong of course, but someone must have got a bit excited that his/her fingers went skew-iff.
Agreed, John.
Never give up, never surrender!
If we can win another 2 on the bounce, it will matter
We did well today. Glad we ditched the 4312 in the second half and went 44 bloody 2!!!!!!! Only way you need to play
Veretout with a nice assist from the left, even Shabby Gabby scored
Hope we stick with 442. I like Gil but I’d like to see someone faster play with Gabby. Sinclair maybe, ayew when back
Okore is great. Full backs are major problems though. No attacking quality
happy days
no retreat no surrender
we are a poor side for what this club should be but i am so happy Garde is at the helm —a few more wins and they can start thinking about getting the statue ready
the more we fight the more panic we can create for the fellow stragglers
The board , the pundits and most fans have us relegated but thankfully the boss and his slim band of troupes are showing no signs of giving up
yes frem Okore has real quality
thought it was just me ,great write up john c,apart from the result nothing else looked good, still same amount points leicster had same games played so i suppose still hope,but we have no pace goalscoring threat,no depth to squad 17 year on bench
Thanks john chin up mate
Lets not fool ourselves there is not much going for us, no forwards, we create little but somehow in recent games we have at times dominated teams we should not be able to live with. we have crept up to 11th in the form charts above all our fellow struggler’s bar Bournemouth. The next series of games are against top sides, our results and those of our fellow struggler’s could turn this around for us because we all have tough games in the next 6. Sunderland scored 2 after the scousers walked out on 70 mins (Defoe again) protesting match fee hikes and Newcastle won their easy game. WBA could get dragged into the bottom too on recent form.
From my point of view it is all to play for and we have momentum and a growing togetherness of Manager, team and fans.
JG remember that teenager that scored a hat trick for city against us in the cup? that 17 year old might just be a star
I don’t believe it!
The Villa OS has posted an attendance figure of 47,472 for today’s match!
Clearly no-one there knows the truth any more!
Thanks for the excellent review John, hope your well.
JL.
Amateurs, pathetic.
I thought we did well for 80 mins today until the usual panic set in. Naarwich are rank, IMO they’ll finish bottom, that Jeerman bloke at the back was pitiful, the fact that the fattest, slowest, crappiest player in the top two divisions scored shows just how bad their B4 is. By the way, he was an Untied fan at school.
Had Lescott MOM, all were commendable except Bacuna, and Lardarse and honestly i didn’t know Wastewood was playing until the crepe commentator mentioned his name 5 minutes into the second half.
What a shame the blokes at the top haven’t the guts for the fight, who knows what would have happened if they’d given Remi some cash.
To answer the title, no it does not matter.
A split second happyness seeing we have won 2 nil but apart from that i feel the same as i did after the west ham game. We are going down and have the worst owner ever.
Thanks for the leader John .
It may not change anything but for today I’m going to enjoy the win and the fact that villa park was a happy place to be . It seems right that “Remi Guarde’s claret and blue army ” was sang and that for once we had the rub of the green . We might not be the best but today they tried and kept a clean sheet and scored two goals . This is reason to be well pleased .
Gabby played well and why not try him up front with Ayew 4-4-2 (for Frem)
How predictable that the pundits have gone from “Remi Guarde no experience , bad choice ” to “Remi Guarde , gets his teams organised and playing attractive football will no doubt be wanted back in France.”
John L , my friend at villa park said 32000 more like .
I reckon you’ve had too many ciders at st75 house Steamer 🙂
You know you love gabby really 🙂
I didn’t see the game but it seems like we showed some fight and organisation today …… and yes the flabster scored which may just give him and a few others some confidence which will be sorely needed in the coming weeks.
I have to admit that I really didn’t expect us to win as I thought we had lost the will and luck to win ……… one thing I did get right is when I was talking to my other half over in Switzerland, she said “I guess that will make all villa fans happy for a change then”. Not exactly and that I know what one person will be saying and it will be we were lucky, gabby is too fat, Veretout is crap, etc etc ………. and I was exactly right! Thanks jg 🙂
In reality, whats the point in staying up if Lerner and Fox remain ? we won’t even get three wins next season.
Old villa
Never said we were lucky to win never mentioned vertout been crap said our midfield didn’t create much again woeful side
One win doesn’t mean I am going to be jumping up and down with delight
Last match v west ham yes we went down to 10 men we never came out of our half to 5 mins to go we got a corner which west ham scored from,city tonked us last Saturday with half team in turn gone done by Leicester who I think we should beat we need 6 points from next 2 matches and if Gabby manages to score when drawing it will count for more
Old villa – I notice that those who were at the game (my two friends and even Frem not known for his optimism 🙂 ) think we did a lot better than those who watched on streams. This is just an observation not a criticism btw. Whilst I watched on a PC , just hearing the crowd and seeing us defensively much improved and score two goals , made me feel like we’d won the cup final ! My friends who went in this vile weather said it was worth it . I don’t remember when they last said that ! we are not that far away from being a capable team and what really irks me is that this is one of the weirdest seasons so anything could happen . Leicester were 20 th this time last year and are now 5 points ahead and bookies favourite to win the league ! Chelsea are in the bottom half . This is not a predictable season and throwing the towel in the way the board have done makes less sense because of this .
Steamer
Your right, it dawned on me why should i be worried about this new big tv deal….we wont see any of the money with randy as owner anyway.
Makes me sick with the gabby love in… 1 goal in 11 months, causes trouble and disruption at the club but all of a sudden after 1 goal its local lad done good. Fat fuck
None of our players were crap today , I’m sorry but that’s just not fair criticism .
Andrew – there’s no gabby love in – no one thinks he’s The Birmingham Messi but why not give him credit when he does something well for the team , and that goal was a big confidence boost and feel good factor at VP.
Newcastle, swnsea, bournmouth aint going down.
It will be the current 3. We wont score enough goals to win many more games. Its not me being on a downer or negative its basic football knowlegde. Lester done it but olay with purpose pace and total hard work and focus, to say we can match them is an insult to them.
Steamer – I can’t see Fox being here next season and you never know John Doyies cruise ship may be docking in Gas Street as we type 🙂 🙂 🙂
With our luck it’d sink.
Conspicuous by his absence, where are you JD ?
🙂 st75 said you voted him MOTM steamer .
JDs combusted 🙂
Andrew, odds are that you’re right and it will be the current 3 that go down but one of the things that I can’t help respecting Garde for is that he clearly hasn’t given up, despite the disgraceful lack of support from the board.
Not only has he not given up but he has also managed to convince our remaining much depleted squad that they can pull off a miracle and survive.
How many of us here would have had the balls and ability to do that?
Oh and Steamer, I happen to have personal knowledge that Gabby is genuinely a passionate Villa fan. Being a fan doesn’t of course make any player great but I think you questioned earlier whether he is a genuine fan and I just wanted to reassure you that he really is. He has come under pressure from friends and family to move because of some of the personal abuse that he’s suffered from some quarters but he would still love to stay and play for Villa given the choice.
I don’t see Villa getting out of relegation tbh , but i would like to see them off the floor of the division and I would like to see them puncture the ego of a few of their opponents in the next few months . They’ve got nothing to lose but almost every-one else they play do.
Now its the other teams turn to feel nervous starting with Liverpool next week , every villa player should be like a wild dog loosed when they step out . Win back our stadium and silence the old-boy liverpool bull-shitters ! The irish villians will be very familiar with the expression , ” Let every blow be a f***k**g funeral “
What planet are fox and co on
Bauyern Munich got 54 m last season bottom team here gets more next season it goes mad so players like Naismith worth 8 m ,dwight Gayle similar,wages for average players is 35/45 thousand a week
Robbi
Gabby to leave not until his fat contract fox gave him runs out,if he was a fan no way would he be in so bad shape,he would be training morning and night to get weight off
James Gill. I’m telling you what I know for a fact but you don’t know me so of course you can choose not to believe me.
I will still read what you write in case you have something useful or original to say.
By the way, Garde has now gathered twice as many points in his last 5 games as Sherwood gained in his first 10 when he had more players to choose from . . . . but I expect you still think that Sherwood is the better manager?
Jenny,
Agreed that in this season particularly, throwing in the towel made no sense. I would’ve thought we could’ve gotten at least one striker in, which might’ve been enough. Going down, we wouldn’t be stuck with the wages because he’d be off. Lerner might’ve taken a hit on the transfer fee overall, but would’ve seemed worth a punt given the money at stake.
Well I am back after aqua planning my way through torrential rain and floods, having been part of a rare day at Villa Park, when every player gave his all, especially Gabby, and the Holte End sang his praises, as they believed their boy was back to somewhere near his old form, and his goal was as clinical as any of the old Gabby great goals.
Richards was perhaps the only one who seemed to struggle to keep up, but he was carrying an injury. Lescott was again a leader, and Gil never gave up, even if he lost the ball, and managed the whole game.
Official attendance was 32,233 and seemed about right.
If we can keep tight, and get behind the team, we still have a slim chance…!!!
Oh, and I should’ve given props where due earlier, but Okore did have a very good game.
RoBBo,
Bloke on TBAR went to school with him said he was an Untied fan, personally i think if he was a Villa fan he’d get off his lazy arse lose 3 stone , actually put some effort into his game and stop shitstirring. I feel so sorry for him taking 55,000 k per week for doing basically f-all is that too much to ask ? Kim Casy would murder the knob for goals and talent, he’s the luckiest so-called footballer in the country and if he thinks he’s hard done by then tough.
Though I have little realistic hope for survival, I’ve learned how to rejoice in small claret and blue trinkets and pleasures — like today’s win for example. The last five years of grinding disappointment has taught me how to take each small pleasure and treat it like a treasure. So for today (and the next few days actually), I will rejoice in the fact that:
• we won a 6-pointer of a match
• we won a league match by more than one goal for the first time since Methuselah was in nappies
• we kept a clean sheet
• Okore is a player I can be proud of
• Villa Park was a place of happiness for 30,000+ Villans, if only for this day.
This world can be a lonely, ugly, and unfair place many times — especially when an idiot like Lerner the Lout owns the most historic football club in the world. In light of this sad fact, I’ll treasure my footballing pleasures wherever and whenever I can find them!
Steamer, I agree with you that he should have put in more effort on the training ground in the last couple of seasons.
I’m no psychologist so I dont know why he lost motivation but it does seem that he may be getting it back and working harder. Whatever any of us may think of him, it’d be good for the club this season if he was able to regain some of his old speed, form and passion . . . . in the absence of fit strikers we could do with it.
In the last five games we have won 2 drawn 2 lost 1. 8 points from 5 games. Not bad considering the players Remi had to work with .
Steamer
Kim casey still putting in a shift at west warks on a thursday night with my brother .
Jenny he ate all my chipsticks and he said l look fatter than gabby , the cheeky fuck ,
Prox good to see you on here , any new beers mate ,
Frem , hows it going mate , l found some more electrical books you can have if you want them .
well l got the upperhand in the house tonight , wifes gone out so l got me ciders and me knobs creek , enjoy your weekend all ,
Jenny xxxxxx
Hey S75 ,
Nope , still on O’Hara’s stout. Having a few tonight while listening to some Shane mcgowan .
Hows tricks with you ?
robbo
neither sherwood or garde can class to be good managers
sherwood came last year kept us up and should been sacked after cup final
remi has made plenty mistakes in his fledgling villa career sticking with guzan,hutton for far too long agree?same for rudi? not giving traore more time when he was fit?giving richardson a villa shirt even as sub kept richards at centre back
yes he has been stitched up by board but he is sticking with them?
but the main thing remi has got lucky with is okore back in team
as for gabby i didnt say you were lying aout him been a fan just why is he so heavy outshape if he loves villa why on tuesday night when ayew made a break looked up for support gabby was 20 yards behind and that was in first 15 mins,why performance v spurs that neville and carragher ripped him apart
In answer to the question the leader poses, yes it does!! In terms of relegation we are still gone, the sands of time are running out, we need too many variables to go our way, not only with us winning a lot of games but those above us imploding( which newcastle, Swansea, Bournemouth show no signs of doing). But in terms of next season I think it does, I have said I want Remi Garde to show me he is worth keeping and overseeing a promotion push, a job interview if you like, he is doing that a couple more wins would seal it for me. Also every place is worth approx £3m in prize money.
A big shout out to Mark Albrighton, he is looking class at the foxes and could pick up a PL winners medal or at least be playing in the champs league next season. Not bad for a player deemed not good enough despite being one of our own, by yet another foolish manager, how much is he worth now????
Pros
Gotta say I liked that hop house 13, when I was over a couple of weeks back. Also smashed some porter( the ale not the bloke at the hotel)
Prox
Gotta say I liked that hop house 13, when I was over a couple of weeks back. Also smashed some porter( the ale not the bloke at the hotel)
B62 Villa
Hop House 13 !!Hmmm spot the feckin tourist !
Actually ,haven’t tried it yet , so I cant comment .
Being reading some of your postings lately , still the angry young man eh ? Small blame to you lately though .
Haha fair point, guilty tourist. It’s a bit like an American craft lager like Brooklyn, not gassy at all, ok strength wise too.
I was with the wife and another couple so did do a bit of touristy stuff, Guiness brewery( again), oldest pub in Dublin, Murrays bar, Oconnells, the oval, Liquor, Temple bar to name a few 😉 Iv stuck a few Villa and Paul McGrath stickers around your fair city.
I think Gardes early choices were dictated to him by Fitness levels, don’t forget when he arrived they were horrendous, lescott looked like an old man, okore barely over his knee problems, Hutton with no hamstring problem and Richardson and bacuna at left back. Saying he should of done this and that when we were not in full grasp of the facts is wrong. He admitted he was wrong over Kosak but hutton was our only source of crosses for ages.
Mark k
Hutton couldn’t cross the road
Jenny,
Apparently we’re one point worse off than Leicester were at the same stage last season.
Mind you, it looks as though the Geordies have signed 2 peaches of players in Shelvey and Townsend. Just what we needed I think.
About the crowd, I’m assuming 27,472. There seemed to be quite a few gaps in the seats.
We can’t compare ourselves to what Leicester achieved last season, as this season shows. Our run in is tough to say the least, we still have to play Utd, City, Liverpool, Stoke all bogey teams for us. To stay up we realistically need to win 7 or 8 of our remaining fixtures and pick up a draw or two. It’s not going to happen , and Newcastle aren’t going to drop many points at home ( if any) and are a decent looking side. I look at their signings with envy, Shelvey and Townsend are head and shoulders better than anything we have got in this positions, they have a decent striker who scores plenty and a good keeper with a good back up. They won’t go down. Swansea have also arrested the slide and are turning it round, Bournemouth just keep going. I think the three that currently occupy the positions are the three to drop, we can’t complain it’s deserved
B62: “To stay up we realistically need to win 7 or 8 of our remaining fixtures and pick up a draw or two. It’s not going to happen “
Take that attitude and the Battle of Britain would never have been won.
There all kinds of factors that determine whether something will happen or not – including luck. And also support from the fans. And you say we have difficult fixtures coming up? Yes, well so do the others.
The stats in the last 5 matches show we’ve won 2, drawn 2 … and the match we lost may well have gone our way but for the red card. Now that’s reasonable form and having achieved a couple of wins (the first 20 matches only produced 1 win) in that short space of time should give us more confidence.
I think we need 38 points. That means another 22 to get in 13 matches. 5 wins, 7 draws, 1 defeat – or (more achievable perhaps) – 6 wins, 4 draws, 3 defeats.
Who knows … we might only need 36 points.
We don’t know yet, B62, so let’s just wait and see, eh? 😉
(PS)
Crystal Palace and West Brom are both showing signs of system failure. Who gets to be relegated is a very open question still.
JG- No hutton can’t cross but he was our only source of crosses how bad is that.
JL- its all to play for,
Swansea have southampton,spurs, arsenal, norwich,bournemouth ,villa
newcastle have chelsea, stoke, man city which has been rearranged, Bournemouth , leicester,then sunderland.
sunderland have manure, WH, palace, southampton, everton, newcastle.
Norwich have WH,leicester,chelsea,swansea, mancity, wba.
Villa have liverpool, stoke, everton, man city,spurs, swansea.
bournemouth have similar and I don’t think wba can expect more than a point in the next 5.
strangely enough our home games are were we need to take 3 points and they are our best opportunities We need to target liverpoo, stoke and swansea and draws in the others puts us on 28. Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Watford look like other potential wins Its a massive ask but in this season of upside down form and results??
As I’ve said next 6 games could see us out of the bottom 3 or nailed to the bottom but we have form and lets face it we are the only team at this stage that has had a six month pre-season we should be the fittest in the league 🙂
JL
Of course the players shouldn’t give up, it’s their job and they are getting paid a kings ransom, however I feel fans need to look at the table with a realistic view, we have won three games all season and suddenly we really believe we can win 7/8 from our final few fixtures, with the same set of players!!!
I feel we can catch Sunderland and finally get off the bottom, maybe even Norwich, but I just don’t see those above that stuttering so badly to allow us to catch them, even if we find miracle form.
If your going to use military comparisons, it’s not the Battle of Britain, more like the clueless officers and hierarchy sending the lads over the top in WW1, with the same certain outcome. Time has run out, we have left it too late, if we could have won a couple of our easier fixtures earlier on and kept in touch I would have faith, but I watch this crap every week and they aren’t good enough, Norwich should have got at least a point yesterday, however for once Lady Luck was on our side and they missed some absolute sitters.
B62- I don’t get it? Villa have missed some absolute sitters themselves that is football, we have had poor refs, gabbys early season finishing, gestedes finishing, horrendous defending, horrendous management, let someone else have it for a change.
On shelvey, he can look world class or if pressured disappear up his own arse, against WBA the team we dominated at their place he looked great, in the 0-3 stuffing by Everton nowhere.
Hiya Prox
bad news for me M&S by me closed down so got to go into town centre for my O’Hara’s . got my Niece drinking that as well now , she loves the real Ale , going for birthday meal soon today for her , got her a voucher For M&S , lol, l do feel for her as she’s 46 today and still single ,l l have tried telling her that her problem is she drinks all her dates under the table , she done Dublin 2 years ago and the locals loved her , Great kid though,
lm still struggling with this bloody bug on my chest , coming upto 7 weeks now and its costing me a bomb in Brandy ,
l said to steamer yesterday after the game , lm putting a bet on Norwich (20) Sunderland (19) and the bloody Albion (18) to go down , would be wonderful as on the Radio here there’s this albion fan (who is on Helium by the sound of him) who is saying that Albion are the biggest club in the midlands , Mind boggles , Hope your ok mate , will have to get over with a few soon , all the best all have a good sunday and we can read the papers today with a bit of a smile , if only he’d have been given a few million to spend , who knows , l still think were down though
Jenny xxxxx
Anyone read the instagram that Flabby posted ? Typical.
Your niece is soooo lucky to have you as a role -model mate , seriously though , have a good day out. I’m 46 myself and i dont think I’ve ever been as attractive so tell her to keep doing her thang !
I’m actually buying my beer in the brewery lately as its on my way home and its obviously cheaper but I’m cutting down a bit since I’m on a midlife-crisis fitness kick at the minute ,,, my cholesterol level is admittedly down but my glutes are astonishing !!
In a perverse way I kinda like where we are in the relegation threesome as we know we have to fight for every inch to have any chance of even relegation respectability not to mention survival . Norwich , Newcastle and Sunderland will be bricking it for the next few months and i hate that looking over your shoulder feeling.
Jenny ,I’m reading a book by Dan Gardiner at the minute called ‘risk’ and it puts all this sort of thing into clear perspective . This is in your area a bit i think , have you read it ?
As many empty seats at villa park last 2 matches than can get into Bournemouth
A couple of signings would have lifted everyone even to point more bums on seats
Steamer
When Gabby has double figures goals for season he could bite back not after one in 11 months
B62,
I think you mis-read me. Nowhere do I say that we *will* stay up – like you I see it being hugely difficult to get the necessary points, but it’s still a possibility.
BTW, we’ve actually gone 4 league games without defeat! 2 wins and 2 draws. Now that is some kind of progress when taking the record of the last 4 years into account.
I have to say I find it difficult to see more than 3 home wins in the 7 remaining VP matches, which means we have to get at least 3 away wins. Again, it’s hard to see more than 3 wins there: the Stoke, Swansea and Watford matches seem the most likely wins but you wouldn’t like to put your shirt on winning any of those.
Liverpool is one of those matches I think is not a likely home win, but if we do win against ‘Pool next week-end then there is cause for optimism.
It is nail-biting stuff, without doubt.
James,
Gabby has not played in many full matches this season, and in those he has -played he has set up at least 2 goals for others.
So because he hasn’t scored doesn’t mean to say he’s done nothing.
I think Villa look better with him being around. We’d hope for a classier player, but he’s one of the better ones of those we do have, i.m.o.
Maybe if we can somehow restrict the number of defeats in the remaining matches to 3 (at Man City, Man U and Arsenal) and get as many as possible in the other 10 matches.
I think it’s just possible to get 6 wins, so that plus 4 draws = 22 points. That plus 16 we have might just be enough.
But it’s a tall order.
I enjoyed Gabby’s tweet and it’s perfectly fair. Yes some of the criticism he’s received has been perfectly valid but some has been far too personal and I don’t blame him at all for biting back.
If those that have made personal attacks can’t take it now then tough . . . . they can just go to mummy for a Ribena milkshake to try and make it all better again.
John l
We lost to west ham as for Gabby yesterday had good chance before he scored really poor effort,then after goal he broke and per usual had to think ( as leader alluded to when he has to think he stumped and makes wrong choice) messed it up
Typicly sturridge fit to play against villa on sunday, you know the rest! He loved playing against us
Prox- I love it when the experts get it totally wrong, how often is that? quite a lot actually. Man city would have too much for Leicester, the house market will never crash again, their will never be another war in Europe, a male Geordie prostitute will never win Big brother you get the picture 😉
The clubs that have spent big are now under financial pressures to succeed, Our lot belong to the club nobody rates, nobody wants to join and they are a big part of that. If I was a Villa player I would be feeling more than a little pissed off with the rest of football and the media taking the mick, time for payback, It could just be the perfect storm and lets face it Pearsons near sacking for his comments must of galvanised Leicester. Well the Villa players may well be looking at Garde and saying this mans on our side, gabby and nzogbia may well have bought into remi and Villas last chance saloon. Talking of which Nzogbia dragged Wigan out of the shit on his own what if he makes that his swansong for us? Dreaming I know but I really think garde has convinced these players of his methods
James,
We *know* Gabby makes a howler every now and again, but you don’t dismiss him simply for that. I can think of a number of players who have gaffed in all my years at VP but if there’s something in them you forgive their weakness and try to help ’em.
I say what I said before: that he’s not perfect but he’s one of the better ones of the lot we have. In the light of the strikers we do have (when available!) I’d have him in there without a thought.
It’d be nice for he, Ayew and Kozak to be playing together I think. That could be quite some attack, but it may be we have to forget about Kozak.
Andrew- Liverpool haven’t done so well against teams with tight defences ( thats us now 🙂 ) I’m not worried they are not all that
John l
My problem with Gabby he supposedly a fan,I would give my right arm to have worn number 9 shirt and play for villa,but since Mon left Gabby has acted like a baby caused trouble for managers ( houiller) put on weight generally bad apple in dressing room,but back to match and goal if Norwich keeper had not done a guzan ( howler) he wouldn’t have scored and from what I watched he didn’t do much else,so no way this not celebrating slagging off media he hasn’t earned the right new contract after pool game sep 2014 ,Gabby has appeared 4 times on goals scored with 5 goals in 17 months
can’t quite put my finger on it but Villa have changed. Not so long back and I’m talking years now we always got done by the same teams in the same way, Liverpool being one. maybe its the fact other teams like Chelsea and manure no longer pose as great a threat but for me I’m putting it down to the more level and consistent performances under Remi. No complete shit one week, world beaters the next. We approach the games home or away the same, granted if we don’t have remi’s 1st 11 available we struggle as we have all season but If we do we look ok and compete well in all but finishing.
James,
I think we have enough worries about the general state of affairs at VP without going on about one player to that extent. He scored yesterday – at a crucial point in the match – and that’s all I need to know.
If he hadn’t scored then I might not have as much to say for him. But he did. I’ll forgive him for everything if that goal proves to be the favourable difference to the outcome for the season.
Compare ‘the legend’ with Troy Deeney who was playing in the Mid Comb 6 years ago and has a prison sentence behind him, he’s turned it around while Agbonlahor just doesn’t give a monkeys as long as he gets his money, he gave up years ago. How anyone can differentiate between GA and Zoggy i don’t know, yet Zog gets slated, at least he can play football. Perhaps because one is French and the other MAY have supported Villa once, if you look at the lack of a celebration you can see it, unless he’s forgotten, it has been a while since he netted.
Still if Villans enjoy having the piss ripped out of them, who am i to state the obvious, its not my money he’s spending on KFC.
Steamer
Well said
Cheers
JL- yesterday showed why we needed that new Keeper for me, at least 3 times Bunn came for balls and had to be bailed out by okore and Lescott.
Steamer
If no one knows what gabby is like now after a decade of warching him then theres no hope for them. It should not need explaining that a, he has no football brain, b his finishing is terrible, c he does not score goals, d his speed was his only weapon and now thats gone.
Ill never forget the first time i clapped eyes on him at vp, sat in lower holte watching thevarm up and seeing him try and score in the drills they do….my heart sank
Yesterday was a classic gabby goal…..and the reason really he dont score many. It takes a keeper needlessly racing out and gabby chasing a fairly hopefull through ball and having no time to think about the finish. 90% of his goals are like that
Andrew- yes they are mate but that requires space in behind and someone to hit those passes, yesterday with Norwich coming on to us we could do that. Liverpool try to press high up too, could be interesting
Mark
All i know is that since bunn has come in we have been calmer, assured and kept clean sheets. Its criminal guzan has come into the season as number 1 and been allowed to play for so long. Im confident if he hadnt the gap would be closer. A nervous, error prone keeper is a cancer that runs right through the team. Same at pool…..they will never achieve anything with mignolet as number 1
Andrew yes we have but have played a better defence in front of him than Guzan, don’t get me wrong he deserves his spot but I just see that as his glaring weakness
The four games before guzan was dropped think any keeper could done better west ham goal guzan went down in installments, Newcastle goal trickled along line Sunderland game what can you say
Mark k
Agree about better than guzan ( not hard) but Leicester goal a decent l
Keeper wouldn got caught out,first goal v west ham taller keeper would got fingers on it,2 nd one he went down to fast
Shame to see Guzans decline, i thought he was a good keeper a few years ago but a Sunday keeper wouldn’t make some of his blunders over the last 2/3 years.
Hi Prox
No I haven’t read it and just looked at the reviews on good reads so yes , it’s very much my soft of thing . Looks very interesting – im going to get it . Thanks very much for the heads up on this one .! 🙂
Ref Gabby . 1. I’ve seen him score some fabulous goals . theyre not all from keeper mistakes , that’s plainly ridiculous . You don’t get selected for England in a few fluke goals
2. He may not have the best footballing brain but he used to have the talent and speed to compensate for this
. Yesterday he worked his socks off hence the pundits average score of 8 for him . 3. He didn’t have the easiest of childhoods (like many I know ) he was born and brought up 2 miles from VP so yes he is a local and I believe Villa fan . I have seen on various sites ppl who say they went to school with Gabby , most of it is bull shit. He’s been accused of being boyhood Chelsea Man U and Arsenal .
3. He’s had loads of abuse and why the hell shouldn’t he bite back . If you can’t take it don’t dish it out.
4. Right now we haven’t got a lot to choose from and if Gabby can improve us then let bygones be bygones . Actuslly enjoyed the Holte singing GabbtyGabby Gabby Agbonlahor yesterday – good times – back to our fickle best 🙂 🙂
St 75 and Steamer – hope you’re enjoying the meal xxx
Mark: “yesterday showed why we needed that new Keeper for me”
I of course noted his nervousness, but then I remembered that he came from Norwich.
Any connection? Seeing as it’s the first game I’ve seen any nervousness from him I feel there’s more to it than meets the eye. We’ll see how he gets on against Liverpool.
Jenny,
Well said about Gabby.
I keep on saying that I don’t see Gabby as the best there’s been at VP but still people come back with their attacks. It’s quite remarkable really that supporters should be attacking the only striker they have available at the moment!
Some are saying that yesterday’s goal was because of a keeper’s mistake, but …
1) Gabby played perfectly to beat the offside trap to run onto Veretout’s ball..
2) Gabby quick enough and alert enough to appreciate what the keeper was doing …
and 3) He didn’t miss. Some might have – they could have been fazed by the keeper charging out like that. I have seen so-called top players miss that kind of chance … it wasn’t a 5-yard tap-in.
Some come on guys … what will you say if Gabby scores at least another 6 goals between now and the end of the season? I suppose you’d still throw mud at him.
Yeah Jen, no sweat . I’d appreciate your critique when you finish it. It certainly gave me food for thought , particularly the bit on cancer , but I ‘ve not done any real critical analysis on it and because I’m naturally aligned with the general premise of the book , there’s probably alot of confirmation bias going on with me. Its very like freakonomics in its style so its a quite enjoyable read.
Andrew: “gabby chasing a fairly hopefull through ball “
What is this?
Nothing hopeful at all. Veretout looked up and saw that Gabby was running the line ready to run onto the ball. A perfect pass perfectly executed.
prox- bit on cancer? it certainly can have emotional roots via stress, you have me intrigued sir
If I was Garde I’d be thinking how can I get vertout into advanced positions to make more of those passes, then maybe Sinclair would be worth a place as that his his forte running in behind. Vertout has to take up Grealishs place from last season IMO
Mark,
It’s fairly well established that state of mind plays a big role in health, including cancer.
Wrong thinking can alter certain chemical structures. Therefore it’s always best to be positive in everything.
In other words, be kind to Gabby! 😀
Mark
Bunns not the answer i agree, be nice to get a settled number 1 in. Wonder who they will tutn to in the summer.
John. It was an ok ball, made better by the keeper racing out. See vertout endeed up lm be nice to give him a settled role, not sure whats his best one though. Number 10?
To think gabby will score 6 goals:)
Hi prox , l can understand the cutting down as it is an easy drink to enjoy . will tell my niece ,
well l wont be going anymore games this season as l have been told where my nephews next fight is and its in 5 weeks time so got to get visa’s sorted ect , its in the Chechen capitol of Grozney , its against a American and its a 3 fight tournement , if he wins this , the next fight is in Kazahkstan, then the 3rd fight back in the Chechen , it will be armed guards from airport to hotel then onto fight , so got to grow tach and beard to look like a local , will be an experience and half , if we aint in a salt-mine ….., the chechen president is sorting all this out as he has gone massive on MMA , now the only problem we have is if Chris wins his first fight , the next fight is against the Chechen presidents Son as he’s same fight weight as Chris , thats why l think the salt-mines Beckons , (((
Mark l hope your not thinking that we should have Guzan back in goals , jeezuuus !!!
To be honest out of the strikers at the club i too would start with gabby. And when that day comes you know your bottom of the table
I’m not a Gabby fan, but he’s our best shot. Even when Ayew comes back, he’s still young and needs a Gabby to encourage him. I would give Grealish a start in the next game over Gil and have RG tell him to run with the ball vs his fancy layoffs.
Steamer – you’re not serious comparing Gabby to CNZ? That’s crazy. Gabby has scored so many important goals for us in the past, CNZ at 10m purchase and 65k per week is a parasite!
Also drop Westwood for Lyden, although if I was manager I’d have chosen the more experienced GG.
Let’s finish the season on a decent run and at least aim for 3rd from bottom.
Andrew: “It was an ok ball”
Huh?????? *****!!!!@@@@@!!!!!****
How perfect does a pass have to be before you will call it “perfect”?
It was a simple pass, certainly, but simplicity is often defined as the sign of a genius.
ST75- now putting Guzan back in would not be thinking would it? I have no suicidal thoughts. Good luck to you and Chris and bring me back some salt I have a spare bottle of tequila left from xmas.
On Gabbys goal maybe the goalie thought ” I can beat tubby to the ball”
Mark – its a different angle than what you’re probably thinking mate . Its more about how its reported on and putting the stats in perspective.
S75 ,
Grozny !! are you havin a laugh!! Why dont youse just go to Aleppo or Alum rock!
Prox- Yes mate more on the reaction to constant bad news by the reptilian brain I’d guess, fight or flight. How would they sell you there treatments if you were not scared half to death? doctor knows best
Mark , there’s a bit of that but its more to do with how we all calculate risk and our everyday decisions based on an unrealistic paradigm. e.g. child abduction is very very rare , particularly of the Madeline McCann type but its a huge bogeyman for all of us and the papers feed this paranoia . You and I are of a generation which did’nt experience a fraction of the ‘parental care ‘ that we now impose on our kids and you could argue our world is actually safer than it has ever been. We disappeared for the entire day with our mates during the summer hols only coming home when we were hungry . We went swimming on our own , climbed trees on our own, explored ‘dangerous’ places on our own . etc etc ,. You let kids do that now and they’ll be taken away from you .
prox – yes mate its a sad state of affairs. Good old nanny state looking after themselves….erm us. so easy to become paralysed if you live in the modern paradigm, I prefer looking in.
Villa’s predicament can get you that way if you let it, you would think a meteor was heading our way on some blogs.Will have a look at that book myself.
Prox- one thing worth checking out if you have an Iphone/ipad is and app by heartmath. you need a sensor called inner balance from Heartmath or Amazon about £120 so not cheap. It allows you to monitor your heart rate while performing tasks, like a modern version of meditation it teach’s you to slow your heart rate and therefore your adrenaline/cortisol response.
Heres something more frightening 😉
http://www.naturalnews.com/052836_Zika_virus_GM_mosquitoes_Brazil.html
Just re-watched gabbys goal, It was a great pass by vertout and a good finish from the edge of the area, the keeper if you look from his perspective thought he could get there and gabby showed he still has some pace left and beat him to it, nothing Jammy about it, similar to Bunn and vardy in the Leicester game, where bunn took vardy out.
It’s very annoying that the board haven’t backed Garde in the transfer window. If this back 4 had played most of the games this season, then we would be around mid-table not bottom. They are a very good defensive unit but I’m afraid our goalkeeping options are dreadful. Bunn is tiny and has very little ability. There’s a calamity waiting to happen. Guzan has the ability but his performance levels have been atrocious ever since that Man City howler last season.
Great display from Gabby. He looks so overweight but still turned in a very good performance. It makes such a difference having a striker with some movement. Gestede and Kozak can’t provide that movement that we need. Time and time again, Gabby has been shite all season but then does just enough to keep us up. Probably too late this time but he literally is our only hope now.
I don”t really want to jump on the Hate Gabby bandwagon but I saw the goal he scored, a fine ball by Vertout and a decent finish by GA but the thing that galls me is there was no celebration from GA, now you have just scored the winning goal in a crucial game for the club you have supported since you were a boy and he showed no emotion.
Was this a dig at Garde for telling him some home truths like you are overweight and unfit and at £50k a week the fans should expect more from you, because I saw a picture of him after scoring in one of the Sunday papers and Christ I think we now know where Lord Lucan may be hiding.
He is supposed to be one of our main strikers but I need reminding how many goals he has scored over the last five years, having said that I would play him up there with Ayew basically because we have little choice but to give it a go in our remaining games, with Vertout and Gil in behind and starting to hit form we might just start scoring some goals.
RGSAVFC
SWV. At the risk of repeating myself I think gabby and ayew are the closest we have to gardes preferred style of front man pairing. The lad he had on the bench and the rapidly growing hepburn-Murphy are both in that vein too.
I cannot believe how many keep constantly attacking Gabby, and very few show any support.
For most of the time he has played over the last couple of seasons or so, he has been played out of position, and not in the role he is best at, that of centre forward. Something Villa have done with several players over the years.
His weight problem cannot be reversed, after being told he was to lightweight, he did bodybuilding, and as one or two on here have stated, you cannot undo the changes to bine and muscle structure.
As for his lack of celebration, I am sure, he was just pleased to have scored and show his critics what he still can do, any over the top celebrating would have detracted from that.
I totally dislike this constant attacking and harassment of players….it does nothing to help, and if someone was doing the same anywhere else today…they could be looking at having legal proceeding against them.
That is my rant over, let’s just back all the boys, and just give some constructive criticism for a change. They may then actually just get over the line with our fans becoming like they need to be, and support no matter what….
Maybe at last our luck is changing too with Remi standing by his beliefs…
PP,
Well said! 🙂
PP,
Factually incorrect, he was told by Houlliers fitness coach who is our current FC NOT to bulk up, as usual he ignored the instructions of the management and carried on to the detriment of both the club and his career. Open your eyes and you will see that he has layers of FAT not muscle although he is also musclebound which is one of the reasons why he can only run in straight lines.
If you actually watched him on Sat you would have seen him ordered to mark the defender on set pieces, the defender just walked away and left him standing, he cost us at least three goals last season doing this. Also if you watch him when the ball is in our half he actually stands BY the defender instead of moving.
The only reason Garde played him was his only other option was Sinclair, another one that doesn’t give a bollox about anything other than his wage packet.
Legal action !! utter bollox.
The support for this slacker is amazing, typical of the gutless happy clapping gobshites that masquerade as Villa fans, bollox to you and bollox to AVFC i’m off, your getting what you deserve.
I’m not even sure Gabby is a Villa fan. I think it’s just said so people would like him more, and it’s worked. There’s fans, then there is fans. People who really love this club. I’m not sure Gabby is one
It’s sickening how he’s made a career with us. He’s taken the piss out the of the club for years now. His beat scoring season is 14 FFS. That’s pathetic
Well said again
Steamer ,FREM
Fan my arse he should celebrated goal Saturday ,o no its only been 11 months since he scored,he didn’t know how
FREM if he plays edge center circle is far enough for him to go back he’s not fit enough to run both half’s
Steamer: “[Gabby] was told by Houlliers fitness coach who is our current FC NOT to bulk up”
But as I recall it was MON that previously advised him to “bulk up” in which case the process had already gone quite a way down the line and (I would have thought) impossible to reverse.
Nah … I’m with PP on this. This carping of Gabby leads only to more division … an equivalent to Bitex – which is (Iknow) another topic!
What we’re lacking these days is the notion of *unity* and even though you’re not wrong on some issues you raise, it’s better we leave them aside I reckon.
Here I go again! “Bitex” s/b “Britex”
Steamer,
I will continue to clap, cheer and shout for this team for the rest of the season, which is the only thing to do as a true fan, because nothing else I do will help Remi or the team over the line…and that is something most Villa fans want, because dropping into the Championship is just something that is beyond the pale, even though Randy and his cronies deserve it…
Frem, if Gabby scores every game until the end of the season, he will still get flack, he just can’t please everyone, I agree he has had bad games, and could have done better, but sometimes it is difficult when the people round you are poor too.
Droyd: “It’s very annoying that the board haven’t backed Garde in the transfer window. If this back 4 had played most of the games this season, then we would be around mid-table not bottom. “
How true! Which proves that Garde has got common sense to find a solution even though it may take a little time to get there.
Would hardly call Bunn “tiny” though! He’s 6′ apparently. Yes, I know these days that that height is not extraordinary, but once upon a time shorter keepers did exist in the top flight and were there because overall they were as good as bigger keepers.
A big (little!) example of this was Alan Hodgkinson who was 5 ft 9 in – yet he played for England. He later became an excellent coach in that department.
Well said JL
The “Foxes” success came from the great unity between the club, players and fans. A lesson worth learning, and why in the past the British have been so successful, unfortunately it has almost disappeared from us as a Nation…..
JL, you will remember things like the I’m Backing Britain campaign, which in the end was highly successful, and got our country moving again….
PP- well in my opinion there is no point in attacking other fans who’s opinion of gabby is otherwise, he’s been no angel and the architect of his own downfall otherwise he would not be such a divisive character, free speech and all that. Gabby gets stick because he’s held up as Mr Villa by the idiots at VP I’m not sure he deserves that title although you could say its his by default as he’s part of the furniture, probably a sofa 😉
personally at this point in our not so illustrious season I’d have jack the ripper in the side if he scores goals that win games
Read this elsewhere
He ain’t heavy he’s our gabby
MK
I have no wish to attack anyone, but there comes a time sometimes when the vilification of anyone becomes just a little too much on these social media sites, and it is not healthy from my point of view.
I have no problem with a little banter, or criticism of someone’s performance, but no matter how much someone is paid, at the end of the day they are only human, and I am sure that most of the people on these sites would be upset if they were constantly on the receiving end….at the end of the day, they are someone’s son, partner etc…
It also can work in the opposite way, as it did with Delph and Sterling, and inspire them to make sure they got the win, even if it involves the use of a little bit of cheating..
I agree with the Jack the Ripper..!!!…. or maybe Joey Barton….!!!
Like that one JG…!!!
PP- fare enough mate but the fans are not the only ones to notice, I don’t agree with over the top abuse but then again over the top bigging up of an average player doesn’t sit with me either. Think of it this way if Gabby is the player most associated with Villa we are very very poor.
Arsenal- Henry
Newcastle- Shearer
Villa- Gabby 😉
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/02/08/ian-wright-agbonlahor/
Mark,
I don’t know how you interpret PP’s statement as an attack on someone!
Gabby came back last week after some lay-off and showed ’em that he can still work his socks of – and score as well. What PP was/is calling for (like me) is a better show of unity towards someone of better character than is made out to be (by some). Who doesn’t have weaknesses, especially when you’ve come to know them over 10 years (like Gabby)! I wouldn’t mind betting that one of the other better players will also be getting stick for something or other before long.
Democracy and free speech? By all means, but let’s be better balanced about it.
Prox, I read ‘Risk’ a while ago and it struck a chord with me. If you take it to heart then you find yourself questioning ‘received wisdom’ and I reckon that’s no bad thing, particularly in a world which is changing so fast
I saw this little passage recently that also struck a chord:
The defining characteristic of individuals caught up in a bubble of ‘groupthink’ are that first they no longer think for themselves but become absorbed into a collective mindset and, second they show irrational fury towards anyone failing to share their belief system. That is why it is impossible to have any rational dialogue with victims of ‘groupthink’. They cover up the fact that they do not really understand the basis for their beliefs by reacting with vehement intolerance towards any ‘heretic’ who dares question them.
It’s another way of saying ’empty vessels make most sound’
Robbo- you must be delusional then 😉
JL- Gabby has been in the middle of a lot of villa scandal so to say and has never made the best of his talents for the club, that I think riles people.
On PP’s comment and who it was aimed at Steamer obviously didn’t agree, and to be fare it could of been all of us bar you on here. There will always be disagreements among fans its the norm, when the game starts different matter.
MK
It was not aimed at anyone in particular, but was a culmination of some of the vilification on all the various blogs, and the banter etc, I have no problem with…but sometimes things just touch a nerve in the end. None of us are perfect..
Unfortunately, it is the way of the modern world…..all about “our rights”……never about our responsibilities…
I completly agree with steamer. I can not believe the easy ride our players, board and owner have got away with sleepwalking this great club into the abys of the championship. Say what you want about pool fans but they simply would not let this happen or at the very least go down kicking and screamng with protests, walkouts planned and carried out. If i was a member of the villa board i would be laughing at getting such an easy ride. Supporting is the fans job but so to is doing whatever it takes for the best of the club because if the fans dont then no one else will. If that means giving players some stick ala wycombe ( which coinidently seems to have given them a cold sharp shock and results have improved since) or protesting against the board im all for it. Would love to go back in time to say 4 years ago and run an experiment. Soon as we see dross like bacuna, westy, helenius, sylla bunn, etc filling our squad our fans acting in the clubs best interest and making learner and the boards life sheer hell. Protests, walk outs etc carried out constantly bringing media coverage etc…i would bet pound a penny 4 years down the line we would not be here now. And its not too late, you want lesrner out, the process can be speeded up no end by making the bastards life as uncomftorble as poss. But no, sadly we can barely raise a bed sheet and act like the big club we should be. Im also out.
PP- yes I agree and gabby has those same responsibilities and maybe more being in a position of privilege as he is, don’t tell Nzogbia though. Two sides to every story I know but when you are being given utterly butterly and being told its kerrigold it begins to grate, a bit of straight talking and honesty from all involved would help but thats not the American way.
As much as I disliked the fans abuse at Wycombe did it hasten our turnaround in the end? I suppose there is no way of Knowing for sure. Garde sure seemed to take it and use it as such.
Iv gotta say, I agree with comments lamenting our lack of protest as a fan base, if you look at other clubs especially the big ones they are organised in their protests. Man Utd with their large scale protests outside the stadium, the green/yellow scarves and ultimately the birth of a new football club FCUM who now play in front thousands , have a healthy away support and their own ground which is the envy of many clubs. Liverpool are always protesting, walks through the city to games and walkouts, sat an estimated 10k plus walked out in the 77th minute over the new £77 ticket price in the new stand. Charlton have had mass protests, Sheff Weds fans rioted when they got relegated the other season, on the continent it is far worse w its fans and ultras really making their feelings known. Besides the violence the best I saw was at Lazio, usually a hotbed of noise and colour, a packed stadium did a silent protest for the entire match, just sat there ( some would say we do that every week at VP). AVST are a joke, we simply have no fan leadership like other clubs, as I think fans would protest they just need a push. The Premier League is re branding for the new season with all the new cash, it’s also got 5 new major sponsors , it’s already in 30 million homes here, is now broadcast world wide and is the most watched league on the planet, cheers Randy for ensuring we are not part of the new revolution and taking us into obscurity.
To add salt into the wounds, Everton are being sold for £200m to Yanks( haha) expected to go thru next week or so. Randy that could have been you, but your lack of investment on the pitch ensured that you won’t recieve £150-200m but lose it, you absolute melt.
Mark: “Gabby has been in the middle of a lot of villa scandal so to say and has never made the best of his talents for the club, that I think riles people.”
Gabby has always come across to me as a fairly simple guy who perhaps needed direction , and maybe he’s sometimes been given the wrong direction – e.g. MON and the ‘beffing up’ advice. And as he’s a Villa man (Aston born) from birth then how the club has developed this past 5 years (did I say ‘developed’?) has possibly been a source of anguish to him as much as anyone. Maybe his reaction to circumstances (that we don’t like) has helped to give him the so-called reputation.
Do we know his mind and source of his attitude that has fuelled his so-called reputation? No, of course we don’t. We play guessing games – at his cost.
Also, I don’t hold that he had top-player potential. His main talent has always been his speed and willingness to chase, so I’m not sure what other aspect he could develop bearing in mind that by the time you hit the first team you are supposed to have acquired all the basic skill.
In fact – as Jenny stated – I’ve seen him score some very good goals and last Saturday’s was a reminder of that.
Despite his limitations and the ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ situation that seems to exist amongst some, I would still prefer him to be a starter in the team than many others. He is now (apart from Guzan) the only link with the MON days and I’m sure he’s motivated by that memory. His attitude last Saturday showed me at least that he’s up for a fight, and that (to me) was part of the muted celebration, knowing full well that the one goal he scored is only a small part of what’s needed to get out of this mire.
C’mon Gabby – show ’em mate!
JL- Taking a purely unemotional look I’d say yes Mon asked him to build his upper body strength. In the early years he got knocked off the ball a lot and that was Mons answer and a pretty good one. What Mon would not of wanted was gabby to go overboard and lose his edge which is his speed.
Houllier asked him to stop and believe me you can reduce muscle mass and fat, skeletal changes less so unless you want to wait 7 years in which time your entire body has renewed itself. If you don’t stress the body it stops responding. Certain changes happen over a lifetime regardless hence loss of height etc but mostly its people believe they can no longer do something and that stresser goes away.
I think Gabby got quite attached to his muscles and along with the muscles I have seen over the years a more Aggressive Gabby on the field, forever fronting players up etc. I think that Gabby thinks he’s the man off the field too and even you must admit he had a very colourful history regarding, babies , mothers etc. Its his life but it does give you a window into his character.
Maybe holding onto his muscles is a sign of insecurity? but I know that if I had his pace I’d have done whatever I could to keep it. If that meant stricter eating so be it, Remember this is a professional athlete we are talking about and not your average Joe. Of course he is Human but if a Fireman cannot reach certain standards he is no longer a fireman, gabby to my eye has let himself go.
If you want make a comparison look at Albrighton his attitude was and is exemplary, If you want look closer to home look at Nzogbia, enough said. Players do get better with age and experience that much I know, it takes time to learn the game fully, some never do granted. Gabby has got more crafty but less effective at his main role a goal scorer that is unusual for a forward.
I am quite happy to accept that more should be done by the fans in making a protest to the owner, but it has to be effective. It has to be constructive.
JL,
Avery good piece, and yes Gabby is only a very average lad from Aston, who came good, and managed the dream of playing for his local team, and he does not have a huge amount offer, over and above that. I have also understood that he would never play for anyone else, and when Arsenal came calling in his young days, he was not interested.
Mark,
And so it goes on … Judgment, judgment, judgment, and personal judgment too. And an essay about physiology to boot! My mention about ‘beefing-up’ was about advice given not whether it in itself was a good idea or whether he should have reversed the process. Maybe he was getting other advice for someone.
We talk as though we are free of vices which might become apparent if we were in the public eye, so I suggest we stop trying to find a scapegoat in (as PP has mentioned) someone who is basically loyal to Villa.
Well put again JL,
Consider, this could be our very own Frem, who had made it into the Villa first team, earning the same £45000 per week, which is not huge by Premiership standards, would we feel the same towards him, and question his loyalty as a player and a Villa fan. I certainly would not, as I have seen both his love and frustrations here on the blog, and the countless miles he has covered following this club.
All true JL but are you not judging me for judging him.
PP,
I guess all this is a symptom of wanting to lash out against all that’s gone wrong at VP and particularly the frustration after all the expectation generated in 2006.
The buck should stop with RL.
Mark,
No, just being objectively critical – not personal.
Jl same here mate
Absolutely JL,
The buck stops with the American Joker…..Randy Lerner…..and his failure to understand our beautiful game, and the skills that go with it…
Maybe it is all about moving from a man’s game, played by seasoned and mature masters of the craft, spattered with some young naturally talented players, to game played by skilful young athletes , who in the main are virtually over the hill by the time they mature.
Mark,
Well, no … there’s a difference.
In common with others you were harping about Gabby’s apparent failings, which has been the major topic of this thread to date I think, and to which I was responding.
Those comments to Gabby have been personal towards him. My remarks have been in response to the topic and the subject of it, not the writer’s foibles (if there are any).
There is a difference Mark, which I am sure you know full well. 😉
I do Jl I do 🙂
Gabby has a reputation for a reason, no smoke no fire. If anything Gabby should be looking at the comments from Gary Neville and fellow presenters that basically ridiculed him as a professional. If he was honest he would probably agree with their assessment at that point. I hope he scores 20 this season and earns that title or Mr Villa.
On a different subject heres our run in
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villas-relegation-run-in-10862882?
Mark,
I have no time at all for those pundits except in terms of their analysis of the play on the pitch, not their (probably inaccurate) comments about individuals.
The kind of managers we’ve had since 2011 and the policies they adopted have i.m.o. stunted the development of players like Gabby and Albrighton. Gabby was 23/24 in 2011 – still quite young – and it was just the time when it needed a good manager and the right conditions to bring the best out of him. But what was the policy since 2011? To prevent relegation. That’s not pro-active policy for forwards is it? – and why I suspect his time has gone by the board since then, especially with the lack of creative players behind him.
JL- trouble was they were analysing the match and gabby had a stinker to the point they were laughing.
I’d agree that he’s been handled wrong if gabby had stayed within a few pounds of his 23 year old self but the evidence is pretty clear and so is the loss of pace, he should be in his prime at this moment and especially in this day and age, That for me has been the most shocking part. Players fill out yes but now defenders catch up and overtake him, That to me seems odd considering he was the fastest at one time, that’s a lot to lose. The only player I have seen sweat as much as gabby was Petrov as well. its odd because he gave the weights up at 25 yet has expanded
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3913247/Gabby-Agbonlahor-on-how-he-stopped-pumping-iron.html
JL
Without being personal and just judging him on his on pitch effort and performances, I would say GA is a limited footballer and not a very good striker. His goals scored ratio is shocking, at times his effort and attitude leaves a lot to be desired. He has bilked up and not only in the gym , he is over weight for a pro footballer and his only asset of pace has gone.
He gets extra stick because he is one of the clubs top earners at £65k per week( 2 years wages for me) so when us ST holders and paying fans see him spunking his career up the wall and basically thieving wages, it rightly pisses us off, prob more than other players because he is supposed to be one of us.
Like Mark alluded to, he is our best known player in modern times , when compared too the likes of Shearer at Newcadtle, Henry at Arsenal etc it just shows how poor we really are as a football club.
A lot of derision at the new PL logo and how much it cost to re brand an already hyper successful well known product. It reminds me of how RL has ruined our club crest and identity, the current abortion eclipses the dodgy crests under Ellis . I long for the day we have a proper crest, kit ( under armour next season) and our club back.
The sooner the carpet bagging scum leave our club the better
B62/Mark,
The period we’re talking of concerning Gabby’s *apparent* fall in form has been since 2011. In 2010-11 he was in the England squad at one time.
So, are you saying it’s a coincidence that his situation has nothing to do with the negative policy in the club since 2011? I’d say it’s a lot to do with it – especially from an attacker’s point of view.
Yes, perhaps Gabby should have done one or two things on his own bat, but I’ve already inferred that Gabby is perhaps not the brightest to make decisions on his own in the past. I seriously feel that he been let down by the club in that respect. I don’t think the demise would have occurred if Houllier had been able to stay.
There has to be some link of that kind here since Albrighton has sparkled since he left. That fact is proof as far as I am concerned.
JL- I cannot see what policy any team can put in place that would stop strikers hitting a barn door or a cow’s arse with or without a banjo. Mon just did not fancy Albrighton which held him back and he was defensively poor, He unlike Gabby has got better with age that happens. I suspect having to give him a better contract under the Lambert era did for him as he was certainly playing well. I remember Gabby starting last year on fire, then came his renewed contract and he went to pot.
playing in a crap side surely cannot prevent you from practising shooting, heading etc? gabby was never proficient at one on ones given time to think, that has never changed IMO
All through the summer games Gabby missed chance after chance and carried that into the season, Lack of confidence? I don’t know, similar misses in preceding seasons tell me no
Mark,
As Jenny would doubtless attest, the issue of motivation is a complex one – each case is different, and assumptions made by looking from the outside should be treated with caution in my view. We’re not in a position to know his mind, and all I am trying to do is suggest a more rational reason – and the club’s policy since 2011 in my view is too much of a coincidence, particularly in the way that different managers have asked him to play in different roles.
I never did say that playing in a “cr*p side” had anything to do with it. I was talking about the policy of the club and the different approach of different managers. Gabby is the only one who has played through all that mess. Perhaps he should get a medal for putting up with it rather than be vilified?
Also, you state (for example): “gabby was never proficient at one on ones given time to think, that has never changed IMO” …. However, I remember clearly the opening match of the season when Gabby scored his only hat-trick, where at least one of those goals was as a result of coming in from distance – effectively a one-on-one. I also clearly remember a match against Fulham (on Clark’s debut in 2009) when he did the same.
Bent was never any good on one-on-ones, perhaps you’re remembering him? Not saying that Gabby has always done the job on every one of those occasions, but I’d say he’s got a good record there: in his overall playing history, that is.
Anyway, I think I detected a re-awakened Gabby on his return in the two games last week. Maybe it may prove to be the case that yet another manager has this time got through to him. We shall soon find out something more positive about that, if it is true.
Hello All.
Nice leader, which I read a few days ago. I agree that the win does matter because firstly, they proved they are capable of winning and secondlly, there is still a glimmer of hope of survival in the league.
It’s good to read all the comments from the usual. If there was ever a time Gabby was needed to win a few more matches for Villa, it is now. Hope he can be effective, not the part-timer he’s essentially been for a while.
The Premier League is becoming a bore. The best thing to happen in recent times has to be Leceister’s run at the top. It’s almost unbelievable, but proves that it can be done with the right ingredients.
Oh dear!
Mid week and no life. Just listened to a commentary by a Norwich paper, which had a very different viewpoint to many, and pointed out how Villa had improved, whilst Norwich were on the slippery slope, and leaking goals, although they do have new signings in Bamford, etc, it does not stop the leaks.
This is in contrast to Villa who have stopped the leaks, and are now able to score the odd goal to win a game. Remi has done what Lambert and Sherwood failed to do, and that is build a solid defence. Now he has to get the forwards motivated, and again, this will be a gradual process, rather than constant chopping and changing.
To survive we need 1.7 points per game for the remainder of the season, that will give us 38pts, to hit the magic 40 it’s 1.9 roughly. According to the papers yesterday, the club have written to staff explaining redundancies, and massive cut backs on the Acadamy, Community projects, staffing levels, and investment at all levels. This is the reason an accountant has been brought in, it’s to soften the blow of the drop, they were never going to spend anything in the Jan window, given how far off the pace we were and are truly prepping fo financial Armageddon .
Remi may not have given up but the club have, fans are realistic and most have accepted we are relegated, the lack of protest though is dumbfounding, perhaps they are waiting until it’s mathematically confirmed, then the recriminations will truly start.
Every time I look at the league table , when it’s flashed up on SSN, I feel anger and embarrassment , 16 pts in mid February tells the story of a shockingly bad football team and a poorly run club.
Sums it up in a nutshell B62.
Remi has also stated that he will stay and rebuild, only if he gets the tools he needs.
The fans should back him, and no-one should renew their season tickets until the board have given Remi what he needs to succeed.
It has been stated that Lerner has lost £300million through incompetence so far…..quite a dent in his fortune…and certainly no longer recoverable….a fool and his money…
Sudden protests like the £77 ticket are easy to get a sudden groundswell of action and support for action. I think the problem is Villa has been dying a slow death and we’ve all come to adjust to it.
Hindsight is great but wouldn’t it have been great while on the rollercoaster ride of the MON years that someone stood up to Lerner and pointed out the lack of control over spending. Or pointed out to Ellis that this was a man using a family trust fund that was only generating value from investments and he had no ‘company’ generating income in the way the Sheiks were generating money from oil.
But the moment the plug was pulled and we had the general as the mouthpiece as opposed to Lerner himself, this was the true beginning of the end and we’ve all adjusted to surviving in the premier league and being relieved at surviving, now it’s too late and I expect people think it’s too late to protest.
I had hoped the last opportunity to prove we wanted to be in the Premier League, i.e. the transfer window would have done one of two positive things, proved the owner want to back us on surviving or prove to fans that the board and owner had no consideration for the club and light the flame of protest. It appears we are too accepting of this status quo and as a result while other fans would protest, we stand idly by.
Our other big problem is the AVST, they need to be shot with their own shit for allowing Fux and Hopelis to rock up with no difficult questions prepared or a hostile atmosphere for them to endure and in addition and worse still not being the main body to coordinate protests and for all the fan forums/blogs etc to get behind and champion.
Seems to me the efforts are to cosy up to the leadership for a chance invite to the top table and look down at all the ordinary customers.
The Lions clubs have no power or they risk losing their status but if in this Sky era, Villa only gets 20k thru the door come the championship, what good is access to tickets or a restaurant that will probably become freely available.
My heart goes out to the ordinary staff suffering redundancy or pay cuts/freezes from years of mis-management and the season ticket holders who’ve wasted their money on supporting a false narrative regime while trying to be fans and not customers.
FOLAFAH
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