Popular Post markavfc40 Posted September 11, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted September 11, 2014 (edited) Genuine question, for you, Mark and CV... If Gabby has signed a new four year contract on the same wages as before (rumoured to be between 50-60k a week), do you all still believe this is a good thing for the club given our current financial constraints? (Obviously there's the chance he's taken a pay cut, but that's unlikely imo) Looking at the alternative then yes I think so. He has signed a 4 year contract, effectively a 3 year extension, over those 3 years at 50k a week that is 7.5 million in wages providing he stays for the length of his contract. For that you are getting a player who is in what is usually considered the peak years of a footballer, a player who has vast experience in the Premier League, a player who has proven he can scare the life out of the best defenders in the league, a player who even when not in the best of form will put a shift in and by his very presence allows others more space and a player who has banged in almost 80 goals for us having played way over half his games out wide. A player who is also a big influence in the dressing room and has captained the club. To buy a player of Gabbys age, top flight experience and proven pedigree is going to cost you a hell of a lot more than the approx 7.5 mill this contract extension will likely have cost us Edited September 11, 2014 by markavfc40 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CVByrne Posted September 11, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted September 11, 2014 Real Madrid thought Makelele was useless as he never mad incisive passes. Most of them were sideways and backwards. Etc... His teammates all were unanimous that he was the best player in the team. Because of what he did for the team. Gabby needs a good idea team around him so his assets like pace and work rate can benefit others. We stayed in the Premier League due to our counter attacking pace. He was key to that. Read that again. We are only in this league because of Gabby, Weimann and Benteke and the damage we did on the break with pace. Those goals got us the points against the top opposition that kept us here. I'm glad Lambert and Keane see how important Gabby is. I'm sure his teammates do too. Benteke has less ground between him and the opposition goal because Gabby has them sitting deeper. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 From a financial point of view I agree with the points you made Trent From an ability point of view I do not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folski Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 When's the last time Gabby scored a header? He used to be decent at them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyblade Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 When's the last time Gabby scored a header? He used to be decent at them. QPR at home a couple of seasons ago iirc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisVillan Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 He probably still has the ability on the header front, but crossing isn't really our thing anymore. Up until Hutton and Cissokho came in, you could probably expect every other cross to have Agbonlahor on the wrong end of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turnbull Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I'll admit that at times I've been less than impressed with some of Gabby's efforts over the last few years, but he's somehow part of the fixtures and fittings at the club. And he's ours, a proper Brummie. He's like a pipe and an old pair of (turbocharged) slippers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 He's simply not worth what he's paid, could be replaced by better quality for not a lot of money. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bannedfromHandV Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I get the feeling that we probably could replace his ability but could we replace hs stature within the club? Perhaps not Despite my frustrations with him in the past I still couldn't bear the thought of him playing for anyone else is, and so it would seem neither can he, I'm happy with that 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 (edited) You will always get a divided camp on gabby. I am always dubious when fans defend a player by citing sort of intangibles......I remember discussing vassell with a fan on one occasion and he cited that vassell ran the channels tirelessly.....I said I'm sorry, I'm looking for a bit more than that at this level. Gabby,s ok, but c5 goals a season would'nt get me falling over my bootlaces to improve his contract. As for his influence in the dressing room......I don't buy that one. Roy Keane yes.....John Terry yes......Dennis Mortimer yes....Andy Gray yes Gabby is not in that sort of company in terms of dressing room influence....sorry. Edited September 11, 2014 by TRO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bannedfromHandV Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 How can you possibly know what his presence is like in the dressing room? Some people are leaders in a different way, you don't have to lead by example these days to be popular and therefore influential Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markavfc40 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 (edited) Gabby,s ok, but c5 goals a season would'nt get me falling over my bootlaces to improve his contract. Its a little better than that in all fairness. 79 goals in 289 starts is better than 1 goal in every 4 games. More than decent for a player who has played way over half his games for us out wide. I think too many fans fall into the trap of judging Gabby as a centre forward and solely on his goalscoring record. If you do that then yes there is an argument that he has not delivered. It is not a fair criticism though given that he more often than not been played out wide and in doing so created space for others, created goals, and worked his bollocks off in helping out defensively and putting a shift in for the good of the team. Gabby is no world beater even his biggest fans would acknowledge that. He is comfortably good enough for where we are at the moment though and beyond that I think could again hold his own in a side competing for a top 6/7/8th place finish. He proved he could when he more than held his own in a side that was doing so not so long ago. Edited September 11, 2014 by markavfc40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 How can you possibly know what his presence is like in the dressing room? Some people are leaders in a different way, you don't have to lead by example these days to be popular and therefore influential Equally how can others....just my opinion, as it is their opinion that he is influential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7392craig Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 When's the last time Gabby scored a header? He used to be decent at them. We used to cross the ball, and had good crossers of the ball at that too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 (edited) Gabby,s ok, but c5 goals a season would'nt get me falling over my bootlaces to improve his contract. Its a little better than that in all fairness. 79 goals in 289 starts is better than 1 goal in every 4 games. More than decent for a player who has played way over half his games for us out wide. I think too many fans fall into the trap of judging Gabby as a centre forward and solely on his goalscoring record. If you do that then yes there is an argument that he has not delivered. It is not a fair criticism though given that he more often than not has been played out wide and in doing so created space for others, created goals, and worked his bollocks off in helping out defensively and putting a shift in for the good of the team. Gabby is no world beater even his biggest fans would acknowledge that. He is comfortably good enough for where we are at the moment though and beyond that I think could again hold his own in a side competing for a top 6/7/8th place finish. He proved he could when he more than held his own in a side that was doing so not so long ago. Mark, I just about agree on nearly everything you write, because your arguments are rounded and balanced and this one is no exception. I have no enjoyment in making a case against gabby....I am just not as convinced as you are in his overall game. He has scored a good haul of goals for the club, but sheer numbers is only part of the story.....match winning goals are rarely recorded like shearer and dalglish mustered, or even our own Andy Gray.....they get one when you need one....Dwight was a bit like that too...match winners. Gabby has scored as many goals as previous players of the club who I don't think he was as good as. He works hard in games and equally I have seen him not work so hard....albeit, could be said about many players I guess. I do see what the pro camp see....just like him, not mad about him, I guess he is just not my cup of tea like Gray, little, Shaw, platt was. Edited September 11, 2014 by TRO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7392craig Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 How can you possibly know what his presence is like in the dressing room? Some people are leaders in a different way, you don't have to lead by example these days to be popular and therefore influential I always thought the same, he just didn't seem the type, but I've heard a few players say now that he's quite the big character in the dressing room, and I remember Lambert saying it last season too. Apparently he's a bit of a practical joker, and always good for keeping the lads spirits up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 There is a distinction between being influential in dressing room and being a character....there is a subtle difference IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlwaysAVFC Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Genuine question, for you, Mark and CV... If Gabby has signed a new four year contract on the same wages as before (rumoured to be between 50-60k a week), do you all still believe this is a good thing for the club given our current financial constraints? (Obviously there's the chance he's taken a pay cut, but that's unlikely imo) Looking at the alternative then yes I think so. He has signed a 4 year contract, effectively a 3 year extension, over those 3 years at 50k a week that is 7.5 million in wages providing he stays for the length of his contract.For that you are getting a player who is in what is usually considered the peak years of a footballer, a player who has vast experience in the Premier League, a player who has proven he can scare the life out of the best defenders in the league, a player who even when not in the best of form will put a shift in and by his very presence allows others more space and a player who has banged in almost 80 goals for us having played way over half his games out wide. A player who is also a big influence in the dressing room and has captained the club.To buy a player of Gabbys age, top flight experience and proven pedigree is going to cost you a hell of a lot more than the approx 7.5 mill this contract extension will likely have cost us I'm surprised how many don't have this opinion. In my best Mark Lawrenson impression, its a no brainer! (and I'm not referring to Gabby being a bit dim) Sure he's frustrating and even more so in the last 12months but try and buy someone better for £7.5 (if that figure is right) Its obviously possible as you only have to look at Benteke but you would definitely struggle and you've still got to pay their wages on top of that. It's still value if we progress and he's only making the bench. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 He does divide opinion on here but he is probably Mr.Aston Villa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7392craig Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 There is a distinction between being influential in dressing room and being a character....there is a subtle difference IMO. Well, the players seem to want him there and praise him so that's enough for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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