Rovers13 Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 Don't forget he's never taken a penalty for us. I know they all count and scoring a penalty isn't easy a lot of the time but that can be good to boost artificially a strikers goalscoring tally, Darren Bent did this in TSM's season and Carew did this in 09/10. All gabby's goals come in open play. This x1000. He's played as a wide forward and has never taken pks. So he has a very respectable goals to games rate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Con Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 I had to bump this from page two to say he's still the best counter-attacking player in the Premier League? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Likes scoring away doesn't he? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heid3ster Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Really well-taken goal for him today - long time coming for his first of the season, but it was a peach. Get in, Gabby! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Folski Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 H E R O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 He's only scored because it's christmas, my tree is up and he is sat on top of it! I don't know why, but whenever I put my christmas tree up, he scores.. I may have to keep it up all year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avfc96 Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Great goal tonight, hopefully the first of many, because we have been short of goals upfront this season. Now for Weimann and Benteke to score and all will be perfect again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 When you see him finish like that you wonder how on earth he can go half seasons without scoring. I'd keep him through the middle for sunday. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted December 4, 2013 Share Posted December 4, 2013 Play him through the middle.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Bear Posted December 4, 2013 Author Share Posted December 4, 2013 Don't forget he's never taken a penalty for us. Incorrect http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8323069.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 In the league or during 90 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Con Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 The reason playing him through the middle worked tonight was because Southampton play the highest defensive line in the Premier League. It's begging for the best counter-attacker in the Premier League to be played through the middle. Lambert did that and Gabby got his goal - on the counter-attack. We won't play Southampton every week, and we know from last season that away from home Gabby can score from wide positions, so no reason to change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovers13 Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 Also, I think gabby is an illustration of how stupid it is that penalties count in the same category as open play or free kick goals. Just wanted to throw that out there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8pints Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 Tonight's game showed he's very quick. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 The reason playing him through the middle worked tonight was because Southampton play the highest defensive line in the Premier League. It's begging for the best counter-attacker in the Premier League to be played through the middle. Lambert did that and Gabby got his goal - on the counter-attack. We won't play Southampton every week, and we know from last season that away from home Gabby can score from wide positions, so no reason to change. He has scored a few goals with his back to goal too y'know. I think his best one was when he embarrassed Danny Shittu again Sheffield United about 5 years ago, turned him and slammed it in off the post. He doesn't always run in a straight line and apply a finish, he's got more to his locker & I think you're giving him a little bit of discredit by labelling him as an only counter attacking threat. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's how you're portraying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Con Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 (edited) The reason playing him through the middle worked tonight was because Southampton play the highest defensive line in the Premier League. It's begging for the best counter-attacker in the Premier League to be played through the middle. Lambert did that and Gabby got his goal - on the counter-attack. We won't play Southampton every week, and we know from last season that away from home Gabby can score from wide positions, so no reason to change. He has scored a few goals with his back to goal too y'know. I think his best one was when he embarrassed Danny Shittu again Sheffield United about 5 years ago, turned him and slammed it in off the post. He doesn't always run in a straight line and apply a finish, he's got more to his locker & I think you're giving him a little bit of discredit by labelling him as an only counter attacking threat. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's how you're portraying it. He's not only a counter-attacking thread, his game is best on the counter-attack. He's World Class on the counter-attack but as pure finisher he is Championship. What are his abilities? Gabby has speed, strength to hold up the ball, he has a decent cross and playmaking sense which can bring in other players - which is important for an effective counter-attack. He also has leadership qualities and can inspire the team - although this is not required in all games. What does he offer at home? Much less. His ball skills are not technical enough to unlock defences (not like Aguero, Van Persie). He doesn't take set pieces. Can head the ball but is not the greatest aerial threat. His playmaking sense is good enough on the counter-attack where there is a lot of space but when we're dominating a packed penalty area he passes to the opposition. We can play Gabby at home in games against the best teams where we're going to be counter-attacking, but against the worst teams in the division when we dominate the game playing Benteke (for example) with Kozak would be a lot more effective for us. Doing this will also have the advantage of resting Gabby more often, which will be important as he gets older. Possibly also should have happened when he was younger, playing too often might be the reason why his form is typically better in the first half of the season. Edited December 5, 2013 by Con Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa-revolution Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 I had to bump this from page two to say he's still the best counter-attacking player in the Premier League? Spot on Con. Gabby has been carrying an ankle knock too since the Spuds match. Great to see Gabby open his scoring account. Go Gabster go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshVilla Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 The team is definitely a lot more exciting with Gabby in. I always feel that we'll be able to create something when he plays, and his movement is key to how effective our counter attacks can be. Glad he got his goal yesterday, so here's hoping he can go on a bit of a run now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 For me Gabby is an automatic pick whenever and wherever for away games. Essential for our plan. But as I said a few weeks back we need to look at whether he should always be a starter every single time at villa park. Saturday was the first home game this season imo he's properly influenced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted December 12, 2013 Moderator Share Posted December 12, 2013 Is Sunday his 300th game for us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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