The Defence of Gabby and comparsions to Defoe, the Spurs charlatan
After yesterday’s game a debate has took place on Villa forums regarding the effectiveness of Gabby and how he compares to Defoe.
Before I look at the two directly let me put my defence of Gabby first.
I personally think Gabby is a misunderstand and under rated player by the Villa fans. Where I sit in the Lower Holte he is the player that gets the most stick. Is that because he is a local boy and Brummies diss their own, I do not know but I really believe we have a top PL forward on our books, one who has been brought up from the ranks and a Brummie to boot.
Since he has baulked up he has become stronger on the ball, able to brush defenders aside like we saw yesterday and is much better on the ball than many people give him credit for. Whilst I acknowledge sometimes when he has time he seems to dither he has scored many goals that can only be called instinctive and any forward would be proud of.
We then have comparisons to Defoe. Defoe is a player I would liken to a flat track bully, his stats against the higher teams are very poor but against the weaker teams is excellent, almost Gabby in reverse who let me remind you has scored against all the local derby teams and against all the ‘sky 4′ teams home and away.
Some people say Defoe is the better finisher but lets look at the stats for both and this is blatantly not right and in fact the only reason Defoe gets more is that he plays for a much more creative team who thrash the lower teams, unlike us.
From the PL stats
OVERALL
Defoe
Total goals – 94
0.15 shot/goals ratio
Gabby
43 Goals
0.19 shots/goal ratio
THIS SEASON
Defoe
15 goals
0.2 shots/goal ratio
Gabby
10 goals
0.21 shots/goals ratio
Would I swap Gabby for Defoe, never.
Would Capello play Gabby ahead of Defoe, never.
February 7, 2010 at 13:41
Alan-Capello already has played Gabby ahead of dafoe
February 7, 2010 at 14:24
Couldn’t really see it, I think Gabby was a bit poor yesterday leaning into defenders and lucky to get freekicks he did. Defoe probably should have scored yesterday. Spurs as a whole haven’t played well against top 4 teams. Defoe is proven and Gabby isn’t and unless memory serves me incorrectly most villa fans were saying drop him earlier this season. Defoe does have a limited game but what he does, well. We could end up with the debate of chances and chances taken but he does score and get into positions to score.
February 7, 2010 at 16:25
If Martin had signed Defoe we wouldnt be thinking of top 4 WE would be top 4 ! Dont even compare the 2. If you disagree fine but your wrong, This game is about goals & Gabby v Defoe is a NO contest !!
February 7, 2010 at 18:09
wazzman, are you serious, both players scored in 9 games and I am right in thinking Defoe has a abysmal record against the top teams.
flat track bully with nothing else to his game, funny enough Gabby may play well with him but Defoe never is an answer
fact is that Crouch, Rooney and even Heskey are in front of him for England
February 7, 2010 at 18:43
would as those preferring Defoe did you see the stats or just decide they don;t suit your argument.
February 7, 2010 at 19:06
Jenas looks a good player statistically but he is still crap in the real world. Defoe doesn’t score enough but he is always a danger, spurs as a whole have been dire against the sky 4 so again I don’t think that is a scientific arguement.
February 8, 2010 at 18:14
D, kinda proves my point because Gabby scores in the big games but not against teh ‘easier’ teams
February 9, 2010 at 22:14
Interesting stats Ian, i like. Although it would be useful to see the goals to games stats as well, and perhaps goals to minutes on the pitch. if these back up the trend in the goals to shots stats you provide it looks good.
I think the fact that Gabby scores against the sky 4 home and away is useful information and helps support your arguement. It was always a criticism of Angel, that he hardly ever scored against the big teams.
I think Gabby does get a raw deal, he is an exciting striker and while he is not as clinical as we would like, he continues to improve, which is a great asset. He works hard at his game and we can be safe in the knowledge that he will continue to get better. I like him.
February 9, 2010 at 22:10
Jon, this season in the PL both have scored in 9 games
Defoe just gets what I call easy goalsagainst weaker teams when Spurs are already comfortable
Gabby gets goals to win games at OT and the Sty
February 9, 2010 at 22:16