Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Wednesday September 9 2009
Time: 4:49PM
UK time is: 19:44:23
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Gabby Did Hit The Gym, Not The KFC!
As many of us suspected given Gabby's new 'more rotund' shape this season, he did spend the summer in the gym because he wants to add more to his game than pace.
Very good article on the official site over Gabby's desire to bulk up so he wasn't just reliant on his pace for this coming campaign if the truth be told.
Yes it's nothing most of us hadn't realised once we saw him return, it was obvious he'd bulked up and been working out but now we have it confirmed and it was for a very good reason to!
Fair play Gabby, alot of players will leave for the summer break, do the bare minimum training wise but very few you would presume make a concerted effort to improve themselves like Mr Agbonlahor has done.
The whole idea is, Gabby is fed up of being bullied by the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. He's got bored ending up on his backside when he has a physical challenge on the pitch, so he's decided to give some back.
'I did a lot of work during the holidays. I was doing a fair bit of weight training to improve my physique.
'I just don't want to get bullied up front and I don't want to get easily pushed off the ball by these experienced defenders.'
He says seeing the likes of Carew of Heskey being physically able to keep control of a ball in a tussle was something he desperately wanted to do - especially as many would admit Gabby has looked at his best in a 451, but the training was planned to give him the best of both worlds.
Bulk up, without actually losing his pace.
'It's obviously important I don't lose my speed in the process - it's a balancing act but I think I've got it spot on, so I'm happy.
'The gaffer wants me to stop now because he doesn't want me to lose that speed up front.'
So welcome to Gabby Mk2 - pace and strength. It certainly worked against Liverpool, less so against Fulham but we still won, let's hope we have more Liverpool's as the months progress.
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Your Comments
Hope he hasn't lost a few yards of pace as personally I dont think he's got the touch, creativity or aerial ability to make it without his blistering pace. Maybe he should have concentrated on his finishing and composure this summer rather than eating whole chickens.
son_of_cher
Hope he hasn't lost a few yards of pace as personally I dont think he's got the touch, creativity or aerial ability to make it without his blistering pace. Maybe he should have concentrated on his finishing and composure this summer rather than eating whole chickens.
son_of_cher
Glad to see him working hard in the off-season & not simply fannying about in his white lambo. I think Gabby get's a lot of undeserved stick and has played well up front on his own, which is a pretty thankless task and always a challenge for such a young player. Good to see a young player working hard to improve which can only be good for Villa
RoyalVilla
Glad to see him working hard in the off-season & not simply fannying about in his white lambo. I think Gabby get's a lot of undeserved stick and has played well up front on his own, which is a pretty thankless task and always a challenge for such a young player. Good to see a young player working hard to improve which can only be good for Villa
RoyalVilla
Yep. agree with RV^. Good choice Gabby.
footy_fans
Yep. agree with RV^. Good choice Gabby.
footy_fans
I agree RoyalVilla, he gets too much undeserved stick. He already has more than just 'pace' ......... he also has stamina and a brilliant work ethic, and runs his ass off for 90 mins every game creating openings and opportunities for our attack minded and pacey wingers/midfielders. (although towards the end of last season he started to look tired .....mind you so would i if i had to put in the kind of shift he did for the number of games he played last season).
AV-Damo
I agree RoyalVilla, he gets too much undeserved stick. He already has more than just 'pace' ......... he also has stamina and a brilliant work ethic, and runs his ass off for 90 mins every game creating openings and opportunities for our attack minded and pacey wingers/midfielders. (although towards the end of last season he started to look tired .....mind you so would i if i had to put in the kind of shift he did for the number of games he played last season).
AV-Damo
certainly developing from the skinny slip of a lad who first came into the reserves and then first team. Must have been some regime this summer to pack on the muscle!
The Fear
certainly developing from the skinny slip of a lad who first came into the reserves and then first team. Must have been some regime this summer to pack on the muscle!
The Fear
I believe because Gabby is bigger and stronger now and more confident against strong defenders i believe he will have more of a fearless act about him, Against Fulham he put enough pressure on the defender for it to be an own goal, and the second goal it was a fantastic strike which we don't normally see from him, I reckon this more confident striker will also rub off on his goal scoring record too. Also when it comes down to pace being bigger can actually make you faster look at all the sprinters and how they are built, how they use every muscle in their body from their arms to their legs i don't think this more toned up Agbonlahor will effect his pace, perhaps hes stamina.
Villa 4 Ever
I believe because Gabby is bigger and stronger now and more confident against strong defenders i believe he will have more of a fearless act about him, Against Fulham he put enough pressure on the defender for it to be an own goal, and the second goal it was a fantastic strike which we don't normally see from him, I reckon this more confident striker will also rub off on his goal scoring record too. Also when it comes down to pace being bigger can actually make you faster look at all the sprinters and how they are built, how they use every muscle in their body from their arms to their legs i don't think this more toned up Agbonlahor will effect his pace, perhaps hes stamina.
Villa 4 Ever
Gabby's hit double figures the past 3 seasons, & each season he has scored more in the league. I think Gabby is OK in the air & he has a knack of forcing own goals from the opposition. He's just a confidence player. The left foot strike against Fulham proved that. At the back of last season when he was struggling, there was times when he daren't even shoot with his left, nevermind from outside the box.
StuLinney
Gabby's hit double figures the past 3 seasons, & each season he has scored more in the league. I think Gabby is OK in the air & he has a knack of forcing own goals from the opposition. He's just a confidence player. The left foot strike against Fulham proved that. At the back of last season when he was struggling, there was times when he daren't even shoot with his left, nevermind from outside the box.
StuLinney
son of cher said it.
he isnt the hold up player, so he shouldnt worry about his size, he needs to keep his pace and should have spent the summer working on finishing, positioning and his touch.
if he loses even half a yard of pace he doesnt really have much else in his locker, no point holding the ball up for heskey, he's normally stood next to cuellar.
RosettaStoned
son of cher said it.
he isnt the hold up player, so he shouldnt worry about his size, he needs to keep his pace and should have spent the summer working on finishing, positioning and his touch.
if he loses even half a yard of pace he doesnt really have much else in his locker, no point holding the ball up for heskey, he's normally stood next to cuellar.
RosettaStoned
Gabby is an instinct player. When he has to think to long about what to do next he struggles. Very evident in Fulham game again. Run few yards and shoot or up byline and cross. No problem. Hold up ball and bring players in, not so good.
Kiwivillan
Gabby is an instinct player. When he has to think to long about what to do next he struggles. Very evident in Fulham game again. Run few yards and shoot or up byline and cross. No problem. Hold up ball and bring players in, not so good.
Kiwivillan
Good to see from Gabby. There was a lot of comments two or three years back comparing his work ethic to Luke Moore (very much positive towards Gabby) and it's good to see that hasn't stopped. I don't think bulking up will cause him to lose his pace, if anything it might help! Olympic sprinters aren't exactly skinny are they?! Having power in your upper body has the potential to make you faster if the balance is right.
Villa4Europe
Good to see from Gabby. There was a lot of comments two or three years back comparing his work ethic to Luke Moore (very much positive towards Gabby) and it's good to see that hasn't stopped. I don't think bulking up will cause him to lose his pace, if anything it might help! Olympic sprinters aren't exactly skinny are they?! Having power in your upper body has the potential to make you faster if the balance is right.
Villa4Europe
I think Gabby doesn't know his role in a 4-4-2 formation. He looks a little lost when put next to a heskey or carew... He doesn't seem to link up well with either of them. And as soon as we toss on a big guy up front we seem to change our tactics to boot the ball up field which really doesn't suit him. In 4-5-1 there is a lot more scope of Gabby to drift out wide and chase down long balls, allowing the midfield to come through the middle or open up space for Milner and Ash... Pity he isn't ruthless enough on goal and can disappear sometimes in a game (particularly when we just hoof the ball up field), otherwise he would be top class..
Astriel
I think Gabby doesn't know his role in a 4-4-2 formation. He looks a little lost when put next to a heskey or carew... He doesn't seem to link up well with either of them. And as soon as we toss on a big guy up front we seem to change our tactics to boot the ball up field which really doesn't suit him. In 4-5-1 there is a lot more scope of Gabby to drift out wide and chase down long balls, allowing the midfield to come through the middle or open up space for Milner and Ash... Pity he isn't ruthless enough on goal and can disappear sometimes in a game (particularly when we just hoof the ball up field), otherwise he would be top class..
Astriel
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