Gabby Agbonlahor long career at the club will come to an end this summer when his contract expires.
Steve Bruce has opted against giving the 31-year-old a new deal with the forward not being part of the club’s first team plans for most of the season. He recently took to Instagram to indicate his last game is fast approaching.
Despite Gabby’s long service to the club, some incidents over the past 5-6 years have soured the relations between the fans and the player himself. On Twitter, reaction to his impending departure has been understandably mixed:
We should get out the tikka tape flags and bunting to celebrate #seeya
— Chris fogarty (@cfogarty77) April 26, 2018
Remember the good times, I will! Deserves one last send off IMO #UTV
— Sean Jackson (@wacko8) April 26, 2018
It’s all about the future. Yes gabby given us some good times. But the last 6 years he has just stop caring for the villa. So for me I wouldn’t like see him on the bench
— David O Mahony (@Davidomahony18) April 25, 2018
Will never forgive him for the relegation season. Not on the bench or in the ground for me.
— shay (@ShayRugeley) April 25, 2018
It is. It’s one that should have happened 4 yrs ago.
— PRG-AVFC (@PaulRG14) April 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/pl6pilgrim/status/989204573414969346
https://twitter.com/AvfcUTV1/status/989199774829219840
He may not be the best player we've ever had he is a legend for his goals against Blues and can't fault his effort.
— Bora Horza Gobuchul (@therealjonshaw) April 25, 2018
If he deserves a community award then he at least deserves a final run out and round of applause for what he's done for the fans over the years.
— Scott (@AVFC_Scott) April 25, 2018
Verdict:
Agbonlahor has only made six appearances this season, with his last coming just before Christmas as a substitute against Sheffield United in a 2-2 draw. There is no guarantee he will be given a place on the bench for the last home game against Derby tomorrow to get a cameo appearance.
It may not even be our last home game of the season anyway if we are in the playoffs, although it’s unlikely he would feature in the squad for such a crucial game. Saying that, tomorrow’s match could be a pretty important as well so it will be interesting to see what Bruce decides to do.
