Gabby Agbonlahor is actively damaging Aston Villa

Let's all just take a moment to forget the Lambert Out movement, and focus our collective energies on a new movement, Gabby Out. Captain in Ron Vlaar's absence, Gabby Agbonlahor has hurt Aston Villa this season with his play. Just five years ago, it looked as if he could be playing in the England setup. However, he somehow regressed during what should have been the prime of his career. Now, week-in and week-out he has been detrimental to both the style which Villa want to play in, as well as the end product. Football is a results business after all, and frankly he hasn't been producing.

Even last year, when Villa wanted to play a style reliant on the counterattack, Agbonlahor was a useful piece. Christian Benteke's flick-ons could find him in space and he could run past the defence with his blazing speed. His inability to pass the ball on or to hit the broad side of a barn trouble the keeper with a shot could be overlooked, mostly because there weren't any other options to play at that position. Let's take a look at his strengths and weaknesses, courtesy of Whoscored.com:

Ouch. To be fair, I would list his pace as a strength. Still though, is that enough to justify his place in the team?

Last Saturday against Liverpool, he was nowhere to be found for most of the match. Here's his match in one graphic, via FourFourTwo's Stats Zone:

In 90 minutes of action, Agbonlahor had 22 touches. Andi Weimann had 11 in 32 minutes after being subbed on. This lack of influence is disturbing because. First, it shows that he probably isn't even the best option that Villa have at that position. Additionally, it makes you wonder if the formation Lambert is using gives the team the best chance to win, or even draw.

Now that Carles Gil is here, and maybe another player is being brought in, there should be other options available.

Who would you play instead of Gabby Agbonlahor? Let us know in the comments! (I left Jack Grealish out on purpose, as Paul Lambert clearly has no desire to play him.)