Gary Gardner - including loan to Coventry

[Thatcher at Downing St]

That month at Coventry worked out fine then.

Yep. Coventry certainly made him the player he is today.

And it's great that we didn't waste our time and his playing him in those games that we were going to get bollocked in. Like the draw with Swansea and the 1-0 loss to Man Utd. Would have been completely pointless him playing in those matches as he'd yet to become the next Gerrard/Little/Lampard and would have been utterly outclassed.

[LeeB]

That month at Coventry worked out fine then.

Yep. Coventry certainly made him the player he is today.

And it's great that we didn't waste our time and his playing him in those games that we were going to get bollocked in. Like the draw with Swansea and the 1-0 loss to Man Utd. Would have been completely pointless him playing in those matches as he'd yet to become the next Gerrard/Little/Lampard and would have been utterly outclassed.

Yeah, if i was running the team, I'd insist every young player made their debuts at home against the champions in a fixture we haven't won since they were sleeping in a cot.

[Thatcher at Downing St]

You may have a point. But he's not exactly a delicate little lamb is he? He's not seem overawed against any opposition he's encountered thus far.

But Dave Woodhall's comment seemed to me to be very much an "up yours" to all those that saw the loan to Covrntry when we were struggling for decent players as a bad move. I maintain that he was ready. He banged in his first goal for them in mess than ten mins so it wasn't like he needed to get up to speed.

I think we missed a trick. To suggest that dropped points we're inevitable or, perhaps insinuate that the very brief loan spell made any kind of tangible difference to his game or his mentality is evidence that it was a smart move is little more than an unprovable "I told you so".

[Clampy]

I don't think that loan at Coventry would have done him any harm at all. He'll have experienced life playing for a lower league club and hopefully it will encourage him to give his all for us and not watch his career drift down the leagues like past promising Villa youngsters.

[Jim Shoes]

GG is a tremendous prospect but it worries me that he has only 2 years left (if that's correct) on his contract.

I believe that once he gets a run in the team he will shine and worry that we might soon find ourselves once again watching former Villa stars playing else where ala  Milner, Young, Downing even to some extent Barry if Faulkner doesn't tie him up on a long contract.

[Dante Lavelli]

For all we know, they're negotiating a deal right now.  Let's hope so.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Contract needs to be done soon. He is going to be a class act .....

[SoccerHQ]

Found it tough against De Jong (who I thought was magnificent, so strong) and to a lesser extent Barry but some good touches and passes.

Lad has potential, can we start him in a winnable home game please (if there's any left).

[ozzjim]

He needs to start every game to the end of the season now for me. With Clark out for a few weeks, Petrov, Herd and Gardner.

[SoccerHQ]

Ireland for Herd.

[ozzjim]

Need a foot in Soccer, Ireland would be up with Bent and Gabby for me.

[villan from luton]

He has to continue in the team. Ireland has to be in the fooking team, you dopey jock. He messed up for the first goal last week, I agree, but has been doing well. How is Heskey a better option?

[barrysleftfoot]

  Petrov was a complete liability today.GG wa poor but he did have Petrov alongside him.

[Aston Manor]

I didn't think Petrov was that bad. He just got swamped against a 5 man Man City midfield with Heskey on one side (who wasn't that bad), a poor Albrighton, and a green youngster. he was doing a lot or work for little reward. We weren't set up very well and Petrov was exposed. McLeish should be apologising to him more than we should be calling him a liability.

[Mister E]

  Petrov was a complete liability today.GG wa poor but he did have Petrov alongside him.