Summer Transfer Thread: Speculation, Lies, Absolute Cr*p and Bosman Rumours

[Mazrim]

Gardner is the one for me. He needs to play. Got a feeling he will score a few goals from the middle of the park.

Correct. I still consider him as the most promising Villa youngster I can remember. I know it doesnt always work out that way but still, I'll be amazed if he doesnt become a superb player for us.

[Percy McCarthy]

I realise it's a different level, but I'd have to nominate Bannan as the best player I've seen in Villa reserves. Every time I've watched them he's been man of the match. Sometimes it looks like we've signed Iniesta (or Sid's come out of retirement) just to secure yet another reserve league title.

In the 4-0 win over Newcastle last season he was on another planet to everybody else on the park, including Gardner.

[pedro25]

Delph/Makoun/Bannan/Gardner/Ireland I believe should all be given a chance before we potentially waste more money on other midfielders.  If Makoun leaves then fair enough replace him, but otherwise together with El Ahmadi and Herd we have 7 genuine options for a maximum of 3 central midfield berths, which should be plenty.  I'd be surprised if PL didn't get at least a couple of them playing strongly and then come Jan we could shake things up if necessary and replace for example a non performing Bannan or Delph etc.

[tomd2103]

Gardner is the one for me. He needs to play. Got a feeling he will score a few goals from the middle of the park.

Agree N'Maz.  He is the one who seems to have the physical as well as the technical aspects to become a top flight midfielder.  Lambert was a midfielder himself, so hopefully he can bring out the best in the younger players in that position.

[Concrete John]

I started a thread a while ago now (think it was early in the Gezza reign) about who'd be the best player from the emerging youth we were seeing at the time, which was Bannan, Clark, Albrighton and Delfouneso.

From memory Clark won the vote, but Bannan was my choice.  He seems to have stagnated since, but I'm still very hopeful for him!

[eastie]

Gardner is the one for me. He needs to play. Got a feeling he will score a few goals from the middle of the park.

Correct. I still consider him as the most promising Villa youngster I can remember. I know it doesnt always work out that way but still, I'll be amazed if he doesnt become a superb player for us.

Gardner and clark are 2 outstanding prospects who could be at the heart of our team for many years to come, i only hope neither of them decide to follow milner or young in the future- they are our crown jewels and must be kept if possible- i believe both can go onto become villa greats.

[Chris Smith]

I started a thread a while ago now (think it was early in the Gezza reign) about who'd be the best player from the emerging youth we were seeing at the time, which was Bannan, Clark, Albrighton and Delfouneso.

From memory Clark won the vote, but Bannan was my choice.  He seems to have stagnated since, but I'm still very hopeful for him!

Bannan has the ability undoubtedly but I'm less convinced that he has the application to go with it. There's still plenty of time of course (and a sympathetic manager might make all the difference) but he needs to grow up a bit if he's going to fulfill that potential.

[paul_e]

My worry with Bannan was always that he'd get to this point and then be told by managers that he was too small to play in the middle and get dumped on the wing.  Last season was a classic case of it, they just wouldn't let him get a run in the middle of the park, so he came on trying to be the match winner and prove he was better than he was being given credit for, rather than just playing his natural game and keeping the game moving.

He got a reputation for hitting hollywood balls last year but I've never seen him do that in the reserves, if anyone watches them more regularly I'd love to see if my perception is right.  Hopefully Lambert will value his quality and not be overly worried by his height.

[Percy McCarthy]

Bannan does less Hollywood balls in the reserves, but he still does them.

It's magic to watch when he picks the ball up in the centre-circle, tells the winger or full-back to make a run, then pings it 50 yards into their path, just over the head of their marker. I think one of his difficulties when playing in the first team is that his team-mates don't idolise him and let him run the whole game like his colleagues in the reserves obviously do.

[Holy Trinity]

Gardner is the one for me. He needs to play. Got a feeling he will score a few goals from the middle of the park.

Correct. I still consider him as the most promising Villa youngster I can remember. I know it doesnt always work out that way but still, I'll be amazed if he doesnt become a superb player for us.

Gardner and clark are 2 outstanding prospects who could be at the heart of our team for many years to come, i only hope neither of them decide to follow milner or young in the future- they are our crown jewels and must be kept if possible- i believe both can go onto become villa greats.

defiantly mate. they could be our stevie g and carrager

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Clarke is very close to being a first team starter and when introduced into games looks very comfortable. Gardner has come through every level with Villa since he was 6yrs old. He now needs some fine tweeking to get him through these final stages. I think he is going to be a great player but this final stage has to handled properly and i think Lambert will recognise this. Gardner is a listener and very hard worker. He will be massive for Villa ........

[Dave]

Gardner is the one for me. He needs to play. Got a feeling he will score a few goals from the middle of the park.

Correct. I still consider him as the most promising Villa youngster I can remember. I know it doesnt always work out that way but still, I'll be amazed if he doesnt become a superb player for us.

Gardner and clark are 2 outstanding prospects who could be at the heart of our team for many years to come, i only hope neither of them decide to follow milner or young in the future- they are our crown jewels and must be kept if possible- i believe both can go onto become villa greats.

defiantly mate. they could be our stevie g and carrager

They could be our objectionable c*nts?

[saunders_heroes]

"Stevie G?" Urgh!

[DrGonzo]

Gardner is the one for me. He needs to play. Got a feeling he will score a few goals from the middle of the park.

Correct. I still consider him as the most promising Villa youngster I can remember. I know it doesnt always work out that way but still, I'll be amazed if he doesnt become a superb player for us.

Gardner and clark are 2 outstanding prospects who could be at the heart of our team for many years to come, i only hope neither of them decide to follow milner or young in the future- they are our crown jewels and must be kept if possible- i believe both can go onto become villa greats.

defiantly mate. they could be our stevie g and carrager

Does that mean we have to rob GG's house every weekend?

[Percy McCarthy]

Just when he's playing Champions League.

Anyway, I've still got high hopes for him, but have been a bit underwhelmed by his first-team performances.