Gary Gardner Back in Training

[paul_e]

Recovring from injuries like this (where the surgery can be 100% successful) is more mental than anything else.  I've heard from a few sources that the coaches regard him as easily the best mentally prepared player to ever come through our academy.  Getting back to training a couple of months early points to that mental strength as well.

I think he'll be fine so long as he can stay fit for a period now, I also think he could be the player we're been missing in midfield, a controlling presence who can dictate the tempo for us, slow it down when we're struggling and get us moving it quickly in attack.  Getting gardner fit and ready to be involved next year could be more important than any signing we make in the summer.

[N'ZMAV]

Seems like we've been talking about Gary Gardner for years now...

[andrew08]

I suckered myself into believing the myth that he was going to be our Stevie G. I hope I'm proved wrong in the end but I think his brother is better.

[N'ZMAV]

Not sure you can compare at this stage.

[Dante Lavelli]

I've not seen anything either but I'm looking forward to being proved wrong.

[peter w]

Kind of in agreement with those that haven't seenanything special in Gardner. Good luck with the recovery because managers have wanted to use him, so he deserves a chance.

[Colhint]

I suckered myself into believing the myth that he was going to be our Stevie G. I hope I'm proved wrong in the end but I think his brother is better.

Like you I'm no trained expert, but Sid rates him So does Kev Mac. I'll take their opinion over mine

[PeterWithesShin]

I'll wait until he's made more than about 10 starts before writing the kid off.

[paul_e]

I think I'll liken the writing off of gardner to the writing off of benteke in october.

From what I've seen he's a youngster with all the attributes you need to make it at the very top in his position, he just needs some game time and a bit of confidence and I'm certain it will come together.

[tomd2103]

I too haven't seen all that much of him.  A question for those that have - is he more of a defensive or attacking midfielder?

[eamonn]

I'd hope our roster in the midfield be stronger next season than the aboce.

Our  roster?
You'll be talking about the locker room next.

Ha...I used it as a piss-take Americanism but couldn't find an appropriate word for midfield (centre-park? hyper-zone?) so it didn't scan.

[eastie]

Recovring from injuries like this (where the surgery can be 100% successful) is more mental than anything else.  I've heard from a few sources that the coaches regard him as easily the best mentally prepared player to ever come through our academy.  Getting back to training a couple of months early points to that mental strength as well.

I think he'll be fine so long as he can stay fit for a period now, I also think he could be the player we're been missing in midfield, a controlling presence who can dictate the tempo for us, slow it down when we're struggling and get us moving it quickly in attack.  Getting gardner fit and ready to be involved next year could be more important than any signing we make in the summer.

Totally agree.

[PeterWithe]

I too haven't seen all that much of him.  A question for those that have - is he more of a defensive or attacking midfielder?

Both, an all rounder.

[eastie]

I too haven't seen all that much of him.  A question for those that have - is he more of a defensive or attacking midfielder?

Both, an all rounder.

Would certainly add goals to our shot shy midfield.

[Mister E]

I think I'll liken the writing off of gardner to the writing off of benteke in october.

From what I've seen he's a youngster with all the attributes you need to make it at the very top in his position, he just needs some game time and a bit of confidence and I'm certain it will come together.

Given that we've seen so little of him - and last season he wasn't really going to shine in a team set out by TSM - I can understand the caution in anointing him. After all, we've been here before with a few of our academy kids and (to paraphrase a quote from one of the all-time best films) he may not be "... the messiah; he's a very naughty boy".