Surprise Player

[Ian.]

Joe Bennett. He showed great progress towards the end and his confidence grew and grew.

[OCD]

I've done the maths and this thread has us winning the league by 20 points.

[Rancid custard]

Gardner has to be in with a shout, mind you, there's a lot of choice in the middle of the park.

[midnite]

I'd love it to be Delph, I really would. I've given him some stick over the past few seasons but mainly out of frustration because I know there's a good player in there somewhere.

If as dave said he gets an early goal in the season I would agree and think it will push him on. Maybe with the likes of the new look midfield if will give him the capability and the motivation to push forward and shoot on sight more.

[ozzjim]

Gardner has to be in with a shout, mind you, there's a lot of choice in the middle of the park.

I would like to see Gardner given 6 months on loan in the Championship to regain fitness and confidence then bring him back second half of the season stronger for it.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm not sure Delph would hit double figures, purely because of how we play, but I think he he is more than capable of getting half a dozen.

[PeterWithesShin]

Gardner has to be in with a shout, mind you, there's a lot of choice in the middle of the park.

I would like to see Gardner given 6 months on loan in the Championship to regain fitness and confidence then bring him back second half of the season stronger for it.

So would I, pointless having him come back from fitness only to sit him on the bench and make the odd 10 minute appearance here or there.

[Toronto Villa]

I think that if Delph gets an early goal he can get into double figures, and turn into the midfield general we've lacked since Andy Townsend.

Delph just get a little stronger. He has so many if the other attributes already to being a really good midfielder. And his attitude has always been spot on.

[TheSandman]

Gardner has to be in with a shout, mind you, there's a lot of choice in the middle of the park.

I would like to see Gardner given 6 months on loan in the Championship to regain fitness and confidence then bring him back second half of the season stronger for it.

I agree. In fact, in retrospect, it would have been good if he had been loaned out more before now with him only having a few games for Coventry. He's not much younger than some of the lads who are regulars for us last season but whereas Westwood was coming into play for us after 120 games for Crewe Gardner has had very little of that kind of experience yet.

[PeterWithesShin]

Gardner has to be in with a shout, mind you, there's a lot of choice in the middle of the park.

I would like to see Gardner given 6 months on loan in the Championship to regain fitness and confidence then bring him back second half of the season stronger for it.

I agree. In fact, in retrospect, it would have been good if he had been loaned out more before now with him only having a few games for Coventry. He's not much younger than some of the lads who are regulars for us last season but whereas Westwood was coming into play for us after 120 games for Crewe Gardner has had very little of that kind of experience yet.

In fairness Gardner is 3 years younger than Westwood and has missed the best of 2 years through injury. That is going to have had a big impact on loan options and appearances.

[TheSandman]

I agree it would have been difficult but there were times when he was fit and not getting a game for us. Gardner will most likely be getting a new contract next summer and at that time there will be only a few months difference in age from Westwood when we signed him (April 1990 vs June 1992). I'd just like/have liked him to get a good taste of first team football before then and, with hindsight, before now. I'm not going to jump on the club for not sending him out on loan as they'd have to have been psychic to know at the time. The situation now, with our emphasis on youth, means there is more expectation for younger players to make a more immediate and greater contribution.

[PeterWithesShin]

I agree that we don't make use of the loan system as well as i'd like with our youngsters. If they aren't going to feature much in the first team squad i'd like us to send a lot of the NextGen lads out on loan next season. 

[claretandbeer]

Gardner has to be in with a shout, mind you, there's a lot of choice in the middle of the park.

I would like to see Gardner given 6 months on loan in the Championship to regain fitness and confidence then bring him back second half of the season stronger for it.

So would I, pointless having him come back from fitness only to sit him on the bench and make the odd 10 minute appearance here or there.

I can see the logic of this but with a player of his ability and goalscoring prowess at England U21 and Nextgen ,he has to be aiming for a first team berth now.To send him on loan is almost like saying we don't trust your ability at first team level and also come January he will still be behind others who have staked a place in midfield. Could be one unhappy bunny in his final year of a contract. If he succeeds on loan,it will have alerted other clubs,without him having tied down a spot in our midfield.We should make him feel an important member of our first team squad.A loan is fine for players who are not quite ready for our first team but need the extra competitive edge provided by the Football League and gives the staff a chance to assess their ability to make the move into the first team squad but not for players who have already tasted first team action such as Gardner and Albrighton.

[eamonn]

I'm looking forward to Delph and Gardner running riot in midfield next season. Sylla will have to take a back seat with Bacuna, on whom I agree with SoccerHQ - I have higher hopes for Helenius, Okore and Tonev who seem more highly-rated.

[Clampy]

I think that if Delph gets an early goal he can get into double figures, and turn into the midfield general we've lacked since Andy Townsend.

There's a few more goals in him but i'm not sure about double figures.