Gary Gardner

Worst midfielder for AVFC in my lifetime, i.e. the last 30 years or so?  Maybe Salifou was worse? Who else?

Westwood Worst midfielder for AVFC in my lifetime 50yrs

Yet he outperforms Gardner every match they play together

Joppe84 wrote:Yet he outperforms Gardner every match they play together

Did you watch the Derby and Forest games?    Gardner at least had some attacking intent in both of them. What exactly did Westwood do to "outperform" him?

And I have to agree that Westwood is indeed the worst I've seen. Had a decent first season but since then he's been complete garbage. Gary has only played a a small number of games for us this season so I'm not gonna judge him too harshly yet.

The Forest game? It's literally the worst performance I've seen from any midfielder ever. How he gifted them their goal was fecking hilarious, if it wasn't so sad.

Joppe84 wrote:The Forest game? It's literally the worst performance I've seen from any midfielder ever. How he gifted them their goal was fecking hilarious, if it wasn't so sad.

"Gifted"? He passed the ball FORWARD and it got intercepted, Hardly the worst crime ever. Where was Westwood for that goal then? He got bypassed as usual and Vellos was face to face with the back-four. Then for the second goal he got mugged again. Gary drove forward in that game, had some shots and even won some freekicks at the edge of the box. That's what I call attacking intent. Westwood was just pathetic in that game.

That's the problem with Gardner. It's all intent and no ability. I think he was by far far the worst player on the pitch. Too slow in every duel, couldn't move a five yard pass, lost possession, weak in the tackle, low work rate, no aggression and I can keep going. Westwood is bad, but Gardner is on a whole other level of shitness. Well documented by 5 managers in two years that all preferred Westwood over Gardner.

I think intercepted is a stretch. From memory, he passed it straight to the bloke. Could be wrong.

I remember commenting on the match thread that Westwood was dragging their midfielders all over the park to make space for Gardner to move into a collect the ball but the stupid goat hid behind their other players.

He's no footballer.

I had a look at the Villa match thread on a couple of Forest forums. Thought they'd be gushing about him either before, during or after the game . But could only find two mentions:

Westwood/Gardner in central midfield is about as uninspired as it could get at this level.

And...

Shouldn't have taken Gardner off, he was our best player.

So Gardner wins the shit-contest 2-1

Either of their names on the team sheet depresses the fuck out of me. I think of them both as one amorphous pile of shit a bit like two fresh cowpats side by side that merge into one sloppy pile of crud when the rains come.
And that's on a good day......

I do still like Westwood, he mostly goes unnoticed but makes some cracking passes when there are people available to run onto them. He just isn't that hot at defending or scoring (last season I said he shouldn't be allowed in our penalty area or to take pot shots at their goal from 40 yards out). Thing is though, I don't see a place for him in the team we have. The sooner we get Tish and Jedi playing together, and one or two new midfielders in to cover, the better.

Xia and Wyness worked wonders in the transfer market but being able to completely upgrade the squad in every position was an order too tall even for them.

I expect more ins and outs come January, when the likes of flabby, bacuna, Richards, bunn, westwood, gardner and kozak will be gone and some of them replaced.

No disrespect to Forest, where Gardner apparently excelled but playing for a club like Villa is too much for him. I can see us using him as a make weight for Lansbury in January.

Neither Gardner or Westwood have it for me, when they are both in together you just know we are going to be overrun, they have had their chance as soon as we can they need to be moved on.

Gary Gardner is the most disappointing player I've seen in a long time. He looked to have everything as he was coming through the academy and would make his brother look like a Sunday league player. Is it injuries or has he just not developed? Who knows but he isn't good enoigh. 

Westwood can do a job this season but absolutely should not be starting.

Neither are the worst midelders in our history though. Step forwards Djemba-fucking-Djemba

There was some right winger who was so ridiculously one-footed I was even surprised he used his left leg to stand on. Awful, dreadful player. Makes Gardner look like Messi. What the hell was his name? Think Mon signed him.

Edit: Didier Agathe (thanks Google). Now HE was proper shit.

Would be fun to list our worst 11 players since 1990'ish.

Agathe, Tonev, Gardner, Westwood, Lescott, Richards, Salifou, Boulding, Richardson, Curcic, Balaban, N'Zogbia, Djembax2, Crespo. Not sure where to start even.

Jloyd Samuel was fucking shite too. So retarded his knuckles dragging on the ground slowed him down.

Useless De La Cruz?

Good shouts. I kinda liked UDLC, but he wasn't exactly amazing. Apparantly he did a lot of good back im Ecuador with all the money he made.

According to wiki : Born in Piquiucho, a small village in the Valle del Chota, one of Ecuador's poorest regions, De la Cruz set up the charity Friends of FundeCruz to fund a number of projects serving the local community, to which he donates about 10% of his salary. UNICEF ambassador as well.

That's pretty amazing.

I donate about 1% of my salary each month to UNICEF and I feel pretty good about that

Joppe84 wrote:Good shouts. I kinda liked UDLC, but he wasn't exactly amazing. Apparantly he did a lot of good back im Ecuador with all the money he made.

According to wiki : Born in Piquiucho, a small village in the Valle del Chota, one of Ecuador's poorest regions, De la Cruz set up the charity Friends of FundeCruz to fund a number of projects serving the local community, to which he donates about 10% of his salary. UNICEF ambassador as well.

That's pretty amazing.

I donate about 1% of my salary each month to UNICEF and I feel pretty good about that

I wish I could donate some brain cells to some of our squad!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3866686/Manchester-United-aren-t-putting-yards-Jesus-Navas-headed-Manchester-City-exit-door-10-THINGS-LEARNED.html

I know it is the Daily Fail but GG given a mention after his last 2 performances

Fair play to the lad, I would love nothing more than GG to do well as he has had a difficult time with injuries. This proves that the albatross was as expected by most Ashley 'fucking' Westwood and his crab like displays!

we weren't relegated with Barry Bannan. should never have sold him. I've always said that.

perhaps he's not what we need right now to play with Gardner again - or maybe he is - but I would buy him back. central figure in the Sheffield Wednesday team now on 24 points.

I'm delighted for him too. If he can keep improving he can be a very good player for us. If he could add a few goals everyone will quickly be behind him again i'm sure.

Meh Gardner is shit. Replace asap

I have never been impressed with Gardner I think he struggles with all the basic aspects of the modern day midfielder.
Saying that though I think he will start against the Heath as I don't think will change a winning side.