Well as a big supporter of the lad, really pleased to see him start today.
He has been ready for a while IMHO for a start now and he showed a maturity that belied his age. He should have scored of course but let that pass for a while eh 
Gardner for me has the lot, he has a very good shot (as shown by the free kick), great engine and good passing, yes he could be our Steven Gerard, I rate him that highly.
So tonight he has tweeted this
Tweeps still BUZZING with the win today! Villa fans hope use all enjoyed it because i did! #utv! Holte enders in the skyyyyyyy
Fantastic eh ? and 100% he is a Villan and not like his brother and here is to many years of watching him.
Aston Villa News 24/7
Hate to burst ur bubble Ian but if he is the next Stevie gerrard then he won’t be here next year that’s for sure. Problem is that now we are a selling club it dosnt matter how good players coming through are as they will be off after a good season with us unless we suddenly show ambition so what’s the point. The sky four are probably already having him watched.
blimey theres always something isnt there bet your a fun night out
Just stating what most people no already. We all no deep down that any half decent players will not stay here unless things dramatically changed. I’m just being realistic.
This kid will be our next League/European Cup winning skipper. I believe Lerners’s plan is to build a team around the youngsters – selling any of them would lead to mass rebellion/revolution at Villa Park. Lerner’s head would be put on a spike outside the Holte End and McLeish would be boiled in tar. It ain’t gonna happen. This is a completely different situation to the O’Neill era of Young/Downing spend big and recoup big etc.
The “Sky four” might like him but it will be a fruitless pursuit because Villa will be in the Top Four with a team built around the young lads.
Every team except Man City and Chelsea are selling clubs. Not just Villa.
Hes a villa fan he wont leave us just like gabby and albrighton we finally have players that be loyal to us
if you born in 1996 I’ll forgive you for being naive
Only gabby at the moment who is good enough to leave top5 team
Only cuz you support a club doesnt mean your obliged to stay and neglect your ambition of winning things, I wouldnt stand in the way of any players who supported us, to leave to win things.
we should be providing that platform at Villa !!
the problem is I can see Clark and Gardner being perfect fit for say Fergie, he wants those type of players in midfield
yeh but in a dream world we should have the platform for milner, downing, young, barry, yorke … etc throughout history we have always sold cuz we are not a big enough platform
Gabby is not a top a 5 player. His distribution on the wing is average, he walks around most the time and hasnt scored that many for the minutes he has played. He has a poor touch and has poor footwork.
He is fantastic on the shoulder of the last defender because of his pace. Just look at his miss against man city this season as proof. He is a better striker than winger but I’m sorry he ain’t a top 8 player never mind top 5. The only players at our club who are top 5 are Ireland, Gardner, Clark and with games Bannan. To be a top 5 player you need to have a good engine, technically fantastic and very confident and assured on the ball. Also they can change a game and create something out of nothing.
Darren, what a load of bollocks you spout …Gabby is definitely a top 8 player, you are deluded. Are you really telling us that Gabby wouldn’t get into the Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcaste or Stoke team? Dream on!
Maybe you should go to a match rather than viewing from the luxury of your sofa.
Gabby is top 8 that’s so funny. How many goals has he scored this season. I have a season ticket. Trust me I know a top player when I see one. So I spout reality and I’ve been played at a decent level in football to know quality or average.
Compare strikers Gabby is not good enough to replace Balotelli, Aguero, Dzeko, Adebayor, Drogba, Defoe, Welbeck, Rooney, Berbatov, Hernandez, Crouch, Ba, Ben Arfa, Van Persie.
They are far more creative and far better than Gabby. All I say look at the goals gabbys scored. Bristol Rovers, Wigan, Newcastle, Blackburn, norwich. The teams are mainly poor defensive teams or lower teams. Top players score regularly in there position. Also top players are players who are comfortable on the ball and can make things happen. Gabby is predictable when ever he gets the ball. In his defence he is out of position most games but I’m sorry you obviously don’t watch quality football teams or players if you think gabby is a top 8 player.
They will be winning things in Villa colours.
If he as good as we think he could be, he should be a first team started now and keep that place. What we hope is that team can be built around him, Albrightin, Clark, we always knew they had the chance.
then had in the likes of Johnson, Grealish etc then that is the way maybe we can keep them by growing from the youth …
it may be the only way
Dont forget, Jordan Graham, Donacian, Callum Robinson, Devine &Williams, Siegrist.
Plenty with great potential, then we could have one sneak through who ppl dont talk about as much like with Weimann has, this could be burke *mcleish rates* and drennan
there is a lot, some will not make it but some will look great and make it.
Weimann is an interesting one, at 19 he should be pushing now for a start but that way is blocked, not sure he should be with us at the moment
Hope ur right Ian but when the sky four coming knocking with lots of dosh and CL football then that’s it I’m afraid. Unless a miracle happens and Lerner sells to a mega rich owner whos ambitious then there is no way on the planet we will hold onto GG and co I’m afraid villa fans or not. It’s just a question of RL maximising how much he can get for these players whilst spending just enough of the profits to keep us up. That’s the future of Villa for now I’m afraid.
It’s the Sky 6 nowadays if he is as good as “being our Steven Gerrard” then we have no chance of keeping him in the current climate. We all know how Lerner likes to sell.
It’s only become sky six so media darlings like Liverpool (who are 7th by the way) won’t feel left out. It was never sky 6 when we finished 6th 3 seasons in a row shows how much disdain they have for us whilst protecting their commercial favourites. Anyway winge over good point re Lerner unless he sells we are always going to be midtable at best and that’s a fact.
awesome to see him finally starting, the guy is class!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BOOOOOOMMMM
The sky 4 particularly Man U and top foreign clubs have been watching him for years. It is no gtee he’ll stay but growing up with the club does help with retention and if he goes, at least there should be a good fee.
Great to have Gabby, GG, Marcy and Cieran starting today, 4 home grown players all good enough to be in the team on merit. Herd could have been there if fit as well
This is the way forward for the club at the moment, maybe by necessity. Our kids are certainly as good as some of the squad players we have (Warnock, Hutton, Heskey etc) and I would much rather take a chance on them than buy more mediocre players for millions as it does not look like we will be seeing stars signing any time soon. Clark instead of Warnock, that’ll do me. Surely we’ve got a right back coming through to replace Hutton. Lichaj when fit, maybe, not sure
Parts of his game today were good. Others lacking – off the ball he was not tenacious enough, and his positioning was poor. He tended to play it safe a lot today, compared to when I have seen him at other levels.
But I guess I am judging him on the player he can become. He could play like that for 38 games a season and still be a useful player for the team. Also it should be said that he was a direct replacement for Clark. He was playing holding midfield, and I am sure encouraged to keep things simple.
A few more games, a bit more confidence to try things. Injury permitting he will become an excellent player. Whether or not he is on the level of next Gerrard/Lampard is up to him.
There are a lot of good kids out there, not just at Villa, and far too many for the Sky 4 to be able to sign. It’s a big shame that we don’t get to see many of them but the demands placed on all Premier League managers from the media , owners and impatient fans not prepared to wait to develop a team, but craving instant success/results (I include us in that) means that many are not risked. They may go out on loan but many won’t so they lose a couple of years development playing reserve team football or getting the odd game but out of position which knocks their confidence. Look at Chelsea for a great example. How can Sturridge not get a game for them at centre forward and what about McEchran. He should stay at Swansea after his loan spell.Most of the football world will have to adopt the tactic that we seem to be adopting in giving home grown players a chance, and it’s great that our Academy is producing such talent. it can save a fortune in transfer fees, can lead to greater loyalty (esp if there were no football agents!!!) and can be very successful in the long run (Barcelona!!)
As for Gary Gardner, only time will tell, but if the richer clubs come calling, its up to him to make his own mind up. Going to Man U, Liverpool, or even City is not always the best move, unless you go for the money!!!!!! Ask Andy Carroll where he would rather be now?
Think they would rather be at the club who pays them the most sad but a fact of life.
Thought he had been in an accident or something when i saw the headline!
One thing Lerner as said in the past is youth coming up the ranks is important to the club because we can not spend on the level of the top six clubs,so if he does start selling our best young player to the likes of man u and co, its came over for aston villa fc…….on the other hand seeing the young lads out there yesterday was great and how many other clubs can say they have 3/4 of there own fans playing in the team UTV.
The next Steven Gerrard? Get real.
If he is the next steven g then he stay loyal to villa just like sg did at liverpool
Gardener was superb, able to make space, great short and long passing game, good movement the kid looks the real deal (imo).
And as for losing him to Man ure and the likes why should we? Pay him the money we ain’t paid anything for him, if he reaches his potential how much would it cost to buy him? £30m? Well half that over 5 years equates to £250000 a week.
Whilst i agree with much of what you say your maths is wrong. £250K a week is £65M over 5 years. £50K a week maybe?
Let’s hope he sticks around long enough for Villa fans to enjoy him.
I used to do the books for Harry at Portsmouth.
Hehe. £50K is still pretty good at his age though.
Thing is its not just the money greedy outside influences will kick in ie agents whispering in his ear and media will talk him up to a media darling club. Then he will always be taken more seriously as an England regular just coz he plays for top 4 club and media will push for him to be a regular as opposed to squad player. Then of course no one can compete with man city offering him 200k a week. The whole football setup is flawed for clubs like us now and unless we get a man city type buy out we will be a mid table club selling our best players.
Yes your right mate and that’s why modern football sucks.
I’m reading all the doom merchants on here. Listen, for once, actually BELIEVE in the club. Get behind the youngsters and they won’t want to leave. Next year Villa will be back on course for challenging for top six. The year after, with further shrewd signings the project for top four is up and running once more. Things change quickly in football (look at Tottingham). Start picturing a Villa side winning trophies with our great young players doing the business…doesn’t that feel a whole lot better than needless negative guff? Supporters have a major part to play in making players believe in themselves and winning.
I can’t believe the negativity that so many people perpetually pour out, it seems to be pervading and invading the club, and can only have a destructive effect.
Villa are not a selling club. Like many other teams though, if players refuse to sign extended contracts, and would be able to leave for free, then we have to protect our finances and get as close to market value as possible for them.
I do not think that Villa were approaching Liverpool, Man U and Citeh, and asking which of our players they would like. Players made it clear they would not be committing to our club, and were thus ‘cashed in’.
That, unfortunately, is common sense fiscally speaking.
Many on here have stated that the kids, or youth, are not good enough as they should be world beaters at eighteen if they are up to standard.
I like the way that Villa is shaping up. We may soon have in a season or three, eight or nine Academy products in the first team. Is that preferable to Mercenary XI, where your ‘star striker’ that the fans have taken as this season’s favourite refuses to play for ‘your’ team, and demands a move away.
Many times I have made it clear that I would far rather be watching a side where we have seen the fledglings grow, find their feet and then perform.
The very best, if they become just that, will obviously move as Villa won’t be winning trophies every season. That’s just the current state of financially eschewed affairs in football.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be turning up to watch a half decent side of all our own players competing and entertaining us ? Those that turn up to see a win every week are following the wrong club.
I look forward to the rest of the season, and hope that Mr Wenger plays a weakened side next Sunday.
Another pertinent point.
Why would an ever present at Villa feel the need to move to a more ‘attractive’ club until he is fully established and at the top of his game.
You need look no further than Ashley and Downing to see that a ‘dream’ move can soon sour and become a difficult situation.
Surprisingly, you’d have to say that Barry has probably held his own far better than the other three, though Milner seems to play well when selected.
I should think that Ash and Judas may be thinking that life at the top of the team sheet at Villa wasn’t so bad after all.
I doubt young is thinking it was a failure, he got plenty of action before injuries which is something he never got at Villa
He got plenty of action at Villa, he was a first team player !
Be interesting to see if he makes the Man U lineup once he’s back.
I thought he looked quite ordinary against us, a small fish in a big pond.
Albrighton has stated locally as soon as a big club comes in for him he`s off,so dont believe that being a villa fan counts for anything.Don`t personally think he`s good enough anyway and what a mug he looked rolling around yesterday
he will be gone if we get a bid big enough, is Albrighton with Wasserman ?
What home grown players do is to keep the wage bill lower and less likely to agitate for a move
Even man utd are pressured into paying welbeck and another youngster (can’t remember his game but he’s only played a few games for them) top wack to keep them at OT. They even struggled to hold onto Rooney when man city came knocking with more money do wot chance have we got!!
Even more so excited by the kid after yesterdays performance. Keep it up Gary and keep your feet on the ground!
Like a lot of our assets he will probably be sold eventually but lets enjoy the now! He didn’t do much wrong from what I saw bit more complosure and he would have buried that header keep up the good work lad.
Fair point Tom but that’s the problem why shud this great club of ours just enjoy the now!! Its like having a great girlfriend that you love and want to spend ur life with but u no she will only be with u for a while until some good looking bastard takes her of u simply because he can and u cant compete. Whats the point. We should be building a team round these players by holding on to them and supplementing with a few senior buys. I cannot support these players knowing they are only using us as a stepping stone until top 4 feel like having them. I want to support a team that is building a permanent base to drive us into top 4 and beyond. This will never happen whilst Lerner sells youngsters for his own gud and not that of the club.
A lot of us have been unhappy with Villa this season but yesterday we won so lets feel good just until the next game.
Our biggest prospect got his debut and played well.
I dont see the point in getting negative about what a player might do in 3 seasons, certain things happen in football and nobody can control them
Have to laugh at some of the ridiculous comments here,Albrighton,Gabby and co are only loyal because nobody any better than us wants them,and as for Lerner not selling the kids,ha ha ,you really are deluded,we are a selling club and until Lerner invests big time or sells us on we can expect to be slugging it out with the likes of Wigan for the forseeable future,sad but thats the reality folks !
Any of these young players that are any good will be ruined by that idiot McLeish, he will prob play Gardner at left back next game, the man has not got a clue, our performance yesterday was poor against a very poor wolves side, yes a couple of good individual performances (Gardner Keane for the Goals) but our defence was piss poor and other that the two strikes from keane we hardly troubled the wolves