There hasn't been many positives this season however I feel Craig Gardner deserves a bit of praise from myself and I'm sure many fans will agree. From day 1 this season he has been asked to play at right-back and done a very good job, add to that he has never winged once! You could argue he has kept Bardsley out of the team as he has been fit for a while now. The lad has shown more fight and passion than 90% of our current squad and also shown some balls in his penalty taking under immense pressure recently. To get 8 goals from right back is a grand job in my opinion and probably the best goal stats in the Premier League for a right back this season, maybe in its history?! Granted he has given a few penalties away (one a Ridgewell blatant dive) but that happens when in a un-natural position but he has shown over this season he is growing into the role. I still feel he offers more in midfield and hopefully he will be deployed there in the next few games because a long range howitzer is what could get us some points in these next few games. Overall well played Craig and continue to show your fight over the next 8 games as we sure need it! KTF.
Absolutely no arguments from me Danny - I said similar recently on one of my posts where he has been one of the stand out players for me. Proper 100%er and always tries to get the crowd going. I'd like to see him in a midfield role (instead of Larsson?) with Bardsley back to the Right Back role personally. Also, I have never seen a Sudnerland player take a better penalty!!
Yeah definately instead of Larsson, although I would move Seb out to the right where he belongs, doesnt make sense playing our best crosser of the ball in central midfield. However its 4-5-1 until the end of the season now so I expect Gardner to be in there with 4 others to pack the midfield for a backs to the wall draw against United! And yes he is one hell of a penalty taker, the Norwich one was unreal!
Couldn't agree more, he's having a great season, where would we be without his penalties, wasn't it Johnson who gave the pen away against Ridgewell's dive and a better penalty taker, well the only one I saw in a Sunderland shirt was Jim Baxter, and that's showing my age.
Aye might have been mate, actually im thinking of that very soft one against Fulham at home by Halsey
From now on id try him in the middle of the 3 in a 4-2-3-1 shoot on. sight son. I wouldnt be opposed to wing backs for the next 2 games to see how it worked, would mean we had 3 centre backs and Danny Rose with a little bit more freedom to get forward.
I agree that Craig Garnder has been the stand out perfomer along with Mignolet. Mignolet has received more praise because he is a keeper, and when they pull of awesome saves it never goes unoticed. Gardner on the other hand does his job without complaint. I rate him highly! I just wish MON would play him in CM, and allow Bardo to do the defender. We need Gardner up there in attack! Also regarding his penalties. He is brilliant, better than any current England international. Maybe Hodgson should call him up to the World Cup squad just for penalty shoot outs!
I may be a lone voice here but I think both him and Colback are very poor full backs. Both are our weak link imo and this has been sussed by every team we have played recently. Positionally, pace (or lack of it); and poor tackling ability. Yes he never complains and always gives his all but the sad fact is he is a poor full back. He has given nearly as many penalties away as he has scored. Now, if you're asking me about the man and the footballer that's different. I have always said he 's our best central midfielder by a country mile and should play there permanently. He 's a model pro and his attitude and professionalism is exemplary this season. Gardner the central midfielder will be a huge asset in our run in. Gardner the full back is and will be a liability imo.
I agree with the first paragraph, recently especially teams have really exploited our lack of natural full backs and it has cost us dearly. I really hope Bardsley starts at rb today But I'd have to disagree about Gardner being our best cm! Especially by a country mile. That title belongs to Cattermole imo. Catts and N'Dayie would be my cm pairing next year. Gards as part of a 3 if Sess leaves
He is now our best chance of a goal or is that only chance of a goal today? If he is played in the middle that is. Decent player poor RB (not his fault that so no throat jumping), however he looks good because the rest are playing ****e. Not PL quality for me whether thats down to him or MONs tactics but, agree he has been good for us this season.
Gardner is our best chance of scoring, but the only chance of that happening is if we get a penalty. I bet we won't be going anywhere near their box for us to get a penalty, so bottom line is we probably won't score. With our defense and their attack they will score. Combination of those two probably won't make nice viewing
I'll start by saying that I think Gards has been our best player this season in terms of attitude, versatility and goal scoring threat. However I agree with other in saying that he is not really a great RB and always looks shaky against a good winger. He's a midfielder for me and the sooner we can get him back in there the better. Best pen taker I've seen at SAFC for an age - you always think he is going to score which is more than can be said about most of our previous takers.
