http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7459745/ Aston Villa midfielder Gary Gardner would love to see older brother Craig return from Sunderland to the Midlands. Craig left Villa Park for Birmingham in January 2010 only for him to join Sunderland 18 months later after Blues were relegated. The 25-year-old has impressed at the Stadium of Light, scoring in recent wins over Wigan Athletic and Swansea City. The brothers remain close despite being based in different parts of the country and Gary believes it is hard for Craig, who has been linked with Wolves and West Brom, living away from his family. Hard "We still speak every day and we're really close. He came back over last weekend," explained Gary. "I would love for him to come back to the Midlands with Aston Villa and play alongside him but who knows? "There are six brothers altogether and we're a close family. We all see each other almost every day. I didn't think Craig realised how hard it would be to pull away from that. "I think he does find it hard, but he is the type of lad to get his head down and just keep fighting. "I am sure he would want to come back to the midlands but he is a Sunderland player at the moment and I'd imagine the fans would want to keep him there." You could read this and think that he's a determined lad and will fight on, or that the brothers are might be trying to tempt him back. I'd really like to see him stay and develop a love for the club and the ares.
Think O'Neill will speak to him and say something along the lines of... "Craig, I want to keep you here, you know that this club has what it takes to get into continental competitions and with some transfers we could achieve it in the next couple of years. I want you to be part of that" Villa now, have Bent and thats it, they're a club I think will be in a relegation scrap in a few years unless they get a few good players in, Birmingham = in deep dudu, West Brom = Good team, but dont have the same ambition in my view, Wolves = Same as West Brom
Then MoN says....................... MARTIN O’NEILL insists Craig Gardner will not leave Wearside this month. Sunderland boss O’Neill is keen to put an end to the transfer speculation that has surrounded the midfielder since it emerged he has felt homesick since his £5m summer move from his native Birmingham. O’Neill says the 25-year-old has an important part to play for the Black Cats – a point underlined when Gardner came off the bench to score a terrific goal in last weekend’s win over Swansea – and he could be drafted into the starting line-up for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Middlesbrough at the Stadium of Light. I think that we’d wanting to be keeping Craig here,” said O’Neill. “We can always look at the situation again at the end of the season. “He’s becoming a bit of a cult hero here now. “Craig came on and got us a great goal against Swansea and he’s capable of doing that. “He can still add other parts to his game, but I think he’s a more rounded player than he was a couple of seasons ago. “Maybe that time at Birmingham where he got a run of games showed what he could do and that is why Steve Bruce bought him.” O’Neill plans to make only minimal changes to his side for the cup tie, but Gardner and goalkeeper Keiren Westwood are likely to be in his thoughts, while teenager Connor Wickham seems set to replace the injured Nicklas Bendtner up front. O’Neill said: “The likes of Craig and Keiren don’t weaken our team. “Keiren dropped out of the side unluckily through illness and Simon’s come in, taken his chance and done very well. “We’ve all said that Craig is very unlucky not to be in the starting line-up at the moment. “He has a great chance of playing for us on Sunday. “I won’t be making many changes though. “If we had a sizeable squad and were able to pick and choose, it might become a different issue. If we had one or two who needed to prove a point or something, you could maybe make changes. “But we’re not in a position to make that many. Certainly at this time, that would be difficult.” Read More http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...-will-not-leave-72703-30208605/#ixzz1kfby93r3
Gary's missing his big bro: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7459745/Gardner-eyes-brother-s-return
MON has already spoken to the press about this today....basically Gardners quite happy to stay and is happy with his cult like status among our fans
It's basically a 500 mile round trip, I can't for the life of me see and you can get homesick yet not be so far away. I left the midland's myself, first move to Cornwall, never homesick once. Then business reasons meant a further move away to Cape Town, have to admit to the odd bout of homesickness, but I think that's mainly down to two totally different life contrast's. Thing is if I ever got the opportunity to move back to the UK, I would only want to be down the south west area.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/7459745/Gardner-eyes-brother-s-returnCraig gardeners bro has said he would love to see craig back at the villa. I for one am now sick of hearing about craig's home sickness, we all know he seems to be missing his family but at the end of the day he gets paid more in a week then some of us get in a year and he is a professional footballer so he knows its part and parcel of the job that he may have to live away from home. The midlands are only a couple of hours away so its not as if it is hundreds of miles away. So its time to get on with it and keep playing well as he has been when he has come on. I wish the media and his bro would just shut it about him being homesick. now come on and lets beat the boro on Sunday.
Me too mate, went to work in Germany at 20 and left 2 bairns and a wife at home. A 2/3 hour drive FFS..
To be honest, I'm really sick of hearing about his being unhappy in the NE. FFS, he is earning 10's of 1000's of pounds a week to live just170 from his mammy and daddy. It's not like we are 4 days by camel to Birmingham is it? Is he a man or a ****ing boy? On his money, he could rent a nice house for a couple of years and move his wife and kid up here. Footballers are such soft ****es at times. Either he comes out and says he wants to be here, or else he ****s off back to the midlands but only on our conditions.
If he dont want to e here then I for one dont want him here, whatever the reason its head down and do your job or off you go
Hey if the lad is struggling and it does happen to alot of people I'd rather see him try and get his head around the problem rather than **** off at the first opportunity. Probably more of a culture shock not being with his family than being in another part of the country away from his mates. Plus he part owns a boxing gym in Solihull if I remember rightly and he used to spend his spare time after training down there.
no problem with any of that, its the complaining aout it that gets me, jut keep stum and tell his brother to do the same
He can get a lift back on Thursday with me the day after the Norwich if he wants....... I know where I would rather be and its not here in the midlands.
Exactly raw, Craig Gardner has never once said anything, I've heard o'neill and o'shea discuss it and now read about this from his brother. Something blew out of all proportion I think otherwise he'd have asked for a move and understandably been granted it by now.
Agree to a point but the fact his brother has mentioned it carries a bit of weight. I boxed for 12 years so if he thinks that floats his boat then go for it, personally it is the most corrupt business I have experienced. Anyway, **** that, the lad needs to get his head together one way or the other as I personally think we are a better team with him in it. 2/3 hours drive FFS, training every morning with a day or two off during the week. I look after a crippled partner & two year old daughter 24 ****ing 7 in York well away from home.. I'd box the soft ****er anytime..
Craig Gardner is a good player and has been getting better since MoN became manager BUT he aint that good If he wants to leave in the summer let him, there is better alternatives out there but we need to keep him this transfer window as for the summer if he stays great if he don't good luck to the lad but he is replaceable.
