The thing is, I have absolutely no idea why.
Now I know this is more than likely going to be a bit of press rumour mongering, and in fact I wouldn’t put it past our unwashed neighbours to pimp the story themselves just so they can say the beat us to a signature of a player that we were both after. They are a bit like that. But realistically we just don’t need another central midfielder!
Granted Gardner has his best season last season, in a team that ended up relegated I’ll add, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be capable of dislodging any of our current midfielders. Is he any better than Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Yohan Cabaye or Cheik Tiote? I think not. In fact I’d put him in the backup queue with the likes of Dan Gosling and Danny Guthrie.
You see midfield is a position where we are well stocked at the moment. Circumstances could change of course dependant on the futures of Barton and Nolan, but for now we are pretty much spot on in the middle of the park. In fact I would go as far as to say that we have one of the best central midfields outside the top four!
Alas this Craig Gardner talk will more than likely just be a rumour. It will be someone somewhere “understanding” something and translating it as us being in for Gardner. I wouldn’t be against it, but I would wonder what the point of it would be.
Now it’s a different matter when you talk about our wings. There is most definitely room for improvement in terms of our wide players as we’ve had to put up with a right-winger playing on the left for three seasons now and a central midfielder playing on the right for the last season and a half. That is our real need – not the middle.
Step forward Tranquillo Barnetta who has apparently made it crystal clear to the Bayer Leverkusen top brass that he wants to leave. A fee of about £6 million would be enough to secure the services of the player who scored both goals for Switzerland at Wembley earlier in the month.
Barnetta is usually a right-winger, which to be fair is a position which needs addressing. However, he does have the bonus of being able to cover in a more defensive role in the middle of midfield – handy when you have a yellow card machine like Chiek Tiote currently occupying that role.
So there you go, two bits of gossip for you to dissect and discuss. To me there is just no point in the first option of Craig Gardner, but the Tranquillo Barnetta one is something that interests me, even if it is just speculation at the moment.
What do you think?
Craig – but for the first time we have ‘his man’ in situ.
It is too early to judge really but theres time. And Coozy reckons theres another coming in tonight so things maybe happening
raffo(Quote)
If we are after Gardner, which I dont think we are, that would probably signal we are looking to sell Nolan. If Nolan is sold this window its a disgrace.
Havn’t see much of Barnetta but he scored two lucky goals against England and he’s getting linked with a few teams now. I do remember us getting linked with him in January though so there could be some interest.
AndrewNUFC(Quote)
Would anyone take Honda?
raffo(Quote)
Disagree Andrew – I am one of the few I guess that think Nolan has reached a point where we can and should get some decent money while we can. I think Cabaye is a replacement and he wont play ahead of HBA. I dont think he should be playing simply down to him being the Captain, and if all players are fit he just wouldnt get into my first 11.
That said he has done a great job for us and I will be forever grateful, but theres no sentiment in football and he is showing a little greed for not taking the contract on the table. He is entitled not to take it, but if his love for the club is as much as he says then another 4 years is plenty.
I dont think Barnetta is all that good, theres better
raffo(Quote)
get real…which team who got relegated..would pay 50…000 pounds aweek and 500..ooo fee 2 stay..paper talk..everton cant afford them wages anyway…we wont be paying that…take it or leave it deals thats the way forward…
asim(Quote)
Barnetta? I suppose those two average goals against England will have put his price at about 25mil or something ridiculous 😆 I wouldn’t mind him, but Gardener is just a no go, definitely don’t want him unless we lose three centre mids this summer..
Newkie(Quote)
Miralem Sulejmani
Blaise Matuidi
Demba Ba
Craig Gardner
Gervinho
Cheikh M’Bengue
Dimitar Berbatov
Mevlut Erding
Jordon Mutch
Charles N’Zogbia
Neil Taylor
Tranquillo Barnetta
Scott Brown
Emilio Izaguirre
Eliaquim Mangala
Shikabala
Darren Pratley
…for fooks sake, I can’t keep up wi this ****. And I’m sure I’ve missed about 25 out.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Hahaha LOL @ #1!!
Not bothered about Gardner but get Barnetta signed up quick Uncle Pards! He’s a class player!
Although I feel a bit sorry for Jonas the left winger playing right wing for another season if we do… Would love Jonas to stay in our starting 11 but that wouldn’t happen if we sign both Barnetta and then Zoggy for the left wing…
Jamie Vincente(Quote)
Woops I think I meant Zoggy on the right wing??
Jamie Vincente(Quote)
cwarr07 Colin
Bid accepted for Nolan on his way to West Ham for a medical #nufc
1 minute ago
also Justin Lockwood has sad this as well
3hourswasted(Quote)
SSN now reporting Nolan medical at Wet Spam
3hourswasted(Quote)
craig chisholm@75. Actually, last off season was a good winow as well.
Brisvegas(Quote)
So was Jan, £35m for Judas 😉 😆 …..only if invested on decent players though 😉
richietoon(Quote)