Birmingham’s top midfielder, Craig Gardner, has said he is unsure of his future after the sudden departure of Blues manager Alex McLeish.
Craig Gardner – Newcastle bid £5M for midfielder
Alex McLeish joined Birmingham after managing Glasgow Rangers and he also managed the Scottish National side for a short while, but he has took Birmingham down twice to the Championship, and got them promoted once, so why he would be interesting Aston Villa, we have no idea at all.
But his departure will not help the Birmingham players, and it seems the way is open now for Newcastle to move in for Gardner, especially as the surprise news today is that captain Kevin Nolan is having a medical at West Ham, and is likely to join the London club.
24 year-old Gardner was initially at Aston Villa, and joined Birmingham permanently last year, and was their top scorer with 10 goals in 37 games in his first full season at St. Andrew’s.
He cost Birmingham £3M from Aston Villa, and would probably cost more now, and the breaking news today is that Newcastle have moved in with a £5M offer to Birmingham for the central midfielder.
But if Kevin Nolan is moving on, you have to believe Newcastle have more central midfielders targeted this summer.
When asked if he is leaving or staying at Birmingham this is what Craig said today:
“I don’t know. It’s a difficult one.” ‘I’m unsure exactly what is happening behind the scenes and what the board are thinking.”
“Where are we going, what are we planning to do? I don’t know.” “At the end of the day, like every player, you have to think of your career. Everything is up in the air at the moment.”
“For me, Alex McLeish was great. He showed a lot of faith in me, signing me from Villa, and my career moved forward from there.” “It’s a sad loss for Birmingham and it’s not a good start to the summer.”
“The club needs to bring in a manager with the kind of credentials and experience Alex McLeish has. Someone like that would fit the bill.”
It’s likely that Newcastle can now move fast and acquire Gardner, and that would be an excellent signing for the Newcastle club.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
75 comments so far
Nufc_mo
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:42 PM
Comment #1Craig Gardner can P!$$ Off.
Barras
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:43 PM
Comment #2Perfect timing to increase my levels of despondency.
In a matter of one hour it has turned from replacing our club captain with Marvin Martin to Craig Gardener.
Andy
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Comment #3OptaJoe Opta Sports
0 – Newcastle United won none of the eight Premier League games that Kevin Nolan missed in 2010-11. Howay.
Barras
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:45 PM
Comment #4Not to mention how Craig Gardner is going to install some much needed relegation-inspired team spirit. I cannot wait.
IH8_S4FC
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:46 PM
Comment #5got to think he is on his way to replace nolan, 10 goals last season 25 years old maybe can get him for same price selling nolan for???
but got to think ba, parker, hines or someone being exchanged for nolan as part of transfer
gorskino10
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:46 PM
Comment #6I bet he is the replacement for Nolan?
Lets hope not its replacing Quality with Average.
Also just checked on TM and they rate Nolan they calculate his worth to be 7M Pounds!
FarAwayGeordie
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:46 PM
Comment #7seriously now … lol
hes gotta good shot on him though, gotta at least give him credit there
alder09
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Comment #8would rather have gardner than nolan, got pace, vision and as good an eye for goal, hopefully we will be getting the full 6m asking price, although i doubt it because it is mike ashley we are talking about!!
rich
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:49 PM
Comment #9To be honest Gardners more mobile, younger and does score goals. If we sell Nolan for say £4m and get Gardner for £5m thats alright with me.
grumpy_old_sod
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:49 PM
Comment #10Doesn’t sound like gardner knows what he wants. 5 million is a lot for him.
gorskino10
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:49 PM
Comment #11IH8_S4FC@
No he got 7 in the League, Nolan got 12.
Get ashley out
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:49 PM
Comment #12I’d love to Marvin Matin with us next season
grumpy_old_sod
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:51 PM
Comment #13Barton has a lot to answer for. Just because his contract offer wasn’t what he wanted, he is now disrupting the team. Very unprofessional in my opinion.
Smooth moves Shola
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Comment #14I’m not against the Nolan sale, but Gardner would be a dismal replacement.
antonufc.ie
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Comment #15yeah he was nearly birminghams top scorer whats wrong with him at least he wont disappear after 20 minutes and be in the chronicle bitch how things may improve on the pitch
DarloGeordie
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Comment #16What the hell is going on at this club, seems like Pardew doesn’t get a say in anything…
Why sell our captain and highest goal scorer, hopefully we have some right talent lined up rather than this chump gardner.
Barras
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Comment #17Barton is stating the truth.
ToonTiote
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Comment #18Gutted about Nolan and really angry but if Gardner was on out list a would be happy with him good tidy player scores goals for a lower level team put him in a good team ya never no plus about time we got linked with some one like him instead of all these fantasy player some people think we will get lol get Craig Gardner in Demba Ba.
and this Nolan deal do you link its Nolan plus a player because i think it could be a swap deal if am honest.
Oba
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:55 PM
Comment #19Gardner’s not a bad player.
Everyone going on about Nolan’s goals too, saying he was ‘midfield’. No he wasn’t, he was stood next to Carroll throughout half the season.
PHOENIXNIGHTS
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Comment #20I cannot believe what is happening here. Does Pardew not realise we are losing the heart of the club. What Barton/Nolan lack in technical ability they make up for with drive and a will to win. Lets have 9 HBA but you need a nolan and a barton. I think our owners and pardew do not have a f**c**g clue.
Whats next tiote/collo/jonas all being showing the door.
darrowb1
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:57 PM
Comment #21Would much prefer nolan to gardner. The only thing gardner has on his side is youth over nolan. If we are going to replace nolan i would look at reo coker on a free transfer and maybe hargreaves on a pay as you play contract. Both players in my eyes would strengthen the team and the depth of the squad
grumpy_old_sod
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:58 PM
Comment #22Barras
Barton might be telling the truth, but it’s unprofessional. He is trouble and needs to be kicked out before he causes any further problems.
gorskino10
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:59 PM
Comment #23Smooth moves Shola@
I wouldnt say Dismal, but when you replace someone, and tbh we dont wanna replace ANYONE but if we HAVE to then you have to replace him someone ATLEAST on par IF NOT better.
Garder is average and isnt on Par with Kevin!
So step backwards for the club.
ToonTiote
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:59 PM
Comment #24Oba – well said mate to many people think Newcastle going sign these top class players a think they forget its not 1996 and more its 2011 and player like that and the way the club is run wont sign.
NUFC_Richyg01
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:59 PM
Comment #25Whats the truth in us offering £20M for Mario Gomez?
Kris
Jun 15, 2011 at 1:59 PM
Comment #26Screw MA!
Rotonda heights
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Comment #27Not bothered about Nolan gong. 5m is good business for a 29 year old. He did a job for us, but out of him ad Ben Arfa playing ” in the hole ” I think we know the answer to that one. I just hope it’s put towards marvin martin or N’Zogbia not another average Joe like gardner who has no pace, which was the biggest thing against Nolan.
At the end of the day Nolan still had 2 years to run and this smacks of greed at not getting his own way.
I’m afraid barton could be very poisonous now and show his true colours.
Davies
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Comment #28Barrass – Barton is giving his opinion, not necessarily the truth.
boater
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:00 PM
Comment #29DarloGeordie – Pardew was brought in precisely because he would acquiesce to these outgoing transfers.. in other words.. he would have been told of the plans to sell on salable assets. Hughton was fired because they were about to dismantle his dressing room.
like I said – the ashley way…
1) stunning sale or sacking (hughton, carroll, nolan)
2) we think something better is around the corner (o’neill, Gameiro, martin)
3) we realise there isn’t and console ourselves by saying that Gosling and Arfa will be like new signings.
kunal
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Comment #30It seems the owner does not learn from his mistakes nor do the fans
what do you think got us relegated last time
was it quality
no
we had quality big names left and right but no friggin team spirit
and now they sell our captain
IDIOTS
Barras
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:02 PM
Comment #31@grumpy_old_sod
I think you’ll find its Ashley who’s trouble and is the one who needs to be kicked out.
Smooth moves Shola
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:02 PM
Comment #32Gardner is so one dimensional and won’t fit in with our supposed style next season. He hasn’t got the technique to play one/two touch sweeping football. His single identifiable trait is, he likes to run (hardly any quicker than Nolan) in a straight line towards goal, then shoot from the edge of the box.
I’d rather get Hitzelsperger as part of the deal.
Rotonda heights
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:03 PM
Comment #33even if nolan goes, why do we even need another midfielder? We’ve still got guthrie, Smith (crap), barton, Cabaye, Abeid, Jonas, Gosling, Ferguson, Vuksic, Lua Lua etc.
We need quick pacey strikers and wingers
jamesnufc86
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:03 PM
Comment #34Barton – you twat – his contract doesnt get sorted so he starts gobbing off about the club AGAIN, putting ideas and almost trying to round people up to hate Newcastle, honestly id get rid of him, hes a dick
geoff777
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Comment #35Signing an obviously better replacement would be great.
Now we need two wingers and two strikers.
Angryman the (Mildly) Angry fan
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Comment #36Rubbish decisions from clubs worst owner ever!!
Davies
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:05 PM
Comment #37Barras – Before his one (out of four) good season for us, would you have taken his word for anything?
Seriously, one good season and now you’ll take his word for anything. Seriously, he needs sold before he completely disrupts the rest of the squad. The little turd should learn to shut his mouth.
Angryman the (Mildly) Angry fan
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Comment #38Rotonda
“even if nolan goes, why do we even need another midfielder? We’ve still got guthrie, Smith (crap), barton, Cabaye, Abeid, Jonas, Gosling, Ferguson, Vuksic, Lua Lua etc.”
Are any of these proposed replacements any better than Nolan??
Saying we dont know is a Dangerous gamble, as when that transfer window slams shut….we are in the sh!t if they cant come up with 12 goals a season between em !!
Benton Toon Exile
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Comment #39Rumours;
Barton will now accept an offer to move to Everton!
Ask him on Twitter?????
gorskino10
Jun 15, 2011 at 2:07 PM
Comment #40boater@
You forgot that we think the money will be reinvested in the Squad then when they start spending it the Sell another player and recoop even more money.
If Nolan goes for 4+M then atm we havent spent 1p on Cabaye so we would still have 35M left, We will bring in a striker say 8M so 27M left then we will sell Jose for 15M and bring in someone like M’Beague 6/7M , say its 7M we will be back at 35M again :p