Football bible the Daily Mirror have come up with this one. I think they are either scraping the barrel of football journalism or they know something we don't.

According to the paper Martin O'Neill is willing to pay £2mn but Spurs want £3mn. I know what I'd pay for him and it's not close to either of those figures.

The thing with buying from clubs in the same league is if you're buying from a team that is doing better than you, which Spurs have done for the past few seasons, then if they're going to let him go it suggests he's not good enough for them, so why is he good enough for us?

Since 2000 he's played just over 100 games for Spurs, he plays at centre back so suggests he would play as cover to Martin Laursen and Olof Mellberg.

If we're after another central defender it strongly suggests that Ridgewell is on his way and for me that is the error. We should fight to keep Ridgewell and make him part of the long term plans of the club, but I'm not the manager and Martin O'Neill knows better.

Rumour likelihood: I wouldn't put money on it and I reckon the manager has them all lined up so this is probably nothing. Still, stranger things have happened.

Comments (57)

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Spurs said:

£3m hahahahahaha, £2m hahahahahahahaha, £500,000 hahahahaha, whatever it is, just take him ffs!!!!!

July 13, 2007

balders77 said:

uh oh. mo'n needs his head checking if there's any truth in this.we'd bite your hands off for half that.he's pony!

July 13, 2007

mintles said:

Have him for nothing-god only knows why we've kept him at the club for so long he's absolute sh*t.take danny murphy and mido off our hands as well

July 13, 2007

fznfzn said:

Im a spurs fan and trust me £3 million for gardner is £3 million too much, the guy is an absolute liability. When he plays i get nervous everytime the ball goes near him. I dont mind the villa and believe me guys you dont want gardner even on a free!!!!!!

July 13, 2007

Huff84 said:

I'm sorry there is no need to be slating Gardner. He's been there for spurs whenever we've needed him. Never/rarely got a run of games, give anyone that muchtoong and froing and they're never going to play as well as they could. I'd take him, esp if ridgewell is going, he's good for cover, and if he gets a run of games should be better than we've ever seen in a spurs shirt. You also have th trump card of M O'N, who i think is the best man manager around!!!

July 13, 2007

IQATL said:

We're far better than you muppets - you'll see us way above you this coming season!

July 13, 2007

taglor said:

Isn't it funny how all the comments are from spurs fans, you guys look at villa sites too much are you thinking about changing over to the better team, go on you know want to, together we can rule the universe!

July 13, 2007

Juice said:

By that reasoning! Who would ever buy a player or sell a player from a team higher or do i mean lower......WTF? oh s**t confused.. maybe you need to rethink your philophosy!!!!!!!

July 13, 2007

sr said:

I am a spurs season ticket holder, and actually dont think he is as bad as what people make out. He had the odd dodgy error, but on the whole has done a job for us! I would certainly take him over Laursen, who is ALWAYS going to get injured! The only reason why he cant get into our team is cos we have 3 excellent centre backs now. Villa dont. They have 1.

July 13, 2007

Damian said:

at Juice its not a philosophy just an opinion. sure if its berbatov we'd have him but you wouldn't let him go. by very fact, if you're willing to let gardner go, it suggests he's not good enough for your team, he's lost interest in the club, which means it can happen again if he has to sit on the bench at villa or you're getting a better player in. we should be going after that better player ... is my opinion

July 13, 2007

Tartaruga said:

Those other Spurs fans are complete d*ckheads, it's because of t*ssers like them we get a bad reputation. I don't expect there's one of them who's even been to a match in the last few years, they probably live in Wales or something!! Anyway, Gardener is a good player, in his younger days he suffered from the occasional lapse of concentration but last season whenever he came in he was great. He's seriously pacey too for a big man, was SE's schoolboy sprint champion or something when he was a kid and can run a hundred in a around 11 dead. Oddly, despite being 6'6" his biggest weakness is in the air. He's also a full England international and his call up was no fluke, potentially he's one of the best and worth double what's reportedly on the table, but he's had injury problems and so that's kept the fee down. If he can stay fit MON will have a steal on his hands. I, for one will be sorry to see him go.

July 13, 2007

Astonmilan said:

Total twaddle, press speculation, Luke Young and the Hangeland are on the brink of signing and that will sort out our defensive cover. Ridgewell is better than Gardener and he is a liability in his own right.

July 13, 2007

Nick123 said:

IQATL- first sign of getting nervous then??

July 13, 2007

Stu irvine said:

Gardner would do a good job for anybody. Last time he had an extended run in the first team at spurs he ended up with an england cap. He may be a reserve at spurs, but he is behind two top players in King and Dawson. The two others at spurs (yaboul and rocha) are there for their promise and european experience respecfully. Gardner could do a job for most sides in the premiership outside of the top five so I would be happy to have him if I were a villa fan. After all, if the going rate for a centre half is 10m for Curtis Davies and 8m for Mathew Upson then I think you would have a bargain as a back up for the injury prone Laursen. Anyway, how about a straight swop for Garath Barry?! No?, go on please... We will even throw in Hossam Ghaly if you like!

July 13, 2007

El Pez said:

Gardner is a good player who last season never let us down and I always liked him. He wants to play football all the time and that sometimes means he gets caught out when the ball should be put in row Z. But I think for 3 mill he would do a good job for you lot. It's a step down for him definitely and he may have trouble getting motivated for a team that will struggle as per usual. But if he goes I wish him well. Up the Spurs!

July 13, 2007

Bob Bower said:

Good shout bout all spurs fans being d*c*heads, keep on going the Villans,you aint won nothin and never will all the time u have a hole in your arse

July 13, 2007 | url

villa4eva said:

why are nearly all the spurs fans on here such idiots? and wy do they come on this site and post abuse at villa? what is the point? i wonder how many of them actually live in london and have season tickets?

July 13, 2007

Damian said:

please, can we just keep it civil. i have no issue with spurs and i fail to see how they can have an issue with us. in some respect they've done what we are just beginning and because of that they shoudl understand our optimism. but please, if you're a football fan there is no need for this abuse. we reserve that for a certain club down the road

July 13, 2007

true spurs said:

some bad spurs fans about thats how teams lose money with s**t talk

July 13, 2007 | url

villa forever said:

You are right! Gardener in my opinion is not good enougth for where we want to be and i also class Rigwell a better player also, so dont go there MON. Changeing the subject a little! i here christian wilhelmsson is availibe! it is also rumoured that two Premier clubs are talking to him, i just hope AV are one of those clubs because if the rumours are true and shaun wright is on his way and we could also get wilhelmsson we would be more than tasty on the right of midfield. Go on MON you will get him for about 3 mil.

July 13, 2007

Damian said:

i think its a case of a lot of fans will just be happy with any old signing because its so close to the pre-season tour .. we're almost accepting second best .. just my opinion

July 13, 2007

mossiewalsh said:

cahill is twice the centre half gardner is thats a waste of 3m looks like panic buys now maybe mon didnt have all the secert deals we thought he had.

July 13, 2007

Ricky said:

Tony will do a good job if you buy him, he's struggled to hold down a place here at Spurs because of the excellent players in front of him. He's not the greatest on the ball, or dominant in the air, but he's pretty solid. I apologise for the abrupt comments of some of the other Spurs fans on here, but it's soon end of school term and they are excited. COYS

July 13, 2007

Dizzy Mugs said:

Oh, the hilarity of watching white trash insult white trash by making snide remarks about how 'all **** fans are dickheads'. Grow up and stop stereotyping, children.. Back to the Gardner subject... MON made superstars out of average squad players before, i'm sure he'll do it again. I'd prefer Ridgewell over Gardner though, i see him as a to-be England international.

July 13, 2007

Luke said:

All those Spurs fans are closet Villa fans or they wouldn't be reading this! To be honest, I like Spurs but the more their fans come on here and leave immature comments the more I'm beginning to dis-like them. If Gardner's not good enough for Spurs he's not good enough for us, enough said.

July 13, 2007

North London said:

Gardner is a light weight. We have been trying to get rid of him for years. if he could bulk up and punch his weight then maybe he would not get knocked off the ball so easily. Would be OK 1 division down but he is no Premiership player.

July 13, 2007

Astonmilan said:

I can't see any truth in this at all, just press speculation again. Laursen is over his injury nightmare now and should be ok with a good pre-season, Cahill is more than good enough as cover and if Hangeland signs, which I reckon he will, we will have good defensive cover. Also I'm getting sick of this Villa - Spurs bulls**t aswell, there has never been any rivalry between the clubs and they have always shared the same stature. I wish them well in their campaign next season, from a true Villa fan, and a season ticket holder for 19 years.

July 13, 2007

el said:

Well I'm a Spurs supporter and I have no problem with villa. I always used to stick up for Gardener when he was getting slagged off on our blogsites. He does need to be playing regularly to be at his best, which he didn't get much chance of at Spurs but I reckon he's been a bit underrated. If you buy him you need to play him and he'll do a good job. Good in the air, quick(when match fit/sharp and his positioning is more than adequate. 2 mil would be cheap, 3 is still a decent price. Don't let Spurs snobbery persuade you that he's rubbish coz he isn't. Good luck next season.

July 13, 2007

jaf said:

There is no way MON is interested in him, we wouldnt sell ridgewell and buy somebody with less talent.. But saying that hes better than Dawson..!

July 13, 2007

Claridge said:

he is a villa fan from sutton coldfield .... that is the only reason he is being linked. ignore

July 13, 2007

Park Lane Upper said:

TG isn't as bad a player as a lot of Spurs fans make out. He is extremely quick which isn't always noticeable due to his long legs. (he could have been a sprinter). I personally believe we haven't developed him as well as we could have. Maybe O'neil sees the potential and will get the best out of him. Main weaknesses: concentration/ airial presence/ injury prone Stengths: pace/ passing/ Villa Fan

July 13, 2007

Tararuga said:

First of all not all Spurs fans are d*ckheads, just the one's that come on here acting ignorant and slagging one of our own. Secondly the reason you get a lot of Spurs fans on this forum when you talk about a Spurs player is because whoever it is who own this blog posts the article in the Spurs section of NewsNow, we click on it and hey presto we're here! Third of all, Villa are so much further away from top five than they think. The point is, anyone can have a good season ala Everton and Spurs (two years ago), if your big-hitters stay fit, you have few other commitments (no europe, go out of the cups early etc) and you get a little run going, then fourth is not a million miles away, but that's a lot of 'if's' and it's not sustainable. The big clubs do it year in year out, with injuries, playing in multiple competitions and with a top mentality even when things are going against them. Villa and Spurs have to aspire to be like that. However, while we are getting there Villa have barely even begun the journey. The problem is squad as much as it's first team. What happens if Barry gets injured and Carew for example? Young or Abhlonghour (htf do you spell that anyway? lol) come in, but they're young and can they really play every game? And who covers Barry? What are your prospects for the season then? Top six? It'd be tough (it already is). Top ten? More like it. But that's another season without Europe, without being able to attract the top players and in which the top players you have begin to get restless as other teams come sniffing. So here's the thing, to outsiders Spurs seem to be about Berbatov, or the season before Davids maybe, but those players would have no effect if we didn't have a squad. Last season we fell far short of fourth but we had more success, the squad was utilised players like Gardner came in and did a job for the the injured King (our best player by a mile btw), Huddlestone, Tainio, Malbranque, all good squad players covered when they had to... but we still fell short. This transfer window, what have we done? We've spent top dollar on cover, on the squad, not neccesarily first team players, but squad players. That's what MON needs to do and that's why he's looking to pick up bargains like Gardener, not as first choice neccesarily but as a good squad player, but one who has the added advantage that if kept fit has the potential to be an international class player. You shouldn't criticise MON you should thank the gods you've got him, because even though there's a long way to go, if you are to get there it will because of him.

July 13, 2007

Marc said:

Luke, Try engaging your brain before you post. The reason why Spurs fans are reading this is because the this site feeds NewsNow and as Spurs is mentioned it becomes associated to their page.

July 13, 2007

AV4EVER said:

Spurs Fans grow up this is a civilized site for proper grown-ups. Whenever i have seen Anthony Gardner play against the villa he has been top class, i think he will be a good back-up player but do we need that! Cahill & Ridgewell are equally capable of doing the same job. I have a feeling this could just be paper talk as they are probably getting a bit inpatient just like the rest of us.

July 13, 2007

Telford Villain said:

Anyone else getting more than a little concerned that we are only a week away from our squad going to the USA for this pre-season tour and that we have only signed one player? We needed more quality players in the squad this season than last. Yes we have got rid of some dead wood, yes we have got rid of some players who aren't going to take us to the next level but we are suddenly not being linked with anyone decent. Ok we are still being linked with SWP but he is one Chelsea's USA tour so not sure that will happen. Defoe, yes a good possibilty but who else. We needed 5 very very good players before we let anyone go, now we need a lot more. I am beginning to feel cheated by the club telling us to expect some big names, MON saying he wants his squad assembled before returning to pre-season training, yet we are worse off than this time last year with regards to squad depth. I think the people who say we should finish top 6 this season are in dream world at present. Yes if we get in some of the players we are being linked with we should, but as of today we are looking to struggle to finish outside the bottom 5 places. If Portsmouth can spend 22 million and can attract some half decent players why can't a club like Villa. Have our owners thought that our new training ground is enough to entice these players to the club. Money is most people's motivation. Don't want to appear down, but MON has some serious work to do between now and when the squad goes to the USA and if we have not secured anymore players between now and then, should MON go over with the squad? Who is going to show potential players round and convinse them with his infectous personality? Sorry to be down lads, but feel a little cheated at the minute Anyway up the Villa

July 13, 2007

Carl said:

Sven liked the gardner, I like the gardner, MON seems to like him too. Lets all just like the gardner! And the argument that you cant buy a player from a club that are 'below' you dont hold up if we talk about talent. What we shouldnt do is to buy sh*t from clubs like ManU (Djemba) and Pool (Berger)..

July 13, 2007

emad said:

Technically, Gardner possesses all the ingredients of a good central defender also capable of playing at right back. His height gives him an edge over his opponents for mid-air dog-fights. His long legs give him an advantage over his opponents for ground tussles. He is quick off the mark. He marks his opponents very well. He is always there for set-pieces. He is still young and already been capped by England. Do not pay attention to his status at WHL because players' evaluations vary from one manager to another, let alone amongst fans and armature trainers. It is a matter of conviction. But Gardner has his weaknesses like all other players do, be it in the Premiership or elsewhere in the world. His biggest weakness is being caught out of position which potentially leads to conceded goals. This usually happens when surging forward and failing to return as quickly as he should. His lack of decisiveness could be another critical weakness and several times he fails to clear when under severe pressure. And as much as his long legs give him an advantage, many times those same long legs make him guilty of committing unnecessary penalties in his quest to win balls from the feet of attackers. His chronic weakness is his vulnerability to injuries. We can say whatever we want about Gardner and other players on this site, but the final decision is made by someone paid to do so and that is the manager and at Villa is none other than MON who enjoys unquestionable vast expertise.

July 13, 2007

villa youth said:

i ent 1 of these people who chat crap and say they have a contact down the villa as i genrelay do and i can confirm that villa are in negotiations with spurs over defoe and chelsea over swp

July 13, 2007

jcSPURS said:

O'Neill would be mad to spend £3m on Gardner... he's a brilliant athlete, but his attention is suspect. He might improve a lot with consistent 1st team football, but he won't get that at villa. p.s. hands off our Defoe

July 13, 2007

brede said:

hangeland suck.. take it from a frustrated norwegian supporter

July 13, 2007

Michael W said:

theyve probably been playing champ manager, hes a villa fan on there

July 13, 2007

Jambi said:

The mirror is the poorest excuse for a 'news'paper i have ever read. Its not even worth keeping in the toilet to wipe my arse with! They make stuff up constantly, purely to sell papers because they are too lazy to get off their arse's and do some proper journalism. I would love to see the percentage of their 'rumours' that actually come true, id be suprised if it was even 1%. Just the other day, they ran a story that said Anderson would be refused a work permit for ManU... the same day he got a work permit!!! if this was in the independent, i may take notice. As it is, ill wait till a proper journailst picks up his pen to write about villa!!

July 13, 2007

sam_spurs said:

Im amazed that he's been at THFC for so long to be honest. He's really not a first team player there! and if your a team that want to start going places then he shouldnt be at your place either!But £3m is a great deal for spurs! i think the only reason he's been with us for so long is that we have had injuries on out back line! Go for it lads! but be prepared to sing "What a waste of money" come the start of the season!!! COYS!

July 13, 2007

AV33 said:

I can't believe that we are rumoured with yet another average player in Gardner. I really thought we would be going for some world class playing staff. Just makes me sick that while we are talking about this, Liverpool are unveiling Ryan Babel ! If anyone hasn't seen him yet, expect big things next season. Finally i was interested to read that in order to sign for Pompey, John Utaka turned down an extra £20,000 a week offered by Sven and Citeh ! Whats all that about then ? Hope we get some quality soon...and very soon !!

July 13, 2007

Spur_Forever said:

AHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese let this be true! I think I'd p**s myself if you lot bought Gardner for 2 mil, let alone 3!

July 13, 2007

Luke said:

Marc, I don't go around reading stuff that gets put up on every other fansite. The article is available on many other sites than this and they could read that than come on here and start slagging people off. Let the football do the talking if you're so confident in your team being better than ours. You may be a better team, but great sides don't always win things. Newcastle anyone? They've replaced Spurs as serial underachievers and they've got some class players in their squad.

July 13, 2007

Nickers said:

Ha ha you can have the nervous giraffe. He loves to warm the bench but he might even get a run in your side as you are somewhat smaller than the Spurs. Honestly he's not the best but also not the worst CB in the PM.

July 13, 2007

StuartWilson said:

There's no monopoly on numpties, us Spurs fans have plenty in our camp as you Villa supporters also do. So apologies for the neanderthals above, they do not represent the majority of Spurs lads and lasses who just like a good bit of footie chat and banter. As for Gardner, really, he's a nice enough fella but not Premiership material, what is O'Neill thinking? You can have him.

July 13, 2007

London_Guy said:

I see Villa where we (Spurs) were 3 or 4 years ago. The problem we had then and you are having now is being able to attract players that really want European Football. Whilst you Guys may be optimistic about achieving it next, you cant gaurantee it and thats the problem. We have moved on a stage but now we want CL Players and as yet we cant guarantee it that, so its all a bit of a chicken and egg situation. However, be patient, I have tremendous respect for Martin O'Niel and I reckon you will get there, but just not as quick as you would like.

July 13, 2007

Martin O Neill_New villa said:

Ok maybe its the fact that big names dont want to come to us because we are not in europe maybe this is the reason if its not the reason then M.O.N is going to cause himself a lot of stick as he did promise and i quote PROMISE some decent strong players at the moment it aint happening i still belive it will happen but they are leaving it late.Also it wouldnt hurt someone from the club releasing a statment assuring fans some big names will come i see alex ferguson on tv at least once a week along with quite a few other managers yet we only see M.O.N or someone from villa once every 2 or 3 weeks very slow club and i think many would agree with me no when i say we are a snail in the transfer market one of the slowest and quitest clubs in the world

July 13, 2007

davemacca1 said:

AG really isn't a bad player... what the main article states is true however: Gardner isn't really good enough for us, so he's not really for you. Quick and strong mind, but his decision-making is very poor, as is his recovery challenge. Don't agree with the comment that he's poor in the air, he's certainly capable, but considering his height he should be unbeatable. Would be a decent signing for someone like Fulham (with low expextations) but Spurs and Villa are (or in your case, will be) European teams. He's not of that quality. and hands off Defoe! he's brilliant and should bloody well stay! He'll get 30 games for us next season, same as he would at somewhere like Man city... Dont go Defoe!!

July 13, 2007

Leroy said:

Again,why are people stressing out? i know its cliche by now, but MON has a plan. Im getting sick of all this talk. I know we are promised signings, and they will come, but we all know that there are so many players still available and we arenot able to control things. Randy did not invest his cold hard cash for no reason. He hired MON, thankgod, to build a team that would make his purchase, Villa, a profitable one. MON doesnt buy scrap,he is waiting for the good buys. Please,Villa fans keep the faith, it has felt like forever this far. Now lets enjoy the whole process,not just the baby steps..............

July 13, 2007

Nigel-not-Reo said:

When I read most of the comments by Spurs fans, one word comes to me...Condescending. Trust me i'm not trying to cause trouble, I just don't believe Spurs are as far ahead of us as they would like to think they are. I'm confident that next season will prove this point

July 13, 2007

villa123b4 said:

HAS ANYONE SEEN FREDDY ADU PLAYING IN THE U20 WORLD CUP? He's had several class performances and I think villa should make a bid for the young American so that Randolph can have a few of his own in the side!

July 13, 2007

villan93ant said:

forget anthony gardner hes aload of crap i wouldnt buy him for a penny but for 3m you could have luke young.

July 14, 2007

Simon Goodyear said:

Why are all these Spurs fans writing on the Villa blog site? Sod off..... Write in your own site.

July 16, 2007

sheneece said:

u kno wht ur all sad. theres nuffin wrong with gardner. hes a lovely guy and theres no need for any of u to slate him the way u r

June 11, 2008

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