I haven’t written an article in a while and I’ve also missed out on some recent Villa news. A bit has happened over the past few weeks, apart from the last two Villa games I was most interested to learn that Jordan Bowery and Gary Gardner have both went out on loan this month. Gary Gardner has a lot to prove, in-fact he has a lot more in stake than Bowery! Gardner’s contract is expiring at the end of the season and he is yet to play under Paul Lambert this season. Gardner is young at the age of 21, but his appearances have been limited due to injuries. Bowery, meanwhile is a Lambert signing that has failed to impress. He’ll be hoping to gain some goalscoring form and perhaps capture the attention of his boss.
The Gardner situation is quite similar to Marc Albrighton. Albrighton’s contract is expiring at the end of the season and it appeared as though he would be off in the summer. Albrighton wasn’t getting many games under Lambert, was often overlooked but the most common issue was injury. In a turn of events, Albrighton’s recent performance have convinced Lambert to hold talks with Albrighton in regards to a new contract. Albrighton has been playing well, in-fact he has often been Villa’s best player. But despite his great performances he is yet to register a goal or an assist this season. I’m sure he’ll be disappointed with that, but with his recent performances, registering a goal or assist is just around the corner. Nonetheless, Albrighton is a play I’d like to see at Villa next season and perhaps for another two or three years. Besides, when younger Albrighton was dubbed as the future David Beckham and linked with a move to Man. Utd.
What Gardner has to do is replicate Albrightons return to the first team. A loan move to the Championship is a step in the right direction. In my honest opinion, I didn’t think Albrighton performed that well for Wigan, in-fact I was convinced that he hadn’t done enough to impress Lambert. However, I was completely wrong; the objective behind Albrighton’s loan move was regaining match fitness. Anything else would simply be a mare bonus.
Gardner has joined Sheffield Wednesday on an emergency loan. He has so far made one appearance for the Owls. He played 60 minutes in Sheffield’s 1-0 defeat to Derby. It’s a good start, especially for a player that has been hampered with injuries. This loan move will help Gardner’s fitness and surely he’ll then get some game time under Lambert. But regardless, I still expect Gardner to be offered a new contract simply because of his age. He is 21 years of age, one of the youngest in our squads and is highly rated. This new contract won’t be a long-term contract, but either a one-year extension or a two-year extension will be offered. He hasn’t been given a chance with the first team and that is the main reason why I think he’ll receive a new contract extension.
Jordan Bowery is an interesting case. Bowery joined Aston Villa in 2012 and has only made a handful of apperances. He did play more last season but I felt as though he has been playing better this season. Bowery has made the step up to the Premier League from League 1 and it’s a tough step to make. So far he hasn’t made that step and a move to Doncaster will do a world of good to both himself and Aston Villa. Sadly I don’t expect to see Bowery in a Villa shirt next season. It was a good experiment, Bowery was a cheap purchase. His loan move to the Championship will give him the opportunity to showcase his talent. Bowery deserves to step up from League 1, but perhaps not to the Premier League. I reckon the Championship will be the best level for his career at this current stage.
I think we will regret it if we don’t give Gardner a new contract, I think his got a bright future ahead of himself
I reckon Gardner could become a vital part of our Villa midfield. Two years ago he played really well in the 3-2 victory over Wolves. If it wasn’t for his injuries I reckon he’d still be playing for the first team.
I’m also a big fan of seeing our academy players given chance
Yeah we have some real good promising talents that will soon make there mark on the first team
Can any villa player re-inciate their villa career lol
Bit of a strange comment Villa 1996!
I’d like to see Bowery playing as a striker on loan, he’s well down the pecking order at Villa. He clearly has talent but needs an opportunity to show it. He isn’t a winger as has already been established and can’t have come on more than once or twice as a late substitute in a team that probably isn’t set up to deliver the ball to its strikers the way he’s used to.
Gardner is a product of the academy and wants to play for Villa. He has talent, we need a player in the position in which he excels, he won’t cost the earth, as long as he can stay fit it’s all roses.
I like that the club are loaning out players to get them match fit and tested competitively, it worked with Albrighton. If only Helenius could get some bloody match time. Anywhere.
Ever hear of closing the barn door after the horse has bolted, Villa is well known for that. How many players are now playing for top , yes top clubs today. Money is on the boards a gender not thinking of fans.
You talking about Cahill by any chance Bill? Or Der Hammer who did very well back in Germany. ..
The jury is still out on Gardner , however Jordan Bowery , this kid is fuckin crap , a friend of mine knows one of his mates who said that even he admits he’s not good enough for Aston villa or the premier league for that matter and couldn’t believe his luck when lambert came in for him , boasting this single move to villa has set him for life ! Lambert is a clueless moron .
That is 100% true on my kids lives
Not sure about this article but one thing I am sure about is the authors vocabulary is abysmal. Was it written by a 8 year old? If so my apologies.
That’ll be “author’s” then if you’re going to be a dick about it.
Touche, Foxy (and yes, I know there’s no accent on the “e”).
Also, “If so my apologies.” should contain a comma after the “so” 🙂
Tbh, this sort of conversation is probably more exciting than what’s actually happening at the moment.
As for Weimann sucking Lambert’s proverbial…. oh dear.
Roll on the bloody game, so we have something to talk about, imo.
Author’s = author is. Had I of put author’s the comment wouldn’t of made sense. Idiot.
so what you really meant to write then is, authors’ then seen as it is owned by or in posession of the author. Captiain Vocabulary out, thank you.
No, MD8, “authors'” would mean if there were multiple authors. I’m afraid, ATOUCHOFVILLA.COM, “author’s” is correct. It’s a possessive apostrophe.
You’re a bit special MARKDRAPERNUMBER8. Your parents must be proud of you.
My 7 year old son wrote that so not funny
While I don’t quite think Bowery will be good enough, I agree with Foxy. Bowery hasn’t come on and played the head striker role more than once or twice and he looked decent when he did. Don’t think he’ll ever be good enough to be a goal scorer at Villa but unless played in the correct position the right way, he’ll always look way out of his depth.
Atouchofvilla.com or, ATOUCHOFVILLA.COM, please dont be a prat all your life take a day off.
Jesus things must be quiet on the Villa front when all there is to argue over is grammatical errors.
Shouldn’t that be Billy Walker’s shirt?
🙂
Lol very funny.
Like Albrighton gardners career rests in his own hands, unless personalities clash and then he is already out the door, I dont think he has any issues and his contract renewal is probably a formality.
On Bowery, i have to say he is no messi but when he has come on i feel he has done the job asked of him. He played down the left flank in one game and i think that was more of him to act as a wall to the opposing wing back, and he did the job perfectly.
Earlier this season he met a cross perfectly with his head and it hit the bar, other good things about his game he can hold the ball up well and is not bad at laying it off. I think this loan is all about the next step in his development, I dont think he is a world beater but he is a big strong lad who can win and head the ball.
He should not be played on the wing, he has no pace and is not great at dribbling his shooting i am yet to to see any to make a judgement.
If he does well on loan which i hope they both do then we can command a fee and will prorbably get one because of his low wages or he can continue to develop at Villa spend a season on loan to build up his expereince.
I seem to recall he scored a cracking free kick at the end of last season
I dont remember it, but I think some time out on loan would do him good.
hope everyone enjoyed our midseason break 🙂
i was disappointed 2 hear gardner being loaned out, but i taken on board the reason most of u pointed out, i like him plus hes definitely bringing more 2 the table, than some of our current midfielders,
bowery needs games so happy 2 see him leave, gd 4 him as well us, puts him in the shop window, if hes successful which iam sure he will be. i fail 2 see wot the fuss is about with him, he was not a major gamble,