Ricardo Gardner: Testimonial?

TKIZ! · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:41 am

I forgot just how quick Gardner is/was until I saw that video. Gutted he won't be pulling on the white shirt any more even if it was to sit on the bench

Gail Platz · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:50 pm

TKIZ! wrote:

I forgot just how quick Gardner is/was until I saw that video. Gutted he won't be pulling on the white shirt any more even if it was to sit on the bench

It is a real shame because he did a great job wherever he was asked to play. I remember us having a left back problem for ages and when he was asked to fill in there he played brilliantly.

Will go down as a legend and it's sad to see him go along with Jussi.

irie Cee Bee · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:42 pm

Bibi will always be a legend in my heart. He is the man responsible for bringing me to BWFC when he joined after the World Cup in 1998 when as a 19 yr. old playing left Wing back, he assited Robbie Earle to score Jamaica's first ever goal in a World Cup.

Hopefully he will move on with his career and negotiate a couple more years out of his now brittle body.

All the best Bibi Gardner. Even though you move on, I will be following the rest of you career closely. Me, I will be staying at BWFC where I have found a club I love.

Relentless09 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:59 pm

irie Cee Bee wrote:

Bibi will always be a legend in my heart. He is the man responsible for bringing me to BWFC when he joined after the World Cup in 1998 when as a 19 yr. old playing left Wing back, he assited Robbie Earle to score Jamaica's first ever goal in a World Cup.

Hopefully he will move on with his career and negotiate a couple more years out of his now brittle body.

All the best Bibi Gardner. Even though you move on, I will be following the rest of you career closely. Me, I will be staying at BWFC where I have found a club I love.

I'm from a family that don't support Bolton but it was players like Ricardo, Jay Jay, Jussi and SKD that made me love this club from a young age

CAPSLOCK · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:06 pm

irie Cee Bee wrote:

Bibi will always be a legend in my heart. He is the man responsible for bringing me to BWFC when he joined after the World Cup in 1998 when as a 19 yr. old playing left Wing back, he assited Robbie Earle to score Jamaica's first ever goal in a World Cup.

Hopefully he will move on with his career and negotiate a couple more years out of his now brittle body.

All the best Bibi Gardner. Even though you move on, I will be following the rest of you career closely. Me, I will be staying at BWFC where I have found a club I love.

Dunno why, but I find this post quite emotional

I don't want to

But, I do

btw - Ricardo Gardner is in my Top 10 Whites of my supporting life

Right in there with Allardyce, Worthy, Jim McDonagh and Okocha

Can't say more that that abou the lad

Lord Kangana · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:09 pm

Best left back of the last 30 years? Probably. There was a time when he was amongst the very best in the Premier League. If he'd have been English, he'd have been talked aboit much more, and he'd have been on the move for big money.

CAPSLOCK · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:14 pm

Lord Kangana wrote:

There was a time when he was amongst the very best in the Premier League

I know this goes against the grain, but just have to agree

He was so fcuking effective in that role

A great signing

It was wrong of Coyle to give him a deal last Summer but at the same time, so right

I'd attend his testimonial

I'd not say that about many

Always seemed so genuine

Leyther_Matt · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 1:53 pm

He was actually signed initially as a left back IIRC but Todd for whatever reason preferred Robbie Elliott amongst others at left back and thought his pace would be better served higher up the field. Agree that he brought a ton of quality to the side on his day, I just hope people remember that rather than being stuck in centre mid and getting run about all over the place.

TKIZ! · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 2:57 pm

Leyther_Matt wrote:

He was actually signed initially as a left back IIRC but Todd for whatever reason preferred Robbie Elliott amongst others at left back and thought his pace would be better served higher up the field. Agree that he brought a ton of quality to the side on his day, I just hope people remember that rather than being stuck in centre mid and getting run about all over the place.

I remember his mazy runs best, can anyone remember the one against Chelsea at home when HWSNBN was in charge. He put Bibi on from the start of the second half and from the kick off he ran at them which we hadn't done all day. I think he skinned two or three, rounded Cech and I thought to myself this was a goal of the decade contender. Then Bibi skyed it over the bar but you couldn't be made with him because he let out a big smile.

irie Cee Bee · **Posted:** Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:21 am

One of my biggest disappointment was OCs insitence in playing him in Central Mid... by far his worst position. He plays best on the touchlines. That was my first inclination that OC did not know what he was doing. Went to Phil on loan at Preston and starred in his favorite position. Came back and again OC saw him as mainly a Central Mid.

OC showed signs of wising up late in the season, but his early season stuburness cost us our premiership place. Hope he can get us back up first time of asking.

Dave Sutton's barnet · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:09 am

Leyther_Matt wrote:

He was actually signed initially as a left back IIRC but Todd for whatever reason preferred Robbie Elliott amongst others at left back and thought his pace would be better served higher up the field.

Thought he played leftwingback for Jamaica at France 98. Indeed I seem to remember Todd laughing off a suggestion that Bibi could play left-back. Luckily Allardyce had more faith (or, arguably, less choice) and persevered. There aren't many players who switch positions so successfully, and Gardner's pace, energy and penetration gave us another dimension - almost literally when the wide forwards in Sam's formation would cut inside. Full-back is one of the key positions in the modern game: because they are frequently the player with the most space in front of them, so a good one can make all the difference.

BWFC_Insane · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:23 am

I think by trade he was a left winger (who played left wing back in the world cup for Jamaica).

A fantastic signing by Todd.

He was though far better at LB than LW.

And as LK says for a period was as good a LB in the top flight as you're likely to find. Right up there. Had it all, pace, positional sense, good going forwards, decent in the tackle.

Easy to forget how good he was there.

He'd still be there now if it weren't for injuries (and possibly OC.....)

Dave Sutton's barnet · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:25 am

BWFC_Insane wrote:

He'd still be there now if it weren't for injuries (and possibly OC.....)

How'd'you work that out? OC gave him an extended contract despite Ricky's permaknackery...

BWFC_Insane · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:26 am

Dave Sutton's barnet wrote:

BWFC_Insane wrote:

He'd still be there now if it weren't for injuries (and possibly OC.....)

How'd'you work that out? OC gave him an extended contract despite Ricky's permaknackery...

Just meant he might not be at LB in an OC side......

Wandering Willy · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:28 am

OC tried him there- he lasted 47 minutes.

Bijou Bob · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:06 pm

Testimonial??? Seriously?? In years gone by they were to secure the short term financial future of loyal players who had earned relatively little. Why give a bloke who has earned 20/30 grand a week for the past ten years a testimonial??

Yes, Gardner has been a great club servant, one I loved to watch and up until recently rated highly, but he has been admirably rewarded for that, particularly during the last 3 years where he has played next to no matches and picked up a huge salary regardless. The club have shown him remarkable loyalty through difficult, injury ridden times.

This might sound churlish, but we owe him nothing.

Dave Sutton's barnet · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:57 pm

As noted previously, modern testimonials are frequently charitable fund-raisers – not for the player, but for something close to his heart. Wonder if Bibi would raise some money for his old football club back in Jamaica?

Abdoulaye's Twin · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:15 pm

Also a chance to say goodbye to one of the finest Wanderers for many a year. Very few players deserve testimonials in the modern age...Bibi is one of them that does...

CAPSLOCK · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:23 pm

Bijou Bob wrote:

but we owe him nothing.

Agreed

But he owes me the chance to let him know how much he meant to me

And nobody forces anybody to attend

Relentless09 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2012 1:17 am

He's brought so much to this club and certainly he's earned more money than majority of us and so what if he earns more, money doesn't last forever but memories do

Ricardo Gardner: Testimonial?

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