Gardner Fee Agreed - Official

It's a real shame. The lad has shown a great attitude, has bags of energy and has a fearsome shot on him. He's a way better footballer than NRC and he's been better than anything we've seen from Sidwell in a Villa shirt.

He never got a chance because he is too slow for CM, not enough skill for RM and not defensive enough for RB. He will be a utillity player for them. Good luck craig. Only way is down now

To be fair its probably the best place for him to go,they are playing very well and he will slot in there perfectly.Im not from the West Midlands but its good to see how strong the area has become at football again.

What's all this "lifelong Blues fan" and "Joins his boyhood heroes at Birmingham" rubbish I've been reading on various sites??? Craig Gardner, Blues Fan? I always thought he was a lifelong Villa supporter like his brother?

Play Him Today ? :D

godzvilla, apparently his whole family are noses, Gary included. 100%, too slow? Well that didn't stop GB becoming the most consistent midfielder England has had for years, arguably the first name on the teamsheet. Milner is not exactly lightning quick either but he still gets rave reviews from Villa fans and Capello alike. I agree though, he's no RB and no winger either but can you honestly say that he's worse than NRC or Sidwell (in a Villa shirt, Sidwell was immense at Reading and I wish he could recover that form - thanks for ruining him Chelsea)?

I also think for the money we will get for him (3mil reported right?) we should keep him. I agree he's better than Sidwell (or at least could be with a run of games). I don't knock the move for Gardner, he's done his bit and always had the right attitude but of all the bloody clubs to go to!!!

Ages ago I spoke to people who were supposed to know the family, and Craig used to go to loads of Villa away matches as well as have a season ticket at Villa Park. I always believed that to be true, but who knows?

Ages ago I spoke to people who were supposed to know the family, and Craig used to go to loads of Villa away matches as well as have a season ticket at Villa Park. I always believed that to be true, but who knows?

I was aways of the thinking that he was a Villain too, this is a strange one.

He wonts 1st team football and maybe doesnt wonna move out of Birmingham, But leaving to play for Birmingham, Thats a blow.. He should of went to Walsall, Its only a bus away LOL

I agree he's better than Sidwell 2 Magic and worth more then 3mill

Ive spoken to people from Birmingham that used to go to Villa home games then City games the next week when Villa were away.

It's great to see the academy continues to pay for itself. Sell the ones that aren't up to it and continue to produce the odd one that is. It's all about sustainability. I was always a little disappointed with craig's performances so it's all for the best in, my humble opinion.

Have we missed Ridgewell? No. Or Luke Moore? Not him either. However, we could have done with Cahill last season and if we still had him we might not have signed Collins, who makes up in commitment what he may lack in quality. I would sooner see Gardner stay thay go, and I hope he doesn't come back to haunt us. He seems a good, honest lad and I wish him well, but the decision to sell might just come back to bite MON on the bum. Quality wise, is he any worse than NRC or Sidwell??? Maybe Gary is a better prospect long term and will soon break through. It's a big decision for the manager, but his judgement has been OK so far.

Not that it matters I suppose, but like godzvilla and other Villans, I have always been under the impression that Craig had been born and raised a Villan, and like Gary Shaw and others before him, had followed/supported the club home and away before joining the club of his dreams. Now we read in the media that he has always been of the blue equation, and is now about to join the club that he and his family have always supported. Anyway, aside from that misunderstanding, I have to admit that I've always liked and rated Craig, and definitely believe that he has a lot to offer Birmingham, and will no doubt be a success with our good friends and neighbours across the way. He's always given his all when called upon, no matter what role he has been asked to perform, but unfortunately his wholehearted performances have failed to win him an extended run in the first team starting line-up. Clearly he will only remain on the fringes here at Brummagem B6, so obviously if he wants to further his career and experience regular premiership football, it is now the sensible time to move on. I'm not particularly overjoyed that he's joining the boys in royal blue, but never the less, I wish him well as he moves across the city. We certainly haven't seen the last of the Villa Park Gardners though, young Gary continues to progress and develop amongst our young guns, and looks a superb talent, a definite genuine prospect to force his way through the ranks, someone who before too long will be catching St Marts attention, demanding inclusion amongst the first team squad.

Never thought he was that good, scored the odd goal like the one again Bolton a few years ago, but nowere near as good as NRC, maybe better than Sidwell though, 3m is enough for a player of his quality, and always garunteed football at the blues, Milner, Petrov, NRC, Delph, all better than him, and ahead of him in the pecking order, aswel as sidwell, says alot about how far we've come considering he used to get a fair few games!

He's not a blue, it's a load of rubbish, but if the story makes his transition across the City easier for Craig then it's done his job. As glensider said, he has done his bit when asked. I think we should have a whip round and buy MON a map of Brum for his office wall? maybe it's just slipped his attention ;-)