Gardner will be playing on next season!

According to this anyway -



RICARDO Gardner could still have a future with Bolton Wanderers, despite having been ruled out for the rest of the season following his latest injury setback.

The 33-year-old midfielder was omitted from the squad of 25 Owen Coyle registered for the second half of the season because the club’s medical staff could not guarantee that he would have recovered from surgery to correct a long-standing knee problem.

He could have undergone a minor procedure and been playing again in a matter of weeks, but it was decided the corrective surgery to clear the cartilage-related problem was the best chance of extending his career.

Gardner’s omission from the registered squad and the fact he will be out of contract in June has prompted speculation that this latest injury has ended his 14-season Reebok career.

But the Jamaican – second longest-serving member of the current Wanderers squad and a legend in his homeland – has a reputation for remarkable comebacks and the Reebok medical team have assured him he will be fit for the start of next season.

Whether that means he will be starting his 15th year on Wanderers’ books remains to be seen, but Coyle was looking no further than assisting him in his rehabilitation when he explained how the decision was taken – in conjunction with the player – to operate

“The doctor and the medical staff don’t think he’ll be able to play again before the end of the season,” the Bolton boss said.

“Those are his circumstances, so that’s what we had to do.

“He has a knee injury and it is a real shame for him. But the thing about it is that he’ll be able to come back and have a career.

“The decision was made – and Ricardo had a big part in that. We could have patched it up and he could probably have got away with a month here or there, but then he would be back to square one.

“It was important for him to get it done properly and make sure he still had a footballing career.”

Gardner made the latest of his 413 senior appearances for Wanderers in the 3-1 Premiership defeat at Swansea on October 29, when he was sent off for a second bookable offence. A thigh injury delayed his return before an investigation of a knee problem revealed he required corrective surgery, from which he is now recovering.

Although having been a key player in Wanderers’ success for more than a decade, the jet-heeled left-sider Colin Todd signed for £1million after being impressed by his performances for Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup has had a succession of niggling injuries to contend with in recent years which have restricted his appearances - just six this season and six last season when he also had a four-match loan spell at Preston.

When confronted with serious injuries, however, he has shown amazing powers of recovery. He twice made speedy and successful recoveries from cruciate knee ligament injuries - the first in the 1999-2000 season, the second in 2004 when, after suffering the injury in a Premier League game against Manchester United at the Reebok on January 7, he was back in first-team action on May 8.

If it transpires that this is his final season with Wanderers, there will be no shortage of clubs interested in recruiting such an experienced campaigner whose athleticism and versatility - he can play at left-back or in midfield - would make him a free transfer bargain.

However, leaving Wanderers would be a wrench for the kid from Harbour View. Last summer, after his previous contract expired, he rejected an offer to join his former boss Sam Allardyce at West Ham, preferring to sign a new one-year deal to stay at the Reebok.

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''related problem was the best chance of extending his career''

I can't help thinking he only means a football career and not a career with bolton wanderers, I think OC was torn on whether to give him a new deal last season so I think it still maybe the end of the line for him in terms of bwfc.

WTF! I only hope this is just OC being nice. There is no way it makes any sense to keep Gardner on our books - it makes even less sense than not selling Davies when we had the chance.

Can't agree. I like Gardner, and he can still put in a good game when its needed, more so than the likes of Blake, Davies, and Robinson

I wont hear a bad word said about Bibi. Been at the club for years and was a top Pro in his prime. Injuries have taken their toll but he is still only 33. If Giggs can do it so can Bibi.

On his day, a brilliant wing-back who has always given me a lot of happy memories.

RT, thee and me are on the same wavelength here. He's been a bloody good player for us, and he's not finished yet. For the £1 million we paid Harbour View for him, we've done well I reckon. I remember when he first arrived, played like Bambi on ice :-)

Glos, Just have a look at the ' Blast from the past' thread further down this forum. Written in 2000 by one of our posters on here. Karma.

You are indeed a man of vision sir ! The players you mention in the article bring back some fond memories. Gudni, what a player, always cool, and always reliable. Whereas, Todd junior was a complete mental case. I know we needed steel in the defence, but by todays standards he was committing GBH every week.

His best performance in a Wanderers shirt was when he twatted Stan Collymore.

yeah,. I suppose there's always at least one good memory of even the worst players

Wow Sluffy, you're quick off the mark there.

I've posted that picture up a few times before.

Easy to find stuff if you know where it is.

Always though Todd was a good midfield player - crap as a defender imo.

I remember his dad playing though - he was class - best central defender since Bobby Moore for my money.



(Didn't do too bad as a manager either!)

I stand by my opinion about Gardner's current status but I am not denying how good a player he has been for us through the years. One fond memory of the nerve wracking playoff game in 2001 is seeing Ricardo score with virtually the last kick of the game after a dazzling run. He didn't score a lot of goals but that one was a classic.

Bibi's loyalty and commitment has never been in question. He is twice the player Robbo has ever been - not that it's difficult to do! I tried to buy Bibi for my League 2 team in Fifa 12 (we were gunning for promotion) and was told that he had "no intention of leaving Bolton and would rather see out his contract and see what happens next."<BR><BR><BR><BR>Quality! <IMG alt=Razz src="https://2img.net/i/fa/i/smiles/icon_razz.gif" longDesc=9>

Keegan wrote:Bibi's loyalty and commitment has never been in question. He is twice the player Robbo has ever been - not that it's difficult to do! I tried to buy Bibi for my League 2 team in Fifa 12 (we were gunning for promotion) and was told that he had "no intention of leaving Bolton and would rather see out his contract and see what happens next."



Quality!

He did the same with me and I was Scunthorpe in League 1 and still wouldn't come when I tried signing him for Brighton 3rd in the Championship.

Gardner must be laughing all the way to the bank, no wonder he doesn't want to leave shitty Bolton. He spends all season out injured and they still give him a new contract every time!