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He has stepped up this season so far.

Superb fitness, in the top 3 players with best engine and I love his attitude. Just gets on with it.

Proper quality utility player which is what you need in any squad. Will play anywhere that is needed and do a really solid job.

I really liked the pass yesterday for the second goal. Yes, it’s only Mansfield and they gave him a load of time on the ball, but it was still a nice patient throughball to Armstrong. More of that please.

The biggest problem with Garner has always been that he's too safe/negative, but if we're being fair to the lad then we were probably asking too much thinking he could dictate play from deep and be an actual creative force when we've had a bunch of players ahead of him who don't particularly want the ball at their feet and could barely control it when it got there.

Grealish, Dibling, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, KDH are all players who will actively show for the ball and want it to their feet which will make Garner's life much easier and we could see him really kick on this year.

It's easy to forget but he's still only 24.

Best case scenario he kicks on and becomes one of our starting midfield even if we do buy a new one, worst case scenario he's a proven PL level player with a good injury record who can cover in a number of positions

Yeah, never been his biggest fan, but I have to give him his props.

He's definitely looked significantly better with better players in front of him. And his versatility is a huge plus for the squad.

There was a point in the first half when he was dropped into the 6 and we were trying to build up, jack Grealish freed himself into the middle of the pitch, just needed a ball into feet to get turned and we can go - the movement was too quick for garner who just couldn't see it or didn't trust himself to find him and he went sideways.

For me that's kind of him on the ball. If he's got all day fine he can do good, especially further up the pitch. If he hasn't he's a sideways man first and foremost.

A decent player that I'm very grateful to have, that we should try and upgrade on asap.

brap2 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 11:47 am There was a point in the first half when he was dropped into the 6 and we were trying to build up, jack Grealish freed himself into the middle of the pitch, just needed a ball into feet to get turned and we can go - the movement was too quick for garner who just couldn't see it or didn't trust himself to find him and he went sideways.

For me that's kind of him on the ball. If he's got all day fine he can do good, especially further up the pitch. If he hasn't he's a sideways man first and foremost.

A decent player that I'm very grateful to have, that we should try and upgrade on asap.

To give it a kinder take, nobody has been showing for the ball like that since Garner has been playing here so I'm not surprised it's not his first instinct to fire one through the lines - if he's still ignoring those options in a few months then I think it's fair to criticise him

One thing I saw, albeit against Mansfield, was that it seemed to me that Grealish looked to Garner quite often...like he trusts him. Think he has looked good in the few games this season and will benefit more from the technical style of football we look like we are starting to play. Think it encourages him to be more positive, as he has more outlets. Armstrong helps as well. Think Garner can continue to do well in this system with better options ahead of him. Used the ball really well yesterday.

Really like what I am seeing this season, needs a Gana next to him but doesn't look out of place behind the Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye holy trinity.

The shifts he's putting in are commendable. Long may it continue.

Bluedylan1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:09 am Yeah, never been his biggest fan, but I have to give him his props.

He's definitely looked significantly better with better players in front of him. And his versatility is a huge plus for the squad.

Agree. The sad part is, he was great for Forrest, who maybe had better players or set up. Always reminds me of Alan Harper in terms of attitude. An underrated player he was

I actually think he's stepped up his game a bit this season and he's playing pretty well overall.

However, he's not what we need from someone in that CM role. Neither him or Gana want to carry the ball up the pitch and it's hurting us against these teams like Villa and West Ham tonight who were happy to sit and contain.

Probably not really anything we can do about it but it hurts us in matches like today.

Him and Gana play the same role.. get stuck in and keep it ticking over, but we need a playmaker desperately.

The Doc wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 5:53 am Him and Gana play the same role.. get stuck in and keep it ticking over, but we need a playmaker desperately.

If only we had someone to provide a little magic in the middle!

Blueomar wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:31 pm If only we had someone to provide a little magic in the middle!

Who we sayin?

The Doc wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:33 pmWho we sayin?

Dreaming that Merlin provides some wizardry.

Paddockoldie wrote: ↑Sun Aug 31, 2025 5:14 am Agree. The sad part is, he was great for Forrest, who maybe had better players or set up. Always reminds me of Alan Harper in terms of attitude. An underrated player he was

“Keep Alan Harper’s name out your fuckin’ mouth!”