Source: Team_Talk
Gardner hails 'great manager' O'Neill
Craig Gardner has revealed the frustration he felt as a player at Aston Villa - but thinks it's crucial that Martin O'Neill stays at the helm.[LNB] Gardner made the switch from Villa Park to St Andrew's during the January transfer window and is relishing being a first-team regular ahead of Sunday's home Barclays Premier League meeting with Liverpool.[LNB]But he has nothing but praise for Villa boss O'Neill who has been the subject of speculation that he will quit after four years in charge in the summer.[LNB]Gardner is adamant it is vital for Villa that the former Celtic boss remains at the helm.[LNB]The midfielder said: "It was really frustrating at Villa to go into training every day, to give 110 per cent and to do it knowing that you're not going to get any reward out of it.[LNB]"To have come to Birmingham now has been great because I love my training, I love playing and I'm on a high again. I've started the last four or five games.[LNB]"Hopefully I can stay in the side to the end of the season and start off next season as well.[LNB]"But I haven't got a bad word to say about Martin O'Neill. He was always great to me from when I first arrived to when I left.[LNB]"I think he's a great manager and look what he's done down there. He's got Villa to the Carling Cup final and an FA Cup semi-final - and they're competing for fourth place and the Champions League.[LNB]"What more do they want? He deserves credit, not people saying bad things about him. They're playing some of the best football they've ever played.[LNB]"I think it's a big decision to try to make him stay because I think he's a great manager and what he's done down there has been different class."[LNB]Gardner has pledged that Blues will make life difficult for Liverpool who need three points to keep alive their faint hopes of a top-four spot and to bounce back from their Europa League setback against Benfica on Thursday.[LNB]He said: "Liverpool need a result especially after what happened in midweek They need to try to bounce back and I'm sure they'll come here all guns blazing.[LNB]"We'll respect Liverpool as a team but, when that whistle goes at three o'clock on Sunday, we'll give them hardly any time to play.[LNB]"We'll just be in their faces and hope we can get another result at St Andrew's."[LNB]Birmingham manager McLeish expects to have a full squad to choose from on Sunday and has no fresh injury worries.[LNB]Captain Stephen Carr has picked up nine yellow cards this season and one more against Liverpool or Manchester City before a Football Association amnesty takes effect will result in a two-game suspension.
