Barry Bannan prepared to wait for his first-team chance

[SoccerHQ]

Ominously, Cooke was too small. Then again, that shouldn't have prevented such a good player from finding a level somewhere he could succeed at. There must have been something else wrong with him.

Did Cooke ever play in the prem for us? Infact I can hardly recall him playing in the first team at all.

Bannan's shown he can make it in the prem so I expect him to play a bigger part for us next season.

[Archie]

I adore Barry Bannan, and I would always play him as one of the 3 CM, behind the lonely striker, with A. Young on the left flank, but I wonder how he can think to play if GH in the starting XI doesn't see even our best player Super Mark Albrighton . . .

[cdbearsfan]

Unfortunately there will be no place for either Bannan or Albrighton till we desist with this ridiculous plan of sticking Agbonlahor on the wing.

[PaulTheVillan]

Let's flog Ashley Young in the summer. Play Downing Makoun Delph Bannan Albrighton in midfield.

[Simon Ward]

Unfortunately there will be no place for either Bannan or Albrighton till we desist with this ridiculous plan of sticking Agbonlahor on the wing.

This is sadly very true

[Salsa Party Animal]

How is Stephen Cooke getting on outside Villa Park ? Have he moved to Bournemouth ?

[Chris Smith]

Ominously, Cooke was too small. Then again, that shouldn't have prevented such a good player from finding a level somewhere he could succeed at. There must have been something else wrong with him.

I was in the Holte Suite before a game and they had Cooke and Rob Edwards doing a Q & A session with fans. Edwards looked the part and answered his questions confidently while Cooke looked like a frightened rabbit who wished he was somewhere else and stumbled over his answers.

I always wondered if his shyness and lack of confidence was part of what held him back.

[pablopicasso_10]

Did Cooke ever play in the prem for us? Infact I can hardly recall him playing in the first team at all.

Bannan's shown he can make it in the prem so I expect him to play a bigger part for us next season.

he played a few times, coming on late as a sub... made his debut against celta vigo in the eufa cup, and then prem debut against bolton... (man utd and leeds were his other appearances)

he has drifted lower and lower in his career, from bournemouth to weymouth, to halesowen town, etc... he now plays for pelsall villa...

[Risso]

Let's flog Ashley Young in the summer. Play Downing Makoun Delph Bannan Albrighton in midfield.

Delph is going to have to do an awful lot of tackling in that midfield!

[Dante Lavelli]

Bannan as part of a 3-man central midfield has to be the future - 3 from BB, FD, MB, J2M (plus Hogg, Gardner, Carruthers) is where it's going to be.

Is it just me or does anyone else struggle to remember all our midfielder by just their initials?

[Dave Cooper please]

How is Stephen Cooke getting on outside Villa Park ? Have he moved to Bournemouth ?

Cooke is doing the grand tour of the local non-league circuit (plus Weymouth) and is currently at Villa.

Pelsall Villa.

[shirley_villan]

We chatted briefly with Bannan in McDonalds Blackpool after the game last week.

That's all.

[TonyD]

Will he be in the squad on Saturday?

We can hope and pray!

Funny how a few useful performances from Makoun make him a starter and yet a few very good performances from Bannan means he is left out.