Barry Bannan steps forward ....

[darren woolley]

Barry has a big future at the Villa I liked the way he plays his passing is first class and you can see that he wants to succeed I just hope he keeps his place in the team now were he can develop better by playing in the first team instead of coming off the bench for the odd 20 mins.

[Ryu]

I've started thinking I'd actually like to see ireland get more game time because I think it brings the best out of Bannan having another canny midfielder in the side who's looking to make similar runs and play the sort of balls we want to see him doing.

Could be our very own Xavi and Iniesta

[Karl Bridges]

I'm basing that on AM's comments in yesterday's Mail about protecting him from too much pressure and also the fact he's nearly always substituted in most of his starts.

[Toronto Villa]

. It might even be a good thing (granted if our squad was bigger) for him to go on loan like Cleverly or Wellbeck did and get even more playing time.

Why on earth would you think that it is a good idea to put a bloke who has broken into the first team and showed that he has the ability to deliver at this level on loan, lunacy

Just because a young player has broken into the first team it doesn't make him the finished article. If we had the luxury of doing so I'd send Albrighton out on loan too so he can develop at a more steady pace for 6 months or so playing regular football. Clearly, you ignored the examples I cited of players that have gone on loan and come back better players because of it. It's not lunacy, it's just a suggestion.

It's utterly pointless comparing our youth players to those of Manchester United, as they have world class players all over the pitch, and can afford to loan their players out far more than we can.  As Clampy says, Bannan has already had two loan spells, and as we're not exactly spoilt for choice in central midfield, sending out arguably our most promising youngster, and the one player who actually appears to have a bit of fighting spirit would indeed be absolute lunacy.

you must have missed the bit where I said if we had the luxury to do so.

This is the same conversation we could all have been having about Albrighton last season, and he's struggled since all of the hype. Now, if Bannan plays like this for the next few games then he might be something. Usually only the very best kids like Rooney or Gerrard come in like they belong at the very top level and sustain it. We don't have enough evidence to say that yet about Bannan, so as much as I'm delighted he's playing well, we have to also measure that against the fact that the established players haven't shown their full potential either. A lot of people were getting excited over Delph a few weeks back, and now you see a number of negative comments about him. I hope that doesn't happen to Bannan if or when he hits a sticky patch. We've had far too many false dawns with our kids at Villa. Let's hope my cynicism is unfounded on this occasion.

[Eigentor]

A lot of people were getting excited over Delph a few weeks back, and now you see a number of negative comments about him.

Re Delph: People are far too impatient with him. He is not a youngster anymore, but injuries has hampered his progress. That doesn't mean that he'll never make the grade, but it does mean that he'll need time to improve, even if his age suggests that he should be at a higher level. The problem is that our squad is so thin that AM is more or less forced to play him in a position where his inconsistency will be easily noticed.

[Mark H]

"Good" to see that Man U are already being linked with him - lets hope we can get a couple of seasons before he goes there

[Toronto Villa]

A lot of people were getting excited over Delph a few weeks back, and now you see a number of negative comments about him.

Re Delph: People are far too impatient with him. He is not a youngster anymore, but injuries has hampered his progress. That doesn't mean that he'll never make the grade, but it does mean that he'll need time to improve, even if his age suggests that he should be at a higher level. The problem is that our squad is so thin that AM is more or less forced to play him in a position where his inconsistency will be easily noticed.

He's the same age as Bannan, and plays in midfield. Delph has a ton of potential and has shown glimpses of it. Bannan has been the better player of the two over what admittedly is a small sample of games. But as a young player they will make errors and they both play in an influential position where as you said, their inconsistency will be highlighted. Bannan is a better player to watch than Delph because of the incredible range of passes he is capable of so he endears himself to the fans more than Delph would.

I hope that both players develop appropriately as part of successful system at Villa, and because we are a little desperate in that part of the field for consistent talent they aren't overused in what is for both their "proper" first full season in the first team.

[not3bad]

A lot of people were getting excited over Delph a few weeks back, and now you see a number of negative comments about him.

Re Delph: People are far too impatient with him. He is not a youngster anymore, but injuries has hampered his progress. That doesn't mean that he'll never make the grade, but it does mean that he'll need time to improve, even if his age suggests that he should be at a higher level. The problem is that our squad is so thin that AM is more or less forced to play him in a position where his inconsistency will be easily noticed.

He's the same age as Bannan, and plays in midfield. Delph has a ton of potential and has shown glimpses of it. Bannan has been the better player of the two over what admittedly is a small sample of games. But as a young player they will make errors and they both play in an influential position where as you said, their inconsistency will be highlighted. Bannan is a better player to watch than Delph because of the incredible range of passes he is capable of so he endears himself to the fans more than Delph would.

It doesn't help that Delph is being employed in a role that is not natural to him.  He isn't really a defensive midfielder.

[Eigentor]

It doesn't help that Delph is being employed in a role that is not natural to him.  He isn't really a defensive midfielder.

I think AM made a mistake, having so little to spend, signing N'Zogbia. I'd rather he spent the money on Parker or even Palacios. Then we could have played Petrov and Parker/Palacios as defensive midfielders, and played three of Gabby, Albrighton, Delph, Bannan and Ireland in front of them. The team would have been stronger, and it would have been better for Bannan and Delph.

EDIT: Though when Jenas finally is fit, my words will hopefully be put to shame!

[Concrete John]

But that would leave three kids, a striker and a nut job to be our offensive midfielders, which would have been as big a problem as having Petrov, Delph, Makoun/Jenas, Herd and Clark for those central sitting roles. 

Truth is we needed a holding midfielder AND replacements for Ash and/or Downing, but couldn;t get both! 

[Mark H]

But that would leave three kids, a striker and a nut job to be our offensive midfielders, which would have been as big a problem as having Petrov, Delph, Makoun/Jenas, Herd and Clark for those central sitting roles. 

Truth is we needed a holding midfielder AND replacements for Ash and/or Downing, but couldn;t get both! 

Herd is a Watford player now - sold not on loan, so it leaves even less cover

[Ryu]

Are you thinking of Hogg, Mark H?

[Concrete John]

Yep - Hogg went to Watford and Herd is still here.

[not3bad]

Sold Herd to Watford after his man of the match performance last time out?  That makes no sense.

[VillaAlways]

Sold Herd to Watford after his man of the match performance last time out?  That makes no sense.

Herd is still here but he's injured at the moment