Barry "Messi" Bannan - again

[Monty]

There's an interesting interactive article I saw on 7500 which highlights the inconsistency problem: while has one of the best pass completion rates and dribble completion rates in the team, he also gives the ball away a lot (though gets it back a surprising amount). If he played further forward this risky playing style would be better suited, but playing him in the deep two, together with his lack of physical presence, is just plain nuts.

[jonzy85]

I've got a Scottish mate who stays away from the super tennants and rates him really highly, he reckons he bosses the games for Scotland, not there have been that many. He wants Rangers to sign him up now. That doesn't really mean anything though because when I ask him about the times he plays for Villa all he says is 'Don't know I only see him for Scotland'.

Being as it's widely known that Bannan is a big Celtic fan, I think your mate is going to be disappointed!! 

I have doubts whether Bannan will ever make the grade as a Premier League player, but he surely is better than the 4th tier of Scottish football.

[paul_e]

I reckon Monty was possibly refering to me when he mentioned people who think he's made it as I've defended him a lot in the last year.  The reality is I think the criticism of him is totally out of line with his performances and find myself pushing back against it more and more.  He's a good option in the squad currently, but as an attacking midfielder.  He'd be much more effective in the role Nzogbia has had the last few games as the main reason he doesn't have better pass completion stats is that he plays a lot more high risk passes.

[N'ZMAV]

Nii Lamptey > Bannan.

[Monty]

I reckon Monty was possibly refering to me when he mentioned people who think he's made it as I've defended him a lot in the last year.  The reality is I think the criticism of him is totally out of line with his performances and find myself pushing back against it more and more.  He's a good option in the squad currently, but as an attacking midfielder.  He'd be much more effective in the role Nzogbia has had the last few games as the main reason he doesn't have better pass completion stats is that he plays a lot more high risk passes.

Weirdly his pass completion stats are pretty good, but he gives the ball away a lot as well. The reason that makes sense is because he just plays a lot of passes and, as you say Paul, some of them are risky (and indeed, some of them are stupid and wasteful). SoccerHQ is right when he brings up the inconsistency, but I think that that points to the fact that he is good enough but just needs more consistency.

[john e]

the biggest problem for Bannan is the fans are widespread in there over the top criticism of him

he is not the worst performer in the team every week, yet you would think so to listen to some,
i was sitting behind the goal in the North stand against Southampton,
as soon as Bannan came on he was getting pelters by loads of people around me before he had even touched the ball, the fella in front of me never said a word the whole match untill Bannan was introduced then just kept calling him a 'wanker' 'useless' etc, 

this wasnt just a couple of people it was pretty much widespread, even when Bannan passed the ball to a Villa player he was crtizised for taking the wrong option,
 he was getting stick just for the sake of it, peopel have made there minds up with Bannan and it will take an awful lot of good performances with vurtually no mistakes to see him come through it,
 
i actually like Bannan, but his confidence will be shot just listening to the crowd, i dont know whether he can come through it, maybe a move away is the answer, but if it comes to that it will be a sad day in my view

[Merv]

I just think he's a very creative footballer by nature, and when he's used as one of two deeper midfield players he's always working hard to curb his instinct, which is to make things happen. Sometimes he can do that, and play within himself and play percentages and keep it simple, sometimes not.

He needs to be allowed to thrive and play to his strengths. Too often he's pressed into action in a role that doesn't do that - such as Saturday - and it exposes our need to recruit another Westwood type. I think, overwhelmingly, he offers more in that playmaker spot than Ireland, who needs to leave.

[Monty]

I agree Merv, but curbing his instincts isn't the only problem with playing him in defensive midfield: he just doesn't have anywhere near the physical attributes to play in a midfield which is that deep and that exposed. I agree entirely that he needs to play further forward, and every time he has he's looked a different player.

[Merv]

That too. And when he's paired alongside Delph, for example, we must have the smallest central midfield pairing in the country.

[Hookeysmith]

I have neever known anyone who takes a free kick or corner and within seconds we are on the back foot defending

It maybe pure bad luck on Bannans part but it did not happen once when either Charlie or Ashley took them in first half.
The most depressing thing was as soon as i saw him stripping off i knew we would either draw or lose

I personally would not have him anywhere near the first team - he has had 3 years now in and around the prem starting X1 to have made his mark and he is not going to make it - another who excelled at youth and reserve level but not where it matters

[paul_e]

I agree Merv, but curbing his instincts isn't the only problem with playing him in defensive midfield: he just doesn't have anywhere near the physical attributes to play in a midfield which is that deep and that exposed. I agree entirely that he needs to play further forward, and every time he has he's looked a different player.

Compare and contrast his recent sub appearances.  Against Southampton he came on as an 'inside left' and created 3-4 chances in the first 15-20 minutes of the 2nd half and generally looked very good.  Against WBA he came on to play as the midfield enforcer and looked lost.  I genuinely don't think you can blame him for that.  If we'd had a defensive option to bring on for Delph and then had brought Bannan on for Nzogbia we'd have been much better for it.

[Monty]

I agree. It's hard to blame a player for not doing well in a situation he's so unsuited to. I think the comparisons I made to Hoolahan and Morriso were accurate.

[paul_e]

I agree. It's hard to blame a player for not doing well in a situation he's so unsuited to. I think the comparisons I made to Hoolahan and Morriso were accurate.

Hoolahan in particular I'd say, another one who is very busy in the attacking 3rd and can make things happen but looks at bit out of place defending the edge of his box.  They're also similar in height and strength and both like to keep the ball moving.  It's that which makes me find it so strange that Lambert doesn't seem to want to try Bannan in the same role he gave hoolahan.

[john e]

Bannans no enforcer whatever that happens to mean nowadays,
 but his height and stature is imaterial to the sort of player he is, we are not stuck in the 70's where every central midfielder has to be built like a Dave Mackay

if you look at world football today most of the best players in the world are 5 foot nothing

[Monty]

Bannans no enforcer whatever that happens to mean nowadays,
 but his height and stature is imaterial to the sort of player he is, we are not stuck in the 70's where every central midfielder has to be built like a Dave Mackay

if you look at world football today most of the best players in the world are 5 foot nothing

Some of, not all. Football is still a game where you can be any size or shape (apart from Michael Johnson) and make it, provided you know how to use what you've got. Xavi knows how to use his size better than Dean Whitehead, but Yaya Toure knows how to make his count more than Bannan. You've just got to know how to use what you have. However, managers can help you out by balancing your qualities tactically, and playing Bannan in a 2-on-5 situation in defensive midfield is clearly not balanced.