Barry "Messi" Bannan - again

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm surprised by the stick he's getting for last night. He was'nt the worst player on the pitch.

He had the worst first half I've ever seen from him last night. Utter gash. Fortunately for him, second half everybody else was crap so he didn't stand out as much.

[hawkeye]

I'm surprised by the stick he's getting for last night. He was'nt the worst player on the pitch.

You are right, he was absoloutely useless and Bennett was even worse

[olaftab]

Mr Bannan could learn a lot from watching that old man Gary Jones in their midfield last night. Jones a journeyman 35 year old kept it simple and accurate.

[Rancid custard]

All I can think is he's under instruction to get the ball to Benteke, who will then hold it up while the midfield floods forward. It would seem that rather than play the simple ball sideways/ a 1 -2/advancing triangle, he has to guestimate to within 5 yards of his intended targets predicted movement.

I think Bannan will only ever work out for us at the top of a diamond with an absolute beast master defensive midfielder behind him, bringing him in and shielding the defense.

[Rancid custard]

All I can think is he's under instruction to get the ball to Benteke, who will then hold it up while the midfield floods forward. It would seem that rather than play the simple ball sideways/ a 1 -2/advancing triangle, he has to guestimate to within 5 yards of his intended targets predicted movement.

I think Bannan will only ever work out for us at the top of a diamond with an absolute beast master defensive midfielder behind him, bringing him in and shielding the defense.

I do wonder some times, was Lambert really a midfielder? You'd think he'd know a thing or two about it after last night.

[paul_e]

Amendment, Delph was poor in general, Bannan was inconsistent, he played some of the worst passes of the night, but he laso could easily have come away with 4 assists.  The only other player who had a major creative input was Benteke who got one assist and laid on 2-3 other decent chances, but his inconsistency came from the fact that he missed 3 of the chances Bannan crafted.

[Toronto Villa]

I was just watching the Ballon d'Or ceremony that I'd recorded from the other day. The lad Miroslav Stoch who won the best goal award looks eerily like Bannan but with spikey hair. Can we not stick the real Bazza in the boot of a Datsun Cherry, drive him to Turkey and bring back the other better er...Bannan?

[The Left Side]

I was just watching the Ballon d'Or ceremony that I'd recorded from the other day. The lad Miroslav Stoch who won the best goal award looks eerily like Bannan but with spikey hair. Can we not stick the real Bazza in the boot of a Datsun Cherry, drive him to Turkey and bring back the other better er...Bannan?

Was he the bloke sat next to Pep Guardiola?

[Toronto Villa]

I was just watching the Ballon d'Or ceremony that I'd recorded from the other day. The lad Miroslav Stoch who won the best goal award looks eerily like Bannan but with spikey hair. Can we not stick the real Bazza in the boot of a Datsun Cherry, drive him to Turkey and bring back the other better er...Bannan?

Was he the bloke sat next to Pep Guardiola?

can't remember. He might have been as he was one of the finalists for an award. I don't how to upload pics but the likeness (even the height of the two players) is scary

[tomd2103]

I think Bannan will only ever work out for us at the top of a diamond with an absolute beast master defensive midfielder behind him, bringing him in and shielding the defense.

Agree with that, but is he ever going to contribute enough goals and assists to be a top player in that position?

[Monty]

I think Bannan will only ever work out for us at the top of a diamond with an absolute beast master defensive midfielder behind him, bringing him in and shielding the defense.

Agree with that, but is he ever going to contribute enough goals and assists to be a top player in that position?

I also think he'd be good in the 3 of a 4-2-3-1, either as a sort of inside-right or as the central one, or in the 3 of a Brendan Rodgers 4-3-3. Either way, as with the diamond, we do need a scruff-of-the-neck player to complement him and Westwood. Lambert appears to think that just because a player is good at some things you can overlook the weaker parts of their game and hope it'll all just work out. Bannan's not going to be at his best in any sort of midfield 2, to be honest, and if Lambert thinks so he's going to be quite disappointed indeed.

[tomd2103]

I think Bannan will only ever work out for us at the top of a diamond with an absolute beast master defensive midfielder behind him, bringing him in and shielding the defense.

Agree with that, but is he ever going to contribute enough goals and assists to be a top player in that position?

I also think he'd be good in the 3 of a 4-2-3-1, either as a sort of inside-right or as the central one, or in the 3 of a Brendan Rodgers 4-3-3. Either way, as with the diamond, we do need a scruff-of-the-neck player to complement him and Westwood. Lambert appears to think that just because a player is good at some things you can overlook the weaker parts of their game and hope it'll all just work out. Bannan's not going to be at his best in any sort of midfield 2, to be honest, and if Lambert thinks so he's going to be quite disappointed indeed.

Agree with that Monty, particularly the point about Paul Lambert.  I would like to see him played in the centre of a 3 in a  4-2-3-1 to see how he got on.  I have to admit that I am rapidly losing belief that he will ever make it in a midfield 2.   

[hawkeye]

at the point that you say a player works as long as there is another player to compensate you have lost the arguement.

he gives the ball away too often it is that simple

[brontebilly]

Not any way near consistent enough for the EPL. We don't have the luxury of giving him a season playing the odd good game in 5. A bit like Peter Whittingham a good hard stint in the Championship might make him a player but can't see it at a semi decent Villa side.

[peter w]

That's the thing, he's inconsistent. Westwood and AN Other would be a better pairing. The Other being a new signing.