Barry "Messi" Bannan - again

[Witton Warrior]

It did make me laugh when, on two occasions, the ball broke on the edge of the area and a Villa player raced in for a long range shot - the roar to "SHHHHHHHOOOOOOOT" began until we realised it was wee Barry and it was just a very loud "SSSSSHHHHH" as he fired over.

He made a couple of decent passes last night, got muscled out of it a couple of times, stranded a couple of times, got stuck in a couple of times - bit better than previously I thought

[shipscat]

Maybe on his way today.

Timothy Abrahams tweeting cryptically with regard to blackpool

[pauliewalnuts]

Hmmm.

I wonder.

Bannan to Blackpool, along with some cash, and a Blackpool midfielder in return?

[Clampy]

Hmmm.

I wonder.

Bannan to Blackpool, along with some cash, and a Blackpool midfielder in return?

Well there's Tom Ince and Matt Phillips but they're both wingers are'nt they? Letting Bannan go would leave us short in midfield still. Can't see it myself but you never know.

[eastie]

Hmmm.

I wonder.

Bannan to Blackpool, along with some cash, and a Blackpool midfielder in return?

Well there's Tom Ince and Matt Phillips but they're both wingers are'nt they? Letting Bannan go would leave us short in midfield still. Can't see it myself but you never know.

Bannan for phillips yes please.
wee barry will fit in nicely on the beach at blackpool.

[Clampy]

Would Blackpool be doing any transfers anyway seeing as they have'nt got a manager?

[silhillvilla]

Would Blackpool be doing any transfers anyway seeing as they have'nt got a manager?

Yes the Oster family who own the club love a bit of ducking and diving and bags of cash

[eastie]

Would Blackpool be doing any transfers anyway seeing as they have'nt got a manager?

Yes the Oster family who own the club love a bit of ducking and diving and bags of cash

Oyston family! They know bannan from his spell there before, i do like matt phillips.

[mikeb1982]

Hmmm.

I wonder.

Bannan to Blackpool, along with some cash, and a Blackpool midfielder in return?

Well there's Tom Ince and Matt Phillips but they're both wingers are'nt they? Letting Bannan go would leave us short in midfield still. Can't see it myself but you never know.

Bannan for phillips yes please.
wee barry will fit in nicely on the beach at blackpool.

Beach or bench?

[eastie]

Hmmm.

I wonder.

Bannan to Blackpool, along with some cash, and a Blackpool midfielder in return?

Well there's Tom Ince and Matt Phillips but they're both wingers are'nt they? Letting Bannan go would leave us short in midfield still. Can't see it myself but you never know.

Bannan for phillips yes please.
wee barry will fit in nicely on the beach at blackpool.

Beach or bench?

Beach , wont look out of place there at all.

[Monty]

He does probably need to leave the club to rebuild his career. I'd be surprised, however, if we let him go before the end of the season.

[MarkM]

Hmmm.

I wonder.

Bannan to Blackpool, along with some cash, and a Blackpool midfielder in return?

Letting Bannan go would leave us short in midfield

We couldn't get much shorter could we?

[Vic the Villian]

The trouble is with Bannan is he is always looking for that long killer ball, when he gets the ball he spends that long looking he has a opponent on him in a flash then he panics or dont know what to do and passes backwards, if he stopped trying for those type of passes (unless he's got space) and played shorter passes he would cut out his poor passes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       (never was any good at football manager either)

[Monty]

The trouble is with Bannan is he is always looking for that long killer ball, when he gets the ball he spends that long looking he has a opponent on him in a flash then he panics or dont know what to do and passes backwards, if he stopped trying for those type of passes (unless he's got space) and played shorter passes he would cut out his poor passes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       (never was any good at football manager either)

Funny thing is that stats don't back that up. He tends to make 6-7 long passes a game and misses with 1-2. The problem is he's played so deep so his best qualities are negated and worst qualities are exposed.

[sonlyme]

It seems to be the latest craze round Aston way - dissing wee Barry.

Of course he can look like a mook - too small - weak in the tackle - enamoured of the Hollywood pass - all this I accept.  But what the haters need to get is that Bannan has also played very well at times.  The reason - he was used in the role that suits him.  The team has changed that many times this season that it is hard to get a clear picture of what is going on (apart from being wallys that is) but Bannan played in the wrong role is indeed laughable.

But played in the right role - as one of a midfield front two - he can prove tricky and sly and effective.  I would suggest Montbert has a point.  His player stats show he is not pants.  My feeling is that half his 'Hollywood' long passes are because there is insufficient movement and thought from his team-mates - so he tries something - and often it works - and sometimes it doesn't.  Bannan's stats for long balls and crosses actually put him toward the top of the pro-zone rankings.


But whatever your opinion of Bannan - you surely can't doubt his heart - the little git runs his socks off - and I would suggest that he is in fact running too much to make up for the failings of his team-mates - and trying to redeem situations that should be being dealt with by others.  He is left fighting lost causes sometimes - and so loses - but I think we would be poorer for not seeing a wider picture with both him and young Westwood - and labelling either of them 'not good enough' or seeking to get rid is inane angry nonsense.

This team needs to find itself and its balance - and I hope that after the first half against the Baggies - and the second half against Newcastle - we are closer to performing as we can for the full 90 minutes.

UTV