Barry "Messi" Bannan - again

[Clampy]

He's an easy target. Maybe it's because he sees a lot of the ball and that's maybe because he's always looking for it which is not a bad thing. He's this season's scapegoat. He must be when a thread about him get's closed then someone bothers to re-open another one.

[neo_Villan]

In flashes, he has shown real talent. Just a little too inconsistant and is reaching the age where he has to play regularly. I think he has failed to take his chance to do that with us and will probably move on in the summer. Celtic wouldn't be a bad shout for him.

[nigel]

The abuse Bazza gets is shocking. I've had loads of rows with fans at Villa Park over it. I understand some don't rate him but it just gets personal. He is one of us and is worthy of being a squad player.

Can't speak for others but for me he's frustrating. He's clearly got talent but he's prone to stupid mistakes (like playing a ball blindly straight to Suarez I think it was to put him through on goal), he tries to hit Hollywood passes too often when there is a simple option available (I always loved Petrov for his ability to play it simple - I always felt comfortable when he had the ball and he made us tick) and his attitude is questionable at times.

I agree Hoppo.

The 'Hollywood Pass':
Bannan is probably the one player we have who can play that sort of pass. I actually think he's got great vision to see these passes. No, They don't always come off, but, didn't someone on this forum say he's got a 70%+  completion on these passes? That's pretty good by any standard.
Yes, he can be frustrating, but we shouldn't want him to take that from his game.
We can't keep playing it simple, sometimes you need a player with the balls to try the big pass.
Give the lad a chance, keep off his back

Don't know what happened there.
 

[peter w]

To clarify, most footballers are very rich and can afford expensive lawyers. So if anyone thinks that they have seen any footballers anywhere other than on a football pitch, can we leave it out of the public domain.

Why? They know people will recognise them. If someone sees a footballer getting pissed the night before a game for example, who can do anything about it if it is posted on here.

They could sue us for a start.

On what grounds?

Slander, deformation of character to start off with

Not slander as it is written so it would be libel. Also, in Court - if it were to go that far - then the person being sued would have to show that the claim isn't true. If a player is in a public place having lots to drink, then it can be reported. But, any further than that and that's where the better paid solicitors get involved. Case Study a) Steven Gerrard.

[JUAN PABLO]

Not professional enough imo off the pitch, overrated on the pitch.

I reckon he'll be playing for Celtic in the near future.

i dont think he is good enough for Celtic to be honest . Can see him at Blackburn

[Toronto Villa]

Not professional enough imo off the pitch, overrated on the pitch.

I reckon he'll be playing for Celtic in the near future.

i dont think he is good enough for Celtic to be honest . Can see him at Blackburn

He'll end up at Blackpool with his other mate Fonz who has proved he can't cut it at the top end.

[SoccerHQ]

Bannan is the only midfield player who try's anything different. We were crying out for him off the bench v Fulham. As I said off the bench.. He shouldn't play every game but sometimes you need abit of vision. Certainly not knocking the kid but I don't want a team of Ashley Westwoods.

Without having them on hand, I'd imagine Westwood's passing accuracy is comfortably better than Bannan's, didn't Ash have 90% pass ratio against Stoke? Bannan can't repeat that when he's doing his stupid hollywood balls that go out of play.

[SoccerHQ]

Not professional enough imo off the pitch, overrated on the pitch.

I reckon he'll be playing for Celtic in the near future.

i dont think he is good enough for Celtic to be honest . Can see him at Blackburn

I just see it as he's a Celtic fan, the SPL is a piss easy league (Steven Davis was one of the best players up there) and he'll get to play in the champions league.

Don't think he'd get in the Swansea team tbh.

[AV82EC]

The trouble for Bannan is a simple one, he lacks the physicality but also crucially the athleticism for the Premier League.  He is a very good technician and passer and I wonder if he'd be better served playing in a less physical league in southern Europe?

[N'ZMAV]

Alan Wright didn't do too bad....

[eamonn]

Would swap him for Routledge or Moore to be honest.

Really?!

Yep. Routledge's career has flourished there. Luke, well he still looks as not bothered as ever, but there are glimpses of his goalscoring prowess recently. Maybe Lambert could shake him out of his lethargy. Don't get me wrong, there's dozens of other players we'd be better off getting, but just in relation to Bannan and to answer your question, yeah I'd have them both.

[peter w]

The problem with Barry is that his first pass is always looking to be the last pass, the so-called Hollywood pass'. He's been able to do it once or twice but he thinks that he can do it all of the time. The difference between top class players and the rest is consistency. bannan is decent but will have moments in the game where his picked option is the wrong one. That then can drift into games. His possession of the ball becomes poor and he is one iof the reasons we are in the trouble that we are. he gives the ball away too often and then provides no cover for the back 4.

i'd like him to prove me wrong. Not because I have any particular fondness for him as a player, but simply that he is a Villa player. Its in our interests to have every player playing well consistently enough to justify their place in the team, and our place in the top flight. I think Bannan has had his chance and isn't good enough. If we are to go down though I think he would be able to do a job in the next league down. Not that I'd necessarily keep him though.

[eastie]

The problem with Barry is that his first pass is always looking to be the last pass, the so-called Hollywood pass'. He's been able to do it once or twice but he thinks that he can do it all of the time. The difference between top class players and the rest is consistency. bannan is decent but will have moments in the game where his picked option is the wrong one. That then can drift into games. His possession of the ball becomes poor and he is one iof the reasons we are in the trouble that we are. he gives the ball away too often and then provides no cover for the back 4.

i'd like him to prove me wrong. Not because I have any particular fondness for him as a player, but simply that he is a Villa player. Its in our interests to have every player playing well consistently enough to justify their place in the team, and our place in the top flight. I think Bannan has had his chance and isn't good enough. If we are to go down though I think he would be able to do a job in the next league down. Not that I'd necessarily keep him though.

A good assessment .

[ACVilla]

The problem with Barry is that his first pass is always looking to be the last pass, the so-called Hollywood pass'. He's been able to do it once or twice but he thinks that he can do it all of the time. The difference between top class players and the rest is consistency. bannan is decent but will have moments in the game where his picked option is the wrong one. That then can drift into games. His possession of the ball becomes poor and he is one iof the reasons we are in the trouble that we are. he gives the ball away too often and then provides no cover for the back 4.

i'd like him to prove me wrong. Not because I have any particular fondness for him as a player, but simply that he is a Villa player. Its in our interests to have every player playing well consistently enough to justify their place in the team, and our place in the top flight. I think Bannan has had his chance and isn't good enough. If we are to go down though I think he would be able to do a job in the next league down. Not that I'd necessarily keep him though.

I think it's gone past that, regardless of relegation. He IS the scapegoat of the moment. I don't think whatever he does now will win over a large percentage of the fans and its best for all concerned if he moves on in the summer.

[Concrete John]

The problem with Barry is that his first pass is always looking to be the last pass, the so-called Hollywood pass'. He's been able to do it once or twice but he thinks that he can do it all of the time. The difference between top class players and the rest is consistency. bannan is decent but will have moments in the game where his picked option is the wrong one. That then can drift into games. His possession of the ball becomes poor and he is one iof the reasons we are in the trouble that we are. he gives the ball away too often and then provides no cover for the back 4.

i'd like him to prove me wrong. Not because I have any particular fondness for him as a player, but simply that he is a Villa player. Its in our interests to have every player playing well consistently enough to justify their place in the team, and our place in the top flight. I think Bannan has had his chance and isn't good enough. If we are to go down though I think he would be able to do a job in the next league down. Not that I'd necessarily keep him though.

I think it's gone past that, regardless of relegation. He IS the scapegoat of the moment. I don't think whatever he does now will win over a large percentage of the fans and its best for all concerned if he moves on in the summer.

Can't really disagree with that.

He has ability, but probably not the right attitude and application.  And I know some will argue this shouldn't be the case, but football is a physical game and his size counts against him.