Delph

[Hookeysmith]

Or maybe that useless little twat Bannon has been taken out of the side

Thought Delph and Westy held their own against a very big and tough midfield yesterday

[Holte L2]

It's not really fair to complain that's he's not been worth his fee, he was worth 6m at the time because that's what we had to pay to get him.  He then had 2 seasons where he was barely available and last year he kept picking up niggly injuries and couldn't get a run of games.

I've long thought that, given a run of games, he could be a very good box-to-box midfielder.  A lot of the diving in to tackles he's been accused of has been a fitness issue for me, now that he looks fully fit he's not having to throw himself in anymore and he looks better for it.

I'll admit to writing him off a little earlier this season when him and KEA were in there together, but with Westwood anchoring things in there he looks a much better player.

We have the makings of a good midfield (Westwood, Delph, Banan, Gardner and KEA are all potentially very good, Sylla I haven't seen enough to know just yet), but there's no experience there for them to mentally fall back on if things don't go to plan.  When (I'm convinced we're going to be ok) they stay up this year it will help them all.  They'll have been down as low as you can get as a premier league footballer and shown they have the will and talent to get things back on track.

I'd guess this response is what Lambert was banking on when he didn't get an experienced midfielder or defender in.  It was a big show of confidence in the likes of Clark, Baker, Delph and Westwood to do what he did and he's put his reputation (and the clubs status) on the line to give them this shot.  I actually think that faith in them is partly the reason we've improved in recent games.

I agree with that, especially that last line.

Thats a really good analysis on where we're at.  I have to admit I've been one of Delph's biggest critics over the past few seasons.  Delph looks alot better without the liability that is Barry Bannan.  I'd realy like to see a three man midfield of Westwood,Delph,Gardner next season with N'Zogbia and Gabby operating as the wide man.

[Merv]

We paid the fee we needed to to sign him. Remember that City offered the same as us, so we couldn't dip below the £6m. Transfer fees are dictated by market value, and that was Delph's market value at the time.

Delph did well yesterday. It was him driving Villa on in the first half, especially, getting beyond our strikers, making runs, one or two great advances into the WHU half which won us free-kicks. Used the ball very well (was it 43 passes completed from 47 attempted?). Took responsibility, I thought. Westwood is a good foil or him, because he's not the deepest midfielder.

It would be nice if he could add a goal or two, but we can't ignore what his role in this team is, and with Villa effectively playing four attacking players ahead of the two central midfielders, his job isn't about scoring goals.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It would be nice if he could add a goal or two, but we can't ignore what his role in this team is, and with Villa effectively playing four attacking players ahead of the two central midfielders, his job isn't about scoring goals.

I think the goals will come, we already know he has it in him, some of the goals he scored for Leeds were belters.
As for his original fee, I always thought it was £6m rising to £8m, not that it matters any more. I'm more concerned with seeing what he can do when played in the correct position. If yesterday is anything to go by, it will be money well spent.

[paul_e]

Or maybe that useless little twat Bannon has been taken out of the side

Thought Delph and Westy held their own against a very big and tough midfield yesterday

Calling one of our own players a twat is poor, and to not even spell his name right when you do it is silly.  Bannan has had an ok season, he's rarely been the worst player on the pitch for us and has often been the one working the hardest to get something out of a game.  If you don't like him as a player that's fine but I don't think he deserves being called a twat, or to have fans stating that dropping him is the reason for the turn in form.

The change in fortunes is mostly down to the injuries settling down and Nzogbia starting to live up to his price tag.

[Monty]

Or maybe that useless little twat Bannon has been taken out of the side

Thought Delph and Westy held their own against a very big and tough midfield yesterday

Calling one of our own players a twat is poor, and to not even spell his name right when you do it is silly.  Bannan has had an ok season, he's rarely been the worst player on the pitch for us and has often been the one working the hardest to get something out of a game.  If you don't like him as a player that's fine but I don't think he deserves being called a twat, or to have fans stating that dropping him is the reason for the turn in form.

The change in fortunes is mostly down to the injuries settling down and Nzogbia starting to live up to his price tag.

Don't worry about it Paul. Some people will be content to not think he's a good player, others will feel the need to hate him for whatever personal resentment they have.

[paul_e]

Or maybe that useless little twat Bannon has been taken out of the side

Thought Delph and Westy held their own against a very big and tough midfield yesterday

Calling one of our own players a twat is poor, and to not even spell his name right when you do it is silly.  Bannan has had an ok season, he's rarely been the worst player on the pitch for us and has often been the one working the hardest to get something out of a game.  If you don't like him as a player that's fine but I don't think he deserves being called a twat, or to have fans stating that dropping him is the reason for the turn in form.

The change in fortunes is mostly down to the injuries settling down and Nzogbia starting to live up to his price tag.

Don't worry about it Paul. Some people will be content to not think he's a good player, others will feel the need to hate him for whatever personal resentment they have.

It just frustrates me that despite all the journeymen and arseholes we've had in the last 10years I've never seen anyone take as much stick as him, even with Heskey it never felt like people genuinely hated him, despite all the pisstaking.

[seanthevillan]

Or maybe that useless little twat Bannon has been taken out of the side

Thought Delph and Westy held their own against a very big and tough midfield yesterday

Calling one of our own players a twat is poor, and to not even spell his name right when you do it is silly.  Bannan has had an ok season, he's rarely been the worst player on the pitch for us and has often been the one working the hardest to get something out of a game.  If you don't like him as a player that's fine but I don't think he deserves being called a twat, or to have fans stating that dropping him is the reason for the turn in form.

The change in fortunes is mostly down to the injuries settling down and Nzogbia starting to live up to his price tag.

Don't worry about it Paul. Some people will be content to not think he's a good player, others will feel the need to hate him for whatever personal resentment they have.

It just frustrates me that despite all the journeymen and arseholes we've had in the last 10years I've never seen anyone take as much stick as him, even with Heskey it never felt like people genuinely hated him, despite all the pisstaking.

Completely agree, and it's also frustrating that the 'hollywood pass' tag has even crept into radio coverage of our games. At the same time though I put it down to supporters taking out their annoyance on one player, he's just a bit unlucky in that regard, and I don't blame anyone for being annoyed at what's been served up this season.

[Concrete John]

Bannan never hides when we're playing poorly and still shows for the ball.  Meaning he's on it more often and therefore gets the blame for a bad performance.

[eamonn]

I don't think it was Spurs or City who were in for Delph but Everton who we had to beat for his signature. We were praised for the nature of our approach, as I recall.

[villa `cross the mersey]

If Delph could improve his first touch and keep the ball close to his feet when running with it he wouldn`t have to make stupid tackles - I thought he had a decent game yesterday. He should no longer be considered a "prospect" - he needs to show that level every game.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Nail on head there, VCTM. There will have to be a decision or two on some of our 'prospects' at the end of the season. Delph (23) and Bannan (10 days younger) have both had a great opportunity to show what they're about.

[LeeB]

When he has some confidence, and starts driving forward with the ball, I look at him and think that over the next couple of seasons, staying injury free, he could be an absolute star.

[Dante Lavelli]

Nail on head there, VCTM. There will have to be a decision or two on some of our 'prospects' at the end of the season. Delph (23) and Bannan (10 days younger) have both had a great opportunity to show what they're about.

I agree with that.  I think one of Bannan and Delph will have to leave as I'd still like to see us sign another players in there, plus we'll have Gardner back from injury.

[Clampy]

Or maybe that useless little twat Bannon has been taken out of the side

Thought Delph and Westy held their own against a very big and tough midfield yesterday

Calling one of our own players a twat is poor, and to not even spell his name right when you do it is silly. 

Quite agree. It shows how some posters have limited abilty to write something constructive.