Bannan and Ireland

[Colhint]

I thought Bannan had a decent game today. Kept it neat and tidy when he had to and rarely gave the ball away. Good to see him back.

i agree

[seanthevillan]

Just watched the last 10 minutes or so again, and one moment stood out which for me sums up how Bannan is viewed compared with the other midfielders. Sylla had the ball facing the back four and tried to slip a square pass to Westwood, who was on his heels, before Reading nicked it and within 3 seconds Robson-Kanu whipped a shot just wide.

I haven't seen anyone mention these errors in the post-match threads, and fine because they were only minor mistakes, but you can guarantee that if Bannan had either played the slightly dodgy pass or been robbed of the ball people would be ripping him apart for it.

[Clampy]

I thought Bannan's good spell in the game coincided with the team's good spell - namely, the middle third of the match (from the Reading goal to about the 65th minute). I'm not sure whether we played well because he did, or if he played well because everyone else did (bit of both, you'd suspect), but I do think we lost a bit of composure in possession when he went off. What impressed me most today, however, wasn't that he didn't make mistakes with the ball, but the fight he showed in making amends for them. That was very welcome.

I do think the change weakened us, but more because of the change in shape than the personnel changes, Nzogbia played 15yards further forward which meant we weren't able to pass in neat little triangles around them.

Agree with this totally. I understand why Lambert wanted N'Zogbia on the pitch, presumably to catch Reading on the break but he should have took off Weimann if anybody. That way we could have kept the three in the middle and kept the ball better. Lambert can be tactically naive at times.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I thought Bannan's good spell in the game coincided with the team's good spell - namely, the middle third of the match (from the Reading goal to about the 65th minute). I'm not sure whether we played well because he did, or if he played well because everyone else did (bit of both, you'd suspect), but I do think we lost a bit of composure in possession when he went off. What impressed me most today, however, wasn't that he didn't make mistakes with the ball, but the fight he showed in making amends for them. That was very welcome.

I do think the change weakened us, but more because of the change in shape than the personnel changes, Nzogbia played 15yards further forward which meant we weren't able to pass in neat little triangles around them.

Agree with this totally. I understand why Lambert wanted N'Zogbia on the pitch, presumably to catch Reading on the break but he should have took off Weimann if anybody. That way we could have kept the three in the middle and kept the ball better. Lambert can be tactically naive at times.

Disagree about Weimann. He personifies the 'never stop running til the game is over' attitude, which is what was needed.

[Mister E]

I understand why Lambert wanted N'Zogbia on the pitch, presumably to catch Reading on the break but he should have took off Weimann if anybody. That way we could have kept the three in the middle and kept the ball better. Lambert can be tactically naive at times.

I have been a little unnerved by Lambert's subbing at times. I've come to the conclusion that he perhaps feels we do not have enough reliable 'sitting' midfielders to bring on, to shore up a game.
Were the defence more solid, the likes of Charles coming would be a smart move ...
Having said all that, I hate it when we sit back and invite teams onto us.

[peter w]

Just watched the last 10 minutes or so again, and one moment stood out which for me sums up how Bannan is viewed compared with the other midfielders. Sylla had the ball facing the back four and tried to slip a square pass to Westwood, who was on his heels, before Reading nicked it and within 3 seconds Robson-Kanu whipped a shot just wide.

I haven't seen anyone mention these errors in the post-match threads, and fine because they were only minor mistakes, but you can guarantee that if Bannan had either played the slightly dodgy pass or been robbed of the ball people would be ripping him apart for it.

To be fair its because Bannan has plenty of previous for giving the ball away sloppily which Westwood doesn't.

[eastie]

Just watched the last 10 minutes or so again, and one moment stood out which for me sums up how Bannan is viewed compared with the other midfielders. Sylla had the ball facing the back four and tried to slip a square pass to Westwood, who was on his heels, before Reading nicked it and within 3 seconds Robson-Kanu whipped a shot just wide.

I haven't seen anyone mention these errors in the post-match threads, and fine because they were only minor mistakes, but you can guarantee that if Bannan had either played the slightly dodgy pass or been robbed of the ball people would be ripping him apart for it.

To be fair its because Bannan has plenty of previous for giving the ball away sloppily which Westwood doesn't.

Just watched the highlights again and bannan gave the ball away in midfield under no pressure and this led to a reading shot inches wide, all players will make mistakes, I think bannan looked ok in the main but would be temped to go with sylla and Westwood with Delph ahead of them when all available .

[Clampy]

The highlights did'nt show him losing the ball again in the second half, then chasing their player to win it back. Ireland would have just stood their and shrugged his shoulders. The midfield three really worked well yesterday.

[Karl Bridges]

Bannan has had a hip injury apparently.

[rob_bridge]

The highlights did'nt show him losing the ball again in the second half, then chasing their player to win it back. Ireland would have just stood their and shrugged his shoulders. The midfield three really worked well yesterday.

I'm no fan of Bannan though may have been affected by combo of working under TSM and his own drink driving stupidity which set him back. There may well be a player in there.

As for Ireland - I despise the fact that he is still an employee of AVFC. He is a complete and utter waste of a body.

[Pete3206]

As for Ireland - I despise the fact that he is still an employee of AVFC. He is a complete and utter waste of a body.

[eastie]

One thing in our favour is that we seem to have players regaining their form , nzogbia, Delph, gabby and hopefully now bannan - this augurs well for the forthcoming games .

[not3bad]

One thing in our favour is that we seem to have players regaining their form , nzogbia, Delph, gabby and hopefully now bannan - this augurs well for the forthcoming games .

Definitely a good sign as we'll need them all, especially considering our luck with regard to injuries.

[eamonn]

As for Ireland - I despise the fact that he is still an employee of AVFC. He is a complete and utter waste of a body.

A waste of footballing talent but he's a decent if mixed-up human. Volunteers and attends more of the club's community/kids initiatives than any other player and had to fight to win custody of his own kids. Maybe he uses-up all his (com)passion off the pitch.

As for Bannan, Clive Allen was singing his praises yesterday but a few minutes after he gave the ball away cheaply (Bannan not Allen) which led to a decent chance for Reading and was hauled-off shortly afterwards which Clive astutely noted.

[Monty]

Bannan for me is better than Holman. That's his place in the squad - the forward looking, hard working midfielder (as opposed to the break-up-and-go of Sylla and Delph, or Westwood's deep-lying pure continuity). He did play a bit further forward at times yesterday, and benefited from the physical presence of Sylla next to him. Injury or no injury, the time out appears to have done him good as well and he looks useful again.