zapbranny

This. He is just one of the players in this squad that isn't good enough. He doesn't do anything to drag a performance out of nowhere, create anything, look motivated or bust a bollock trying to get back in a game, win a 50/50, play a sublime through ball, bang one in from 25 yards. He is just a nothing player. I honestly think he would struggle were he be sold to a championship side. Compare him to Lowton. Lowton makes mistakes, but he has a great pass, will take somebody on. He show potential and can influence a game. Bannan does nothing and For me he's symbolic of everything that's wrong with our squad. People putting on the shirt regularly that aren't good enough for Aston Villa and comfortably worse than anything we've had in recent memory . I dont want to see the following In our first team again. Bannan Clark Bennett (can go on loan to improve) Ireland Lichaj Stevens Again I'll repeat I'm not blaming him for the first half I'm just sick of seeing such a poor player representing our great club. It's embarrassing and it make me angry every time I watch him have either a crap game or just have no influence whatsoever.

It doesn't matter if you're a defensive midfielder or not, you need to be competitive in midfield and he's not. So you think he's like Ireland and needs to play as an Attacking Centre Mid. He's not good enough for that. So you are agreeing he shouldn't be in Centre Mid? Con I don't understand on what basis you think Bannan is good enough to be a centre Midfielder for Aston Villa?

Barry, is that you? Seriously Con are you just trying to play devils advocate, or you really believe he is a premier league CM? I'm staggered if you think the latter, no he's not the reason we lost tonight, but he's symptomatic of why we are bottom 3. He's not very good, and possibly one of the most ineffective midfielders I've seen at the club. Because he's small, lightweight shit in the tackle and cant win a header you think he might make up for it by being brilliant on the ball like Iniesta. But he's not. Honestly NRC is a limited player, but he is far more effective than Bannan. The fact that Lambert keeps picking him, really makes me question Whether Lamberts appointment was a mistake.

Hmm let me think about this, Bannan or Sissoko. Honestly who would choose Bannan? Anybody? I don't care that he earns more than Bannan, there is a good reason. . . . . he's a much better player. Lerner sort it out, if we pay shit wages we end up with Bannan, does it look clearer for you now!

Think it was sarcasm.

Just Why? why? Why? Why? Is he still at the club, I can't for the life of me work out how he is earning a living as a professional football. Why does Lambert pick him? Virtually anybody would be better.

The more I watch us the more I'm starting to dislike Lambert! **** arrogant. System doesn't work and bannan is shit. It couldn't be anymore obvious. **** off the lot of you. I want to substitute half our team, take the shirt off them and lead straight out of the club. They are crap. Lerner you're a **** prick. Done with you. . . Sell up or you will want to visit Birmingham less than you do now.

Whilst I applaud the idea of putting the club on an affordable footing. There is a big problem that needs addressing. Should Villa progress up the league and these bargains become recognised coveted players, their salary will need to increase in order to a get them to sign new contracts, or fend off interest from other clubs. So I assume our strategy is to keep these players we picked up cheap, on low wages and then sell them on for a profit. If that's not the strategy and we intend on keeping them then we need to turn down bids for our better players. Since Lerner has been here when has that ever happened? Secondly, coveted players will know they can get more money elsewhere so will a) not sign contract extensions (see arsenal), want the team not to just be competing trophies but winning them. If we aren't doing this they will be gone. Whilst I applaud the idea, it can't be an all consuming strategy. By all means have a few in the team that are on lower wages but in the end you have to pay the market rate for what a player is worth (wages). If you aren't doing that it will be an uphill battle against every club that doesn't follow this model. With the new TV deal there is only one place the majority of that money is going. . . To the players. The premier league is like an arms race, If we aren't competing in terms of wages, we won't be competing. The real problem is not the wages, they are being sacrificed because a lack of commercial income, if we don't change that we will never compete. Pual Faulkner step forward, just like underperforming players, if he can't produce the required level of income he needs to go.

Right! Where am I? Embarrassed, humiliated, angry and frustrated. I don't think Lambert is doing a great job, but it's an average performance with a poor squad. It's not Lambert it's the players. Clarke = Not good enough, not going to be Bannan = Not good enough, not going to be Herd = Not good enough, not going to be Lichaj = Not good enough, not going to be Ireland = Not good enough, not going to be KEA. = poor so far but has potential Nzog = talented but only shown up recently gabby = talented but inconsistent That's the basis of the team there. If Lambert was given £20 mill to spend in the summer there is no way he could have replaced all of that rubbish. It's going to take a few years to get rid of the people without the ability or the attitude. I hope he can be ruthless enough. I'm not happy with Lerner and Faulkner, they lost all goodwill I had for them after the appointment of McLeish and the management of the club has been shocking. Faulkner needs to disappear rapidly, not got a **** clue and I would express in person how quickly he needs to go! On the FA cup. . . , meh! If we had a big enough squad, we were mid table I would want a cup run. We don't have that luxury. Tuesday is bigger than all of that. But let's stick with Lambert, we are in it for the long haul. I still have faith even though its been severely dented.

Not happy with Lambert, but I'm going to keep the faith. The players are mostly to blame, they aren't good enough. I would be quite happy to clear out the entire squad and start again. That is one of the worst collective performances I've seen from a Villa side over two legs. The difference between this side and the team that beat Tranmere are **** poles apart.

Honestly how is he playing in the Prem. a good clue is that he can't start for a weak Scotland side. I'd literally give him away, actually i would personally offer a buying £1000 out of my own pocket just so he couldn't be picked. This is no Exageration to say I would offer the back 4 better protection, physically I can offer more, and my corners and passing would be equally as shit! Paul I can probably make Saturdays but midweek games I would struggle.

Sorry but bannan is shit! I'd rather play with 10. He might not be at fault directly for the goal but he keeps giving the ball away. Surely anybody is better than him. Having bannan playing in midfield is at least 50% of our problems this season.

Got to say, I'm supporting Lambert but if he doesn't get some decent players in the required position by the end of Jan, I will have zero sympathy. The weak areas are obvious!

Just crying out for two decent Midfielders and 2 proper centre halfs and a LB and this side will go well. Hate to be down on our players . Clarke- Ridgewell looked a better prospect at the same age. Cahill out of sight. Not going to be a premier league CB Delph- early promise has not payed off. Injuries may have changed his game. Not seen a decent prem level performance from him. Not good enough. Bannan - Really! Get out of my club you useless clearing in the woods. Bennett - not ready yet, shows promise and liability in equal measure. Baker - young, might turn out ok but should not be starting

Bannan is an awful player. Looks out of his depth here. I'd swap him for a track suit and a bag of balls. No pace, can't pass, not strong, weak in the tackle, too short to win a header, crap set pieces, Am I missing something? Huddlestone is better in every respect, apart from wages. However on this showing Bannan looks expensive especially if he's not paying his subs and claiming petrol money.

Bored of Wizz. He just sounds bitter. Right here's some facts for you Wizz. Lambert was the best manager you have had in recent History. You have replaced him with an inferior manager. Norwich haven't invested, look worse than last season and are 4/6 to be relegated. You're obsessed with Lambert and are still posting on Villa boards 4 months after he joined Norwich is irrelevant to Villa fans. So thank you and goodbye.

We need to look longer than 1 season though. Would spending £40 mill have fixed the squad? And who could we have bought? Lerner can't keep funding the club to £40 mil every season, we need to be making money to invest in the team. Lambert is starting from a minus perspective. We escaped relegation last season by the skin of our teeth and he has managed to get rid of average expensive players. The wage bill is now sustainable, and he has introduced some young cheap hungry players that may turn out to be great buys. If one season isn't enough time for the project to work, so what it wil be better eventually. Have you seen Moneyball? We're the Oakland A's, if we keep playing the game like the Yankees without the financial clout we will always lose, we need to change the model. It may be hard to swallow medicine in the short term but it wil pay off if Lambert's track record works out.

This, exactly this. Great article and shows exactly what we need to do, let's hope the Villa fans have he patience for this to happen.

I was trying. I don't really think he'll be upset. Obviously didn't work. My post about ambition was in response to someone claiming relegation would be ok and people were happy with it. That had nothing to do with Benteke but no one cared. If you're referring to what I said, that Lambert needs five years regardless of what happens, including relegation, I stand by it. We were the equivalent of an old manor house requiring expensive roof patching and repairs to keep it habitable, but costing a fortune and not addressing the problem. Lambert is tearing down all the failing old stuff and replacing it in a modern fashion. We might suffer in the short term, but it needs to be done. The only thing that will hold back our progress is fans with no patience. Big John are you saying you would sack lambert if we got relegated this season?

Really? Carroll and Berbatov are mercenaries? Carroll have been left out of Liverpool after he was sold (unwillingly) from Newcastle and he probably wants to get his playing-time again. Berbatov have been left frustrated by Man Utd last season and went to Fulham because he wants to compete in the Premier League. His paycheck? Probably a lot less than what he would have gotten abroad, either in Italy or in the Far-East. And as far as Sidwell, Cuellar and Davies go - we sure as hell could have used them in our squad right about now. I would much rather have Cuellar at right-back compared to Lowton given his experience and decent talents, I would have Sidwell/Reo-Coker instead of Westwood if we played him against Newcastle tomorrow (probably not registred in time though) etc. Most young players need a lot of time to settle in, and who knows if the ones we have are even good enough? I just playing the devil's advocate here, but one has to realize many other clubs have very decent scouting-teams in England but we managed to pick them up on the last day seemingly without much competition. I severely hope they can make the grade over 1-3 years given their different ages and level of experience, but playing for Crewe and Chesterfield against semi-professionals and then going to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge is a whole different sport. We had Sidwell, Cuellar and Davies, they were all shit, cost loads to buy (not Davies) were on a wedge and produced the square root of **** all. What's the point going down that path again? Spend a fortune to play a limited brand of football to try and get 6 th what's the point. We need a wholesale change of strategy and this is it. Let be honest Carlos Cuelar £8.5 million, he wasn't worth £3m. James Collins on 48k a week! It beggars belief! , I'm prepared to give Lambert 5 years wherever it takes us, even if we get relegated in the short term (not that I think it will). Its why I had patience dor Houlier but not Mcleish (although houlier is a terrible man manager) I can see the logic I like the look of all the players he has bought, some might not work out but I'm guessing the majority will, particularly looking forward to seeing what Bennett, Westwood and Lowton can do. What is the point of giving Lambert the job and then getting him to sign established prem players on big money, he is gifted in spotting talent in the lower leagues bringing them on and getting hte right players to play the system he wants to play. The imagination on here is crippling, doing what we did before gets us into a horrible position of high wages and average players. Let's build and we can always add the odd superstar if we can afford and need one. In Lambert I trust.

Again not been impressed with Clark, doesn't look ready and if he's not ready now, probably is never going to. Baker could be ok, Herd has raw physical ability but should be nowhere near the starting 11. Lichaj is a funny one and I'm still out on him, could yet be ok. Bannan can go. Albrighton has a big season ahead of him on return from injury, probably last chance to make it in prem. But none of these (minus Allbrighton) have forced their way into the side through performances, more necessity and that's not good enough for Villa.

I've seen enough of Bannan to know he is a powder puff lightweight player that is expensive in trying to keep possession, crap competing for balls in the air, can't win a tackle, not really quick. Just what exactly is his speciality? I think he needs to be moved on permanently.

Good news. He's had two stinking seasons on the bounce, thought he looked a liability, throw in the off field stuff his salary; surely he wasn't on 40k a week. The writing was on the wall in MON's last season, kept trying to win balls he was never going to get to and the got horribly exposed, throw in his distribution which is atrocious. He looks ok throwing his body in the way of blocks but that's about it. Furthermore his aerial ability seemed to show a marked decline, when was his last goal, or looking like scoring, Herd really showed him up in this respect. If we've got Vlaar in for a saving on salary very good business!

Wasn't he voted player of the season. Hardly think MON was going to bench him after that season do you?

Gutted about this one, looked too good to be true to be fair. Kid looks like a real talent.