heid3ster

I do think a lot of people are overly critical of Bannan. He's no where near as bad as some of you are making out. I think that the fact that Con is making him out to be a much better player than he is making people say he's worse than he is. Why aren't people calling for Herd, Ireland, Albrighton, Licahj(sp) etc to be sold? They're all about the same level. Bannan hasn't done anything to warrant the criticism he gets, all he's done is try to win games for us, is that such a crime? 

This thread is about Bannan. If you look in the Albrighton and Ireland threads you will see PLENTY of people calling for them to be sold. You won't see it here because it's about Bannan. Lichaj's out of contract in the summer. Herd, I don't even know if he has a thread. I'd keep him around as backup personally (and LIchaj).

I think Con's heat maps and stats "proving" that Bannan is the best Crosser of the Ball in Europe is what's generated such a big reaction from other posters in the other direction. Bannan is average. Nothing more, nothing less. It tickles me a little bit that a player so undeniably average can have a 280-page thread dedicated to him.

Meh. Kinda representative of our whole season - a couple of great goals (Vlaar's was excellent), but sloppy defending undoing us again. And more puzzling subs. Sylla looked a little off the mark today, I would have brought Gardner on for him, left Gabby on, and brought on N'Zogbia for Weimann who has just looked exhausted the last couple of games (not surprisingly either, he's worked his tail off this season). Not sure I would have brought Bowery or Dawkins on at all.

CB and LB for next season please. Roll on 2013-14.

Hard to make a silk purse out of this one...

Three points please. And a clean sheet?

LOCK THREAD.

And people say Mike Dean's not on Arsenal's side, that was a nice little pass.

GET IN PODOLSKI

The football media world will be so disappointed if Wigan lose today. It means the only thing up for grabs on the final day is the 4th CL spot.

Benteke should have been sent off for the elbow. I don't like players using their elbows like that, hope he sorts it out. 

 

It's slightly worrying as he could have been sent off against Norwich too. 

Yeah, this worries me too. I am putting it down to youthful exuberance and inexperience because I don't think he's a dirty player, but he does seem a bit of a hothead at times (Norwich). I'd like to see him improve on that next season, provided we hang onto him.

I'm not forgetting it, I was just publishing yet another example of it.

Dave Whelan's quoted in the Guardian as saying Everton is "not big enough" for Martinez.

"Whenever he wants to go I'll release him immediately but he'll only go to a big club and I don't think Everton are big enough," Whelan said. "But it's Roberto's decision and if he comes to me and says: 'I want to go', I'll say OK because we have such a great relationship. The lad's so honest and when he's so honest I trust him implicitly."

Let's see if Theo can score inside 10 seconds this time.

 

First ever post!! I've been really impressed with Sylla! Was at Reading for his first full match and he was top draw in that game. Nearly scored a screamer aswell, i reckon he's got a good shot on him and we might see him score a few beauties in the coming seasons!

I hope so too but he hasn't scored a goal in his entire professional career

 

Next Sunday at Wigan would be a great time for him to get off the mark!

That Arsenal-Wigan game is going to be a cracker. Both sides need a win, a draw won't do for either of them. Likely to be very open and attacking. I just wish the result didn't affect us so much, I'd love to be able to just watch it and enjoy it. As it is I'll be chewing my fingernails off.

I still believe we can get all three at the DW on the last day, but just like everyone else I'd rather not have that pressure on us.

I agree that we can't blame ref decisions for this one. However, it was a very poorly officiated match, starting with Mason giving Baker a yellow right out of the gate for a robust challenge in which Baker clearly won the ball. Someone pointed out in the Ratings & Reactions thread that Mason didn't even talk to any of the players, just started right out of the gate handing cards out. A warning to Baker would have been more than fair. That's not why we lost, it's just something worth mentioning in the context of the game.

That said, Benteke probably should have gotten straight red for the elbow (which I thought was deliberate and cynical), and when he was lucky enough to escape with a yellow he should have been a lot more careful. No, he didn't see Terry coming, but he didn't look, either. Benteke's been huge for us this season and I hope we hang onto him, but I also hope Lambert works with him a little on his discipline, he walks a fine line sometimes. Probably youthful enthusiasm and inexperience, I certainly don't think he's a dirty player or anything like that, but it's an area where he needs a little improvement.

It was obvious to me that he'd get the second yellow, and I hoped that he would calm down in the second half, because I think Mason did want to even it up between the sides after sending off Ramires. The other option would have been for Lambert to take him off at half time, but I don't think that would have gone down very well.

Having just seen Delph's stats for this game, it was a brilliant all round individual performance with tackles, interceptions and key passes, with some shots too.

 

Still improving and may not be in the team next year but who knows, with a long distance strike against Wigan he'll be unsellable.

If you watched the match, I don't know why you have to wait to see what the stats say to decide if it's a good performance or not. I didn't look at the stats and I could tell it was a brilliant all round individual performance. Just by watching him.

Delph's had a great game out there. Deserves a goal and I'd like to see him get it.

PLEASE BRING ON BENT.

Damn it, damn it, damn it...

Bring Bent on, please.

Commentators here keep talking about the Villa fans booing Terry as though he's responsible for Benteke's booking. Completely failing to mention Terry's second bookable offense that wasn't given.

Westwood mega clearance. Would have gone in ...

Did go in, I think.

A rare instance where a player getting stretchered off isn't going to get applause.

Not over yet. The game Terry's been having, wouldn't be surprised to see him pick up a second yellow either.