Let’s celebrate Barry Bannan
Sunday, 06 July 08, 04:03 AM · Comments (35)
There is one thing that can be said about Aston Villa football club that can bring no argument against it. Season after season the Reserve and Youth squad win titles and bring silverware to the Villa Park cabinets, and there is a constant knocking at the door of the first-team house by talented kids with bags of talent.
It is time to take a break from the confidence-draining world of Martin O’Neill’s barren summer transfer experience and be optimistic about a subject that we as Villains can be proud of.
Kevin MacDonald and Tony McAndrew do a sterling job at grass-roots and reserve level, and this season Villa’s second-string won the Premier Reserve League whilst the Under-18 squad brought home the FA Premier Academy League, the latter beating FA Youth Cup winners Manchester City in a play-off final.
So any chance to celebrate the Villa Academy must be snapped up, and with the news that one of the brightest young stars of British football has signed professional terms with the club, it is time to do just that.
Play-making midfielder Barry Bannan has signed a two-year contract with the club. For those who may not have seen Barry play, he is a diminutive 19-year-old (at the expense of calling him “small”) left-footed Scot who has tonnes of energy, hard-working in defence and bags of skill both passing and creativity going forward.
He has played for both the Reserves and the Under-18s and has received a great amount of praise for his performances in the middle and on the left of midfield.
Whilst the first-team have been sunning themselves on the beaches of God-knows-where, our successful youth side has been continuing the success of last season. Bannan was twice named Player of the Tournament at both the Hong Kong Sevens and the club’s summer tour of Germany.
The end-of-season Angels Cup in Germany saw the Villa Youth defeat opposition from countries such as Croatia and Brazil, with Bannan playing an integral part in the success.
We’ve all bigged-up players in the past and predicted them for great things. No-one knows how good Barry is going to be, but the mere fact is a central part of the Villa system puts him in as good a position that he could possibly ask for.
David O’Leary only a couple of seasons ago introduced Gabby Agbonlahor into the Premiership fold and a season later he was hitting the headlines with regards to both club and country. It would be brilliant to see Barry get some Premiership experience this season, even if it just means a place on the bench and a 5-minute run out.
To all those that would immediately dismiss the chances of a player due to his height take note: being “small” is not a barrier of not making it in the Premiership. Ashley Young seems to cope fine at just 5” 9, as does Lassana Diarra at Portsmouth at a pocket-sized 5”6.
When someone comes out with an outlandish comment about players’ heights, I always think to Robinho. He is about the same height as Ashley Young and believe you me, one of the strongest players in La Liga. With enough work on the training pitch and in the gym, even the smallest of players can cope with the physicality of Premiership football.
So, a left-footed midfielder called Barry has signed for the club this July. Is that an omen?
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35 Comments · Add yours
Good article, its hard not to get excited about these players coming through. and from what i've heard about bannan he seems to be the pick of the bunch. i think we have all seen it where a player comes through with big wraps and doesn't cope in the premier league and hopefully its not the case this year with barry. we will have a few extra spots on the bench this year so hopefully MON fills those spots with a few of the youngsters and brings them on when we are up by a couple of goals. it might be a bit harder for them if we sign a hole lot of playsers, so if MO'N doesn't muster of the balls to sign anyone at least we will get to see a few of the youngsters.
Barry Bannon will be the new Alex Cropley, he looks and plays just like him. A real star in the making. I would imagine that MON will send him out on loan early in the season to get some experience then gradually add him to the first team squad.
Did we not have a few youth players out on loan last season. Stephen O'Halloran comes to mind, but he got injured. As for the ones that stayed and played for the reserves, are any ready for next step and possibly a place on the bench.It would be nice to know that its not all down to the transfer market
As soon as any of them get really good they will be signed by man utd anyway. As for height what about Maradona and Pele?
it will be asif barry never left.
Taglor, what's the whole point of you supporting a football club? Try fishing mate.
Got the potential to be much better than Gareth Barry. Lets just hope the potential grows and he does it for villa
Taglor you really need to get laid.....lighten up buddy.
There are loads of cracking kids and by the fact 12 of them were given deals this season shows we've got a really good crop coming htrough. Sam Williams must be near the first team now although he was injured for about 6 months I am led to believe.
Erik Lund and Damian Bellon have left the club to sign for IFK Gothenburg and FC Vaduz of Leichtenstein respectively.
Let's hope hey don't go the same way as the Moore brothers, Steven Davis and all. Can't help but feel pessimistic as I go through todays rumours, Newcastle going for Sidwell, Spurs for Bentley and a 32 year old used as a makeweight in the Barry saga. I just hope there might be a couple of surprises when the new kit is launched tomorrow.
when i watched the youngsters play, he never really caught my eye but young harry forrester looked absaloutley awesome do you know if he has signed a pro contract??
Bannan, from what I saw was a fantastic prospect - Real vision!
Agree with others though, worried that others are looking at people we're looking at. Villa are well known to drag there feet when it comes to doing business - So I'm hope I'm wrong.
I really will be gutted if MON gives in with Finnan being mentioned now again. Ok we need numbers - I'd say £12million cash - Carson & Finnan (if we've got to have him)
The weekend is nearly up and again nothing done. First game 2 weeks time - Looks like real good organising ... Over to you MON prove us wrong or just prove that even with you Villa can't move on especially in the transfer market!
Didn't realise finnan was that old, but just looked it up and you are right. Def need to be thinking of Miguel rather than him, but if it boosts numbers then maybe he would be ok as cover.
"There is one thing that can be said about Aston Villa football club that can bring no argument against it. Season after season the Reserve and Youth squad win titles and bring silverware to the Villa Park cabinets, and there is a constant knocking at the door of the first-team house by talented kids with bags of talent."
But sadly, the door very rarely opens.
Next season we will descover our Phil Jagielka via letting youths / reserves have a go in the cups
Btw i am pesimistic about the height thing. Luka Modric will prove me right, the premiership middle ground is for the big boys.
On the wings he can do well, but he will look like a BOY vs men in the premiership middle park.
Josh C: "but he will look like a BOY vs men in the premiership middle park."
Diarra? (5"6) Makelele (5"7)?
No way is Diarra 5'6"! He must be about 5'9"... 5'8" at the very shortest I'd say.
yeah but i dont know why you people are using these examples
-- Nigel reo coker.
Size dont matter TOO much as long as your strong, but you will find carew isnt so big in width but his height gives him power, which is why reo coker has to be so broad to even compete. And this can make you lack speed, but if he works really hard then he could do it.
If not, the wings.
steve finnan >:( lee naylor >:( :( what the F&&k is going on,have a bit of vision MON if thats the best we can get were in deep s&&t.Let the kids play at least we might find someone we can sell on in a couple of years ;)
Every single comment that i have seen Taglor make has been negative towards Aston Villa. Why don't you support the blues its obviously what you want!
Im not intrested in reserve or youth football because very few will make it consistantly in the first team.As for saying O'Leary gave agbonlahor his debut, you make it sound as if it was a managerial masterstroke when all it was-was a short fall in numbers which shows how long we have had a pitifull squad.Paint over it all you like all that maters is the senior squad and as that fades away so will the quality of reserve and youth team football.
vivavilla! said: "No way is Diarra 5'6"! He must be about 5'9"... 5'8" at the very shortest I'd say."
According to the official website he is 1.72m which is 5.6 1/2
LINK
So how tall is Bannan?
Barry went to my school in erdington St Edmund Campion the same as Agbonglahor.. He's not tall but he is a brilliant player and has bags of pot of talent and an eye on goal, but he is only 18 years old not 19 ;)because he was in my year at school
Matt... think you need to brush up on your maths mate :P
1.72cm is 5.64 feet, yes. But since there are 12 inches in 1 foot, 5.64 feet infact works out to be 5 feet and 7.71 inches to be precise, or 5'8" if you round up ;)
I'm just being facetious, I know. I was really going to point out the fact that Bannan isn't quite the same build as a Diarra or Makelele type player. I admit I haven't seen Bannan play for almost a year now, but I don't exactly remember him being what I would describe as stocky. Stick-thin might be more appropriate. I think until he adds a few extra pounds, he probably would get eaten alive in the Premiership.
Harry Forrester is my bet to come through in a big way eventually.
12 days till 1st competeitve game and 5 players down on last year.
Oh yeah and the squad and manager etc are out of the country this week for friendly games so i doubt there will be any signings this week either!!!
Its pathetic!!!
vivavilla! said: "Matt... think you need to brush up on your maths mate"
Yeah sorry, you are right. I blame the dumbed down examination system that actually made me able to get an A-Level in Maths and think I know what I am talking about!
MON said earlier this week that he is answerable to only one person for his actions,and that is Randy Leaner!...Brousing through the postings on this site,I see many Villa fans are concerned by the lack of signings to date..i.e NONE!...Fans support their team by attending matches,and buying a clubs products,and are the lifeblood of any club,and as a supporter of Villa for many years,statements like "WE ARE HOPING TO TRY TO ADD TO THE SQUAD" doesn't do it for me!..Intertoto starts shortly,and whilst our present players Lausen,Rio Coker,and that "Little Gem" Young and company should get us through those matches,the UAFE matches are another matter!...Top individual players bought into a team don't produce top teams,as was proved in the recent European Cup matches,only a group of 11 good individuals playing together as one unit can do this...Come on MON...8 OR 9 new signings required and you have the WORLD to choose from!!
So what do you guys make of the rumour that 'Pool have offered cash Steve Finnan? I'd definitely take it! We'll get near enough what we asked for in dosh and fill our biggest need with a very experienced player at the same time. I'll be questioning MON's logic big time if this offer is true and he turns it down.
"steve finnan lee naylor what the F&&k is going on,have a bit of vision MON if thats the best we can get were in deep s&&t.Let the kids play at least we might find someone we can sell on in a couple of years "
Why are you taking newspaper talk as if o`neill has said it and signed these players?
I agree with Kieran24!..Why would we want a Liverpool castoff when they continualy struggle themselves?....It would be nice to see one of the youngsters substituted in the first team each week,when we are ahead.
Hey guys, lay off Taglor. He's entitled to his opinions, and this is the place to air them. Taglor, you won't get quite as much abuse in the forum (I hope!).
It's great that we've got players coming through the ranks, but the success of the juniors reflects the fact that the "top" clubs in the Prem buy whole teams rather than develop players.
Every great player nowaydays,where do you think they come from not a trashcan,not a shopkeeper ever,youth academy and think about on the bright we've got a great youth academy i say one of the best in the world!And this good Barry can replace our idoctic barry who's leaving a brillant club.This exactley what we need.Forget about that idiot Barry and think about this new Barry Bannan!
UTV ;D
plewsy
i tottaly agree about taglor.