Bannan - The "Grealish Role"

[Owls2k]

People are forgetting that under Carlos Bannan wasn't played on the left for a laugh, he was played there so we could  accomodate him, Lee and Hutch in the same side. Completely not the same as 'Carlos thought he should be played on the wing'.

 

Let's see what Bruce does when/if he has Hutch/BB and Lee all fighting fit. 

[splan80]

22 hours ago, StudentOwl said:

As sure as eggs are eggs, someone will use the summer transfer window to highlight how Bannan would be much more effective further forward, despite not really ever playing there in his 8 year career as a professional footballer.

 

The disparity between what some fans want him to do and what he can actually do are two very different things. He is nothing like Grealish in his playing style nor his finishing. Bannan likes to sit deep and spray passes and be part of the second wave of attack rather than the initial thrust, that's his style, it's always been his style, and I've seen nothing in 3 years to suggest it never won't be his style. Grealish is someone who attacks in the first wave but from deep (and can finish). Very different players, let's not pretend Bannan's something he isn't and let's appreciate him for the talent he does have. Round pegs and round holes and all that

 

I get where you are coming from here, but before Dave Jones tried it, a certain K.Lee was never a midfielder in a true sense and look how he transformed. Arguably the best box to box midfielder in the champtio ship, before his injury. 

 

For me 433 has always provided our best 3 players with the opportunity to play in their best (imo) positions. With Lee and Bannan in front of a holding player and FF playing inside forward from the left. It was only our strange signings after that first season that put a stop to this idea. 

 

As many have said, effectively when in possession, that's what we had in Carlos' first season, which meant we could be terrior like out of possession. 

 

I think even without signings that is our strongest way forward with the current squad.  Hopefully we'll recruit with this in mind (with or without reach depdning on what money is available) with a different option or two on the bench. 

 

More than anything in my mind it was Carlos' change in ethos after failing in the playoff final, our tendacy to take 6 weeks to hit our stride and doyens influence in signings that curtailed what we were building. I'm now just as confident that Bruce can identify what we need (whether or not we can afford it is a different matter). Add that in with his contacts and with any luck together with a couple of young hingry loan gems (like Derby had in Wilson and Mount) and we'll give a good account of ourselves. 

 

It is possible to have a feel good atmosphere when we see the team going for it and hopefully we'll both be rewarded with a good combatative competitive season. 

[robswfc]

On 29/05/2019 at 05:39, frastheowl said:

 

It's been a long-standing, constant debate on here over the last two or three years...how do we get the best out of Bannan? Since he arrived here, he's played wide left, and in central midfield as part of a two-man partnership in 4-4-2, a three man midfield in a 5-3-2 or in a double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1 system. But despite him producing consistently good performances, there's always been a feeling that there's still more to come from him...

 

And I couldn't help but think, after watching the Playoff final yesterday, that the system Dean Smith has employed over the past three months at Villa, could well hold some advantage to ourselves and the quest to make Bannan so much more effective.

 

Villa's midfield is a fairly simple, 1-2 triangle in a 4-3-3 system. With one player holding at the base, and two more advanced midfielders given licence to go and support the three forward players.

 

At the base, Hourihane is brilliant. Despite perhaps not been known for his defensive work, his anticipation and ability to break up attacks is key. Added to that, he's calm and composed on the ball and likes to set things up from deep, by keeping things fairly simple. 

 

Ahead of Hourihane, Smith has the fortune of having two of the best midfielders in the division. The first, McGinn, a player Steve Bruce managed to bring to the club for a bargain £2.5m less than 12 months ago. For me, there aren't any better traditional box-to-box midfielders than McGinn in the Championship. I would love to see his running stats for this season, but he must be up there. He's constantly looking to make runs beyond the midfield into the half space, but he's also always in the right place defensively. 

 

And the final, most crucial part of the jigsaw, Jack Grealish. I can't say I like him...but he's a fantastic, technical player. In the past, a lot of the issues we have seen with Bannan, Grealish was also labelled with. Villa just couldn't seem to find a position for him. He's played out wide in 4-4-2 systems and as a No. 10 in 4-2-3-1 systems. Neither brought the best out of him. He's also been accused of dropping deep too often, as he looks to get involved in play and dictate things from deep. Sound familiar?

 

However, in this system, he's able to affect things in dangerous areas. He doesn't rely on others having to get him into the game, like he would playing as a No. 10 or out wide. But neither does he need to drop deep to dictate things, because Hourihane is already there doing exactly that. 

 

Grealish and Bannan have very similar playing styles. Both are exceptionally technical...good enough to play at the highest level. Both have the ability to see the game and paint pictures. Both have a deceptively quick turn of pace, and are able to glide past opponents effortlessly. And both have an eye for a cute, clever pass in dangerous areas. If either of them see enough of the ball in dangerous areas, they'll both cause opposition defences a real headache. 

 

So how realistic is it for ourselves, to be able to replicate that midfield triumvirate?

 

It might be closer than you think? Although the summer transfer window has only just re-opened, we've already been linked, quite seriously, with two midfielders. One Sam Morsy. The other Josh Onomah. Now, both of those would occupy the other two roles in that midfield very nicely. Morsy, like Hourihane, is a sitter. He breaks things up and looks to keep things simple. He might not be quite as easy on the eye, nor possess the set piece and long range attributes Hourihane has, but he'd certainly provide a very solid option at the base of the triangle. We've also got a nice added bonus of having Sam Hutchinson as a fantastic rotational option for Morsy. Much like Villa have with Glenn Whelan. 

 

Secondly, Josh Onomah. Although we've yet to see the best of Onomah yet, he's certainly a player who would class himself as a box-to-box midfielder. He has the dynamism and power to be able to play that role. I'm pretty sure when Villa signed McGinn, those fans wouldn't have expected him to become the player he has. Onomah has the skill set to provide the necessary attributes to the midfield. And let's not forget, we've also got a certain Kieran Lee potentially back in our squad next season...a player who three seasons ago was one of the Championship's best all-round box-to-box midfielders. 

 

For me, we've spent too long trying to build a system around a certain player (often Forestieri) or trying to shoe-horn our best players into a system. But we've neglected our most naturally gifted player. Bannan has been a constant in our side for three seasons...but I've never felt his role has been given the necessary detail that was required. Because he works hard, and can perform an all round game, we've tended to just expect him to do that. I personally think we've missed a trick. Let's try and build the side around him. He's a player who has never let the club down, and very rarely misses games through injury. He's dependable...but he should be so much more than just that.

 

--------------Morsy/Hutchinson------------

-------Onomah/Lee------Bannan----------

Joao----------------------------------Reach

-----------------Fletcher---------------------

 

Going with that, it'll allow us to shed the likes of Forestieri and Rhodes. Two players we've tried to change systems and style of play for, and two players we've yet to see any consistency from. By getting rid of those two, it might allow us to upgrade the striker option, to a more dynamic striker who's more capable of playing the lone forward role than Fletcher. That side...with Joao and Reach supporting close to Fletcher, and the two midfielders running beyond, Fletcher would still be a more than adequate option. 

 

 

 

Some good points but Grealish is better than Bannan and Joao is not a wide player, much better in a 2 upfront and would like to see him start more often

[Emerson Thome]

On 29/05/2019 at 04:39, frastheowl said:

 

--------------Morsy/Hutchinson------------

-------Onomah/Lee------Bannan----------

Joao----------------------------------Reach

-----------------Fletcher---------------------

 

 

We could have played that team last season, but to be honest the weakness wouldn't be the Hutch-Onomah-Bannan part of the team but the attack. Fletcher will battle all day long, hold up the ball and chip in with a few goals, but you're relying on more from the wingers. Maybe Joao can become consistent enough but he's not shown it in four years at the club. Reach scored a few eye-catching goals but flitters in and out of games. We could really use a high quality wide attacker (Foresteri would be another option, but again a bit of a square peg in a round hole), I think that needs to be where the biggest investment needs to be this summer.

[oldishowl]

8 hours ago, Emerson Thome said:

 

We could have played that team last season, but to be honest the weakness wouldn't be the Hutch-Onomah-Bannan part of the team but the attack. Fletcher will battle all day long, hold up the ball and chip in with a few goals, but you're relying on more from the wingers. Maybe Joao can become consistent enough but he's not shown it in four years at the club. Reach scored a few eye-catching goals but flitters in and out of games. We could really use a high quality wide attacker (Foresteri would be another option, but again a bit of a square peg in a round hole), I think that needs to be where the biggest investment needs to be this summer.

 

This is why it is vital Bruce decides what system he is going to play before he signs players.

 

Depending on if it is 442, 433, 4231 even 352 we need to strengthen different areas

[Beholder]

Sorry but Grealish and Bannan are nothing like each other.

 

 

Grealish as an attacking force is on a completely definerent level.

 

I wish Bannan was that good.