Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: J P Fear 
Date:Saturday March 9 2013
Time: 2:19PM
UK time is: 19:10:06
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Oh..Ahem.. Aston Villa Team Line Up
Oh, ahem... the team:
Guzan,
Lowton, Vlaar [c], Clark, Baker,
Westwood, Bannan, Sylla,
Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke.
Subs: Given, N`Zogbia, Holman, Dawkins, Carruthers, Bowery, Bennett
Big gamble that, Bannan back in after a few weeks out and Sylla straight in from a 2nd division French team to one of the most important games we`ve had in 30 years.
Zoggy, our player of Jan and Feb (and a few matches as well) on the bench. Maybe injury related or.........?
Villa v Reading (away)
Poll Date: 07 Mar 2013
Suggested By: Mystic Mug
Win 64%
Gulp... lose 23%
Draw 12%
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Your Comments
Was actually quite pleased at first glance and then it dawned on me that Zoggy was on the bench. It got even worse when I saw he was being replaced by Vannan! That is a huge gamble considering the importance of this game. Everything crossed that it pays off ....
Lion Heart
** Bannan
Lion Heart
i just cannot believe it, i really hope Zog is hurt because if he has left him out for other reasons then i am affraid he has lost it
andy3221
i just cannot believe it, i really hope Zog is hurt because if he has left him out for other reasons then i am affraid he has lost it
andy3221
*****That said - knowing Lambert we`ll probably see Barry Bannan "protecting" the back four!***** From Murphs article... I cant believe it! Oh dear oh dear...
CDX_Eire
if he is "hurt" he is not on the bench as in principle he could have to come on after 5 mins - so its just more endless bs from Dilbert. Why would you play a more defensive formation than v Man Citi. Are we going for a point against one of the only two teams who are definitely worse than us this season.
malacaxeta
People on the official FB page are saying Nzog has a knock duno where they seen this tho????????
CDX_Eire
We're *****ed.
bikini inspector
I dont necessarily think its more defensive Mala looking at that Id say Gabby and Weimann will be allowed more attacking freedom... No happy with the team tho ******** Bannan like...
CDX_Eire
gulp...! hold on to your hats folks, here we go!
The Fear
Bannan.....ffs. doomed. going down my lord going down!
colavfc
Wish we would just play 442
The fear
Bannan is shocking always. Equalizer and there's plenty more where that one came from.
Villan444
2-1 at HT
SFC Forever
Seems like we've got 12 men. Bannan is setting up chances for the opposition though.
Villan444
Our defending is woeful. Amateurish.
JimmyG
Whatever the result some of our players need bo**ock*d for sloppy defending.
JimmyG
Scylla did the business I thought - hardly made a mistake - and obviously has a shot on him as well. I would like to see him and Delph together with or without Westwood, who made some woeful errors today. QPR seems like they will be the trickier opposition of these two - have to simply outscore them. And Sunderland getting sucked in as well, couple more bad results and they are in the mix.
malacaxeta
What a relief. Benteke immense again. Got to tighten up our defending before QPR.
JimmyG
Tom Ross and Pat Heard reckon Westwood was the best player on the pitch today....
PiperUK
Fair play, Lambert took the risk, the risk paid off. Happy with that. Now again v QPR, at least a draw v Liverpool and we can face April a little bit brighter maybe!? Sylla looked decent today, so that is good.
The Fear
Bannan plays for the first time in ages, sets up a goal and we win ... Some people are never happy. Fabian who?
mefromhere
Vindicated - well done Lambert and the lads.
McGrath4Pope
GO home mefromhere Bannan was/is god awful he set nothing up oh you mean he missed an open goal and the keeper slapped it to Gabby???? GTFO... Sylla was great tho...
CDX_Eire
I mean he replaced Delph in the team. When was the last time you saw Delph attacking in the box? He kept the play moving, yes he gave it away a couple of times but that happens when you're trying to play it forward rather than backwards all the time.
mefromhere
Problem with Bannan is that the good things he does (when he does them) are usually outweighed by the bad - plus he is just not strong enough and gets pushed off the ball too easily. He does not have the talent and the balance of a great tiny tot player like, er Maradona for eg. And Reading were pretty dire today - luckily they did not punish us like most other teams would have done. We have become quite difficult to beat, however we are also difficult to lose against.
malacaxeta
Never in doubt..... the man's a genius.....Lol
Pride of Lions
PMSL Pride lol
CLIVETHEVILLAN
QPR may have taken all 3pts @ home vs Sunderland, but your result is a big big step in the right direction beating Reading away today. The 16th of this month at home to QPR is going to be a game you need to win, pushing twitcher chops into more gloom, so good luck on that front. Well done today.
spu 4 life
Bannan and Westwood are fantastic when playing together - but only when Bannan plays it simple, as he did today. I thought that Sylla did a decent job, too, although some of his passing was a little wayward.
monsters
Bannan set up more attacks for them than any of their players. Sylla was a nice suprise. Westwood lost the plot for 10 mins but did ok over 90 mins.
Villan444
Can't help but suspect that many of those commenting are basing their opinions on the radio commentary or the avtv coverage. Would certainly be interesting to know who was actually there.
AVbornandbred
I was their today and thought Bannan and Westwood controlled the midfield. Both Bannan and Baker needed to be taken off when they were. We played some decent football today as in kept the ball but we looked like conceding all day. Reading were so so poor though. If they stay up at our expense, I would be surprised. Sunderland are getting dragged into it which I love!
Jordanderve
Im sorry Mefromhere I just hate Bannan so much didnt mean to attack you... Honestly Im just happy we got the win but I just dont see what Bannan brought to the side I agree with V444 its not too bad when he keeps it simple but his decision making is terrible and it almost caught us out a few times...
CDX_Eire
I just don't get the Bannan hate at all. Him and Westwood today played triangles all around their midfield. If you watch motd tonight every time a villa player got the ball Bannan was offering a simple pass for him. It's these small things that make a midfield tick and allow the team to keep possession and move down the pitch. And even just playing the ball forward even if Benteke or Gabby or Weimann don't win the ball it puts pressure on the other team in a different way every time, rather than a long kick from Guzan which is only ever going to one place! I do appreciate he made a couple of mistakes today towards the end that put Reading through but it was towards the end and it was his first start for months. Give him and Westwood a run together and watch the points come in ... Delph and Westwood has been proven this year to clearly not work!
mefromhere
True youfromthere. Our second goal had about 40 passes before we struck. Brazil 74 anyone?? Maybe not but Bannan lost the ball a couple of crucial times when he shouldn't have. He's too weak to hold off the opposition and he'll never change although he gives 100% which maybe some of us should realise, myself included. Bring back Delph ASAP ;-)
Villan444
Id tend to side with V444 but Im more critical of Bannan he is trying to be the playmaker and he simply isnt good enough... I think recently Delph and Westwood have started to work if Delph was stronger it would also raise his game 10-20%... The problem with Delph is we are asking a small box to box run to protect the back four...
CDX_Eire
Ok I am just going to say it. All year I have been thinking this but I need to just say it. Why is there so much hatred for Bannan? Yes he is not the quickest or strongest player but can play a great pass and the last I saw he had the highest success cross success rate in the league and it was by a mile too. The second goal today he played a major role in. I would like to see him playing more often. Maybe with a natural DM in the team now he could get it.
Tallaght Villan
I think some of the hate towards Bannan is ludicrous. I don't think he is long term Premier League quality, however, you can't fault him for effort, he isn't going out and dossing about for a living. But treating him like public enemy no.1 is not the first time I've witnessed this. I seem to recall Alan Wright getting similar stick when when Ginola couldn't defend.
Francobaresi13
Agree with Tallaght. Shame we spend so much effort criticising our own. Delp, Bannan, Westwood are all decent, not great, players. Maybe with some support they will be even better.
Gordonsleftboot
Delph is dire. Bannan isn't much better. At the end of the day I would take Bannan over Delph. Villa have lost games because Delph has no composure. Bannan tries to be more spectacular but actually sets up goals. Deplh has no assists, no goals, can't tackle and gives up the ball all the time.
Astriel
Bannan has 1 assist this season for the record....
Villan444
don't think you can fault many for their effort this year Franco, tend to agree with you, Bannan put in a shift as have others through the season. Some aren't quite good enough but don't think they deserve some of the hate blown their way!
The Fear
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