Watched him play for Scotland last night and he stole the show, really positive and 100% committed. I know he was badly treated by Grayson when we had him on loan last season, but I think this young chap has much to give and would be worth another go at Leeds (this time playing him on not putting him on the bench). Sweet left foot, goes past players, excellent passing and can take a free kick.
We already have Clayton and Howson who are attack-minded midfielders. Would he really improve us when our main problem is pressing/defending?
I think it's simply down to Grayson being a poor judge of talent and a poor man-manager. He has an aversion to quality.
Not getting into a debate about Howson, too many of them already, but I am not wrong and this season he is being found out more often than not.
opinions clive!! i disagree with you both...no1 knows what bannan was like in training etc when at Leeds...may not have warrented a start....clive you certainly dontknow that garson & bannan have a bad relationship!!! bfb...i think Howson is a great player, but he wonders in and out of games a bit too much, and doesnt perform week in week out...more like 2/3?! if thats what you mean i agree, but i certainly believe with a few years extra behind him, he will be key for us (if he isnt sold )
Which would leave you with Clayton, Bannan and Brown. Still not the right players for a balanced midfield unless Brown suddenly starts to look fitter.
I would agree that Brown hasn't showed anything yet, but if it was straight choice between Bannan or Howson, I would chose Bannan. Maybe Howson having competition for a place in the team, would drive him on to play to the required levels consistently?
For me it's just a matter of Grayson playing him in the wrong position (too much defensive responsibility in the deep position) and making him captain (again, burdening him when he needs freedom). Howson trained as a striker in his youth and you can tell. Has an excellent shot on him and passes very well most of the time, but doesn't have the positional sense of a defender and certainly doesn't pick up advancing opponents well enough. Needs to be in the opposition half making direct runs at their defence, not making the odd interception in central midfield and being lauded for his hard work while appearing invisible to most. Clivetime, savour this criticism of SG!
Have to say, from what I have seen of Bannan, he does all the above and does it well. I have no idea why he doesn't get a regular game at Villa, perhaps his height (he looks tiny and like a wee boy) goes against him in the EPL (can't actually think why), but he is a positive player who goes forward and checks back to win the ball and can man mark players. Anyway, as Clivetime stated, he appears to have issues with Grayson and would probably rather go on loan to Birmingham than Leeds.
When Bannan went back to Villa, he said the loan move was a complete waste of time and he would've been better off playing for Villa reserves. Somehow I don't think he'd ever even consider playing under Grayson again for a very long time.
Totally agree, Howson is like Kasper, puts in a performance now and again that gets noticed then becomes Joe Average for the next 2-3 games.
Totally agree with Bob on this one Howson ball watches too much the first goal scored by Southampton down to Howson he is no captain and the sooner Simon realises this the better as for Clowntime saying that Grayson is a poor judge of talent and not a man manager.I will give you some examples of why you are wrong . TALENT who brought MAX to the club for £100K grayson Who bought Clayton to the club for £50k Grayson Who bought Schmichel for nothing and sold hikm for £1m+ Grayson Now for his man management skills Who made BECKFORD captain for the day against Bristol Roversand look at the outcome a master stroke Moyes has got rid of Beckford according to 5 live because he was very difficult and I rate MOYES so hats off to SIMON once again . 3100k
Bannon was crap in the games he played for Leeds. He didnt warrant a place in the team and had we kept with Johnson/Kilkenny we may have made the playoffs.
