English Premier League: Bannan reveals O’Neill’s doubts about him to be a top level player
Barry Bannan who starred for Aston Villa in their two all draw against Manchester United at Villa Park recently has revealed that Martin O’Neill, the previous manager at Villa had doubted his ability to make it as an English Premier League
midfielder. Bannan also lately scored for Scotland against Faroe Islands on Tuesday and the midfielder might also start for Villa in their next league match at the coming weekend against Blackburn Rovers.
Bannan was sent onto loan twice by Martin O’Neill during his tenure at Villa, at first he was on loan to Derby county and then to Blackpool. Villa’s new manager, Gerard Houllier who replaced O’Neill gave Bannan the chance to prove himself
in the 2010-2011 season as the Frenchman gave Barry his first English league start for the Birmingham club.
Barry said in his interview to the press, "Martin had size issues with me and he kept bringing them up in conversation over the many meetings we had when he was at Villa. I'd been at the club since I was 14. My parents had left Lancashire
and moved to the Midlands to look after me while I tried to become a success. But Martin left me disheartened when what I really needed was his trust. The only thing that kept me going during that period of rejection was when I said to myself, 'someday somebody
will show confidence in you'. I knew I couldn't afford to be totally disheartened because then my confidence levels would have dropped and my game would have gone to pieces along with them.”
He went onto elaborate on the style of play Houllier wants Villa to adopt as he stated, “Gerard likes a passing game for Villa so now I've gone from the stage where I was on loan to Blackpool and playing every now and then to the point
where I've been first pick for Villa for the last three matches in the Premier League. And all of that's been based on what the manager saw of me in training each day. I'm grateful to say he's taken to me and I've experienced a total change of fortune since
Gerard arrived at the club."
Barry also spoke about Gary McAllister, the club’s new assistant manager to Houllier. The Scottish national remarked, "Gary's been brilliant for me. He's been working on the defensive side of my game and I know that's important because
anything that keeps me in the first team is vital where Scotland's concerned. The next competitive international isn't until the start of next season. That means I have to stay in Villa's team and keep my mind focused on winning Scotland's attention. Otherwise
there's no place in the Euro 2012 qualification squad for me. I've got one cap and now I'm hungry for more.”
He spoke more about his chances in the Scottish national team and Marin O’Neill as he commented, “I know I wouldn't have got a chance at Aston Villa if Martin O'Neill had stayed there as manager. Now I'm enjoying every minute of life under
his successor. I'll work my socks off under Gerard and I'll try to stay in Craig Levein's thoughts as well. He switched my position against the Faroes because he wanted me to get wider and have more freedom on the ball. I almost scored but the post denied
me. It looked as if it was going in but at least that moment proved I wasn't nervous about playing for Scotland for the first time."
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