Aston Villa correspondent Mat Kendrick writes that burden of responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of one of Alex McLeish's youngest players.
PENALTY scorer Barry Bannan has boldly volunteered to become Villa’s designated taker – responsibility taker, that is.
Bannan’s success from the spot for his first Premier League goal in Sunday’s draw at Queens Park Rangers underlined the young Scot’s willingness to stand up and be counted.
It is an example his claret and blue colleagues would do well to follow during the formative stages of Alex McLeish’s tenure and beyond, instead of passing the buck as proficiently as Bannan passes the ball.
It’s not only the 21-year-old’s nerve from 12 yards which puts some of his more experienced team-mates to shame. Bannan has been just as mature on the spot as from the spot, becoming the voice of the Villa dressing room during the sticky, but not disastrous start.
‘Wee Baz’ was the only player to speak publicly after the respectively pathetic and patchy performances against Bolton in the Carling Cup and QPR in the Premier League last week. It is a task he has accepted with good manners, honesty and humility.
While most of the Villa players went missing following, as well as during, the cup exit, Bannan, one of the better players against the Trotters, fronted up to deliver an apology on behalf of the dressing room.
Bannan also swallowed his disappointment to speak eloquently and with authority after the draw at Loftus Road last weekend, his excitement at scoring tempered by his anguish at Villa’s late concession.
McLeish is crying out for this type of desire from his players to put themselves forward and take responsibility on the pitch and around the football club as he gets to grips with the pressures of managing Villa.
If McLeish is to be in the firing line – and let’s face it, he most certainly is – then it would be helpful if Villa’s senior pros also put their heads above the parapet to share the flak occasionally during and after depressing defeats or draws, rather than only surfacing to revel in the glory of rare victories.
In Stiliyan Petrov’s defence, the captain – and Bannan’s mentor and role model – can usually be relied upon to be held to account win, lose or draw, but there aren’t too many of his clubmates, young Barry aside, prepared to do likewise.
Fans will be astonished that it took a stinging reminder from McLeish on Sunday evening to point out that Premier League footballers should be inspired rather than inhibited by playing this great game.
