briangreen":2fqpkhiv said:
Maybe it's the left back position that's causing the problems, very little support for Banton going forward.
Naturally it doesn't help and there can be little doubting that Banton in pure terms of effort is a new and improved player this season. He looks far more energetic and alert to where he needs to be on the pitch.
All of those things combined however don't change the fact that his levels of confidence have hit rock bottom at the moment. Yes he's trying, yes all criticism is mitigated by the fact that his left-back has a nosebleed when he crosses the halfway line. But even when you account for all that, he could still be doing a bit better. When he was with us previously, getting the ball in a certain position meant defenders would panic at the sight of Jason Banton. He'd cut inside, run with the ball, let rip and fire home. At the very least he'd have a real good go at it and give the keeper something to do.
But we just aren't seeing that same level of confidence or swagger anymore. He seems to freeze at the sight of goal and often either passes when he should shoot himself or he tries to carry the ball too far. The guy who once believed in himself a bit too much now doesn't seem to believe in himself at all. It's so annoying because the talent is there, the effort is there but due to some unspecified psychological block it just isn't clicking at the moment.
Last season I wanted rid of him- because to all intents and purposes it seemed he wasn't fit, wasn't trying or both. This season, in spite of his poor performances, I am weirdly feeling more positive about him rather than less positive. He is fit, he is trying, he has got it in him. I think now that his only missing ingredient to being a top player for us is confidence. It's painfully frustrating cause you know there's a quality player deep inside there but it just isn't clicking for him. I think that if we just see him get a goal then all his confidence and swagger could come rushing back. I hope so anyway- I hope/expect to see him back in the starting line-up on Tuesday.