James Harper

[Row Z Royal]

always passing square or backwards

Harper retaining the ball for the team >>>>>>> Matejovsky passing to the opponent
That said, his best days as a player are probably behind him. And we should get rid of Matejovsky as well.

Any fan supporting their own team >>>>>>>>>> Ideal slagging off his own team.

Let's get some new fans.

Nothing wrong with constructive criticism.

[Ian Royal]

or even unconstructive but accurate and intelligent critism.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

Ian - Harper is one of the ultimate "Marmite" footballers, probably only surpassed currently by Heskey!

People think Heskey is necessary in the England team as he allows Rooney to do his stuff...others think he is just an out and out donkey

Harper is of a similar ilk - there are people on here who saw positives in the way he played...there are others who just think he was a waste of space

The fact that Sheff U fans feel consistently the same about his absence on the pitch, and there seems to be nobody who saw any positives from him, just re-inforces what the "negative criticising Reading fans" saw...

Guess it wouldnt be much fun if we all thought that every player that played for the team was great ....I certainly havent ever really rated Harper if Im being totally honest, he looked good because of Sidwell when they were a partnership, but when as the "senior" player he was asked to step up to the plate...he didnt....or maybe he couldnt

[Sun Tzu]

The fact that Sheff U fans feel consistently the same about his absence on the pitch, and there seems to be nobody who saw any positives from him, just re-inforces what the "negative criticising Reading fans" saw...

Although that's rather offset that Reading fans saw him playing in a different team, under a different manager, in different circumstances to the Blades fans.

How he got on in a season at Sheff Utd has absolutley no relevance to any opinion I have had about him, based on many seasons for us.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

The fact that Sheff U fans feel consistently the same about his absence on the pitch, and there seems to be nobody who saw any positives from him, just re-inforces what the "negative criticising Reading fans" saw...

Although that's rather offset that Reading fans saw him playing in a different team, under a different manager, in different circumstances to the Blades fans.

How he got on in a season at Sheff Utd has absolutley no relevance to any opinion I have had about him, based on many seasons for us.

...thats your opinion of course .....

I see Doyle, Hahnemann and even the Gypo play in different teams under a different manager and in different circumstances...they all looked pretty good to me!...but of course Harpers different !!!

[SCIAG]

The fact that Sheff U fans feel consistently the same about his absence on the pitch, and there seems to be nobody who saw any positives from him, just re-inforces what the "negative criticising Reading fans" saw...

Although that's rather offset that Reading fans saw him playing in a different team, under a different manager, in different circumstances to the Blades fans.

How he got on in a season at Sheff Utd has absolutley no relevance to any opinion I have had about him, based on many seasons for us.

...thats your opinion of course .....

I see Doyle, Hahnemann and even the Gypo play in different teams under a different manager and in different circumstances...they all looked pretty good to me!...but of course Harpers different !!!

Amazing how we got promoted at all, with Sidwell and Harper in the side.

[Sun Tzu]

...thats your opinion of course .....

I see Doyle, Hahnemann and even the Gypo play in different teams under a different manager and in different circumstances...they all looked pretty good to me!...but of course Harpers different !!!

No, it's not my opinion. It's a statement of fact ! What a player does for a different team has no bearing on how i judge him when he played for us. If a player had been useless for us and suddenly becomes a star elsewhere he was still useless for us....

And who is 'the Gypo' ?

[Thaumagurist*]

.

[Ian Royal]

Ian - Harper is one of the ultimate "Marmite" footballers, probably only surpassed currently by Heskey!

People think Heskey is necessary in the England team as he allows Rooney to do his stuff...others think he is just an out and out donkey

Harper is of a similar ilk - there are people on here who saw positives in the way he played...there are others who just think he was a waste of space

The fact that Sheff U fans feel consistently the same about his absence on the pitch, and there seems to be nobody who saw any positives from him, just re-inforces what the "negative criticising Reading fans" saw...

Guess it wouldnt be much fun if we all thought that every player that played for the team was great ....I certainly havent ever really rated Harper if Im being totally honest, he looked good because of Sidwell when they were a partnership, but when as the "senior" player he was asked to step up to the plate...he didnt....or maybe he couldnt

I'm sure the situation is exactly the same with Sheffield fans. Just because it's easier to find similar criticism doesn't mean that it validates those criticisms and means he is a bad player.

The simple fact is, Harper was a good player for us, but wasn't the sort of player who's performance and contribution is particularly easy to appreciate. He was far from perfect and his game was certainly flawed and frustrating. But that doesn't equal shit.

You can use the Sidwell argument and say he couldn't step up to the plate so Sidwell carried him. There is an element that they were extremely well suited to each others game. By the same argumentthough Sidwell has done very little elsewhere, albeit at bigger clubs, so Harper carried him. And the argument that Harper didn't have a regular competent partner alongside him, certainly in the Premier League, and to a lesser extent in the Championship... certainly complimentary partner suggests that he wasn't given the opportunity to show what he could do without Sidwell.

[zummerset]

Ian - players have to be individually able not be dependant on someone complimenting them or covering for weaknesses.

What seems to have been picked up from Harpers critics at both Sheffield and Reading is his ability and engine on the field being at odds with his cartwheeling hands and crablike disposition.

I would hope that James will move into management as he is clearly a bright lad, genuinely pleasant and likeable and clearly has ideas about the structure of the game - however as most fans will acknowledge his contribution during a game is indiscernable (mostly because it really is pretty average rather than we are all collectively missing something).

Good luck James tho and come to a few more games Ian.

[Sun Tzu]

Ian - players have to be individually able not be dependant on someone complimenting them or covering for weaknesses.

No they don't. That misses the point of a TEAM sport entirely !

By definition a player is dependent on his team mates to make him part of something that is more than it's individual parts.

There are a tiny number of players who (on the face of it) can carry a team single handed, and even they can't do it really.

however as most fans will acknowledge his contribution during a game is indiscernable (mostly because it really is pretty average rather than we are all collectively missing something).
.

Never a good idea to assume you speak for 'most' fans.

Harper must be sleeping with some pretty good managers if they consistently pick him for teams to which he makes no 'discernable' contribution. Managers have no incentive to handicap their teams by picking players who do nothing. Any idea how Harps managed to make several hundred appearances for us in the top 2 divisions despite his utter lack of ability ? I suggest you may indeed be missing something.

[zummerset]

We let him leave and so did the Blades....

As for your team sport ideas - players get injured all the time, formations shift, new managers have different ideas - god forbid opponents sussing out your weaknesses. Players that need other players are by definition a liability waiting to happen.

Sorry but as much as you might like picking an argument with everyone SZ - JH's critics pick up on the same points.

[skipper]

Ian - Harper is one of the ultimate "Marmite" footballers, probably only surpassed currently by Heskey!

People think Heskey is necessary in the England team as he allows Rooney to do his stuff...others think he is just an out and out donkey

Harper is of a similar ilk - there are people on here who saw positives in the way he played...there are others who just think he was a waste of space

The fact that Sheff U fans feel consistently the same about his absence on the pitch, and there seems to be nobody who saw any positives from him, just re-inforces what the "negative criticising Reading fans" saw...

Guess it wouldnt be much fun if we all thought that every player that played for the team was great ....I certainly havent ever really rated Harper if Im being totally honest, he looked good because of Sidwell when they were a partnership, but when as the "senior" player he was asked to step up to the plate...he didnt....or maybe he couldnt

But Harper did pay 30+ games in a team that finished 8th in the Premier league. He had to of been in a rich vein of form for a season to continually perform under that manager, to continue being picked!!

Define "stepped up the plate" as that suggests he had to change his play... I don't think he played any different after Sidwell left, so what did he have to do to "step up to the plate"? He took what responsibilities that were given to him seriously enough, and continued to play his game.

Reading may have changed, by selling players, and changing managers with different approaches, but I think we're all being a little harsh on Harper!! He was good for us during his time, and we have moved on, we wouldn't want to see him back, but let's not go overboard!

[Ian Royal]

They pick up on some good points and some absolutely laughable ones. But, apparently like you, they miss out on spotting a lot of the less obvious very good things he does. In fact some of his main criticisms can actually be a strength for the team.

I mean really, waving your arms makes you a bad footballer? Get a grip!

And to suggest that players should all be perfect individuals who don't play a specialised role in part of a team is frankly ludicrous. Some players create moments of individual magic by turning several defenders or scoring a superb long range goal. Some players pull off fantastic last ditch saves or tackles.

You also need players who do the simple things. Keep the ball moving, spread play, cover space or team mates who are out of position, track runs, force loose passes. Harper was good at all of those. But because the passes are more often sideways and he rarely wins the ball directly, he apparently does nothing and contributes nothing.

No one is saying he was a world beater, just that he was far from worthy of the level of criticism leveled at him by fans of his own team. I guess I'm fighting a losing battle, but then all you've got to do is look around the stadium during a game to recognise a good number of the people there are stupid and plenty of the rest are incapable of making an objective and unbiased assessment of what's happening in front of them.

Understandable I guess given football is a game of passion and people see what they want to.

[zummerset]

oh of course its only you and Sun Tzu that can unravel the mysteries of the game whilst the rest of us dullards watch the game as mere mindless morons before your towering intellect

No sorry we tell it as we see it which is mainly based on watching the game and tracking individual players contributions. Examples are...........

John Osler was quite good in some games but most of the time put in terrible crosses
Jimmy Kebe was mostly awful in the Coppell years but last year has has had some Pele like transformation
Matt Mills got boo'ed for hitting the same mong like diagonal ball 12 times in a row
Stephen Hunt was the hardest working player we had but now is abused by Reading fans as the Gypo
Federici makes showboat saves but elementary errors

We could go on but I do go to as many games as I can and definately don't comment on performances unless I am sure that I have (a) been there or watched it carefully on tv (b) have an opinion that I can back up with actual observations

Peace and love ....... Zummers

[Big Foot]

Know a few STH's at Brammall Lane and none of them rate Harper at all

[donface]

LOLz@this thread.

Harper is useful in a confident attacking team where he is encouraged to pass the ball forwards and play more box to box. In a team that isn't playing well or positively he is infuriating to watch as he doesn't seem to add anything in attack or defence. Instead he sits back and passes the ball to the full backs.

He's a confidence player.

And megaLOLz@being a bright lad.

[brendywendy]

Ian - Harper is one of the ultimate "Marmite" footballers, probably only surpassed currently by Heskey!

People think Heskey is necessary in the England team as he allows Rooney to do his stuff...others think he is just an out and out donkey

Harper is of a similar ilk - there are people on here who saw positives in the way he played...there are others who just think he was a waste of space

The fact that Sheff U fans feel consistently the same about his absence on the pitch, and there seems to be nobody who saw any positives from him, just re-inforces what the "negative criticising Reading fans" saw...

Guess it wouldnt be much fun if we all thought that every player that played for the team was great ....I certainly havent ever really rated Harper if Im being totally honest, he looked good because of Sidwell when they were a partnership, but when as the "senior" player he was asked to step up to the plate...he didnt....or maybe he couldnt

just think that last bits rubbish - neither has been any good or really held sown a place since th epartnership was split.
they are both half a footballer and just dont seem to be able to recapture that partnership and understanding they had together

[brendywendy]

But Harper did pay 30+ games in a team that finished 8th in the Premier league. He had to of been in a rich vein of form for a season to continually perform under that manager, to continue being picked!!

indeed.

LOL at the idea that RFC could carry a useles player through our first prem season and still finish 8th

[brendywendy]

Know a few STH's at Brammall Lane and none of them rate Harper at all

never wanted to go there, never wanted to leave us, never wanted to live oop north.
was bound to affect his game