Seriously though, if he's not injured why are we buying another keeper when the money should be invested in a lb or st fml
Ashley and Pardew want a young team. Harpers nearing the end of his career and with Forster likely to leave in search of first team football they wanted a class goalkeeper to go with Krul
Pathetic if you ask me guessing loyalty means **** all at Newcastle now. Rather have harper at the stickks than most keepers out there.
He would definitely be my number 2 behind Krul who I think has come on brilliantly and deserves the no1 shirt. Having said that though if Harper is willing to sit on the bench hes a more than adequate number two, as much as I admire his loyalty Krul seems to have surpassed him, and the best players should always be selected.
Think Harper in unlucky to find himself number 2 to a man whose kicking ability culd be easily surpassed by Osca Pistorius.... He's a solid Keeper, while Krul is invariably inconsistent (except for his constant dreadful kicking). Krul has got some going to convince me I don't have to wince every time the ball heads into his area. Very big season for the lad this if Pardew ranks him number 1.
Rob Elliot coming in from Charlton to play left back this weekend as Steve Harper already playing at centre forward. Agree Krul still has a lot to prove particularly on crosses but criticizing his kicking is strange as neither Harper or Given was great at kicking either.
Harper would still be my number one because he is the better more consistent keeper. But I can fully understand why they are maybe pushing Krul forward early. Its kind of like the situation Man City found themselves in with Given/Hart. Krul has broken into the dutch squad and to maintain his spot needs first team football. He is also extremely talented for his age and they would be loathe to lose him to a lack of action. The ideal scenario would be to keep him backing up Harper for one more year as in a years time at the current rate of progress, Krul will be ready. However it doesn't fit with his current career situation and therefore we are forced to decide. As long as Harper is retained but he may not want to play second fiddle to a younger lad who many would say is not yet as good as him. Therefore Harps may be consdering his options. I'm not a fan of this regime at all and think they've messed up with other players, but I do think on this one they have been in a difficult position.
Accuracy wise, it is true Given and Harper were hardly kicking masters... but Krul more often than not physically slices the ball. In the second half versus Arsenal he improved a little, but he was fortunate in the first half his poor kicking didn't cost us a goal or two, barely clearing the middle of his own half! But he clung onto everything, including some difficult catches, so he is improving visibly.
Krul is the future of NUFC and Harper isn't getting any younger. Forster will leave I reckon as he will not want to be a No.2 keeper when Harper is sold/retires. This Charlton keeper is young, has first team experience, was cheap and this is his first time in the top tier so he'll sit happily on the bench and bide his time.
Has he made any noises about this though? Harper was pretty content to stay behind Shay and get a look in here and there for years, for all we know Forster would be happy to do the same. Unless he has said something which I've missed that is.
I know back end of last year when he was being quizzed weekly if the move would be made permanent, he just kept saying he had to go back to us and see what happens. But he did say he wanted first team football to aide his development after getting a taste of it at Norwich then there. Never said he would leave if not but most players won't do what Harps did, and don't like being loaned out year after year. We have a tough situation.
There were some murmurs in the press before pre-season started that Forster wanted first team football and would be prepared to move to get it. It sounded like he wasn't happy being on loan every season.
Ah right, figures. Seems a shame to lose him if we do, he wasn't the greatest from what we saw in preseason but he could have developed.
