2 open goals (Scunny and Norwich) appear to have sealed Harpers fate. Citys fans have to have a whipping boy and he is the latest in a long line. I thought when we got him it was to be a box to box player, I seem to remember thats what he did at Reading. Instead we're using as a side to side player. Ian Ashbee he ain't. What I did think was interesting to see, was how the other players often play the ball particularly to those presumably they have confidence in and it was noticeable that Gerrard was frequently picked out. And also to Harper. Regularly. Sometimes they play balls to him which straight away put him under pressure, but he doesn't shirk. I think the booing of him is counter productive. From my own amateur days, when the opposition or their supporters heckle one of ours immediately part of your focus goes to looking out for your player getting stick. Booing can only work to the teams disadvantage. I'm sure Millwall would have mentioned it in their team talk, how the Hull crowd go quite, and heckle. If NP does look for a permanent midfield replacement/addition in the summer, he could do far worse than that 6 for Millwall - Trotter. Strolled thru the game, good range of passes, broke up City moves continually, got his foot in, big lad compared to our current perhaps lightweight midfield, and chips in with a few goals as well.
i think akpen could be that man we need. at the moment i guess his chances of a start depend on our other loanees availability
Wish people would leave Harper alone. Thought he did more in the game than Evans or Koren did. Was impressed with Belaid when he came on, he tried to play the ball on the ground but unfortunately the mind set of hoofing the ball forward had set in too much. (Belaid should have replaced Evans, not Harper).
But if the problem is the bone in his foot, he's not going to get better playing week in, week out. Guess the proof of the pudding will be pre-season or longernif it needs any surgery over the summer.
I'd love to see Akpan getting a run out, I see no issue with dropping Amoo to make way for him(In fact, when Guzan goes after Watford we can bring him in without dropping anyone, assuming that Mannone is still out). Pearson isn't going to drop Harper now, purely on a point of principal, it's another example of the booing being self-defeating.
He grew up in Liverpool. If we're attacking North Stand and he get the ball all of the South Stand should do an impression of a police car.
box to box midfield. For a 19 year old he is built like a brick catzi and has shoulders like a weetabix box. However he is only 19 so i think only a cameo is in line for now. I guess harper style critisism would destroy him
It wasnt difficult for Harper to shine above the other midfielders last Saturday was it? The whole bloody lot of them were sh.te.
I always thought that Harper was an attacking midfielder for Reading, not box-to-box. His goalscoring record there would back me up but what do I know? For Reading in the Premier League I must have seen him score at least 3 one-on-ones, once skinning the keeper and tapping in. Definitely not the Harper we know, does he have a twin?
When we first signed him (basing my opinion on his record at Reading, not Sheff Utd) I said he had a sweet left peg. It seems he's both footed, although his natural foot would be his right. Also, the first goal on the video against Liverpool - he runs from the halfway line, all the way through, outpaces the defence, skins the keeper, taps in. Either the injury is still not totally sorted or he's just completely lost it. I know even Dean Marney can be made to look good on compilation video's but still, these goals are pretty high quality.
To one of the comments above we could do well by signing Trotter, wouldn't have mind Andros Townsend and Morrison from them two, i think Townsend is only loan so if we can get him on one wing and Cameron Stewart i would be pretty happy. On the Harper front i will always defend him and will always stick up for him whilst he is a Hull player, as soon as he leaves i will probably criticise just i have to stick up for him as he is a Hull player! Anyway Akpan deserves a game, just whether Nigel thinks he is ready, but he really does have the physicality on his side so why not shove him in for a game or two.
