let me start off by saying, this article isnt to have a dig at harper, he did ok last night..but we looked a better team when he went off, and the midfield was chester and evans in a 4-4-2.. there goal summed up my frustration of harper, the guy picked it up, 35 yards out, on the left, harper went to close him down, but all he did was run alongside him, and jockey him, didnt get a foot in once, and in the end, the guy curled it in from 25 yards..thats where we miss a genuine holding/defensive midfielder, somebody willing to take a booking for the team... apart from that harper did ok tho, and was applauded off for his efforts.. however, once chester and evans were in the middle, we started to dominate the best team in the league..chester, sat deep, cleaned everything up, and layed off a simple pass to who ever was nearest...this allowed evans to roam forward more and influence play...it was a perfect compliment, and i really hope that partnership is allowed to continue on saturday..
I think Cairney has a big part to play in the future too and might be able to work in a similar role great that we have all these young promising players now. We still need a bit of experience though and without going into the whole Harper debate again this is something he brings to the team.
I'd play Cairney or Chester ahead of Harper, but the success the Evans and Chester had together last night make them the ones most likely to displace Harper.
we where so close to great win, koren went clean through 1 on 1..the 1 person youd want in that position, but he royally screwed it up unfortunately...
Normally I would agree, I just wonder if last night might have changed Pearson's mind. Things aren't working at home, he must know that he needs to go for it more and last night he saw he does have another option that works and would work even better when we're attacking at home.
I'd play Chester and Evans, I wouldn't let Cairney near the team in a permanent role until he proves he's willing to get stuck in, head the ball and show the right attitude. And Harper's a little bit crap. Just a little bit.
mentioned it on another thread, but i think he should start with the team that finished last night, to keep the momentum... duke rosenoir-gerrard-hobbs-dawson garcia- evans-chester- koren simpson-fryatt i would feel very sorry for simpson if he didnt start after his efforts last night...
no Chester isn't the new Ashbee, he's the James Chester, his own player, yes he seems to fit the Ashbee mould, but lets not compare him to someone else, let him stand on his own merits
WRT- cheers... hate how people always compare some youngster to another player, kind of like putting them in the spotlight and up on a pedestal where the fall when they fail is so much higher
Simmo eventually scored 4 goals in two games and then got dropped when Fryatt arrived. Thought that was NP one bad move. Great to see him comimg back to form
i meant the new ashbee, as in filling that role!! a role we have been lacking since he left, somebody to get there foot, in the middle and break things up.. as ashbee played that role for 9 years, i assumed it was an obvious and easy comapriosn for the name of the thread.... , next time ill title, it..james chester- the man to play the holding role in midfield, and break things up , win challenges for us and install some needed discipline....if thats better , bit wordy for my liking tho
