I'm sitting on the fence on this one, he chases the ball down well, and thats his job in the team. And plays passes decently SOMETIMES, but thats his downfall, he just gives the ball away way to much with silly passes when he could make an easy pass. So if Harper plays passes simple, I THINK I can put up with him.
X. Alonso, C. Makelele, C. Adam, M. Essien, Ramiers, S. Parker, G. Barry tell me when to stop? These are players that break up player and lay deep in the midfield picking a pass.
Alonso-Never been a defensive mid fielder. Makelele-Didn't have a creative side to his game. Essien-I might give you that one although I'm still not overly convinced that he's that creative Parker-Nearest you'll find. Barry-Please tell me you're having a laugh. Adam-Now I know you're having a laugh. Look at who these player ply their trade for ,all top teams( apart from Adam)and how much would they cost ( including Adam)? At our level and with the money we have I just don't think Harper is that bad. I could easily write a list of better strikers than the ones we have but non of them would play in the Championship if you see what I mean.
Aye mate i do get you of course i was just suggesting players who are deeplying and can ping a pass. If you look at all the teams round the world though not everyone has a anchor man just suggesting as above we find a B grade (championship level) midfielder who doesnt fly forward but still players football. Harper gives away the ball far too much for my liking
Harpers ok, not brill but ok. He comes in for a lot of unjust critisism, I,m happy with him and the role he plays in the team, and like has already been stated his attitude and workrate, with them two attributes his rewards will come. Over many years Ash came in for a lot of stick but always silenced his critics, Harper will do the same.
That is a huge difference OLM. 0.4 pts per game improvement from just one player. Equals appx 18 pts per season. Would rather be with him than without. In fact if we signed 11 James Harpers, we' d be +200pts. Out of a possible 138 is not bad
The thing with Harper is I wouldn't say he's the best player in the world by any means, just that he does have a positive impact and is very enthusiastic, I can't do maths but I know we do better when he plays this season. Could be that we will have somebody else in that position next season given Harpers injury problems though and the management seem to be favouring younger players as signings.
I thought Harper did OK tonight, bar his usual one or a dozen stray passes each half. He's now moved up in my personal Player Rankings from 'Average' to 'Very Slightly Above Average'. Seriously though, you could tell at times tonight that he was far too keen to impress the plebs who've been slagging him off because he repeatedly went for the Hollywood Ball instead of keeping it simple.
Harper did well tonight. All our players give the ball away too easily at times, why does everyone single him out?
Rosy gives the ball away more than Harper just off the top of my head. Glad I started the thread anyway as its interesting to see how people back their opinions up, I'm sticking to mine anyway.
Because the number of times he does it gets well into double figures EVERY GAME. I like him, and I haven't slagged him off anything like those who really hate him. It's hardto decide which is more infuriating: those players who see the simple pass, try to play it and fail, or Harper, who sees a simple pass and instead goes for a 50-yard wonder-ball and fails miserably.
And for one, Koren has been very poor in the last two games in terms of his ball-playing. Tonight and against Forest he's looked a shadow of the midfielder who was single-handedly winning us points back in September, October and November.
Going again by what i see with my own eyes only two words can describe James Haper !! Headless Chicken !! One decent shot per game does not make him an automatic choice !! Wake up & smell the coffee Nigel he is not that good & a squad player at best. Even my missus who is a season ticket holder as well puts her head in her hands when he gets the ball !! UTT
