James Harper: On his way?

[LouTheBlade]

After reading the Sheffield Star this morning it looks as if he's off to pastures new in the summer. I'm a little disappointed by that but was expecting it if I'm honest. I would imagine his wages are quite high and United will be reluctant to offer him a two year deal if they are.

At times I feel he hasn't been anywhere near his best but he's looked more polished against the big sides like Newcastle and Middlesbrough. He seems to give us a calming influence in midfield and is a cultured alternative to Monty IMO.

If they can offer him something I think they should as he has good experience as well. He seems to be open to an offer from United and has hinted he could easily get a contract elsewhere which smacks of a plea to McCabe and Birch to sit down with him if you ask me.....

Any thoughts on Harper anyone?????

 

[Bayingblade]

Thought he was a real coup when he signed but sadly, has failed to deliver IMHO. I don't know but it seems to me that his legs have gone and he certainly isn't the player who used to play against us for Reading.

 

[Foxy]

He's really dissapointed me, I expected good things when he signed and from his great initial interviews.

Like Bayingblade says, he plays as if his legs have gone - He's lazy, hides (or has incredibly bad positioning) and chooses to play with his mouth and constant pointing instead.

I initially liked the fact he was always communicating, but of late, it's turned more into telling other people what to do and ignoring his own responsibilities.

He's shown the odd flash, put a few quality balls in with good vision, but it just isn't enough.

We can't afford to carry him, nor his wages.

 

[SwissBlade]

I too thought he was a coup, I also took to his enthusiasm from his very first interview on BladesPlayer.

Such a shame, I'd imagine that the Blackwell factor has played some part in his failure to settle, but I think there was more.

He's never seemed fit, he's rarely taken a game by the scruff of the neck and forced the team to play on the deck. I've only seen this once at Donny, when in the second half he went back to Centre half and took the ball off Simmo, before getting involved again and spraying it around.

His distribution was ok, but his set pieces were often poor and wasted. Rarely did he deliver a dangerous corner.

I think for a team like us, he needed to up his work rate. He's just never looked fit even compared with 60 Min Willo!

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Plus he thinking Blackwell knows nothing, and is quite vocal about it. His days were always numbered.

He can now go on the list with Howard and Cotts of technical midfielders who couldn't make it at the Lane.

 

[Worksop_Blade]

He's a traffic warden pensioner stealing a wage.

Off with his head.....


or just release him.

 

[Foxy]

He can now go on the list with Howard and Cotts of technical midfielders who couldn't make it at the Lane.

Certain attributes of said list are also "can't be bothered to stay with my man" and "lets stand here two yards away from our player on the ball or can I go and cosy up behind an opposition player?"

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Another signing like Howard who wetted the appetite when signed but for some reason [and it's common to both players so it must be how they are told to play] keep 10 yards behind the ball doing fuck all.

Perhaps they play in the ‘zone’?

 

[Torrix1889]

Another demonstration of a capable midfielder who has been made to look very ordinary at BDTBL.

 

[broomhillblade]

The fact that Reading were willing to sell him probably says it all - don't blame Blackwell/tactics for this one.

 

[Latters]

The fact that Reading were willing to sell him probably says it all - don't blame Blackwell/tactics for this one.

Just like Hahnemann, Lita, Sidwell, Sonko, Hunt and Doyle etc that they were also "willing" to sell. They're all shit!

Harper's been ok for us and I think he's handy to have around. Not star player material like he would have been in his prime, mind.

 

[SwissBlade]

Just like Hahnemann, Lita, Sidwell, Sonko, Hunt and Doyle etc that they were also "willing" to sell. They're all shit!

Harper's been ok for us and I think he's handy to have around. Not star player material like he would have been in his prime, mind.

So on one thread you'd be happy to replace a player that fits a position perfectly (Monty) and replace him with a player that could run around a bit and tackle, yet here you want to hold on to a player that hasn't done the job he was brought in to do. He was supposed to be the answer to the missing creative midfielder...

Time to get rid

 

[jodman]

Maybe with a full pre-season and a more settled squad we would see the best of Harper. I won't lose any sleep if he departs because i would imagine he is on a decent wage but i do think he could prove a few people wrong next season if he were to stay.

 

[Bramley]

£11,000 a week for a crock. He's shite get rid.

 

[Big Mart]

So on one thread you'd be happy to replace a player that fits a position perfectly (Monty) and replace him with a player that could run around a bit and tackle, yet here you want to hold on to a player that hasn't done the job he was brought in to do. He was supposed to be the answer to the missing creative midfielder...

How do you know? Harper was never the creative midfielder at Reading, more the workhorse who could pick a pass and get involved, unlike the person who you think fits the position perfectly who can do none of the aforementioned.

 

[bricktop]

How do you know? Harper was never the creative midfielder at Reading, more the workhorse who could pick a pass and get involved, unlike the person who you think fits the position perfectly who can do none of the aforementioned.

Yeah but Monty is Rocks

:gallop:

 

[SwissBlade]

Harper and workhorse in the same sentence! Now I know you're taking the piss Mart! Ha

 

[Latters]

So on one thread you'd be happy to replace a player that fits a position perfectly (Monty) and replace him with a player that could run around a bit and tackle, yet here you want to hold on to a player that hasn't done the job he was brought in to do. He was supposed to be the answer to the missing creative midfielder...

Time to get rid

I didn't say I wanted Quinn to replace him, but I think he could be equally as effective in that position but because it's not the only string to his bow, it gets overlooked. I want somebody who predominantly plays defensive midfield but is actually an able and talented footballer to replace him.

As for Harper, again, I said he'd be useful to have around. If we were winning and the oppo was pressing us, players like Harper and Little are what you need to slow the pace of the game and keep possession.

 

[davidpinder]

He doesn't fit in a blackwell team who bypass the midfield simple as that. He is a good player and will fit into a top half championship side just not us. No doubt he will return to the lane next year and put one past us.

 

[Blade]

How do you know? Harper was never the creative midfielder at Reading, more the workhorse who could pick a pass and get involved, unlike the person who you think fits the position perfectly who can do none of the aforementioned.

sorry but that is both ridiculous and embarrasing in one foul swoop. to suggest monty doesn't get involved is possibly the biggest load of crap I've read on the internet, ever. I can abide people knocking his passing but you must be living in a parallel universe if you seriously don't think he gets involved.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Another signing like Howard who wetted the appetite when signed but for some reason [and it's common to both players so it must be how they are told to play] keep 10 yards behind the ball doing fuck all.

Perhaps they play in the ‘zone’?

Howard hasn't exactly set the world alight since he left though has he?

 

[1973_Blade]

Well said. I also feel that Harper isn't as strong as Williamson going forward and not as good as Monty in the defensive role. There are lots of players who we have sold that some on this board feel were world beaters, but how many have actually moved on to play regular football at teams that are in a better position than us? I think the list is small - this either shows that united are good at getting rid of the make-weights or, more worryingly and possible more truthful, we just don't have a strong enough squad.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Well said. I also feel that Harper isn't as strong as Williamson going forward

He's not supposed to be. He's a holding midfield player, always has been. Different animal to Monty and Willo as he's a more balanced midfielder. He likes to sit and dictate play when he can.

 

[HoodedClaw]

Very disappointed with him, and thoroughly pissed off if we've been paying him anywhere near £11K/week

I suggest he gives up football and takes up aircraft marshalling:[video=youtube;Vz7FI_S0_NE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz7FI_S0_NE[/video]

As I see him do fuck all else but wave his arms about.

 

[Blades_257]

Reading his interview really did make me laugh. His arrogance is quite astounding considering the minimal impact he's had for us this season. He's garbage, he's lazy and his legs have gone. In 80% of our games this season he's been a passenger. And an expensive one at that. We can't afford to have any of those next season, so anyone who wants him to stay I have to ask..... why?

I thought he was an arrogant tosser and that interview just confirms my suspicions. He thinks he's a Premiership player FFS! Despite not being up to the pace in the Championship that is!

He'd be better off directing traffic, because waving his arms around here there and everywhere and pointing in every direction is the only thing he manages to do consistently.

He's exactly the type of player I DON'T want to see at Bramall Lane next season. I thought he'd be an excellent signing but I was wrong. What an absolute flop, and what an absolute waste of space and wages. On your bike son, you're not wanted or needed here.