James Harper vote now

[djbaldken]

who would you rather have in midfield?:

James Harper or a one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarf?

I vote the one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarf.

 

[Pinchy]

He's scored more premiership goals in one season than Ploddy has in any division in his whole career. With a proper manager Harper and Williamson would excel. Still, back to Ploddy and Elpiton soon. Happy days eh?

 

[Cheshire Cat]

As soon as they put the extra man in midfield in the second half the game just passed him by. I thought he and Williamson were OK for the most part in the first half, but Harper was a mobile training cone in the second.

I was pleasantly impressed by Williamson though - not the strongest in the tackle, but he worked hard and made some nice passes.

Harper ought to struggle to get a game as soon as Monty's fit - he might be able to pass a ball, but he's crap at getting hold of it.

 

[cooperblade]

who would you rather have in midfield?:

James Harper or a one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarf?

I vote the one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarf.

Thanks for that contribution



For the first time ever I'm going to agree with Pinchy about our midfield. I think Harper and Williamson are, potentially, a very good central midfield pairing at this level.

 

[Pinchy]

Thanks for that contribution



For the first time ever I'm going to agree with Pinchy about our midfield. I think Harper and Williamson are, potentially, a very good central midfield pairing at this level.

I love you Cooperblade. I've always admired your outlook on our midfield.:thumbup:

Seriously though, you can see them complimenting each other when fully fit and used to each others game. Both can pass and have shown an atitude to get in the opposition's box.

People are choosing not to notice the good work Harpo did today [not that he's anywhere near his Reading form so far] not least his contribution to the winning goal.

I've already seen enough of a lees than match fit Williamson to think he will be a significant asset.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Seriously though, you can see them complimebring each other when fully fit and used to each others game. Both can pass and have shown an atitude to get in the opposition's box.

People are choosing not to notice the good work Harpo did today [not that he's anywhere near his Reading form so far] not least his contribution to the winning goal.

I was really excited when we swapped Howard for Harper, but watching him in the second half this afternoon he just couldn't get near the ball.

First half I thought he and Williamson looked really comfortable - but in the second he was out of it and chasing shadows.

What always annoys me about United is the amount of time we have the ball and noone is moving. It's almost like rugby league! We play to get the ball into certain positions and then everyone knows what they are doing - in the meantime everyone stands about in their position on the flip-chart.

I've made this comment many times but I don't think we get the best out of our better players playing the way that we do - Harper could well be the latest in a long line. I'd add Evans to that list - he had 2 chances in the box today and hit the keeper (and Kamara scored) and smashed the bar. At no other point did we have any other clear-cut chances in the box.

 

[Pinchy]

I was really excited when we swapped Howard for Harper, but watching him in the second half this afternoon he just couldn't get near the ball.

First half I thought he and Williamson looked really comfortable - but in the second he was out of it and chasing shadows.

What always annoys me about United is the amount of time we have the ball and noone is moving. It's almost like rugby league! We play to get the ball into certain positions and then everyone knows what they are doing - in the meantime everyone stands about in their position on the flip-chart.

I've made this comment many times but I don't think we get the best out of our better players playing the way that we do - Harper could well be the latest in a long line. I'd add Evans to that list - he had 2 chances in the box today and hit the keeper (and Kamara scored) and smashed the bar. At no other point did we have any other clear-cut chances in the box.

Wasn't it Harper's shot that was parried by the keeper into Henri's (the non-cheating variety) path?

My eyes are not good. I could never distinguish between Jostein Flo and Nathan Blake.

 

[mickle-blade]

who would you rather have in midfield?:

James Harper or a one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarf?

I vote the one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarf.

It's a bit rich to criticise Harper or any of our midfielders (exept Squinny who is just a waste of a shirt ) when you look at how we play.

Having said that I reckon you would pay good money to watch a team of one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarves !!!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Definitely Evans

Me and my old man were trying to work out who we'd got a left back and thought Kilgallon was having a nightmare at centre back until we figured out that Killa was at left back and Davies was at centre back.

Can't we go back to the days of easily recognisable players - Deane (noone's going to mistake him for someone else), Whitehouse (unique hairstyle), Morris (made Keegan's perm look half-hearted), Gannon (flowing locks in an era of the grade-2 wedge), Stancliffe (beard), Bradshaw (trail of broken full-backs in his wake) - I could go on.

 

[kelham blade]

I'm no Harper hater, but he does seem to deliberately get into positions

where he is surrounded by two or three players of the opposition and scream

for the ball, fully in the knowledge he is not going to get it.

He then proceeds to direct team-mates to do the job he is supposed to be

doing himself.

I was impressed by Williamson though. Fingers crossed.

 

[cooperblade]

I was really excited when we swapped Howard for Harper, but watching him in the second half this afternoon he just couldn't get near the ball.

First half I thought he and Williamson looked really comfortable - but in the second he was out of it and chasing shadows.

What always annoys me about United is the amount of time we have the ball and noone is moving. It's almost like rugby league! We play to get the ball into certain positions and then everyone knows what they are doing - in the meantime everyone stands about in their position on the flip-chart.

What is it about our set up that makes our central midfield appear way out of position so often? I think saying it's because we lump it is over-simplistic. That doesn't explain why the opposition get one v one counter attacks against so often (Peterboro had a couple as do most teams) when our attacking set pieces are cleared, it doesn't explain why headers from opposition centre backs invariably end up with their centre forwards, there seem to be so many passages of play when our central midfield have disappeared from view completely.

I don't think it's down to personnel because whoever plays there, we have the same issue.

Harper always shows for a pass and I don't agree that he deliberately hides. Him and Williamson are both comfortable in possession and will, eventually, be athletic/fit enough to get around the park. I'm still worried though that under the current management, they will still get bypassed too easily (by the opposition, not by us).

Do they get too close to our front players when we're attacking and too close to our defenders when we're not?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

He's scored more premiership goals in one season than Ploddy has in any division in his whole career. With a proper manager Harper and Williamson would excel. Still, back to Ploddy and Elpiton soon. Happy days eh?

When Harper signed I said I thought he and Williamson would be KB's 1st choice pairing, remains to be seen when Monty's available although you can see him playing all three with Hendo up front on his own, certainly away from home. Happy days !

 

[Micalijo]

I can't believe that such a ridiculous first post has turned into a sensible chat.

I enjoyed watching two midfielders who can pass and move. Pretty sure Monty will come in for Harper so it won't last long, although I suppose we could see Daz up top with Monty added to the two yesterday and Wardy and Quinn, for example, out wide. Wouldn't surpise me at all, but riduclous with Evans and Camara dropped. Good options though.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I can't believe that such a ridiculous first post has turned into a sensible chat.

I enjoyed watching two midfielders who can pass and move. Pretty sure Monty will come in for Harper so it won't last long, although I suppose we could see Daz up top with Monty added to the two yesterday and Wardy and Quinn, for example, out wide. Wouldn't surpise me at all, but riduclous with Evans and Camara dropped. Good options though.

Great to see a different strike pairing yesterday, certainly signs that they could be good together but I guess Hendo will be straight back in particularly as we've got 2 away games coming up. As said elsewhere, made such a difference to see us not looking for Hendo and passing it around in the 1st half yesterday.

 

[shorehamview]

I can't believe that such a ridiculous first post has turned into a sensible chat.

It makes a bloody change from any post turning into a "Blackwell out" one.

Williamson and Harper looked okay together - perhaps they need a few games to gel - but it does seem likely that Monty will get back in once he's fit. I don't think he should if Harper and Williamson play well. It's been said before that players who perform well will keep the shirt, it's now a matter of seeing if that's true.

 

[gregblade]

Jury is still out on Harper for me.....I thought both him and Quinn struggled all day yesterday. My problem with Harper is that he's very stationary and seems to want to be the "break down" midfielder. IF that is the case, I'd take Montgomery over him every day of the week. Williamson looked decent in spells yesterday but is obviously still finding his feet.

 

[djbaldken]

Nice to see from 'A ridiculous post' a sensible debate has occurred.
Yes it is a ridiculous anallegy but I do fail to see what Harper brings to us. All I ever see him do is wave his arms and shout. Nothing More.
Someone asked if it was his shot that set up our goal? I thought it was Cheds shot. Maybe Im wrong.
But Not long after we had scored his lack of pace and poor tackle almost led to them equalising.

Sorry, at the moment I just dont get him. Id rather have Howard back, and thats saying something.

 

[Ollessendro]

I was very pleased when we signed Harper, but have to say o've been disappointed with him so far. I wasn't at the game yesterday, so I can't comment on his performance. However somebody commented that he looks unift. I'm bewildered as to how this is the case. He has played 11 (?) games now and is obviously training every day. How on earth is he not match fit?

I still hope that he will come good. He shows touches of class when he is on the ball and is always an option. However I think he often looks lethargic and shies away from his defensive duties? Time and time again we lose the midfield battle and although Williamson has only started one game I fear he is more of a creative midfiled and not a 'foot in' midfield and hence won't help this. In our recent poor run he was at fault for a few goals by defending poorly. On several other occassions he seem to be slow to react to team mates mistakes and putting pressure on people that could have stopped goals.

I'd be keen to see him under a manager that isn't a clown. However I do not want to turn this into a Blackwell out thread. From what I gather I' be looking to have Monty and Williamson together, with Harper as an extra option. Or Monty holding infornt of the back 4 and Harper and Williamson infront.

Micalijo/Cooper. Whilst I appreciate your sentiments that Monty is limited and Harper and Williamson have much greater footballing ability, how do you propose to rectify this problem of teams just coming straight through our midfield. I presume that Harper would sit back in a midfield partnership with Williamson and he simply isn't as good at defending as Monty is. I'm not knocking your opinions. Nor am I calling for Monty to be religously put in the team. However I am just intereste what you think. I do not have any solutions to my questions.

 

[JohnDenver]

I like the look of both players, but they left the back four horribly exposed in the second half. Hopefully that's just a fitness thing, but they could prove too similar to play together as a pair.

I like the idea of playing Monty behind those two with a three man strikeforce. Ward on the right, Ched central and maybe Treacey or Camara on the left.

That formation was excellent vs PNE in the playoffs, and since we've binned Cotts we don't have much conventional width anyway. Worth a try?

 

[JohnDenver]

who would you rather have in midfield?:

James Harper or a one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarf?

I vote the one legged blind hunch backed lesbian dwarf.

PS - would a straight one-legged blind female dwarf be better or worse?

 

[Pinchy]

In Monty's last 3 games before injury we conceded 8 goals. He did nothing to stop the opposition breaching our back four and was directly responsible for conceding goals at both Cov and Swansea.

The myth persists.

 

[JohnDenver]

In Monty's last 3 games before injury we conceded 8 goals. He did nothing to stop the opposition breaching our back four and was directly responsible for conceding goals at both Cov and Swansea.

The myth persists.

Any comment on why a team as poor as Posh were able to run directly at our centre backs on so many occasions second half? We were supposed to be defending a lead, but the gap between defence and midfield was very worrying - neither of the two midfielders ever chose to sit deep.

The best I've seen us play in the last 2 years was the PNE semi. A defensive midfielder was key to that pattern, allowing Howard, Halford et al to break forward. I rate Williamson and Harper highly and I want them to be freed to play as they can. Without true wingers this looks our best chance of success to me...

 

[Pinchy]

It's the old old argument JD. Monty is admirable. He chases (shadows) all day long. He is fit, enthusistic and determined. On the other hand he contributes absolutely nothing to the creativity of the team. You think that's acceptable; I don't. We have different views as to how the game should be played. I'm Arsenal; you're a little bit Wimbledon are you not?

 

[moDtheGod]

It makes a bloody change from any post turning into a "Blackwell out" one.

You seem to make this comment in every thread, it's as dull as threads getting run off topic. Stop it. We get your point.

 

[Bergen Blade]

What is it about our set up that makes our central midfield appear way out of position so often? I think saying it's because we lump it is over-simplistic. That doesn't explain why the opposition get one v one counter attacks against so often (Peterboro had a couple as do most teams) when our attacking set pieces are cleared, it doesn't explain why headers from opposition centre backs invariably end up with their centre forwards, there seem to be so many passages of play when our central midfield have disappeared from view completely.

I don't think it's down to personnel because whoever plays there, we have the same issue.

Harper always shows for a pass and I don't agree that he deliberately hides. Him and Williamson are both comfortable in possession and will, eventually, be athletic/fit enough to get around the park. I'm still worried though that under the current management, they will still get bypassed too easily (by the opposition, not by us).

Do they get too close to our front players when we're attacking and too close to our defenders when we're not?

To over-simplify it I think we often defend as 11 individuals, not one unit. I think our central midfielders gets told which opposition midfielder is "their men", and if someone else makes a run into the room in front of our defence, our central midfielders won't be 100% focused on picking them up. Ryan Taylor's (left midfielder at the time) run and goal for Newcastle was a typical example.

The way we defend, there's also no rescue plan if one player slips up. Cooper, I know you blamed Harper for Ipswich's 2nd goal, but does Blackwell want him to cover for Monty in those situations, or does he tell him to keep track of his own man?

 

[JohnDenver]

It's the old old argument JD. Monty is admirable. He chases (shadows) all day long. He is fit, enthusistic and determined. On the other hand he contributes absolutely nothing to the creativity of the team. You think that's acceptable; I don't. We have different views as to how the game should be played. I'm Arsenal; you're a little bit Wimbledon are you not?

I don't think it is the old Monty argument. Even Arsenal's successful Wenger years involved a defensive midfielder. There are plenty to choose from: Gilberto, Flamini, Edu, Viera.

If we're going to see the best of Harper and Williamson I don't think we should ask them to sit deep - it's not their game. Especially given the loss of Cotts and the dropping of Treacey.

The best, most fluid, teams have players breaking forward from midfield. If I was the Wimbledon fan you've labelled me as, I'd not be asking for Henderson to be dropped and our best ball players to be given a platform.

 

[NN6]

look its not rocket science. when Harper was one of the best players in the Championship at Reading he had a fast attacking side around him. Sidwell was the holding player, with Harper bombing forward centrally, Hunt and Little on the wings and pace down the middle with Doyle and Kitson. Opposition sides didn't know who to mark and lots of space was created for Harper by Doyle and Kitson's movement.

With us he's come into a static formation with little movement so he's got no space. It might be if we stick with Evans and Camara and they get going together that space will be created, especially if Ward continues to perform. If we revert to type and play it long down the middle or down the channels for Hendo he will continue to be a non feature.

 

[Pinchy]

I don't think it is the old Monty argument. Even Arsenal's successful Wenger years involved a defensive midfielder. There are plenty to choose from: Gilberto, Flamini, Edu, Viera.

If we're going to see the best of Harper and Williamson I don't think we should ask them to sit deep - it's not their game. Especially given the loss of Cotts and the dropping of Treacey.

The best, most fluid, teams have players breaking forward from midfield. If I was the Wimbledon fan you've labelled me as, I'd not be asking for Henderson to be dropped and our best ball players to be given a platform.

And every one of those Arsenal midfielders could play football as well as defend. That's my point! Monty can't, bless him.

 

[JohnDenver]

And every one of those Arsenal midfielders could play football as well as defend. That's my point! Monty can't, bless him.

You thank NN6 for his/her post and it's entirely in agreement with mine. Harper looked great for Reading with Sidwell behind him. Obviously Sidwell is a far better player than Monty, but the principle is the same: balance in the team and movement up front. Release your talented midifelders by employing one to cover, and improve mobility in attack by Keeping Henderson grazing on the bench. He should be an option, not Plan A.

If we had a player better than Monty to anchor the midfield then play him, but I don't see one in the squad.

Of course every Arsenal player has to be a gifted ball player, even their centre backs, but their current lack of defensive strength and discipline in midfield is what's undermining their season (again). In our league and on our budget we have to balance different players' strengths, as we can't afford individuals who can do everything.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

If we keep on playing central players as wide players who therefore want to come inside all the time I don't know why we don't just play 4-3-3. Push Wardy upfront and play Monty, Willo and Harper in the middle of the park. I just don't understand this 4-4-2 with no width surely width is the basic premise behind 4-4-2 else you may as well play a diamond.