Rumour: James Harper (talks with Wolves confirmed)

[John Peel]

Nothing to do with loyalty. Harper is a good player and a good motivator - we need his experience. And yes ok, he flaps his arms a lot.

[Archie's penalty]

Don't go James!

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Nothing to do with loyalty. Harper is a good player and a good motivator - we need his experience. And yes ok, he flaps his arms a lot.

Haper is quite introverted by all accounts.

They want leaders to help the kids.

[Ian Royal]

Add my weight to the keep Harper crowd.

As I see it we need two tough box to boxers in midfield, maybe one a little more creative and the other a little more of a tackler. We then need someone with an experienced head sitting infront of the back four who is a good distributer and has defensive qualities.

At the moment I think we're much more in need of Kraken further forward than that, and I think that suits him better. That leaves Gunnarsson, who lets face it, isn't going to be playing 90 minutes one or twice a week every week for the whole season.

That leaves Tabb and Cisse. Tabb is too short (another reason I'm not too keen on Kraken back there as he's very slight) for a player who is going to have to drop into the defensive line on plenty of occasions. Cisse doesn't having the passing range and quality needed for the distribution aspect.

I know we've done the Harper defensive argument to death, so I don't want to, and won't get into an argument about it. I'm just going to state it as I see it.

Harps has the passing, we know he can do the short backwards and sideways passing. It's what most of his detractors have complained about him doing the last few years. I dunno about anyone else, but I've also seen him spark plenty of counterattacks with quick, accurate and direct balls out from defended situations likes corners and free-kicks. Gunnar's pass for Kebe to break for the penalty was similar to balls I've seen Harps play several times.

We look weak at set pieces at the moment. Harps seems to have a knack of being in the right place a lot of the time at defended set pieces. He'll often be the first man that doesn't get beaten by a poor ball and he's often the one clearing the lines if it pinballs around a bit.

Yes he's not especially good at tackling, but with others around him who can, thats less of an issue. He got a lot of stick last season for teams wandering through our midfield. But that was largely because he was playing deep leaving a hole infront of him with his partner isolated. Well that's nto an issue as he was essentially playing exactly where he should be playing in this system, and will have two infront of him.

Assuming we stick to 4-5-1/4-3-3

I think we'd be mad to let him go when we could be building an excellent young midfield around him. If he goes we'll need a good defensive player with excellent distribution to replace him. Because we're looking pretty light there to me right now.

[Archies Volley II]

Add my weight to the keep Harper crowd.

As I see it we need two tough box to boxers in midfield, maybe one a little more creative and the other a little more of a tackler. We then need someone with an experienced head sitting infront of the back four who is a good distributer and has defensive qualities.

At the moment I think we're much more in need of Kraken further forward than that, and I think that suits him better. That leaves Gunnarsson, who lets face it, isn't going to be playing 90 minutes one or twice a week every week for the whole season.

That leaves Tabb and Cisse. Tabb is too short (another reason I'm not too keen on Kraken back there as he's very slight) for a player who is going to have to drop into the defensive line on plenty of occasions. Cisse doesn't having the passing range and quality needed for the distribution aspect.

I know we've done the Harper defensive argument to death, so I don't want to, and won't get into an argument about it. I'm just going to state it as I see it.

Harps has the passing, we know he can do the short backwards and sideways passing. It's what most of his detractors have complained about him doing the last few years. I dunno about anyone else, but I've also seen him spark plenty of counterattacks with quick, accurate and direct balls out from defended situations likes corners and free-kicks. Gunnar's pass for Kebe to break for the penalty was similar to balls I've seen Harps play several times.

We look weak at set pieces at the moment. Harps seems to have a knack of being in the right place a lot of the time at defended set pieces. He'll often be the first man that doesn't get beaten by a poor ball and he's often the one clearing the lines if it pinballs around a bit.

Yes he's not especially good at tackling, but with others around him who can, thats less of an issue. He got a lot of stick last season for teams wandering through our midfield. But that was largely because he was playing deep leaving a hole infront of him with his partner isolated. Well that's nto an issue as he was essentially playing exactly where he should be playing in this system, and will have two infront of him.

Assuming we stick to 4-5-1/4-3-3

I think we'd be mad to let him go when we could be building an excellent young midfield around him. If he goes we'll need a good defensive player with excellent distribution to replace him. Because we're looking pretty light there to me right now.

Agreed

[Archie's penalty]

When is the transfer deadline?

Tomorrow at 5? If so then we have a chance of keeping him, no?

[winchester_royal]

When is the transfer deadline?

Tomorrow at 5? If so then we have a chance of keeping him, no?

We'll know by this time tomorrow.

It's a good job we've got a new server, otherwise HNA would be completely down tomorrow.

[rg6royal]

I really do hope we keep him.

[Percy's Rocket]

I really do hope we keep him.

So do I but Rodgers has hardly used him or Marek even though they fit the system and I do not
believe this is just down to fitness..

Either he or the club has decided they should go..

worth a double bet for tomorrow me thinks..(Sheff U and Sparta..maybe on loan)

but I hope I am wrong

[loyalroyal4life]

we aint going to play him so we might as well sell him for a fee instead of him going for free.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Call me old fashioned but...........

I am with Ian on this one.


Since witnessing his first goal for Reading against Rotherham on his debut (and creating the second) in a 2-0 win, he can do no wrong.


The goal against Liverpool and two against N'cassell (and the Placing of the Ball on the centre spot against Ipswich at 90+3 minutes, 0-1 which contributed to our 1-1 draw, I hold him in great affection.


Wolves don't want him, in fact no Premier team wants him.


All of our existing team all seem to want him around.

Shops at Dunelm Mill

[Elm Park Old Boy]

I'd keep him. Very good player at this level. And a terrific player for this club over the years. Off his back!

[Handsome Man]

Call me old fashioned but...........

I am with Ian on this one.


Since witnessing his first goal for Reading against Rotherham on his debut (and creating the second) in a 2-0 win, he can do no wrong.


The goal against Liverpool and two against N'cassell (and the Placing of the Ball on the centre spot against Ipswich at 90+3 minutes, 0-1 which contributed to our 1-1 draw, I hold him in great affection.


Wolves don't want him, in fact no Premier team wants him.


All of our existing team all seem to want him around.

Shops at Dunelm Mill

I hate that shop - the one in Huntingdon is like a jumble sale and has nothing that you can't buy nicer from John Lewis.
Harper is great though - and he was good throughout our second season in the Premiership as well - so I would like to see him stay.

[Platypuss]

If BR thinks he can get a more effective player in in his place then he can go.

[Ian Royal]

If he stays I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back into the first team sooner than later. There's obviously a fair bit of interest and disruption about him and a potential transfer. It would make sense to not try and build him in as an integral piece of the team if he may go and is probably distracted. But once he's staying for certain, Rodgers would have to be mad not to use him.

Wouldn't he?

[AthleticoSpizz]

If BR thinks he can get a more effective player in in his place then he can go.

Where?

He is contracted...no?

[winchester_royal]

If he stays I wouldn't be surprised to see him come back into the first team sooner than later. There's obviously a fair bit of interest and disruption about him and a potential transfer. It would make sense to not try and build him in as an integral piece of the team if he may go and is probably distracted. But once he's staying for certain, Rodgers would have to be mad not to use him.

Wouldn't he?

Maybe, just maybe, BR doesn't rate Harps.

[Platypuss]

If BR thinks he can get a more effective player in in his place then he can go.

Where?

He is contracted...no?

?

Was responding to the discussion on whather we should sell him or not - which necessitates a willing buyer.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Which there apparently isn't



The last bastion of the Pardew days.............as I said


I am old fashioned


I still believe he has a role here

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

Thing is, do his performances over the last 12 months justify his premiership wage. I'd say not. And the fact that no-one's seriously come knocking backs that up.

The bloke is an RFC legend but I think he needs somewhere new.