Will Harps play a new tune under Brendan?

[Archie's penalty]

I've always been a huge fan of Harps and, whilst many have their doubts about him, I think he is a very important player for the club.

He had his problems last year but we really missed him when it came to the crunch (as we did Ingi).

Now I doubt he'll move on this summer so my question is can Harps (who's coming up to 29 in November) be a crucial player for us next year and smooth the transition between the two managerial regimes?

I think he can and am looking forward to a rejuvenated Harps in the centre of midfield. Who's with me?

[rfcjoe]

He might play a tune on Brendan's flesh flute...

[Ian Royal]

I've always been a huge fan of Harps and, whilst many have their doubts about him, I think he is a very important player for the club.

He had his problems last year but we really missed him when it came to the crunch (as we did Ingi).

Now I doubt he'll move on this summer so my question is can Harps (who's coming up to 29 in November) be a crucial player for us next year and smooth the transition between the two managerial regimes?

I think he can and am looking forward to a rejuvenated Harps in the centre of midfield. Who's with me?

Me.

I can't see fitness being an issue and he is one of the best passers at the club. Under Rodgers I'd expect to see him make more of that talent. I think he could fill in pretty much any role in the centre. He has the pace and skill to be an attacking player if you can convince him to be, but he also has the organisation and awareness to play as the deeper defensive player who distributes from defence.

[Dirk Gently]

I think he's never really got past Sids leaving - before that he was the defensive one and Sids got forward, and he still plays the same way. So I do hope BR tells him to be a bit more adventurous and go forward more - and instills in him the confidence to do that.

[Ian Royal]

I think he's never really got past Sids leaving - before that he was the defensive one and Sids got forward, and he still plays the same way. So I do hope BR tells him to be a bit more adventurous and go forward more - and instills in him the confidence to do that.

he's certainly not really had a good complimentary partner since. Cisse, Marek, Fae, Gunnarsson, hell even Bikey. None really worked alongside him. Karacan may have done with time, I'm doubtful of Tabb. We'll have to wait and see what happens I guess.

[handbags_harris]

I think he's never really got past Sids leaving - before that he was the defensive one and Sids got forward, and he still plays the same way. So I do hope BR tells him to be a bit more adventurous and go forward more - and instills in him the confidence to do that.

This.

[Row Z Royal]

He might play a tune on Brendan's flesh flute...

You got me back for the ALOL @ the turn out comment last week.

Cracking.

[rabidbee]

He might play a tune on Brendan's flesh flute...

Does that need any unusual fingering?

[Row Z Royal]

He'll be fine as long as he remembers to release the spit valve.

[Royalwaster]

I think he's never really got past Sids leaving - before that he was the defensive one and Sids got forward, and he still plays the same way. So I do hope BR tells him to be a bit more adventurous and go forward more - and instills in him the confidence to do that.

he's certainly not really had a good complimentary partner since. Cisse, Marek, Fae, Gunnarsson, hell even Bikey. None really worked alongside him. Karacan may have done with time, I'm doubtful of Tabb. We'll have to wait and see what happens I guess.

I think Tabb and him could be a great partnership - still leaves me wondering what will happen to Marek .... the most talented under-used player at the club. I remember telling a friend who used to watch Reading about him and he was like "So you've got a player who was good enough to play at Euro 2008, but not good enough to play in the Championship? What the ...?"

[gazzer, loyal royal]

i'm sure Rodgers will play a 4-5-1 so Harper sitting with Tabb and Matejovsky will be a very good three man midfield for this division

[Southbank Old Boy]

I think he's never really got past Sids leaving - before that he was the defensive one and Sids got forward, and he still plays the same way. So I do hope BR tells him to be a bit more adventurous and go forward more - and instills in him the confidence to do that.

I also hope Harper is given the confidence to run games again in the quietly effecient way he did when he had Sidwell alongside him

I dont think anyone should expect him to start changing his game into something he isnt though. Thats where he gets a lot of his criticism from, people expecting things of him that just arent part of his natural, or at least most effective, game

[Dirk Gently]

I think he's never really got past Sids leaving - before that he was the defensive one and Sids got forward, and he still plays the same way. So I do hope BR tells him to be a bit more adventurous and go forward more - and instills in him the confidence to do that.

I also hope Harper is given the confidence to run games again in the quietly effecient way he did when he had Sidwell alongside him

I dont think anyone should expect him to start changing his game into something he isnt though. Thats where he gets a lot of his criticism from, people expecting things of him that just arent part of his natural, or at least most effective, game

The infuriaing thing is that he has got the skills to get forward and make great impact there, but he lways seems scared to. Someone said to me once that he seems to be always too worried about the whole team and making sure he's available to help out everyone else - I just wish he'd concentrate on his own game sometimes.

[rg6royal]

I still think he's very valuable to the Club and Premiership clubs wouldn't have wanted him if he was terrible would they? Will be interesting next season to see how he does.

[Snowball]

I think Harp's (relative) loss of form was down to Coppell


We had a good defensive record, I think, because Harps stopped so much
but that left us short of forward thinking. ie we played 5 at the back and were short of creativity

When we were scoring we were also letting them in. We stopped leaking goals but also stopped scoring.

Look at the season's F-A tally, in 15-game chunks and it's obvious.

[Ian Royal]

I think he's never really got past Sids leaving - before that he was the defensive one and Sids got forward, and he still plays the same way. So I do hope BR tells him to be a bit more adventurous and go forward more - and instills in him the confidence to do that.

I also hope Harper is given the confidence to run games again in the quietly effecient way he did when he had Sidwell alongside him

I dont think anyone should expect him to start changing his game into something he isnt though. Thats where he gets a lot of his criticism from, people expecting things of him that just arent part of his natural, or at least most effective, game

The infuriaing thing is that he has got the skills to get forward and make great impact there, but he lways seems scared to. Someone said to me once that he seems to be always too worried about the whole team and making sure he's available to help out everyone else - I just wish he'd concentrate on his own game sometimes.

This.
Especially once made captain. Just look at the goals he scored in the season we went down. He always used to pop up with a few. He barely crossed the halfway line last season.

[rhroyal]

He had a brilliant 02/03 season in the pre-Harper/Sidwell era. He was effective going forward, wonderfully creative and I honestly thought he was good enough for the Premierhsip. Then his partnership with Sidwell began and they had a great balance and understanding. Harper brought the best out of Sidwell and played an important defensive role in midfield. Then Sidwell left. Harper looked lost. He had forgotten how to get forward and attack and create. He's still a team player, but he doesn't seem to take any risks and always plays it safe. If Rodgers can get him back to his old self who would get forward a bit more he still has something to offer to the team.

[Royalee]

He is crap as a box to box midfielder but Rodgers is right when he says he's pretty good with the ball at his feet. He needs to be told to play sensibly and not run about like a headless chicken if he's going to be a part of this new team and use his strengths which are using the ball and the attacking side of the game rather than defensive, which he was attempting after Sidwell left.

[brendywendy]

i'm sure Rodgers will play a 4-5-1 so Harper sitting with Tabb and Matejovsky will be a very good three man midfield for this division

its got great passing, great vision,ball retention, and bite in the tackle
if it works we could be awesome

[Ian Royal]

i'm sure Rodgers will play a 4-5-1 so Harper sitting with Tabb and Matejovsky will be a very good three man midfield for this division

its got great passing, great vision,ball retention, and bite in the tackle
if it works we could be awesome

bite in the tackle is something I'd be worried about. Plus breaking into the box as an arial threat.

Harper, Marek and one other looks like a pretty good midfield. The concern then gets shifted to the wingers and strikers. Do we have enough quality there if we play three in the middle.