Harper a little concerned

[Forbury Lion]

1 bad game from Karacan or Gunnarsson and he'll be straight in.

What about Cisse? He's not looked too shabby when comming on as sub.

If we're winning with Gem or Bryjar then a like for like replacement may in theory keep the momentum going.

[floyd__streete]

Allegedly Harper is getting a little concerned about his chances of getting back into the first team and isn't used to being left out.

Tought titty. Doesn't deserve his place in the team anyway. And at least during his welcome absence we don't have the Reading captain's armband being worn around someone's leg .

[Far Canal]

What about Cisse? He's not looked too shabby when comming on as sub.

At times he looks like the new Patrick Viera, then he goes and passes straight to the opposition! He's so inconsistent; perhaps this will change if he gets a run in the first team.

[readingbedding]

Allegedly Harper is getting a little concerned about his chances of getting back into the first team and isn't used to being left out.

My opinion is he's too good to be left out and whilst Coppell doesn't change a winning team, all it'll take will be one defeat or poor performance draw and he'll be back in at the first opportunity.

But what do others think? Think he is right to be concerned? Think it'll make him play better?

Allegedly he's happy that the team has done well whilst he's been injured.

[Forbury Lion]

Allegedly Harper is getting a little concerned about his chances of getting back into the first team and isn't used to being left out.

My opinion is he's too good to be left out and whilst Coppell doesn't change a winning team, all it'll take will be one defeat or poor performance draw and he'll be back in at the first opportunity.

But what do others think? Think he is right to be concerned? Think it'll make him play better?

Allegedly he's happy that the team has done well whilst he's been injured.

Possibly because it means any offer from a prem club might be accepted if Reading can do without him.

I'm being unfair, Harps is a good un.

[Dick Habbin's hairdo]

Don't know where I stand on the Harper issue - but I'm with what Mags said above, literally and figuratively.

I think it's generally recognised that Harper is a "good'un". Barking mad, great for the squad, essential player for all but the last season and a bit...

Shows the strength we actually have in midfield with The Bouncing Czech, Harper and Cisse waiting for Jem and Boris to slip up, get injured. But it's a great problem to have and that is what squads are for because we will need all of them.

Then there's always the option of The Beast in midfield, too....just for that bit of bite.

[brendywendy]

1 bad game from Karacan or Gunnarsson and he'll be straight in.

What about Cisse? He's not looked too shabby when comming on as sub.

If we're winning with Gem or Bryjar then a like for like replacement may in theory keep the momentum going.

IMO opinion

if coppell holds to principle, cisse should get the next start,

[CMRoyal]

Allegedly? I don't believe a word of it!

For a start, he knows that Bryn wil accumulate yellow cards and end up getting a ban. Plus Jem's young and will need a rest. No, I think James is just chomping at the bit to get back in, and so he should be. And he'll be on top form to make sure he stays there when he does get back. Competition for the middle mid-field places will be incredibly fierce when all five are fit and well, that's for sure. That can only be a good thing.

[readingbedding]

Allegedly Harper's been putting the foot in during training, trying to nobble the first team midfield.

[Kwacka]

Allegedly Harper's been putting the foot in during training, trying to nobble the first team midfield.

Unlikely, to put his foot in would mean he's trying to tackle someone and we all know he doesn't do that!

[rg6royal]

1 bad game from Karacan or Gunnarsson and he'll be straight in.

What about Cisse? He's not looked too shabby when comming on as sub.

If we're winning with Gem or Bryjar then a like for like replacement may in theory keep the momentum going.

IMO opinion

if coppell holds to principle, cisse should get the next start,

'greed

Looked very good when he came on against Burnley.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

The question is, irrespective of Harper's infectious presence around the place, what does he actually contribute on the pitch??

I think if he was sold, in terms of his presence on the pitch, he would not be missed - he does not bring anything that any of the other midfielders we have

The one weak area of our team until recently has been our central midfield area, and since Harper has been out, we have been far more solid in that area

Harper had his time of being a key player - that time has gone i think

[From Despair To Where?]

Thing with Harper is that throughout his career at Reading, he's had a number of periods where he's been out of the team either through injury or loss of form and he's always come back and upped his game dramatically, most notably in 2002/03 when he wasn't playing that well, got injured just before Christmas but got back into the team in the new year and absolutely walked away with Player of the Season on the strength of his performances in the second half of the season.

A fit and motivated Harper can only be a good thing.

[79Royal]

Allegedly Harper is getting a little concerned about his chances of getting back into the first team and isn't used to being left out.

My opinion is he's too good to be left out and whilst Coppell doesn't change a winning team, all it'll take will be one defeat or poor performance draw and he'll be back in at the first opportunity.

But what do others think? Think he is right to be concerned? Think it'll make him play better?

Agree he is to good to be left out but it's also no coincidence we're playing better without him. He's too careful when he plays and not direct enough.

Now he needs to adapt his game and push for a recall. And that is healthy!

+1

[SCIAG]

The question is, irrespective of Harper's infectious presence around the place, what does he actually contribute on the pitch??

More than you think. He passes well, tackles well, and has great energy

he does not bring anything that any of the other midfielders we have

By the same token, neither do any of our other midfielders.

[brendywendy]

The question is, irrespective of Harper's infectious presence around the place, what does he actually contribute on the pitch??

I think if he was sold, in terms of his presence on the pitch, he would not be missed - he does not bring anything that any of the other midfielders we have

The one weak area of our team until recently has been our central midfield area, and since Harper has been out, we have been far more solid in that area

Harper had his time of being a key player - that time has gone i think

think the goal glut recently has been more to do with the striker partnership of doyle and hunt, rather than absence of harps, who was present for this seasons biggest win

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

The question is, irrespective of Harper's infectious presence around the place, what does he actually contribute on the pitch??

I think if he was sold, in terms of his presence on the pitch, he would not be missed - he does not bring anything that any of the other midfielders we have

The one weak area of our team until recently has been our central midfield area, and since Harper has been out, we have been far more solid in that area

Harper had his time of being a key player - that time has gone i think

think the goal glut recently has been more to do with the striker partnership of doyle and hunt, rather than absence of harps, who was present for this seasons biggest win

Agree with you regarding the forwards and the goal glut - but the platform for any attacking performance is a strong and solid midfield, and I just think that in the games that Bryn has played , we have looked more solid in that area

[brendywendy]

i love brynn, and think he should keep his place
im just saying that harps played midfield in our biggest and most comprehensive home performance of the season

[rotherwick_royal]

I think we'll see Harper back soon and better than we've seen him for some time. What with Matejovsky coming back soon too I really feel this midfield could own this division.

It's going to be a real selection headache for Coppell and no doubt he'll get slagged off here even more because what he chooses won't be somebody's ideal midfield but it's great for the club. Maybe time for more of a squad approach, with Jem and Gunnar giving the m/f a bit more steel for away games.

[IMAMATEOFJOVSKY]

I think we'll see Harper back soon and better than we've seen him for some time. What with Matejovsky coming back soon too I really feel this midfield could own this division.

It's going to be a real selection headache for Coppell and no doubt he'll get slagged off here even more because what he chooses won't be somebody's ideal midfield but it's great for the club. Maybe time for more of a squad approach, with Jem and Gunnar giving the m/f a bit more steel for away games.

He'll need to be - hard to justify his inclusion unless he can offer more than those holding the shirts - could be a big demotivator to who has to yield to him coming back in - especially if his performance level remains as was before he got injured!