Harper Appreciation Thread

[Archie's penalty]

Mags. Woodcote didn't like Sidwell so he'll take any chance he can to belittle him.

It's truly sad that the tiny minds that infest this forum don't understand if I wanted to slag off Sidwell I'd have made a far better attempt than anything I said in farewell to Harper........................which was intended merely to point out that Harper should be playing at a similar level but has failed to realise his true potential.

For the record, though, I said Sidwell was replaceable when he left and nowhere good enough to stand the faintest chance of breaking into Chelsea's midfield.

Whilst Coppell failed to replace him I've seen nothing from Sidwell since he left to change that view and it's truly sad to see how little first team football he's played in that time even though he's had some good performances for Villa.

I also really like Harps Woodcote. But your hatred of Sidwell is a bit off.

[Woodcote Royal]

All I said was that Harper is technically more gifted when he chooses to use it.

[winchester_royal]

Just thinking. Did they get rid of him to avoid having a testimonial game?

Grow up.

It was a serious question. And for the record I am 29 you little twerp. You don't own the board so stop pretending like you do.

Harper was let go because:

1. He's been crap for the last season and a half.
2. Rodgers doesn't rate him.
3. He didn't feel appreciated by the fans here.
4. He's pissed off that all his m8s have gone.
5. He's on premiership wages which we can't afford to pay for a guy who isn't in the first team.

Not because we didn't want to give him a testemonial.

[Archie's penalty]

All I said was that Harper is technically more gifted when he chooses to use it.

I think he's a better passer of a football then Sids but he hasn't got as good drive as the ginja ninja. Still is Sids playing for Villa now?

[Archie's penalty]

Harper was let go because:

1. He's been crap for the last season and a half.
2. Rodgers doesn't rate him.
3. He didn't feel appreciated by the fans here.
4. He's pissed off that all his m8s have gone.
5. He's on premiership wages which we can't afford to pay for a guy who isn't in the first team.

Not because we didn't want to give him a testemonial.

Ok. But I was just asking. And Good comeback.

[winchester_royal]

Harper was let go because:

1. He's been crap for the last season and a half.
2. Rodgers doesn't rate him.
3. He didn't feel appreciated by the fans here.
4. He's pissed off that all his m8s have gone.
5. He's on premiership wages which we can't afford to pay for a guy who isn't in the first team.

Not because we didn't want to give him a testemonial.

Ok. But I was just asking. And Good comeback.

Was at the very end of my comeback. When you take into account all the bullet points, I think you'll find it works rather well.

[Thaumagurist*]

1. He's been crap for the last season and a half.

That's deb8able, m8.

2. Rodgers doesn't rate him.

How do you know? Has he said to that effect before selling him?

3. He didn't feel appreciated by the fans here.

Rubbish.

4. He's pissed off that all his m8s have gone.

Probably true. But that's not a good enough reason.

5. He's on premiership wages which we can't afford to pay for a guy who isn't in the first team.

Probably true, but who's to say he could have played for his place if somebody got injured?

[winchester_royal]

1. He's been crap for the last season and a half.

That's deb8able, m8.

Obviously

2. Rodgers doesn't rate him.

How do you know? Has he said to that effect before selling him?

The fact that Rodgers didn't want to play him, and that he was willing to pawn him off to Utd, and that Harper himself said his 'face didn't fit' all seems proof enough to me

3. He didn't feel appreciated by the fans here.

Rubbish.

Listen to his interview on BBCRS

5. He's on premiership wages which we can't afford to pay for a guy who isn't in the first team.

Probably true, but who's to say he could have played for his place if somebody got injured?

He's still back-up.

[Gordons Cumming]

I'm not going to make a habit of posting, but i just felt the urge to post my appreciation for Harper as he is a quality footballer and person.

Very wise.

[glass half full]

Kevin Blackwell will be rubbing his hands with glee. I hope that Harps does well there, rising to a new challenge.

[Thaumagurist*]

2. Rodgers doesn't rate him.

How do you know? Has he said to that effect before selling him?

The fact that Rodgers didn't want to play him, and that he was willing to pawn him off to Utd, and that Harper himself said his 'face didn't fit' all seems proof enough to me

Well, maybe his injury had something to do with Rodgers not being able to pick him - rather than him not wanting to play Harper. Harper's quote about not fitting was probably him expressing his frustrations rather than Rodgers not rating him.

3. He didn't feel appreciated by the fans here.

Rubbish.

Listen to his interview on BBCRS

I can't listen to it.

I said rubbish because I've read the article about Harper going and he said a lot of positive things about Reading and said he loved the fans....

5. He's on premiership wages which we can't afford to pay for a guy who isn't in the first team.

Probably true, but who's to say he could have played for his place if somebody got injured?

He's still back-up.

Yeah, so? Being back up wasn't a permanent thing, anyone could have got injured, he would have stepped in and if he had played well enough, he wouldn't be back up anymore.

[Gordons Cumming]

Kevin Blackwell will be rubbing his hands with glee. I hope that Harps does well there, rising to a new challenge.

Are we getting Howard or have I missed something?

[Woodcote Royal]

All I said was that Harper is technically more gifted when he chooses to use it.

I think he's a better passer of a football then Sids but he hasn't got as good drive as the ginja ninja. Still is Sids playing for Villa now?

I don't think Sidwell's conversion rate is bad for a midfielder but Harper's is excellent.

It's a crying shame that the goals he scored against Liverpool and Palace were so comparatively rare simply because he hardly ever got into those positions.

[Huntley & Palmer]

All I said was that Harper is technically more gifted when he chooses to use it.

An undiscovered talent at 29

[Woodcote Royal]

A player who hasn't realised his full potential..........................of which there are thousands.

[savannah]

I think its a bit sad how a player who has played for us for 8 years leaves with such bad feeling from fans.

[winchester_royal]

I think its a bit sad how a player who has played for us for 8 years leaves with such bad feeling from fans.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

A player who hasn't realised his full potential..........................of which there are thousands.

He reached a damned good level tho, perhaps that was his potential, high Champ, low Prem, either way he reached as good a potential as our beloved RFC, we are still on a par with Ipswich, Norwich, So'ton et al.

[Ian Royal]

It's a crying shame that the goals he scored against Liverpool and Palace were so comparatively rare simply because he hardly ever got into those positions.

He wasn't allowed to because we have not had a proper defensive midfielder in the team since Sidwell.
That meant Harper having to take defensive duties, which limited his opportunities to go forward.

Sidwell wasn't a defensive player you mong. He was the one who got forward, not Harper. Being able to tackle =/= defensive.

[Woodcote Royal]

It's a crying shame that the goals he scored against Liverpool and Palace were so comparatively rare simply because he hardly ever got into those positions.

He wasn't allowed to because we have not had a proper defensive midfielder in the team since Sidwell.
That meant Harper having to take defensive duties, which limited his opportunities to go forward.

I think we all know what Harpers normal role in the team was (not that I agreed with it particularly) but there was a huge difference in the way he performed when in and out of form.

Go check how many goals he got in our last season in the top flight.

We were already 2-1 up when Convey put him clear on goal that day against Liverpool and it seems ages ago since we last saw him play like that....................I'm sure it's in his head as much as anything.