Rumour: James Harper (talks with Wolves confirmed)

[Terminal Boardom]

You do upset me when you say such horrid things. Hunty or hughes are not fit to lace harps boots. As loyal a servant and as professional a footballer as you could wish to have in your team. He had a bad season last year but i think hes allowed that.

The sad thing is, as has been posted already, is that Harps was asked to perform a role that he is not best at. At this moment in time, I am hard pressed to come up with a better CM partnership than Haps and Sidders in the club's history.

Now, if Harps is allowed to play where he can be of greatest benefit...

[Ian Royal]

You do upset me when you say such horrid things. Hunty or hughes are not fit to lace harps boots. As loyal a servant and as professional a footballer as you could wish to have in your team. He had a bad season last year but i think hes allowed that.

The sad thing is, as has been posted already, is that Harps was asked to perform a role that he is not best at. At this moment in time, I am hard pressed to come up with a better CM partnership than Haps and Sidders in the club's history.

Now, if Harps is allowed to play where he can be of greatest benefit...

Whilst Sidders and Harps did fantastically welll together. I can't help but feel Harps was at his best in a 5 man midfield. Or at least in a 3 man central midfield.

Put two good all-round box to box tackling & goalscoring players around him and he will destroy teams (Sidwell & Hughes). Put him alongside one strong box to box tackler and shooter and he will be merely very good.

[Archie's penalty]

I think Brendan's system is perfect for Harps. He can set up play and allow the likes of HRK, Kebe, Davies and the like to get forward.

Don't go Mr. Crab.

[Ian Royal]

I think Brendan's system is perfect for Harps. He can set up play and allow the likes of HRK, Kebe, Davies and the like to get forward.

Don't go Mr. Crab.

I agree, but it may take some flexibility on BR's part about who is right for which role.

I'm sure he would want a tackler in the holding role, but that isn't really Harper. Have players ahead of him who can tackle and he will be excellent. Rely on him to tackle and it won't work.

[Archie's penalty]

We need to buy a tackling central midfielder then. Or get Karacan, Davies or Tabb to beef up.

[Ian Royal]

We need to buy a tackling central midfielder then. Or get Karacan, Davies or Tabb to beef up.

hmmm, Karacan can tackle a bit, so can Tabb & Cisse. Not sure on Davies, but I reckon he'd get stuck in. Not forgetting the short term of Gunnarsson.

Developing what we have is my opinion.

[Royalee]

We need to buy a tackling central midfielder then. Or get Karacan, Davies or Tabb to beef up.

We've got Karacan who's already fine in the role along with Tabb, Gunnarsson and Cisse! We don't need 11 of them!

[leon]

We need to buy a tackling central midfielder then. Or get Karacan, Davies or Tabb to beef up.

We've got Karacan who's already fine in the role along with Tabb, Gunnarsson and Cisse! We don't need 11 of them!

We've needed a decent tackler in midfield for about 5 years - and I haven't seen this aspect of his game to make me feel happier.

I think naively, you're placing a lot of faith in Mr Rogers alchemic ability

oh and Cisse as a tackling midfielder - f*ck off

[2.8 lita injection]

Im sure he will be off now.

[Sarah Star]

Im sure he will be off now.

Blimey! I was thinking the opposite.

[Platypuss]

Stoke apparently interested.

http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s626/st148143.htm

[Hoop Blah]

I'm still not sure how Rodgers see's the 3 midfielders working long term. Is it one holding and two bombing on, or two holding and one in a free'er role further forward?

Eitherway I think Harper is still our best midfielder to play in one of the more defensive roles even though he isn't the type of destructive tackler people are calling for. In the modern game it isn't so much about having a Parky in there to make big tackles, it's more about having a mobile player who can fill in gaps and then start things off.

Coppell used to compare Harper to Makelele and although he could tackle, he wasn't really one for big thunderous tackles but was still pretty successful at playing that holding role!

Harper would still be one of the first names on the teamsheet for me at the moment, either alongside Karacan as two holding players or behind a combination of two from Mateojvsky, Tabb, Davies or Karacan as the defensive one of three.

[Ian Royal]

I'm still not sure how Rodgers see's the 3 midfielders working long term. Is it one holding and two bombing on, or two holding and one in a free'er role further forward?

Eitherway I think Harper is still our best midfielder to play in one of the more defensive roles even though he isn't the type of destructive tackler people are calling for. In the modern game it isn't so much about having a Parky in there to make big tackles, it's more about having a mobile player who can fill in gaps and then start things off.

Coppell used to compare Harper to Makelele and although he could tackle, he wasn't really one for big thunderous tackles but was still pretty successful at playing that holding role!

Harper would still be one of the first names on the teamsheet for me at the moment, either alongside Karacan as two holding players or behind a combination of two from Mateojvsky, Tabb, Davies or Karacan as the defensive one of three.

Think that is spot on. As long as one of the other three is happy to get his boot in Harper is fine. The problem with Harper last season, was that he was either alongside people who couldn't put the boot in (Marek) or who couldn't do the creative bit (Cisse).

Harper hassles and builds from the back - exactly what we need
Marek plays the killer balls - we need creativity
Tabb, Karacan, Cisse, Gunnarsson & Davies are all energetic and can get forward, but also aren't afraid to get stuck in.

Marek & Harper with one other may be a little on the light side. But Marek or Harper with two of the others should be fine. The problem at the moment is we have neither and are therefore lacking guile and creativity.

[Woodcote Royal]

One box to boxer
One playmaker
One crab

Sorted

[andrew1957]

Strangely I was thinking it was hard to see how to fit Harper in this season. He is not a good enough tackler to be a defensive midfielder and not creative or goal scoring enough to be in the attacking role.

I would have thought Cisse plus one of Gunnar, Tabb or Karacan in the defensive role would be best plus one of Davies, Matejovsky or Sigurdsson in the attacking midfield role would offer more options. I can See Harper making lots of sub appearances (like at Newcastle) if he stays but few starts unless we get a lot of injuries. Perhaps he deserves another chance in the PL if Wolves or another PL team show interest.

[TFF]

Perhaps he deserves another chance in the PL if Wolves or another PL team show interest.

Not. Joined. Up. Thinking.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91344

[Hoop Blah]

Strangely I was thinking it was hard to see how to fit Harper in this season. He is not a good enough tackler to be a defensive midfielder and not creative or goal scoring enough to be in the attacking role.

I would have thought Cisse plus one of Gunnar, Tabb or Karacan in the defensive role would be best plus one of Davies, Matejovsky or Sigurdsson in the attacking midfield role would offer more options. I can See Harper making lots of sub appearances (like at Newcastle) if he stays but few starts unless we get a lot of injuries. Perhaps he deserves another chance in the PL if Wolves or another PL team show interest.

As I said above, you don't actually need to be a great tackler in the modern game, but that aside, Harper was a perfectly capable holding midfielder during the good times alongside Sidwell so I see no reason why, given the right players around him again, he can't fulfil that role again.

As for not being good enough to play the attacking role...you realise he scored more Premiership goals that Sidwell in their time in the Premiership right? If let off the leash and encouraged to express himself Harper could easily perform well in one of the attacking roles too. He's got the engine and the skills to do it, and he's shown at the highest level in this country that he has the desire and composure to get on the end of things in the box.

[andrew1957]

Perhaps he deserves another chance in the PL if Wolves or another PL team show interest.

Not. Joined. Up. Thinking.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=91344

I have no problem with experienced players being sold provided they are replaced by at least some Championship hardened experienced players. There is no inconsistency in that approach or my views.

[Smoking Kills Dancing Doe]

Strangely I was thinking it was hard to see how to fit Harper in this season. He is not a good enough tackler to be a defensive midfielder and not creative or goal scoring enough to be in the attacking role.

I would have thought Cisse plus one of Gunnar, Tabb or Karacan in the defensive role would be best plus one of Davies, Matejovsky or Sigurdsson in the attacking midfield role would offer more options. I can See Harper making lots of sub appearances (like at Newcastle) if he stays but few starts unless we get a lot of injuries. Perhaps he deserves another chance in the PL if Wolves or another PL team show interest.

I reckon Harper could play in front of the back 4 with Cisse. As always with Harps I say could. He was great playing in a 451 under Pards, a different 451 I know, but I reckon Harps could be back to his best under Brendan.

[andrew1957]

Strangely I was thinking it was hard to see how to fit Harper in this season. He is not a good enough tackler to be a defensive midfielder and not creative or goal scoring enough to be in the attacking role.

I would have thought Cisse plus one of Gunnar, Tabb or Karacan in the defensive role would be best plus one of Davies, Matejovsky or Sigurdsson in the attacking midfield role would offer more options. I can See Harper making lots of sub appearances (like at Newcastle) if he stays but few starts unless we get a lot of injuries. Perhaps he deserves another chance in the PL if Wolves or another PL team show interest.

As I said above, you don't actually need to be a great tackler in the modern game, but that aside, Harper was a perfectly capable holding midfielder during the good times alongside Sidwell so I see no reason why, given the right players around him again, he can't fulfil that role again.

As for not being good enough to play the attacking role...you realise he scored more Premiership goals that Sidwell in their time in the Premiership right? If let off the leash and encouraged to express himself Harper could easily perform well in one of the attacking roles too. He's got the engine and the skills to do it, and he's shown at the highest level in this country that he has the desire and composure to get on the end of things in the box.

Yes but he did not score much last season and IMO (and we all have options) I would play any of the three I mentioned rather than Harper in the attacking midfield role. I would also prefer any of Gunnar, Cisse, Karacan and Tabb in the defensive role.

The only role I see for Harper if he stays is to run about a lot ( as we are always being told he is the fittest bloke in the world) if we are a/ chasing a game or b/ defending a lead - hence my comments about sub appearances.