James Harper...

[Royalee]

Ah right, now I understand. Perhaps if you'd been at Sunderland, Portsmouth and Blackburn as well as today, you might see a pattern emerging in Harper's play.

So rather than being poor all season, your now saying he has played badly in four games. Who would you say played well in all four of those games which cause Harper to look so poor in comparison?

Perhaps we should sack Coppell now and appoint you Royalee as obviously Coppell isn't up to the job if he can miss Harper being carried for a whole Premiership season (and finish 8th) where as you obviously have your finger on the pulse.

If you read my above posts, I am saying he's played badly in 8 or 9 of our 12 games this season, therefore the majority.

As for Coppell, he clearly has his finger on the pulse at the moment with all of these resounding away defeats and his £2.5 million transfers for players he never plays.

[Skin]

Sidwell.

[Quagmire]

Chelsea ran through us as soon as they made changes, Wigan ran through us at home, as did Derby at times. Add to that West Ham and I think you'll fid it's more than just three games.

Before they made changes, who was in Chelseas midfield - Lampard and Sidwell. Who was in ours - Harper and Cisse. We over ran Chelsea in midfield all half and it wasn't until Sidwell got taken off at half time that they got back in it. Lets face it a midfield of Mikel and Lampard would cause most teams problems and so no disgrace.

Give Cisse and Harper a chance to form a partnership and we will see what happens.

[Quagmire]

If you read my above posts, I am saying he's played badly in 8 or 9 of our 12 games this season, therefore the majority.

However, Harper has been consistently shite all season.

I did read them, thanks.

[Royalee]

If you read my above posts, I am saying he's played badly in 8 or 9 of our 12 games this season, therefore the majority.

However, Harper has been consistently shite all season.

I did read them, thanks.

Is 75% of the season not consistent enough for you then?

[Quagmire]

If you read my above posts, I am saying he's played badly in 8 or 9 of our 12 games this season, therefore the majority.

However, Harper has been consistently shite all season.

I did read them, thanks.

Is 75% of the season not consistent enough for you then?

No, in the same way I wouldn't refer to someone as playing consistency well all season if they played badly in 25% of the games.

[floyd__streete]

When you learn to tackle, head the ball, follow things up, pass the ball to one of our players, dribble, move forward and hold players off, you may be worthwhile having in a Premiership midfield. Unfortunately, you do not appear capable of any of these things, which is why third rate teams like Fulham dominate our midfield and you need to piss off back to the Football League where you belong.

Harper was doing - unsuccessfully - the work of 2 men today. Gunnarsson MIA.

[Royalee]

When you learn to tackle, head the ball, follow things up, pass the ball to one of our players, dribble, move forward and hold players off, you may be worthwhile having in a Premiership midfield. Unfortunately, you do not appear capable of any of these things, which is why third rate teams like Fulham dominate our midfield and you need to piss off back to the Football League where you belong.

Harper was doing - unsuccessfully - the work of 2 men today. Gunnarsson MIA.

Whilst I strongly agree Gunnarsson was no better today, nothing annoys me more than a player who runs by the side of people all game, claps a lot and chats to the bench, then when we're trying to get back in the game sits back in his own half and waves his team's centre back past him to attack instead. Even if Gunnarsson couldn't outpace Stuart Gray, he at least attempts to take the game by the scruff of the neck, although he is admittedly useless at doing so.

Either way I'd get shot of both of them.

[cmonurz]

So its Fae and Karacan in midfield for Arsenal then?

[floyd__streete]

So its Fae and Karacan in midfield for Arsenal then?

You know what, I think we should just not bother with the Arsenal game full stop. Let the Gooners turn up at the Madejski to find the place locked up, no-one there and a note pinned to the door simply saying 'murked'.

[rg6royal]

can't believe people are moaning at harper.... typical reading fans....

[rob the royal]

harper is a good player. he links thinks up neatly and can make good runs and finish off when he does get in good positions. we've all known that he's not a combative tackling midfielder and personally i think he needs to play with one along side him.

i didn't make it to the game today but from what i heard and read in this thread sounds like gunarsson didn't exactly shine in today's game? so heres what i say to everyone moaning about a player who i think has had some very good performances this season...send gunnarsson to man u and play him alongside carrick and see how well they do?

different midfielders do different jobs in different ways. sidwell didn't carry harper they just work well together because of their different styles and a deep understanding formed over a very long period of time.

solution: a tackling midfielder who can play consistently well (i.e. not gunarsson) needs to play alongside harper.

[Royalee]

So its Fae and Karacan in midfield for Arsenal then?

You know what, I think we should just not bother with the Arsenal game full stop. Let the Gooners turn up at the Madejski to find the place locked up, no-one there and a note pinned to the door simply saying 'murked'.

[PEARCEY]

harper is a good player. he links thinks up neatly and can make good runs and finish off when he does get in good positions. we've all known that he's not a combative tackling midfielder and personally i think he needs to play with one along side him.

i didn't make it to the game today but from what i heard and read in this thread sounds like gunarsson didn't exactly shine in today's game? so heres what i say to everyone moaning about a player who i think has had some very good performances this season...send gunnarsson to man u and play him alongside carrick and see how well they do?

different midfielders do different jobs in different ways. sidwell didn't carry harper they just work well together because of their different styles and a deep understanding formed over a very long period of time.

solution: a tackling midfielder who can play consistently well (i.e. not gunarsson) needs to play alongside harper.

Agree with you Rob. If we drop Harper who the hell is going to act as the link between defence and midfield and midfield and attack?
It sounds like Cisse is the midfield tackler required. Lets hope he is match fit soon.

[winchester_royal]

A midfield of Fae and Gunnarsson doesn't bear thinking about.

it would get ripped through week in week out. Harper has worked so hard this season and he has off games but so does the whole team.

we have not seen enough of Fae to assume that

[nivek elyod]

So which one of our players haven't we ripped apart yet this season? They must be feeling left out...

[winchester_royal]

So which one of our players haven't we ripped apart yet this season? They must be feeling left out...

the players who haven't been crap so far this season

[Mrs Butler]

Lita last week.. Harper this week.. who's next week?

[Quagmire]

Lita last week.. Harper this week.. who's next week?

Hopefully Royalee will let us know before the Arsenal game so I know who to boo.

[Alan Partridge]

Lita last week.. Harper this week.. who's next week?

Harper isn't the worst player in the team by a long way..that in itself is concerning.