Matejovsky could be back....

[rg6royal]

Theres no point even risking him this weekend. Luton in the cup? Maybe depending on fitness levels. Good news though to see he has recovered faster than first expected.

[kwik-silva]

Theres no point even risking him this weekend. Luton in the cup? Maybe depending on fitness levels. Good news though to see he has recovered faster than first expected.

Maybe 45 minutes against luton, but only if he's definatly fit enough

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Right, no rush, long season, get it right the first time, yada yada...

Terrific news, though.

[rg6royal]

Theres no point even risking him this weekend. Luton in the cup? Maybe depending on fitness levels. Good news though to see he has recovered faster than first expected.

Maybe 45 minutes against luton, but only if he's definatly fit enough

Still no point. The ligaments in his ankle are still weak. A reserve game maybe but not a first team game just yet.

[Southbank Old Boy]

this is good news but i don't think he should be playing until september

Agreed. Ease him in slowly. The midfield looks pretty ok at the mo so maybe a place on the bench and 15 minutes against Charlton, but take our time with him. He's a key key player, we need that boy fit.

One poor vs game one decent game.....I'd still be looking to strengthen if possible, but not by rushing back a player that's injured.

[kwik-silva]

Harper's an attacking player that doesn't cross the halfway line, only plays the ball across or back, but he can't tackle..

How do you account for all his goals then? He keeps surging forward and scoring.

Harper 1 - 0 kwik-silva

All of his goals??

256 (21) games - 24 goals - 0.08 a game. I don't think you can say he's an attacking player with a rate like that. Even if he did score 6 last season, its not like you can say he surges forward.

[Ian Royal]

Harper's an attacking player that doesn't cross the halfway line, only plays the ball across or back, but he can't tackle..

How do you account for all his goals then? He keeps surging forward and scoring.

Harper 1 - 0 kwik-silva

All of his goals??

256 (21) games - 24 goals - 0.08 a game. I don't think you can say he's an attacking player with a rate like that. Even if he did score 6 last season, its not like you can say he surges forward.

Harper gets a good goal return considering his role has been the more defensive for the most part during his career at Reading. He makes good late runs into the box. But primarily his role has been to sit in the middle and play the ball to the wings for us to build an attack, or to sit in the middle and protect the back 4 by hassling the opposition and closing down their passing options.

The one season Harper has played without Sidwell next to him most the time he got 6 goals from 40 odd appearances in a midfield that was virtually nonexistant most of the time. That's pretty good IMO.

[kwik-silva]

I would like to point out that I wasn't the one who said he was an attacking midfielder, even if Ideal's quote makes it look like it!

I would class him more as a defensive midfielder, who does make some good runs, but, IMO not many

[Ian Royal]

I would like to point out that I wasn't the one who said he was an attacking midfielder, even if Ideal's quote makes it look like it!

I would class him more as a defensive midfielder, who does make some good runs, but, IMO not many

Fair enough. I would like to see Harper play much more attacking football. Unfortunately thats not likely because his most likely longterm partner, Marek, is equally as incapable of tackling and doesn't have the fitness or pace to take Harper's hassling role over.

Harper partnered with Karacan, Cisse or Bikey could be a much more attacking player. It's getting that through to him and one of those partnerships being the first choice one thats needed for it.

[kwik-silva]

The difference between Harper and Matejovski, in that department, is that Matejovski at least looks like he wants to make the tackle, sometimes Harper is unsure of whether to. But yes, if he was allowed to get forward I have no doubt we'd see a very different Harps, one that wants to make runs, and also you say Marek doesn't have the fitness, surely thats something that may come over time, Reading do seem to have alot of fit players, so I can only assume its the training that does it

[Ian Royal]

The difference between Harper and Matejovski, in that department, is that Matejovski at least looks like he wants to make the tackle, sometimes Harper is unsure of whether to. But yes, if he was allowed to get forward I have no doubt we'd see a very different Harps, one that wants to make runs, and also you say Marek doesn't have the fitness, surely thats something that may come over time, Reading do seem to have alot of fit players, so I can only assume its the training that does it

Harper rarely gives away freekicks. He knows he isn't great at tackling so sticks to something else that can help the defence. If the other team aren't running straight round Matejovsky he's going in late and conceeding a freekick, often picking up bookings.

I'd rather have Harper hassling than Marek looking like he wants to tackle and failing all the time.

I don't think it's really a question of the training for Marek, he's just a little bit slow and sluggish and has no idea how to time a tackle. I really like the guy, but he could do with getting forward more and playing with a tough nut who can tackle. Oh look same problem as Harper, only Harps has proved his quality here over many seasons and can just about play the defensive role. Marek has just shown a lot of promise so far, not really proven yet.