Harper Appreciation Thread

[brendywendy]

I will miss:

- arm waving
- reading about his antics
- seeing/hearing his funny interviews
- his good sportsmanship

A shame his going is not to the EPL but to a hated opponent. It will be strange to see him lined-up opposite of Reading.

Good luck Harps!

the very thought of seeing him play against us in a different kit shortcircuits my brain
will be very odd, and will get the biggest ovation of any of the 106 returnees IMO

[rg6royal]

Cheers for your services Harps. A royals legend.

[loyalroyal4life]

Bye

dont think he will settle in up north but we ll see

good luck

[Ian Royal]

Harper going is truly the end of an era as far as I'm concerned. The last link to the Tier 3 days. With just a bridge of two players up until now you can get all the way back to the first days of my real support for the club using Harper.

Very sad about this. We have to move on sometime but I thought he had plenty left to offer us and the youngsters.

So long Harps, and thanks for all the good times and hard work. You turned me from doubter to firm fan. Good luck.

How many players are in your new "bridge" Ian and who are they? I am the adjudicator and seperate spells at the club don`t count.

Old one: Harper - Parkinson. 2 players, pretty much all the way back to '95.

Don't have one any more, a new one would feel contrived. It'd just be someone still here -> Harper -> Parkinson. I'd have probably chosen Murty over Harper last season, but Harps was fine as a replacement.

Maybe in 6 years time I'll be happy to name one of the current lot who've become a long standing fab servant to recreate the link.

[Gordons Cumming]

I'm sure he didn't want to leave Reading.

It's a real shame, but I really hope he gets 1st team football at Sheffield or he's not going to be a happy bunny.

[Cpl Jones Dont panic]

Three wonderfull memories:

1. Harper walking away from the Madstat looking worse for wear. Once inside finding out he had been out the night before celebrating his 21st, Coppell dropped him home and sent him home.

2. Throwing his evening post man of the month award in the bin, because he disliked a article about him.

3. His mum asking me to put a bet on him being first goalscorer, at the lower west bookies, she had never bet in her life.

He had his faults , but what a character, some of the modern bland players should take note.

[Barry the bird boggler]

After Rasiak and Ingimarsson who is the oldest player with Reading, is it McAnuff?
Doesn't James' effective departure also mean that Ingimarsson is now the longest serving member of the first team squad?

[Ian Royal]

After Rasiak and Ingimarsson who is the oldest player with Reading, is it McAnuff?
Doesn't James' effective departure also mean that Ingimarsson is now the longest serving member of the first team squad?

Gunnarsson and I think so.

[Henleyensian]

He seemed always ready to talk to fans. When we were compiling the Fans' Calendar a few years ago and had to go to the training ground to get some of the shots(in the days of Sonning Lane) he was the only one who seemed interested and took the trouble to ask us about it.

I always felt that some people do not appreciate his skill. I can't think of anybody else in recent times who could make a pinpoint cross every time to the far wing. There was so much that was good about James - I think most of it has been mentioned on here but I, for one, will miss him. Who is now going to be the last on the pitch every time and touch the ground as he goes?

It is sad to see the last (except Ivar) of the 106 points season go. We shall never have another like it and now it is almost as if it never happened., but while he was here along with Murts and Marcus it felt as if we could get back up. I think his injury, along with that of Ivar, with the apparent dropping of spirits, was the real reason why we didn't. With those two and Murts still in the team heads would not have dropped.

Harps will probably profit from a new challenge, but it is a pity it is not in the Premiership like so many of his former team-mates. I just hope the fans of Sheffield United appreciate him as much as most of us did. Good Luck Harps, and here's hoping you get to the Premiership again and let's hope we can get there too.

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

Nice post Henley.

Not going to prem could be a blessing in disguise. He'd struggle to get into any top flight line up but he'll be the main man at sheff united (their fans have a grudging respect for our 106ers).

Good luck to him ... but not against us at BL later in the season of course.

[Cookie]

Bye Harps, your face didn't fit.

[londinium]

Nice post Henley.

Not going to prem could be a blessing in disguise. He'd struggle to get into any top flight line up but he'll be the main man at sheff united (their fans have a grudging respect for our 106ers).

Good luck to him ... but not against us at BL later in the season of course.

Surely if he is on loan then he wont be playing against us.

[Arnie_Pie]

Might have been posted but - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1D2UGjbgzE

best of luck Harps

[Ian Royal]

Might have been posted but - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1D2UGjbgzE

best of luck Harps

Didn't we need an attacking midfielder?

Well, we've finally lost the last of the four players to come out of our relegation season with any real credit.

[Quagmire]

After Rasiak and Ingimarsson who is the oldest player with Reading, is it McAnuff?
Doesn't James' effective departure also mean that Ingimarsson is now the longest serving member of the first team squad?

Gunnarsson and I think so.

And with that, I think Shane Long is now our second longest serving player at the club? If so -

[winchester_royal]

After Rasiak and Ingimarsson who is the oldest player with Reading, is it McAnuff?
Doesn't James' effective departure also mean that Ingimarsson is now the longest serving member of the first team squad?

Gunnarsson and I think so.

And with that, I think Shane Long is now our second longest serving player at the club? If so -

Well he's been here for 4 and a bit years so it's not that worthy.

[Quagmire]

And with that, I think Shane Long is now our second longest serving player at the club? If so -

Well he's been here for 4 and a bit years so it's not that worthy.

Considering he has only made 30 starts for the club I think that does deserve a

[Jackson Corner]

Has been a great player for this club. The last of that great midfield Convey, Sidwell, Harps and Little to go. Thanks for the memories.

[Woodcote Royal]

Kthnxbai...hope you enjoy the local derby Harper - at least that atmosphere will be good before you pass the ball to the Wednesday striker for the winning goal on your home debut.

I'm wondering if yourself and Woodcote could just FCUK OFF and create your own Harper bashing thread where you can both wank each other off.

I simply cannot understand the need for the complete toss you both write on a daily basis seeping into a thread discussing the appreciation of a great player who no longer plays for the club.

Do you not understand English you jism covered mongs?

This was the first post I wrote on this thread

I wish James Harper every success for the future and I'm saddened to see the man himself leave after 8 long years at the club.

Whilst at his best, there's no doubting he did a good for us in his crab-like role at the heart of our midfield. However, I believe he's a much better player than this.

My memories of James will always revert back to such champagne moments as when he rounded the Liverpool keeper with aplomb to seal the best result in our history.

I also remember the commentators remarks following that superb goal.

" You see, at this level there's quality in every team"

My abiding memory from the 2006-7 DVD is the number of chances missed by Steve Sidwell yet, on the rare occasions when Harper got into similar positions, his conversion rate was far superior.

Technically, Harper is superior to Sidwell yet even against the mighty Barnsley's cup side, Harps looked a very ordinary player.

It's no good, James, sitting in that bubble where you've been for some time now, happy in the knowledge that it's just the fans who don't see what a good job you do.

If you want to return to the Premiership and justify an appropriate wage, Sheff U will be looking for you to produce the quality you showed that day against Liverpool on a regular basis..................midfield water carriers are two a penny.

I genuinely hope James Harper finally shows the world what a quality player he is but it wasn't going to happen at RFC.

Good luck, Harps.

If this wasn't quite a ringing endorsement of everything James Harper, did it really justify your pathetic rant above

I had no intention of making any further contribution here until "The Sad Sidwell Clique" went into overdrive because I had the temerity to suggest that Harper was technically superior to their hero (I swear whenever H & P's dinner is ready his owner opens the back door and shouts "Sidwell!!!" )

Why don't you guys get together and have a party.............................you thoroughly deserve each others company.

[Maguire]

Mr Woo's technically better than Sidwell too. Doesn't make you a good football unfortunately.