What is the point in HRK

[Royal Ginger]

Oh good just what we needed, another 'isn't HRK crap' thread. Ooh and you've done it with caps lock, it MUST be important...

Sack the team board.

[3points]

So what? Even if that's true (which is so obviously isn't) trying hard is not why footballers are employed and paid huge sums of money. He has to deliver on match days and contribute something, anything.

Jamie Mackie and Jem Karacan have made a career out of doing this.

They deliver results doing it.

do they? Mackie has 5 goals in 38 appearances, a pretty poor return for a forward. Pog has 7 in 32, and he gets slated.

Karacan is a tryer and has been throughout his career, but lacks quality. His touch has about as much finesse as a JCB and you can tell the difference in class between him and Chalobah. His best season was alongside Leigertwood, who would have made my nan look decent that season. I think the best part of two seasons being injured has masked people's view on him and people think he's better than he actually is. It will be interesting to see if he is offered a new contract. He is currently competing with Akpan as 4th choice centre midfielder in my view which probably speaks volumes.

[Faithful Son]

It seems to me that HRK is suffering from a complete lack of confidence. He has shown in the past that he can deliver but it seems obvious something has gone wrong somewhere along the line. I just hope he doesn't visit this website because reading some of the comments on here certainly won't help his current predicament.

[Doolittle]

It seems to me that HRK is suffering from a complete lack of confidence. He has shown in the past that he can deliver but it seems obvious something has gone wrong somewhere along the line. I just hope he doesn't visit this website because reading some of the comments on here certainly won't help his current predicament.

Agreed. HRK strikes me very much as one of those players who needs encouragement rather than the big stick.

FWIW, I don't think HRK was any more ineffective than McCleary or Mackie yesterday, but, as usual, he's the one singled out.

A player of his style is always going to be vulnerable to this, because he doesn't make up for it in perspiration when the inspiration goes missing.

Sadly, I suspect he's too firmly established now as the scapegoat of choice at Reading, so probably better if he moves on.

[SCIAG]

He is currently competing with Akpan as 4th choice centre midfielder in my view which probably speaks volumes.

Nah, I'm not having that. Competing with Norwood for third choice, maybe.

Since we got relegated, Karacan has 3 goals in 13 league appearances. Despite being a more attacking player, Akpan has 1 goal from 49 league appearances in that time. There's just no comparison. No way Akpan could play like Jem did alongside Legs.

[3points]

He is currently competing with Akpan as 4th choice centre midfielder in my view which probably speaks volumes.

Nah, I'm not having that. Competing with Norwood for third choice, maybe.

Since we got relegated, Karacan has 3 goals in 13 league appearances. Despite being a more attacking player, Akpan has 1 goal from 49 league appearances in that time. There's just no comparison. No way Akpan could play like Jem did alongside Legs.

Norwood getting more game time than Karacan. By Clarke's admittance, Karacan was fit for a number of weeks before he played against Blackburn. I don't think Akpan has ever played in a more advanced role. People see Akpan as a defensive midfielder, which he says he isn't. Karacan is out of contract in the summer, Norwood and Akpan are not. Don't see any of the three as first choice starters next year tbh, unless Williams is sold, in which case I think Karacan might be. Will be interesting to see what happens.

[ladida_gunner_graham]

I feel like a dog returning to its own vomit by repeatedly banging on about this topic, but whilst the excuses and denials keep rolling in, I feel compelled to prevent the apologists from getting a free ride.

Agreed. HRK strikes me very much as one of those players who needs encouragement rather than the big stick

He has been poor for several seasons now, and there comes a point where we are entitled to say that we don't really care what his issue is, we just want to see the back of him. He's not an 11-year-old just going to big school and needing a cuddle. He is a highly paid, pampered professional athlete and if his confidence is shot, sorry, but let's find someone less brittle. We don't have the luxury of carrying these deadweights.

FWIW, I don't think HRK was any more ineffective than McCleary or Mackie yesterday, but, as usual, he's the one singled out.

That may or may not be true, but he's poor EVERY game. Most of the regulars are sometimes good, Robson-Kanu never seems to be. Clarke has played him just about everywhere to give him a chance to be successful, and he's pretty much stunk the place up in all of them.

A player of his style is always going to be vulnerable to this, because he doesn't make up for it in perspiration when the inspiration goes missing.

You're totally right, can't disagree. In the last three seasons we have seen about 120 games where of a lack of inspiration was not replaced by perspiration.

Sadly, I suspect he's too firmly established now as the scapegoat of choice at Reading, so probably better if he moves on.

He is indeed but you're going to have to come up with something better to convince anyone that he shouldn't be. He's not the only culprit, but he's the worst, so let's start by remedying that particular running sore.

So Hal, if you accidentally stray onto this thread, please, step the f*ck up, or f*ck the f*ck off.

[teignmouth hoops]

The other problem is he thinks he's a great player, as he has sycophants like his brother blowing smoke up his arse. He is by no means the only player who has a much inflated opinion of themselves and it is down to Clarke to relieve them of this opinion

[Royal Rother]

So everybody.... what do we think?

HRK or Fosu?

[Ian Royal]

So everybody.... what do we think?

HRK or Fosu?

Neither as first choice next season preferably.

Fosu sounds like not enough has changed in his decision making and selfishness at times.

[blueroyals]

So everybody.... what do we think?

HRK or Fosu?

Neither as first choice next season preferably.

Fosu sounds like not enough has changed in his decision making and selfishness at times.

There was a chance where he could have played a simple pass to GMac who had a tap in from 4 yards, but instead chose to beat a defender and then try to score from a tight angle. Horrendously bad decision.

[Royal Rother]

It wasn't quite as bad as you make it sound.

The great thing is that almost every time he got the ball he made something happen.

He looked like an exciting talent perfectly at home on that stage.

An excellent debut promising much for the future.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Fosu will only get better and his decision making will improve the more he plays. At least he's not afraid to shoot!

[semtex1871]

No coincidence that when HRK is not involved that the defence/midfield is more solid, more challenges going in and fast counter-attacking......the sooner HRK fucks off the better....

[Platypuss]

Also not as much of a surprise that we look better against a team almost as out of form as we are!

And we have a very good record against Derby.

[Lower West]

Fosu sounds like not enough has changed in his decision making and selfishness at times.

Remember Nicky Shorey when he first arrived? Young players need to be nurtured and given the game time to learn and gain experience.

[Ian Royal]

Fosu sounds like not enough has changed in his decision making and selfishness at times.

Remember Nicky Shorey when he first arrived? Young players need to be nurtured and given the game time to learn and gain experience.

I'm sure he has and will continue to get those opportunities. He's got bags of talent. But i don't see him making it at this level without improving that part of his game. And he seems to have not done it in the last few crucial years. Couple left to achieve it though.

[tidus_mi2]

Last year of his contract, what are the odds HRK will suddenly have a blinding season akin to his end of Premier League performances.

[Snowball]

Last year of his contract, what are the odds HRK will suddenly have a blinding season akin to his end of Premier League performances.

So keep him for one more season, then flog him!

[Haag Royal]

Last year of his contract, what are the odds HRK will suddenly have a blinding season akin to his end of Premier League performances.

Let's get his Premier league performances into perspective. He and his agent told everyone how good he was that season. If you look at his goals scored for example many were consolation goals at the end of games when were were already well beaten. I cannot think of one game since he signed his contract where he has taken the game by the scruff of the neck and really showed us what he thinks he can do. Not one.

Odds are that he won't get many games as Fosu and Stacey look as if they try and have got pace to run at people. He sadly does neither and being in and out of the team for the last 2-3 years should show him that maybe it's time to move on and go to a club where he will play every week. Unless of course he is happy warming the bench and cashing his cheque every week.