Ryan Harley - being written off too soon?

[Rugrat]

I agree he needs to show more but the question is are people writing him off completely too soon? Or is this just a sign of the times on messageboards? He's a Brighton player and one who's shown, albeit fleetingly, moments of real class and ability. It's not as simple as 'now we've got JFC coming through we don't need him'. Patience people, patience, you might be pleasantly surprised. Just slating him all the time isn't going to help him or us.

Not sure you were really interested in a reply .. given there's been some fairly decent stuff written now and before. The 1st team just isn't a place to allow players to learn ... his performances haven't improved notably since day 1 ... how much time do you give him? There's patience and then there's just having 10 men on the field

 

[keaton]

I think he's worth persevering with. He's got talent, and in the home games i've seen i've not seen any sign of a lack of effort. Forster-Caskey has pretty much shown up our whole squad in the last two games, but then he's had everyone behind him willing him to do well. People seemed to turn on Harley after one bad game.
To me he's been far better than Dicker this season

 

[Hungry Joe]

Not sure you were really interested in a reply .. given there's been some fairly decent stuff written now and before.

Eh?

 

[Rugrat]

Eh?

Well it seems like youre ignoring the answers to your own question. How many minutes has he played? How many minutes of quality has he shown ... that answers the question for me

 

[Mellotron]

I agree he needs to show more but the question is are people writing him off completely too soon? Or is this just a sign of the times on messageboards? He's a Brighton player and one who's shown, albeit fleetingly, moments of real class and ability. It's not as simple as 'now we've got JFC coming through we don't need him'. Patience people, patience, you might be pleasantly surprised. Just slating him all the time isn't going to help him or us.

It's not that we don't need him. But I DO think that JFC coming through will eventually mean him leaving. For the record, I too could see Harley's talent, he just doesn't seem to have the desire to see it through.

 

[Amexican]

I believe he has the talent, just taking too long to get around to showing it (apart from the P'boro free kick)...his playing style/body language don't exactly help...but he should be given time to get it right. Now would not be too soon while we have our injury/suspension crisis....if not sell on in summer.

 

[Hungry Joe]

Well it seems like youre ignoring the answers to your own question.

How do you conclude that? Because I may not necessarily agree with the answers and stick to my opinion doesn't mean I'm ignoring anything. I might be in a minority but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm wrong.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

With the single possible exception of Vicente*, Ryan Harley is the best passer of a football at the club. Shame he doesn't always seem to show the desire to earn the right to make use of his undoubted ability.



*I accept that I might as well have written unicorn / yeti / other mythical creature, here.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Well it seems like youre ignoring the answers to your own question. How many minutes has he played? How many minutes of quality has he shown ... that answers the question for me

This is surely a subjective discussion, you're making it sound like someone has given an objective definitive answer, when actually it can only be opinion.

 

[Hungry Joe]

I agree with you HJ, our centre midfield has been dysfunctional at times, mainly because the blend of players is not quite right, but that doesn't mean any one individual is culpable. Scott Parkers career is a case in point, looked the business for Charlton, awful for Chelsea, average for Newcastle, outstanding for West Ham in a poor team, and performing well for Spurs. Parker at Chelsea looked like a Harley for us, 'out of his depth', but had Chelsea stuck with him, he'd probably be playing every game for them now.

I'm a bit glass half full with most players to be fair, but Harley has shown promising glimpses of why Gus signed him.

Good analogy.

 

[Spiros]

It has long been a tradition on this board to judge a player new to the first team - either from the reserves/development squad or a new buy - purely on the first 2 or 3 appearances. Play well in those and your premiership bound, play badly and it's 'get rid'

 

[Stat Brother]

Personally I've been feeling that the longer it's gone on the more, anti Harley, entrenched I've become.

So for what seems like, ages I've been waiting to look again, with 'fresh eyes'.

The nearest I've come to that has been Burnley, and in that 5 mins, he seemed on the ball.
It was a shame he didn't see it through.

Maybe on Saturday he'll have a full 90mins and hopefully will put something together.

 

[Hungry Joe]

It has long been a tradition on this board to judge a player new to the first team - either from the reserves/development squad or a new buy - purely on the first 2 or 3 appearances. Play well in those and your premiership bound, play badly and it's 'get rid'

I realise that but I'm still surprised at the level of slating considering he's actually played well in a couple of games, made some sublime passes and scored one of the best free kicks I've ever seen. I reckon it's 'cos he looks cocky and is ginger, you bunch of Gingerists.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I like him. There, I've said it, so flame me. He was awesome for Exeter last year and I hope he finds that quality again after a difficult year for him being transferred to Swansea, then back on loan to Exeter, not getting a look-in at Swansea and then coming to Brighton and playing in a team that has been different every game.

Many people on this board expect all our signings to be the finished article, to come straight in to the starting line-up and run the midfield in Championship games. The world doesn't work like that though.

 

[Rugrat]

This is surely a subjective discussion, you're making it sound like someone has given an objective definitive answer, when actually it can only be opinion.

Of course it's subjective and my comment was tongue in cheek. As I've said numerous times (and got into numerous scraps) I've never slated any player but the odd good touch doesn't mean he should get yet more chances. Everything has been said about him and I won't prolong my contribution much further but he just doesn't show the kind of quality we need. I know comparing to JFC isn't necessarily fair but that lad has come into the team and shown more presence, more hunger and more creativity in 2 games than Harley has in the 14 or so he's played ... plus he hasn't (as far as I've seen) handed the ball to the oppo as Harley has on many occasions.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and all I'm saying is that if he needs more time then it can't be in the first team, when one of our major failings has been to control CMF, open up defences and give CMS the service he needs. I'd be surprised if he makes it but good luck to him if he gets more chances and takes them but I'm not holding my breath

 

[fruitnveg]

How do you conclude that? Because I may not necessarily agree with the answers and stick to my opinion doesn't mean I'm ignoring anything. I might be in a minority but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm wrong.

I'm with you Mr Joe. Hungry...

Also agree about Harley.

 

[Turkey]

I like him. There, I've said it, so flame me. He was awesome for Exeter last year and I hope he finds that quality again after a difficult year for him being transferred to Swansea, then back on loan to Exeter, not getting a look-in at Swansea and then coming to Brighton and playing in a team that has been different every game.

Many people on this board expect all our signings to be the finished article, to come straight in to the starting line-up and run the midfield in Championship games. The world doesn't work like that though.

I like him too. I can see why others don't, as his body language is rubbish when you're in a battle. If he were in a side that dominated possession more, like we did last season, I think he'd be ace, and I do think he'll look better if Gus manages to bring in a very good centre mid to play with him.

Sometimes players just need time, but a lot of fans form an opinion very quickly and it can be hard to change that. Alan Navarro used to get slated on here before finally settling into the side. Recall Millwall away when everyone was singing One Gary Dicker during the game and at half time as they wanted him on for Navs.

With regards to Forster-Caskey, he has looked fantastic, but he's played against a Southampton side down to 10 men and a non-league side. He can do no more than play fantastic, so I'm not saying he's no good, but lets see how he copes week in week out in the Championship before claiming he's loads better than Harley etc.

 

[El Presidente]

Alright then.
He has no strength, no pace, he can't tackle, he has no passion, no guts and no desire whatsoever. Also, for a "set-piece specialist," his dead ball skills are diabolical, bar the one against Peterborough.
Possibly my least favourite Albion player of all time. Would be delighted if he proved me wrong, but there is no way it's going to happen (feel free to quote me on that)

Good to see a hysterical one eyed view on NSC for a change.

He can dribble, turn past players, spot a ball for a winger inside a full back. As for the 'passion, guts and desire' argument, get over yourself, you are judging him on perceived body language in exactly the same way so many fans have judged players in the past.

I would certainly have him in the squad, JFC has earned the right to a shirt at present though, but to write Harley off so quickly is ridiculous, but also so NSC.

BTW, whose corner was it that led to the third goal against the Stains?

 

[Hungry Joe]

My faith is starting to be restored.

 

[Turkey]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion and all I'm saying is that if he needs more time then it can't be in the first team, when one of our major failings has been to control CMF, open up defences and give CMS the service he needs. I'd be surprised if he makes it but good luck to him if he gets more chances and takes them but I'm not holding my breath

If we want a player who can open up defences, then I would say Harley is exactly what we need in midfield. Our other midfielders are all very good with the ball, but not so much at unlocking defences, hence a lot of our attacks come from our wingers. What we need, is to sign a very good midfielder who can help us win the midfield, and therefore allow us the luxury to play Harley, who will create chances for us. A player who could dominate the midfield and unlock defences by himself will naturally be very hard and very expensive to come by as everyone wants one of those. We need to maximise the sum of our parts, which Gus has consistantly done here by playing 3 in midfield rather than 2.