Ryan Harley - being written off too soon?

[peterward]

 

[dingodan]

The problem he has is that he looks like he's not making any real effort. That may be completely wrong, but that is what is frustrating people.

 

[Hungry Joe]

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.

Spot on.

 

[chucky1973]

I rate him and have all along, he has terrific vision and I am adamant will be a very good signing for us.

 

[El Presidente]

The problem he has is that he looks like he's not making any real effort. That may be completely wrong, but that is what is frustrating people.

I understand their viewpoint, it was identical to the one given to Glenn Murray, John Gregory, Teddy Maybank, Malcolm Poskett, Gordon Smith, Neil McNab and countless others over my time watching the Albion.

Albion fans have always preferred a runner to a quarterback, an artisan to an artist. They can't abide what they consider to be 'arrogance' on the pitch, and in an ideal world the Albion XI would consist of 11 Alex Revell's (that is not a criticism of Alex, he was great to watch in the lower divisions).

 

[severnside gull]

I think Hungry Joe and Turkey have it spot on between them. I wish therewere more with their understanding of the way the game is played.

 

[durrington gull]

I rate him and have all along, he has terrific vision and I am adamant will be a very good signing for us.

Has he been injured over the last couple of games? - only that if he cant get in the team with all the current injuries & suspensions then he's got no hope when everyone gets back. I think we should loan him out for a month to get him some confidence

 

[WhingForPresident]

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?

ONE corner?! You're going to justify your argument with the fact that ONE of his corners this season led to a goal? How many haven't even cleared the first man?!
I think he would probably be effective in League One, playing in the middle with someone like Kishishev, who does all the gritty work in the centre; winning the ball, putting in the challenges and breaking the play down. In my eyes, at this level he is a luxury player that we simply cannot afford, and when he plays, Bridcutt and Sparrow or whoever else is playing have to do twice as much work as they normally would because Harley does no defensive work at all- I don't remember seeing him make one successful challenge.
JFC has grabbed his chance with both hands, so Harley's place is now under threat, which it hasn't really been all season because we haven't had an alternative. He has got to start performing to a higher standard if he wants to win his place back, and I will be the first to have a massive helping of humble pie if he does pull something out the bag.

 

[Craig4004]

As long as he never takes a penalty again, I believe he has improved gradually and think maybe in his 2nd season with us ( if he wants to stay, or gets in the team for that matter ) he will keep getting better.

 

[DJ Leon]

I agree with Hungry Joe. I think many of the criticisms of him are valid, but he's clearly very talented and has some attributes that few other of our players have. He does need nurturing adn those saying we can't afford to do that are talking nonsense. He's the kind of player that you build a team around and you can't buy those cheap.

 

[imissworthing2]

My exeter supporting father in law said that in his 1st season there he was pretty poor too. Fans were saying much the same as has been said on her about him.


Maybe he just takes abit of time to readjust to a new club, give him time and see what he's like after having a whole pre season with us

 

[brightonrock]

Harley get's people's back up not because of a lack of ability (even his harshest critic can't deny he has that) but his body language. The work rate is not fantastic and the swagger on the ball does not endear him to fans WHEN HE LOSES IT. His detractors are very quick to jump on what he does wrong and miss what he does right. When he does drop a shoulder, look up, take a touch and ping a ball 50 yards cross-pitch into our full-back's lap, it goes unnoticed. It's when the silly flicks or the simple stuff, which should be second nature, goes wrong - that's when he gets the stick. I've noticed he essentially spots and plays the difficult ball 7 or 8 times out of 10, which be default doesn't come off. I think for the record he will come good - like Murray he will eventually win people round, but he's got to lose the arrogance (see the penalty against Millwall) and become more of a team player for that.

I should also add that despite my thinking he will come good, for a man labelled as a 'set piece specialist' when he arrived, his delivery is diabolical. If his general play was on the same standard it is, but his set pieces were deadly, he might get away with it, but the one weapon he's definitely supposed to have in his armoury is used as the rod to beat him. Never beats the first man for corners and often the opposite from free-kicks. Needs work on that.

Strangely, JFC has the same swagger about him, but he's the right side of the confidence/arrogance threshold and puts in a very good shift. With Vicente coming back to full fitness (fingers crossed!), Sparrow on good form and JFC the newest shining light, methinks Harley may have slipped from first pick to fourth in line for the AMC spot. Will need to be patient.

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Trouble is, he says he doesn't practise his set pieces! and it shows!

 

[El Presidente]

ONE corner?! You're going to justify your argument with the fact that ONE of his corners this season led to a goal?

I never made any attempt to justify any argument, was merely stating a fact.

If he is your least favourite player of ALL TIME then I suggest you are either very young, or very lucky not to have seen some of the true wastes of time and money that have worn the stripes over the years. The likes of Paul Kitson (who NEVER acknowledged the fans, warmed up, made Vicente look like a permanent fixture on the pitch and was unable to pass Ladbrokes on his way to training each day) Willie Young, Ashley Neal, Michael Mahoney-Pony Johnson et al were an abomination.

I could happily list 250 players I disliked more than Ryan Harley, but have work to do.

 

[WhingForPresident]

I never made any attempt to justify any argument, was merely stating a fact.

If he is your least favourite player of ALL TIME then I suggest you are either very young, or very lucky not to have seen some of the true wastes of time and money that have worn the stripes over the years. The likes of Paul Kitson (who NEVER acknowledged the fans, warmed up, made Vicente look like a permanent fixture on the pitch and was unable to pass Ladbrokes on his way to training each day) Willie Young, Ashley Neal, Michael Mahoney-Pony Johnson et al were an abomination.

I could happily list 250 players I disliked more than Ryan Harley, but have work to do.

Maybe a slight exaggeration from myself agreed, but it is clear that Harley has a smidge of talent, unlike the aforementioned, which is why it is so frustrating to see him not putting in the level of performance that he should be.

 

[stss30]

I seriously think he could turn into a very good player. As people have said he has superb vision just hasn't clicked at the moment. Not accusing anyone, but anyone who doesn't give him their full support is a bit of an embarrassement e.g at the Reading game...

 

[stss30]

Trouble is, he says he doesn't practise his set pieces! and it shows!

I would have said he was one of the best if not the best set piece takers at the club, perhaps 2nd to LuaLua

 

[jackcgull]

wouldn't mind seeing harley and JFC together with bridcut - buckers and noone/kll/vicente either wing. sounds like a decent midfield to me

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I like him, we have some good competition in terms of creative central midfielders, Dicker, Harley, Sparrow and JFC. All decent at this level, and JFC has the potential in time to be good at a higher level.

 

[Brixtaan]

Exactly. Only the usual Internet gobshites would suggest otherwise. He has skills that must be harnessed. I know this because I play football.