Steve Harper’s exit is strange and baffling.
Posted on October 24th, 2011 | 31 Comments |
Speaking on the move in a rare interview, Newcastle United’s Silver Supremo, Alan Pardew, said:
“The paperwork isn’t finalised but in principle, I think he’s likely to play in this evening’s game. Harps is very keen to play and obviously he’s a top goalie. It’s an opportunity to him to play and that’s what he wants to do.
“For Brighton, it’s a real coup for them, so we’ll just see if it all gets confirmed later.
“He’s sat here behind Shay Given for so long and is so unfortunate to have a top young goalie come through the ranks like Tim to push him to one side.
“But he is a goalie who’s going to play for the next three or four years at the top level, so it’s an opportunity for him to show his wares.”
“Show his wares” could imply that Harper is being lined up for a permanent move from the Magpies. Some might also say, alternatively, that Pardew wants to see what he can do in proper competitive matches. However, the second seems unlikely as Harper has already more than proved himself at Newcastle United, and Pardew comment that he would be showing his wares to play “three or four years at the top level” tends to suggest that a permanent move to another club is on the cards eventually.
In an interview with BBC Radio Newcastle’s “Total Sport” last Thursday, Pardew previously commented in response to a multitude of questions asking for clarification on the Harper situation:
“You’ve got to understand that Harps is a player that I respect enormously. He’s got a great mentality about the game.
“He’s been in his career here so unlucky to have Shay Given in front of him for so long; and then, when he gets a chance in the first team he does so brilliantly and someone comes, Tim Krul.
“Tim’s done superb and he gets the nod over Harps.
“Now, I’ve got to treat this guy with respect because he deserves it in my opinion. So, do we take him all the time to reserve games? Does he really need to do that? He’s done it for so many years, Great goalie. Do I want to put him on the bench every week? No I don’t if I’m honest and the other goalie that we’ve brought in needs to emerge. So he’s got to get some experience, Rob. So, there’s kind of a balance there for me.
“I talked to him, I tried to let him know exactly how I feel.
“If we get an injury to Tim on Saturday (against Wigan last Saturday), I’m 100% sure Harps will be in the goal.
When asked on the programme by Mick Lowes:
“What would you say to fans who think, and I think the majority do think that Steve Harper is still the number two keeper at the football club?”
The Silver Supremo responded:
“He is.”
Lowes then added:
“He wasn’t on the bench against Tottenham. Just fancifully thinking, if someone goes through in the first ten minutes, Tim Krul brings him down, Tim Krul’s off, you’d want Steve Harper going on.”
After clarifying that Harper was “injured” for the ‘Spurs game, Pardew then replied, tellingly now that we know that Harper has now been sent into sea side exile:
“That’s my point because I think the guy we brought in is a very, very good goalie, Rob.
“I don’t think that he did himself complete justice at Nottingham Forest, and what we’ve seen from him in training is an outstanding goalie.
“I think where we go from here is I would like one of them to go out actually and play on loan perhaps just to keep them right up to speed, and that’s something I’ll look at with either Rob or Harps.
“I think it’s important that if you’ve got good cover, then the other one can go and play.
Hmmm. Well of course it’s hard to disagree with a manager who is currently fourth in the Premiership, but unlike Rob Elliot, Harper has more than done himself justoce over many Premier League games. After seeing bits of Rob Elliot at Charlton, whilst he was undoubtedly a very respectable keeper at the League One club, and he may look good on the training ground, his performance against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup was disappointing, and he still has to prove himself at the highest level. Harper is an experienced Premiership goalkeeper of great repute, and I know who I would rather see coming on if something were to happen to the Flying Dutchman.
Brighton manager, Gus Poyet, jumped at the chance of having him, and claimed that several other teams were too. The Uruguyan midfield maestro, and now seaside supremo, said on his appointment:
“Steve was available and with the huge amount of Premiership and Championship experience he has, we felt he would add something to the squad.
“He will use that experience to help the defensive players and the goalkeepers, and help us get back to the defensive form we showed earlier in the season.
“Of course, our fans will know all about Steve and his qualities. He is a top player and will bring a a great deal of experience to the defence.
“There were plenty of teams interested in Steve – it wasn’t easy. We are very pleased and lucky to have got him. I am not going to say the names of the teams but there were others.”
It’s a somewhat baffling move as Harper would undoubtedly be the best possible cover should something happen to Krul in the next few games, but good luck to Steve on his new adventure.
To borrow the title of Sir Bobby Robson’s autobiography, let’s hope it’s a case of “Farewell but not goodbye.”
So Krul is no.1 with Elliot on the bench.
Foster & Harper out on loan.
Ole Soderberg plays in reserves – with who on the bench?
OK its only for a month but it leaves up a bit exposed.
If Krul is injured or even sent off – Elliot moves up to no.1 – is he good enough? Ole Soderberg goes on the bench – so who plays in reserves? Is there a decent youngster on our books?