Freddy and Harrold bids turned down

[Jam_Man]

He's only a nuisance when teams are sitting back and defending on the 18 yard line. In those circumstances he's a nuisance as balls bouncing off his ginger nut are loose in the area.

But during the normal course of a game defenders hold their line forty to fifty yards out.

Pretty insightful analysis that, and agree with what you say.

Just to add one thing though, its actually a reason why we should keep Harrold !

After all, whilst as you say theres games where his attributes wouldnt be of any use, but if we are pressuring a team in the final 20 minutes and need someone to put on then who better than Harrold to put on.

If he can develop the rest of his game so he is useful 30 -50 yards out then he could be a good player.

 

[steveo]

but he does hold the ball up extremely well. Look how many goals we scored from midfield last season thanks to Bradders holding the ball up

How many then?

 

[Jam_Man]

How many then?

No idea, but he had a few knock ons in the box as well.

 

[SUBBlue]

I reckon its was Dag & Red who put a bid in for Matt Harrold.

My cousin is a Dagenham fan & reckons they went in for Harrold as well.
I think Eastwood will go in the next 2 weeks for £1.75 m + add-ons.

Who will that leave us with up front? (assuming we don't sign anyone)

Harrold
Foran
Paynter (assuming Bradford don't come in for him)
Hooper (class him as an Attacking m'fileder cum Forward)
Bradbury

Reckon Foran & Harrold will be our main pairing for the couple of games then T/B will take it from there.

 

[shrimper4life]

My cousin is a Dagenham fan & reckons they went in for Harrold as well.
I think Eastwood will go in the next 2 weeks for £1.75 m + add-ons.

Who will that leave us with up front? (assuming we don't sign anyone)

Harrold
Foran
Paynter (assuming Bradford don't come in for him)
Hooper (class him as an Attacking m'fileder cum Forward)
Bradbury

Reckon Foran & Harrold will be our main pairing for the couple of games then T/B will take it from there.

MacDonald?

 

[ashingdon-shrimper]

I really am puzzled why Harrold gets so much credit from some fans. He is awful. Chuck him on for ten minutes when 3-1 down and yes he'll cause a bit of trouble as teams retreat and try to hang on.

But, when he starts a game he is truly awful. People berate Bradbury, but he does hold the ball up extremely well. Look how many goals we scored from midfield last season thanks to Bradders holding the ball up and allowing Maher and Gower to get up with play.

If Harrold starts every game next season we will not got promoted. We are more likely, in fact, to get relegated. Teams will be all over us and we will have no outlet to allow us to get out of defence.

someone buy this man a pint, well said

 

[CM2 Blue]

Harrold certainly struggled at times last season but never got an extended run in the team. It is hard to make a serious difference from the bench if you are not an impact player, which I don't think Harrold is. However, he does deserve a chance. That said I feel that Billy Paynter is the man who may come good for us in League 1- he has a lot of potential but needs the support of the fans.

Key issue for us as fans? To get behind whoever plays!

 

[RobB11]

I think this Matt Harrold abuse is completely unjustified. True, he may not of looked the most technically gifted player in the Championship last year but at the same time when he did come off the bench he did show glimpses of intelligent play. Unfortunately, i don't think he will ever make it as a Championship player but i've got a feeling he could be a very important player for us next season and i hope he proves his doubters wrong. I used to go to SEEVIC with Matty and you can't of hoped to meet a nicer guy, he gives his all for the club every time he pulls on a blues shirt and i think he should be commended for this.
Give me Harrold over that lazy **** Bramble anyday.

 

[TrueBlue]

I think this Matt Harrold abuse is completely unjustified. True, he may not of looked the most technically gifted player in the Championship last year but at the same time when he did come off the bench he did show glimpses of intelligent play. Unfortunately, i don't think he will ever make it as a Championship player but i've got a feeling he could be a very important player for us next season and i hope he proves his doubters wrong. I used to go to SEEVIC with Matty and you can't of hoped to meet a nicer guy, he gives his all for the club every time he pulls on a blues shirt and i think he should be commended for this.
Give me Harrold over that lazy **** Bramble anyday.

You can be the nicest bloke going but in football if you dont cut the mustard! then its going to happen!

 

[fredheim_holm]

Harrold might do a decent job for us this season, who knows. All I know, is last season, although he looked like a prize mug, he did have some effect when coming on, in quite a few games.

My feelings are though, Paynter didn't do worse then what Harrold has done, why did the fans turn on him? I know people who think I'm an idiot for saying this and that I love Paynter, but I really don't understand that. Anyway, enough of that, back on topic.

I think Harrold could cause a few problems next season, but the thing I find worrying is how poor he can look when it's not his day, which to me comes accross as quite often, however back to my point he does get an assist or goal more often then some give credit for.

So really, what I'm saying is, although Harrold doesn't look like he deserves to be on the field, he does.

 

[stevietheshrimper]

Clear as mud my friend.

Just to clarify, I thought I'd post an opinion and an opinion I posted, in an attempt to post an opinion. The opinion posted was just that, an opinion. And a posted one at that. So what I tried to post was an opinion, and my post was the post of that opinion.

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Clear as mud my friend.

Just to clarify, I thought I'd post an opinion and an opinion I posted, in an attempt to post an opinion. The opinion posted was just that, an opinion. And a posted one at that. So what I tried to post was an opinion, and my post was the post of that opinion.

That's only in your opinion though ...

;)

 

[Jam_Man]

My feelings are though, Paynter didn't do worse then what Harrold has done, why did the fans turn on him? I know people who think I'm an idiot for saying this and that I love Paynter, but I really don't understand that. Anyway, enough of that, back on topic.

Harrold certainly had more of an effect than Paynter did.

Equalising against West Brom, the Norwich game, coming on the set up the late winner against Burnely a few that come to mind.

To be honest neither were up to the Championship level, or certainly good enough to look any good in a team as poor as ours las season.

However next season we are playing at a lesser level and should both still be here we need to give them both another chance.

However this wont happen as if Paynter plays and doesnt perform within 20 minutes the boo boy element will kick in immediately.

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Harrold certainly had more of an effect than Paynter did.

Equalising against West Brom, the Norwich game, coming on the set up the late winner against Burnely a few that come to mind.

To be honest neither were up to the Championship level, or certainly good enough to look any good in a team as poor as ours las season.

However next season we are playing at a lesser level and should both still be here we need to give them both another chance.

However this wont happen as if Paynter plays and doesnt perform within 20 minutes the boo boy element will kick in immediately.

The only reason Harrold had more of an effect that Paynter did is because he was allowed to play more games for us - law of averages says that if you play more games than someone else, it is likely you will have slightly more of an effect on games.

Does Harrold deserve a chance next season? No, IMO, he doesnt. I am sorry, I have nothing against Matty, and I wont be criticising his effort or commitment to the team, but he just isnt good enough IMO. He showed almost nothing worthwhile last season, and I dont hold with this theory that he is one for the future - hes hardly just ouf of short trousers is he?

You either have ability or you dont, and from what I have seen, he doesnt. Yes, you could argue that he contributed to a couple of goals, but then if any one of us played anough games, we would no doubt contribute something over that period.

We are dropping down a level, yes, but individually, there are a lot better strikers than Matt Harrold at League One level who are not exactly pulling up trees, so I see no reason why he will.

I am struggling to understand why so many feel the need to defend him? Personal abuse, yes, I can accept people not having that, but criticising his ability? Sorry, you have to earn the right to be praised, and as yet, he hasnt done so. It always amuses me when certain people on here criticise players who used to play for us with such virile and amusement, but if you dare to do the same to any of our current crop, then thats now allowed.

One example would be Jeroen Boere. A few people on here chastise him on a regular basis, but I would rather have him in our squad than Matt Harrold - obviously that was pre losing an eye!!

As I said, I have nothing personal against Harrold, and I cant knock his effort, but he doesnt cut the mustard for me, and he never will. If I am wrong, then so be it, but I dont think I will be somehow.

 

[Jam_Man]

You either have ability or you dont, and from what I have seen, he doesnt. Yes, you could argue that he contributed to a couple of goals, but then if any one of us played anough games, we would no doubt contribute something over that period.
.

Dont get me wrong, Ive not seen anything to think Harrold will be a great player for us and dont see him as a first team starter.

My main point is that last season was not a good yardstick to measure any player by, we were pretty poor team for most of the season and I dont think its fair to completely cross a player off of the list just yet.


PS I know nothing about you but I know for a fact it you played 40 games for us you wouldnt have any impact whatsover!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

The only reason Harrold had more of an effect that Paynter did is because he was allowed to play more games for us - law of averages says that if you play more games than someone else, it is likely you will have slightly more of an effect on games.

Does Harrold deserve a chance next season? No, IMO, he doesnt. I am sorry, I have nothing against Matty, and I wont be criticising his effort or commitment to the team, but he just isnt good enough IMO. He showed almost nothing worthwhile last season,

Surely he shown that as a sub he unsettles defences and creates chances?

Norwich being the classic example where he completely changed the game, but also West Brom, Leicester, Spurs, Burnley and a few others.

Surely its not just me and Tilly & Brush who can see that he has a little of something that could be developed?

and I dont hold with this theory that he is one for the future - hes hardly just out of short trousers is he?

Do you really expect players to be the finished product at age 22 or 23? Particularly a targetman. He's still developing physically, he still gaining experience. He's made barely 50 starts.

When I lived up in Yorkshire I occasionally watched a bit of York City. They had a 21 year old striker who reminds me a lot of Harrold. At that time he looked out of his depth on occasions, he'd get out-muscled, the crowd would get on his back but he'd show glimpses of what he could be like if the team played to his strengths, once he built up physically and gained more experience. The following season things clicked into place for him, he scored 20 odd goals and was sold for about £900,000 and went to carve out a career two divisions higher than the division his critics said he wasn't good enough to play in.

Now I'm not saying that Harrold will necessarily turn out like that, but players develop at different speeds. A Michael Owen type striker, reliant on their pace, may well play their best football early in their career, but few targetmen are physically ready or experienced enough to flourish in that role before they are 25.

I am struggling to understand why so many feel the need to defend him? Personal abuse, yes, I can accept people not having that, but criticising his ability? Sorry, you have to earn the right to be praised, and as yet, he hasnt done so.

Most of the abuse to Harrold is mindless abuse. I agree you have to earn the right to be praised, but defending him isn't the same as praising him.

What annoys me and others is when people rush to ill-informed judgment. I could point to the fact that he is only 22, that he has never had a pre-season at the club, that might have needed some time to settle in and develop partnerships and understanding with his team-mates, that he has only started 13 games but many of his critics made up their mind before he'd even pulled on a Southend shirt.

 

[Napster]

When I lived up in Yorkshire I occasionally watched a bit of York City. They had a 21 year old striker who reminds me a lot of Harrold. At that time he looked out of his depth on occasions, he'd get out-muscled, the crowd would get on his back but he'd show glimpses of what he could be like if the team played to his strengths, once he built up physically and gained more experience. The following season things clicked into place for him, he scored 20 odd goals and was sold for about £900,000 and went to carve out a career two divisions higher than the division his critics said he wasn't good enough to play in.

Richard Cresswell? A decent player.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Richard Cresswell? A decent player.

Yes, although as he has a big nose he can't be a decent player; much like Harrold can't be a decent player as he is ginger and lanky.