[johnny Cash]

I watched Harper closely a couple of seasons ago in a home game when we had someone unavailable in midfield (cant remember the details). Harper was supposed to be playing the right side of a three and the starter of the press, which Livermore had been doing previously.

He (Harper) was absolutely dreadful he didnt have a clue where he was supposed to be in or out of possession and he hadnt got a clue what do or when to do it. The game just went on around him the whole time.

Herein lies his biggest problem for me, he lacks footballing intelligence and tactically is nowhere near aware enough.

I wish him well but he's never been good enough. Technically, he's not bad but other aspects of his game leave him well short of what we need.

If fans could spot this 2 years ago why couldnt the club?

It is as if the club hopes we will breed a superstar that will slot straight in to the premier league as a teenager and instantly be worth £20m. When the evidence shows 95% of the academy players produced by us who have gone on to reach decent levels in the past 10 years have needed to get out and get experience and ply their trade.

Being accountable in league one for 50 games, 90 minutes week in week out is far better than 200 minutes a season from our bench. That game mentality and experience will come in time as it does with most players.

If we think they can play for a club at the top of league one, send them to a mid table side. If we think the can play mid table, send them to a side likely fighting relegation.  Try and guarantee them minutes first of all. They will hopefully have to battle if they come back here so battle harden them. It also sets a minimum level / foundation for the youth player too which i've heard seen an academy coach talk about before. 

Once they've got 50 games and 5000 minutes as a pro you can worry about what they do next.

[Floydy]

Fee rumoured to be £500k upfront. Rising to £1.5m if Ipswich are promoted.

[gazberg]

Fee rumoured to be £500k upfront. Rising to £1.5m if Ipswich are promoted.

Thats fair. I would like a sell on included in possible but end of the days thats 1m kept in the kitty for a lad who wasnt going to have much of a role.

[LiamTheBaggie]

Fee rumoured to be £500k upfront. Rising to £1.5m if Ipswich are promoted.

I wonder if we're going to hurry this through to enable us to afford compensation for a new head coach..

[TheJacko2000]

I wonder if we're going to hurry this through to enable us to afford compensation for a new head coach..

Sold Morgan to fund Bilić I believe.

[iwastherein68]

For me Rekeem Harper, is the best of our current crop of young prospects. I have watched him in the two league cup games, and I think he is ready to make a claim for a start in the first team. He is comfortable on the ball, passes it well, looks to get forward, and is quite strong in the challenge.
Tonight alongside Gareth Barry I thought he was excellent, and if he continues to be overlooked for at least a place on the bench, for the likes of Morrison and Brunt and Barry then we may just as well abandon the academy.Sam Field, Kyle Edwards, Olly Burke and Jonathan Leko, are other young players who are being held back by the persistence of playing the old guard. I am concerned that because our start to the season has so far been a somewhat stuttering one, that Darren Moore will not risk our youngsters.
I am convinced that there is no risk in giving Rekeem Harper, Chris Brunt's place in the team, because he will do a better job partnering Livermore.

I started this thread back in August 2018, because I thought we had a star in the making. I don't know how or why it all went wrong, but I do think that as a club we are afraid to give opportunity to very promising youngsters. Bilic was brave enough to "throw in " youngsters, and Ferguson and Dara came from nowhere and quickly became regulars. To be fair I think he did try to encourage Rekeem too, but apparently did not get the required response.
Good luck Rekeem it is now down to you alone to make a career for yourself. I think you have the tools , it's now time to show the application

[LiamTheBaggie]

Sold Morgan to fund Bilić I believe.

Amazing that we have to sell the family silver to appoint a head coach.

The most important position at the football club and we're scratching around the floor looking for pennies.

[WorcsWBA]

I wonder if we're going to hurry this through to enable us to afford compensation for a new head coach..

It would be simpler to just make Harper the head coach! In fact, perhaps the simplicity of it will be attractive to the Board?! 

[Baggies]

Amazing that we have to sell the family silver to appoint a head coach.

The most important position at the football club and we're scratching around the floor looking for pennies.

I saw a journalist post as such on twitter but I tend to think we sold Morgan because we had no choice - Man City wanted him and Morgan wanted to go.

[cads_ap_albion]

I saw a journalist post as such on twitter but I tend to think we sold Morgan because we had no choice - Man City wanted him and Morgan wanted to go.

I had heard that Morgan was happy to stay. We wanted the money.

[TheJacko2000]

I saw a journalist post as such on twitter but I tend to think we sold Morgan because we had no choice - Man City wanted him and Morgan wanted to go.

Supposedly the issue was timing and price. We rushed a deal.through at a lower fee to ensure we had the funds for Bilić

[Baggies]

That's awfully short sighted if true.

[WorcsWBA]

That's awfully short sighted if true.

I'll see your short-sighted and raise you an embarrassing!

[mig]

£500k seems way too cheap for me even with add-ons. We are remarkably short of depth at centre mid and I’d sooner we keep Harper, who could well improve into a starter at this level, than Livermore who we know won’t improve.

Yes we have premier league aspirations but let’s not get ahead of ourselves - right now we are a championship club with limited funds and a sizeable rebuild on our hands. We need to sign at least 2 CMs so why not keep Harper as a serviceable 3rd/4th choice there and see if he can develop/impress beyond that in pre-season.

[Gilsey 56]

I watched this lad come on a few times in his early days and really thought he would be a very good player and he may still be, he has everything to become one except a vital ingredient and that is Heart, if a good coach can capture his and get him going there is a player in there but I worry it may never surface.

[hardtobeat]

To sell him whilst managerless is utterly stupid and shows exactly where our priorities lie. The paltry transfer fee and his wages off the bill will make little or no difference in the great scheme of things so why rush him out the door until the new coach/manager has had good look at him

[allenkevanastle]

Many players look good at 18/19/20 when they are boys in men's bodies with all the confidence and energy of youth. Unfortunately, most do not go on, become more aware and improve. Sadly, Rakeem seems to fall into this category. He looked such a prospect. Good luck, fella, I hope you have a good career.

[KN22]

I watched Harper closely a couple of seasons ago in a home game when we had someone unavailable in midfield (cant remember the details). Harper was supposed to be playing the right side of a three and the starter of the press, which Livermore had been doing previously.

He (Harper) was absolutely dreadful he didnt have a clue where he was supposed to be in or out of possession and he hadnt got a clue what do or when to do it. The game just went on around him the whole time.

Herein lies his biggest problem for me, he lacks footballing intelligence and tactically is nowhere near aware enough.

I wish him well but he's never been good enough. Technically, he's not bad but other aspects of his game leave him well short of what we need.

This is a very accurate assessment of the player. Sadly not good enough.

[costa blanca baggie]

That's awfully short sighted if true.

'I had heard', and ‘supposedly' is a dead giveaway.

[WBArgo]

If fans could spot this 2 years ago why couldnt the club?

It is as if the club hopes we will breed a superstar that will slot straight in to the premier league as a teenager and instantly be worth £20m. When the evidence shows 95% of the academy players produced by us who have gone on to reach decent levels in the past 10 years have needed to get out and get experience and ply their trade.

Being accountable in league one for 50 games, 90 minutes week in week out is far better than 200 minutes a season from our bench. That game mentality and experience will come in time as it does with most players.

If we think they can play for a club at the top of league one, send them to a mid table side. If we think the can play mid table, send them to a side likely fighting relegation.  Try and guarantee them minutes first of all. They will hopefully have to battle if they come back here so battle harden them. It also sets a minimum level / foundation for the youth player too which i've heard seen an academy coach talk about before. 

Once they've got 50 games and 5000 minutes as a pro you can worry about what they do next.

Bang on. It's like training in a martial art or sparring. Anyone can look good in training.
It's beyond me that our club hasn't loaned him out more. Is his move to Ipswich good or bad? Really no one knows...because we've barely seen any of him. Since his debut with us he's played 18 games at Birmingham. That's been 4 seasons - why is this seen as acceptable?!

[Albionic]

Bang on. It's like training in a martial art or sparring. Anyone can look good in training.
It's beyond me that our club hasn't loaned him out more. Is his move to Ipswich good or bad? Really no one knows...because we've barely seen any of him. Since his debut with us he's played 18 games at Birmingham. That's been 4 seasons - why is this seen as acceptable?!

Absolutely spot on and its worse than unacceptable, we have a man (John Terrys brother) in charge of the kids loans / development, he is doing a freakin embarrassingly bad job when judged on results.
Where are the pathways from youth to senior team, our kids either fail dismally or flicker briefly and then leave for lower leagues. There is NO development from 18 onwards.

I know there are folks on here who watch the kids assiduously and i will bow to their greater knowledge but the above is how it seems to me.

[MarkW]

To sell him whilst managerless is utterly stupid and shows exactly where our priorities lie. The paltry transfer fee and his wages off the bill will make little or no difference in the great scheme of things so why rush him out the door until the new coach/manager has had good look at him

To be fair to the club, the entire point of a Director of Football model is so that footballing decisions can be made without a head coach being in place, or at least, we don't have to rely on them being in place.

I understand the retort "well what if the new manager likes the look of Harper", but at some point Dowling has to keep things ticking over.

[WorcsWBA]

To be fair to the club, the entire point of a Director of Football model is so that footballing decisions can be made without a head coach being in place, or at least, we don't have to rely on them being in place.

That would be more acceptable if our Director of Football (or whatever Dowling's job title is) wasn't hopeless!

[alex1]

Think it is too early to be easing Harper out the club. Its not as if we are overloaded with creative midfielders. Besides Livermore and Sawyers, who else is there (assuming MP goes)? In his latest interview, Harper says his priority is to come back and win a first team place here. Also £1million is too much of a bargain for any buyer. We seem to specialise in paying over the top for players and giving away our own talent on the cheap. Dowling or whoever seem to have very little grasp of player values.   

[paulosull]

Deal for Harper to Ipswich has been held up due to Albion's on going search for coach. Now that is a sensible bit of news, player might have a role with new man installed.