Harris

[Devilstorment]

Dont want this post to be taken the wrong way, as I think the lad may well develop into a star for us however, other than against Falkirk and Hearts last season Harris has not looked good enough to be in the first team.

Obviously he is still very young and very inexperienced so he needs to be given time to develop but Fenlon is using him as our main focus of attack and I think it runs the risk of destroying his confidence and actually setting his development back. I think I counted at least 4 or 5 chances which came to a grinding halt whilst Harris was on the ball today.

We dont have a lot of options which is probably forcing Fenlon's hand a little but I think a spell in the U19's or our East of Scotland team would do the boy good as right now he is vastly out of depth.

.... some time in the Gym and a few Protein shakes would do the boy good too! He is built like the side of a sim card.

[BOB MARLEYS DUG]

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Dont want this post to be taken the wrong way, as I think the lad may well develop into a star for us however, other than against Falkirk and Hearts last season Harris has not looked good enough to be in the first team.

Obviously he is still very young and very inexperienced so he needs to be given time to develop but Fenlon is using him as our main focus of attack and I think it runs the risk of destroying his confidence and actually setting his development back. I think I counted at least 4 or 5 chances which came to a grinding halt whilst Harris was on the ball today.

We dont have a lot of options which is probably forcing Fenlon's hand a little but I think a spell in the U19's or our East of Scotland team would do the boy good as right now he is vastly out of depth.

.... some time in the Gym and a few Protein shakes would do the boy good too! He is built like the side of a fiver.

Fixed that for you mate hope his injury ain't too bad.

[neil7908]

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Dont want this post to be taken the wrong way, as I think the lad may well develop into a star for us however, other than against Falkirk and Hearts last season Harris has not looked good enough to be in the first team.

Obviously he is still very young and very inexperienced so he needs to be given time to develop but Fenlon is using him as our main focus of attack and I think it runs the risk of destroying his confidence and actually setting his development back. I think I counted at least 4 or 5 chances which came to a grinding halt whilst Harris was on the ball today.

We dont have a lot of options which is probably forcing Fenlon's hand a little but I think a spell in the U19's or our East of Scotland team would do the boy good as right now he is vastly out of depth.

.... some time in the Gym and a few Protein shakes would do the boy good too! He is built like the side of a sim card.

I think the part in bold is spot on, we've developed a nasty habit of just giving the ball to Harris in a very tight situation and expecting him to beat 2-3 players without any help. He needs a bit of support going forward and for me he's been at this best playing on the left with McGivern behind him - I think they were beginning to get a good understanding before injuries interrupted.

I disagree with him being put back into the U19s or EoS team though, we just need to get some more attacking options in the team and stop expecting a 19 year old to win games for us on his own. He's got far too much pressure on him now and I dont mean from the fans, the team are seeing him as an out ball everytime and not giving him enough options when he gets into decent positions, often leaving him up against 2 defenders.

[CallumLaidlaw]

Totally disagree. He wasn't up to much in the first half today but I felt he was really coming into the game just as he got injured. He was a threat when he came on against Malmo in the 1st leg. At 19, he isn't going to have great games every week, but he a creative spark which we don't have anywhere else in the team so worth having him in there.

[Pretty Boy]

I like Harris. Really like him and he has a lot of the right attributes to go a long way.

However I said on the match update thread, and stand by it, that sometimes he may well be better served by being a bit more direct when he has the ball, sometimes think he trie a bit too much and less can often be more.

[Alfred E Newman]

Wasn't at today's game or the Malmo game ( on holiday) but to start singling out our most promising young player as a reason for our problems seems ridiculous .

[lucky]

Harris needs time to develop and needs to be played on the left wing not the right. But today he was just getting into the game when he got injured. But Hibs can't rely on him week out week in.

[Purehibee_MYB]

you make a few good points, especially about pressure being put on the boy, but to say he's only played well in 2 games is just wrong. He was easily one of our best players at the tail end of last season and i think he's just had a couple of poor performances recently. But as someone else said, he was coming into the game before he got injured today.

[PeterboroHibee]

I really like Harris, but as others have hinted at, all the expectation of the creativity in the side seems to be on him. Hes only 18 and hardly played any other games, and you can tell other teams see him as a threat, as soon as he gets the ball there is usually two opposition right on him. We need to be careful he doesnt become burned out, or his confidence gets shot if he isnt able to have the impact on games he might like.

Realistically if we had more going forward there would be less pressure on Harris, and he might have more support if he does find himself in tight situations. Its ridiculous that almost every time he got the ball there was only 1 player in the box.

[Wotherspiniesta]

Nothing much came off for him, but he never stopped trying and I thoought was coming onto a game before his injury.

He'll be a cracking player for us this season.

Hope he's fit for the Hearts game, as I can see him tearing McCrappie a new one.

[NorthNorfolkHFC]

This is brutal.

Today was a nightmare, going forward we were woeful. Most people are in agreement that our managers tactics are not up to much.

Do all our players deserve threads slating them? Harris (at the moment) loves to take people on and try things, naturally he won't beat his man every single time. If that was the case he would be at Barcelona.

I for one, would like Harris to continue trying to take people on and won't get on my keyboard to slate the boy for having a go. He's what Hibs need right now: bit of balls and pace and if we as support can't get behind him were almost as guilty as the current manager.

[Leishy1995]

He's going to end up like spoony if he doesn't get deployed in his better position(left wing) and get let do what he wants by management

[Pretty Boy]

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This is brutal.

Today was a nightmare, going forward we were woeful. Most people are in agreement that our managers tactics are not up to much.

Do all our players deserve threads slating them? Harris (at the moment) loves to take people on and try things, naturally he won't beat his man every single time. If that was the case he would be at Barcelona.

I for one, would like Harris to continue trying to take people on and won't get on my keyboard to slate the boy for having a go. He's what Hibs need right now: bit of balls and pace and if we as support can't get behind him were almost as guilty as the current manager.

Is anybody slating Harris on this thread?

Most of what i'm reading is either defending him or pretty constructive.

[davidw]

I think he's a great player, hopefully with a great future. There is, however, an issue with not overplaying and ruining him. I remember being at Wotherspoon's debut, and thinking here's the next big thing. In my humble opinion (and I can't be bothered using the abbreviation), John Hughes did the very opposite of what should have been done in terms of the player's development - playing him when under pressure, playing him young, under pressure, and out of position (how many positions did he play under Hughes?). Think of how a proper Ferguson-esque manager would have dealt with an up and coming player, introducing him gradually, developing him carefully - Hughes did the opposite, and it's vital Fenlon (or his successor) doesn't ruin Harris in the same way.

Thought today was awful by the way....

[Devilstorment]

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This is brutal.

Today was a nightmare, going forward we were woeful. Most people are in agreement that our managers tactics are not up to much.

Do all our players deserve threads slating them? Harris (at the moment) loves to take people on and try things, naturally he won't beat his man every single time. If that was the case he would be at Barcelona.

I for one, would like Harris to continue trying to take people on and won't get on my keyboard to slate the boy for having a go. He's what Hibs need right now: bit of balls and pace and if we as support can't get behind him were almost as guilty as the current manager.

I think you have misunderstood me. I am no way intending to slate the guy. As I say I think he will be great player for us, if anything I feel he is being mismanaged

I feel your belief which seems to come down to, if we all get behind him everything will be ok and at least he is having a go, is over simplifying things.

Young players need to be nurtured not just thrown in and then suddenly made our key focus of attack. Unless he has an insurmountable level of confidence and self belief he will start to doubt his ability to get by people at a senior level which could really damage his development and stop him trying to beat people in future.

Again, I like him as a player and think he will be great for us.... IF developed correctly!

[Stringer]

Harris needs McGivern to support him instead of long balls from KT.

I watched Stanton at a u20s match. I think long term Sam is the better option.

[SquashedFrogg]

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Wasn't at today's game or the Malmo game ( on holiday) but to start singling out our most promising young player as a reason for our problems seems ridiculous .

He gave justified reasons for his observations/comments...

I think, after being at the games, he's correct..

You can't say he's being ridiculous if you werent there I'm affraid...

[TAHibby]

Disagree he is out of his depth, don't think that's the case at all. Don't think he needs pushed back down a level either, he's young but cleary good enough as shown in the past. As mentioned he wasn't great today but started to come in to the game a whole lot more before sadly getting injured.

[ballengeich]

He's got great potential but today wasn't his best day. Part of it was due to the lack of support from midfield which meant that he often had no option but to try to dribble past defenders. He and Collins must both be wondering if they have personal hygiene problems - their team mates never came within 20 yards of them.

I hope the injury he suffered isn't serious.

[PeeJay]

Think Harris is a young player with tremendous potential, but he seemed a bit lost to me today, but then again so did the whole team basically. He's one of the few in our team that excites because he can genuinely pull something out of the bag. Some of the hype surrounding him is ridiculously OTT at this early stage of his career though. A good manager and a sound coaching squad would help him progress by leaps and bounds I feel. Hope his injury is only a slight one and he is back next week...

[NorthNorfolkHFC]

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I think you have misunderstood me. I am no way intending to slate the guy. As I say I think he will be great player for us, if anything I feel he is being mismanaged

I feel your belief which seems to come down to, if we all get behind him everything will be ok and at least he is having a go, is over simplifying things.

Young players need to be nurtured not just thrown in and then suddenly made our key focus of attack. Unless he has an insurmountable level of confidence and self belief he will start to doubt his ability to get by people at a senior level which could really damage his development and stop him trying to beat people in future.

Again, I like him as a player and think he will be great for us.... IF developed correctly!

I would agree, he should be taught and nurtured.

However, I don't think Fenlon has made him our key focus of attack. By nature of our formation he is part of a 'front three' that has James Collins at the top and Liam Craig on the other side.

Fortunately or unfortunately in this case, Harris has become our only attacking threat as he is the only one in our team who has natural pace. It is because of this he can get forward and it's because if this that we see him as our only attacking threat.

I very much doubt that Fenlon's team talk contains the words 'get the ball to Harris'.

I'm possibly on the defensive as I sat in the East today listening to people shouting "f%^k off" Harris after he attempted to take players on.

[SMAXXA]

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Harris needs McGivern to support him instead of long balls from KT.

I watched Stanton at a u20s match. I think long term Sam is the better option.

No he doesnt Harris needs to do better than he did today and people need to stop looking for reasons not to realise that. He was terrible first half but better second slightly. Lets not pussey foot around players, I really rate Harris and think he will be a great player for us but he needs to know when he was poor and it's upto Fenlon to know when he plays.

[Dashing Bob S]

He's a talented young prospect, but needs nurturing. Others should be stepping up and we shouldn't be seeing him as a messiah.

[SMAXXA]

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This is brutal.

Today was a nightmare, going forward we were woeful. Most people are in agreement that our managers tactics are not up to much.

Do all our players deserve threads slating them? Harris (at the moment) loves to take people on and try things, naturally he won't beat his man every single time. If that was the case he would be at Barcelona.

I for one, would like Harris to continue trying to take people on and won't get on my keyboard to slate the boy for having a go. He's what Hibs need right now: bit of balls and pace and if we as support can't get behind him were almost as guilty as the current manager.

No we weren't, first half we were decent going forward with KT, Robo and Craig we had nothing there when we did get forrward. Every time Harris got the ball he gave it away simple. Doesn't make him a bad player just played badly. I was quite impressed with the way we attacked with Robo and Craig yet playing the 1 up top we looked very exposed. FFS if I was James Collins I'd be thinking I'd as well being doing doggies up Easter road than today, shame for the lad.

im always supportive Pat but its growing thin

[Onceinawhile]

I think he missed Ryan Mcgivern today. Ryan gets forward better than lewis and that means wee boozy gets more space and time on the ball. As well as that Mcgivern is a far better passer and can get him round the back of defences which is where he can cause damage.

[SMAXXA]

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I think he missed Ryan Mcgivern today. Ryan gets forward better than lewis and that means wee boozy gets more space and time on the ball. As well as that Mcgivern is a far better passer and can get him round the back of defences which is where he can cause damage.

Can we not just chalk it down to a poor performance rather than look for excuses?

[truehibernian]

Thommo was different class today. Collins impressed too, as did Nelson.

Alex is a superb talent but if it isn't working for him we need options on the other flank which we don't have - had the whole pre season to get a winger in and we didn't. Bad prep, bad planning, poor squad building. That's the facts.

Alex was poor today, no doubt about it. But it shows up the team for what it is when AH isn't on song - very very very slow, uncreative and dull !

[Tyler Durden]

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I would agree, he should be taught and nurtured.

However, I don't think Fenlon has made him our key focus of attack. By nature of our formation he is part of a 'front three' that has James Collins at the top and Liam Craig on the other side.

Fortunately or unfortunately in this case, Harris has become our only attacking threat as he is the only one in our team who has natural pace. It is because of this he can get forward and it's because if this that we see him as our only attacking threat.

I very much doubt that Fenlon's team talk contains the words 'get the ball to Harris'.

I'm possibly on the defensive as I sat in the East today listening to people shouting "f%^k off" Harris after he attempted to take players on.

I'm starting to wonder what Fenlons team talk consists of, other than "give the ball to Harris".

[NorthNorfolkHFC]

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No we weren't, first half we were decent going forward with KT, Robo and Craig we had nothing there when we did get forrward. Every time Harris got the ball he gave it away simple. Doesn't make him a bad player just played badly. I was quite impressed with the way we attacked with Robo and Craig yet playing the 1 up top we looked very exposed. FFS if I was Jam Colin's I'd be thinking I'd as well being doing doggies up Easter road than today, shame for the lad.

im always supportive Pat but its growing thin

I think we were better today and guys like Thomson & Robertson played well, keeping possession and controlling play. They did try to get forward as much as they could. However, 3 shots on target over 90 minutes is just not acceptable at home and I don't think that's impressive at all.

Harris didn't play well today but I don't think he deserved the jeers he was getting. Collins on the other hand deserves a medal for not spitting the dummy today.

[(((Fergus)))]

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he is vastly out of depth.

What is that if not slating him?

Hibs fans have a wonderful talent for killing talent in the bud. And I say that as constructive criticism, not slating at all.