According to a rival Reading fans’ site, their long serving midfielder James Harper is set to sign for us.
If so, then we would have signed a player who once gave me one of my funniest Premier League memories.
Harper, while featuring for the Royals away at Aston Villa, broke in behind Villa’s back four, before rounding the keeper to slot into an empty net.
Bearing in mind that Reading were 2-0 down at the time, and it was the fourth minute of injury time, Harper ran off like Marco Tardelli in the World Cup, thumping his chest screaming: ‘That’s what I’m f**king talking about!!”
It just made me chuckle, as the goal had absolutely zero impact in the game, no fans were left behind the goal to see it, and Match of the Day had packed away their cameras and gone home.
It was a better goal celebration than Super Don Goodman’s infamous ‘chicken wing’ behind the South Bank goal against Ipswich, in terms of laughter anyway.
But back to the topic. He is a bit of a curate’s egg for Reading, with some of their fans even booing him in the fleeting appearances he did make for them recently.
Persistent injury niggles have restricted his time on the pitch in recent times, which would probably explain why our connection with him is so plausible.
Rumours of a £2 million bid are doing the rounds, and it sounds that while some Reading fans would regret the loss of their long serving player, others would drive him up the motorway themselves.
Personally, I would welcome this bit of business, if indeed it is true. If fit I would certainly prefer him to Nicky Butt, who we have also been linked with.
After all, I bet Nicky can’t puff his chest out like Harper and explain to everyone what he is f**king talking about in five seconds of football. Bring it on!
Mate am sure i’ve seen someone else celebrate scoring to no fans behind the goal before!!!!
No fans you say Edward M? Ben- We always thought your goal celebrations were very good!!!
As goal celebrations go Ben, my all time favourite is the Vicar of Dibley celebration at Coasley.
No no no no no no, shouted the striker as ran off to celebrate with team mates…..Remember that one do you mate??
As far as harper goes, I would be very happy with that bit bussnes, I always rated him when I saw him play. Not quite the Sean Davies we would have liked but a player in the same mould that I think will do well should he sign for us.
Nikki Butt…………No Thanks
Ben. That Tardelli celebration is the my favourite of all time. If you can’t celebrate by screaming you’re own name over and over again when you have just scored the winner in the world cup final…..when can you???
Robbie Folwer snorting the touch line was a classic as well!!!!
Will never forget the Bully roll over , North Bank end after he had just skinned Paul Hart to score against Notts County in the Sherpa Van area final 1988…North Bank end
Thatw a sin front of zero fans too!
Dazza, didn’t Psycho score a belter to win us the tie and trip to Wembley? I wasn’t there, but my cousin told me all about it. I also got the ‘We’re Back’ official promotion LP, which I think had that winning team on the front sleeve.
“We’re back, and we’re never gonna let you down again, YES the Wanderers are back, and we’re on the winning track”…Happy days.
Bully rollover and the hat-trick aeroplanes were my favourite. Remember his hatrick away at Derby? Big Ron was calling for an England recall! Ooh Bully Bully!
I think Harper would be an excellent signing for us. He’s quite an all-action player which I like and I think if matches become scrappy, he’s the kind of guy you want on your side.
I always loved Robbies Keane’s handstands and of course the Bully hat-trick planes were something special.
My most shameful celebration came after I scored a penalty and proceeded to play my leg like it was an electric guitar. I can still hear the laughs of the female spectators even now.
Thomas. Who did/do you play for? What position?
im a goalie and don’t get to celebrate much, but i scored a goal recently in five-aside from my own area, after which i ran around in a circle about twice before getting pushed over. classy
Sam MkII.
Do you play 11-a-side. As you can Probably tell, some of us on this blog play for a team together. Could be fun to arrange a match or have some kind of craic with/against each other.
I see we’re now being linked with Jermaine Beckford chaps. Nice to see that Mick reads this blog and noted my suggestion and made a bee-line, ignoring Edward Millson in the process!
I’d be happy with a bad boy who scores goals. Him and SEB up top, gives us more of a 4-4-2 option in the early part while Doyle and BCI are out, while another c/mid gives us a more viable 3-5-2 option.
The fact that we’ve bagged a couple of wins these last two nights has really perked me up.
The only other question is that of Balde? Do we or don’t we? I’ll report back if/when I see him on Saturday.
I see the story has now made it into the Express & Star (About 6 hours after we reported it). See here:
http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/08/06/wolves-hold-talks-with-harper/
I can’t believe they called him a ‘wide-man’. Do they not watch football at all?
I try my best to like the E&S but they make so many rookie mistakes like this.
Eh up Ben, yeah I do read this blog but I haven’t ignored my good mate Ed, he knows his shit. Don’t get carried away with the Beckford rumours lads – they’re all bobbins!!!
See Ben – Mick would never ignore me!!! He always asks my approval on all signings
Eeie baiy gum lad. That Edward Milson walks round like he’s got a coat hanger in his gob, but I’ve told him. “Good old Jermaine puts a shift in when he’s on blob.”
Tom – I’ve heard the express and star now use Wolves Blog to get all their latest Wolves info from
Nice to see Mick McArthy on the site.
Does any one know if we had a sell on clause for Olyfinjana?? He has to Hull for £3m today???
re. Jermaine Beckford. If you’re going to sign him, quoting a good reason, Ben mate, as he gives us a good 4-4-2 option and then sign Harper to give a good 3-5-2 option, why not sign one player who can give you both options and goals from all over the park?
I have be championing the singning of Kris Commens from Derby all summer. I think he would be a perfect fit for the type of squad we are bulding and can play wide, in the middle and upfront.
Would be good yto get you’re thoughts.
Fuckin Commons again!!! Must be a week since you last dropped his name in. Not bad mate!! New record!
Doubt there was a sell on clause with Olofinjana – to be honest being able to laugh at Hull (even more) is payment enough!!
Afraid i dont play 11’s pete, live in london as well so bit of a trek for a knock about. definitely would be up for it if i lived closer though!
btw, is this any of you guys pretending to be mick? ha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jRXEQN90pE
Olofinjana has a sell-on clause but its only a percentage of profit apparently so nothing coming our way.
The E&S calling Harper a wingman is pretty inexcusable, thats just basic research surely? Speaking of E&S I was pretty amused by their ”Wolves starting to look like a Premiership side” analysis of Scunthorpe game, coming as it did – straight after me reading the Birmingham Mail’s ”Wolves look miles away from Premiership side” headline!
this could mean the end of dave jones? 😐
he is one of our best players in my opinion, and this influx of centre midfielders suggests he might be on his way out
Hi Ben, yes, Downing scored a screamer to put us 3 up in that game. Pound for pound, that was a bloody good side
How I miss the glamour of Halifax away and a pint in the Shay…… oops, I’m a poet and didn’t know it 🙂
This, as cover for Henry and a strengthening of the CM position is great news.
Now bring on one more centreback, all will be well.
Oh and the BBC Gossip column just referred to James Harper as a winger.
T’om … and a left back please
Traore would be good…. what’s Mark Kennedy up to these days?
Dazza – I have faith in Big George, and in Matt Hill as back up. I’m not sure we have the financaes to be buying 2 or 3 for every position, and anyway, I’d rather see that money on a centre half to partner Ronald Zubar.