Tough start to the second half - gets outmuscled a couple of times, makes another bad cross so the announcer can continue to pick on him.
Harper down potential cramp or calf muscle issue after backing out of a fancy dribbling move and may be done.
Subbed off for Okoflex. Coach protecting the muscle issue, and probably was considering subbing him out for a fresh set of legs even without the injury. Didn't make a case for first team minutes when everyone is healthy, really, though. Was below average for the side today.
That couldn't have went much worse. Not the type of club that's going to give you leeway for debut jitters. After shining for the reserves, he only got the opportunity by an act of the devil.
Out at the 60th minute. Mixed bag. Something to build on. The end product - as the match announcers kept harping about - was a struggle. Does lots of things right like movement and being active but that final ball wasn’t there. It’s debut so I won’t be too negative about the crosses. After all, he got into good positions to whip in those crosses. Just has to do better. Promising talent.
The white flag was been waved on the title. Finally Celtic have conceded. I had a bet going with a friend who would concede first — Trump or Celtic. Anyways.... yes circumstance gave Harper a chance today. It was a tough albeit with some glimpses of promise. Good things. Bad things. Harper can can build on it. The Celtic hierarchy will have perspective on his match. It was less than 24 hours since all the self isolations hit the news. There was little time for Harper to prepare or anyone for that matter. So given that, it was decent debut. I don’t think that will hurt or help his chances moving forward. But with the title conceded..... Lennon might be willing to give youngsters a chance. He has nothing to play for including his job. He’ll be out at seasons end.
if it takes 2/3 of the team having the virus to get this shot call me a skeptic in not really thinking theres anything to build on at celtic
Brilliant 81st minute free kick by Turnbull puts Celtic up 1-0. Even if the title race is over, this is a big six-pointer for them to try to hold second place, which gets a Champions League qualifying spot, and has to be considered their priority for the rest of the year.
What I don’t think people understand is that Harper’s chances were going to be limited no matter how good is, this season. The chase and importance of besting Rangers (and their own record of 9) for 10 in a row was the focus. They were already going to shorten the squad and focus on that 10. Every damn resource was being put on that 10th. Even Europe was sacrificed. It f***** blew up in their faces. It has been a complete and utter failure from the board room to the field. People are pissed and heads are going to roll sooner than later. As it relates to Harper, he’s a very highly regard prospect. They like him. Quite a bit in fact but because that focus was on 10, opportunities were going to be limited. There are many supporters that felt Harper should have been loaned out to get that experience this season so he could start fresh in 2021-22. Maybe moving forward with the title conceded will give him some more opportunities
Stoppage time equalizer as Hazard whiffs on the ball and Nisbet profoundly does not whiff. 1-1 extremely late, and Celtic getting run over at the moment.
Celtic had 13 players and Neil Lennon self isolating after their travels to Dubai. That opened a door for an opportunity. That all happened in the last 24 hours.
Holy crap, and I did not realize how insane Rangers have been this year. 21-2-0? 59 GF, 6 GA? That's hard to do on Fifa.
If the calf problem isn’t too serious I’m guessing we still see him get minutes the next 2-3 games before their starters return.
Ugh! Yeah.....on course for an historic season. I hate to even type that. It kills me. A season that should have been historic for the green side of Glasgow. Any other year, Celtic’s season (2 losses and 45 points) would be appreciated. But not this year. This season has been mismanaged from top-to-bottom. It’s been one f-up after another. The hits just keep coming. Heads are gonna roll. I think it’s for the best. There are long term implications if change isn’t made.
https://www.celticnewsnow.com/news/...er&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=TwitterFeed Earlier reports of Harper leaving Celtic may have been premature
Not really, because the dissatisfaction was on Harper's side, & it took extraordinary circumstances for him to get on the field. ATM I definitely wouldn't sign the contract. If he keeps getting opportunities because his teammates are out w/ covid, & performs well in those chances (unlike in his debut) to be a permanent fixture in their lineup, that could create a previously unforeseeable course change.
Reading and being informed about Celtic, I’ve never heard or even see anything about Harper being dissatisfied. I think he’s been frustrated at the lack of 1st team opportunities this season but as I have said time and time again, those opportunities were going to be limited in the chase for 10 in a row. Celtic love the kid. The genuinely do. He’s talked about as a big, top prospect. There’s been chatter they want to lock him up long term. With COVID and the title gone, I think we will slowly but surely see Harper integrated into the side. It’s the right time. It’s the right opportunity. There’s nothing to lose.
You guys are kinder than this guy: https://mlsmultiplex.com/2021/01/12...me the first American,Aberdeen in May of 2019.
Bit of hyperbole there. Don't think he impressed, but don't think he really disappointed. He made good runs, looks comfortable dribbling, and gets into really good positions. It was his debut, people need to calm down.
100% agree with your assessment of Harper not impressing or disappointing. It was just a “meh” performance. What I find ironic in the article is the writer’s admittance Harper was thrown into the starting XI and the follow up - in so many words without being direct - he expected Harper to perform. There was never an Acknowledgment or recognition Harper literally had hours to prepare so course the delivery of passes was going to be off which in turns skews your decision making. I think the headline was harsher than the actually article but it still reeks of being misinformed about the lack of prep time Harper had. I get the writer probably said.... oh well, it’s the SPL Harper should perform blah blah blah... but the reality is it was a debut. Not a good one. Not a bad one. There’s something to build one. Have those expectations and not unrealistic expectations that Harper was going to come in and immediately boss/impact the game. Baby steps. Baby steps.
Harper is in talk to sign a precontract with New York Red Bulls, per the Athletic. He could officially join RBNY in the summer. Seems like an OK move if you assume he wouldn't do it just to end up in USL. Playing in MLS > not playing (or playing with the reserves) in Scotland. That's not controversial is it?