Harper could hold the key to NUFC ambitions next season
Newcastle United may well have two quality young goalkeepers in their ranks in the shape of Tim Krul and Fraser Forster.
But offloading the experienced figure of Steve Harper ahead of such an important Premier League campaign would be nothing short of an own goal.
I've every confidence in Krul as a future Toon number 1 while Fraser Forster has shone at Norwich at League One level.
Krul has never let United down in his first team appearances so far but if you're asking me if they're the finished article, the answer is an emphatic no.
Both of the youngsters still need to gradually build up their experience whether on loan or in the Carling Cup ties or FA Cup ties as per last season.
If Newcastle can retain both and loan either of them out next season, it would appear to be the best solution all round.
Having watched both Krul and Forster graduate through the reserve and youth systems at Newcastle, their journey has been nothing short of fantastic so far.
But Harper has what neither of them do, which is a wealth of experience at the top level, despite an appearance tally that - by his own confession - should be much better.
Not only that but as United's longest serving player at St James' Park, next season his input and know-how around the Premier League circuit will also be a massive bonus that should not be surrendered.
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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How on earth are they ever going to get the experience ? Krul is nearly 23 and made a debut nearly 5 years ago against Palermo where he was world class and again against West brom at the start of the season.
they're journey has been nothing short of fantastic so far. - Oh dear an illiterate journo !
Ryder's reply: He can get experience by going on loan, just like a young Shay Given did when at Blackburn going to Sunderland and like Harper did at several different clubs.
As much as I love steve harper, I think it's time for him to move over for the next generation of keepers, krul is a fantastic keeper and should be challenging for hollands number one shirt, same can be said of foster, eventually challenging joe hart for englands number one, we are blessed in the goal keeping position right now, but for how long if we persist with a keeper who is not getting any younger, let steve take up some kind of coaching role and let the new generation battle it out.
Iker Casillas - first choice at Real Madrid at the age of 19, first choice for Spain at the age of 21, World Cup winner at 28. Will we ever learn the lesson in this country? If you're good enough, you're old enough.
If Hughton sold Harper and played either Krul or Forster instead I would look at him in a new light because that move would take balls.
Harper's an average keeper so it makes sense to move him on and not have him hold back one of the young lads.
Have to agree with you for once Lee, if either were better than Harper then they'd be first choice, simple as that.
People point to the one & a half decent games Krul has had but always leave out the very suspect shows he's put on in the cup's (see HTFC last season), yes he's a talented keeper but first choice & PL standard? How can anyone say that? Unless your a regular watcher of the Dutch U21 side, held a season ticket at Falkirk or have nothing better to do than watch the reserves every week then how do people know he's the finished article.
As for Harper people were quick to say he was as good as or even better than Given when they were both at NUFC now he's not as good as two kids despite keeping a record number of clean sheets last season, how does that work? Given was/is the best keeper in the PL & has been for the best part of a decade & people though Harper was as good when he didn't play, yet when he does play he's not as good as two un-tried kids, mad!
Terry Tibbs:
"...despite keeping a record number of clean sheets last season, how does that work?"
In most games last season, my missus could have played in goal for us! Harper's an adequate keeper, but how long do you have to keep lads back? Or perhaps these lads aren't really that good and can't overhaul Harps? Like I said earlier, look at Casillas at Madrid - he ousted an established German international (Bodo Illgner) from the side when he was still in his teens. In this country, all you hear from so-called experts and pundits is that "goalies don't understand the position until they're in their late 20s" - utter tripe! We had the same thing happen with Joe Hart in the World Cup - he's a better keeper than Green and James in my opinion, but was deemed as "too young".
Im with GerodieLee, if your good enough your in the team! Look at the world cup, Hugo Lloris, Serfio Romero, Manuel Neuer and Fernando Muslera all under the age of 24 and playing for there country and club because they have been given a chance when young!. Even with Harper or Krul in net we will stay up in the Premiership in my opininon. The only negative point about Hughton i think since hes been incharge is that he didnt give Krul the last games of the season as soon as promotion was sealed to test him, with that this discussion would never happen as we would of been able to see how good or rubbish Krul is!.
For the sake of keeping Harper for 2 years or Krul for the next 10 years i would choose Krul and gamble this potential is as good as everyone says it. also with this link to Celtic there must be intrest from the Harper camp or they wouldnt be intrested for the last month or so , so if he want to leave let him for the servant hes been to the club
and a last point a keeper is always going to make an error no matter what age, which Harper has done a few last season if i recall, so if Krul was to be put in net its just something what will happen and you just move on and dont dwell on it. Either way Newcastle are stopping up this season!
I agree with you both Geordie Lee & Bigotleybob, if they were good enough they would be in the team now. As for your point on Casillas if Krul was as good as him at the same age then he'd be playing as first choice for someone & might even be in the Dutch team.
My maine point was that no one on here has seen either of the kids play enough so how can you say they're better?
CH sees them in training etc & would know if they were ready & if they were they'd play after all he's gona pick his best team.
Also to say your missus could have played is a little harsh on Harper who had some excellent games away from home & earned us some valuble points early in the campaign when we couldn't score for toffee!!
I said "in most games" not all of them! Of course Harps had some good games, but the majority of teams we faced had strikers who couldn't score in the Bigg Market!
Oh, another annoying thing that pundits say - "he's a good shot stopper!" Well, like, duh!
I once heard that Shols scored in the bigg market but I'm waiting for that to be confirmed!!
Fraser Forster class last year at NCFC easily the best keeper in league 1, a Prem team will come in this year either pre season or at Xmas if we're not going to play him do him a favour and sell him
i've missed something who wants to sell harper, sorry which muppet!?! harper is needed for at least another 2 seasons send one of the others out on loan and keep one... harper will be one of the best keeprer next season and should of been taken to the world cup...
If Harper had left the toon 10 years ago, I'm convinced he could have been an England goalie. You can look at it two ways: it's admirable that he wants to play for the club he loves, so was happy to sit on the bench for well over a decade; or his lack of ambition has held him back. Discuss!
Oh, and I certainly think Harps will be one of the busiest keepers next season!
I cant believe people are seriously wanting Newcastle to let Harper go and use Krul as No.1!!!!!!!! Krul may be a good keeper, but IS unproven - 1 and a Half decent games dont prove your class, if that was the case, Michael Owen, Bramble, Dyer & Marcelinho would have been our best players over past 15yrs.
As for Harper - I think we all know he is better than average, but had to stand in the shadow of Given. He will be No.1 and now is his chance to shine - and I believe he will. And at his age, whats to stop him from becoming England No.1 - Only 2yrs to Euro's...
Erm, Harps is 35 now...Barring injury, Joe Hart will be England's number one - surely we've learned that lesson from the World Cup - Spain have so many good goalies, yet in 2002 they put a 19 year old in the position and stuck with him. I really do wish people would stop rehashing the garbage they hear on Sky Sports about goalies having to be in their mid to late 20s before they should be allowed to play in top level first teams. If Krul is good enough, he should be in for a run of games this season (let Harper start, he deserves that).