You could talk to any random Forest fan, or visit any number of random message boards – like this one, or this one, or even this one – and you’ll notice a recurring theme of discussion amongst them. Neil Harris, is of course, the subject of endless debate – because, for some Forest fans, apparently a run of eight games without defeat isn’t good enough – being six points clear at the top of the league also is substandard. Because each of these fans apparently knows better than Colin Calderwood, who has had his coaching badges since he was 24.
It winds me up – I can understand where people are coming from, on paper we are fielding a player who has scored one goal in about a thousand games, and we have both our top scorer, and our newly-fit star striker on the bench. I can certainly empathise with the view that perhaps either of these players are, on paper, a better bet for a starting position – but it’s when this critique of Harris descends to sniping at his every touch, every run – any mistakes, and basically – even when times are going well, still desperately seeking out a scapegoat.
Before people think about slagging off Neil Harris, think about the fact that we’re on a great run of form, think about the fact that Colin Calderwood is clearly a man who knows what he is doing, and then consider that he gets input from reserve games, sees the players in training and knows the team a hell of a lot better than us – and so long as the things are going as well as they are now then we’re really in no position to openly criticise him – certainly discussion about “what I’d do if I were manager” is perfectly normal, but singling out players unfairly is counterproductive.
Neil Harris isn’t my favourite Forest player – when I see him play though I can see a bloke giving it 100% in effort, and I can also see a player with intelligence too. Given his scoring record of the past, and then that of the present, then I imagine he’s a frustrated player – and possibly one lacking in confidence too; so how do you think hundreds of moaning belligerent ‘fans’ or threads on internet forums slagging him off are going to help? Colin has made his decisions for whatever reasons, and whilst it’s not always pretty, he’s delivering results – that deserves our support, not our derision.
Filed under: Thoughts
Look, I have the greatest respect for what he has gone through in his personal life, but the fact of the matter is he is not doing what he is paid to do- score goals. We need to get promoted, simple as, and we can not afford to have a striker in the team, who the manager will not drop for other than football reasons.
We have 8 strikers, and on scoring ability,Harris is the 8th choice at the moment.
Clearly CC doesn’t believe Harris is paid just to score goals otherwise he wouldn’t be in the team ahead of Grant Holt.
I imagine the debate will become null and void once Tyson is fully fit with a few more weeks worth of appearances – but I, like the author, find the whole thing boring.
CC is picking what he considers to be the best TEAM, not the best bunch of individuals and based on our current form that will do for me.
You seem to have said what I wanted to in far fewer words, Kev
And Jonathan, I never once mentioned Neil Harris’ personal life – I don’t think this is relevant to his inclusion in the team, and I’m sure Calderwood doesn’t think so either.
I agree once Tyson’s recuperation concludes that he is likely to find himself in the side – so hopefully this very dull and repetitive pointlessness will end.
I do feel sorry for Harris – nobody who puts as much effort in as he does deserves to be criticsed so much.
In fairness, his involvement on the pitch is quiet, but then a few of my favourite Forest players stay out of the limelight – it doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
I think Harris has a reasonable amount of talent and is a good team player – he’s not my favourite, but I’ve got nothing against him.
Makes you wonder why fans think saying he’s a poor player is going to make him a better player.
Whilst we may be top of the league, it is despite Harris and not because of him. It says a lot about our team when we can field 10 players every week and still win.
Drop Harris, play Holt and Tyson and we’ll start winning even more matches than we currently are. It’s that simple.
And you are now as guilty as everyone else for having a dig at him. CC is the only person who knows why he gets picked every week and i’m not going to start criticising him for that, but 35 games i think it is and 1 goal says it all. It is boring, but it keeps the message boards turning over. End of.
NONE of our strikers are performing in terms of goals scored.
Tis true, let’s drop every striker and play midfielders up front!
So what you’re saying is that a winning side can’t be improved? I’m sick of people telling me that the result is the only thing that counts, ultimately I pay money at the turnstile to be entertained and because I leave the game happy with the result it doesn’t mean to say that underneath my enthusiasm for the current team and tactics are slowly disappearing. How many games have you been to this season where you’ve walked away with Forest winning or Drawing and saying to your friends/family ‘we got out of jail there’ or ‘good result shocking game’? I know the ultimate goal for the club is promotion but it would be nice to be slightly entertained on the way!!!
I’m torn on this, whilst I do think Harris has performed a useful role for the team of late, the lack of goals from the strikers is worry. Without the goals we’ve had from Southall and Commons of late, we’d really be struggling.
‘Chopper’ would almost be better off if he announced he was now a midfielder/winger, I could see him doing well in that role and there wouldn’t be the focus on his lack of goals that there is right now.
Also, I’d like to point out that Agogos goal ratio is also terrible, but he seems to escape the criticism which Harris gets….
Congo makes a great point re: Agogo – most of the defensive comments on here seem to miss the point that I personally agree with most people, I wouldn’t play Harris if it was my choice.
However, I also wouldn’t slag him off indiscriminately as I’ve seen both in person and on countless internet forums… I’ve seen people insulting him (“Calderwood’s love-child”) or Calderwood himself (‘CC: Clueless Colin’ courtesy of some idiot on the Vital forum) – it’s THAT I object to. If you feel he’s not contributing sufficiently, do you really think that will make him up his game?
Slight groin-strain aside, with Tyson making a rapid recovery I think the point will eventually be null and void anyway, but many comments purportedly arguing with this post are missing the point that I can understand the criticism, it’s the method of delivery I object to.
John’s comment is interesting – because I never said a winning side can’t be improved, I said that I trusted the manager’s judgement – very different things. Whilst earlier in the season I think you’d have a point on the “entertainment” stakes, certainly at home we’ve been much much better recently – admittedly Cheltenham and Rotherham were less satisfying, but frankly – I would take the shittest football I’ve ever seen for a season if it gets us out of this league.
I guess the question is why are people seeking a scapegoat? Could it be that some people are never happy? Or could it be (as ludicrous as it sounds) that some people are getting a little bored of watching a winning (dull) team and therefore in true football fan style picking on the easiest target? I personally would describe Forest’s recent results as good, form as average and entertainment value virtually non-existent. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and this is mine.
Aye, I appreciate the point you’re making – surely you’d agree that our home form at least has been decent though, and reasonably entertaining – certainly hasn’t reached anything close to the levels I’d want to see (especially given our prices!), but it’s better than it was – and moving in the right direction… I hope!