Brighton sign Harper

c0lz · Jul 23, 2015

Looks like another promising youngster and a very good prospect.

Easy 10 · Jul 23, 2015

chaileyjem said:
BBC (and ITV Sport and a wealth of other accounts have all done this in covering this. Its a story and thats their angle). Given that he is a striker and he's been at Real Madrid for 6 years then you'd hardly expect journalists to describe him otherwise let alone the club when announcing the transfer.

[tweet]624161749474918400[/tweet]

I'd expect ITV and the media in general to give it the hype headlines. Just the name "Real Madrid" and everyone starts creaming.

But he's not a Real Madrid striker, never has been. He's a long, long, long way from ever having achieved that billing, and I don't think the club are doing him any favours in touting him as one. He's a young prospect who's only ever been playing in their C team - and they play in the FOURTH tier of Spanish football. That's 2 levels below where Colunga plied most of his trade.

The hype machine is already in overdrive though, and once that's starts theres no stopping it. As a totally unproven youngster, he's now going to have to be something AMAZING to live up to peoples expectations. And we've all seen how that turns out most of the time.

BrickTamland · Jul 23, 2015

Article from December:
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...y-in-hunt-for-Real-Madrid-starlet-Jack-Harper

lawros left foot · Jul 23, 2015

gripper stebson said:
No Posh Spice song for Jack sadly...

It would have to end..."and when she's shagging Beckham she thinks of Harper 7"

..which is frankly a little distasteful!

See post#113
Very tastefully done, even if I do say so myself

burnee54 · Jul 23, 2015

My Whelm is increasing by the day...

Vegas Seagull · Jul 23, 2015

We're going up in 2020

MattBackHome · Jul 23, 2015

Easy 10 said:
The sheer hype surrounding this kid is getting ridiculous. He's a very decent prospect, but at this stage of his fledgling career that's ALL he is, he's proved nothing yet. I'll be thrilled if he turns out to be half as good as what some people seem to already think he is (based on what I'm not quite sure). Just give this young lad some time to adjust, he's never even had a sniff of 1st team football yet. The Championship will be a huge step up to any game he's played in so far.

To be fair, I'm not sure that there is that much hype. Lots of people are excited at having acquired a player from Real's youth team (which I reckon makes it not completely disingenuous to label him a 'Real Madrid Striker' by the way) but there aren't that many wild quotes like the one you quoted there.

DarrenFreemansPerm · Jul 23, 2015

So are we expecting him to be pushing for the first team? I'm guessing he hasn't signed for us to play more reserve football?

DIFFBROOK · Jul 23, 2015

I agree with a lot of what you have said. But whether the lad turns out to be any good is purely down to the player himself. He cant control football headlines, but what he can control is his commitment to improving. If rumours of Liverpool/Man Utd interest are true, then the fact that he has come here suggests that he wants to break into a teams 1st team, rather than the easy option of signing for those two giants and being a squad player.

Real Madrid must have seen something in him. Its down to the Albion to unlock that/benefit from it. I think this is a very good signing.

Easy 10 said:
I'd expect ITV and the media in general to give it the hype headlines. Just the name "Real Madrid" and everyone starts creaming.

But he's not a Real Madrid striker, never has been. He's a long, long, long way from ever having achieved that billing, and I don't think the club are doing him any favours in touting him as one. He's a young prospect who's only ever been playing in their C team - and they play in the FOURTH tier of Spanish football. That's 2 levels below where Colunga plied most of his trade.

The hype machine is already in overdrive though, and once that's starts theres no stopping it. As a totally unproven youngster, he's now going to have to be something AMAZING to live up to peoples expectations. And we've all seen how that turns out most of the time.

Withdean11 · Jul 23, 2015

Easy 10 said:
I'd expect ITV and the media in general to give it the hype headlines. Just the name "Real Madrid" and everyone starts creaming.

But he's not a Real Madrid striker, never has been. He's a long, long, long way from ever having achieved that billing, and I don't think the club are doing him any favours in touting him as one. He's a young prospect who's only ever been playing in their C team - and they play in the FOURTH tier of Spanish football. That's 2 levels below where Colunga plied most of his trade.

The hype machine is already in overdrive though, and once that's starts theres no stopping it. As a totally unproven youngster, he's now going to have to be something AMAZING to live up to peoples expectations. And we've all seen how that turns out most of the time.

I may be wrong, but i think there is only 3 tiers in spanish football, with the 3rd being split into 4 leagues. I'm sure [MENTION=4675]Frutos[/MENTION] can confirm either way.

BigGully · Jul 23, 2015

Easy 10 said:
I'd expect ITV and the media in general to give it the hype headlines. Just the name "Real Madrid" and everyone starts creaming.

But he's not a Real Madrid striker, never has been. He's a long, long, long way from ever having achieved that billing, and I don't think the club are doing him any favours in touting him as one. He's a young prospect who's only ever been playing in their C team - and they play in the FOURTH tier of Spanish football. That's 2 levels below where Colunga plied most of his trade.

The hype machine is already in overdrive though, and once that's starts theres no stopping it. As a totally unproven youngster, he's now going to have to be something AMAZING to live up to peoples expectations. And we've all seen how that turns out most of the time.

Absolutely, I would go a bit further to say that we seem to be engineering key young signings somehow trying to hype the success of our new and costly academy.

An Icelantic International here a Finnish International there and now a Real Madrid academy player.

I wish them every success but a fear for the similar talented current DS players whom these players will undoubtedly be given preference over, we can sometimes forget the real ''magic bullet'' is nurture and development and I dont see or hear too much of that happening.

BBassic · Jul 23, 2015

DarrenFreemansPerm said:
So are we expecting him to be pushing for the first team? I'm guessing he hasn't signed for us to play more reserve football?

I had a conversation with Cantor on Twatter about this. Based on his mentioning we beat Prem teams to this kid I would wager that we've promised him at least an amount of regular first team football this season. Which, if true, says great things about his character as well in that he's happier earning less but playing more.

Postman Pat · Jul 23, 2015

Albion boss Chris Hughton has urged new boy Jack Harper to challenge for a first team place.

But his first mission is to regain full fitness.

The 19-year-old has signed a two-year deal after coming through junior ranks at Real Madrid.

He is currently recovering from a knee injury and is at least eight weeks from returning to action.

Hughton said: “Even at the age of 19, Jack is a well known name and, having spent the past six years at Real Madrid, there is no doubting his pedigree.

"He has a lot of potential, is a skilful type, with a good eye for goal, and can operate as a striker or playing just off of a striker. We hope we can give him the platform to realise his undoubted potential.

"He has had an excellent grounding, having come through the youth system at Real Madrid, and also has international experience at youth level, having featured for Scotland's under-17 and under-19 sides."

Hughton added: "Jack's next step is to move up to senior football, but his first priority is to complete his rehabilitation and work to get his match fitness, then challenge to breakthrough into our first-team squad."

the right footed denilson · Jul 23, 2015

BBassic said:
I had a conversation with Cantor on Twatter about this. Based on his mentioning we beat Prem teams to this kid I would wager that we've promised him at least an amount of regular first team football this season. Which, if true, says great things about his character as well in that he's happier earning less but playing more.

I might be wrong, but i find the idea of us 'promising' any first team football this year very unlikely.
It's different to a loan, where we would agree with the players parent club to play them.
We've signed him on a 2 year contract. As CH has said, he is here to fulfil his potential. But, he won't have been promised anything (other than, 'when you're fit and settled, and if you're performing for the DS, you will be considered').

GT49er · Jul 23, 2015

BrickTamland said:
Article from December:
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...y-in-hunt-for-Real-Madrid-starlet-Jack-Harper

Good spot. It appears that the lad might actually be a bit better than some on here would like to admit!

Munkfish · Jul 23, 2015

the right footed denilson said:
I might be wrong, but i find the idea of us 'promising' any first team football this year very unlikely.
It's different to a loan, where we would agree with the players parent club to play them.
We've signed him on a 2 year contract. As CH has said, he is here to fulfil his potential. But, he won't have been promised anything (other than, 'when you're fit and settled, and if you're performing for the DS, you will be considered').

I think you are wrong there.

He most certainly will be signed for part of the first team squad and when fit he will have been promised to be training day in day out with the first team. I am sure he play the odd game in the DS but any place in the first team will be as a result of being a better option than another memeber of the first team, not because he has proved himself in the DS.

Thunder Bolt · Jul 23, 2015

TWOCHOICEStom said:
I actually thought that too. They didn't even name him in the initial tweet which annoyed me. I think the marketing/PR department need to be a little careful with these young players. They have quite a bit of responsibility in keeping them grounded and focussed. Calling him a "Real Madrid Striker" isn't the end of the world. But it is a bit of willy waving by the club at the players' expense. He needs to be focussing on BHA now, not the past. Similarly I think it was a bad idea making JFC the poster boy for the Nike kit launch last year. Puts too much pressure on these guys too early if you ask me.

100% this.

BBassic · Jul 23, 2015

the right footed denilson said:
I might be wrong, but i find the idea of us 'promising' any first team football this year very unlikely.
It's different to a loan, where we would agree with the players parent club to play them.
We've signed him on a 2 year contract. As CH has said, he is here to fulfil his potential. But, he won't have been promised anything (other than, 'when you're fit and settled, and if you're performing for the DS, you will be considered').

'promised' was probably the wrong word to use. You've essentially rolled up what I meant in your last sentence :thumbsup:

the right footed denilson · Jul 23, 2015

Munkfish said:
I think you are wrong there.

He most certainly will be signed for part of the first team squad and when fit he will have been promised to be training day in day out with the first team. I am sure he play the odd game in the DS but any place in the first team will be as a result of being a better option than another memeber of the first team, not because he has proved himself in the DS.

No, i agree with this. Sid Lowe via the Guardian has also said he will be training with the first team.
I just find it unlikely teams would promise young players first team football.

KZNSeagull · Jul 23, 2015

I am beginning to doubt that he has officially signed - he has not been offered a free lap dance by Platinum Lace yet.

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