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Mark Harris offered a new deal. Why?
Personally I would have kept Phillips, I think he’s better than the other 2
How much say has Bulut had in this retained list?
I think more a poor man's Danny Ward. Ward was a competent finisher who prospered when games opened up an defences were stretched and tired but as a starter rarely made a huge impression. Harris runs the channels and pressures defences but not sure he opens them up. An asset if you are 1-0 up with 20 to go but not sure he changes much when, more often than not, we are one down at home as he doesn't have the technical skills to make a difference.
If Bulut likes to press in the opposition half or final third as most places seem to suggest Harris is a fine squad player. He's just never a out and out striker or a goal scorer like he's had to try to be at times in the past 18 months due to our questionable squad building.
Fine? By Championship standards (which seem to be getting worse), I'd say he's a bang average squad player at best.
Harris is 25 later this year. He's not some raw teenager. I'll be amazed if he improves significantly at any stage. Of course, it's not beyond the realms of possibility, but I just can't see it. The fact that he's been offered a new contract does not inspire confidence for what lies ahead.
Harris looks overawed, runs about a bit usually to no avail. Worrying, really that he’s a squad regular given his ability.
Think Jones, MacNamara and Pritchard are a little unlucky to be released by the under 21s. As for the seniors, no surprises for me, still think Harris can be a Championship standard forward, Bagan was treated poorly last season and King seemed to have benefitted from his time at Crewe even if his form tailed off somewhat towards the end of it.
Thought Pritchard was a decent prospect, also wasn't Leahy at one time pretty well regarded- seemed to be pretty noticeable when I was able to watch the u21s towards the end of last season and at the start of this one.
What makes you think Harris can develop into a championship level forward? He's played 95 games for us in all competitions Bob, i haven't seen all of those games, but what does he have that can make a difference, because as a forward, he has to have that on times. I can't see it, although i can understand why people like him. He works very hard and his best asset in my opinion is his short runs across the line of defenders, but all so often he's reactive, like the rest of them.
If you look at the goals he’s scored for us, there’s some good finishes among them and he doesn’t miss too many sitters. Of course, given the low number he’s scored, it all suggests that he doesn’t get many scoring chances and not all of the reason for that is down to others. Like a few others, Harris’ better performances tend to come in away games where he’s been effective as an impact sub at times.
We’ve not seen Harris, Colwill and Davies playing for a City side that is in the habit of being on the front foot in home games - in fact, remarkably, you could say only Joe Ralls of last season’s squad has been! I think so much about modern day Cardiff City could change for the better if we got back to a position where City teams took the pitch expecting to win at Cardiff City Stadium - Harris and others might look different players to what we’ve become used to seeing if we were able to treat playing at homelike most other teams do.