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PNE Boss Neil: Harrop is Talented But Needs to Go and Play Games
Friday, 22nd Jan 2021 17:52

Preston North End boss Alex Neil hopes Josh Harrop will play games, score goals and pick up assists during his loan spell with Town and return to Deepdale ready for increased involvement with the Lilywhites.

Harrop joined the Blues on loan for the rest of the season earlier in the week and looks set to make his Town debut at some stage in tomorrow’s home game against Peterborough.

The 25-year-old has had limited opportunities at Preston this season having made only four starts, one in the Championship, and four appearances from the bench, scoring once.

"Josh is a confidence player, he's one of those lads that - even if he's not maybe had a good game - wants to play the next one," Neil told Lancashire Live.

"I'm really hopeful for him and for us that he goes and has a really successful loan at Ipswich, does well, scores goals and assists.

"If Josh goes down there, plays 20-odd games, scores six or seven goals and makes five assists for example, we'll be thinking 'happy days, great, he's ready, let's bring him back and see if he deserves to play’.

"There's no question that Josh is a talented lad, I just think he needs a run of minutes to make his errors, to learn, improve and be a top player somewhere.

"Josh has been here for three and a half seasons and is sitting at about 27 or 28 starts; that's not enough for a lad of his age.

"I think Josh needs to go and play and be the guy that's relied on to try and effect the game.

"And if you look at the guys we've had here that have played the majority of games - the likes of Pearo [Ben Pearson], Alan [Browne], DJ [Daniel Johnson], Callum Robinson - a lot of them went to League One to initially to learn their trade and get those 50 or 60 games.

"Unfortunately here, in the position he wants to play in, we've had guys like DJ, Alan, Brad [Potts], Scott Sinclair and those guys have been really productive for us so it's been difficult for him to get in the team.

"If you look at Scott, in terms of the role I had for Josh this year, Scott has scored eight goals this year and without those goals it would've been tough."


Photo: Action Images



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grow_our_own added 18:08 - Jan 22
So are Bish, Dozzell & Downes and they're our players. Harrop should be backup for those three, not first choice. Loanees should not be allowed to impede the development of our own talent. Player development has been ITFC's only ever route to success, and we've mostly ignored it these past 20 years, hence our ignominious decline to where we are now: with Sunderland, the worst underperforming club in England.
6

66notout added 18:19 - Jan 22
Effect the game? Should that not be affect?
1

Phil1969 added 19:18 - Jan 22
Grow your own get your point but they are either injured or not doing it. Priority is promotion whatever it takes!
1

Garv added 19:34 - Jan 22
We didn't develop the likes of Stewart, McGreal, Reuser etc. We recruited them because they were good players. Harrop is different because he's unlikely to be a permanent signing but the point remains that if he improves the team and help us reach our goal, then good.
2

IpswichT62OldBoy added 20:24 - Jan 22
66notout
No, effect is correct, affect is emotional presentation, what your expressions looks like
0

Father_Jack added 20:36 - Jan 22
Actually 66notout is correct. The verb "affect" in this context means "change". To "effect" a game means to produce one out of nothing.

You're welcome.
0

WhoisJimmyJuan added 20:39 - Jan 22
I think the point is maybe necessary now, but it shouldn't have come to this.
0

multiplescoregasms added 21:02 - Jan 22
It is clear we are lacking a goal threat. So, if Harrop can come in and increase our attacking side, that's all that matters. If we keep going with high possession and not enough goals, we are not going to get near promotion. Let's give the 2 new guys a chance to show what they can do. The next 2 games cold make or break our season.
1

grow_our_own added 21:06 - Jan 22
Phil1969, Bish, Downes and Dozzell aren't injured anymore and have performed superbly when they've played this season. Proved they are promotion-quality. Has Harrop?
0

DifferentGravy added 21:18 - Jan 22
As is fairly obvious from many of my previous posts.... I dont think Lambert is tactically capable and these loan signings are a last couple of darts thrown at the promotion board. However, Im looking forward to seeing them play and hope they finally make it work....lets wait n see

Dozzell is a tidy passer and one of our own. His dad was brilliant for us.....but Andre hasnt done nearly enough to warrant such accolades. This might be down to a lack of options for him to pass forward to. Whatever the case, he needs to do a lot more to prove his worth in the team.......which is what every player should be doing.
2

DifferentGravy added 21:18 - Jan 22
As is fairly obvious from many of my previous posts.... I dont think Lambert is tactically capable and these loan signings are a last couple of darts thrown at the promotion board. However, Im looking forward to seeing them play and hope they finally make it work....lets wait n see

Dozzell is a tidy passer and one of our own. His dad was brilliant for us.....but Andre hasnt done nearly enough to warrant such accolades. This might be down to a lack of options for him to pass forward to. Whatever the case, he needs to do a lot more to prove his worth in the team.......which is what every player should be doing.
0

istanblue added 21:34 - Jan 22
Just shows how far we've fallen when we're being used by a club like Preston to get minutes for their fringe players. Thank you Evans.
3

shakytown added 23:16 - Jan 22
It does not matter a toss who plays in our midfield with Lamberts awful defensive tactics. when you have only one outlet up front and a defensive line up with less passing ability than an old lady on a walking frame it just wont work. LAMBERT OUT NOW!!!!!!
1

Blue_75 added 08:21 - Jan 23
I completely agree that Downes, Dozzell and Bishop should be our primary 3 in midfield, however they won't always be fit/available.
I see Harrop and Thomas more as the 2 either side of the striker (if we stick with this formation). Competition for Judge and Edwards.
Harrop can also play in that midfield 3.
0

MonkeyAlan added 10:20 - Jan 23
Why get other teams players up to speed, shouldn't we be concentrating on our own players?
1

budgieplucker added 10:52 - Jan 23
Whilst we might have an natural dislike to Alex Neill because of his budgie connections I think he is talking soundly here. Many players have talent but they have to be consistently productive. We only know to well our squad is full of them including the senior pros hence why life has been so difficult for us. If Josh comes and does the business and keeps doing the business then he will have no problem holding down a spot in this team.

We must now start using our 5 substitutes more effectively, we cannot keep failing to turn up in the first 45 minutes. I would always make two substitutes at half time if the team fail to produce as kick up the rear to say to players go and perform for the first 45 and if you play well then you will get another 45 minutes if you aren't influencing the game then two of you will sit out for the second half.
0

gosblue added 11:02 - Jan 23
Dozzell has been great this season and has been rewarded with about 20 games. Bishop is a great talent but spends a lot of time covering for our absentee full backs to have enough of an impact going forward. Downes doesn't play enough for obvious reasons. If those three can get some real game time as a unit then great things could happen. Against Burton we weren't good enough but we had more possession in the opposition's half than we've seen all season. Hopefully, our pre-season is now over and the season proper starts here. Harrop could be the link up player we've all craved and Thomas could hive us the width Chambers has had to provide while neglecting his defensive duties.
1

Lightningboy added 11:25 - Jan 23
When a manager resorts to bringing in loanees (again) it shows he's incapable of getting anything out of the (fairly decent) squad he already has at his disposal.

You can keep changing the players but we all know it's the manager that needs changing.
-1

Karlosfandangal added 12:08 - Jan 23
I am hoping that the two we have signed are more direct than are players.
I would play Thomas instead of Sears and Harrop instead of Judge just behind Norwood
Edwards on the wing and a midfield of Downes and Bishop.

For me Dozzell has not been the big difference we had hoped for this season, he is getting better all the time but we need players who can get us up to the Championship this season as it will get harder and harder to do this with the salary cap
2


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