2025/26 Harrison Armstrong

[Marcus Kendall]

Gordon went to Preston at the age of 20 for a half a season loan, only played 11 times, not sure how many starts he made out of them, didn’t get a goal and i remember at the time, the reports were it wasn’t a very impressive loan from him.

Just looked, he played 500 minutes over 11 matches, no goals and no assists

Gordon was made of the right mentality who trained like a demon to improve himself. Shame he's so detestable

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Barkleys main standout was his ball striking ability with either foot, his first Everton goal against Norwich was eye catching in the extreme

In your opinion. I liked the fact he was a ball carrier as per his goals against Newcastle and City away. I like the fact that Gordon was a ball carrier. I don't think I have ever seen HA run with it more than a couple of yards or hold on to it for more than a couple of touches. Not saying he can't do it but I'd like to see him be more ambitious in possession.

 

[brettangellnightporter]

Please refrain from speaking on behalf people who you have no right to voice the opinion of.

See quoted post

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Gordon went to Preston at the age of 20 for a half a season loan, only played 11 times, not sure how many starts he made out of them, didn’t get a goal and i remember at the time, the reports were it wasn’t a very impressive loan from him.

Just looked, he played 500 minutes over 11 matches, no goals and no assists

But he could always run with the ball which is a high value skill. The ceiling for a raw 18 year old with a few high value skills is higher than a less raw player who is just ok at everything. My point about HA is that he is doing a good solid job but he isn't really doing anything that shows a high ceiling. His passing is just short and simple, he never really takes more than one or two touches (which is sometimes a virtue but it would be good to see a bit more ball manipulation) and he doesn't run with it. Sorry if that triggers anyone. I know people react to criticism of him like he is there own 8 year old darling. People are assuming/hoping he will develop these skills.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Gordon was made of the right mentality who trained like a demon to improve himself. Shame he's so detestable

I agree when he came into the team he was often out best player and was demanding the ball.

 

[brettangellnightporter]

Wow. Triggered by opposing views. Pathetic.

"People criticize views opposing logic and fact shocker"

 

[Marcus Kendall]

In your opinion. I liked the fact he was a ball carrier as per his goals against Newcastle and City away. I like the fact that Gordon was a ball carrier. I don't think I have ever seen HA run with it more than a couple of yards or hold on to it for more than a couple of touches. Not saying he can't do it but I'd like to see him be more ambitious in possession.

Yeah I agree Barkley was an outstanding ball carrier but his decision making held him back ultimately. Why are you comparing him to Armstrong when they have totally different midfield profiles?

 

[DanB90]

You’re all doing that thing again.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Yeah I agree Barkley was an outstanding ball carrier but his decision making held him back ultimately. Why are you comparing him to Armstrong when they have totally different midfield profiles?

Because I just don't see what HA is that good at which is going to make him a top player. With players like Roswell, Barkley, Gordon it was obvious.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

Because I just don't see what HA is that good at which is going to make him a top player. With players like Roswell, Barkley, Gordon it was obvious.

What did you see in Rodwell?

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

What did you see in Rodwell?

Pace, lovely touch, two great feet, great athlete. Could score from distance. He'd already played 35 games for us at HA's age. All the reasons City paid big money for him.

 

[blueboy72]

But he could always run with the ball which is a high value skill. The ceiling for a raw 18 year old with a few high value skills is higher than a less raw player who is just ok at everything. My point about HA is that he is doing a good solid job but he isn't really doing anything that shows a high ceiling. His passing is just short and simple, he never really takes more than one or two touches (which is sometimes a virtue but it would be good to see a bit more ball manipulation) and he doesn't run with it. Sorry if that triggers anyone. I know people react to criticism of him like he is there own 8 year old darling. People are assuming/hoping he will develop these skills.

You obviously are watching him blinkered
His passes are short and simple he played loads of passes forward v Birmingham and Sheffield Utd, a lot were first touch pinged passes into feet, 90% found their target, it’s also in the opposition half were it’s busy .
Yes of course he will turn and pass square and back at times,
When noting is on for him, that’s every midfielder on the planet.

He doesn’t run with the ball, again he can travel with the ball,
Yes he’s not a Barkley. Also had big hand in the first goal v Sheffield Utd, with a great touch to take him away from his marker,
Another brilliant turn on half way,
Away from his marker who had to drag him back and got booked. People who cant see it( that’s you) he has a brilliant football brain for 18. Always looking always finding space on the half turn.

You can say Tim had done this and done that and Gordon looked better at 18. Even though he’d only made his Everton prem debut at 18 and 11 months.
Harrison a few weeks after his 18 birthday was thrown into a relegation battle in arguably tbe 6th toughest league in Europe. And didn’t sink, he actually thrived and was one of the reasons derby survived. That’s on another level to anything Gordon or Tim did at the same age

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

You obviously are watching him blinkered
His passes are short and simple he played loads of passes forward v Birmingham and Sheffield Utd, a lot were first touch pinged passes into feet, 90% found their target, it’s also in the opposition half were it’s busy .
Yes of course he will turn and pass square and back at times,
When noting is on for him, that’s every midfielder on the planet.

He doesn’t run with the ball, again he can travel with the ball,
Yes he’s not a Barkley. Also had big hand in the first goal v Sheffield Utd, with a great touch to take him away from his marker,
Another brilliant turn on half way,
Away from his marker who had to drag him back and got booked. People who cant see it( that’s you) he has a brilliant football brain for 18. Always looking always finding space on the half turn.

You can say Tim had done this and done that and Gordon looked better at 18. Even though he’d only made his Everton prem debut at 18 and 11 months.
Harrison a few weeks after his 18 birthday was thrown into a relegation battle in arguably tbe 6th toughest league in Europe. And didn’t sink, he actually thrived and was one of the reasons derby survived. That’s on another level to anything Gordon or Tim did at the same age

Sometimes people see what they want to see. Brilliant football brain

 

[hetion]

That wasn't an insult m8.

This is where messaging, not actual face to face talking goes wrong, you or I read different to what other person is saying.

Face to face talk those errors dont play out.

I did find it funny that you went that extra step, but not as an insult.
If it was Vice Versa I wouldn't take it as an insult.

I'm not that kind of person, so sorry if thats how it came across..

For what it's worth you're one of the people I enjoy having a little debate with on this forum because it's always a friendly and respectful exchange of views.

In your opinion. I liked the fact he was a ball carrier as per his goals against Newcastle and City away. I like the fact that Gordon was a ball carrier. I don't think I have ever seen HA run with it more than a couple of yards or hold on to it for more than a couple of touches. Not saying he can't do it but I'd like to see him be more ambitious in possession.

He's currently top 10% in the championship for midfielders when it comes to progressive carries this season. That's a carry that moves at least 10 yards up the pitch, excluding ones that end in the player's own half. He's just a touch above average for progressive passes. Considering he's bottom 22% for amount of touches he gets that's really, really good for an 18 year old.

I know I've been on here preaching patience with him but if there's one thing I'm really excited about with him it's his positivity and ability to move the ball up the pitch - if he can keep doing both those things at the same rate as he gets more involved in games and gets more touches, he'll be a monster. This might be an area where you might need to double check the eye test because the numbers don't add up here.

 

[Marcus Kendall]

Pace, lovely touch, two great feet, great athlete. Could score from distance. He'd already played 35 games for us at HA's age. All the reasons City paid big money for him.

He was pleasing on the eye I agree. He was meant to be a centre half though so you could say he didn't have those attributes for that position like Armstrong doesn't have the attributes that you are thinking he should have for a position he's not going to be playing in (Armstrong to me is a box to box midfielder whose competitive in the midfield battle and when he adds strength and power to his developing physique will be a modern day midfield dynamo) So an unfair comparison to an attacking midfielder like Barkley and a deep lying playmaker type that Rodwell ended up being