Dave Harold, annoying to watch?

[wildJONESEYE]

Dave Harold isnt the Most Fluant of players and a bit slow but i like to watch him play he is different and i think diference in styles and pace is what makes snooker unique and exciting....if every player played the same it would be 1 dimensional and boring...

and he is a very usufull breakbuilder having made 111 century breaks http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Centuries.htm

[Ellena]

Ellena, I have quoted only part of your post.

The above sounds like Ronnie.

Well ...maybe thast why hes top list of my fav..
But hes not the only one who has all that. Players like Jimmy , HIggins , Williams..are always great to watch.

[João]

He sure take his time to take a shot, but many of the shots have been worth the waiting so far.

This one doesn't really get on my nerves.

[pottingpinks]

It takes all sorts to make the game of snooker and I for one quite like Dave's gritty battling approach and his unique style in the pro ranks. I used to play in a similar style myself and have only recently introduced more backswing into my game and it has improved a fair bit but hats off to him for sticking with his own routine and making it work.
He is not the most flamboyant but it was great to see him putting his hand up to the crowd after the win over John and they seemed to appreciate the efforts of this 100% tryer which cannot be said of some more talented pros. He really does put 110% of effort into every shot, as Terry Griffiths once said on commentary, has also had to battle back from the broken wrist which sent him spiralling down the rankings due to missing a host of tournaments when he was at his peak.
Must admit I did find some of the early matches a little bit dour in this event but have quite embraced Dave's run as I think he thoroughly deserves it.

[Templeton Peck]

I don't think Ronnie will be bored out of the match today. It's a final and he only has to persevere to win the title. I know he loses interest even sometimes as late as the semis (i.e. the 2006 wc semi against Dott - "I knew I'd have to play Ebdon in the final and I just couldn't face it") but I've never seen him throw in the towel in a final, or indeed wear it.

[pottingpinks]

I think Ronnie said last year that he's hit onto something that stops him cracking up half way through a match and his results in the last year or so certainly point to that.

[adrift]

I like watching Harold play. He's got a distinctive style

[jaguarf1]

If I must compare Harold-Higgins match an O'Sullivan-Carter then I would say I was bored by the last one. No action, no tension, just a man walks to the table and makes break around 70 and that's it.

In Harold-Higgins match there were snookers, tension, emotions (when Higgins hit his cue to the floor), comebacks... and all this made this match very spectacular an I wasn't bored.

If you think Harold to be boring what would you say about Selby? Haven't seen him this season, but previous he also was slow.
"Oh, which one of reds to pot? That one to the right or one to the left?" After 2-3 minutes of thinking "Oh, damn those reds! I'll just make a snooker behind the yellow"

But also Selby is exciting to watch. Slow play is not certainly boring.

[jb134]

For me Harold is a guy who, at the end of his career, will be able to look back and say thet he achieved about the maximum he could from it.

A lot of other seemingly more talented players will not be able to say the same.

[hegeland]

A tremendously underrated player, Dave Harold. Had he not broken his wrist he could very well have been back in the top 16 by now. Decent breakbuilding, flawless temperament. Tough to beat even when not playing at his best.

[Templeton Peck]

To all intents and purposes he is a journeyman, and if he were to win today then that would mean he is punching well above his weight in the title stakes.

[dannyd0g]

To all intents and purposes he is a journeyman, and if he were to win today then that would mean he is punching well above his weight in the title stakes.

I think thats a bit harsh. Not many journeymen get back into the top 16 for a 3rd time at 41 years of age, having clawed his way back up in this highly competitive age following a broken wrist.

He's never going to be a Ronnie or other top player, but then not many people are.