Ian Harte

[Stuttgart88]

Kilbane carried him too, to an extent. I lost count of the number of times Kilbane was last man back to make a tackle on Harte's side.

However, I think it's a bit unfair to judge Harte purely on his WC02 performances as he was injured throughout, with a nerve problem in his foot.

I'd like to see Kilbane LB against Holland and Harte is a useful weapon from the bench (for us, not the oposition :)) with his ball striking ability.

Don't we have anybody coming through in that position? What a disappointment Clive Clarke's season has been.

[dr_peepee]

Think Marcos Painter is a left full. Birmingham going down maybe a a blessing in disguise and expose him to more first team football than if they'd have stayed up.

[tricky_colour]

I notice sometimes Harte 'balloons' his free kicks, you rarely see Beckham
(for example) doing this. Is this down to technique and practice?
He still has a good strike rate though, but it seems to be a case of all or
nothing whereas Beckham seems to be more consistant in getting close
at least, but not necessarilly scoring.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Hartey is a poor defender. He has suffered relegation in 2 of his last 3 seasons. He is an excellent player going forward, he crosses well and is good from dead ball situations. I'd use him at left wing if at all for Ireland. Kilbane is a better defender , in spite of being by nature a windy winger. Hartey is thinking of leaving Spain because he is homesick, which logically should be good news for Dundalk F.C. ,Drogheda United or Monaghan United. However he is homesick for England which is a foreign country!

[ColinR]

why shouldn't he be homesick for england :rolleyes: - it's been his home his entire adult life, and well since he left drogheda at 15 or 16, considering he is 27 or 28 now, i think he is entitled to call england 'home'

[Stuttgart88]

I notice sometimes Harte 'balloons' his free kicks, you rarely see Beckham
(for example) doing this. Is this down to technique and practice?
He still has a good strike rate though, but it seems to be a case of all or
nothing whereas Beckham seems to be more consistant in getting close
at least, but not necessarilly scoring.
Remember the famous "Beckham game" against Greece? He took about 8 frees from the same place and only scored with the last one (after Sheringham's dive).

An hour later, after 90 seconds of play only, Harte got a free from the same place against Cyprus, Result? Goal, with first attempt!

[pineapple stu]

Not to forget his first competitive game since being dropped from the squad for a long time last summer. Five minutes into the Israel game - free kick, goal.

Hartey's free-kicks are normally very good. Just a shame about the rest of his play...

[geysir]

Not to forget his first competitive game since being dropped from the squad for a long time last summer. Five minutes into the Israel game - free kick, goal.

Hartey's free-kicks are normally very good. Just a shame about the rest of his play...
I also liked his corner kicks in the Chile game, high with the sudden dip into the danger area. Better than Duff's skimmers.

[as_i_say]

so we're all in agreement then-he's great and should start at lb??!

[tetsujin1979]

He was practising free kicks during half time against Chile and skied every one of them, and did the exact same with every free kick he took in the second half

[princeofoslo]

hart a winger? his slowness has caught him out as a full back how, the hell can he play on the wing.

[livehead1]

you done need speed to play on the wing at all. its all about receiving the ball and putting in a good delivery, his defensive weakness is less likely to be expoloited, therefore its possible he can play there.

[Fergie's Son]

The problem is, he doesn't have the pace to beat a man which is an important trait for a winger. His passing isn't good enough nor is his tackling to put him in the middle of the pitch.

What about CB a la the WC?

[Irish_Praha]

What about CB a la the WC?

:eek: he would need to learn how to defend first:D

[CollegeTillIDie]

you done need speed to play on the wing at all. its all about receiving the ball and putting in a good delivery, his defensive weakness is less likely to be expoloited, therefore its possible he can play there.

Livehead1 that was my point thanks for reinforcing it!:cool:

[Stuttgart88]

Think Marcos Painter is a left full. Birmingham going down maybe a a blessing in disguise and expose him to more first team football than if they'd have stayed up.agree about birmingham's relegation and also your previous point about astute centre backs. But isn't Painter a natural centre-back, plyed out of position by both Givens & Bruce? He played centre-back (with Alex Bruce) against Reading on TV in the FA Cup and was awarded MOTM.

[CraftyToePoke]

Don't we have anybody coming through in that position?

Sheehan at leicester is a l.b. the only recognised one at the club at present but despite doing enough to earn a contract extention last season, he only managed 4 appearences when he had set a target of 10 for himself, this coming season will tell us a lot more about him, and the clubs activity in the transfer market re that position will tell us a lot more of what they reckon to him also, captain of the reserves though, and a dead ball expert.

[joema]

The problem is, he doesn't have the pace to beat a man which is an important trait for a winger.
What about CB a la the WC?

Either does David Beckham and he does alright on the wing. Harte is crap - cnat defend to save his life, got no footballing brain and no pace - total liability IMO

[Stuttgart88]

Sheehan at leicester is a l.b. the only recognised one at the club at present but despite doing enough to earn a contract extention last season, he only managed 4 appearences when he had set a target of 10 for himself, this coming season will tell us a lot more about him, and the clubs activity in the transfer markes re that position will tell us a lot more of what they reckon to him also, captain of the reserves though, and a dead ball expert.I've read all your posts about him during the year. What age is he though? Is he ever in our underage squads?

[CraftyToePoke]

I've read all your posts about him during the year. What age is he though? Is he ever in our underage squads?

he is 19, and has represented us underage at 3 age groups, if memory serves he played u21 v france in our last campaign.

here he is; http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ProfilesDetail/0,,10274~33431,00.html

[tricky_colour]

He was practising free kicks during half time against Chile and skied every one of them, and did the exact same with every free kick he took in the second half

Surely it is just a question of getting enough top spin on them?
I can do it perfect everytime (well in my imagination anyway ;) )
long time since I kicked a football in anger though.
Less power more top spin, you can't defy the laws of physics!!

[Stuttgart88]

I read on teletext this w/e that 2 Spanish teams were promoted, neither being Levante. Do 3 teams go up?

[CraftyToePoke]

I read on teletext this w/e that 2 Spanish teams were promoted, neither being Levante. Do 3 teams go up?

pretty sure 3 went down.

[Over the post]

Yes, three go up. Levante will go up next weekend if they win and the fourth placed team don't. Otherwise they'll have to wait till the following match, which will be the last of the season.

[dr_peepee]

Levante got promoted the other day...

[tricky_colour]

Would it be fair to say we got to a world cup with Harte but didn't do so
well without?
I am not too sure on this because I can't remember how many games
he played in each campaign.
I know he played in the Israel game but I am not too sure about some of the others.

Anyway there are some good free kick clips on here:-
http://www.footballclips.net/football/harte

[Over the post]

Apparently Harte's changed his mind and decided to stay at Levante.

The fact that the fans have taken to him and promotion to Primera are being cited as his main motives but the discovery that the only English clubs interesed in him currently ply their trade in the Championship probably helped him make up his mind.

[dr_peepee]

Says who???

He's too easy a target for some so called fans....

I'm not for one second saying he'd have his choice of clubs, but a free transfer for a player with his experience, especially a left full, would prove an inexpensive gamble for any of the middle to lower tier Premiership clubs. I'd say you'll find there was more than just championship clubs showed an interest. You might also find he's earning a tidy sum over there too...

[Over the post]

Says who???

He's too easy a target for some so called fans....

I'm not for one second saying he'd have his choice of clubs, but a free transfer for a player with his experience, especially a left full, would prove an inexpensive gamble for any of the middle to lower tier Premiership clubs. I'd say you'll find there was more than just championship clubs showed an interest. You might also find he's earning a tidy sum over there too...

I'm not sure he's available on a free! It's true he's the top earner and for that reason Levante were interested in getting rid of him. However, it was the Chairman of the club who announced that only Championship clubs had expressed an interest. If a Premiership club had come in for him it would have been in both Harte's and Levante's interests for him to return to England.

I also find it inappropriate that a comment on the realities of the transfer market merits the author being denounced as a "so called [sic] fan"!

[dr_peepee]

I'm not sure he's available on a free! It's true he's the top earner and for that reason Levante were interested in getting rid of him. However, it was the Chairman of the club who announced that only Championship clubs had expressed an interest. If a Premiership club had come in for him it would have been in both Harte's and Levante's interests for him to return to England.

I also find it inappropriate that a comment on the realities of the transfer market merits the author being denounced as a "so called [sic] fan"!

There was an agreement that he could return to england on a free at the end of the season, as far as I know any way.

And the "so called fan" comment refers to the fact that Harte, like Kilbane, wavey Davey Connolly, Gary Breen are all easy targets for sneers & comments. There's no harm in being aware of a players limits. But there's a section of Irish supporters now who resemble our Daily Sun reading friends accross the water when it comes to sticking the boot into our own players.

[TheJamaicanP.M.]

And the "so called fan" comment refers to the fact that Harte, like Kilbane, wavey Davey Connolly, Gary Breen are all easy targets for sneers & comments. There's no harm in being aware of a players limits. But there's a section of Irish supporters now who resemble our Daily Sun reading friends accross the water when it comes to sticking the boot into our own players.


Here here. I couldn't agree more.

[macdermesser]

No he is not.

end of thread.

do a search, its been debated to death.

Good at set pieces, woeful positional sense, does not track players.

[Dodge]

I don't get why this site gives him so little credit

This site doesn't have an opinion, its an inanimate object. People have opinions that he's rubbish.

He's not first choice for his club

[OwlsFan]

Serious. <_<

I don't get why this site gives him so little credit. He's scored the 2nd most amount of goals for Ireland after Keane and remember that one good performance Ireland had under Stan (against Sweden)?

The single reason for that was Duff and Harte kicking ass down the left.

Plus he does the business week in, week out for Levante. Some of the free kicks he gets there are inspiring.

So excuse me while I chuckle at those who make claims that Geary or Stephen Kelly or whoever else can do a better job at left back. Saying that is putting your tactical knowledge up there with building the Ireland side around Alan O Brien.

Is this a wind up? He is a good free kick specialist. Apart from that he is a disaster. No positional sense, no pace, in a Spanish side struggling defensively and in a relegation battle. Was at fault for at least one, possibly two of the goals we conceded in Korea/Japan.

Are you Ian Harte or his brother in disguise ?

[Sligo Hornet]

Jesus......is this bloke for real?:eek:


Matron ,I think Ciaran is desperately in need of his medication!!:D

[GavinZac]

Jesus......is this bloke for real?:eek:


Matron ,I think Ciaran is desperately in need of his medication!!:D

judging from some of his recent posts, either he's a WUM or he's severely misguided.

[Risteard]

He most certainly is not one of the best left backs in the world.
He is not a great defender but i would put him in my Irish starting XI.

[Noelys Guitar]

Levante seem to disagree. And how many clubs tried to sign him when he was touting for a move back to the Premier/SPL? Exactly none.

[Over the post]

He does not do the business week in week out for Levante. He had a couple of poor games for them since he came back from injury (the team have yet to win with him in the 11) and was dropped.
He may not be as useless as some people make out but he's still second division level.

[shakermaker1982]

I'd rather have O'Shea at LB - now that is saying something.

[citizenerased]

ha ha...this has to be a ****s take. there is no way you honestly believe it...did ya see the state of him against san marino!!

[Risteard]

No way 1982.
Ian Harte offers something going forward.
You can argue with that but there's no point even engaging in the other (defensive) side of the argument.

[Schumi]

Scoring goals and having a good free kick does not make you a good left back. Defending well and having a good positional sense do. Therefore Ian Harte is a crap left back who takes free kicks.

I'd still play him ahead of O'Shea but don't take that as an endorsement of him.

[Risteard]

My sentiments exactly.

[qwertyui]

A good Free kick??? When is the last time this plank actually scored for ireland? Hits the wall more often than not. Missed a penalty against spain. For god sake i'd get a game with levante. He's an awful awful player. Stephen Kelly to start on sat!!

[livehead1]

A good Free kick??? When is the last time this plank actually scored for ireland? Hits the wall more often than not. Missed a penalty against spain. For god sake i'd get a game with levante. He's an awful awful player. Stephen Kelly to start on sat!!
Maybe you should research your comments a little better. Ian Harte has been in the premiership team of the year, obviously has a hell of a lot of ability.

As for this "plank" "actually" scoring for ireland, i seem to remember him scoring a wonderful goal against israel.

[shakermaker1982]

O'Shea is handy for defensive and attacking set peices with the head. Other than Harte's free kicks he offers us nothing of real note other than getting caught out. S Kelly has been steady at LB for us and I'd prefer him but If O'Shea has to be play somewhere then he's better off at LB away from midfield.

[Over the post]

[QUOTE=livehead1;647953]Maybe you should research your comments a little better. Ian Harte has been in the premiership team of the year, obviously has a hell of a lot of ability.QUOTE]

That was six years ago and he hasn't exactly gone from strength to strength since then. I'd have him in the squad once he's match fit and playing weekly but he shouldn't be in consideration for a first team berth at this stage.

[John83]

O'Shea is handy for defensive and attacking set peices with the head. Other than Harte's free kicks he offers us nothing of real note other than getting caught out. S Kelly has been steady at LB for us and I'd prefer him but If O'Shea has to be play somewhere then he's better off at LB away from midfield.
Kelly has played left back for us all of once. He played well, but I wouldn't read too much into it.

The first post here has to be a troll.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I'm sure there is a statto out there who can confirm that Harte is more likely to be involved in getting you a goal than conceding one.

No way is he one of the best left backs out there but he brings talents to the mix that should not be dismissed out of hand.