If Killer had been out of the set up for 3 years I wouldn't be calling for his recall either.
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If Killer had been out of the set up for 3 years I wouldn't be calling for his recall either.
I know what your saying, but I don't think it makes any sense to play a League 1, makeshift left back over a Championship (possible PL) specialised left back in great form, and an absolute menace from set-pieces. Players are lasting longer these days, there could be four or five years left in Harte for all we know so I think it would be foolish to close the door on him (and his kind...Delap, Carr, etc.)
Harte's problem over the past few years has been his inability to find a club. Now that he's a regular at what is looking increasingly like a Premiership team, he should be able to make the step back up to international football.
Hartes problem has been a low lying, low set fat arse as desrcibed by Paddy Kavannagh in Tarry Flynn. Its being weighing him down and holding him back for years.
Killer is merely benefitting of being the incumbant.. I'm certain his current form wouldn't break him into a sqaud if he'd been absent for a period for any reason, but is apparently enough to keep him there.
Harte is nearly 34 and was slow and indecisive when he was 24 so God only knows how he's moving these days. Harte was voted the best left back in the PL around the time of the 2002 world cup, and we seen how he performed with Stan and Breen. So what I'm saying is, with the right centre halves, Harte has alot to offer. Other wise he's a liability. If we had Kenny Cunnigham and Richie Dunne of 10 years ago I'd have Harte in tomorrow. But with the current lot, No...
Of course at 34 now there is a chance with the increased experience he might be a better defender than he was at 24... Playing 400 odd games might have taught him when to venture upfield and when to hang back a bit more.
In my green tinted eyes he's in the top 5 free kick takers in the history of the premier league and given the number of free kicks quick dribbling players like Duff, McGeady and to an extent Long or Walters might draw from the opposition I think it would be worth having him in the squad at the very least. Could he really be that exposed by a tired Macedonian right winger in the last 15 mins of the game in Skopje at 0-0?
Few people would have said Graham Kavagnah could have contributed much in 2004-2006, but he was a good player for us for 10 or so games at the twilight of his career, and he was only a year younger than Harte is now.
Harte being interviewed on NewsTalk soon
it's on their listen back service: http://media.newstalk.ie/listenback
Scroll down to Off The Ball -> Wednesday 20th April -> Part 3
Interview starts at 39 minutes
Interesting interview.
Speaks about keeping his head down, that he's hoping Trap is noticing him. Although he's had no contact the way he's speaking seemed to indicate he is expecting to get an opportunity before too long.
Cheers Tets. Will give it a listen. Oddly, I was having a conversation last night in the pub about Hartey and the amount of positive things being said by the lads was unexpected and quite something.
Really hope it happens for him.
Getting clapped by Leeds fans everytime he takes a corner. Excellent distribution but still looks vunerable when one on one defending.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...h-2660623.html
Harte: Trap didn't even know I was Irish
Ian Harte has delivered a wounding attack on Giovanni Trapattoni's time as Ireland manager, describing the Italian's failure to attend matches in England as "absolute madness".
Harte, capped 63 times by Ireland, claimed Trapattoni was unaware that he was Irish when the manager was informed by an international team-mate of his availability.
Harte's comments come at the end of another difficult week for Trapattoni when he became embroiled in a battle with Wigan's James McCarthy and Stoke's Marc Wilson about their availability.
Trapattoni and his assistant Marco Tardelli claimed the players hadn't shown respect to their country last week. This was backed up by captain Robbie Keane, who declared the behaviour of the absent players "unacceptable" and warned: "If you don't want to play for us, don't declare for us."
But, talking to the Sunday Independent, Harte said respect was a two-way street.
"I'd love the opportunity to go over and play for Ireland, I'm not even getting a chance, not a sniff, to even join up and have a training session. Lack of respect? I think they should show respect to someone who wants to put the green shirt on, who is Irish and who is passionate about playing for his own country -- then they can have a look deeper inside."
Harte will line out for Reading in the Championship play-off final at Wembley tomorrow, alongside Noel Hunt and Shane Long, but he claimed the Irish management are unaware of his credentials.
"I was speaking to a player recently and he said he spoke to the manager and the assistant manager and they said they didn't even know that I was Irish, so obviously they haven't done their homework.
"I've played 63 times and scored 11 goals and you would think the people that are still involved around the set-up would have told them. It just goes to show that they don't even come across to have a look at any games that I've played.
"They're bringing players like Simon Cox in who has made his debut and other players as well, so it's pretty frustrating that he doesn't bother coming over."
Harte felt his World Cup appearances for Ireland in 2002 should at least have brought him to the attention of the manager, who was in charge of the Italian national side at the time.
"What were they doing, sampling the vino out in Italy? It's pretty mad. You would think that with the amount of games I've played for my country, I would at least get an opportunity, especially with the season we've had here."
Harte said Trapattoni's reputation should not be enough to spare him from criticism.
"Yeah but what have Ireland done since he took over? He's on a lot of money. People are saying he's done well but Mick McCarthy got Ireland to a World Cup."
The full-back, who hasn't given up hope of playing for Ireland again, said the manager must start attending matches rather than watch them on DVD in Milan.
"It's absolute madness. If the majority of players are playing in England, which they are, he needs to come and watch games like any manager, like [Fabio] Capello, like any decent manager is going to do. That's what he's got to do."
I agree with Harte but best of luck to him getting called up after that rant. Il Duce Trap won't like that. I guess Harte's reasoning in saying it is what has he got to lose by coming out and speaking his mind..
I agree the rant won't do him any favours. But if what he says its true its ridiculous, defies believe your average forum poster seemingly has more knowledge about the Irish camp than the actual management.
Must be especially annoying for Harte to hear about all the drop outs and no shows this week, complaints from the management about commitment while he's arguably playing better than most of them to begin with and would give his left arm for a callup. I'd be infuriated if I was in his position.
Can't believ it's true given this quote from months back in the mail..... Alan Kelly played with Harte for Ireland, it's beyond the bounds to think he wouldn't have mentioned him....
"Harte's hunch was confirmed by Trapattoni's assistant, Marco Tardelli, last week when Sportsmail quizzed him on Harte's prospects of a recall: 'I saw 10 Reading matches. For [Shane] Long, for [Noel] Hunt, for Ian Harte. Ian Harte is a good player, he's got good quality, but we have young players with the same qualities. We look for the future.'
Of course, Harte, who last played for Ireland in a Euro
2008 qualifier against San Marino in 2007, remains hopeful his exploits are being followed by the Italian.
Nonetheless he insists if he does not receive a call from Trapattoni by the end of next season then he will retire from international football.
'I'm sure Mr Trapattoni will have seen what I've done this season and the goals I've scored,' Harte told Sportsmail. 'I know Alan Kelly, the goalkeeping coach, and I've said to Longey many times when he has gone across to mention my name. I haven't heard anything yet but if I keep putting in some decent performances then I might get a shout."