Defensive problems

**colster** · 24/09/2003, 2:48 PM

Originally posted by carnstein
I can't believe no one has thought of converting Harte to a left midfielder. He is aweful defencivly, but his passing is excellent and he posseses a lot of skill as well as being a very good goalscorer.

Kilbane on the other hand is the opposite, he is great going back but terrible going forward, if Harte and Kilbane swapped posistions, 2 bad players would become 2 good players.

Harte hasn't got any pace so his effect on the wing wouldn't be too great. He'd never be able to go by players something that Kilbane can do to a limited degree. Maybe he could be a left sided Beckham??

I don't know about Kilbane as a left back. He's a great work rate and tracks back but whether he would have the ability to deal with a nippy winger on his own is debatable.

Anyway the only positions that Kilbane and Harte should be converted to are that of substitute.

**macdermesser** · 24/09/2003, 3:12 PM

I think Leeds would have used him as winger by now if he was up to it. I don't think he's much worse than Ashley Cole though .. who is being found at last. Harte is too lightweight for midfield .. either Kerr is always going to play Kilbane there .. or he'll play three centre midfield players with Duff in the hole behind the two strikers.. going on what he's picked up to now.

carnstein · 25/09/2003, 11:26 AM

Originally posted by colster
Harte hasn't got any pace so his effect on the wing wouldn't be too great. He'd never be able to go by players something that Kilbane can do to a limited degree. Maybe he could be a left sided Beckham??

I don't know about Kilbane as a left back. He's a great work rate and tracks back but whether he would have the ability to deal with a nippy winger on his own is debatable.

Anyway the only positions that Kilbane and Harte should be converted to are that of substitute.

Harte wouldn't need to be quick to play on the wing, he has the ability to cross from deep, like you said a left footed Beckham.

Kilbane's ability to deal with a tricky winger would certainly be greater than Harte's.

I'm not saying Kilbane and Harte should be on the team, they really shouldn't, but I have no doubt that each player would perform better if they swapped posistions.

And Macdermesser, Harte too lightweight for midfield? Where the hell did you get that out of, if he is too lightweight for midfield, he is certainly too lightweight for defence, and what about the likes of Duff or Ronaldo, they are certainly more lightweight than Harte.

brine2 · 25/09/2003, 10:34 PM

I don't know about Kilbane as a left back. He's a great work rate and tracks back but whether he would have the ability to deal with a nippy winger on his own is debatable.

Well if there's one thing Kevin Kilbane excels at then it's not being able to lose his marker. Perhaps if he could achieve this defensively he might become the new Paolo Maldini...

**macdermesser** · 26/09/2003, 6:18 AM

And Macdermesser, Harte too lightweight for midfield? Where the hell did you get that out of, if he is too lightweight for midfield, he is certainly too lightweight for defence, and what about the likes of Duff or Ronaldo, they are certainly more lightweight than Harte.

I didn't get it out of anywhere .. its only opinion from the fan in the ditch like yerself, unless you are Brian Kerr.

I think Harte definitely has a lot of good attributes .. good on the ball, good set piece taker .. but his positional play and his pace let him down .. and he's also quite small, hence the lightweight remark. I still think though, O Shea will keep left back and Kilbane on the left ... with the option to put Duff there if we need to attack. Leeds have a problem with left midfield now that Kewell is gone .. if it's so obvious then why haven't they played Harte there?

With regard to Duff, I think Kerr prefers to play him either up front or in the hole .. and bigger more robust players in midfield.

Ronaldo lightweight?! Is this same guy with the tree trunk legs, and blistering pace?

**liamon** · 26/09/2003, 9:46 AM

Originally posted by macdermesser
[B]
Ronaldo lightweight?! Is this same guy with the tree trunk legs, and blistering pace?

I presume the reference was to the youngster at Man Utd who tore Ashley Cole (English national team player) to shreds and had the rest of the Arsenal defence terrified last Sunday.

Only weighs 44 lbs though.