Ian Harte

[Murfinator]

Not knowing the best performing eligible left back in the english leagues is actually eligible and in a position we've had persistent problems in is extremely poor and Trap's biggest mistake in my view. Harte is justified in his comments, petulant or not he knows he won't be called on at this stage.

Although its just a repeat of comments Harte made a year ago so its not exactly anything new.

[Charlie Darwin]

Not knowing the best performing eligible left back in the english leagues is actually eligible and in a position we've had persistent problems in is extremely poor and Trap's biggest mistake in my view.

Except there's no evidence that he didn't know, apart from Harte's word. And Harte is a certified moron.

[jinx]

Ian Harte's best days are behind him still a good set piece taker not a bad player to have in the squad. But Trap not knowing he can play is a joke and says it all he's clueless

[DannyInvincible]

Not knowing the best performing eligible left back in the english leagues is actually eligible and in a position we've had persistent problems in is extremely poor and Trap's biggest mistake in my view. Harte is justified in his comments, petulant or not he knows he won't be called on at this stage.

Although its just a repeat of comments Harte made a year ago so its not exactly anything new.

But Trap is aware now, and similarly claimed knowledge of Harte's eligibility back then.

Harte? We know Harte. (Stephen) Ward for me now is better. He can improve. Harte is 33.

[Mr A]

At times I wonder how long I'll keep liking football given how many footballers are such utter ballbags.

[SkStu]

Harte has been a ballbag for a long time but there is a small grain of truth behind his statements. Im not sure that Trap is as readily aware of the resources at his disposal as, perhaps, most of his predecessors were. I believe that he (or any irish manager) should have the same level of knowledge about championship, scots, lower league and youth players as most regulars on this forum and i dont think that is the case with him. However, it doesnt have much of a material affect on our results.

[tricky_colour]

Harte? We know Harte. (Stephen) Ward for me now is better. He can improve. Harte is 33.


David Beckham is 37!



Beckham 37. I bet Trap would call him up!!

[tetsujin1979]

He can't play left full either.

[Mr A]

I'll bet Trap doesn't realise Beckham is Irish either.

[mark12345]

Good man, Ian.

It's true what Harte says. Trap is a bit of a clown because he doesn't appear to know the players available to him, and those he does know (like Joey O'Brien and Hoolohan) are not picked anyway. But as for Harte, he was a real slow coach back when he played and has gotten even slower. He does not merit a place in the Ireland team, not even close.

[nigel-harps1954]

I'd like to see a rule introduced in international football where every country must pick a certain number of players from their own domestic league similar to the Premier League in England where teams must have players from England in their match day squads.

Then it'd be great craic to see Trap struggle with that.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think Trap has been negligent in terms of getting to know players, meaning the likes of Hendrick and Keogh have been overlooked when they'd have been good additions a year or so ago, but I do think his judgement of players is generally spot on. Like John Giles, I think he can figure out a player very quickly, which means he is sometimes inflexible when a player has been playing below himself or makes a real effort to improve himself. That said, I can only think of a handful of players outside of the regular squads who I could honestly say are being overshadowed by inferior players.

[tetsujin1979]

I'd like to see a rule introduced in international football where every country must pick a certain number of players from their own domestic league similar to the Premier League in England where teams must have players from England in their match day squads.

Then it'd be great craic to see Trap struggle with that.

you sure about that rule? arsenal and Chelsea have both had teams with no English players in the lineup.
besides, if the rule did exist, any LOI player called up would have to deal with the stigma that he's only in the squad because there has to be x number of LOI players there, not because he's genuinely good enough

[Charlie Darwin]

you sure about that rule? arsenal and Chelsea have both had teams with no English players in the lineup.

No, the matchday squad idea fell on the ground, but the rule that 8 players from every club's 25-strong squad must have trained in the home country country achieves it in a roundabout way.

besides, if the rule did exist, any LOI player called up would have to deal with the stigma that he's only in the squad because there has to be x number of LOI players there, not because he's genuinely good enough

I'm sure they would deal with the stigma just fine, but it might have the opposite effect in that it puts more domestic players on the radar of English and Scottish clubs who can offer a better living. Footballers at LOI level are still scraping by so the opportunity for international football will be of little incentive to play in the league.

[nigel-harps1954]

you sure about that rule? arsenal and Chelsea have both had teams with no English players in the lineup.
besides, if the rule did exist, any LOI player called up would have to deal with the stigma that he's only in the squad because there has to be x number of LOI players there, not because he's genuinely good enough

Done a bit of searching there, nearly sure they have to have a certain number of players in the match day squad from England.

From wiki:

As of the 2010-2011 season, the Premier League introduced new rules mandating that each club must register a maximum 25-man squad of players aged over 21, with the squad list only allowed to be changed in transfer windows or in exceptional circumstances. This was to enable the 'home grown' rule to be enacted, whereby the League would also from 2010 require at least 8 of the named 25 man squad to be made up of 'home-grown players', defined as a player who:irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Welsh Football Association for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21)

Besides, if he was to call up anyone from LOI, whether he had to or not, surely he'd have to pick some of the best players in the league. There would be some eyebrows raised if he called up Jason Byrne or someone now (no disrespect to Byrne). He'd have to do some sort of research.

[geysir]

I don't think it would work for the senior squad but it's an interesting idea.
If you were to try it out, then the u19/ u21 squad is a possible place to start to have a 1/3 LOI quota. As Tets says you could have this 'I'm only here because I'm in the LOI and not on ability', 'but on the other hand I'd say there are enough players who at least come close to the standard and possibly it would give some incentive for players to stay within the LOI structure a bit longer, than is currently the average.

[tricky_colour]

Assist for Harte (corner) to get a goal in their 2-1 defeat against Stoke.

[peadar1987]

It was a classic Ian Harte performance.

Great deliveries from set pieces, including a pinpoint one from the corner. Positionally not bad, comfortable on the ball, turning circle of the Saturn V, and with far worse acceleration. He was marking Michael Kightly, who soon figured out the best way to beat him was just to knock the ball past and run after it.

Luckily he fluffed the one free-kick he had within shooting range, straight into the wall at knee height!

Still, it was nice to see him play live, I'd wanted to since he was my favourite player when I was a young left back in the early 2000s. Especially as he didn't play badly, but the result went the way I was hoping!

[peadar1987]

you sure about that rule? arsenal and Chelsea have both had teams with no English players in the lineup.
besides, if the rule did exist, any LOI player called up would have to deal with the stigma that he's only in the squad because there has to be x number of LOI players there, not because he's genuinely good enough

Interesting bit of trivia: Who were the first team to field a side with no British players in the English Premier League?

[Yard of Pace]

Interesting bit of trivia: Who were the first team to field a side with no British players in the English Premier League?

Was it not Arsenal, no? I remember there was a big hullabaloo about it at the time, whoever it was.