Ian Harte

**Ol� Ol�** · 26/04/2012, 6:04 PM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

What has Carlisle got to do with it?
He plays for Reading and was in the champion ship team of the season.
I thought you picked you best players not jsut people who have never played for Carlisle.

No, the 'Peter Murphy' rule is firmly set in stone as the cornerstone of Irish team selection policy. The rule originated when Trap neglected to call up Murphy following on from the Carlisle defender winning a cap under Stan in 2007. It was interpreted that Trap was prohibiting calling up present Carlisle players but Trap's refusal to call up Ian Harte subsequent to his departure from Carlisle is suggestive that Trap's position is that no players who carry a past or present association with Carlisle will win caps under him.

**Charlie Darwin** · 26/04/2012, 6:12 PM

Has Trap ever called up anyone from England's third division?

**theworm2345** · 26/04/2012, 6:12 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

A month earlier Tardelli had been quoted, "I've seen Harte play 10 times for Reading as I was there watching Shane Long and Noel Hunt,"
"He's a good player but we have enough young players with the same quality. We are looking at players for the future.
"Harte is not that old but old for our project, even though we know he is a good player."

I have to say I really hate this philosophy...never looking at players over a certain age because the manager always seems to be in a rebuilding/building for the future process. If Harte will be playing for the next two years (and I assume he will) and could aid in the cause to get to Brazil there is no reason he shouldn't be selected. I don't believe in planning beyond the next World Cup or Euros in terms of player development because you never know who the manager will be or where a player will be at that point. The same thing happened with Delap, even when he was playing well enough (regardless of throw-ins) to be in the side. It is especially ridiculous when you consider Trap rarely even uses the friendlies to try out new players.

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Has Trap ever called up anyone from England's third division?

Pretty sure Kilbane got called up while he was at Huddersfield last year.

**Yard of Pace** · 26/04/2012, 7:34 PM

Originally Posted by theworm2345

Pretty sure Kilbane got called up while he was at Huddersfield last year.

Played for Ireland one day and flew back to play for Huddersfield the next day (although I think he just warmed the bench). Legend of a man.

**Sullivinho** · 27/04/2012, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

Played for Ireland one day and flew back to play for Huddersfield the next day (although I think he just warmed the bench). Legend of a man.

Indeed. I wonder what he'd make of Ian's comments.

**Serb** · 27/04/2012, 1:57 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

The fact is Trap has a massive amount of players to consider for selection. Although Charlton had a better team, his selection was limited to about 25 players, whereas Trap could call up about 50 players. So there is bound to be a few discontented players about nowadays. Have to say I was a little disappointed by Harte's attitude. He served the country well, earning 67 caps, but in all honestly I'm sure he never really expected to be called up again, when he joined Carlisle.

He seems to have awarded himself a few extra caps. The FAI reckon he has 64 caps.

Anyway, I think Harte's attitude towards not being included is pathetic. Trap doesn't know you're Irish? Pick up the phone and let him know. Harte is not being picked in the Reading team for his defensive qualities; he knows that; everyone knows that. He has an unparalleled dead-ball delivery, almost certainly the best in the history of Irish football (Staunton might have something to say about that), but he's never been great at anything else. He's a luxury player, the kind of player that Trap has never accommodated in his time as Ireland manager.

The other point is merit. Does he even deserve a place in the squad? He doesn't really mention it other than he would like a "shout". Opinion here seems mixed, but what seems like the most logical comparison rings as the least fair in my mind: Ward is a defender in the worst defence in the Premier League, Harte is a defender in the best defence in the Championship. A defence is a unit, it lives and dies by organisation. A terrible defender can be part of a great defence if it's well organised and vice versa. Ward is a better defender, he's defensively stronger in every way. I'm happier that he'll be starting at 3.

Harte is the Ronan O'Gara of Irish football. He's one dimensional, but he's world class in that dimension. Unfortunately, dead ball delivery isn't enough to control a game of football the way O'Gara's talent can control a rugby game.

**mark12345** · 27/04/2012, 8:38 PM

Originally Posted by theworm2345

I have to say I really hate this philosophy...never looking at players over a certain age because the manager always seems to be in a rebuilding/building for the future process. If Harte will be playing for the next two years (and I assume he will) and could aid in the cause to get to Brazil there is no reason he shouldn't be selected. I don't believe in planning beyond the next World Cup or Euros in terms of player development because you never know who the manager will be or where a player will be at that point. The same thing happened with Delap, even when he was playing well enough (regardless of throw-ins) to be in the side. It is especially ridiculous when you consider Trap rarely even uses the friendlies to try out new players. Pretty sure Kilbane got called up while he was at Huddersfield last year.

And this is from Harte himself: "I am Irish as well and there are a lot of players in the Irish squad that are not even Irish. For me I have played 67 times and I love pulling on the green shirt."

KOP ON IAN, you were past your best ten years ago. You are enjoying an Indian summer that's all. You are too slow for international football and the Premier League. And you're positioning was never great either. That much will be made abundantly clear next season. Kevin Kilbane was retired - you are behind him in the pecking order - so you're nowhere near the team.

**mark12345** · 27/04/2012, 8:40 PM

Originally Posted by mark12345

And this is from Harte himself: "I am Irish as well and there are a lot of players in the Irish squad that are not even Irish. For me I have played 67 times and I love pulling on the green shirt."

Playing with so called 'not even Irish' players never stopped you playing for your country, did it Mr Harte. When you make statements like this you lose all credibility.

**SkStu** · 28/04/2012, 1:32 AM

Mr. Harte does make exceedingly good mistakes.

**theworm2345** · 28/04/2012, 4:03 AM

Originally Posted by Serb

He seems to have awarded himself a few extra caps. The FAI reckon he has 64 caps.

Could be counting his appearances in Bonner and Quinn's testimonials...not sure which the last one might be from.

**SkStu** · 28/04/2012, 5:08 AM

Would he be counting U21's or "B" caps?

**Stuttgart88** · 28/04/2012, 8:49 AM

Myabe he just got it a bit wrong?

**the bear** · 28/04/2012, 11:58 AM

knee caps?

**paul_oshea** · 01/05/2012, 12:37 PM

"It is not as if I had the pace and I lost it. It is all about being clever and getting the better of your opponent"

Ok then Ian, how do you suppose a left full with no pace can operate at international level, in this day and age? Perhaps thats why you haven't been selected you dope.

**Sullivinho** · 01/05/2012, 2:33 PM

Ian's pace and cleverness are in perfect balance.

**John83** · 01/05/2012, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

Ian's pace and cleverness are in perfect balance.

He'd need to be clever enough to invent a teleporter to perfectly balance his pace the last I saw of him.

**Murfinator** · 01/05/2012, 3:53 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Ok then Ian, how do you suppose a left full with no pace can operate at international level.

"being clever and getting the better of your opponent"

He even answered your question.

How do you think Maldini played at one of the top club sides until 40 at fullback? Secretly fitting himself with rocket boots?

**paul_oshea** · 01/05/2012, 4:24 PM

What are ye on about Murfinator? Maldini was hardly 24 with no pace, he lost pace as he got a little older but he was still quicker than harte, and he certainly had a far better brain than harte. There is no comparison between the two.

And he is also the exception rather than the rule in terms of the lenght of his playing career.

**John83** · 01/05/2012, 4:29 PM

Originally Posted by Murfinator

"being clever and getting the better of your opponent"

He even answered your question.

How do you think Maldini played at one of the top club sides until 40 at fullback? Secretly fitting himself with rocket boots?

Moving to a more central role where pace was less of an issue, living off his reputation to a degree, and having started at being the best left back on the planet he continued to be good enough in a league that was in significant decline after a series of scandals and bankruptcies and huge investment in English clubs saw the steady flow of talent into Serie A start to go elsewhere.

(Are we seriously comparing Harte and Maldini? Excuse me while I fetch my most patronising pipe.)

**Kingdom** · 01/05/2012, 5:05 PM

Originally Posted by John83

Moving to a more central role where pace was less of an issue, living off his reputation to a degree, and having started at being the best left back on the planet he continued to be good enough in a league that was in significant decline after a series of scandals and bankruptcies and huge investment in English clubs saw the steady flow of talent into Serie A start to go elsewhere.

(Are we seriously comparing Harte and Maldini? Excuse me while I fetch my most patronising pipe.)

You left out something......

check-mate.

Bam.