Yes
No
Has Harte's absence affected any of the Irish team's performances? Defensively and offensively? I'm not making a case for my argument, I'm asking a genuine question, if anyone can remember any examples. I can think of a few times where I thought that I'd love to see the bloke lining up for a free kick but other than that, I can't remember thinking that we missed him too much.
CENTRE BACK!!!!!!!Originally Posted by Tuff Paddy
You are off you head. The only place I would trust Harte to play in any team is left midfield. He is a good crosser and a decent finisher but defencively he is a disaster. Thats why I think he should have remodeled himself as a midfielder years ago.
He's too slow to play LMF. If he's finding it difficult to get into the squad as a LB he would find it near impossible to be included at LMF. Duff, A. Reid and Kilbane would all be ahead of him and all 3 of these players have recently performed better than O'Shea or Mabury, who are keeping him out at the moment.
You are 100 percent correct. Agree with everything you said.
Good call. George Graham is probably the best defensive minded coach (still) in the English game today. Does'nt say much about English managers.
I personally feel that Ian Harte does merit a place ont he current Irish squad. Cause I see it, it comes down to a choice between himself and Alan Maybury as 3rd choice LB behind John-O' and Finnan (who also backs up at RB).
Who offers you more? A workaday right sided left full back playing in the SPL. Or a defensively suspect left sided full back with quality distribution and an enviable scoring record playing in the Primera Liga.
I'd go for the latter.
SKBIO-TOR
Not that its a big deal or anything. But I definately reckon that Harte is a better distributor of possesion than John O' Shea from the left full back position.
Forget about the penalty miss and remember Harte's distribution against Spain in the World Cup. Absolutley top drawer, it was. That was a high point but generally, yeah, I reckon Harte has a better range of passing than O' Shea.
John-O' from what I've seen of him in the green is the most prone of the back 4 for giving away possession. Not a huge amount mind, but enough to say that Harte's a better distibutor.
In most if not every other category, John-O' has the edge.
SKBIO-TOR
Spot on Dav.
Anyone looking at the Real Madrid v Levante game tonight only has to look at the goals scored by Beckham and Owen to see Harte's defensive weaknesses. Full backs have got to be able to defend, Harte can't, end of story!
Honest! I am not a secret Tim nor a closet Sham - I really am a Seagull.
Aye, judging by his performances against Depor and Madrid he still seems his same old self. Certainly hasn't improved dramatically.
Didn't see the Levante game but it doesn't surprise me. I'm sure he's a decent bloke and never seemed to be the club-before-country kind of a player, he always wanted to play. This doesn't mean that he has to be called up. Harte is a good passer and scored plenty of times from free-kicks. Since Irwin and Staunton's departure - and Harte's absence - we've lost any edge from free kicks, although maybe Andy Reid is going to change this...
Basically, I don't think this is enough of a reason to call up Harte again. He's won loads of caps and has never regularly impressed. I've no beef with the chap being called up but I don't think he should be an automatic selection. If he had played well over his 50 or so caps, then he would be.
Funny, people were baying for the chap's blood a few months ago. Irish fans are a fickle bunch...
i only saw the goals from the real game, but aren't people alays saying David beckham can't get past a player? Well he did. None other than our Ian left trailing in his wake for beckham's goal. Which just about sums up his worth
Would it be fair to say that our 3 best free-takers arent in the squad anymore? ie Hartey, Stephen Reid and Lee Carsley.
"Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe." Dillo
Duffer's just as good as them all but doesn't take direct free kicks because of confidence AFAIK. Kavanagh is also a great free kick taker but his weren't the best against Brazil.
after seeing Hearte against Real and Deportivo, I wouldnt be so quick to get on the phone for a call up.
CarsleyYes, he scored a great goal against Newcastle but thats the first time I have ever seen him do it.
I'm getting déjà vu here. Mister Carsley has his own thread. Any more of this and I may be forced to moderate.
PP
Semper in faecibus sole profundum variat
Maybe back in the squad for the Portugal game, ahead of Maybury, but I certainly would not have him in the starting line up for competitive games if O' Shea was fit - and I don't even rate O' Shea.
Lets not forget that in the world cup Ireland twice had to put Kilbane at left back because Harte was playing so poorly (one of these was at Half Time against Saudi Arabia - the worst team in the tournamment.) However it maybe worth seeing how the experiance of Spain has changed him in February.
Where am I now? I'm over here,
I've got those empty pockets and I can't afford a beer.
Can anyone tell a concerned aussie why Ian Harte isnt in the irish national team? If he took up Australian residence, he would be in the starting team easily as our defence would struggle to contain a Norwich attack
Because he's too slow and not a good enough defender.
His passing and free kick abilities cover up the fact that he's otherwise basically crap.
I was watching highlights of Ireland v Portugal from the 2002 qualifiers recently, and he seemed to be the cause of almost every chance Portugal created. He was awful at the world cup as well, although to be fair he was carrying an injury.
Even though we dont have any other naturally left footed options there, we're still better off with O'Shea or Finnan at LB than Harte.
Did anyone see Ipswich vs Stoke on TV yesterday? I couldn't watch it but would have liked to seen how Clive Clarke played. Of the little I've seen of him I've been impressed and think he could yet be the man for left-back.
wrt Harte, it's clear that his delivery has something to offer but his all round game just isn't up to it. With Steven Reid & McGeady both playing well at the moment I can see either of these taking the RHM spot with Finnan filling in LB until a clear candidate takes over.
No disrespect to you but this has been debated to death. He's probably good enough to get into the squad, but Finnan and O Shea .. Kilbane all could play that position and probably do a better job.
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