Ian Harte rules out Ireland return
Despite being selected at left-back in the PFA Championship Team of the Year, Ian Harte has admitted that a recall to the Ireland setup is unlikely.
Harte made 67 appearances for the Republic of Ireland between 1996 and 2007, scoring 11 times. He made his Irish debut under Mick McCarthy against Croatia, and went on to appear in all of Ireland’s games at the 2002 World Cup. His last game came against San Marino in a World Cup 2008 qualifier under Steve Staunton.
The 34-year-old defender was one of Reading’s best players this season as he helped the Royals to promotion, but told Sky Sports that he does not expect a phone call from Giovanni Trapattoni any time soon. “I played pretty well last year as well,” said Harte. “The manager Giovanni Trapattoni did not come and get me then.
“I was speaking to a few of the players and they said he did not realise I was Irish even though I have played 67 times, scored 11 goals and am the second leading scorer in the squad. It would be nice for a shout but I don’t think it will happen. ‘I didn’t realise he was Irish?’ You have just got laugh about it.
“I know what I bring to the team. People have said for the last 10 years that I might have lost my pace, but I have never had the pace. 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
“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.”
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“I am Irish as well and there are a lot of players in the Irish squad that are not even Irish”.
What a tosser this guy seems to be. Sour grapes. So what about all the guys he played with at WC 2002 who were born abroad. McAteer, Holland, Kilbane, Connolly, Morrison, Reid, Carsley, Manager Mick McCarthy? Did he tell them at the time that they weren’t even Irish? Maybe that’s why he took and missed the peno against Spain. Did he tell his teammates, I’ll take it because I’m the Irish one?
I was born in England and have lived in the U.S. for almost 20 years now but I still consider myself 100% Irish. They kinds of comments are an insult to the Irish Diaspora around the world. People can’t control where they are born.
IrishRI, I see where you’re coming from but for every Kevin Kilbane you have people like Simon Cox, Paul Green, Alex Bruce, Clinton Morrison, Alex Pearce, Anthony Gerrard and Liam Lawrence who are as in touch with their Irish heritage as Muhammad Ali or Barack O’Bama.
To see people like Alex Pearce and Alex Bruce making a mockery out of International football by switching International teams like football clubs and people like Paul Green playing for a country they don’t identify with to help their own careers is really disheartening.
Bottom line. Ireland should use Irish players and players with Irish parentage who came up through the Irish youth system.
Are we really much better off with Cox than Stokes, Green than… well anyone, Walters than Keogh? No, we aren’t.
Having more British players than Irish players is embarrassing, let’s face it and I for one do not want to return to the days of people like Waddock and Slaven padding out the Irish team.
There are over 60 Irish born players getting regular football in The Championship, Premier League and SPL.
There is no need to call up “Thaddeus Wickersham” because he had a Grandfather who was stationed in Northern Ireland during the troubles.
If someone like Wayne Rooney or Gary Cahill elected to play for Ireland, I would change my opinion but there is a fat chance of anything like that ever happening.
Leave me out of this!
in fairness to walters hes irish parentage and has played at underage level AND is far beter than andy keogh…i think wev such a limited player pool that we should exploit the granny rule but i agree that it should only be if wer making a mjor coup.For example ciaran clark will be a fantastic player for us so get guys like him and guys like barry maguire and pilkington(thers alot more just cant think of em right now. However guys that are simpy average footballers and just in it 2 say they played an international eg.green,pearce and bruce should NEVER be considered.Having said that an awfull lot of these overseas players have a real pride in being irish like alot of greek australians or serbian australians consoider and pride themselves in being greek/serbian abit like cox who explained of visiting ireland during the summers and feeling irish.
Ciaran Clark has Irish parentage, that and he’s a decent player too.
Simon Cox has an Irish Grandmother and trotted out the old “I have cousins in Ireland ya know.” line and a few other cliches.
Walters playing for Ireland at underage level may have more to do with the level he was playing at, 4th tier of English football I believe.
Again, on Walters, I have to disagree that he’s that much better than Keogh. Look at their contrasting club form. Keogh helped keep Millwall in the Championship. Walters couldn’t score to save his life at the moment and his overall play has been suspect. He runs around a lot but Long and Doyle can do that too and are technically far superior players.
Another thing I would be wary of is how much football Walters has played. He’s played pretty much every minute of every League and Cup game. Doyle and Long won’t be as knackered as him.
But I’d much prefer a fit Long and Doyle than a fit Walters or Cox.
Regarding Harte’s anger at English players playing for Ireland, it is fully understandable and I wonder how Stokes and Keogh feel about it.
That’s it! I’m declaring for the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team. I’d probably have a better chance of getting in their side at the moment than Ireland anyway. The U.S. are in a bit of a lull.
Wayne Rooney looks out of sorts playing for England with his big freckledy spud Irish head. I heard an interview with his Gran who is from Ireland and she said he was raised very Irish and wore Ireland shirts and stuff as a kid. I even saw Wayne’s son in a photo with an Ireland shirt on recently so obviously he’s handing the Irishness down to his son. So why did he choose to play for England? Probably for the same reasons that Stephen Ireland stated a few years ago. If you play for Ireland you know you’ll never have a chance of actually winning a WC or Euros so what’s the point. George Best always said he wished he’s been born a Brazilian.
IrishRI, enough of that Irish on Irish racism!
Let’s face it. He’s no Ronaldo in the looks department. I think the year they put his face on the cover of FIFA Soccer it’s sale dropped dramatically. He doesn’t get any big endorsement deals like Ronaldo, Beckham or Kaka. That’s I think why he had to call Man Us bluff for the GBP250K a week because he knew he was too ugly to become mega rich from endorsements.
Rooney could easily be from any of the Celtic countries, not just Ireland!
Ireland have plenty of good looking chaps like Stephen Kelly, Shane Long, Darren O’Dea… I’m running out but I’ll claim Shay Given and Kevin Doyle too.
This is why Gary Dicker needs to be called up pronto. He looks like Jose Antonio Reyes. Maybe he can add some Spanish flair to our play.
I know no professional footballers have “come out” yet but are we about to have our first Green Scene fan do so today? Only messing Prop
Usually then you hear the term “he’s a good looking footballer” you take it to mean he’s a handy player. We can leave the sunbeds and the manicures to the Portuguese. My girlfriend swore Stephen Kelly was gay until we saw some picture of him with some supermodel looking chick.
I am straight but there is nothing wrong with being gay. I’m comfortable enough in my sexuality to acknowledge when someone of the same sex is attractive. It doesn’t mean anything!
My brother seen Stephen Kelly, when he was studying in Maynooth. He must have been dating a girl who was studying there. Seems like a sound fella by all accounts.
Of course not. I work with 2 gay guys. They’re sound. I also prefer gay tenants for my rentals. Always pay on time and keep the apartments spotless. I guess that is in itself sexual orientation discrimination against hetrosexuals but I don’t think anyones been sued for that yet…
Getting back to soccer. Hope to see Dunnie get a run out this weekend. We need him.
My buddy is coming over from Ireland for the summer and he’s a semi-pro poker player so I’ll be watching much of the Euros from Atlantic City or Vegas. Not sure there’ll be much of an Irish/football buzz in those cities but we’ll make the most of it.
It would be nice to see Dunne return this weekend, but the main thing is, not to be rushed back. Even if he misses this weekend, he has another week of training, two club matches and two Internationals to play.
Dunne should be fine. Hopefully Kelly and Fahey recuperate too.
Sadly, one or two players who would otherwise make the squad will inevitably be struck down by injury. Please God, it isn’t anyone as important as Given, Dunne, O’Shea or Keane.
Am I wrong when I say that it isn’t too big a drama if anyone else gets injured? Given, Dunne and Keane are obvious and O’Shea offers priceless versatility in a tournament situation but even if ever-presents like St Ledger, Whelan, McGeady or even Duff got injured, the likes of O’Shea, Gibson or McClean could slot in their place.
The only thing Ward has on Wilson would be International match practice and Kelly is a better player than Ward anyway. Gibson, Fahey and McCarthy are all more talented than Whelan and Andrews. Long is just about my preference over Doyle.
As long as Given, Dunne, O’Shea and Keane stay fit, I’ll be satisfied.
Actually Villa play West Brom. Dunne rarely gets beaten in the air but then again neither does Long. One thing for sure neither ever pulls out of a header so having the two up against each other could result in a concussion or head injury for one of them. Myabe best if Dunne doesn’t play yet.
I think Collins is missing for Villa, so if Dunne and Collins are missing, I could see Long scoring.
Go on Long!
How the hell did an article about Ian Harte turn into a debate on who keeps cleaner apartments, gays or straights.
Well. The Irish goal well has totally dried up over the last month. No Irish players are scoring in The Premiership.
Long, Walters and Doyle’s barren run continues. Sammon still hasn’t scored all season, despite getting decent game time. Even McClean isn’t scoring anymore.
You can thank me for McClean scoring. I deliberately wrote that last comment as a reverse jinx.
Given and Dunne keep a clean sheet against West Brom. Strong comeback for Dunne and Given made an absolutely phenomenal save at the end from Odemwingie. Minutes before that, Clark missed a sitter.
Meanwhile the patrons on Foot.ie are calling for Trap to call up Samir Carruthers after he won a corner, after coming on as a 90 minute sub.
James McClean
7.5
He showed that you can’t keep a good man down with a cracking free-kick to give Sunderland a brief lead and then showed he can work out how to overcome double-marking.
Goal
Kevin Doyle
7.5
Restored to the starting XI in place of the injured David Davis, the striker kick-started his side’s revival with some impressive build-up play. He may not have been amongst the goals, but his cross from the left-hand side found Fletcher to score before he set up Jarvis just before half-time.
Goal
James McCarthy
7.0
The Wigan midfield trident was so effective in nullifying Newcastle today and McCarthy was no different. Put in lots of good tackles and blocks, while he also helped start many forward moves. Perhaps a little lucky to stay on the pitch when he was booked for what looked like a two-footed tackle, but did well nonetheless.
Goal
James McClean Deserved his goal 8
SkySports
“http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/mcclean-is-caught-among-traps-90-per-centers-3095215.html”
“he also revealed his hope yesterday of a final warm-up game against an Italian selection at their training camp in Montecatini. The game would be a benefit for the family of Piermario Morosini, the 25-year-old Livorno midfielder, who collapsed and died from cardiac arrest during a Serie B match earlier this month.
“We have discussed it with the organisers of the camp,” Trapattoni said, “and with the FAI. It’s not done yet but everybody agrees it is a good gesture.”"
That’s right. Instead of playing Albania, we will play an Italian selection, to benefit Piermario Morosini. Now, Morosini’s death is unfortunate and sad but we have a European Championship to prepare for, in a group that includes Italy. Does anyone else think this is inappropriate. Then again, as soon as we were drawn against Italy, going to Italy for a training camp should have been ruled out.
I think the Italy game will be funny, I remember in Bari he lost the plot and started making a bunch of random subs just for the sake of it or cause Lippi was making some, Caleb Folan springs to mind.
Caleb Folan was incredibly effective in that game, the Italians couldn’t deal with the very basic tactic of lumping it up to the beanpole. Set up one goal with his headed flick-on and could have been a couple more if the finishing had been better.
Trap says McClean is 90-99% certain to go to Poland but it wouldn’t surprise me if he still only names him as a stand by.
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