Harte new contract

[Extended-Phenotype]

So people can name a handful of fast players. Are we facing them every week, then?

Are WBA considerably faster?
West Ham?
Wigan?
Swansea?
Sunderland?
Stoke?
Southampton?
QPR?
Norwich?
Newcastle?
Liverpool?
Fulham?
Everton?

And I’m still waiting for evidence that Harte’s pace has cost us more than he’s earned us.

[winchester_royal]

I'd say that Harte isn't the strongest defensively and hence might struggle a bit. He's going to face a better quality of player next season and it won't be easy, especially as he hasn't always looked massively comfortable this season.

However, unless we bring in a set-piece specialist this summer (Gylf ) he adds more to the team than he takes away.

Not saying that he's a liability, just do believe that he'll find it hard next season (as will a lot of this current squad).

[Z175]

Totally agree the PL has quicker wingers, but Harte is one of the slowest men I have ever seen on a pitch. Every winger in the Championship was quicker than him so surely its irrelevant how much quicker they are.

That no one beat him once last year wasn't down to the fact Dyer and SInclair weren't playing us last year, it was the signing of the left footed Gorkks to cut across and mop up behind Harte and the appointment of McAnuff as captain to inspire him to help out all over the park. Harte was always pathetically slow for Leeds and there are even quicker wingers in the Champions League!

If he and Gorkks get there positioning spot on again, then they have every chance. Of course we will tested more rigourously in the premierleague, but then that applies all over the pitch. Of course the likes of Walcott, Dyer, SWP, Lennon are going to pose more of a threat, but then so will the likes of Rooney v Gorkks or Bent v Federici etc. I know some feel like the playoff final proved them right about Harte but he came back majestically last season.

Actually I think one of the issues we had last season was that the need to defend with Kebe and McAnuff meant when they got the ball both had the whole pitch in front of them and the opposition kept a lot of players back. In the premier league I think this will work a lot better, as other teams are likely to have pushed up a lot more and won't go for the "3 men on Kebe" approach we saw last season. If we can get Jimmy and Jobi breaking 2 v 3 I think we will get plenty on the counter attack.

[pea]

FWIW Harte admitted in an interview the other day that he expected Brian will be looking to strengthen in his position and he's going to have to fight for his place in the team

[Extended-Phenotype]

Put simply, you can speculate he will struggle next season, as may everyone, but myths and conjecture aren't evidence and you can't knock him until he tries - and he disserves that opportunity more than most as a key figure in our promotion.

[Jano]

Nowhere near as slow as Corluka, who also has the turning circle of an double decker bus, and he did ok.

[Z175]

Nowhere near as slow as Corluka, who also has the turning circle of an double decker bus, and he did ok.

Agreed. The one man slower to turn than our beloved Brynjar. Both lethal when facing the right way...

[Snowball]

This is an amazing thread and most posting on it are hypocrites or people with short memories.

I spent best part of Harte's first season DEFENDING him, arguing that goals
weren't down to his slowness etc etc and being HAMMERED for it.

At the start of last season AGAIN this list was hammering him and saying he was finished/not good enough.



He will be two year's older, than back then, two year's slower and up against all-round better
teams, and, AT A MINIMUM, "equally fast" (but generally more intelligent) wing footballers.


To pretend that there will be "little difference" in the wing play against us is mindless and ridiculous.

If those Championship wingers were better they'd've been picked up by Premiership clubs. The reality
is either that they AREN'T better or aren't better YET.

Of the 48+ wingers in the Championship how many "should be" in the Premiership
and how many of those Premiership wingers "should be" playing one league lower?

Did we get Premiership bids for Kebe, McAnuff, HRK, Antonio? McCleary?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Theo Walcott
Wilshere (joint fastest)
Gareth Bale
Valencia
Hazard,
Shaun-Wright-Phillips
Aaron Lennon
Agbonlahor
Sinclair
Dyer
Odemwingie (is as fast as Gareth Bale)
Ashley Cole (ditto)
Ballotelli (ditto)
Torres
Clichy
Nani
Hernandez
Jose Enrique

and dozens more

[melonhead]

its always all about you isnt it snowbers

[Gordons Cumming]

its always all about you isnt it snowbers

He probably supplied Balotelli with his "Why always me?" shirt.

[Extended-Phenotype]

He will be up against all-round better teams, and, AT A MINIMUM, "equally fast" (but generally more intelligent) wing footballers.

You can't just wander around the forum covered in your own sick, chewing an old sock and waving a placard that the world is going to end. Where is your evidence that Harte will not be able to cope with these new challenges, if indeed they are that different?

Your problem is you are just saying he won't be able to cope. Everyone else, including Brian, seems to want to give him the chance before stamping a big red 'F' on his forehead.

You need to wring your mac out.

[Mr Angry]

Good article on Harte in the Grauniad.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog ... ding-leeds

[pea]

see page four for further details