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Trap and translator Manuela Spinelli in Malahide today. INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Trapattoni hits back at Harte criticism

“I know him. I saw many games,” an exasperated Trapattoni said in Malahide today.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI INSISTED that he has plenty of options at left-back after Ian Harte branded him “a clown” on Twitter earlier today.

“To all those asking if I have retired from international football. No I haven’t,” the Reading defender tweeted this morning. “Trap didn’t even know I was Irish #whataclown”

Harte, 35, last played for Ireland in 2007 and previously claimed that the only reason he was not still involved at international level was that Trapattoni did not know he was eligible.

But announcing his team for tomorrow’s friendly against Poland, Trapattoni said this was not the case and that he has more options than just Harte on the left side of defense.

“I know him. I saw many games,” an exasperated Trapattoni said. “John [O'Shea] can play on the left. We have [Greg] Cunningham. We have other tactical situations. We have also [Stephen] Ward.

He added: “I think it’s better [that they] play for us, but every manager thinks what they want.”

Later Trapattoni slammed as “disgraceful” the newest alleged instances of match-fixing in football, made public yesterday as part of a Europol investigation.

“I can’t say I’m happy with what I’ve seen because now I know that there is an international criminal organisation.

“I never in my life made a bet,” he added. “I couldn’t think about selling a game or not selling a game. For me, it’s disgraceful.”

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40 Comments
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    Mute Brian Hughes
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    Feb 5th 2013, 7:43 PM

    I have to partly agree with Harte, I respect his achievements but he is a stubborn old man who has stopped me from watching my national team playing due to the frustration. Please step aside Trap and give somebody else a chance please…thanks for your service.

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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:16 PM

    Pick me Trapp!

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    Mute Ronan O Connor
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    Feb 5th 2013, 7:55 PM

    Ian Harte is 35 and useless so what’s the bug fuss about.

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    Mute Declan McCabe
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    Feb 5th 2013, 7:58 PM

    Probably the first player people would slate during his Ireland career too…

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    Mute Paul Martin
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:00 PM

    People Nit-picking

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    Mute Rob Magee
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:04 PM

    Here here. May aswell bring back Terry Phelan as Harte

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    Mute Who's Yer Man
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:13 PM

    Right answer, to be honest I thought he had retired. I’m more upset about him not having retired, we should start a campaign.

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    Mute Hughie O'Donnell
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    Feb 6th 2013, 8:59 AM

    Lol. Dead right.

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    Mute Marc
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    Feb 5th 2013, 7:53 PM

    Terry Phelan should be available

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    Mute Mark
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:02 PM

    I hear he’s training along side Denis Irwin.

    Harte wouldn’t be a bad squad player. He’d still be be the best dead ball specialist we have.

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    Mute Oswald Cobblepot
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    Feb 6th 2013, 2:03 AM

    Do ya like townsend andy?
    Do ya like Quinn niall?
    Do ya like Phelan terry

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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:09 PM

    Harte playing Premier league football against the some of the best players in Europe week in week out…ward, Cunningham, mc Shane , green relegation in the championship soon to be division 1. Trap is a clown. You play your form players every time….everytime.

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    Mute tom pepper
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:18 PM

    Harte only back in Reading team since 22 December, Nicky Shorley preferred. In his seven games since then maybe Man City might have some of the best players in Europe but hardly any of the other mid table teams he has come up against. In his day a great player( 10 years ago), still one of the best dead ball specialists around but makes no sense to call a 35 yr old, who would get skinned for pace into the squad.

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    Mute Ray Dempsey
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:30 PM

    @martin mac. New blood is what we need not some washed up has been

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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:34 PM

    He is no slower than Ward.

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    Mute James A
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    Feb 5th 2013, 7:44 PM

    Trap falling out with another player…..

    yawn

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    Mute Dexter Gordon
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    Feb 6th 2013, 1:15 AM

    Seems to be the other way around in this case. Harte let himself down with that childish comment.

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    Mute Westmeath
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    Feb 5th 2013, 7:58 PM

    Ian Harte is past it he should retire from International Football

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    Mute David o Leary
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:36 PM

    Half the people making comments on this topic didnt even know Harte was still playing , if you don’t play for Utd , Arsenal , Liverpool or Chelsea a lot of so called fans wouldn’t even know half the players existed

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    Mute Declan McCabe
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:09 PM

    In fairness Dave, I did. I’m a Leeds fan and have always followed the national team quite closely. I like the guy naturally. But that’s said with a touch of bias. I just remember people always having a go at him for his performances in a green jersey. When he missed the penalty against Spain, everyone seemed to conveniently forget the goals he scored in qualification. At the same time though. Now would hardly be the time to call him back up! He’s 35 and well past his best at this stage. Especially with some of the younger defenders about. We’re just waiting on Wilson to recover and then the left back spot should be his.

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    Mute David o Leary
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:49 PM

    Agree with you about people forgetting about all the good games he had for us , and at his age the last thing he should be worried about is international football .

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    Mute Brian Horton
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:54 PM

    And in fairness David we don’t have any player that plays for utd, arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea. Aside from that, when Harte missed not just one but two penalties against Spain in WC 2002 to get us into the last 8, he should have been made walk home from Japan.

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    Mute David o Leary
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:26 PM

    There is Henderson at Arsenal he has played under 19 and Under 21 for Ireland , Brady was at Utd until recently

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Feb 6th 2013, 3:54 PM

    @David o Leary. Aside from his dead ball expertise he did’nt offer anything and got found out as a defender. He became a liability for Ireland and particularly Leeds, you should know Mr o Leary I mean how many of the goals your Leeds team conceded came from attacks on his side. Remember when David Beckham was struggling in Spain he came up against Ian Harte at Levante and scored a hat trick.

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    Mute Who's Yer Man
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:15 PM

    What about Andy Reid? I’m sure he’s good enough to be a utility player. He says JOKING.

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    Mute mohamad oconnor
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:08 PM

    Trap needs to go we need some youth and flair at the helm!

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    Mute Mr. Common Sense
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:07 PM

    Ian Harte is still playing for a Premiership Club. His dead ball delivery is arguably still better than the best any other Irish player has ever produced. If Alex Ferguson can see past age why are so many Irish fans blinded by a number. No need to comment on Trap, he didn’t even know he existed. Play Harte, he is still the best we’ve got and as most goals now come from set plays, his delivery would be invaluable.

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    Mute Martin Malone
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:51 PM

    Would rather see Wilson in the left full position, hopefully he will recover from his injury.

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    Mute David Kelly
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:17 PM

    Agreed or else Joey O’Brien

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    Mute Martin Malone
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:27 PM

    Yes, O Brien looks very settled at West Ham and has been making good headlines this season.

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    Mute Christmas Carroll
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:00 PM

    Trap only recently found out Harte was Irish and has seen games since… Not a few years ago when he had more to his game. Shame really, still a quality player. Happy for Greg Cunningham to be back in action!

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Feb 6th 2013, 3:40 PM

    Maybe Trap was being polite, its posssible he heard he was starting for Reading then had a look at him on recordings of all Irelands 2002 world cup games. Id say after this he quickly decided he had enough left backs.

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    Mute Gordon Hanbidge
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:02 PM

    People are quick to forget where we were before trap came along! He has not done a bad job at all and yes his man mgt is not great but does a job with a small group of players. It is time to wake up or end up with a stauntonesque manager again

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    Mute justsaying
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    Feb 5th 2013, 8:07 PM

    Grapes(sour) anyone???

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    Mute Michael O' Riordan
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:25 PM

    Trap is a spoofer. He didn’t know Harte was an Ireland international!

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    Mute Liam Francis
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:35 PM

    What difference would it make, Harte was good for Ireland but at 35 he should concentrate on keeping his team in the Premiership. Being eligible to play and being able to play for Ireland are two different things otherwise we’re all in the reckoning…

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    Mute Pat Scuttery
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:05 PM

    Ah lads …

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    Mute John
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    Feb 5th 2013, 10:01 PM

    I think Harte might be embarrassed to play for Ireland.

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    Mute Liam Lyons
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    Feb 6th 2013, 12:35 AM

    I have given up on watching Ireland with this clown in charge…He took his group of players as far as they can go…Gibson, ,mclean, Ireland,kelly, long and hoolahan have no time for him. Trap Out!!!

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    Mute David Warren
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    Feb 6th 2013, 7:14 AM

    This is similar to when calls were being made for Rory Delap to be brought into the squad about 18 months ago. Another set piece specialist who would be just as adequate as the players who have been picked in their position, plus the benefit of quality set piece deliveries. All we have is the long ball and set pieces anyway!

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