A good call to play Harte

I was really pleased that Ian Harte has been given a go in the team. I know he has had a difficult time in getting used to the way AFCB play, but he has been a good pro over the years and I could not believe that he wouldn't get things right eventually. Bringing him in for the Leeds game was very clever by Eddie Howe in my opinion. A familiar setting to him, playing at Elland Road looks like it got the best out of him. Now he must reproduce that at the Goldsands stadium.

Ian Harte was inspired at Elland Road.

He has had his critics and I was one of them, but I just believe he needed some time to adjust. There was one point in the commentary when Willo even admitted that Harte was getting up and down the wing just like Daniels and overlapping. He is starting to get the hang of the way Eddie and Jason want him to play and while his legs might not let him do as many runs up the left side as he used to he is starting to positively initiate moves. He also took most of the free kicks and made several clearances during the 90 minutes.

While the team only had 10 men for an hour of the game on Tuesday against Leeds, it is still a fact that AFCB let in two goals in the second half despite their gallant efforts to get something from the game. It can't help matters that the system keeps changing and the personnel are not always the same, but AFCB have to dig in and pull out a win now from somewhere. I believe a win is just around the corner.

Ian can really play a big part in the game on Saturday with his free kicks.

Whether Harte has done enough to feature against Millwall on Saturday will be very interesting. I suspect that he may indeed get a starting place. It will enable the team to play the way it has been so successful in the last few seasons as a 4-4-2 and with Collison in midfield the grit and determination that almost did them so well at Leeds may bring the three points that everyone wants this Saturday.

All Deaprtments' Kangeroo Court is now out discussing Leeds Utd 2: 1 AFCB with AFCB fan Damien Hill from the Family Stand. You can listen on the All Departments website or on Cherry Chimes by scrolling down the right hand panel on the site to the Kangeroo Court listing. 

If you missed my View from the stands in the Blackburn Rovers programme that is also available to read on the All Departments website.