Carlisle Harte-broken

Friday, 03/09/2010

by Shoot's Carlise blogger, Jonathan Walton.

Carlisle have proven to be a surprise package in League One so far this season. Greg Abbott’s side remain unbeaten in the league playing some impressive football along the way.

Once again Ian Harte led the goal charge from centre-back notching two goals in four league games for the **** to add to his impressive total of 18 goals last term. 

Since resurrecting his career with Carlisle there has been a large amount of speculation linking the former Republic of Ireland man with a move away from Brunton Park.

Since declining to sign a contract extension given to him by Greg Abbott last week, the Blues were always going to struggle to hold on to him past the transfer window at the end of August, especially given that there was interest from the Championship. 

The only disappointment is that Harte, aged 33, has achieved a great deal in his career and played at the very top, so he has little to prove at a higher level and Carlisle fans and Abbott may have been hoping for a little more loyalty. 

However, there is little loyalty left in modern football these days and Harte made the switch to Championship club Reading on deadline day. As with most transfer deals done now, the fee is undisclosed but is believed to be in the region of £100,000.

With Danny Livesey still sidelined for another couple of months, Harte’s move left Abbott scrambling to fill the void at centre-half. A

bbott has plugged the hole, until January 3 with the signing of Lubomir Michalik on loan from Leeds. This leaves him and on-loan James Chester at centre-half, both untried young players.

Carlisle also completed the signing of Ben Marshall from Stoke on loan until January. Marshall joined Abbott’s side last season making 20 appearances and scoring three goals before moving back to Stoke at the end of the season for Tony Pulis to consider in his pre-season plans.

Carlisle fans will be able to make their judgement of Harte’s replacement on Saturday as Swindon make the journey to Brunton Park. 

Hopefully, we will be able to keep up our impressive league form, but, as we’ve always said: you never know what you are going to get with Carlisle.

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