Kewell

[miceal]

I keep seeing people talking about buying someone as back-up for Kewell. It really surprises me. What do you all see in him? He is rarely fit, and when he is he doesn't do anything, (OK, we can all remember the odd spectacular volley - do we remember the anonymous games, the mis***s etc). He has never done it for us for even a whole 90 minutes in my recollection. We all know we need top strikers and wide men, but Kewell... Someone please explain to me.

 

Does anyone else feel strangely calm this morning (or am I just in denial?)

[Guest Anders Honoré]

He was one our most consistent attacking players last season, even if he didn't play ridiculously good in that many games.

 

Your memory is frankly s**** if you can't remember a full game Kewell has been good in. He tore Chelsea apart in last year's fa cup semis for one.

[Sion]

I believe he'll have next season to prove himself. Nobody will be interested in signing him this year, he wants to stay, so don't think he'll get a new contract just yet. If he plays well next season he'll get a 3 year contract, if not, and he is either shag or has more injury troubles he's out.

[Flight]

I would agree with you mostly.

 

 

Pako disagrees - interview on the offal

 

 

Quote :

 

 

United have won the league by outscoring teams. While Liverpool have once again been excellent at the back, is it the case that we need to score more goals?

 

One of our main problems is that, when you compare with the other top four teams, we haven't really scored too many goals. This is not the mistake just of the strikers. It's also for the midfielders, and also our defenders could sometimes have supported the attack better. We haven't been as aggressive going forward as we have in defending. United have also been really effective in wide areas. There are not many world-class wide players, and United have Giggs and Ronaldo. For me, Chelsea were more effective when they had Duff and Robben. With Liverpool, we have been without Harry Kewell all season. He has this kind of quality.

 

 

 

 

 

While I would agree with you, I'll take Pako's assessment over mine every time.

 

 

Pako and Rafa know exactly what we need to improve. It will be exciting to see how they address this in the transfer market.

Edited May 24, 2007 by Flight

[fred milne]

I need convincing that he deserves a new contract. The natural ability is undoubted but the temperament is questionable and the fitness record downright shocking.

[Dan]

I need convincing that he deserves a new contract. The natural ability is undoubted but the temperament is questionable and the fitness record downright shocking.

 

Whats up with his temperament?

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I need convincing that he deserves a new contract. The natural ability is undoubted but the temperament is questionable and the fitness record downright shocking.

 

Disagree about temperament. The Kewell we saw last season was a very reliable player - rather unlike his Leeds days. And he has shown he is capable of delivering in big games as well.

[pt101]

Not being a big fan of Kewell myself, I can see where the OP is coming from.

 

However, the opinion may be based on the fact that he didn't offer much last night. Which - being a lad who's just come back from injury into the joint biggest game of his life for only a few minutes - is a bit harsh.

 

Hoping Kewell can stay injury free and impress us all in the first few months of the season. If he doesn't he'll be out in January.

[Runehammer]

Also, regarding Kewell's temperament, he's shown some bottle by battling through his injury disasters, a lesser person would have called it a day by now I'd have thought.

 

It seems the poor bugger has barely been fit since he arrived so, having come this far, we owe him the chance to give us a full season. Unless he breaks down again of course.

[Flip Martian]

We were losing 1-0 last night - the ball went towards Kaka. Kewell was slowly walking around a few yards away but instead of running to intercept or track back he turned and walked towards the halfway line, away from wherre the play - and the immediate threat - was. Kaka has a free run in a huge gap, passes through the defence, Inzaghi scores.

 

I was so incensed by that all I could do was swear; it really is not effing good enough from a Red.

[David Hodgson]

Disagree about temperament. The Kewell we saw last season was a very reliable player - rather unlike his Leeds days. And he has shown he is capable of delivering in big games as well.

 

Yep. It would be crazy to let Kewell go now. Given his injury record he'd command a negligible fee, but on a modest contract he'd represent a bargain for us. There is no avoiding the fact that Harry Kewell has it in him to produce world class performances, and considering keeping him wouldn't cost us the earth I see no point in not perservering with him, even if he only produces the odd scintillating cameo coming off the bench.