jonesie
02-11-07, 04:10 PM
Kewell in the Gang
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/05_01/HarryKewellGET_468x327.jpg
A momentous event occurred at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Sure, the return of God, Nabil El Zhar’s stunning first ever Liverpool goal and the fact that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s arse is STILL getting bigger all deserve mentions, but I speak of something else.
Seventy-one minutes into the game, El Zhar was replaced by a 29-year-old Australian with the number seven on his back. For the twenty-odd minutes he was on the pitch, Harry Kewell showed good touches, excellent link up play and the odd flash of genius.
Of course, we’ve been here before. Kewell has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, but this time it could be different.
Rafa Benitez was a fan of Kewell even before he’d walked through the Shankly Gates. Benitez’s biographer Paco Lloret tells of how, when a TV co-commentator in Spain, Rafa was in awe of Kewell’s performance for Leeds in a Champions League match in Valencia. Evidently, that display stayed with him.
That explains why Rafa picked the Aussie in the Carling Cup and Champions League Finals of 2005 when it was clear that he wasn’t fit. His subsequent withdrawals early in both games (and the 2006 FA Cup Final) did the player’s reputation much more harm than the manager’s.
To outsiders, it appears that Kewell is an example of all that is wrong with the modern game. Seemingly forever injured, picking up his pay cheque and lacking that ‘heart’ that players require in order to bond with fans. The Aussie will have heard them all before, but his reception upon coming on the other night shows that we still believe he has it in him to succeed.
Many bosses would have tired of Kewell’s constant injuries a long time ago, but Rafa stuck by his man. Now though, it is the last roll of the dice. His contract is up in the summer, if he doesn’t perform between now and then, he won’t get a new one.
There’s a school of thought that suggests that Rafa has been keeping Kewell back until now, making sure that finally there’s nothing that can snap, twist or break and put him back on his personal bed in the treatment room.
Now, with injuries to creative, attacking talents like Alonso, Pennant and Torres, it’s the perfect time to let him loose.
Sure the injuries will have taken their toll on the player, but the determination to earn a new deal will be there. Say what you want about Kewell, and most people have over the years, but there’s an outstanding talent lurking within him. The thought that maybe, just maybe, he’s finally in the last chance saloon may bring that out.
Perform well, and that new contract may just be waiting at the end of the season. Fail, and Rafa has shown enough times in the past that he’s not afraid to be ruthless, even to his favourites.
Over to you Harry.
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/05_01/HarryKewellGET_468x327.jpg
A momentous event occurred at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Sure, the return of God, Nabil El Zhar’s stunning first ever Liverpool goal and the fact that Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s arse is STILL getting bigger all deserve mentions, but I speak of something else.
Seventy-one minutes into the game, El Zhar was replaced by a 29-year-old Australian with the number seven on his back. For the twenty-odd minutes he was on the pitch, Harry Kewell showed good touches, excellent link up play and the odd flash of genius.
Of course, we’ve been here before. Kewell has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, but this time it could be different.
Rafa Benitez was a fan of Kewell even before he’d walked through the Shankly Gates. Benitez’s biographer Paco Lloret tells of how, when a TV co-commentator in Spain, Rafa was in awe of Kewell’s performance for Leeds in a Champions League match in Valencia. Evidently, that display stayed with him.
That explains why Rafa picked the Aussie in the Carling Cup and Champions League Finals of 2005 when it was clear that he wasn’t fit. His subsequent withdrawals early in both games (and the 2006 FA Cup Final) did the player’s reputation much more harm than the manager’s.
To outsiders, it appears that Kewell is an example of all that is wrong with the modern game. Seemingly forever injured, picking up his pay cheque and lacking that ‘heart’ that players require in order to bond with fans. The Aussie will have heard them all before, but his reception upon coming on the other night shows that we still believe he has it in him to succeed.
Many bosses would have tired of Kewell’s constant injuries a long time ago, but Rafa stuck by his man. Now though, it is the last roll of the dice. His contract is up in the summer, if he doesn’t perform between now and then, he won’t get a new one.
There’s a school of thought that suggests that Rafa has been keeping Kewell back until now, making sure that finally there’s nothing that can snap, twist or break and put him back on his personal bed in the treatment room.
Now, with injuries to creative, attacking talents like Alonso, Pennant and Torres, it’s the perfect time to let him loose.
Sure the injuries will have taken their toll on the player, but the determination to earn a new deal will be there. Say what you want about Kewell, and most people have over the years, but there’s an outstanding talent lurking within him. The thought that maybe, just maybe, he’s finally in the last chance saloon may bring that out.
Perform well, and that new contract may just be waiting at the end of the season. Fail, and Rafa has shown enough times in the past that he’s not afraid to be ruthless, even to his favourites.
Over to you Harry.