Harry Kewell, just a bit too slow.

[Guest Kaizer]

I was optimistic about what we could expect from Kewell when he returned from injury, mainly because it looked like he had lost some weight and by that gained some pace.

 

But I`m coming more and more around to the opinion that this was just an illusion.

 

I thought Kewell might deserve a new contract because he is a great ball player that helps us keep the ball in the attacking third since he seldom wastes it, but just like last time when Harry had a season where he actually played some matches his lack of pace wont take him past the defenders an get him to the bye line having lost his man.

 

A top class winger should still be our main priority, someone that can go past the fullback with his eyes closed, someone that can put a great cross in, someone who can score and create the goals we need when we struggle to break down a packed defence in the central area, someone able to play both on the left and the right, someone from Portugal, someone from the Sporting acedemy, someone like Ricardo Quaresma.

 

Kewell will do a job for us for the rest of the season, but to think he will be a long term solution is to fool ourselves, he just dont have pace to bring him past his man anymore.

[Kahnee]

but just like last time when Harry had a season where he actually played some matches his lack of pace wont take him past the defenders an get him to the bye line having lost his man.

 

Like he kept doing yesterday, you mean?

[bazdev]

I was optimistic about what we could expect from Kewell when he returned from injury, mainly because it looked like he had lost some weight and by that gained some pace.

 

But I`m coming more and more around to the opinion that this was just an illusion.

 

I thought Kewell might deserve a new contract because he is a great ball player that helps us keep the ball in the attacking third since he seldom wastes it, but just like last time when Harry had a season where he actually played some matches his lack of pace wont take him past the defenders an get him to the bye line having lost his man.

 

A top class winger should still be our main priority, someone that can go past the fullback with his eyes closed, someone that can put a great cross in, someone who can score and create the goals we need when we struggle to break down a packed defence in the central area, someone able to play both on the left and the right, someone from Portugal, someone from the Sporting acedemy, someone like Ricardo Quaresma.

 

Kewell will do a job for us for the rest of the season, but to think he will be a long term solution is to fool ourselves, he just dont have pace to bring him past his man anymore.

 

 

Did you see his performances against us? 2nd rate show pony. I personally think that Jermaine Pennant and Babel/Benayoun will be our first choice wingers when fit this season. The 2 players I feel we should bring in are a spare CB and somebody to link the play behind Torres because Kuyt/Voronin are both very poor players

[Guest Kaizer]

Like he kept doing yesterday, you mean?

 

Like he tried to do yesterday, but could not manage I mean.

[Kahnee]

Like he tried to do yesterday, but could not manage I mean.

 

Funny. I saw him do it several times

 

He had a better game yesterday than that Portuguese t*** you keep banging on about had against us, that's for sure

[Guest Snorky]

Harry is still working his way back to full fitness. If he keeps on progressing I can see another contract on the table for him.

[Jarg Armani]

not sure yet. get where you're coming from kaizer, just think this thread might be a touch preematuwer.

[Kahnee]

Harry is still working his way back to full fitness. If he keeps on progressing I can see another contract on the table for him.

 

Totally agree

[Guest RedLegend]

In fairness after all his injury troubles I think it would be unfair on Kewell to expect him to come back to his very best. I don't think we'll see that Harry Kewell again to be honest.

[Guest Kaizer]

Harry is still working his way back to full fitness. If he keeps on progressing I can see another contract on the table for him.

 

Dont get me wrong, I have put him in the team I think is our strongest line up whenever someone have asked the question, but if he gets a new contract it should be for nothing more than half of what he is on now, and I cant see him sign it.

 

I just think he is too slow these days and I cant see him getting faster.

[Kahnee]

I just think he is too slow these days and I cant see him getting faster.

 

Who is once they hit 30? f*** me...

[The_MC]

He's still a class above every other wide player we currently have at the club.

[Guest RedLegend]

I just think he is too slow these days and I cant see him getting faster.

 

Well it'd certainly be unusual for a player to start getting quicker in his late 20's.

[Guest Kaizer]

Who is once they hit 30? f*** me...

 

Those who drops the weight needed.

[Earl Hafler]

He's still a class above every other wide player we currently have at the club.

 

It's a pipe dream. His place should be going to Babel who will get better given games and is actually scoring goals, unlike Kewell.

 

Babel gets one game start in a weaker position and then is back on the bench. It's this sort of f***ing around from Rafa that has cost us points.

[Toni]

We certainly need a winger who is able to perform better than kewell s game vs city.

 

It may be a bit a premature but we will never see the kewell of old (leeds years). As Kaizer rightly says kewell lost pace which due to his age will never reach his youth pace again. Now if kewell is able to do a figo who although he lost pace he will remain a hugely devastating winger with his extreme ball control, and pin-point crosses, that is another matter, which still may evolve but which personally i highly doubt.

 

Yesterday kewell result of accurate hollywood passes from midfield managed to break a couple of times in the clear and cross from behind the full-back but every time he failed to deliver a dangerous cross. in one on one situations he never manged to get past the full-back, so yes he had a poor performance yesterday and in fact was subbed by rafa. he needs to better his game considerably, if he wants to extend his contract.

 

 

Also after central cover for defence and praying aurelio stays fit, in my opinion our prime target should be a winger not a striker. We need both but wre really struggle to create quality clear-cut chances. Most of our chances come through gerrards boots or individual brilliance fro the few quality players we have. Bringing a quality tricky winger to use kaizer s words someone that can go past the fullback with his eyes closed, someone that can put a great cross in,

will certainly transform us into a more quality side, and we will see the likes of kuyt voronincrouch bang in more goals. if we are able to create really quality chances the team will score goals.

Edited December 31, 2007 by Toni

[Nebraska Red]

And another player who did a decent job is held to a higher standard than some of our big name players.

 

Kewell did well yesterday, he had the beating of the full back and sent in some great crosses, he also had a few blocked with last ditch tackles. it was hardly his fault that his service was not turned into goals by a forward line that looked off color.

 

We seem to be finding fault with some players for the hell of it for some reason.

[alias75]

Agree, hes lost that zip that made him a great player, as it is hes still very good and his touch and awareness are still there but hes just a little lacking in sharpness which makes all the difference at the very top level.

 

Said in another thread i think he'll finish his career playing more centrally where pace isnt as important like Barnes did for us towards the end of his career. Not sure if he has a future here after this season but he could do what Dwight Yorke has done at Sunderland playing as a central playmaker at a slightly lower level.

 

The team is crying out for pace at the moment we have wide players that are good but not great and Babel apart theres no real pace there. Benayoun is a decent player and is worth keeping in the squad but i think we need to improve on Kewell and Pennant.

[Kahnee]

Those who drops the weight needed.

 

Oh f*** off. It's got nothing to do with weight, and everything to do with the aging process. If Carl Lewis weighed the same at 30 as he had at 18, he would still be slower

[Guest Kaizer]

Oh f*** off. It's got nothing to do with weight, and everything to do with the aging process. If Carl Lewis weighed the same at 30 as he had at 18, he would still be slower

 

I think you will find that Carl Lewis set his personal record, 9.86, in 91 at the age of 30.

Edited December 31, 2007 by Kaizer

[goodrobotusses]

I wouldn't judge Kewell's ability to beat a man in a straight run by yesterday. Onohua is one of the fastest players in the PL. What Kewell does have is guile - the sort of guile that allowed him to beat said defender a couple of times in the first half yesterday, despite being no match for him in terms of speed.

 

I honestly think people should give Kewell the chance to regain full fitness - he's been out for ages and seems to be feeling his way back still. A lot of players come back from long term absences have an initial burst of form then hit a dip as their body gets used to playing regularly again and work their back over a longer period of time. I appreciate it's difficult to be patient when we need results now, and yeah there's a chance that maybe the injuries mean this is as good as things are going to get with Harry, but the guy is playing for his LFC future and should be allowed til the end of the season to get his full form/fitness back if possible.

 

Long term, being 29 and having had a career wrecked by injury, he may not be 'the answer', but if he can find his way back to a decent level of form/fitness, he's definitely worth keeping as a squad player on a reduced contract (let's face it, no other club is going to offer him £65k a week given his injury record - well, maybe Newcastle). His ability to play as a 2nd striker shouldn't be overlooked either, if we offload a striker at some point. As for diminishing pace, that hasn't kept players like Figo or Giggs contributing to their clubs over recent years - technique and skill are pretty important for wingers, not just speed... lest we have a world of Shaun Wright-Phillipses.

Edited December 31, 2007 by hisdumbwaiter

[allez les rouges]

Harry is still working his way back to full fitness. If he keeps on progressing I can see another contract on the table for him.

 

same here.

 

however he is not as explosive as he was prior to his injuries. I hope he will be, and that there is more to come from him when he gains fitness. However i have I am not convinced he will get better. Fingers crossed he will.

[Earl Hafler]

I think you will find that Carl Lewis set his personal record, 9.86, in 91 at the age of 30.

 

He probably weighed less

[Guest Kaizer]

No disrespect for Kewell, but he sure as hell aint no Figo and to compare them is a joke.

[Guest PaulMcC]

I thought he was crap yesterday.

 

Loads of space and wasted loads of chances to cross.