Rafa losing patience with Kewell

[I_Am_A_Rock]

Bye Bye Harry

Rafael Benitez, Liverpool's manager, has indicated that he is losing patience with Harry Kewell over the Australia international winger's frequent unavailability for important matches - and is considering off-loading him.

Benitez, who demonstrated within a few weeks of taking over from Gerard Houllier that he was not afraid to make controversial decisions by allowing England's Michael Owen to join Real Madrid - is evidently ready to axe Kewell.

"I have been telling people for the last year what a fantastic player Harry is for us but if we are always waiting for him to be available, then maybe we should look for another solution," Benitez warned.

"This has been going on too long. I have been talking with the doctor.

"We may seek a second opinion and after that decide what we are going to do."

Benitez expected Kewell, who had only recently returned to the side after a long lay-off with ankle and groin problems, to be back in Champions League quarter-final action at Bayer Leverkusen (today Melbourne time) after missing Saturday's Premier League defeat at Newcastle with a niggle.

"Three days ago we were confident that he would be fit but he said that he felt something bad and now he can't play," said a frustrated Benitez, who had pencilled in Kewell as support for the front-running Milan Baros in the absence of the cup-tied Fernando Morientes.

"I told him that an 80 per cent fit Harry Kewell would be important to us for this match considering the selection problems that we have, but still he is not with us.

"We can't always be waiting for him and then having to change our team plans when he is not available."

[lond2345]

Benitez, who demonstrated within a few weeks of taking over from Gerard Houllier that he was not afraid to make controversial decisions by allowing England's Michael Owen to join Real Madrid - is evidently ready to axe Kewell.
Why would getting rid of Kewell be a "controversial" decision? Kewell has been a dissapointment, has done nothing and was a waste of money. Most intelligent Liverpool fans would understand this move.

[I_Am_A_Rock]

It would be controversial because Liverpool is his favourite club and he has many fans back in Australia. When Kewell is at his best he is unstoppable. The same kind of form he showed for leeds when he was valued at something like $20million.

However I wouldn't mind seeing him go. He seems to have all these injuries. He can't fly because of some chronic ankle injury. He takes a break for a few months to "recover" and when given the oppurtunity to play he just says he felt something bad. Rafa even told him that a 80% Kewell can help the Reds. If Liverpool is his favourite club why doesn't he play!

[655321]

It would be controversial because Liverpool is his favourite club and he has many fans back in Australia. When Kewell is at his best he is unstoppable. The same kind of form he showed for leeds when he was valued at something like $20million.

At the risk of agreeing with the person who replied to this earlier...Kewell has not shown the form he had at Leeds for pretty much 99% of the time he's been here...and not only would a move away from Liverpool not be controversial, but it certainly wouldn't attract any bids even near the parking lot of the ball park of $20 million.

[Suss]

The interesting thing is that I can't think of a logical place for Kewell to go. He considers himself a top player, so I can't see him accepting a move to smaller club, and I can't imagine any big clubs will be making offers for him. Maybe he will end up playing for one of the mid level clubs in Italy or Spain.

Remember that we only payed 5 million for Kewell. He was worth much more than that at the time. But in the end, based on his performances for Liverpool, 5 million is about what he is worth. From that perspective it wasn't a terrible signing (like Diouf). Of course Kewell's wages are among the highest at the club, and he isn't earning them at the moment.

[LiverpoolFanatic]

I've got crap knees and a bad back. PLease sign me Rafa Benitez, and I'll take 'Arry's spot in the physios room ;)

honestly, I thought us getting Harry was a bit of a coup back when we signed him. It has been unfortunate that he has suddenly become so injury prone. I don't recall him being like this at Leeds. As a poster above mentioned, he'll probably have to take a pay cut and move to a smaller club to show the big teams what he is capable of--providing he can sort out the ankle and whatever else is ailing him.

[quentinc]

Earlier this season I thought he might finally be showing his potential (The Newcastle game comes to mind). But then he's been injured and doesn't seem serious about coming back.

[ULL NEVER WALK ALONE]

http://premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=824327&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsLatestFAPremierLeagueNews&breadcrumb=latestfa_breadcrumb

I sadly think his anfield carrier may be coming to an end in the summer!Bye KEWELL! :(

[thisisanfield]

Sack him or sell him....?

Personally, i would just give him the boot right now, save some money on his wages, and let him finish the season in scotland...

his transfer value is negligable... so just let him go and sve some wages..

The mirror did an interesting article today comapring him and steven warnock, and the lengths they are willing to go to for the club.. we really dont need people like kewell...

Seriously.. cut our losses and just chuck him out now...

[655321]

http://premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=setSelectedId&nextPage=enNewsLatest&id=824327&type=com.fapl.website.news.NewsItem&categoryCode=NewsLatestFAPremierLeagueNews&breadcrumb=latestfa_breadcrumb

I sadly think his anfield carrier may be coming to an end in the summer

If this is true...then he is most certainly gone after this season.

[quentinc]

Sack him or sell him....?

Personally, i would just give him the boot right now, save some money on his wages, and let him finish the season in scotland...

his transfer value is negligable... so just let him go and sve some wages..

The mirror did an interesting article today comapring him and steven warnock, and the lengths they are willing to go to for the club.. we really dont need people like kewell...

Seriously.. cut our losses and just chuck him out now...
Except for the fact that we can't transfer anyone right now.

[TruReds]

Harry's refusal to avail himself through the pain barrier could possibly be the final straw that breaks the camel's back. Judging from Rafa's tough stance on non-submissive behaviours by players such as Diouf and Le Tallec, I finally concede that I might have to bid Kewell goodbye this summer.

[fedwood]

in the Sydney Sun Herald today
there was an article about how Kewell met with the Bayern Munich medical staff after their game with Arsenal and their head medical guy said Kewell should take the rest of the season off to recover from the groin injury.

[Bjornebye]

Average Number of Vacation Days Around the World Per Year
Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Kewell TBD
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days

:rolleyes:

Stig

[liverbird]

He needs to grow a pair! To quote the village ogre at my local " He's a lightweight and a tosser!" :D :D

[usscouse]

You guys!!!

Nobody knows what Rafa thinks and/or says about Kewell. Everything is based on the Pap the media conjures up to sell more of their collective crap.

True he hasn't lived up to...well, just my expectations, to say the least. But, do I really know why????

But having said that the team needs someone who can do the job, sympathy doesn't win matches. If he can't perform then we need someone out there who can. End of the sad story.

[Rafalution]

in my humble oppinion, kewell is just a puffter who is letting the side and the fans down. I'd rather play riise, warnock and garcia before him

[billyireland]

At the risk of agreeing with the person who replied to this earlier...Kewell has not shown the form he had at Leeds for pretty much 99% of the time he's been here...and not only would a move away from Liverpool not be controversial, but it certainly wouldn't attract any bids even near the parking lot of the ball park of $20 million.
Unfortunately, his 'form' at Leeds was far from spectacular as well. Kewell was fantastic for about two seasons, but somewhere in 01-02, it went downhill, which was overlooked by many general football fans for some reason (if he was in the same form as he had been earlier in his career, Leeds would not have been in their league position (see: Duff, Blackburn). Every once in a while, Harry would pop up with something simply inspired (see: vs. Arsenal at the end of the 02/03 season) that would make headlines, but then disappear again.

[Suss]

Unfortunately, his 'form' at Leeds was far from spectacular as well. Kewell was fantastic for about two seasons, but somewhere in 01-02, it went downhill, which was overlooked by many general football fans for some reason (if he was in the same form as he had been earlier in his career, Leeds would not have been in their league position (see: Duff, Blackburn). Every once in a while, Harry would pop up with something simply inspired (see: vs. Arsenal at the end of the 02/03 season) that would make headlines, but then disappear again.

Thats not true. His last season at Leeds was perhaps the best of his career.

[fedwood]

Unfortunately, his 'form' at Leeds was far from spectacular as well. Kewell was fantastic for about two seasons, but somewhere in 01-02, it went downhill, which was overlooked by many general football fans for some reason (if he was in the same form as he had been earlier in his career, Leeds would not have been in their league position (see: Duff, Blackburn). Every once in a while, Harry would pop up with something simply inspired (see: vs. Arsenal at the end of the 02/03 season) that would make headlines, but then disappear again.
no way
he was good all his time at Leeds