Kewell Reports...

[Liverpool_SC]

Originally posted by gocaps
Congratulations. You've shown definitively that you know nothing about Leeds and are here to shoot your mouth off.

Robinson not a true impact player? And Duberry as a young player who could improve? Why not throw Radebe and Batty onto that list of yours too?

You're a jerk. I thought Duberry was 25, but he is 27. That still makes him 4 or 5 years younger than Batty or Radabe.

I made lots of other points in my last two posts that flesh out why Leeds is in trouble. Why don't you dismiss those too? Don't you think that Leeds' problems are not on the playing field as much as off the field?

Oh, and the only reason I was in here to begin with was because of a link on Big Soccer Live. I didn't just barge in hoping to argue with ya'll. I just can't understand why Leeds fans haven't forced Ridsdale out before now. Even the success that your team had under O'Leary was bought at a very high price.

You are right that Robinson is an impact player, but a goalkeeper is limited in his ability to win a game for the team (unless his name is Kahn). Especially if the backline is very poor. This is something Liverpool fans know a lot about from the mid-90's. Surely you understand what I mean by that?

[gocaps]

Originally posted by Liverpool_SC
You're a jerk.
Call me a jerk all you want, but I didn't barge onto the Liverpool list to denigrate most of your team's players. When you do that, you're asking for an angry response.

Or have you already forgotten about your first post in this thread?

I don't watch enough Liverpool to make determinations about all their players, so I don't make them. Because you obviously don't watch enough Leeds to make determinations about our players, you should do the same.

[Liverpool_SC]

Originally posted by gocaps
Call me a jerk all you want, but I didn't barge onto the Liverpool list to denigrate most of your team's players. When you do that, you're asking for an angry response.

Or have you already forgotten about your first post in this thread?

I don't watch enough Liverpool to make determinations about all their players, so I don't make them. Because you obviously don't watch enough Leeds to make determinations about our players, you should do the same.

You are right. The tone of my first post was out of line. But I think a lot of the things I said in the later posts are true.

And I still wonder where your team's offense is going to come from if Kewell leaves.

[Darr]

Originally posted by Liverpool_SC
No one has ever faulted the effort or work-rate of any of these players (to the contrary). Owen has had moments of ineffectiveness, Heskey is some-what limited by his lack of balance and technical level and Diouf is still not the best decision-maker. But that is a far cry from showing up with extra weight and still managing to disappear for large chunks of the match.

With his size and ability and the weakness of a number of the defenses in the premiership (man city, birmingham, wba, west ham, etc) Viduka should not be satisfied with his performance this year. Michael Owen has still scored pretty well considering he has been off form and the tactics have left him isolated a lot of the time.

Heskey simply isn't in Viduka's class, but he is still a valuable player (one of my favorites).


Why is it that when Owen doesn't score it's because he's off form or the tactics? Yet your quick to pounce on Viduka? I could use the same argument to defend Viduka that you use for Owen...

[Liverpool_SC]

Originally posted by Darr
Why is it that when Owen doesn't score it's because he's off form or the tactics? Yet your quick to pounce on Viduka? I could use the same argument to defend Viduka that you use for Owen...

Watch Viduka on the field. Is he working hard, making tons of runs, tracking back, fighting for the ball? How does he prepare for games - is he in shape?

I don't argue that Owen hasn't been playing up to his potential this season. This has not been a great year for Owen - though he still has a chance for 20 senior goals. But his struggles are certainly not due to a lack of EFFORT. Also, don't forget that St. Mike is seventh in the EPL in goals scored (11) - and that only one of the players above him played in the World Cup - a pretty exhausting tournament. And that guy got thrown out after the first game (Thierry Henry). Almost all of the England players have struggled with their form this season.

I am not the first person by a long shot who is being critical of Viduka's commitment this season. I have even seen a number of Leeds fans questioning the Duke's commitment at times.

Hopefully reports like this one will be just the beginning of better news: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=260564&cc=5901)

I would hate to see ManU sign Kewell away and sell Giggs!

Perhaps I am blowing the Viduka thing out of proportion, but many people in the press and on these boards have commented about his girth and the appearance of a lack of motivation.

[Darr]

Originally posted by Liverpool_SC
Watch Viduka on the field. Is he working hard, making tons of runs, tracking back, fighting for the ball? How does he prepare for games - is he in shape?

I don't argue that Owen hasn't been playing up to his potential this season. This has not been a great year for Owen - though he still has a chance for 20 senior goals. But his struggles are certainly not due to a lack of EFFORT. Also, don't forget that St. Mike is seventh in the EPL in goals scored (11) - and that only one of the players above him played in the World Cup - a pretty exhausting tournament. And that guy got thrown out after the first game (Thierry Henry). Almost all of the England players have struggled with their form this season.

I am not the first person by a long shot who is being critical of Viduka's commitment this season. I have even seen a number of Leeds fans questioning the Duke's commitment at times.

Hopefully reports like this one will be just the beginning of better news: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=260564&cc=5901)

I would hate to see ManU sign Kewell away and sell Giggs!

Perhaps I am blowing the Viduka thing out of proportion, but many people in the press and on these boards have commented about his girth and the appearance of a lack of motivation.

Don't get me wrong, I myself have commented on Viduka poorly, I wanted to sell him and keep Fowler... But Owen has had just as bad a year as a superstar calibur player... And with Smith and his suspensions, Kewell's injuries, and for that matter a lack of other bodies, Viduka is truly by himself up front alot...

[gocaps]

To me, the criticism of Viduka isn't fair. He has been playing through terrible back pain all season - remember, when he was out at the beginning of the year TV said that only long-term rest would fix the pain...and that such a break wasn't possible until the season ended.

Viduka still never shies away from the physical play that colors his best performances. He continues to fight with and through defenders, get himself available for passes as a target man, shield the ball effectively with his body, and turn in the box for shots. Does he track back as often on defense? No. Is he as dominant physically as he was two seasons ago? Also no. But when he's healthy - and hopefully he will be next year - I think we'll see vintage Duke.

Ironically enough, to me Kewell is far more mercurial than Viduka. Kewell is more gifted than Viduka by a country mile, but you never know what kind of effort to expect from Harry.

[Darr]

Originally posted by gocaps
I think we'll see vintage Duke.



Yes you will Terp Fan!!!! hehe.. :)

[Darr]

Originally posted by gocaps
To me, the criticism of Viduka isn't fair. He has been playing through terrible back pain all season - remember, when he was out at the beginning of the year TV said that only long-term rest would fix the pain...and that such a break wasn't possible until the season ended.

Viduka still never shies away from the physical play that colors his best performances. He continues to fight with and through defenders, get himself available for passes as a target man, shield the ball effectively with his body, and turn in the box for shots. Does he track back as often on defense? No. Is he as dominant physically as he was two seasons ago? Also no. But when he's healthy - and hopefully he will be next year - I think we'll see vintage Duke.

Ironically enough, to me Kewell is far more mercurial than Viduka. Kewell is more gifted than Viduka by a country mile, but you never know what kind of effort to expect from Harry.

True, True... Sometimes it seems like Kewell is only able to turn it on for quick spurts and then disappears... But man those spurts beautiful...

[gocaps]

Originally posted by Darr
Yes you will Terp Fan!!!! hehe.. :)
You mean lots of spot-up 3 point shooting, no rebounding, plenty of whining to the refs, and ugly cheerleaders? :)

[Darr]

Originally posted by gocaps
You mean lots of spot-up 3 point shooting, no rebounding, plenty of whining to the refs, and ugly cheerleaders? :)

All true, but you forgot the double digit victory... :)

[mellon002]

Originally posted by gocaps
You mean lots of spot-up 3 point shooting, no rebounding, plenty of whining to the refs, and ugly cheerleaders?

Don't forget the overrated fans.

Originally posted by Darr
All true, but you forgot the double digit victory... :)

It never gets old.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=230180120

[Darr]

Originally posted by mellon002
Don't forget the overrated fans.



It never gets old.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=230180120


No it doesn't... Two can play this game... :)


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=230500150

But in all seriousness, good luck against UNC tonight...

[Liverpool_SC]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=261093&cc=5901

'At the end of the day, the chairman can only do so much. The manager has responsibility and the players have a responsibility and between us all, hopefully, we can build a successful team. I have not been kicking a ball every Saturday afternoon, it has been the footballers on the park.' . . . 'I don't believe, despite the sales in making sure we are financially viable, we have left Leeds United with anything other than a very good squad of players . . .
'We have had one difficult season and suddenly the world is calling for me to go.


Pretty cheeky for the guy who oversaw the sale of Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate, Robbie Fowler, Robbie Keane and Lee Bowyer and the departure of Olivier Dacourt on loan. He basically sold away the strength of the squad and worse, mortgaged the future. And he STILL doesn't think he has done anything wrong.

I hope you are correct in your surmise that the new "managing director" or whatever they call him will come in with a feasible and prudent plan for re-building your squad.