Topic: Harry Kewell

[Kopenhagen]

He was a great player when fit.

[Slick_Beef]

Being completely honest, i'd actually forgotten that he started that game.

It wasn't a very memorable contribution was it... I guess I was so horrified when I saw him on the teamsheet that it stuck in my mind

[Skidder.]

Was a fine player, but if I remember correctly didn't he love the high-life with his bird at the time?

Seemed to have a dip in form before he moved to us.

[sinnermichael]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbHw0XZUX-c

[wampa1]

Remember him scoring a header against the Mancs at 2-0 down.  Heskey missed a sitter at the end.

[helmboy_nige]

He was a great player when fit.

Shame that was pretty much never.

I remember being so excited when we were linked with him. He was the 'final piece in the puzzle', but sadly he ranks high on the list of overhyped disappointments.

Thanks for the fleeting memories Harry.

[Barneylfc∗]

Think it was in the FA Cup game in 2006, I remember early on he went into a tackle and cleaned out Gary Neville after about 2 minutes. One of my favourite Harry Kewell moments that.

As above, I don't remember being as excited about anyone than I was with Kewell signing. Sitting in front of SSN all day when they were playing that clip, "Next season, I will be playing for ...." then cutting to an ad break until about 5 o clok in the afternoon they played the full clip. I was ecstatic. Thought he would be go on to be a great player for us.

[gjr1]

He's only quitting 'cause no-one will pay him any more money to play!

[goalspaytherent]

His celebration in the derby where he bangs his hands together was class ....as was his goal that day ....if you look back , he actually assisted some important goals for us .

[ColdSteel]

Exciting player at leeds. I was buzzing when he signed for us and he had his moments but never could stay fit.

[MagicB8all]

He was great until that fatal game against Bolton. I think Big Sam was their manager at the time. He got injured and was never the same again.

[CraigWest92]

Was a great player back in the day, but he hasn't done anything notable in the game for a very long time. It's only his links back to the PL that have given him so much press coverage over the dormant years. I wish him well though and suspect it won't be long before he's a manager learning his trade in the AUS football circuit.

[Garcias Sangria]

I thought he was a quality player, but his inability to stay fit was very frustrating... his injuries pretty much put paid to him, IMO.

The Aussies voted him their best ever footballer a couple of years ago. 

Best of luck to the fella in his retirement.

[nicholasanthony]

The Aussies voted him their best ever footballer a couple of years ago. 

Meh, he was no Viduka.

He didn't transfer to Liverpool by chance, that it never truly worked out for him I'm sure will always haunt him.

[KERRYKOP]

So much promise, but injuries and apathy took their toll. His volley v Spurs the highlight for me, brilliant cross by Steve Finnan as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbHw0XZUX-c

[daddykewell]

As a young kid growing up in Australia (I'm 25 now), I remember Kewell as a 17 year old when he scored in both legs against Iran in the '98 world cup qualifying play off. We failed to qualify on away goals but all of a sudden, a country where the vast majority couldn't give a rats about the round ball game, was talking about this kid.

He inspired (my generation at least) to play and watch the game, he went on to win the PFA young player of the year award in 2000 (to put it into perspective the 99 winner was Anelka and the 01 winner was Gerrard) and when he signed for Liverpool I was ecstatic! I know many a kid my age in Australia that started watching us due to him (having never been old enough to witness Craig Johnson).

Its a shame his injuries hampered his career and we never got to see his full potential; there were flashes now and then but 05/06 was his best for me. 06 FA Cup Semi Final vs Chelsea I felt was his best game for us, midfield of Gerrard - Sissoko - Alonso - Kewell was a treat.

Part of Australia's so called 'golden generation' (Schwarzer, Cahill, Viduka, Kewell) that inspired many in Aus!   

[Juan Loco]

I'm sure he'll make himself available when we reach the Champions League final next season.

[WhoHe]

As has been said I always got the impression that he was'nt trying that hard and did'nt seem to want to play with any injury no matter how bad (or not) the injury was. OK player for Liverpool but nothing more.

[vagabond]

I'm sure he'll make himself available when we reach the Champions League final next season.

haha!

[Garcias Sangria]

As a young kid growing up in Australia (I'm 25 now), I remember Kewell as a 17 year old when he scored in both legs against Iran in the '98 world cup qualifying play off. We failed to qualify on away goals but all of a sudden, a country where the vast majority couldn't give a rats about the round ball game, was talking about this kid.
[....]
Part of Australia's so called 'golden generation' (Schwarzer, Cahill, Viduka, Kewell) that inspired many in Aus!

My fella's an Aussie in his early thirties; he says much the same as this.

[Anywhichwayicant]

What a player at Leeds.

Ecstatic when he signed for us.

[Les Willis]

Yeah, he never seemed to emulate his Leeds form anywhere else. Showed flashes of his ability for us, but as people are saying, injuries took their toll.

[jackh]

Echo the sentiments of a couple of others - there are few players I can recall being anywhere near as excited about us signing (even less who we went on to sign ).  I remember his first half season, in particularly, being absolutely brilliant for us but his second season was severely hampered by that bizarre injury wasn't it?

Much better in 2005-06 but it felt as though he'd returned as a solid, rather than unspectacular, option.  Injuries again ruled him out during 2006-07 didn't they, but I remember being at the Charlton game on the final day (Robbie's last game!) - he came on midway through the second half and was brilliant (and scored a penalty in front of the Kop just minutes after Robbie had been subbed off!), leading to great clamour for him to start against Milan in Athens.

I remember barely anything about his last season.

Shame it never worked out really but I tend to think he gets excessive criticism - there were plenty of postive moments during his time with us.

[Crosby Nick]

He was actually very good for us in 2003/04, just a pity the team was crap! In the early months especially he was a regular scorer.

Even up to 07/08 Rafa would pretty much always play him when fit and certainly trusted him in the big games (you forget now, but for example he played against Porto and Marseilles in those must win Champions League group games).

He had very good patches of form for us in amongst the high profile injuries. Feel pretty bad for him with the way his reputation seems to have gone.

[Dingle Red]

The final Piece.

[Skidder.]

Harry, Harry Kewell, Harry, Harry Kewell.

[S]

I didn't really watch much of our campaigns in his first couple of seasons here but surely part of the reason he didn't set the world alight was because we had a pretty mediocre side at the time?

Then, once Rafa came, injuries gradually took their toll on him. I for one look back on his time here fondly. Never reached the heights we hoped for but was a solid member of the great side we had in the 2005/06 season. Scored that memorable goal against Everton but for me his finest game for us was the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea where he put in a MOTM-worthy performance.

[Scarlet`]

I loved his goal against Everton. I was one of his biggest fans here if u guys can recall. His ponytail year was the best

[Kashinoda]

Plagued by injuries much like Fábio Aurélio, but I remember Aurelio more fondly because my perception was that he gave 110% and was always class when fit.

I'm not saying that's the case, many of those years are becoming a blur now. He got a lot of unfair stick, especially on here at times.

[jackh]

I always remember his goal for Leeds at Highbury too, probably in his last season with them - running onto a lofted through ball on the inside left and lashing in a half-volley from 25 yards.  Quality.

[_00_deathscar]

I didn't really watch much of our campaigns in his first couple of seasons here but surely part of the reason he didn't set the world alight was because we had a pretty mediocre side at the time?

Then, once Rafa came, injuries gradually took their toll on him. I for one look back on his time here fondly. Never reached the heights we hoped for but was a solid member of the great side we had in the 2005/06 season. Scored that memorable goal against Everton but for me his finest game for us was the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea where he put in a MOTM-worthy performance.

Yep - that's because if he was fit, even if he was never going to be the blazing Harry Kewell we all thought we had signed (thanks to injuries), he was still a good option - tactically very astute and a clever player.

[paulrazor]

first season he was up to double figures by January and scored some crackers and scored in a lot of big games

just went downhill. first season under rafa he was awful, he probably had 5 good games all season at the most. he looked shot of pace, unfit and overweight.

the year we won the fa cup he had a good season (looked a bit pudgy though) but after that he didnt really do anything

[redan]

I'll just echo what everyone else has said,

I just couldn't have been happier when we signed him. He was class at Leeds (he'd just scored that screamer at Highbury I seem to remember) and it all seemed to fit, we needed a player like him and there was literally nobody better in PL to play that position,

That first season he was arguably our best player and again in 05/06 he was brilliant but in a more controlled way. He seemed to lose than zip and extra bit of genius he had but was still a great player. The FA Cup Semi Final against Chelsea he was by far the best player on the pitch,

After that game I thought he'd get his fitness back after a good WC and pre-season and he'd be raring to go again but it just got even worse (didn't he have gout amongst many other things??). 06/07 and 07/08 were almost write-offs playing the odd game here and there and again performing to a decent level but his body was finished.

Such as shame, good player for us but could have been legendry

[DanA]

I'll just echo what everyone else has said,

I just couldn't have been happier when we signed him. He was class at Leeds (he'd just scored that screamer at Highbury I seem to remember) and it all seemed to fit, we needed a player like him and there was literally nobody better in PL to play that position,

That first season he was arguably our best player and again in 05/06 he was brilliant but in a more controlled way. He seemed to lose than zip and extra bit of genius he had but was still a great player. The FA Cup Semi Final against Chelsea he was by far the best player on the pitch,

After that game I thought he'd get his fitness back after a good WC and pre-season and he'd be raring to go again but it just got even worse (didn't he have gout amongst many other things??). 06/07 and 07/08 were almost write-offs playing the odd game here and there and again performing to a decent level but his body was finished.

Such as shame, good player for us but could have been legendry

Liverpool diagnosed it as gout but it was actually blood poisoning from some blisters he got during the world cup. Liverpool really did him no favors in his treatment between misdiagnosis' and poor decisions.  I think Kewell had  quite a bit of resentment towards them and seemed to be (on the surface) for good reason.

[Scarlet`]

My favourite player while he was around

[Spanish Al]

The Aussies voted him their best ever footballer a couple of years ago. 

As a young kid growing up in Australia (I'm 25 now), I remember Kewell as a 17 year old when he scored in both legs against Iran in the '98 world cup qualifying play off. We failed to qualify on away goals but all of a sudden, a country where the vast majority couldn't give a rats about the round ball game, was talking about this kid.

He inspired (my generation at least) to play and watch the game, he went on to win the PFA young player of the year award in 2000 (to put it into perspective the 99 winner was Anelka and the 01 winner was Gerrard) and when he signed for Liverpool I was ecstatic! I know many a kid my age in Australia that started watching us due to him (having never been old enough to witness Craig Johnson).

Its a shame his injuries hampered his career and we never got to see his full potential; there were flashes now and then but 05/06 was his best for me. 06 FA Cup Semi Final vs Chelsea I felt was his best game for us, midfield of Gerrard - Sissoko - Alonso - Kewell was a treat.

Part of Australia's so called 'golden generation' (Schwarzer, Cahill, Viduka, Kewell) that inspired many in Aus!   

[Flaccido Dongingo]

Fucking brilliant footballer, what a coup it was to sign him, shame he was fucked by injuries.

[zabadoh]

http://www.espnfc.com/watford/story/2519794/watford-ask-harry-kewell-to-coach-under-21-squad-sources

Kewell retired last summer from playing football, but has been offered the managerial position for Watford's U-21s

[Circa1892]

Seeing this thread towards the top has got me thinking. Can't think of any signing that got me as excited at this one at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=628o3iTExiE

Worth skipping to about 1:40 for that Sheff Weds goal. If he'd performed as well here as he had at Leeds in that team from 05-07 we'd probably have had another title...

[synthesis]

That ankle injury he got when he came on at half time to rescue a freaking Carling Cup match against Bolton (why, Houllier, why!) was the point at which he basically became a shell of the player he formerly was. That was around halfway through his first season and he'd been terrific up to that point. When he came back from that injury, he'd lost a huge amount of pace, it was ridiculous. Was still extremely talented with his reduced mobility - I mean, Rafa played him basically always when he was fit, and Rafa never had much room for luxury players - but never again would you see him running at defenders at full hilt. Bit similar to the Torres situation and the 2010 World Cup, honestly.