Liverpool FC Forum

[SouthCoastShankly]

Sky Sports:

http://home.skysports.com/list.as....or+Reds

"Liverpool midfielder Boudewijn Zenden has been ruled out of action for up to a month.

The Dutchman suffered a knee injury towards the end of Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Real Betis.

The former Middlesbrough man sprained a ligament in his right knee and it could keep him on the sidelines for up to a month.

Zenden will see a specialist about the problem and the hope is that just the rest will be enough to cure the problem.

The injury comes at the wrong time for Zenden as he was just settling into life at Anfield, having scored his second goal for the club against Portsmouth last Saturday."

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Well this is Harrys time to impress, i think Rafa will use this period to play Harry as much as possible. Transfer window in January - Make or Break

[bigmick]

The worry for me as far as Kewell is concerned is not his gradual rehabilitation which is coming along just about as you would expect, it's his fitness in terms of body fat. He still looks at least a stone overwieght to me which is a worry. It's not a worry that he has some sort of medical disorder, it's a worry that he hasn't got the will to get down to his fighting wieght.
I've been a consistent advocate of Kewell, if not quite a supporter. He has turned in some good performances as well as some disgraceful displays of non-comittance during his Anfield career. Clearly he is a player of considerable ability, probably not a million miles short of World class if his mind was right. I wonder though when I see him barreling around the pitch. Where is the heart, where is the desire, that burning ambition to play for Liverpool? My suspicion is that he has about six weeks to show it or it's curtains.

[Ciggy]

Where is the heart, where is the desire, that burning ambition to play for Liverpool? My suspicion is that he has about six weeks to show it or it's curtains.

Carlton Palmer said on saturday, that he doesnt think Harry will still be at Liverpool after January, he said he's got no desire, no hunger to remain at the club, he was saying he is a shadow of the player he was, and he reckoned it was best if both parties parted company in January.
Reports this morning are suggesting that Real Betis and Inter Milan would like to sign Harry.

[SouthCoastShankly]

I think his injuries have prevented him proving how good he is. Maybe this opportunity we'll see a new a more focused Harry Kewell. Australias World Cup qualification has had to of given him extra motivation for the rest of the season. I couldn't care less what carlton palmer thinks...

[Sparky]

Would much prefer to see Riise get a long run at left wing, i think that he keeps the width , good crosser and a goal threat.

[Big Niall]

Would much prefer to see Riise get a long run at left wing, i think that he keeps the width , good crosser and a goal threat.

Kewell is a to$$er. How can he not be motivated to play for LFC (the club he claimed to support) in front of 45,000 fans.

Do these guys not appreciate that they are living the life others dream of?

[Lionheart]

Another thread to rag Kewell...(how original)

[bigmick]

Another thread to rag Kewell...(how original)

With respect Lionheart, the thread is not of the "rag Kewell" variety. You are correct in that here have been too many of those but in this instance, the topic starter actually indicated that this was Harry's big chance.
It's unfortunate TBH that Kewell polarises opinion so much, largely due it seems to me to his nationality. Whenever a discussion on his merits or otherwise sprouts up, all the Aussie boys jump in to defend him. All that's fair enough I guess but our friends down under must appreciate that it's in no way an anti-Australia thing with Harry, it's just that we like blokes to show a bit more passion for the shirt.
I think he's a great player when he's in the mood, capable of changing the game in an instant. I said in my original post that he's not much short of World class when on his game. I can't however forgive professional athletes of any persuasion who can't keep their wieght under control. It may be a struggle for the rest of us to not get the old beer belly but when you're paid extortionate wages to play football, surely it's not asking too much to request that a player stays fit in an aerobic sense. Failure to do so indicates to me a lack of motivation.

[SouthCoastShankly]

no not another thread to rag kewell numbnuts - check the topic title

[Ace Ventura]

I wasn't fortunate enough to watch the match on Saturday, but in the paper i read it says that Kewell changed the game when he came on.
So lets hope he is starting to turn the corner.

[AussieKopite]

Did Kewell say he doesn't have the passion? What is your source, coz if its a mate down the pub then I may not believe you. I think that against City he started to show flashes of his brilliance. Also don't forget that Benitez has worked well with Football Federation Australia in getting him well. I think that Benitez has to much invested in him at the moment to offload him in January.

Having said that, I hope he gets his act together.

[bigmick]

Did Kewell say he doesn't have the passion?

No I suspect Kewell has never said that he doesn't have the passion for the club. That said, I never said that he did say it.
I merely pointed out that when a footballer allows himself to get overwieght (a la Robbie Fowler and Neil Ruddock) I think it displays a lack of desire to play to your optimum, and yes a lack of passion for the game.
Now in Harry's case, as he is coming back from a long-term injury few are expecting him to uproot trees as clearly it is going to take time for him to get back to his best. What I do expect though is for him to be slim and athletic. I have already said many times that I rate Kewells ability, but some of our Australian supporters run the risk of rendering themselves unworthy of being taken seriously if they continue to defend Harry under even the most obvious and gentle criticism.

[stmichael]

bigmick, just wandered if your opinion of zenden is still the same as when he first signed? i know you were a huge fan.

[bigmick]

It's a fair question St Mick as I stated on a number of occasions that I thought he was garbage. I think he started slowly and the urge to constantly remind people of my remarkable forsight and insight got the better of me at times. The last few games though have seen him put in a few more solid performances and while I'm not quite eating the iold humble pie yet, I have started looking up a few recipes.
He has done better than I imagined he would and the main difference is in his attitude. Sofar it has been first class and I hope he continues.
Would I have signed him? still no given the fact that he will be on good money and will only ever be a squad man but fair-play, he certainly isn't garbage anyhow.

[stmichael]

as you know i live in boro so over the last two years i have understandably spoke to loads of boro fans and they were quite literally devastated when zenden left for nowt last summer. the main reason for that is that they just haven't replaced him. zenden scored 10 goals for them last season.

i said when we signed him that we'd only see the best of him if he played centrally. that's his best position. he's no outside left. he's not got the pace or trickery. in the centre, alongside a deep lying player (e.g. boateng, alonso) it's no surprise really that he excels. i suppose at liverpool he's just unfortunate that we have probably the strongest central midfield (in terms of strength in depth) in the premiership.