Kewell, Schwarzer victims of narrowmindedness
Columnist By Davidde Corran, 25 Aug 2011 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert
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- A-League, Al Jazira, Azzuri, FFA, Francesco Totti, Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Socceroos, Tim Cahill
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Australia's Mark Schwarzer applauds the crowd after the Socceroos 2-0 win over Uzbekistan. AAP Image/Paul Miller
So Harry Kewell forgoes huge money in the Middle East with almost no tax liability to return to the A-League and he’s a “greedy bastard”.
Meanwhile Mark Schwarzer responds honestly to a question on whether he’d consider playing in the A-League and is roundly panned for it.
With friends like these, who needs enemies?
From Tim Cahill back in June 2009 through to Schwarzer earlier this month, one of the nicest and most intelligent guys in football, it seems there isn’t a Socceroo the Australian public and media aren’t willing to turn on with little to no reason.
Good on Socceroos captain Lucas Neill then for not even considering coming back to the A-League and instead taking as much money as he can get from U.A.E. club Al Jazira.
The man’s been a great servant of Australian football and deserves every cent he can muster before his short career wraps up. I’d willingly do the exact same thing.
For the sake of perspective lets consider the behaviour of some of the players who represent their country elsewhere around the world starting with the eight Mexican national team players who were recently caught with prostitutes in their hotel rooms during the Copa America.
Or how about Frank Lampard who once called up a former Chelsea player turned pundit to complain that he’d “only” given him a 9/10 for his performance in an English international.
Then there’s Francesco Totti who, while playing for the Azzurri at Euro 2004, felt the need to spit in an opponent’s face.
But hey, Kewell took two months to sign a contract with the Victory, and Schwarzer isn’t particularly interested in playing here. Now that’s villainous behaviour.
What I find most galling is that there were genuinely important questions to be asked during the Kewell and Schwarzer issues that were left to the side as the faux anger went into overdrive.
For example, how will the Victory and FFA leverage Kewell’s star status to not just boost attendances this season but to ensure a brighter future for the A-League in general?
Meanwhile Schwarzer’s comments were an opportunity for us to debate the merits of Socceroos returning at the tail ends of their careers, and question why it is that some national team players succeed in Australia when others crash and burn.
But that was all left on the shelf. And we wonder why Australia’s most capped Socceroo doesn’t want to return home.
As a six-month off-season labors on, I’m starting to think we need some football as soon as possible to help save us from ourselves.
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- A-League, Al Jazira, Azzuri, FFA, Francesco Totti, Harry Kewell, Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Socceroos, Tim Cahill
August 25th 2011 @ 8:04am
JAJI said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:04am | Report comment
You havent commented on your close mate Jesse Fink who has systematically tried to destroy the game over the last year and got punted in the end bacuse everyone was sick of his agenda against the FFA. Why havent you written about how great the last 7 days has been with first Harry and now Emerton? You still find a chance to critise the FFA in your article…..
August 25th 2011 @ 10:22am
Melange said | August 25th 2011 @ 10:22am | Report comment
Fink was quite negative over the past 12 months but we shouldn’t pretend the world is a rosy place with only positive things to write. These guys aren’t employed by FFA to promote sport, they’re paid to give their opinions.
However, the problem I had with Fink was how evangalistic he became declaring every way he put forward in opposition to FFAs way forward was gospel and should be taken on. The fact is for every valid point he made he made just as many bad ones. It was clear from his personal criticism of many people that a lot of his articles had a personal agenda. He really lost it in the last 12 months and his article about the Harry Kewell post world cup ‘bust up’ should have seen him at least suspended.
NOW, back to this article and your comments on it, you are drawing a very long bow indeed to suggest Davidde has criticised the FFA!
August 25th 2011 @ 8:20am
Futbanous said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Footballers like the rest of the human race are individuals,therefore make decisions based on their own personality,needs & circumstances.
Would be great to have every high profile Socceroo return when they’ve still something to give.
However if they dont, who are we to judge.
Just glad that some do as we’ve seen this last week.
August 25th 2011 @ 8:38am
TomC said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Lazy, stupid article. Picking out a handful of highly isolated points of view and claiming that it shows that ‘it seems there isn’t a Socceroo the Australian public and media aren’t willing to turn on with little to no reason’.
In particular, the example of Cahill in June 2009 is ridiculous. To conflate the Daily Telegraph and its readers with the entire Australian public and media is breathtakingly lazy writing.
This is nothing more than a petulant whinge about a handful of journalists (Mike Cockerill is the only one linked to) criticising a handful of footballers. How dare people have different opinions from Davidde?
The really depressing thing though is that Davidde continues in the same old partisan antagonism that has corrupted Australian football journalism over the last few years. As JAJI observes above, why doesn’t Jesse Fink and has rabid Muscat-bashing on the TWG website rate a mention?
August 25th 2011 @ 8:44am
Matt F said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:44am | Report comment
The Australian “tall poppy” syndrome again working at its best. Build a sports star (ar any “celebrity”) up and then, as soon as they put one fraction of a toe out of line, tear them down. It’s like clockwork
August 25th 2011 @ 8:59am
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 25th 2011 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Excellent article Davidde.
And, isn’t it interesting that it is the same guy, Mike Cockerill – (allegedly) a football journalist – who was leading the charge making the snide comments about H and Schwarzy.
For the past 15 years+ every 90 minutes they are on the field, guys like Schwarzy, H, Timmy and the rest of the National Team do more to promote football in Australia than Mike Cockerill in a lifetime of writing in the mainstream media.
There are a lot of people with agendas and biases in football … but, I guess, that’s no different to life. At least we all have one thing in common – we love Fußball!
August 25th 2011 @ 9:25am
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 25th 2011 @ 9:25am | Report comment
Even when he writes something positive, Cockerill just can’t help himself and has a dig at H (http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/homecoming-why-emerton-looks-the-right-fit-for-sydney-fc-20110824-1jacj.html )
This guy, Cockerill, seems to HATE Harry Kewell and it appears to be overpowering and consuming Cockerill’s life.
It’s very very sad to see any adult behave in such a juvenile manner as Cockerill.
August 25th 2011 @ 9:34am
Michael said | August 25th 2011 @ 9:34am | Report comment
+1
August 25th 2011 @ 11:42am
jmac said | August 25th 2011 @ 11:42am | Report comment
the worst part is he is drawing a salary from fairfax while invading his reader’s minds with his personal vendetta.
can’t he just get over whatever happened and move on, or at least carry out his petulant hate-harry campaign outside of a major newspaper, so as not to subject all of us to it.
August 25th 2011 @ 12:01pm
mahony said | August 25th 2011 @ 12:01pm | Report comment
Hs is a bitter old dog.
August 25th 2011 @ 10:20pm
midfield general said | August 25th 2011 @ 10:20pm | Report comment
Do you expect journalists to be mindless cheerleaders for likes of Kewell? Surely Mandic/ Kewell conduct over the last couple of months deserved scrutiny – but I guess it ain’t gonna matter if Harry does his stuff on the field. But what if he doesn’t, or spend the most of the season injured?
August 25th 2011 @ 9:20am
whiskeymac said | August 25th 2011 @ 9:20am | Report comment
agree with the examples but not the overall sentiment that all socceroos are targets. shwarzer was allowed to answer as he did – just as grella and chippers did – and there are plenty of others who havent played here in the HAL – dukes, kalac (i think) spring to mind – or not likely too – bresciano. Or others who stop here to sign off after stints elsewhere – was it popovic before neill in the middle east?
if MS, or any other player, doesnt want to play here for whatever reason are we so insecure as to make a big deal of it? i am hoping shwarzer will come back and still invest his knowledge and time, like Kalac, and benefit the game. He just spent a bit on his sydney home so i assue he will be back one day =)
as for calling HK greedy – well Cockeril wld say that. Wld he say that if he had signed for SFC?
As for the Timmy episode – it seems to me to be an effort to smear the pin up boy and throw mud, in my mind a tleast it didnt work.
anyway once this generation retires who will be the big name star(s) to write up about coming home?
August 25th 2011 @ 9:40am
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 25th 2011 @ 9:40am | Report comment
Come on .. you’re not comparing “apples with apples”.
v7 of the HAL is totally different to v1. No one would have expected H or Emo to return in the early days.
But, after only 6 years, an integral member of an EPL team has said: “stuff the EPL, I’d rather play in the HAL”.
If I were a (sports) betting man I’d be putting a lot of money on Lucas returning to the HAL next season – his contract in the UAE is only for 1 year.
And, Blackburn are also looking to off-load Vinnie Grella, who is one of the highest paid players at Rovers. So, Vinnie may also return to the HAL .. now, he’s a Melbourne boy and we could do with a defensive midfielder!
August 25th 2011 @ 9:53am
The Cattery said | August 25th 2011 @ 9:53am | Report comment
“No one would have expected H or Emo to return in the early days. ”
I disagree with that statement. From the very start of the A-League, there were high hopes that socceroos would return to the A-League, and indeed, Okon and Zelic returned within the first two season, both of whom I would rate to be at least on par witih Emo. Muskat returned to captain the Victory from the start, who up to that point had been a regular starter for many years, and the Victory even signed up Arch as their marquee from the very start.
August 25th 2011 @ 10:37am
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 25th 2011 @ 10:37am | Report comment
I think even Ned and Paolo would agree that, when they returned to the HAL, their existing form – at club and national level (well, neither Paolo nor Ned were playing international football) – was not at the same level as Emo and H most recent form.
I doubt Muscat would be on “marquee wages” if he returned to v7 of the HAL rather than v1.
By contrast, for sure, Culina returned to the HAL when his form was as good as ever.
August 25th 2011 @ 10:45am
whiskeymac said | August 25th 2011 @ 10:45am | Report comment
doh i forgot culina. even younger than emmo.
culina wld be on par with emmo. a good skillful professional. PSV to GCU wasnt it? now thats a smilar leap of faith.
HK is going to be interesting. massive name, massive talent, massive expectation. i think everyone bar cockerill wishes him well.
August 25th 2011 @ 10:41am
whiskeymac said | August 25th 2011 @ 10:41am | Report comment
fuss, its all apples! And when we talk of apples there are hundreds to choose from. Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Rome Beauty, Pink Ladies, Cox Pippins, Belle de Beauscop… (am even trying to grow the last three at home). So what exactly are we talking coz I am not entirely sure where our apples diverge…
Season 1 and /or Season 7 roos returning specifically? Roos who have returned over the HAL’s life? the value of returning roos?
Of course the dynamics of the hAL are different from day one. But also there have been roos coming back in dribs and drabs since inception.
Emmo and HK certainly, in my mind, mark a high point and, yes, the Emmo signing is very good and its very good that he was a first team player in an EPL side and now will be a HAL player. Dwight wasnt there when he played here (albeit he did sign for Sunderland afterwards) in season 1, nor was juninho (albeit i cant recall exactly where he came from Atletico M?).
Anyway I think we agree on all this?
But at the same time lets not get too carried away about what all this means – other than SFC have a very good player with much to offer who is coming home to play. Coming home. I haveno doubt emmo cld have gotten a contract anywhere just about and was let go for free because of financial constraints and the players wishes more than being surplus/ unwanted. I will watch him, and am sure others will too. Its a good thing.
No one wld expect HK or Emo to come in season 1. damn straight! they are however 32+ now, not in their mid 20s and neither are they midway through their careers in the EPL or equivalent. Similarly, I wldn’t expect to see Holman, Federici, Rhys Williams, Macca anytime back soon. Maybe Wilkshire, Cahill, Neill in a few years. Carle was an exception to this though. When will Kruse, Oar, Bulut, Langerak etc come back – at the top of their game or when they have a year or two at the top left only. I dont think this is bad. In fact i appluad it. But Moore (IMO) and others have started this trend not HK etc.
So … how about a general run down on who has come back then?
I also thought that at the time Aloisi, Carle, Moore, Tiatto, Sterjovski, Zelic, Okon, Lazaridis, Ljubic, Burns, Skoko and a few others at the time were also good signings. Some disappointed, some didn’t.
Some might even point to Muscat…and there were Zdrillic, Thompson, Corica etc as always being there. and there has even been a memorable stint by Bozza too =) We also have players coming back like Djite, Bozanic to boost their careers as baby roos =)
Grella has repeatedly said he wld not be returning to Oz. He may retun. I wldnt put mony on t though (although you cld offset this bet with your LN one if you like)
Popovic was in the middle east for a year before going to SFC – am certain.
LN may or may not return – not bothered either way as I am confident that he will, given his past comments and scholarship programs, still put something back into the game on or off the filed (and tbh if roos arent upto it off the field is a good way to maintian their image into retirement).
August 25th 2011 @ 10:51am
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 25th 2011 @ 10:51am | Report comment
Excellent summary, whiskeymac!
Although, if this is a bumper season – crowds, quality of football, etc. – I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Scotty Mac, Federici, Luke W back before the 2015 Asian Cup, which is to be held in Australia.
I also reckon Lucas & Bresc will return next season to the HAL – both only signed 1-year contracts in the Middle East – Bresc is being paid $5.5m (taxed at 0%) and I’m sure Lucas is on similar?
August 25th 2011 @ 11:06am
whiskeymac said | August 25th 2011 @ 11:06am | Report comment
as the standard rises (and importantly the NT coach supports it) and or crowds/ salary caps etc improve then why not but i still think those you mentioned will be tempted because they will be in their 30s not their 20s by 2015. (maybe we cld include kisnorbo, Brosque, Ogenovski, Carney, Jedinak and the JLeagues top scorer “jesus” as all potential returnees by then if they havent retired?). Its fantastic that not only does the hAl provide a solid chance to people like Jedi, Carney, Oar, Kruse, Burns to get noticed and signed up, but it gives a good option for those returning like Paartlu (sp?), Theoklitos as well as Culina and Emmo. Young and promising with experienced and battle hardened. A good mix for a vibrant league IMO (now if only Arsene wld sign some experienced players too)…
Yep, who can begrudge Bresc and others for such a magnificant pay day other than a SMH journo?=)
August 25th 2011 @ 9:26am
Midfielder said | August 25th 2011 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Davvidde
Agree with the tone of your email… and as Fozzie said in his SMH coloum the only looser in all this can be Harry…
August 25th 2011 @ 9:43am
dasilva said | August 25th 2011 @ 9:43am | Report comment
So mike cockerill with his personal rant against H. Kewell is somehow reflective of the entire football media?
I think that is really a one off thing. Mike Cockerill seems to have personal issues with Kewell.
Every other news reporting I have read has been rather positive to Kewell signing
August 25th 2011 @ 1:44pm
RIP Enke, said | August 25th 2011 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
I understand the article was not ment to be negative, rather negative to the decenters, but with more of Australians finest returning to the A-League, the support from the national coach, those who opt out come across more negatively regardless, to be punworthy , it is unaustralian.
Whether we like it or whether we are aware of it, Australia is perochial , especially where nationality comes into it, they say Germans and English are proud, we are as much so, I would support the national side of tiddly winks if I new they existed.
The A-League is gaining reputation, a pity it’s short.
The thought that an Australian would not think the same is anathema to myself and other Australians,though I should not speak on others behalf.
The thought of having Australian superstars play in the A-League is unreal, the thought of denial or rational / fiscal thought is realistic – if not disappointing – all out denial is liked to desertion.
Maybe more empathy should be employed on the fan account, yet maybe more pride should be installed into the player, of their roots, the southern cross and we are proud of them, to wear green and gold is a privilege.
_
August 25th 2011 @ 2:15pm
Axelv said | August 25th 2011 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
I love the last line “As a six-month off-season labors on, I’m starting to think we need some football as soon as possible to help save us from ourselves.”
Truer words cannot be spoken! So much time without A-League drives us to insanity, being without football is like being on a deserted island! It’s only a matter of time before we start eating each other. Since Kewell has signed, It’s clear he did it because he cares about the game here, I have been nothing but excited, even better news now that Emerton is coming back! Can’t wait.