The ugly spat between Fox Sports pundit Robbie Slater and Socceroos star Harry Kewell has been a stain on the game in Australia.
Both sides have come out of this argument with some form of damage that will not be repaired.
While Slater was a fool to write about gossip in the article, overall his point was right: the new Socceroos coach must wipe the slate clean and rejuvenate the side.
Unfortunately for Kewell, Slater is right, he is not in the frame for Brazil 2014 due to his leg issues.
While Slater has a damaged reputation, Kewell has once again shown his spoilt, rude attitude. Kewell likes to play victim and pretend he is Australia’s love child. The truth is that Kewell is a snide arrogant man who I believe has never given his all for Australia.
When Cahill, Schwarzer, Okon and Neil were busting the boiler to represent Australia, Kewell was making excuses to not make it to camp. He is on video saying he wants to play for England. This was disgracefully tolerated as he had market potential and could play.
However, since 2005 he has not played a dominating game for Australia or for his clubs. Kewell is no longer a match winner and that’s the reason he shouldn’t be picked.
Kewell off the field is a nasty man to deal with. He treats journalists with disdain as they aren’t his personal cheerleaders, and providing him with an ego boost anymore. Kewell also has his manager Bernie Mandic help him do dirty work by sniping at people like Graham Arnold and Mike Cockerill.
Mandic is a nasty piece of work and has obviously rubbed off on Kewell.
So when Hogler Osieck takes Australia to the Asian Cup, leave Harry Kewell out of the side. He is no longer a match winner and he brings a toxic attitude to the team.
mahony
Guest
+1
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
People like Graham Arnold and Mike Cockerill deserve all the nastiness that is directed their way, so I have no problem with Harry Kewell not liking them. Kewell also went on tape saying he wanted to play for England as a 14 year old, not as a professional footballer. I presume that you never said anything as a kid that you wound up either regretting or thinking better of later on in life? There is a lot wrong with this article, but I don't have the time nor the inclination to make much of a comment. I've said enough, except for this: Slater is the one that has damaged his reputation. Not Harry.
Tadpohle
Roar Rookie
The only stain is on skidmark slater's reputation.
Machine
Guest
Must be a slow Monday as I've just read one of dumbest articles to date.
drew777
Roar Pro
you must be having a laugh
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
In my opinion, I find I can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she interacts with: a) his family b) his friends c) strangers - particularly kids and those, who are not considered to be "influential" Whilst I have never met Harry or his family, I have been fortunate to watch the National team train when there are no cameras around - a couple of sessions with Guus at Melbourne Grammar's sports facilities in Port Melbourne in 2006 certainly had me wide-eyed and awestruck! As with every other member of our National Football Team, I've always found Harry to be a man, who is a wonderful ambassador for the Game and the country he represents. His eyes genuinely light up when any kid approaches for his autograph and, like all the other National Team members, he's always part of the joking and laughing. On tv, I've seen H interact with real football journos like Les Murray and Andy Harper - media guys, who know everything there is about Football. There is no evidence that H treats journos, who do their football homework, with disdain. The problem, in my opinion, is the mainstream media uses football illiterates to cover football, and the players and fans have ZERO regard for such illiterates (the reporters sent by Channel 7, 9 and 10 to cover the WC - the biggest football event on the planet - I've never ever seen talk about football prior to June 2010!) In summary, I reckon H probably has as high a regard for journalists as the rest of Australia - which is around the level of real estate agents, used car salesmen and lawyers. ... you stay well clear of them unless you have no other option! PS: I was at the MVFC game yesterday afternoon and everyone, with whom I spoke, was 100% behind Harry and we all agreed H's mid-week effort for Galatasaray shows he is back to his best.
whatever
Guest
After having spent time talking to harry Kewell at the Asia cup he was one of the nicest guys i have met he stayed around and talked to us for about an hour. Couldn't talk highly enough of him. Was down to earth and even shouted a round of drinks for us. Dont know if you have met him nut if you haven't you should do it before writing articles like this about him.