Kewell, Schwarzer victims of narrowmindedness

Most of the anger towards the Schwarzer comments came from the fact that they were almost completely ill-informed. He based his argument on the case of John Aloisi, who was cheered by the Mariners fans when he played well, booed by the Sydney fans when he put in some pretty poor performances while getting paid huge dollars, and cheered again by the Sydney fans when he played well in his second season. He was also cheered by the Heart fans. Schwarzer just didn't back up an emotive argument with proper facts.

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?

Anyone who has twitter can understand completely why you wrote this article. The amount of negativity in that sphere and on forums was amazing. The Kewell signing has been called a saga but compared to some European transfers or AFL transfers (Cousins, Favola and Ablett) it was over pretty quick. I don't think the negativity online is indicative of how most people feel about them. I feel some fans were worried they would miss out eventually and were steeling themselves for rejection. And the Aussie football media seems to have a very high % of negative whingers who seem to be relics from the days when there wasn't much scrutiny on the football press and writing about "issues" was the only way to get a story published. I expect most people are really excited by these signings and guys like Zelic, Okon, Zdrillic, Muscat, Bosnich and Aloisi should have few regrets coming back as they all still have careers connected to local football. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

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.

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. _

Hs is a bitter old dog.

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.

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?=)

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?

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.

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).

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.

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!

"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.

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

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!

+1

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...

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.

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?