You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Smallville Kewell gets what he deserves in limited granny stabbers land
Dave Blatt Oct 5 2003 LIVERPOOL..........1 ARSENAL.............2 Anthony Clavane � AFTER 13 minutes of play the PA announcer put us on alert. "Standby for Operation Anfield," he declared. Nobody knew what he meant until, a few seconds later, Harry Kewell put Liverpool one up. To those who questioned the Wizard of Oz's mysterious decision over the summer, the announcement suddenly made sense. For Kewell had turned down Arsene Wenger's all-singing, all-dancing all-stars in favour of Gerard Houllier's perennial underachievers. And here, most emphatically it seemed, was the reason why. "Operation Anfield" was turning out to be an excellent move. Wrong. For a player of Kewell's mercurial talents "Operation Highbury" would have been a much smarter one. Or indeed "Operation Old Trafford". If you are in any way patriotic, of course, the big story to come out of this game was Michael Owen's injury. But while the nation is fretting over the striker's shin, spare a thought for Kewell. OK, he's an Aussie and he ran rings round the England defence at Upton Park last season - but the more players of his calibre who flourish in the Premiership the better. The former Leeds star performed brilliantly yesterday. Once again he showed how, playing at the highest level, he has the potential to be a world great. But that won't happen at Liverpool. He is good for the Reds - but the Reds aren't good for him. Apart from the goal, he was at the centre of a fine first-half display by the home side. Playing through the middle alongside Owen, rather on one of the flanks as in previous games, he helped rip the Gunners' defence to bits. Arsenal should have been dead and buried after half an hour. Kewell himself missed a glorious opportunity and Owen fluffed no less than three. But once the visitors had drawn level, admittedly through a lucky own goal from Sami Hyypia, Liverpool's limitations were cruelly exposed. The intention, in paying Leeds �5m for Kewell, was to provide more width and flair for Houllier's outfit. But as Arsenal began to take a hold of the game, especially in midfield where Brazilian pair Edu and Gilberto were again outstanding, Liverpool resorted to that infamous tactic of pre-Harry days - "Operation Hit Owen". And when their goal machine hobbled off with less than 20 minutes remaining they had to switch to "Operation Hit And Hope". Kewell's preference for Houllier over Wenger seems somewhat bizarre. As Arsenalshowed in the High Noon clash they have a team capable of winning back the title from Fergie's men. The irony of Robert Pires curling in the winner would not have been lost on the Aussie. Pires has had injury and form problems this season and, if things had gone differently, Kewell might have been lining up on the left for the north Londoners. A potential goal of the season, Wenger described it as "pure Pires". But at Anfield now, there's only one Kewell. There's no-one else with his flair and creativity. Perhaps he'd rather be, like at Leeds, a big fish in a small pond. But if he really gives a XXXX about fulfilling his awesome potential and shining at the highest level, Harry should have met Arsene - or Fergie - in the summer. Liverpool are no longer the Premiership's most boring club, as the first 45 minutes demonstrated. But his sublime skills are wasted at Anfield. Alongside Henry, Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires they would have undoubtedly blossomed. Houllier said yesterday was "make or break" for Liverpool's season - the week's best soundbite, after Dirty Den's "Ello Princess" and Tiger Tony's "No reversing." But, for Kewell's own career, make-or-break time came in the summer when he plumped for Anfield over both Highbury and Old Trafford. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
