Evening one and all, I keep reading this rumour on a very dubious site but it will not go away. MJ is interested in signing Harry Kewell on a free. My first reaction was no way. Digging deeper though it seems that Mr Kewell won an awful lot of fans at Galatasaray, where he was somewhat worshiped. I had a look on you tube and he still has some serious skills to show, that being said anyone can look good on there. At 32 it goes against our youth policy but for free. Also, Joey Barton has been released for those of you who like him. COYW
Although Barton may be not fulhamish in many aspects I prefer him from Kewell. Although wingers is what we need Kewell is not a spring chicken... 33 in September. Unless his wages are low in which case if we progress in Europa League his services will be useful. On the other hand I see Barton and Sidwell dominating the midfield with strength. Danny is not getting any younger... and Etuhu although I like the guy for his athletism he is giving the ball away far too often and only short passes which do not help. COYW... Looking forward to Wednesday's game!
Kewell would be another (admittedly reasonably good) 30something winger. Does he improve on Duffer or Davies? - not that I can see. Even on a free he'd be a waste of wages.
Sunderland are supposed to be trying to get Adam Johnson on loan from Citeh - now there's a younger winger, classy too.
Kewell's agent is Base Soccer - same as Bobby's. The're well in with the club - see thread about Bobby and Spurs - so I think this is just them lobbying to get Kewell some retirement money.
As Tosh mentions it, adam johnson would be incredible. If sunderland think they have a shot at getting him on loan then why couldn't we as well. I would say that along with ashley young he is the best english winger around right now, a class above the likes of walcott and lennon. However even if this did happen this would hardly be a long term solution as I assume he would go back to city at the end of the season, unless he still couldn't get in their team, then he'd find another big club.
Mancini said this week that Johnson isn't going anywhere this season. As I've said before on previous threads, I don't think Kewell would be a good move for all the reasons others state above. I think Barton could do a good job for us, although we'd have to think carefully about the baggage he brings with him. For what it's worth, he seems to have knuckled down at Newcastle and, apart from tweeting discontentedly about the board and the club's transfer policy, I don't recall him getting into any trouble there in the past couple of seasons. I don't recall him getting into disciplinary trouble on the pitch either - his 8 yellow cards doesn't seem excessive for a central midfielder (and, incidentally, is the same amount that Murphy got). But even if we went for him, I don't think he'll end up with us. If one of the Champions league contenders don't move for him, I think the likes of Everton, Villa or even (the Geordies would hate this) Sunderland are more likely to offer big wages than we are.
I know I'm quoting myself, but I've just seen this thread: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/71169-who-has-Joey-been-arguing-with?p=944120#post944120 I hereby retract my comment that Barton hasn't been any trouble in the past couple of seasons, and withdraw my case for us signing him. My hesitant 'um, maybe' is now an emphatic, 'please no'.
