Thierry Henry
A 3-0 win over the Spuds and all anyone is writing about is the split. Being a footy blog i suppose I should give my thoughts. Here it is, Henry needs a holiday. Like most of the Frenchies that come through Arsenal's door, he tends to underperform in the first half of the season because he is French and is tired, or jet lagged or whatever. It happened last year that for whatever reason he wasnt ready for the season and frankly I couldn't care less why - as like Vieira and Pires before its an attitude problem. There maybe an injury but everything I read suggests its mental. Wenger has cracked and basically kicked him out and I think would have been just as happy not to see him at the Emirates this weekend but he showed up. I think Henry is the greatest player we have ever had but Henry must remember that an 80% Henry isnt enough even it has garnered 7 goals. 100% Henry would have had 12 goals. Footballers often have egos and last year put us all through the ringer (like Vieira did twice) and then stayed - but there is no point in staying and then thinking all he has to do is turn up.
Fergie kicked out Ruud and Roy because thats what it came to and in both cases did the right thing. I dont want this to happen to Henry but Wenger has to change things and that's what he is doing now - man management. "You can sod off for 6 weeks Henry and I wont pick you because you are not bigger than the club". I hope it works otherwise we will be collecting 25 million for him this Summer.
Henry should NEVER have been made captain, I said that at the time and I stand by it - he is someone the team should be built around yes, but not the fella to lead it. I am not saying sell Henry by any means but I do welcome Wenger letting Henry know that he has to fight for his place. Its going to be a very interesting month for us - not to mention an interesting week with Porto away and then Chelsea...
posted by WhatsupWheaton Simon at
12/04/2006 11:06:00 AM
7 Comments:
To continue the comparison with the Ruud situation at United last season, if Arsenal do end up selling him it will be interesting to see if they get what most of us would consider a good deal considering, as was the case with Fergie and Ruud, this spat has been made public. Barca and co will be lining up to "do you a favour" and take the problem off your hands on the cheap.
By
TheBusbyBoy, at 3:55 PM
Thats true - Barca and indeed anyone will try and pay less than he is worth, (last seen 50 million offer). However with Henry we could win if its a bidding war and he may be the sort of player a lot of clubs go for, Milan will need a striker, Barcelona may try as early as January.... I am certain he will be at Arsenal in May but will need a good second of the season to still be there in August.
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WhatsupWheaton Simon, at 4:02 PM
It makes no sense for Barca to make a move now because Henry would then be ineligible for Champions League play. I predict he'll play out the year in relative lame-duck fashion with Arsenal and then the bidding war will begin. It IS about ego and pride once you have the millions and, despite his greatness, he's only human. Coupled with the facts that football is a business and Wenger is part of the management structure, this mess will undoubtedly be dragged through the news in the coming months until we all want to throw up.
By
GAC, at 5:18 PM
Simon, with all due respect how much of this is real versus how much of this is the British press? I know you have been following this closer than me but I am not convinced that there are real problems yet. Why can't we take it at face value that Henry has a bit of sciatica and is frustrated by this niggling injury?
That being said, if Barca sell Messi to Inter they might make an attractive offer.
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Chris P, at 9:51 PM
Rarely smoke without fire Chris - Wenger's comments this weekend were cryptic enough to show that not all was right between them and Wenger normally keeps things behind closed doors. Wenger knows its in Arsenal's best interest to keep such items behind those doors and after seething a bit over comments made by Henry and Henry's "I can play this week but maybe not next" attitude, he has made sure to issue a joint statement with Henry so Arsenal can get on with a nightmare week without this distraction. I hope its repaired and Henry comes back to form so I dont have to read him say every week that my form isnt good, I am not yet at home here etc... blah blah - my sympathy is little to be fair.
And Chris this will wind you up - on my BBC comedy show, Fighting Talk, this week, a question was asked of the panel - When is a Win not a Win in Sport?
ONe of the panelists said when its a win over Arsenal because now that Fulham have done it, its devalued the whole currency of winning :)
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WhatsupWheaton Simon, at 9:44 AM
Once again the English press denigrates Fulham. It started with Tommy Smith or whomever in the 70s making fun of the small club down by the river, fair enough. However, after Al Fayed accused the British Royal Family and MI5 of killing his son and Princess Di the establishment has really had a go at Fulham.
Most of those pundits are tossers who know f%ck all about football but read in a manual they can sound knowledgeable by slating Fulham.
By
Chris P, at 3:09 PM
nah, if Arsenal had been beaten by Wigan this week they would have been named in the joke , not Fulham - just a question of timing , certainly not Fulham hate on a comedy show - besides they all love Chris Coleman!
By
WhatsupWheaton Simon, at 3:48 PM
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