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Thierry Henry to return to Prem?

13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭Mr Alan


    It is hugely important to the top players fred and i think most people know that. i wouldnt call it arrogant to state the obvious.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,392 ✭✭✭✭kaimera


    Report today that Henry misses his daughter and thats why he's unsettled.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,606 ✭✭✭✭Mitch Connor


    I love the arrogance of the "Big Four" fans. why is it hard to believe he would go somewhere outside of the big four? is CL football everything?

    As Alan said, CL football is massively important to 'world class' players and i am certian that is how Henry views himself. For the record, i do think he would sign for a team 'like' Spurs - a team with a fantastic stadium, a fantastic manager and a squad of players that look like they could be close to making a proper challenge to the top 4; but he isn't going to sign for Spurs.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Mr Alan wrote: »
    It is hugely important to the top players fred and i think most people know that. i wouldnt call it arrogant to state the obvious.

    Important, yes, but the attitude is that a player like Henry would not consider anything else.

    Playing regularly and playing well is, I would say, more important to most players.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 41,926 ✭✭✭✭_blank_


    Important, yes, but the attitude is that a player like Henry would not consider anything else.

    Playing regularly and playing well is, I would say, more important to most players.
    Interesting point tbh, but ultimitely flawed, I think.

    Players like Henry want to play regularly, but at a level that they see themselves at. He thought he would at Barca, he still thinks he should be, so he still regards himself as in the bracket of players who should be at clubs competing in the CL. The UEFA Cup is "below" them.

    It's the best competition in the world. If a player didn't want to play in this, you'd have to question his ambition.

    I can see what you are getting at though. Look at Defoe. Moved from Spurs to get regular football, and he's flourishing. But he needed to move, so he could put himself in the international window, let the new manager see what he could do.

    Henry, and players like him, don't need to do that, they are shoe-ins for their national team.

    If Ronaldo was to move from United and, say, both Spurs and Inter Milan were the only two in for him (hypothetical situation, I know, but bear with me). Where would he choose to go?

    Inter Milan of course. CL Football.

    (Although, Henry may be a bad example of this, as I feel he is on the downward curve of an excellent career, he just hasn't realised this).


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭Mr Alan


    well Fred, fact is that Henry would pretty much have his choice of CL clubs if he decided to leave, and he would be playing regularly with most, and has a better chance of playing well in better teams (which are usually in the CL) . That combined with the reasons he seemingly left Arsenal, imo, would make it near no chance he would leave barca for anything less than a CL club that intends challenging for titles. sorry if ya find that arrogant ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    rossie1977 wrote: »
    so thats liverpools lot, they shouldn't spend any more money from here on in until football finishes ;)

    man utd and chelsea sign £20m subs like nani, hargreaves, carrick, wright-philips, shevchenko, mikel etc but somehow its rafa that has over spent, the same rafa who was outspent (net spend) by roy keane and david moyes this summer :rolleyes:

    liverpool had to sell cisse, bellamy and garcia to raise the cash to sign torres. The sold gonzales for £6.5m and brought in Babel

    Yes, thats exactly what I meant, Rafa should never spend another penny. :rolleyes:

    Perhaps though its time for Rafa to batton down the hatches and work with what he has, rather than every season being a bedding in season for new players, and next year will be the challenge for the league. I think its fair to say that Cisse, Bellamy and Garcia got sold because they are not the types of players that win you a league. Yet they seemed to be replaced by a fair few equally mediocre players.

    You can't compare 'Pool with Chelsea as they are the exception to the rule. Although, even with their bottomless money pit, they've use their money relatively well and signed quality players.

    And in comparison to United, United may spend big, but they don't spend too often. They don't squander their money on endless £6 million average players.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,097 ✭✭✭✭Tusky


    Important, yes, but the attitude is that a player like Henry would not consider anything else.

    Playing regularly and playing well is, I would say, more important to most players.

    Well thats because he wouldnt consider moving to a club outside the big four. Its safe to say he isnt going to sign for Villa or Blackburn should he return.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,718 ✭✭✭✭Mental Mickey


    It's a done deal, He is a Pompey fan after all and if anyone can get a few more seasons out of him, it'll be Arry:D

    Ya could've tried to change the crest on the shorts too?? :rolleyes: Very amateur editing imo.

    I think he'd be good at pool along with Torres.............?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,485 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    Yes, thats exactly what I meant, Rafa should never spend another penny. :rolleyes:

    Perhaps though its time for Rafa to batton down the hatches and work with what he has, rather than every season being a bedding in season for new players, and next year will be the challenge for the league. I think its fair to say that Cisse, Bellamy and Garcia got sold because they are not the types of players that win you a league. Yet they seemed to be replaced by a fair few equally mediocre players.

    You can't compare 'Pool with Chelsea as they are the exception to the rule. Although, even with their bottomless money pit, they've use their money relatively well and signed quality players.

    And in comparison to United, United may spend big, but they don't spend too often. They don't squander their money on endless £6 million average players.

    what does £5m buy you today??? when the likes of Darren Bent are costing £16m and Gareth Bale £12m. At best £5m will buy you a squad player in todays market, liverpool having reached 2 champions league finals in 3 years and benefiting to the tune of £50m+ because of that; and yet are competing with the likes of blackburn, fulham and sunderland for players ;) what players would man utd be signing if they reached two finals in 3 years, they certainly wouldn't be spending £3m on a winger to play first-team like liverpool did over the summer

    as for man utd not squandering their money on endless £6m average players does the likes of Kleberson, Djemba Djemba, Taibi, Poborsky, Barthez, Bellion and forlan ring any bells :D lets not mention veron shall we :p

    Garcia was a fine buy and for about £1m (net cost of buying and selling him) he almost single handed got liverpool to the champs league final in 2005. Cisse was unlucky, two badly broken legs (within 18 months) is about as unlucky as you can get, bellamy was a big gamble that didn't pay off for rafa but they still made a £1m profit on him so no worries :cool:


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,828 ✭✭✭gosplan


    You can't compare 'Pool with Chelsea as they are the exception to the rule. Although, even with their bottomless money pit, they've use their money relatively well and signed quality players.

    Mutu, Tiago, Shevchenko, Veron, Kezman, Del Horno, Ben Haim,

    you could even add SWP to that list.

    there's a good few I've forgotten about as well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,485 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    the point is every manager makes poor signings not just Rafa (or to be more correct signings that don't work out for whatever reason). When rafa signed Morientes everybody thought it was a steal, here was a guy with 3 champions league medals and a bucketload of goals for Real, Monaco and Spain and yet the guy was awful in England, goes back to Spain and starts banging them in again :mad:

    Wenger has also had a few clangers in the transfer market £10m on Jeffers, £7m on Richard Wright, Nelson Vivas, £5m for Kaba Diawara, Stepanovs, Reyes


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭Mr Alan


    i also read a stat the other day where it showed the amount each clubs pay in wages, and Arsenals wage bill is hefty as ****, far more so than Liverpools. Which goes to show, although wenger has adopted a thus far successful stradegy of buying young/unproven talent, in order to get these players to London, he is paying them big big money. How many of these dont make it? hhhhmmmmm


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    rossie1977 wrote: »
    what does £5m buy you today???
    Ask Arsene Wenger, probably alot.
    as for man utd not squandering their money on endless £6m average players does the likes of Kleberson, Djemba Djemba, Taibi, Poborsky, Barthez, Bellion and forlan ring any bells

    It pains me to defend United, but look at how far your stretching your examples back. Taibi was signed in 1999 and Poborsky was a '96 buy. Barthez was decent. I'll give you the others (and that's not much) but Fergie has seemed to eradicated such frivilous purchases from his spending these days, sadly Rafa hasn't.
    lets not mention veron shall we :p
    Are you joking? The way Veron was playing I don't think anyone thought he'd turn out the way he did. But I don't doubt Fergie for signing him. At the time, he was arguably the best midfielder in the world. Those are the calibre of player a title challenging side should be aspiring to sign.
    Cisse was unlucky, two badly broken legs (within 18 months) is about as unlucky as you can get

    Cisse may have been unlucky wih his breaks, but he never struck me as being a player who'd be leading a title chase. Reeked of another Diouf purchase.
    Garcia was a fine buy and for about £1m (net cost of buying and selling him) bellamy was a big gamble that didn't pay off for rafa but they still made a £1m profit on him so no worries :cool:

    If making small profits on players is Rafa's job, then he's doing very well. But its not. In bellamy's case, instead of making a million, it was just another wasted year where a title challenge was out the window by November.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    gosplan wrote: »
    Mutu, Tiago, Shevchenko, Veron, Kezman, Del Horno, Ben Haim,

    you could even add SWP to that list.

    there's a good few I've forgotten about as well.

    Mutu was decent and still is, but was dropped because he was fond of the charlie. They made a profit on Kezman, so no bills squandered there. Ben Haim was a freebie, so again no bills squandered.

    Shev was a waste but we all know that purchase wasn't made by a manager, whereas Rafa does decide who he'll sign.

    I'll give you Tiago, but I always though Del Horno was decent and surprised he was let go. Certainly racked up some nice Fantasy League points when he was there :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,485 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    Ask Arsene Wenger, probably alot.

    It pains me to defend United, but look at how far your stretching your examples back. Taibi was signed in 1999 and Poborsky was a '96 buy. Barthez was decent. I'll give you the others (and that's not much) but Fergie has seemed to eradicated such frivilous purchases from his spending these days, sadly Rafa hasn't.

    and fergie has been at man utd 22 years and rafa 4 years what is your point?? in fergies first four years he was wasting millions on the likes of danny wallace, neil webb, mike phelan etc and ending up 13th in the table.
    If making small profits on players is Rafa's job, then he's doing very well. But its not. In bellamy's case, instead of making a million, it was just another wasted year where a title challenge was out the window by November.

    first rafa didn't sign Cisse ;)

    second liverpool reached the champions league final last year with Bellamy and made twice as much money as they would have had they won the league.... success or failure??

    as for your veron point see morientes


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,867 ✭✭✭Third_Echelon


    Ya could've tried to change the crest on the shorts too?? :rolleyes: Very amateur editing imo.

    I think he'd be good at pool along with Torres.............?

    That pic was after a cup game at pompey a few years ago was it not?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    Mr Alan wrote: »
    i also read a stat the other day where it showed the amount each clubs pay in wages, and Arsenals wage bill is hefty as ****, far more so than Liverpools.

    Accordng to World Soccer Arsenal spent 14 million more last season than Pool, but Henry's off the books now, and 'Pool have Torres on theres (and a few others, whereas Arsenal didn't really sign anyone in the summer)

    Whatever the difference is in wages is definitely negated by a large way in transfer fees.

    Arsenal cleared big profits, and wasn't Wenger told (and refused) £70 odd million to spend as Arsenal ere doing so well.

    Wasn't there an excel file floating around boards that showed how much clubs have spent since Rafa took over, and taking into account the Henry transfer, Arsenal have cleared a small profit in that time, whereas Liverpool have spent £100+ million.
    Which goes to show, although wenger has adopted a thus far successful stradegy of buying young/unproven talent, in order to get these players to London, he is paying them big big money. How many of these dont make it? hhhhmmmmm

    Clutching at straws big time son. Arsenal's Youth policy is second to none.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,485 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    Mutu was decent and still is, but was dropped because he was fond of the charlie. They made a profit on Kezman, so no bills squandered there. Ben Haim was a freebie, so again no bills squandered.

    Shev was a waste but we all know that purchase wasn't made by a manager, whereas Rafa does decide who he'll sign.

    I'll give you Tiago, but I always though Del Horno was decent and surprised he was let go. Certainly racked up some nice Fantasy League points when he was there :D

    you are just making stuff up now, how were those players good what did they do to write their names in history, all i remember del horno for was getting sent for against barca.

    lets compare them to garcia who scored 5 or was it 6 goals in the knockout stages of the champions league 2005, did kezman do likewise?? garcia also scored in the fa cup semi final in 2006 to help beat chelsea

    Cisse scored in the cup final itself to get liverpool straight back in the game after they were getting run-over, thats making a mark, letting the ball under your legs and into the goal is not value.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭Mr Alan


    Clutching at straws big time son. Arsenal's Youth policy is second to none.

    Agreed. Although, without trying to belittle it, they have yet to win anything, and are doing a good job of blowing the league. (FA cup 2005 last thing they won)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 17,555 ✭✭✭✭astrofool


    Players like Bellamy also had horrendous wages to pay, mostly due to the fact that he was cheap.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,485 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977



    Clutching at straws big time son. Arsenal's Youth policy is second to none.

    so what ex youth players are currently playing in arsenals first team and please don't mention players developed by the likes of monaco and barcelona :D

    ashley cole is the last guy i remember to make it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    rossie1977 wrote: »
    you are just making stuff up now, how were those players good what did they do to write their names in history, all i remember del horno for was getting sent for against barca.

    lets compare them to garcia who scored 5 or was it 6 goals in the knockout stages of the champions league 2005, did kezman do likewise?? garcia also scored in the fa cup semi final in 2006 to help beat chelsea

    Cisse scored in the cup final itself to get liverpool straight back in the game after they were getting run-over, thats making a mark, letting the ball under your legs and into the goal is not value.

    Cool the jets boss.

    I'm not making anything up, or 'writing stuff into history':rolleyes: I am expressing a subjective opnion which you don't agree with, no need to burst a bollox over it.

    Also, I never said Kezman was good (are you making stuff up now??) I merely responded to the point you made that they had wasted mony on him, when in fact that they turned a profit. And again, I never said Garcia isn't decent, he was one of Rafa's better buys.

    But I still contend that Cisse doesn't cut the mustard in terms of a top 4 team. With there being 3 Championship teams in the FA cup semis its quite likely one of their players may score in an FA cup final. A great achievement, but it doesn't transform them into a world beater.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    rossie1977 wrote: »
    so what ex youth players are currently playing in arsenals first team and please don't mention players developed by the likes of monaco and barcelona :D

    ashley cole is the last guy i remember to make it

    As oppossed to fat lad Mellor being liverpool's last one.

    Bendtner's shaping up nicley, and Bentley is a product of their system.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭Mr Alan


    Ciise goal scoring record for us was actually quite impressive iirc.

    leave it out on calling Mellor fat! :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,485 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    I'm always cool :cool:

    cisse had scored 90 goals in 160 games in france. on the other hand drogba scored 50 goals in 120 games in france. Cisse was more than 3 years younger than drogba, a full france international and available at half the price of the ivory coast international. Hindsight is a great thing but at the time cisse looked better value


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,485 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    As oppossed to fat lad Mellor being liverpool's last one.

    Bendtner's shaping up nicley, and Bentley is a product of their system.

    Bendtners development is thanks to Kjøbenhavns Boldklub, they found the guy and developed his skills.

    rafa has admitted publicly that liverpools youth policy is not good enough, gone are the days the likes of gerrard, carragher, owen, fowler and mcmanaman would be churned out year after year.

    if liverpools youth policy is not good enough where does that leave everyone else seeing as liverpool have won the last two FA youth cups :eek:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,485 ✭✭✭✭rossie1977


    speaking of mellor he scored a vital goal in that match against *******kos when all seemed lost at 1-1 and made the famous goal for gerrard to make it 3-1 with a brilliant knock down header to cement his place in anfield history forever

    he also happened to score from about 25 yards out against a certain arsenal, i can't remember david bentley doing anything of that value for arsenal, or maybe i am wrong....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Ya could've tried to change the crest on the shorts too?? :rolleyes: Very amateur editing imo.

    I think he'd be good at pool along with Torres.............?

    it's not editing, it is a genuine photo.:rolleyes:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,825 ✭✭✭Charlie


    rossie1977 wrote: »
    speaking of mellor he scored a vital goal in that match against *******kos when all seemed lost at 1-1 and made the famous goal for gerrard to make it 3-1 with a brilliant knock down header to cement his place in anfield history forever

    he also happened to score from about 25 yards out against a certain arsenal, i can't remember david bentley doing anything of that value for arsenal, or maybe i am wrong....

    Yeah great, he popped in a goal or two, but are you honestly rating him ahead of Bentley?? If he's som special, how come he's still not playing with Liverpool?

    I never understand why people, when discussing football, seem to think that if they can reel of someone scoring the odd goal, that player is infallible to argument.


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