Henry to Barca

Bent is 7 years younger than Henry. That's hardly insignificant.

Barcelona, like Fulham, still need to improve their defense if they really want to improve their fortunes. All of their fullbacks are getting old simultaneously, Thuram was old last summer when he joined them, and Rafa Marquez is not good. Puyol is great but he's recuperating from knee surgery and won't be 100% to start the season. All the hot prospects coming through their youth system are attacking players. If they're able to pick up Christian Chivu from Roma, as has been rumored, I might even say he'll have more of an impact on their fortunes than Henry.

 

Couldn't agree more Don. Loved the way Henry played and see to blow past defenders with such ease. Regardless of age Henry has at least 4-5 more years in him. I would value those years over a move for Bent.

Alan Shearer's Goals Per Game: .488

Thiery Henry's Goals Per Game: .658

Henry scores goals with far more consistency than the EPL's benchmark of goal scoring, Alan Shearer. If he decided to stay in the EPL, IMO, he would have a fair shout of breaking Shearer's long standing record of 260 goals scored. Personally believe Barcelona got a steal at that price. Glald he won't be able to score anymore goals against fulham at least.

 

Don't quote me on this but I have seen reports that if Henry help Barcelona regain the title, the deal will be worth 25mil+. That is one hell of a gamble, but I trust in Chef Arsene. I just feel really sorry for Walcot. Henry could have taught him a lot more if he had stayed another year or so. RVP, Walcot and Adebayor better step it up next season.

If I were In charge of Arsenal I'd be shopping for a new keeper as well. My best friend is an Arsenal fan and we have a saying. "YOU JUST GOT Lehmaned!" for all the stupid stuff he does. His time wasting tactics are the most funny by far.

If Henry can replicate the form shown in this video then he isn't "over the hill" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7QkV3_Kd_w (my favorite Henry comp)

Side note: Before I traveled to the Cottage I tried to get tickets to an Arsenal match vs Blackburn. Some guy at the Tube station "offered me a deal" 200 quid for one ticket! I almost paid it because it would have been the only time I would have been able to see a game at Highbury before it was torn down. Alas, I went on a stroll through Bishop park to the most beautiful stadium in the land Craven Cottage. Oh how that day changed my life.

 

And the rest they say is history...

Henry is by no means over-the-hill. He still has more composure on the ball than any other forward in the game, fantastic instinct in front of goal and is the complete package IMO. That being said, it will be nice not to have him run riot on Fulham anymore.

Wonder if Henry will slowly fade into obscurity with Barcelona? There is more attacking options at Barcelona now than anywhere else in the world. I know some are on their way out but Gudjohnsen, Eto'o, Messi, Ronaldino, Dico, Henry... There is only one ball and surely they all can't all have it at the same time.

 

FYI....Arsenal did sign a keeper this summer. His name is Lukasz Fabianski and he is Polish. He is highly rated and will probably take over the #1 shirt during the 2008-2009 season if things go right.

 

I remember Arsenal signing him and from everything I've read it reports he is quality. Do you remember what side he was signed from? Seems to escape me at the moment.

 

If Gooner fans thought last season was rough, I would predict this season to be even harder for them to finish in the top 4. Especially with how other clubs have been adding talent left and right. Hoping Fulham make the life-after-Henry even harder on August 11th.

 

Legia Warszawa.

As for Arsenal, they have a load of young talent, but without Wenger pulling the strings and making the astute signings he has made over the last decade, I expect Arsenal to fall off some. I do NOT expect them to fall out of the top four for the simple fact that they do have some money to spend.

What has been amazing about Wenger is that he has built Arsenal with chump change compared to the other big clubs in the Premiership. That chump change would be gladly welcomed at Fulham but for a team competing for the Premiership title and making Champions League runs every season, they do NOT spend nearly the kind of cash that Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea spend due to the contruction of the Emirates Stadium over the last four or five years.

If Wenger does leave there will be a transition period, but Arsenal still has a proud history and the opening could and will attract some big name managers. Thus, the team might have some struggles, as we saw last season from their youth and inexperience, but given some time, I think Arsenal will be back in strong form.

Arsenal is truly going through a transition period. From the "Invicibles" of the 2003-2004 season that went undefeated to the current team, there are very few holdovers from that great team. From players and board members, the set up at Arsenal is changing all the time and changing the product on the field. If I were an Arsenal fan this would be a tense time just trying to figure out the direction the club is going in and who is leading the charge. Time will tell.

 

Wenger goes, I can forsee Arsenal spiraling downward. The loss of Wenger would have a windfall affect of players leaving; mainly Cesc Fabregas and possibly RVP.

Wenger should be applauded for his efforts thus far. Not many managers can accomplish what he has done especially with the lack of major funds. Arsenal are a bit of an anomaly in that respect.

 

The reason I do NOT see Arsenal dropping that much in the table is because I feel the difference between the top four and everybody else is quite considerable. The only team I can see potentially beating out Arsenal is their neighbor Tottenham.

Thus, I do think Arsenal will struggle some, but because of the vast differences in spending and money involved between Arsenal and any potential 4th place finisher, I have a hard time seeing them falter farther than 5th, if that at all.

 

Arsenal is still going to be awesome regardless of Henry.

I doubt Eto'o leaves Barcelona now. He said he would love to play with him. They better win the Champions League now though.

 

Ah, astute observation. I haven't been keeping my eye on the Arsenal transfer ins and outs, just the Fulham rumors.

I wish I could find the 4-4-2 magazine with the article on Arsenal's past. It sure did not have a pretty start. Highlights include a failed merger with Fulham and pretty much taking over and replicating everything Tottenham. This including moving into their back yard and kicking them out of division one at one point, something Spurs fans have never gotten over.

Back to point, I doubt Arsene will leave this summer. If he doesn't I'll be looking for an Arsenal 4th place finish as they have they new stadium holding them back from spending a good bit. They still have a good bit of talent and a decent back line. Gallas for Cole? Look who got the better deal there. Definitely not the Blue Poo.

 

With Tottenham and Pompey continuing to strengthen their sides, I believe there is a chance that Arsenal finish outside the top 4. That being said RVP is back and it will be his first season as the top attacking option for the Gooners. He should prove his worth, but I have this aching suspicion they won't be in the top 4 come May.