January Transfer Thread II - Tranfer Harder

[michaec]

He might be a nobody in Premiership, but he's a nobody who has taken the opportunities he has gotten at the level he has been playing at. No Arsenal striker can say that for himself (that includes Thierry Henry, btw). So I just don't buy the idea that fourth choice is the best he can hope for. As far as I'm concerned, first choice is up for grabs right now.
I'm not saying he won't be a good player, but he needs to get his head down and get, say, 20 in the championship and then see where he is at the end of the season. Going on about first-team opportunities at Arsenal right now is pie in the sky stuff. And no, first choice is NOT up for grabs. While it's a nice theory that no-one is guaranteed a place, Henry is first as we all know, the rest are playing to be his partner at the moment.

[KozIsCul]

I'm not saying he won't be a good player, but he needs to get his head down and get, say, 20 in the championship and then see where he is at the end of the season. Going on about first-team opportunities at Arsenal right now is pie in the sky stuff. And no, first choice is NOT up for grabs. While it's a nice theory that no-one is guaranteed a place, Henry is first as we all know, the rest are playing to be his partner at the moment.

I agree about Bendtner. I had the impression that 20 in the cola league was a foregone conclusion. But, he only has 8 so far according to Soccernet, so presumably that could go either way.

I don't know what exactly Le Boss and team management thinks about Henry going forward. I suspect Wenger might be more flexible than you, which is why Henry is resting now. Or he might not be, again I don't know for sure. But if he's not, he should be. From what we've seen out of TH so far this year, I think we have to say he's been below average by Premiership standards. If you compare him to a "generic" Premiership striker, say Andy Johnson or David Bentley, I'd favor the others. Like everybody else, I hope this state of affairs changes soon, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion. And if it's not, I don't think we can afford to think that the first choice striker position is locked down when it's not.

[antifan]

I agree about Bendtner. I had the impression that 20 in the cola league was a foregone conclusion. But, he only has 8 so far according to Soccernet, so presumably that could go either way.

I don't know what exactly Le Boss and team management thinks about Henry going forward. I suspect Wenger might be more flexible than you, which is why Henry is resting now. Or he might not be, again I don't know for sure. But if he's not, he should be. From what we've seen out of TH so far this year, I think we have to say he's been below average by Premiership standards. If you compare him to a "generic" Premiership striker, say Andy Johnson or David Bentley, I'd favor the others. Like everybody else, I hope this state of affairs changes soon, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion. And if it's not, I don't think we can afford to think that the first choice striker position is locked down when it's not.
You would prefer David Bentley to Thierry Henry? :confused:

[shincan]

Or he might not be, again I don't know for sure. But if he's not, he should be. From what we've seen out of TH so far this year, I think we have to say he's been below average by Premiership standards. If you compare him to a "generic" Premiership striker, say Andy Johnson or David Bentley, I'd favor the others.

I can't agree. He may not have been playing up to our usual Henry standards, but he led our team in scoring until RvP's recent goals. Not that goals alone measure all--they help though, and we worry about not getting enough of them, right?--but he has helped out just by being a threat in some cases. Sure, I'm not talking about the Fulham game (shudder), and I know Henry didn't play vs. our biggest opponents, Chelsea and ManU, but I think he'll be fit enough for the second versions of these (home, both of them).

I still don't want him going anywhere--I'd say that an off-form Henry is better than most team's first strikers.

[KozIsCul]

You would prefer David Bentley to Thierry Henry? :confused:

It's more that I don't think Thierry Henry is any better from what we've seen of him this year.

[KozIsCul]

I still don't want him going anywhere--I'd say that an off-form Henry is better than most team's first strikers.

No, no, no.

I would have agreed with you up till this year, but so far we've had half a season so see pretty clearly that's not the case.

And like you said, it goes beyond goals toward his overall lack of creative force. He never got as much credit as he deserved for the goals he created but didn't score, and now those are going away as well. Even the goals he has scored are largely finishing others' creative output; freekicks, penalty shots, headers from Eboue crosses, etc.

Off-form Henry is David Bentley, if that.

[phishy]

It's more that I don't think Thierry Henry is any better from what we've seen of him this year.


oh dear.
so much for credibility.

[CRASH 4 ARSENAL]

Off-form Henry is David Bentley, if that.

Uh, no.:rolleyes:

[ibreak4coffee]

From what we've seen out of TH so far this year, I think we have to say he's been below average by Premiership standards. If you compare him to a "generic" Premiership striker, say Andy Johnson or David Bentley, I'd favor the others. Like everybody else, I hope this state of affairs changes soon, but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion. And if it's not, I don't think we can afford to think that the first choice striker position is locked down when it's not.

Yes - its fascinating week in week out to see teams devise gameplans on how to stop David Bentley :rolleyes:

[PsychedelicCeltic]

Off-form Henry is David Bentley, if that.
Henry has scored twice as many goals as David Bentley despite being crocked throughout the season.

IOW, you are an idiot.

[KozIsCul]

Henry has scored twice as many goals as David Bentley despite being crocked throughout the season.


How many opportunities does David Bentley every game playing for Blackburn? How many more goals would he have if he were the first name on the teamsheet every week for Arsenal? More than we've seen out of Thierry Henry I'd wager.

[ASkergonan]

How many opportunities does David Bentley every game playing for Blackburn? How many more goals would he have if he were the first name on the teamsheet every week for Arsenal? More than we've seen out of Thierry Henry I'd wager.

That doesn't make any sense. Putting a player on a better team doesn't mean he will bang in more goals (i.e. Cisse, Kalou, Kuyt, the list could be endless).

Stats don't lie:

Bentley 1553 min= 3 goals/ 3 assists

Henry 1035 min= 6 goals/ 2 assists

[ArsenalTexan3]

Proof that Bendtner might not be with us next season.

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=438022&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Bendtner+at+Birmingham+until+end+of+season

[KozIsCul]

That doesn't make any sense. Putting a player on a better team doesn't mean he will bang in more goals (i.e. Cisse, Kalou, Kuyt, the list could be endless).


It's not just a matter of how good the team is, it's a question of how many goals the player scores, given 1. how often he plays, 2. where he plays on the pitch, and 3. how many goal scoring opportunities the team as a whole generates. And outside of simple goal-scoring, there's also a matter of how many goals the player is substantially responsible for or at least contributes to, that somebody else actually gets credit for scoring. When you look at these criteria (which I think anybody should think are reasonable) Thierry Henry has been mediocre at best this year.

[KevTheGooner]

Thierry Henry has been mediocre at best in the first few months of this season. But in the previous six years he has been one of the top five strikers in the world.

David Bentley has been merely a "good" premiership forward his entire career.

How exactly could you believe they are in any way "equal"

[phishy]

How exactly could you believe they are in any way "equal"

wind up attempt.

[KozIsCul]

Thierry Henry has been mediocre at best in the first few months of this season. But in the previous six years he has been one of the top five strikers in the world.

David Bentley has been merely a "good" premiership forward his entire career.

How exactly could you believe they are in any way "equal"

Because, I was specifically talking about the performance of Thierry Henry this year, something I mentioned several times.

You know, people who get pissed off or exasperated at me are probably not reading what I write, which frankly is pretty clear most of the time.

[surfcam]

Thierry Henry has been mediocre at best in the first few months of this season. But in the previous six years he has been one of the top five strikers in the world.

David Bentley has been merely a "good" premiership forward his entire career.

How exactly could you believe they are in any way "equal"

Kev, for your own health, arguing with this guy is like banging your head against a wall.

http://www.awesomebackgrounds.com/templates/banging-head-against-a-brick-wall-01.JPG

[KevTheGooner]

Because, I was specifically talking about the performance of Thierry Henry this year, something I mentioned several times.

You know, people who get pissed off or exasperated at me are probably not reading what I write, which frankly is pretty clear most of the time.

Actually, I've read all of your posts, and your criticism of Henry's performance "this season". Which is why I question your suggestion that a two-month stale patch merits reassessing his role with the club especially in light of the man's obvious world-calibre talent and the contributions he's made to the Arsenal over the years.

[ibreak4coffee]

You know, people who get pissed off or exasperated at me are probably not reading what I write, which frankly is pretty clear most of the time.

What you are saying is perfectly clear... its also perfectly full of crap. Of course you are entitled to your opinion... but the fact no one is backing you up should give a hint as to the validity of your argument