That man they prefer happens to be a LEGEND of a striker. No offense to Brek, but he could not compete with that man.
Henry would be to complement RVP up top. Arshavin has been playing like crap and Shea would be a nice replacement for him and give Wenger a version of his own future Bale. I would think they sell off Arshavin and bring in Henry for the loan/retirement and Shea at the same time.
In 2003, sure. Now, I'd say they're pretty close. Henry has a better technique and shot, but Shea is much more mobile and faster. Also, his knees/back/hamstrings don't break down every few games.
What has Shea did in Europe to give you that hope? I understand Beckham or Henry, they proved themselves to be legends in Europe but Shea?
Yes, Shea is not a European legend. That is true. However, he just had a comparable season to Henry in MLS. Henry was one of the best players in the league. Shea was one of the best players in the league. They could probably do an equivalent job covering for Arsenal for two months. I think the only reason Arsenal decided on Henry was sentimentality and cheapness.
But we all know Shea was better in the MLS. Key word: MLS Beckham was above average and the MLS and started for AC Milan. Donovan was the best player in the MLS and played for a mid table team in Europe and Milan wouldn't even talk to him as if he existed. What you need to be successful in the MLS is not that same that you need in Europe. Football IQ actually matters in Europe. Shea really needs to improve in that area. I think he could be a solid role player at his stage for Arsenal but not a 1st team player like Henry who would be in the role of Ryan Giggs for Man U.
I actually think football IQ is one of Shea's strong points. Despite looking like a madman/idiot, he seems to make good runs, passes, and decisions, at least in the USMNT games I've seen him play. Obviously he lacks pedigree and is unproven on the world stage, which makes a "big" club like Arsenal hesitant to sign him. His large fee (I assume) definitely doesn't help. And he is not likely to want to go on a short loan like Henry. However, I think Arsenal are really overrating Henry based on his history and legend status. He is unlikely to play more than a sub role for them and I contend that Shea could (theoretically) do that just as well. He would also be a better investment for the future.
Shea has too many Josh Smith(NBA Basketball player) moment to praise the few good ones I see. He has a sh*t load of talent. He can do a bit of everything and very good too. I think he might be more of a CB in Europe with his low Football IQ but I wish him well. He could be the American Roberto Carlos. He doesn't just lack of pedigree, he isn't proven in Europe and since most Americans have failed in Europe, Shea is no different from receiving that ill press in terms of assuming. I like Shea, I think he is extremely talented but I would take Henry over Shea for Arsenal 10 out of 10 times. Henry can still score, he is a vet, he knows the EPL. You can say Kemba Walker is better than Vince Carter since VC is old. VC might be old and no where near the player he once was but he's a vet. He knows the game. He understands how to produce in this league. I have no problem with that move. Henry could start for Arsenal. We don't expect the old Henry but we expect a smart one who knows the game in and out and can at least give us 65 quality minutes. I am not even sure if Shea can get PT for Arsenal at this point. He is an unknown for the EPL.
That Vince Carter analogy is hilarious because I would sign almost any other player over him. Not only is he old, he was pretty lazy even when he was young. But anyway, how do you know "Henry can still score"? Sure he scored 14 goals in MLS but Shea scored 11.
Because he can. That's the one skill you know Henry still has. He just has a great scoring instinct and Arsenal does a great job of passing and Henry is a very good finisher even at this stage. Look at RVP numbers this season. Ridiculous.
Watching the game against Slovenia..instead of playing true wingers we played a LM and a RM. Look at Fabian Johnson's movement and passing. Shea can't play that way yet.. He can make good runs and make the right cross...but right now he is built for an up tempo game only.
what does the past have to do with the present? Romario is a lengend, no offense to Brek, but he could not compete with that man.
I can't tell if he was or not. Still, I think Henry's 236 (I think?) goals for Arsenal might have had something to do with it. And in MLS. Henery 14 goals in 26 games, Shea 11 in 31. Both had 4 assists. Henry is the better player, and had the better year. Shea didn't do anything the last 2-3 months.
I think that's the part that's being referred to as 'sentimentality.' Tendentiously as he put it, I think that's partly true. Wenger can bring in Henry cheap, as nothing but a band-aid, and the fans will lap it up. Bring in some unknown for two months, knowing that even if he performs he can't affordably be bought, and they might just throw you off a bridge. The other part, of course, is a trust issue. With Henry you feel like you know more about what you're getting. Fwiw, those feelings can be misleading, but I understand the motivation. Henry is a center-forward; Shea is a wide midfielder--on a team that often had few options besides him offensively. (The next four highest scorers for NYRB after Henry had an accumulated 29 goals. The corresponding figure for Dallas is 16, and it's telling for Dallas that two of those four guys were defenders, and one was Ferreira, who got hurt 6 games into the season, leaving Marvin Chavez as the only other orthodox attacking player on the team who was even remotely productive.) It's natural that Henry would have more goals, but if you ask me who had the better year I'd say it's about a tossup. If you asked me who I'd want for 35+ games over the next 12 months in MLS, I'd probably rather have Shea--other things being equal. But of course they aren't.
They're also completely different types of players...............so I don't know what a comparison of stats really tells us. As an FCD fan I can tell you that Shea completely ran out of gas the second half of last season. It was his first year of being a full-time starter in MLS, and he had to deal with USMNT duty for the first time as well. He's just learning his craft. Henry is a finished product.............
I dunno. I guess as an RBNY fan I have a different opinion on Henry from most people here. I understand that he is a legend, has had a great career, and was one of the best, if not the best, players in the world at some time in the past. However, I feel like he is very little like that player now. Sure he has a great shot and still has great skill on the ball, and decent understanding of the game (although it's hard to tell in Backe's system). But he was one of the best players in MLS this past year (not really an MVP candidate) and so was Shea. So I think at this point in their respective careers they are approximately equal. Of course I understand that many other factors come into play in Arsenal's decision. I honestly don't expect this Henry loan to work out that well for them (or for RBNY). At least there are no turf fields in England.
I share this view as well. But I can see why Aresenal would want him considering his past, but from an on the field POV I would try and get both players
If you need a short term fill in for President (laws aside) do you get Bill Clinton or Chelsea Clinton? Experience counts.
Would you like me to tell you some of the many reasons why this is so ridiculous? 1. They play different positions, so how are they equal? This is like saying that Ryan Giggs and Welbeck are equal. Makes zero sense. 2. Yes, it is true that they were both 2 of the better players in the MLS. But, is that the only requirement to succeed for Arsenal? In that case, I could make a strong argument that Wondolowski would do as good a job as either of them on one of the top clubs in the world, right? 3. MLS stifles a player like Henry. He is limited by those around him. On the other hand, a league like MLS allows Brek to showcase his admittedly different talents. Henry won't outrun people like he used to, or like Brek does. 4. Henry has a wealth of experience at the highest level, both internationally and for his club. Brek has none.