Slipperduke
The Camden Cad
In what sounds ever so slightly like an SOS call, Thierry Henry has told the BBC that the only club in England he would ever consider returning to would be Arsenal. Henry had been linked with a move to Newcastle, but like any sane human being, he moved as quickly as he does in the penalty area to scotch that rumour. You only have to look at the injury records of Michael Owen, Damian Duff and, before them, Alan Shearer to see what happens when top class players go Toon-side. I love them dearly, but that club is cursed.
Henry has had a torrid time at the Camp Nou. Just seven goals in 25 appearances is a poor return considering the money they spent on him, but it’s his off-field performances that have caused the Catalans the most concern. Henry appears to have been leaking information to Robert Pires, now at Villarreal, about how unhappy he is. He has told reporters that he misses his daughter, who he left in London with his ex-wife. He has struggled to adjust to a new role on the left side of Barcelona’s attack and, all-in-all, he looks remarkably similar to Thierry Henry, circa 1999, when he was deployed as a left winger in an unhappy spell at Juventus.
None of this necessarily means that a return to The Emirates would be a good idea though. There are players who have come back to their former clubs to enjoy a second spell of relative success, but not many. Mark Hughes left Manchester United in 1986 for a miserable year at Barcelona, returning via Bayern Munich to win a collection of medals under Sir Alex Ferguson. Ian Rush returned from an equally unfulfilling year in Turin to win a title and a couple of FA Cups with Liverpool.
More often than not, however, a much heralded return ends in anti-climax. Jurgen Klinsmann’s second spell at Tottenham was soured by the revelations that he had a guaranteed first team place written into his contract. Neither of Juninho’s resurrections at The Riverside resulted in anything more than a couple of a nice stepovers and the hysterical scenes after the announcement of Duncan Ferguson’s re-appearance at Goodison Park were rewarded by just 22 goals in 123 games. Mind you, Big Dunc was always more of a figurehead than a goalscorer.
Henry will be remembered for generations to come as one of the finest players ever to wear an Arsenal shirt. In fact, along with Eric Cantona and Gianfranco Zola, he’s arguably one of the best players ever to play in the Premier League. He left Arsenal fans with enough memories to cement his place in their hearts. Would there be any benefit to returning, just as his career begins to wind down? He can only get slower now.
Arsene Wenger may not even want him to come back. The progress of Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Aleksandr Hleb has been dramatic since the departure of their old captain. No longer ordered to feed Henry at every opportunity, they’ve been allowed to florish in his absence. Would their remarkable progress, and they have progressed, from fourth to a possible second this year, be stunted by his presence?
Henry should stick it out in Spain for one more season at least. The summer will bring a new manager and, perhaps, a change of formation. He has proved himself in England and he will always be a legend. There is little to be gained by coming back now.
Henry has had a torrid time at the Camp Nou. Just seven goals in 25 appearances is a poor return considering the money they spent on him, but it’s his off-field performances that have caused the Catalans the most concern. Henry appears to have been leaking information to Robert Pires, now at Villarreal, about how unhappy he is. He has told reporters that he misses his daughter, who he left in London with his ex-wife. He has struggled to adjust to a new role on the left side of Barcelona’s attack and, all-in-all, he looks remarkably similar to Thierry Henry, circa 1999, when he was deployed as a left winger in an unhappy spell at Juventus.
None of this necessarily means that a return to The Emirates would be a good idea though. There are players who have come back to their former clubs to enjoy a second spell of relative success, but not many. Mark Hughes left Manchester United in 1986 for a miserable year at Barcelona, returning via Bayern Munich to win a collection of medals under Sir Alex Ferguson. Ian Rush returned from an equally unfulfilling year in Turin to win a title and a couple of FA Cups with Liverpool.
More often than not, however, a much heralded return ends in anti-climax. Jurgen Klinsmann’s second spell at Tottenham was soured by the revelations that he had a guaranteed first team place written into his contract. Neither of Juninho’s resurrections at The Riverside resulted in anything more than a couple of a nice stepovers and the hysterical scenes after the announcement of Duncan Ferguson’s re-appearance at Goodison Park were rewarded by just 22 goals in 123 games. Mind you, Big Dunc was always more of a figurehead than a goalscorer.
Henry will be remembered for generations to come as one of the finest players ever to wear an Arsenal shirt. In fact, along with Eric Cantona and Gianfranco Zola, he’s arguably one of the best players ever to play in the Premier League. He left Arsenal fans with enough memories to cement his place in their hearts. Would there be any benefit to returning, just as his career begins to wind down? He can only get slower now.
Arsene Wenger may not even want him to come back. The progress of Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Aleksandr Hleb has been dramatic since the departure of their old captain. No longer ordered to feed Henry at every opportunity, they’ve been allowed to florish in his absence. Would their remarkable progress, and they have progressed, from fourth to a possible second this year, be stunted by his presence?
Henry should stick it out in Spain for one more season at least. The summer will bring a new manager and, perhaps, a change of formation. He has proved himself in England and he will always be a legend. There is little to be gained by coming back now.
