By Ian Grant
Jeff Morrison
Henry
While I see your points about Henry’s behavior, I think that he is an extremely important cog in the Gunners machine.
When playing well, as he usually is, he is unstoppable with his combination of speed and strength. Some crosses and shots are off, but he creates so many opportunities for himself and others that it’s worth the odd gaff.
I would like to see someone else taking some of the set pieces/corners – he’d be more dangerous in the box on those. But I think the behaviour you refer to is largely a result of his gentle, happy go lucky personality. If he has a fault as a striker, it’s that he’s not mean and nasty enough when he needs to be.
That aside, though, he’s the perfect striker for Arsenal’s flowing style, and I don’t think we could win the Champion’s League without him.
We just need Pires and Freddie to get into full form, and with Vieira and Gilberto in the middle, we have as good a chance as anyone I feel.
Curious what you think about Cygan/Keown. Who should partner Campbell when Keown is fit again? I like Cygan’s pace and presence, but he seems a little jittery bringing the ball out. Keown looked too slow before getting injured.
Thanks, Jeff Morrison
Stewart
Planet Thierry
I agree totally with your comments Myles.
I only managed to see the last 25 minutes or so after Dortmund had taken the lead. Henry’s performance in that time was woeful.
The game was still alive, Arsenal could have confirmed themselves as group winners. Yet Henry wants to juggle the ball in the corner, kick it out for a goal kick, claim a corner and then give a wink and a smile to someone on the pitch.
I am frankly fed up with his attitude! I would not place him in the top eight strikers in the Champions league. The big games just pass him by, the top defenders have sussed him out. The problem now is that it is seeping into the Premiership games and something needs to be done.
If he complains he is tired once more, Arsene should rest him and try and find a new method of scoring.
Whether that would be Jeffers playing through the middle with Bergkamp, Pires and Wiltord/Ljunberg provided passes into the box for Franny to finish off, who knows?
Probably Arsene does, but I for one would like to see something done pretty soon.
Really enjoy the articles Myles, keep it up.
Peter Nyamato
Henry
I couldnt agree more with you Miles!!
I read your articles often coz this is the best Arsenal related website on the internet.
Thierry Henry seems to believe that he has a God_given right to do as he wishes on the pitch! when the game is going Arsenal’s way, he is the best player in the Premiership because his technically brilliant yet sometimes superfluous touches of the ball embellish these Arsenal games!
But when the Arsenal are up against it, he becomes a law unto himself and, in some ways, a hindrance to the team.
I’m a big fan of Henry’s, but he lacks not only the mental strength, but also the mental discipline to become truly great.
Bergkamp is still our most gifted player but he’s getting on in age.
Coming from a Kenyan, we do need some British grit when the chips are down.
Does Wenger have the intestinal fortitude to drop Henry when his arrogance shrouds his teams performance and ultimately affects the teams morale.
Pure talent, fatal flaw!
Karl Nitzsche
james markham
thierry henry
I was a bit shocked to read your comments about Thierry Henry’s performance last night.
OK he was below par, but I don’t think his commitment to the club can be be questioned. These comments seem to be in a similar vein to those made about Michael Owen around a month ago….
I was also surprised to read your comment that Koller’s dive looked like a penalty at first sight. Did ITN News beam alternative footage from different angles to your TV? For me it was a more obvious dive than that perpetrated by Cocu at wembley in 2000.
On one of my old AFC videos, George is filmed at London Colney telling the players ‘it’s fashionable to jump on the bandwagon and criticise Arsenal right now.’
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Bernie
Thierry Henry
Myles, thanks for your comments about Thierry Henry.
He frustrates me immensely when he is chipped by other players, set up constantly by the likes of Wiltord and as often as not touches the ball not ‘deftly’ but lazily and without committment.
This must demoralise the rest of the squad and at a time like this – are we trying for the record number of high profile defeats in a row? – we need people who are hungry for goals.
What has happened to the fire in Wiltord’s belly?, let’s see Freddy and Pires truly back in action, Kanu’s playing better but is it enough?
I’m no expert tactician but without good people at both ends the efforts of midfielders like Freddie, Pires and Viera (on a good day) are totally wasted.
Bernie
Michael Salmon
Thierry Henry
Myles,
You asked what ANR readers think of Thierry Henry.
I have never seen a better all round player grace Highbury. He is one of the greatest forwards on the planet.
I agree with you that his taking of corners and dead balls should be given to another player. I only hope that Gio Van Bronkhurst will have the opportunity once he makes his comeback. At Rangers, Gio was the best striker of a dead-ball that I have seen in a long time.
Thierry has a laid back attitude, sometimes it looks as if he isn’t giving it every effort. He is stubborn, becomes too frustrated, show-boats and loses concentration sometimes. He is young. Despite these ‘faults’ he is still the best forward we’ve ever had. He is also a tallisman to the team. Give him a break.
I love your articles and comments, and am an avid fan of ANR. I don’t always agree with your opinion, but you’re the first writer I turn to for analysis of an upcoming match, or a review of a game. I must add that your current writing, particularly your frustrated comments about Thierry betray you. One who writes with such feeling, and not objectivity, must be a gooner!
I believe that this dip in form may help the team. Thierry will have to show his character to help us on our way. I hope this will be the making of him. To taste true success, you must first know who it feels to taste defeat.
Keep up the good work Myles. The Professor was a great read.
Kind Regards,
Michael (Edinburgh’s only gooner?)
King Henry
Just read your review of the Champions League game against Dortmund and i must admit you’re looking for a scapegoat.
To even ask the question, does any Gooner reckon we could win the Champions League with Thierry in the side is both whimsical & over the top where i am concerned.
Thierry Henry like any striker finds, will go through a lean patch (ask M. Owen) and Thierry is having a lean spell now.
Confidence plays a major role in a strikers predatory make-up and to lose 4 in a row and not having scored in 5 games would put any striker confidence in the balance.
I could name a couple of players who didnt ‘play’ last night, Ljungberg (although playing a role not used to at Arsenal, but one he plays for Sweden) Pires and Gilberto didn’t have solid games.
Even though the jury is still out in my opinion on Kanu i think he should have started in place of Pires. Pires could of done a job coming off the bench.
Anyway for me to go through where and who should be playing would take far too long Myles. The whole team was to blame for last night’s defeat not just one player. Take your head out of your …..
SoFire
Thierry Henry
I think I must be Henry’s biggest fan but I have to admit I totally agree with what Myles Palmer said about his play in the Dortmund game. I went to the Blackburn game and I thought he was terrible in that too – he must have played for the first 15 minutes and was non-existent after that (we might as well have been down to 10 men, that’s how useful he was).
Far be it for me to criticise because we are going through a bad patch, but Henry seems to be giving up too easily. A classic example was his one-on-one in the Dortmund game, where instead of attempting to go past the defender he slowed down and passed the ball.
I’m not in panic mode yet but a loss to Fulham on Sunday would be disastrous (even a draw is not good enough). Although you said we need an Adams, Keown or Parlour I think that Vieira was our best player against Dortmund (Wiltord was a close second) and we really miss him.
We also miss Bergkamp, but as I’ve said to fellow Gooners we are going to have to get used to not having Bergkamp around because he will be retiring in the next couple of years.
Sorry I’ve gone on so long but it’s all very worrying.
Chris Cotton
Henry
He is like a sulky teenager.
Lloyd Grey
Planet Thierry
Thank you SOOOOOO much for saying what I have thought for the longest time.
Thierry Henry is breathtaking and infuriating in equal measure. How on earth can Wenger indulge a player so much?
I have to say that Henry has yet to reach the level of Bergkamp’s performance of the Double winning 1997/98 season. He could learn a great deal from watching footage from that season about APPLICATION and sublime mastery of his profession.
The Henry I like is the one who gets angry with himself and chases down every ball, attacks every defender and treats every goalkeeper with scornful disdain.
I would be lying if I said that Henry announcing his ‘dedication’ of lifelong service to Arsenal was not heartening, but if he wants to be a winger, can we play Jeffers, who actually does find his way into the penalty box? We would have to rest Wiltord, but that is no bad thing. My fear is that Jeffers will seek a move without having had a chance to show us what he can do.
Henry has a nasty habit of ‘going missing’ for the big matches: UEFA Cup Final, last two FA Cup Finals and I can’t understand it. The true greats of the game step forward on the biggest stage. Henry goes missing.
Time for someone to, ‘have a word’.
Thank you once again for telling the truth…
Paul Barnes
It’s a nice life on Planet Thierry
Again!!
Massive inconsistency from Palmer, so easy to slip into supporter mode, not so surely for non-gooner Palmer.
But, no. Let’s all blame the best player on the team for a few minor failures.
I detect another motive – surely a clear analysis will point the finger of responsibility in the right direction. It is clearly a team game and team responsibility rests with the captain, the coach, and THE MANAGER.
Come on Palmer start the ball rolling – It’s a nice life on Planet Arsene or when did the Prof stop trying.
That will not sell too many more books will it – have fun signing them – while it lasts.
Paul B.
William Kemble-Diaz
Thierry Henry
Dear Mr Palmer
I think your latest rant against Thierry Henry was somewhat harsh.
Yes, he can be a frustrating player at times, but Kanu, Wiltord, Bergkamp have been equally guilty of losing the ball cheaply up front.
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly, his dead-ball record is atrocious. I would rather not see him take a free kick ever again — even if he did score in Dortmund.
BUT, when Arsenal are firing, he is the MAN — when we are on top of our game, he is the one who ensures defence starts in attack.
In fact, up until this abysmal recent run, he was not only our most improved player of the season, but our best also.
YES, WE CAN WIN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WITH THIERRY HENRY.
Yours
William Kemble-Diaz
neil lach-szyrma
Thierry Henry
You want to know what your readers think of Henry ? Well I’ll tell you. No, I didn’t fancy him either in Dortmund but to be fair I thought he played well in the first half.
Finally he scored from a free-kick, even if it was far too easy – why wasn’t the keeper in the middle ? – And he was our main threat.
But in the second half he was abysmal. Me and my brother were screaming at him to hold the ball up when we moved forward instead of trying a fancy first-time flick that went straight to the opposition. And he had 2 good chances late on when he shot woefully.
Myself and my fellow season-ticket pals reckon that Thierry could do so much more. He has the skill and all-round ability to take on teams all on his own. But he so rarely looks like he wants to. Certainly not when the going gets tough like it did in Dortmund.
At 2-1 down the team was looking to him to try to remedy the situation. AND HE COULDN’T HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITY !
He just goes into his shell, sulking as things don’t go his way.
It’s criminal how Wenger doesn’t sub him when he gets like this.
I honestly think it’s time for Jeffers to play more of a role. Wenger’s subs on Wednesday sucked. Bringing on your most inexperienced player at 2-1 down ? Leaving Pires on when he was clearly knackered ?
One thing still puzzles me though :how can we suffer such a collective drop in form / confidence ?
Keep up the good work on the website !
Alex Ferera
Planet Thiery
I couldn’t agree more. Although only a couple of weeks ago you were pointing out PV’s remark that the whole team plays for him.
I don’t understand why he takes free kicks and corners when 99% of the time he wastes them.
He is more interested in the style of his shot than the shot going in. Great for the Clio ad.
DB is terrific – but never seems to score in really important games.
Thiery is the same. Just can’t see him scoring in a cup final. FL can score when its needed, so can SW – but TH?
But it wasn’t all his fault. The defending didn’t look great.
Oh well, they are through – and likely to get Valencia, Real or Barca in the next round. Should be interesting and a real test of their ambition.
Michelle Love
Henry and Dortmund
Myles,
It’s always interesting to read your ANR articles, and to see your point of view on various matches and topics.
As an American Arsenal fan, I try to read all I can about the various matches on the internet, since we don’t get to see them all on US television.
As for Champions League games, so far this season, we’ve had no Arsenal games, so your article on the Dortmund loss (October 30) was particularly interesting.
You wondered what the fans think of Henry…. Well, I can only speak for myself on that one.
He is talented, no question. But you’re right about his attitude at certain times. I’m not sure how to phrase it, but laid-back is a start, or perhaps lackadaisical (I think I spelled that right!), or even a bit lazy. But he’s not the first Arsenal player to do that, so it’s a bit harsh to single out just him…
He’s not even the only French player to act sometimes as if he can’t be bothered to play. Anelka, Petit (who was very good at that), and even Vieira have acted this way.
Frankly, I’m more annoyed with Vieira’s attitude than I have ever been with Henry. I’m not even convinced Vieira wants to be there sometimes, which is another topic for another time! Bergkamp doesn’t always seem to be there, and Overmars was the same during his time.
So it isn’t fair to single out just one guy, even if it is true. Trust me, in American sports, lazy athletes are the rule; one who actually goes all out on every play is the exception.
You’re also right about some passion being missing right now at Arsenal. Three players who certainly do care are gone (Adams, Dixon, and Grimandi). Two more are injured (Keown and Parlour).
I don’t think it’s fair to say that “foreign” players don’t have passion as a general rule, but at Arsenal it seemed sometimes that the fire did come from the English players, the exception being Grimandi…
I think Wenger needs to do some thinking now, and should have made changes already.
The nicest thing I can say is that Seaman has bad karma right now, and it’s contagious! Seriously, he’s a liability more often than not, and teams are deliberatly trying lobs and high shots because they know that will work and may get them a goal.
I hope Silva works out, but it’s early days.
The jury is out on Cygan, and I’m confused why Upson is out on loan right now. He certainly could do no worse than the defenders are doing right now.
I’m not convinced Edu is Premiership quality, and never have been convinced by him; and we should have sold Kanu and bought a proper striker to play with Henry.
Van Nistelrooy would have been nice, or Shevchenko, but there must be someone suitable out there…
Anyway, sorry for the long rambling, but it’s nice to get my frustration off my chest!
Thanks to Amazon.co.uk, I was able to read “The Professor”, and enjoyed it very much.
Anyway, keep up the good work and thanks for the great writing!
Michelle Love,
Arsenal fan in Texas
henry moss
th14
i love th14 but you could be right. how much would we get and who would we get with the dough. how about roy keane? do we require an animal in mid field?
And other comments
Alistair Dunsmuir
Liverpool fans
I don’t know if Myles Palmer is aware, but his articles are increasingly (often by me) being pasted into Liverpool’s official web site’s message board, provoking considerable (positive) response.
Anyway, I disagreed with what Myles Palmer wrote about the Dortmund defeat and wrote my own analysis on the message board, which also saw quite a reaction. http://forums.liverpoolfc.tv/Forum3/HTML/066963.html – any thoughts?
In my humble opinion, the problem isn’t England’s big three, who are in the unique collective position of all being down in the dumps at the same time, but Englands next batch of 6, 7 or 8 clubs.
If we are honest, whether Carew said it or not, Liverpool probably wouldn’t make it into Spain’s top 4. Perhaps Arsenal and Man U wouldn’t either.
Not because Liverpool don’t have as good players as Spains top 4, but they are not exposed to the same high level of competition as Real, Barcelona, Valencia and Deportivo.
At present Spain’s fourth side is Barcelona, who won their group with two games to spare. The likes of Betis, Sociedad, Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo are all genuine championship contenders.
Even in Italy, the fourth team is Inter, who boast some of the world’s best players and are in a far better position to qualify from their group than our fourth placed team, Newcastle.
In fact despite their financial problems, Lazio and Parma would probably give Newcastle a run for their money.
Just as Celtic and Rangers cant be expected to do well in Europe when they only play at a high competitive level four/five times a year, Arsenal/Liverpool/Man U cant with only a few more.
I have three reasons for this:
1. In Italy you can only be a manager if you pass some comprehensive coaching tests first.
In Spain, much effort is invested into researching who the world’s best managers are, and they are then recruited.
This has seen a huge diversity of managers nationality: Dutch, Brazilian, Argentinian, Eastern European, Italian, Welsh, English, German and so on.
Yet in England we snootily look at the coaching tests and still put minimal faith in foreign managers.
How many South American managers are there in the Premiership?
Are the likes of Mick McCarthy, Joe Royle, David OLeary, Howard Wilkinson and George Graham really the best in the world to fill any managerial vacancy that arises?
Its not to say that a foreign manager is necessary better than an English one, but as you’d have a hundred times as many to choose from, the chances are youll be likely to find a better one than those five mentioned.
2. The players. Last January Leeds wanted to sign a defensive midfielder. They were informed about future World Cup winners Gilberto Silva and Kleberson, both of whom would have cost less than 3 million. They plumped for 8 million of talent in the shape of Seth Johnson. This is endemic in clubs that could be bigger.
Dean Richards for 8 million. Peter Crouch and Frank Lampard for ridiculous fees. Yet, look at what Spain’s top clubs spent that sort of money on Aimar, Saviola, Riquelme and so on.
Kily Gonzalez said the Premiership will never be strong unless more South Americans play in it. And he was right. All of Spain’s top 7 or 8 clubs have South Americans in key positions. Yet in England we still feel that they can’t defend and cant cope with the physical nature of the game. What rubbish!
3. The style of play. The English game is exciting to watch because it is fast, powerful and committed. But the essential ingredient of skill has been compromised to accommodate these factors. Valencia have skillful players playing skillful football against skillful opponents every week. England’s big three only have skillful players.
The boards of Villa, Everton and Tottenham do not help one bit either.
All you ever hear from the likes of Doug Ellis is how they simply cannot compete with the financial muscle of the big three.
This though, is baloney. Wenger was given very little money when he took over Arsenal, but he bought sensibly.
Vieira, Petit, Silvinho, Pires, Ljungberg, Kanu e.t.c. came in very cheaply. More money was invested in the training facilities and youth development so that potentially great players could realise that potential.
Only after the success of sustained Champions League interest was Wenger given the money to splash out on the likes of Wiltord and Henry (who still about half the Premiership could afford anyway). Liverpool similarly have not spent astronomically. And Man U started as late as 1998.
So I don’t blame Houllier’s tactics, Arsenal’s loss of form or Man Us selection for this week’s calamity.
I blame the likes of Doug Ellis, Enic, Kenwright, Ken Bates and Peter Ridsdale for either appointing crap managers and giving them blank cheques, or good ones but giving them no money to spend, or occasionally, both.
Karl Nitzsche from Amsterdam, Holland.
P.s. I just ordered the Arsenal shirt 2002-2003 signed by Bergkamp. Can’t wait for it to arrive!
UP THE GUNNERS!!!
🙂
Ojo Oluwakemisola
physiotherapy
I am a physiotherapy student in Nigeria and i will want to know more about physiothreapy outside the country. I visit London frequently.
Helge Olsen
Arsenal defence
Hi Myles!
I enjoy your writings, even though I disagree strongly with you at times. You wouldn’t be half as entertaining if I didn’t, mind you!
One example: You wrote: “The back four do not play as a unit. They defend spaces, leaving men unmarked.”
My question is: How can they possibly play as a unit AND play a man-marking kind of defence? Isn’t modern defensive football all about units sharing and covering space between them?
regards;
Helge Olsen
Bergen, Norway
Darren Bowser
ANR
Hi Myles just a bit of advice..
Stick to what you’re great at reviewing not previewing!
Great stuff at ANR, I love your match analysis but your predictions tend to leave egg on your face a few times.
Just my opinion though and overall a big big thumbs up.
Cheers
Jonathan Wilks
The Professor
Hi Myles
Love the site, the book, etc
One comment – I would get the foreword by Rob Hughes updated – sets a bad first inpression of what’s to follow
As you know Wenger has not just signed one Englishman – I can think of [off the top of my head] Francis Jeffers, Sol Campbell, Richard Wright to name but three as well as ‘the only Matthew Upson’
Regards
Jonathan
The Three Defeats
Myles Palmer,
I am a fond reader of your articles, which I always find more insightful than the regurgitated crap the media report on our fantastic club. Many thanks for your services and kind words on ANR.
I wish to reflect on our losses we endured this week to Everton, Auxerre, and Blackburn Rovers.
According to the newspapers, we actually played agressive football but were somewhat lacklustre in the back and were unable to finish off moves in front of goal.
What are your views on the team’s performances against these sides in the past week?
Also, do you believe if there is any validity in Henry’s claims that the squad is tired from the Euro 2004 games?
I find it hard to believe, seeing that other big clubs have managed to keep up the tempo since.
If you ask me, I think we’ve hit November early this year. And unfortunately, I don’t think we deserve 0 points from those games.
I’d just like to hear your views on the past week.
Kind regards