Could Kevin Keegan’s fantasy of signing the old crock come true?
Seems like Thierry Henry, signed with great fanfare during the summer as the best person to help return Barcelona’s foot to its rightful place on Real Madrid’s throat, is not having quite the desired effect on their fortunes. Neither Barcelona nor Mr Henry are particularly thrilled at this outcome. Henry’s former teammate, Robert Pires, who now trundles around at Villarreal, said at the weekend “If I told you Thierry was happy you’d call me a liar.”
Henry, who had to suffer the indignity of being substituted (something that never happened at Arsenal) in Saturday’s home defeat to Villarreal, left the stadium in a strop without waiting to say goodbye to his old chum. When Pires went to the dressing room to find him, the maestro had gone, although “He did leave me a shirt all nicely folded up,” said Pires.
The reasons for Henry’s failure to set the team on fire - although he is still the second top scorer - are: 1) Too many injuries, especially a serious back problem; 2) He’s being played out of position, and often finds himself out wide to accommodate Samuel Eto’o in Henry’s preferred centre forward postion; 3) He spends a lot of time shuttling back and forth between Barcelona, London and Paris which has impeded efforts to settle in Spain.
Barcelona are still in the Champions League, but have botched their assault on the Spanish League and all their fol-de-rol about the “Fantastic Four” of Messi, Eto’o, Ronaldinho and Henry is starting to look a bit foolish. If the Catalans fail to progress beyond the quarter finals in the Champions League, it could be new broom time, with perhaps a manager looking for younger, healthier attacking options. Newcastle, start your engines!
13 responses so far
1 alban // Mar 11, 2008 at 2:30 pm
hahahaah don’t really, henry is big player becuse ist big player and in Arsenal and hi do play in Barcelona e no to Newcastle
2 Jason Bourne // Mar 11, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Um yeah, what he said.
3 saber // Mar 11, 2008 at 2:42 pm
lool exactly…what alban said????
4 Richard // Mar 11, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I can see it happening if the toon stay up he will be at newcastle next year!!
5 Zero Cool // Mar 11, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I’m a loyal Geordie supporter and if the toon stay up I wouldn’t advice going after Henry. It would great to have a striker like Theirry on the team, but he’s clearly not a “Team player”. He doesn’t get the whole squad involved he takes the chances by himself….then again given the way our teams been playing that might be best for us. Someone who stops passing, and just shreds through the defense and finishes…yeah I want Theirry. MAKE IT HAPPEN MIKE!
6 mr delicious // Mar 11, 2008 at 3:44 pm
By the looks of things, I’m not the only guy who spends his afternoons getting drunk/sniffing glue and going around messageboards looking for conversation. Nice to make your acquaintance Mr Alban.
7 Kevin // Mar 11, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Alban - have you any of that stuff left
8 Kev // Mar 11, 2008 at 5:55 pm
They said it was ridiculous that Newcastle would get Owen and Klivuert, wouldn’t rule anything out with Newcastle, Keegan and a Billionaire owner.
9 toonToon // Mar 11, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Jusy saw Henry at Grey’s Monument.
10 Phil // Mar 12, 2008 at 9:10 am
Newcastle aren’t a big enough club to sign Henry.
If I was to take a guess considering that Wenger never resigns former players.
Liverpool would be my dark horse to get Henry
11 federica // Mar 12, 2008 at 10:36 am
Henry to Barnsley… we’ll be in Europe next season
12 OutlawJoseyWales // Mar 12, 2008 at 10:40 am
Only a pretend big club would byuy Henry now - so that’s Newcastle, Villa or Chelsea
13 Jonny // Mar 12, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Keegan was never serious about signing Henry
He was asked ‘If you could sign any player, who would it be?’
I’m sure the tranmere rovers manager would give a similar answer but i’m sure he doesn’t think he’s going to sign Henry either.
yous sports journos should do your job, really