Thread: New Soccer Thread+An EPL Preview

Eto'o's future with Barcelona is still uncertain.

Barca's signing of Henry could mean Eto'o's departure. It's going to be interesting...

Originally Posted by redxalonso

Eto'o's future with Barcelona is still uncertain.

Barca's signing of Henry could mean Eto'o's departure. It's going to be interesting...

Disagree. Laporta has already met with 'Dinho & Eto'o and has said they are BOTH staying. The line up of Henry, Eto'o, Messi & Ronaldinho is ****ING NASTY. Apparently Yayo Toure & Chivu are the next players to be signed (hopefully by next week). Now all we need to do is get rid of Marquez, Oleguer, Sylvinho, Belletti, & Guily and all will be right with the world. Too bad Edmilson just blew his knee AGAIN, otherwise he'd be on that list too.

One last thing, Bojan Krkic, Giovanni Dos Santos and possibly Marc Crosas are making the jump to the "A" squad as well...

Arsenal has some ****ing big shoes to fill... Kanoute anyone?

It's on bbc. Henry confirms...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...pe/6231950.stm


Henry confirms Barcelona transfer
Thierry Henry
Henry has scored a club record 226 goals in 364 games for Arsenal
Thierry Henry says he is quitting Arsenal to join Spanish giants Barcelona on a four-year deal.

"I still must pass a medical on Monday but yes, I have chosen Barcelona," the 29-year-old striker told French sports daily L'Equipe on Saturday.

Barcelona had already revealed that they were close to bringing Henry to the Nou Camp in a £16m deal.

Barcelona vice-president Ferran Soriano told Spanish sports newspaper Marca that talks were at an "advanced" stage.

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Soriano added it was "the wish of all parties" for an agreement to be reached for the transfer of Henry.

He also insisted that they waited for the green light from Arsenal before making a move for the striker, who is the club's all-time record goalscorer.

"We don't want to point a gun at anybody," said Soriano. "We have good relationships with the European clubs."


This is solely my decision, no-one has forced me to do anything

Thierry Henry

Henry, who only agreed a lucrative new deal with Arsenal 12 months ago, also confirmed his exit in The Sun newspaper.

In an open letter, he blamed the shock departure of Gunners vice-chairman David Dein and continuing doubts over the future of manager Arsene Wenger as the main reasons for his decision to leave.

"Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember," he wrote.

"Unfortunately and understandably he has said that at this moment he will not commit to the club past the expiration of his current deal which finishes at the end of the coming season.

"I respect his decision and his honesty but I will be 31 at the end of next season and I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein.


606: DEBATE
Do you think this is a good deal for Arsenal?

"This is solely my decision, no-one has forced me to do anything and I will represent myself in this transaction. I feel it is something I just had to do."

Henry, who has also been linked with European champions AC Milan, has also revealed the reasoning behind his decision to move to the Nou Camp.

"Barcelona are a wonderful club steeped in tradition and play beautiful football. I'm sure I will be very happy there," he wrote.

"But I will miss the Arsenal fans dearly, they have supported me through thick and thin.

"They will always be in my heart, as will all the fans who make the game here so special. I will always have a special bond with Arsenal Football Club."

Thierry Henry
Henry spent much of last season sidelined because of injury

Henry began his career as a winger with Monaco in 1994 under the supervision of current Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

He was in France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad and went on to join Juventus the following season.

But his time in Turin was a largely unsuccessful one and the player was soon heading to north London with Wenger keen to get the best out of the prodigious talent.

The France international has since blossomed into one of the greatest talents in world football.

He helped Arsenal to two league titles and three FA Cups, and led the Gunners to the finals of the 2000 Uefa Cup and 2006 Champions League.

In February 2006, he became the first Arsenal player to score over 200 goals for the club with a strike against Birmingham and has bagged a club record 226 goals in 364 appearances for the Gunners.

His consistency in front of goal has seen him finish as the Premier League's top scorer on four occasions.

He has won the PFA Players' Player of the Year title on two occasions and the football writers' player of the year three times. He has also twice finished runner-up in the Fifa world player of the year.

I can imagine what Kobe is thinking right now regarding Henry signing for Barca.

"Daaaang, I should have played futbol instead!"

Henry says Arsene Wenger is going to join him at Barca.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...440918&cc=4716

Wow, Arsenal are very unstable right now.

Only 16M? Arsenal should've gotten a lot more than that. We paid 17M for a broken Michael Owen just two years ago. Henry isn't worth at least 20, 25?

Originally Posted by Damien C

Only 16M? Arsenal should've gotten a lot more than that. We paid 17M for a broken Michael Owen just two years ago. Henry isn't worth at least 20, 25?

If Tevez, Torres, Villa are all being quoted above 25M pounds, then Henry should be worth no less.

It's hard to believe Arsenal couldn't hold out for more, but Arsenal's hands are tied if Henry insisted on leaving.

Originally Posted by redxalonso

If Tevez, Torres, Villa are all being quoted above 25M pounds, then Henry should be worth no less.

It's hard to believe Arsenal couldn't hold out for more, but Arsenal's hands are tied if Henry insisted on leaving.

That's the only reason I could see that would force Arsenal to accept less than Henry is worth. If he was determined to leave, they would have no leverage.

Originally Posted by Damien C

Only 16M? Arsenal should've gotten a lot more than that. We paid 17M for a broken Michael Owen just two years ago. Henry isn't worth at least 20, 25?

Part of it was that Henry ONLY wanted to go to Barcelona, there really were no other options in his eyes and Arsenal didn't have a chance to have a bidding war for him.

I bet those Arsenal board members feel like **** now after letting Dein walk...