asajoseph said:I say that because Henry has never played to his best while up front with an out and out striker. If you look at all the different players he's played up front with at Arsenal, the two he's done best with are Bergkamp and Kanu who both operated in that deeper role. This allowed Henry to have extra space and an almost free reign at the head of the team.
This may be true, but the sample size is FAR too small to make a meaningful statistic out of it. In fact, the only 'out and out' striker Henry's ever been paired with has been Jeffers, and that didn't work becaue Jeffers was crap, not because the tactic didn't work.
I hear what our saying, but Jeffers goals to games was quite good. But yes I do agree he was and is crap.
But also people forget that Wiltord was brought in as an 'out and out striker' and in his first season the pair although got goals, they didnt play aswell as was hoped. It was only when Wiltord moved to the wing we got the maximum from him and Henry on the pitch together. But granted, again that maybe down to Wiltord not being a good enough striker as much as my 'theory'.
I still dont think Henry and Owen would work, though I'd love to be proven wrong and no doubt Owen would get 20+ goals in an Arsenal side, year in year out but would we then lose a bit of Henry by playing them together? thats the all important question Arsène faces if he goes for him.
No im not a regular watcher of the Bundesliga, but even still Hleb is not the type of signing who will make other clubs s**t themselves and think bloody hell they've brought a real superstar here.
Given that he took the Mancs apart, I imagine they'd be pretty nervous. But is we're looking for scare-value, why not just bring back Keown? On a serious note, you don't ACTUALLY expect Wenger to be remotely interested in signing the player you describe above do you?
To be honest I dont expect a block buster signing of mamouth proportions, because we have never really done that. But instead of signing potential players for big fees (Jeffers & Reyes) or other clubs unwanted players (Henry & Bergkamp). It would be nice to see us beat off other clubs to make a big signing to freshen things up.
But you must admit if we brought in a big name relative to the money we have, it would lift the whole club and get everyone really excited that we can win back the title and make a strong fist of the CL.
But this summer Im, and so are many other gooners, looking for a big name to come in, someone who can make others sit up and think hey Arsenal mean business next season.
Hleb, for me, is a 'big name' because he's a proven young 20's player with CL experience, and immense talent. If you want a big name just to satisfy the FM2005 kids, I honestly think you'll be EXTREMELY disappointed this summer. Wenger, rightly, pays no attention to names, but rather to talent. Indeed, how far did Juan Veron's reputation get him?
I agree we dont need a big name just for the sake of it, and it has to be the right player and right price. Im not one of these people who think FM is real life and starting saying we should sign him or him for this much or tha much, though Hleb is bloody good on FM05 :wink:. But as I say a big name really does freshen things up.
Your right rep doesnt mean much, but we need at least 1 proven player and not more bargain buys or potential young kids, though dont get me wrong im not criticising this policy at all, as its served us phenominally well in the past.
Hleb may well be a class act who can do really well and if we sign him then I trust AW will have got it right. But IMO we do need a player with the stature of the Bergkamp or Campbell signings when everyone was like wow what a buy...and to me Hleb doesnt fall into that category despite how well he may be doing for Stuttgart.