With news this week that Thierry Henry has completed his move to MLS outfit New York Red Bulls I’ve heard some fans wishing him well and others, more expectedly, brandishing him a ‘sell out’. Before falling too easily into the second bracket it’s worth considering the player’s career and history and, as you can see from his staggering record, Henry’s is anomalous in its successes.

The argument against Henry is simply that, at 32, he still has quality to offer teams who play at a higher standard than the American league. Considering the fitness levels of the modern footballer i.e. more and more players can survive at the very top flight well into their mid thirties (Maldini did it until he was 40, Beckham, Cannavaro, Giggs, Scholes), Henry certainly has a good few years left on the pitch. I also don’t doubt that a host of clubs would have been willing to take on the 32-year-old in some capacity. But we’re looking at this from a fan’s perspective; changing the scope of reason slightly we should ask what is the player’s motivation?

Henry enjoyed unparalleled success at Arsenal. He picked up every individual award on offer, was top scorer for an unprecedented four seasons, became Arsenal’s all time leading goal scorer, the first player to retain the European Golden Boot, and picked up two Premier League winners’ medals. His time at Barcelona, though underplayed in our media, was a huge success (and he played a pivotal role in the 2008/2009 treble winning campaign, netting 26 goals): winning La Liga twice, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish and European Super Cups, and the World Club Championships. He has won every single title club football has to offer.

Accounting for his international record takes his achievements to more fantastical heights: winning the World Cup in 1998, the European Championship in 2000, and the Confederations Cup in 2003 (finishing as France’s top scorer in each competition and picking up the Golden Boot and Golden Ball in the Confederations Cup). So Henry has won absolutely everything that club football and international football has to offer. Why be a journeyman for the next couple of years in European football thus allowing his legacy as a player to be smeared by wanton performances?

Spending a few seasons playing regularly at a club where his experiences and ability is considered indispensable, enjoying the twilight of his career (because, at the end of it all, this is what matters most) in a hugely popular city, and getting paid handsomely represents a far more appealing offer. And even if the sole purpose of the move is for comfort and material value, does it really matter? He’s achieved everything he possibly could have in a career that saw him become one of the best players in the world for half a decade.

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As the start of the new Premier League season fast approaches fans will be busy assessing their club’s activities in the transfer window. Supporters of West Ham United would have noticed that their club has been busier than most this summer, adding five new players to Avram Grant’s squad. Despite the foibles of West Ham’s co-owners they have honoured their pledge to back the new manager with funds in the transfer market. Their activities will have Hammers fans quietly confident of an improved showing this campaign. Senior players at the club, including its captain Matthew Upson have expressed their view that the squad looks its strongest for a few seasons. But as the club has failed in their attempts to sign high-profile players such as Yakubu, Loic Remy and Neymar are they still a few signings away from where they would like to be?

The first positive to draw from this summer is that talk of a fire sale at Upton Park has not materialised. Previous transfer windows have seen West Ham fans collectively breathing a sigh of relief that their best players had not been sold. Despite reported interest from Stoke in Carlton Cole and Mark Noble and Spurs’ bid for Scott Parker the owners remain adamant that the core of the team will not be disbanded. The club’s reported interest in ageing stars such as Riquelme, Pires and Beckham have not bore fruit. However this will come as some relief to fans who feared an influx of ‘geriatricos’ would be brought to the Boleyn if only for the replica shirt sales.

Avram Grant’s first summer signing was the former Villan, Thomas Hitzlsperger. ‘The Hammer’ is an all-rounder who can be expected to bring some added steel and experience to the midfield, helping to close out games and contribute offensively too. Extra creativity in midfield has been acquired through the acquisition of Mexican international Pablo Barrera. The youngster was used as a substitute in the World Cup but is blessed with pace, good close control and accurate crossing ability. As a natural winger he should bring much needed width to the side which never compensated for the loss of Matthew Etherington.

However after last season defence and attack were always likely to be the key areas of concern for West Ham. A vast number of fans were left bemused by the club’s decision to release Guillermo Franco and Ilan. Both forwards had impressed with timely goals especially Ilan whose diving header at Goodison Park to clinch a 2-2 draw lifted spirits at the club immeasurably. Frederic Piquionne has been signed from Olympique Lyonnais for a fee of £1 million and will team up with Avram Grant for a second time following his loan spell at Portsmouth last season. He will add depth to the forward line but is unlikely to bring a plethora of goals having never been prolific during his career. Fans therefore may still be craving for a quick, skilful forward who can net fifteen plus goals whilst former a partnership with Cole. The club have seemingly missed out on capturing Remy and have decided against signing the portly Milton Caraglio.

In defence the club have secured the services of Tal Ben Haim on loan and announced the signing of Kiwi defender, Winston Reid earlier today. Reid is aerially strong and whilst Ben Haim has earned a reputation for making clumsy challenges, both players can play at full back which will strengthen the club’s defensive options. Julien Faubert and Jonathan Spector were both exposed last season after being far too casual in defence.

Typically of West Ham’s co-owners, transfer dealings have frequently been conducted with a degree of hyperbole. When the club’s website referred to being close to signing a “young international who represented his country to distinction at the 2010 Fifa World Cup,” thoughts drifted to Mesut Ozil before it transpired to be Reid. It has been a broadly successful transfer window but Hammers fans will be hoping for at least one more signing that would signal the club’s renewed hope and ambition ahead of the 2010/11 season.

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With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery

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Tuesday’s transfer window came and went for Arsenal fans but there were to be no more new faces coming to the Emirates. This season has seen Arsene let go of a number of experienced players while only bringing in three players to replace those that have left. Gunners fans have long had trust in Wenger’s transfer policy and no doubt his financial prudence is to be heralded but in letting a wealth of experience leave the club without replacing them, has Arsene Wenger threatened Arsenal’s title challenge?

I believe that he has. Wenger has allowed a slew of experienced players to leave the club at important positions, letting centre-backs William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Philippe Senderos and Sol Campbell move on to pastures new while bringing in French defenders Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci as replacements. With all those players gone, there is a definite lack of experience at centre-back with Thomas Vermaelen and the injury-prone Johan Djourou the only two with Premier League experience. And only a season each at that.

New signing Laurent Koscielny has had a mixed start in his first few games for the Gunners. He looked assured against Liverpool in Arsenal’s opening game of the season but off the pace against Blackburn where he was passed easily by El-Hadji Diouf to set up Blackburn’s equalising goal. To take some of the burden off young Koscielny, Arsenal have signed experienced French international Sebastien Squillaci from Sevilla but like Koscielny, he too will have to make a rapid adjustment to the physical demands of the Premier League if he is to be a success in England.

You can make a case that Wenger knows the right time to let certain players leave when they are past their best. He allowed Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira to leave Arsenal and he has since been vindicated in his decision to do so. But his decision to let so many experienced players go has left the Arsenal boss with few options and a thin squad which threatens to be stretched even more by fitness concerns and injuries to key players that seem to be mounting up.

With Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner suffering a fresh setback in his recovery from a groin injury and Robin van Persie out for up to a month with an ankle injury suffered against Blackburn on the weekend, Wenger has been forced to start new signing Marouane Chamakh maybe a little earlier than he would have wanted.

Goalkeeper has long been a concern for Arsenal fans and the club’s failure to land Mark Schwarzer this transfer window will not have filled those fans with a great deal of confidence. Manuel Almunia and Lukascz Fabianski have failed to consistently prove that they are good enough to keep goal for a club of Arsenal’s standing.

Arsenal’s results so far in the league have been encouraging and the Gunners sit in 2nd place in the Premier League table. However, as the season wears on, the failure to strengthen the squad could be a huge problem for Arsenal as they look to sustain their title challenge.

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A welcome addition to the Premier League’s Wag arena – Click on image below to view gallery

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Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has admitted that talks over a new contract with midfielder Sebastian Larsson have stalled in recent weeks.

The 25-year-old Sweden international's current deal runs out at the end of the season, with Larsson having so far failed to reach an agreement over a fresh contract.

McLeish told Press Association Sport:"There is nothing doing at the moment with Seb's contract.

"We were hopeful we could get something done, but it is up to Seb. He is now in a good position for himself if he wants to become a Bosman. But we will keep trying to entice him.

"I think he had a great game on Saturday. His delivery from the wide area was great.

"Seb doesn't have to beat a man. He can get the ball around an opponent with his terrific curl on the ball.

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Boss Owen Coyle is aiming to agree a new contract with Bolton Wanderers' record signing Johan Elmander, who has started the new season in fine style.

The 29-year-old Sweden international has found the net four times this term, while his all-round game has impressed Coyle and ensured that he is likely to stay at the Reebok Stadium beyond the end of the season.

Coyle told the Bolton News:"We'll sit down with him and he knows that. I can't say it'll be today or tomorrow, but he knows I want him at the football club.

"He's got everything in his locker to be a top player – the very best.

"He's got great mental strength because he's been panned from pillar to post because he came in with a big transfer fee.

"But I've shown the belief I've had in him by playing him week in, week out.

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Prior to the start of this Premier League season many pundits opined that this could be Arsenal’s year. After all their young squad is maturing, are desperate for silverware and have a manager keen to seek vindication for his unwavering devotion to an attacking, fluid style of play. Yet with the new season barely two months old will their fans continue their five year wait for a trophy and be forced to recalibrate their aspirations? For some their failings have been all too familiar once more, succumbing to the efficiency of Chelsea, dropping points at home, being defensively naïve and exhibiting goalkeeping errors. Following Sunday’s London derby the Gunners are now seven points behind the reigning champions. Should their fans be despondent or optimistic that their hopes seem contingent of being more clinical offensively?

Part of Arsenal’s enigmatic appeal is their ability to mesmerise, as they did in the Champions League against Braga, and then flatter to deceive when Saturday comes. The club retained the services of their talismanic captain this summer and have integrated Jack Wilshere into the first team picture with consummate ease. Their early season form, with Theo Walcott shining, was exemplary and featured an away win at the perennially troublesome Ewood Park. It seemed that the Gunners were no longer merely footballing purists for others to admire and imitate. However the home loss to West Bromich Albion refocused attention on recurring deficiencies which have been well documented in previous seasons. The recasting of the defence is yet to pay dividends, the case for a new goalkeeper is stronger than ever and the team can be profligate in front of goal. Tomas Rosicky missed a penalty which would have given the team a 2-0 lead at Sunderland, a match that eventually finished in a draw.

Radio phone-ins have been a remarkably interesting forum for discussing their apparent predicament. A popular view is that the squad lacks some English steel and determination or that they require a Mark van Bommel figure to cynically disrupt opposition play. Alternatively it is said that Arsenal need more big game players who can reliably handle the pressure and expectation in the absence of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie. The squad have been beset by injury this campaign, having recently been without the aforementioned duo in addition to Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen. An article on this site last week explored the argument that their defensive frailties, especially on the left-hand side had been exposed by the Belgian’s absence.

For all the conjecture Arsene Wenger knew that there would be no sterner early season test than a trip to Stamford Bridge. “It is vitally important to win the big games and the confrontation will certainly give an indication of the strengths of the two teams,” he said. Chelsea won 2-0 through Didier Drogba’s clever finish and Alex’s rocket free-kick. The final result may have been predictable but invariably with Arsenal it failed to capture the whole story. Wenger pledged to dominate possession and not be bullied by a team with a patent physical advantage. By using Abou Diaby high up the field the away side pressed Chelsea unremittingly, denying the supply chain to their forwards. But in conforming to stereotypes, their superior possession was not clinically despatched. The team created two excellent opportunities within the first few minutes, as Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny missed headers. Their new Moroccan striker additionally missed a chance to level the scores with ten minutes to play.

In his post-match press conference a downbeat Wenger commented, “We showed you can play well and lose a game. We missed too many chances and at this level, you have to be more clinical offensively and defensively.” He was correct to reply when asked of Chelsea’s physical stature that Barcelona and Spain have triumphed with diminutive, skilful players. This style is embodied by Arsenal but both of these teams are predicated on an unyielding defence and forward players who can be refreshingly direct and proficient when bearing down on goal. In the absence of van Persie and Fabregas, Arsenal may not have the personnel to make their imposing possession count.

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Blackpool manager Ian Holloway believes that midfielder Charlie Adam is good enough to play for one of the Premier League's so-called 'big four' in the future.

The 25-year-old Scotland international has been a star performer for the Seasiders in the last year and a bit and Holloway expects the former rangers man to depart for a bigger challenge at some point.

He commented:"As long as Charlie keeps his mind on football, which he will do as he loves playing and I keep picking him because he trusts me, then there's not going to a problem.

"Whatever happens, happens. It's out of my hands.

"I've got some brilliant players, I want them to be successful and being successful is looking after your family and earning the right amount of money your play deserves. If I can't give them that, then they'll go with my blessing.

"There will be a time when Charlie needs to go – unless we're in a position where Charlie should play – which I think is one of the top four teams.

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A weekend of shock results and poor performances has had a lot of managers on the defensive in the past 24hours over their tactics and formations. Chelsea crashed to 3-0 drubbing at home to Sunderland that saw Ancelotti claim it was the worst performance he had known since he became Chelsea’s manager, while Arsene Wenger was crowing at the Champions like showing his Arsenal side displayed at Goodison Park.

Elsewhere there has been plenty of comment on Fabio Capello’s shock inclusion of Jay Bothroyd; calls for Villa’s young starlets to be given their opportunity with the national side, while Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed that one day he fancies a return to the national side.

Johnson hits out at ‘boring’ Hodgson – Guardian

Wenger reveals “regret” over Bothroyd departure – Mirror

Villa stars just Fab for Capello – Sun

Bothroyd: I dreamt of England call-up – Daily Telegraph

I miss Manchester United! Ronaldo hints he’d love Old Trafford return – Daily Mail

Dani Alves prefers Chelsea over Manchester City as he enters crucial Barcelona talks – IM Scouting

Mancini defends tactics after City blank – Guardian

We’re in Di wide-awake club – Sun

Wenger has big plans for Bendtner – Daily Telegraph

Gallas has perfect chance to win over Spurs doubters with return to Emirates – Daily Mail

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I’ll change what people say of me – Sun

Hughton in need of backroom support – Guardian

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Today’s Mirror reports that Liverpool are readying themselves to make a £15 million bid to pluck Ashley Young away from Aston Villa. Hodgson and his chief negotiator Damien Comolli are said to be working diligently behind the scenes and hope that they can persuade the NESV to provide them with the funds necessary to see the project through.

Manchester United and Tottenham are also said to be keen on the winger, but could Hodgson tempt him into a move to Merseyside?

It’s easy to see why England’s top brass are tracking Young with such interest. He has been a stalwart for Aston Villa over the last couple of seasons and still has his youth, pace and intelligence. He is part of England’s new breed and is likely to keep developing. Although his start to the current season hasn’t been quite as electric as the way he ended the previous season, he has still managed to impress.

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The Mirror gives no sources and it may simply be that the article is a complete crock. What grants it a thin veil of plausibility is Young’s refusal to sign a new Villa contract. Earlier this year he told the Press, “I know they want to get it done now but my current deal still has a year to run after this season and I feel there is plenty of time to talk next summer.”

Of course, this set a lot of tounges wagging. Could this be Young making himself a better proposition for clubs when it came to the transfer window? With only a year left on his contract and no commitment to Aston Villa made by Young thus far, Villa might be prepared to sell should the right offer come in. £15 million may just be enough.

Could Young be on his way to Liverpool – RATE THIS RUMOUR

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AS Roma won their fourth-consecutive derby on Wednesday, beating rivals Lazio 2-1 in their Coppa Italia quarter-final.The Lazio players copped a pre-match barrage when Roma supporters launched rocks at the team bus upon arrival at the Stadio Olimpico, but the first on-field blow came when Roma forward Marco Borriello netted from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute.

It took Lazio just five minutes to find the equaliser, with Brazilian midfielder Hernanes slotting home from the spot to ensure a tense final half-hour.

Romanian defender Stefan Radu was the villain for Lazio in the 77th minute, with his defensive howler allowing Fabio Simplicio to stroll in and side-foot a shot past goalkeeper Tommaso Berni.

Elsewhere. Sampdoria loan signing Federico Macheda scored in his side’s penalty shootout victory over Udinese, after extra-time at Stadio Luigi Ferraris finished 2-2.

In his first start at the Serie A club after joining on-loan from Manchester United, the Italian teenager opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when he got on the end of a Giampaolo Pazzini pass before chipping over Udinese goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi.

It looked like Macheda’s strike would be enough for victory, but Chilean Mauricio Isla snared a 90th-minute equaliser for the visitors to send the game into extra-time.

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Udinese took their momentum into the game’s final stages, scoring in the 92nd minute when Argentine German Denis was allowed space in the box to head his side in front.

Sampdoria went down to ten men when Daniele Dessena was shown red for dissent, but Pazzini made the most of his side’s penalty late in extra-time to send the match into a shootout – with the home side triumphing 5-4.