Henry

[Power n Glory]

Henry wasn't done and the fact that we've brought him back on loan proves that point. Henry's departure was a result of frustration at our lack of 'sporting ambition'. We've seen simular scenarios with other players and we may see it again with RVP. After Henry signed that contract, if we'd have signed a couple of quality players it may have changed the mood around the squad. We've already seen how this summer has completely turned our season around and that's the sort of ambition a lot of our players have been calling for.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

Every player has his day and Henry had his, like Ollie said "henry became detremental to the team with his ego " Showed he was on the way out. is their a point keeping someone who is not happy. and him comng back now really proves nothing as he won't really play much.

However i agree if we spent more he may have been more happier and felt he was doing it all himself can argue with that. i do think he went at the right time for him though.

[Syn]

Personally, I think the idea that players actually base their decision on whether to stay or leave depending on how much 'ambition' the club shows in the transfer market is exaggerated a lot. I think if top players (especially foreign) win a major trophy with a club like us (league, CL) they become more likely to leave because they feel they have less to owe the club and fans won't be angered by their decision.

[Power n Glory]

Personally, I think the idea that players actually base their decision on whether to stay or leave depending on how much 'ambition' the club shows in the transfer market is exaggerated a lot. I think if top players (especially foreign) win a major trophy with a club like us (league, CL) they become more likely to leave because they feel they have less to owe the club and fans won't be angered by their decision.

That is in fact a very good point. But Henry wasn't just one of those guys. Some players are just here to put them selves in the shop window and always looking for the next opportunity. But Henry's performance in his last season, the pressure he put on the team and the mood around the camp...that came from frustration. He wasn't enjoying football here and I think that came from the pressure heaped on his shoulders week in week out. It became a burden. Same happend with Cesc and it could happen with RVP.

It's not just the transfer window, it's about being a part of team that are going somewhere and there is a least a hope of winning something. Each year we'd keep repeating the same mistakes and finally the players snap and come to realise that things won't change. It's not the same for all players but I'd say our lack of ambition has really hurt us.

[Syn]

That is in fact a very good point. But Henry wasn't just one of those guys. Some players are just here to put them selves in the shop window and always looking for the next opportunity. But Henry's performance in his last season, the pressure he put on the team and the mood around the camp...that came from frustration. He wasn't enjoying football here and I think that came from the pressure heaped on his shoulders week in week out. It became a burden. Same happend with Cesc and it could happen with RVP.

It's not just the transfer window, it's about being a part of team that are going somewhere and there is a least a hope of winning something. Each year we'd keep repeating the same mistakes and finally the players snap and come to realise that things won't change. It's not the same for all players but I'd say our lack of ambition has really hurt us.

I buy that for Henry. Although maybe his marriage breaking down and all that personal shit was the major factor. I think the lack of ambition or, as I like to call it, 'playing it safe' has really hurt is in summer 2008. We had a team that was very close to winning the title and was playing the best football in the country. But that summer instead of strengthening and taking that extra step we faltered. The previous 2 seasons around 05-07 I think we were getting progressively worse as players like Pires, Ljungberg, Henry were either leaving or playing worse. Didn't help that we didn't have a good defence and Sol went mental. But just when things were starting to pick up after a decent season, Flamini, Hleb left and Adebayor turned into a prick. Whatchagonna do tbf.

[Power n Glory]

I think the marriage break up was a factor but if he was enjoying his football and we on a roll again I doubt he'd leave. Would have probably just got his head down and focus on football. But he wasn't past it. Not to the point where he was no good to us. Our shitty defence kept leaking goals and he was building on a good relationship with Ade. Henry may have been able to keep the guy humble.

That defence has been a thorn in our side for years and Wenger's tactical philosophy on defending hasn't help either. He used to play a 5 man midfield with Diaby and Eboue on the wing for pete's sake. It has taken him too long to figure out certain things about our formation and playing certain players in the right position. It's been a huge waste of time. We didn't need to lose Henry to come to such conclusions. Our defence has been a shambles for a long time, we haven't had fast wingers for a long time and we need strong and mobile box to box type players in the midfield. We've known this for ages but it has taken him ages to fix the problems. Now that the defence looks sorted, we've lost our best attackers.

[Olivier's xmas twist]

I think the marriage break up was a factor but if he was enjoying his football and we on a roll again I doubt he'd leave. Would have probably just got his head down and focus on football. But he wasn't past it. Not to the point where he was no good to us. Our shitty defence kept leaking goals and he was building on a good relationship with Ade. Henry may have been able to keep the guy humble.

That defence has been a thorn in our side for years and Wenger's tactical philosophy on defending hasn't help either. He used to play a 5 man midfield with Diaby and Eboue on the wing for pete's sake. It has taken him too long to figure out certain things about our formation and playing certain players in the right position. It's been a huge waste of time. We didn't need to lose Henry to come to such conclusions. Our defence has been a shambles for a long time, we haven't had fast wingers for a long time and we need strong and mobile box to box type players in the midfield. We've known this for ages but it has taken him ages to fix the problems. Now that the defence looks sorted, we've lost our best attackers.

The

Wenger has never been and never will be a defensive man he has always been attacking. and we never had a 5 man midfield we always plaed a 442 till we decided a 433 would suit fabregas. What you have to remember is when Henry left a new philosphy was started (project youth) partly because we had to pay off the stadium and because Wenger and the board were happy with 4th in all honestly.

[Power n Glory]

No, we played 4-5-1 for a long time and it started with the Champs league run. Our wide players used to play a lot deeper and wouldn't create much. When you play guys like Eboue and Diaby on the field and one natural striker, it's a 4-5-1.

[Cripps_orig]

Played it first in the 05 Cup final tbh

[Özim]

4-5-1 what a horrible formation, wish I could erase it from my memory.....this tactic of only playing one striker isn't a good one, at the end of the day strikers are there to score the goals.....if you only have one you maker it hard for yourself because midfielders are rarely as good in front of goal.