12/21/24
July 15, 2010
Henry Signs for New York Red Bulls: French striker Thierry Henry, twice a finalist for Ballon d'Or as soccer's best player in the world, has signed a multi-year deal with the New York Red Bulls. Henry played eight seasons for Arsenal, helping the London club win two Premier League titles, before joining Barcelona in 2007.
No one will confuse the CONCACAF Champions League with the UEFA Champions League. No one will confuse the MLS with any of the major European leagues. And no one sure as hell will confuse Barcelona with the empty void surrounding much of the stadium in Harrison, N.J. -- and I live 10 miles from there.
posted by jjzucal at 08:59 PM on July 15, 2010
I really want to b!tch slap people who live within easy travel distance of the new Red Bull Arena and who refuse to see even one match there because they think they're too precious to bother with the "obviously inferior" MLS.
It's better than you think; give it a try. Try to be an actual supporter and support your local football club. It's what real football supporters culture is all about: being at the actual game.
posted by dave2007 at 11:19 PM on July 15, 2010
It's what real football supporters culture is all about: being at the actual game.
Even if your team is shit. (Especially if your team is shit.) But the Red Bulls clearly aren't shit. To dispel some illusions: the drop-off in the big European leagues starts a lot nearer the top than MLS, and yet the Osasunas and Sporting Gijons still turn out 20,000 home-town fans a week.
Henry's first match is likely to be the exhibition/pre-season friendly against Spurs, followed by one against Man City. $25 behind the goal, in a proper terrace, or $40 for a double-header? Bargain.
posted by etagloh at 03:15 AM on July 16, 2010
he still has the ability to wipe the floor in this league. And when he says he's not here for vacation, I'm more apt to believe him
Agreed and agreed. I peek at the ESPN game of the week now and again, but I'll definitely make a point of catching his games. I just can't build up any love for my local Revolution. It's not an anti-MLS thing, they just seem like the most boring team in the league, regardless of their decent record over the past decade.
posted by yerfatma at 08:29 AM on July 16, 2010
I hope Henry understands that they don't use hands in the MLS...
posted by StarFucker at 07:59 PM on July 18, 2010
Few more articles.
European writers chime in
The wait is over
Henry's here for victories, not vacations.
We've been hearing about this move for months (there were even some rumblings about it last year). It's weird that this day is finally here.
Henry is obviously not the player he was in his prime, but he still has the ability to wipe the floor in this league. And when he says he's not here for vacation, I'm more apt to believe him than other players that have come through here. I don't envision another Lothar Matthaus on our hands.
Now we just need a playmaker in the midfield and we may actually have a shot at some hardware this season.