# Thierry Henry signs with NY Red Bulls **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 14, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671 "2010-07-14T16:15:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/1 "2010-07-14T16:15:46Z")
[Thierry Henry signs with NY Red Bulls](http://www.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/07/14/football.henry.new.york/index.html?hpt=T2) I’m just as giddy as when Beckham signed with The Galaxy, which is to say … I’m not that giddy, but I do think I can get on board with he US sending all it’s best players to Europe while our domestic league becomes a retirement home the best European players. We should get Zidane out of retirment and get him signed up with the Revs. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/2 "2010-07-14T17:59:23Z")
I don’t get him. It seems like he didn’t so much drop off in quality as he did stop playing regularly. When I’ve seen him enter games as a substitute he’s been more or less the same player as ever, but nobody seems to think he should still be a full-time player in a top league anymore. Did he just quit on his career, or what? I can’t imagine that if he had any interest at all in playing competitively, he wouldn’t have opportunities to do so elsewhere, and I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t score about 60 goals in the MLS if he really wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/3 "2010-07-14T18:37:34Z")
In the Castrol World Rankings, he has dropped to #619. He was #5 as recently as February. He was #1 last November. > **[Castrol](https://www.youtube.com/castrol)** > > At Castrol, we're breaking boundaries and moving FORWARD on a pathway of change. Embracing the new to accelerate progress. > > YouTube Commenting Policy: > All conversations and posts herein should be constructive, respectful, and contain language that is... ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/4 "2010-07-14T19:03:07Z")
Well, with his ball-**[handling](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxw1-Id91lQ&feature=related)** skills, if your goalkeeper ever gets injured, you have a _handy_ replacement. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/5 "2010-07-14T19:47:44Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Well, with his ball-**[handling](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxw1-Id91lQ&feature=related)** skills, if your goalkeeper ever gets injured, you have a _handy_ replacement. I suspect he thought he was signing for an American Football team not an _American_ football team. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/6 "2010-07-14T21:21:59Z")
Very interesting, but are there contract details anywhere? Could be a coup or a boondoggle. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/7 "2010-07-15T09:18:48Z")
His problem was that he was playing for the best team in the world, a team that was based on passing and not so much on individual actions. I think he might still have quite a bit in him for the MLS. The level of play and defending is probably a bit less than in Spain, so he’ll be given more time and room to do his thing. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/8 "2010-07-15T23:29:37Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > We should get Zidane out of retirment and get him signed up with the Revs. That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. Kraft is content to let the Revs stagnate and flounder. Making the Revs better would mean spending money on something other than the Patriots. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/9 "2010-07-16T01:43:19Z")
> [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](#): > > His problem was that he was playing for the best team in the world, a team that was based on passing and not so much on individual actions. I think he might still have quite a bit in him for the MLS. The level of play and defending is probably a bit less than in Spain, so he’ll be given more time and room to do his thing. MLS can’t dream of a level of play anywhere near Spain, but what always surprises me when I watch an MLS game is the high tempo and general physicality. It’s almost like Scotland or England but with even less on-the-ball skills and intelligent movement. I can’t imagine a worse league for guys who need a lot of time on the ball, but I don’t think that Henry falls into that category anyway. Where I think Henry will eat MLS defenses alive is with his vision, range of passing, and off-the-ball movement. Those skills are almost completely non-existent in MLS and guys that have them - even over the hill old men like Cuauhtemoc Blanco - can make a huge impact. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/10 "2010-07-16T02:18:04Z")
> [@MichaelQReilly](#): > > MLS can’t dream of a level of play anywhere near Spain, but what always surprises me when I watch an MLS game is the high tempo and general physicality. It’s almost like Scotland or England but with even less on-the-ball skills and intelligent movement. Scotland isn’t really a league. It’s two teams kicking the shit out of everything in sight. MLS is often compared to the Coca-Cola Championship, and I think that’s apt. Not great, lots of donkeys, but some good games as well. The biggest issue with foreign players coming to MLS later in their careers has always been the attitude of the individual. Donadoni came over, wanted to win, and was fantastic. Denilson and Matthaus came over for a paycheck/vacation and were crap. I think Henry is just looking to live in a city he loves and have some recreation on the side. Hard to really get up for games after being on Barcelona and Arsenal. Although, NY has never won anything, so he could easily make himself a NYC soccer legend. NYRB has deep pockets, a decent team in place, and maybe next year Henry bangs in 30. It’s possible. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/11 "2010-07-16T02:31:24Z")
> [@MichaelQReilly](#): > > MLS can’t dream of a level of play anywhere near Spain, but what always surprises me when I watch an MLS game is the high tempo and general physicality. Yeah, I like watching my Seattle Sounders, but I’m getting pretty sick and tired of Freddie Ljungberg bitching about the physical play. Even our announcer often points out his having to get over “calls he’d have gotten in Europe.” ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/12 "2010-07-16T03:21:23Z")
…aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand now I’m a Galaxy fan. And NYRB now have a level of hate comparable to Boston sports teams in the ol’ Book o’ Scrappy. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/13 "2010-07-16T17:47:32Z")
> [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](#): > > …aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand now I’m a Galaxy fan. > > And NYRB now have a level of hate comparable to Boston sports teams in the ol’ Book o’ Scrappy. Why exactly? I’m not asking to be snarky I just don’t understand the hate. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/14 "2010-07-17T01:58:27Z")
[QUOTE= Xan] Why exactly? I’m not asking to be snarky I just don’t understand the hate. [/QUOTE] Because your man **Scrappy** is an Irishman, that’s why. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/15 "2010-07-17T02:03:40Z")
I’m not very familiar with the player in question so that doesn’t mean anything to me. ---
**Author:** ![JoeH2O](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@JoeH2O](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeH2O)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/16 "2010-07-17T06:31:05Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Well, with his ball-**[handling](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxw1-Id91lQ&feature=related)** skills, if your goalkeeper ever gets injured, you have a _handy_ replacement. Damn, beaten too it. I was going to say he thought it was a professional handball team. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/17 "2010-07-17T08:41:34Z")
> [@Xan](#): > > I’m not very familiar with the player in question so that doesn’t mean anything to me. Thierry Henry has become a bit of a hate figure for some people (rather ludicrously IMO) due to an incident in which he deliberately handled the ball before setting up a late winning goal in a game last year against Ireland, a result which meant that France went to the World Cup and Ireland didn’t. The referees didn’t see it, but Henry admitted the handball after the game with an infuriating Gallic shrug. Controversy ensued. Other than that, he has been a widely-admired and quite popular player. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/18 "2010-07-17T09:30:31Z")
It wasn’t as much the way the goal was scored that made him a hate figure, but the manner in which he celebrated it. A player with true footballing class, a la Eric Cantona, would probably have admitted it was handball, but said “If you want to give me the goal, I’ll take it”. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/19 "2010-07-17T16:16:41Z")
Besides which, Henry denied handling the ball on the field while the game was going on, and then, the instant the whistle blew, came clean. He’s a poor sport. And he cost the Republic a grand opportunity for the team, the people, and the nation by cheating. Sure, he didn’t steal nuclear secrets or anything, but then again there’s no opportunity to steal nuclear secrets in soccer. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671/20 "2010-07-18T02:03:26Z")
> [@MichaelQReilly](#): > > MLS can’t dream of a level of play anywhere near Spain, but what always surprises me when I watch an MLS game is the high tempo and general physicality. It’s almost like Scotland or England but with even less on-the-ball skills and intelligent movement. I can’t imagine a worse league for guys who need a lot of time on the ball, but I don’t think that Henry falls into that category anyway. Where I think Henry will eat MLS defenses alive is with his vision, range of passing, and off-the-ball movement. Those skills are almost completely non-existent in MLS and guys that have them - even over the hill old men like Cuauhtemoc Blanco - can make a huge impact. His first few games should be interesting, if the opponents assume he’s going to sit in front of the goal and get used as a poacher (of course, if he is actually played in that position, NY would be wasting him). Even as an Arsenal fan I wasn’t particularly fond of his cheating there. But I suppose it’s more classy than lauching a kick at a crowd member, eh, **ivan**? 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thierry-henry-signs-with-ny-red-bulls/546671.md?page=2)