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Henry set to sign with Red Bulls

Thierry Henry 1 (Getty Images) 

Barcelona foward Thierry Henry looks to finally be headed to MLS, and the team he appears set to join should come as no surprise.

Henry, who has fallen out of favor at Barcelona, has agreed to a pre-contract deal with the New York Red Bulls for as long as three weeks now, according to SI.com. The French international will join the Red Bulls after the World Cup pending some compensation from New York, as Henry still has one more year under contract with the Spanish champions.

If all of the wrinkles are ironed out and Henry does finally make his move to MLS, he would join forward Juan Pablo Angel to form arguably the most talented pair of strikers in the league.

What do you think of Henry joining the Red Bulls? Think he and Angel are going to rip defenses apart? Are Red Bulls the favorite to lift the MLS Cup?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. “Come on now. I think that is a very harsh and unfair assessment. If it only happens once, is it really “cheating”? Besides the French play sexier football than the the Irish… And they sell a lot more merchandise. They have a very, how do you say–global appeal. It is most unfortunate what happened to the Irish team but life goes one, does it not?”

    -Seth Blatter, Saturday morning, while enjoying a bountiful brunch at his mountain chateau, unaware that his comments were being recorded by a backstabbing “friend” with a cellphone, a la David Triesman. Jack Warner will deny that he had anything to do with it as he lobbies to succeed him.

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  2. This will be great for MLS and great for the Red Bulls. Hopefully he is not hurt after the WC and can start right away unlike Beckham. But MLS needs to bring in younger guys, but that will take some time.

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  3. On one hand, I can see Henry lighting it up in MLS. He has all manner of talent to create and finish, I would expect that he’ll embarrass the heck out of some MLS defenders.

    But that’s the thing. I think those defenders will respond by beating him up. If the refs call plays involving Henry the way they call other plays, he’s going to spend a lot of time on the ground, bruised and bleeding.

    If I were a RB fan, I’d worry that Henry might end up creating a negative environment for the team. He is not a guy who’s going to labor like Taylor Twellman to score goals. If he doesn’t get calls and score goals, I could see him becoming a distraction.

    I think this signing could be a huge boon for MLS if Henry comes and thrives. I think it could lead high-quality players to avoid the league if he has a negative experience.

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  4. This is amazing news! Assuming he comes to play, and I believe he will, he’s a great signing. He will make an obvious impact with the goals he scores and helps create, and he is marketable enough in this country to help put fannies in the seats. Impact on the field and the business side of things is exactly what you want out of a DP in this league. Hopefully the World Cup gives the league a bump with an amazing tournament, and Henry will be one of many players to sign with MLS to continue to help drive the popularity of the sport in the US.

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  5. Huh? I thought I saw him in an Everton uni…

    He had off from late November through… December. And, unlike everyone in the EPL, he played (for club and country) through last summer.

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  6. Sweet! Better bring it, Henry. We need some goals and attractive soccer. Not a RBNY fan, but an MLS fan, and I’m rooting for you.

    Go FCD!

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  7. Totally agree about Richards as well. He’s got no soccer intelligence whatsoever and his touch on the ball leaves a lot to be desired. I think that I’m at the point where I’d love to see anyone else at that spot. Ubi has shown some consistency this year. I’d love to see him on the right side.

    Also really agree on Angel’s speed. I remember that they knocked a long ball over to him that he just saw he’d have to sprint for so he just gave up and started walking. I almost agree with him needing to be closer to goal except that when he has had the ball near the 18 he’s unleashed soft, poorly placed shots at keepers. He just kind of looks like a shell of his old self at this point. I think that its time that he hangs up his cleats for sure

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  8. When Becks signed up he thought his England days were over. Once they switched coaches and he was dangled a carrot from Capello in front of him then the MLS venture wasn’t important anymore.

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  9. . . . yeah, and while I hated that as an avid soccer supporter who “craves” to see MLS be firmly rooted and producing great soccer (and a Galaxy fan to boot), I don’t really blame him for that desire. And I sure don’t feel in pleasure at his misfortune of missing it this year. That’s got to really suck. That said, he made a horrible PR move from a US/MLS standpoint, but I think he has partially recovered from it: meaning, he is accepted and appreciated, if not a little tarnished. We will see what he does from here on out: if he ever plays again, or if he coaches or owns a team.

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  10. And since the Concacaf champions league didn’t exist then and the old Concacaf Cup wasn’t even held on a consistant basis, and since nobody gives a damn about them, I’d say he could care less.

    He’s going to live it up in New York and play some football on the side when he’s not watching NBA games.

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  11. Some hotheaded defender will hack his thirty-something year old knee and his season will be over. Good thing they don’t play Seattle and Tyrone Marshall again this year.

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  12. I think he is going to pop and fizzle like Beckham did. This league is a lot tougher than players think. Im ready for the USMNT to trump England in the WC! Lets show the world we are no longer a supper league!

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  13. I agree. I posted a not-so PC comment yesterday about how Angel was playing. One word: SLOW. But he’s also more of a poacher these days, so having him track towards the midfield isn’t really his thing. He needs to be closer to goal, but RBNY have difficulty holding play in the final third of the field, thus rendering his poaching ability useless.

    And because I’m so angry and have to say it… Dane Richards = dumbest soccer player ever. He has a football (American) as a soccer brain. So frustrating. I guess his strike against Santos was a one-off. I thought maybe he would turn a corner this year.

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  14. If he’s just here to grow his brand and not get accosted at the mall, then he might be in for a rude awakening when Danny Califf puts him in a figure-four.

    If he’s motivated though, watch out, obviously.

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  15. I don’t get why nobody has tried to pick up Jon Busch from San Jose… ONE OF THE BEST GOALIES IN THE LEAGUE SITTING ON THE BENCH??!?!?

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  16. Hell you could probably get blanco into our midfield for the remainder of the season – think about those crosses to Angel -Henry and Ze Roberto, and he wouldn’t cost any dp money and we would get some more mexican fans in the seats -WIN WIN BABY! MAKE IT Happen Soler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  17. He’ll be the best DP and best player in the league. As long as he is here to actually play and work hard in training. He still has a lot left. Can’t wait to see him AND Red Bull Arena in the summer when I make the trip up 95.

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  18. never considered Beckham “washed up.” Don’t underestimate the paradigm shift that his coming here created in the minds and plans of other world class players (not to mention “mid-level” players). He did the unthinkable: he came before his prime was gone.

    His play was hampered by injury, but he still has it, and he gave the US fan (and the MLS players) weekly reminders of the beauty (and possibility) of sublime crossing. Just because he doesn’t score a ton doesn’t mean he was a) ineffective and b) washed-up.

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  19. I’d rather start Sinisa over Richards – all speed, no skills – none in the passing, shooting or balls skills. Simply ALL SPEED. Yes, SPEED kills, but not without skills.

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  20. In terms of actual impact, the Angel from 2 years ago and Henry would be that but still in terms of names IT WILL BE the most dangerous pair of strikers ever, I mean who would you concentrate on defending? Henry, that will give Angel the space he needs (that space he can’t make for himfelf anymore)

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  21. HAHAHA. Sure JPA-Henry will be the best striker pair in MLS…WHO CANNOT SCORE GOALS!!! We need someone to deliver the ball to them! Oh, and why not spend money on a BETTER GOALKEEPER who could actually stop EASY SHOTS! It’s frustrating to hear these talks about another striker when the team is desperately needing a quality keeper to keep us in the game and a midfielder/CAM that could create and deliver the ball to the strikers!

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  22. Whats wrong with Richards? He’s fast and seems to create a lot of opportunities.. I guess I’m saying that as a Fire fan though…

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  23. Let’s hope Henry doesn’t get injured at the World Cup. MLS doesn’t need another marquee name sitting on the bench.

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  24. i’m in line with the “need” midfielders–even the best forwards need good service–but grubbsbl, i’m with you–he is a special class and drawing power, NYRB would be foolish not to get him. And remember, there is still a 3rd DP slot.

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  25. “Will he adjust to MLS’s physical play” should be the question on everyone’s mind.

    Henry was a bit of whiner back in his EPL days (just like fellow pansy Ljunberg) and the smaller teams would boss him around the field, effectively negating is astonishing abilities.

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  26. Henry – Angel
    Neilsen – Lindpere – Robinson – (someone not Dane)
    Miller – Ream – Petke – Albright/Hall

    key spot – someone not dane. who will fill that spot?

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  27. With his crossover skills I thought all the New York rumors meant he was going to the Knicks with LeBron. Now that would bring New York a championship!

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