All-Time XI Built Around Henry

Physiocrat

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Here we go again. IMO he really wants to be part of a front two with licence to drift left. Apart from that I'm not entirely sure what would be ideal. I'd be interested to hear what you all think and especially Le Arse fan @oneniltothearsenal .

He was my attempt to GOATify the Arsenal setup with Henry.

-----------Henry---Zico-----
Rivelino-Davids--Desailly--Figo
R.Carlos-Stam---Nesta---J.Zanetti
--------------Buffon----------------

Edit - Davids and Desailly were a choice to copy the Invincibles Arsenal side. I'd probably have Rikjaard and Falcao instead.
 
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I think he has to be paired with someone who possesses all of Bergkamp's traits and more.

--------Henry-----------------
---------------Pele-----------
Czibor---------------------Conti
-------Rijkaard---Tardelli--------
Maldini---Scirea---Ruggeri----Alves
------------Maspoli------------
 
idmanager said:
I think he has to be paired with someone who possesses all of Bergkamp's traits and more.

--------Henry-----------------
---------------Pele-----------
Czibor---------------------Conti
-------Rijkaard---Tardelli--------
Maldini---Scirea---Ruggeri----Alves
-----------Maspoli-------------
Click to expand...

I considered Pele but I don't think he's a playmaker as much as Bergkamp was. That's why I went with Zico as he's the most second-strikerish of the GOAT 10s.
 
Vieira had so many assist, by his long range passing to Henry. So, the team is preferably has a long range passer in midfield.
 
Physiocrat said:
I considered Pele but I don't think he's a playmaker as much as Bergkamp was. That's why I went with Zico as he's the most second-strikerish of the GOAT 10s.
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I prefer more of a playmaker and less of a second striker with Henry. Bergkamp for me was one of the few second strikers whose playmaking skills peak was way more better than his striking prowess peak. So didnt want him to be with someone like Zico.

Pele's playmaking and passing was very similar to Bergkamp from what I have seen with one major difference being Bergkamp held on to the ball longer on average than Pele.

And of course, Pele in a 4-4-1-1 was an obvious GOAT choice for me.
 
henry-xi-formation-tactics.png


I really wanted to pair him with Seeler, who is one of the few 9s to combine strength, elite goalscoring and added playmaking.
 
idmanager said:
I prefer more of a playmaker and less of a second striker with Henry. Bergkamp for me was one of the few second strikers whose playmaking skills peak was way more better than his striking prowess peak. So didnt want him to be with someone like Zico.

Pele's playmaking and passing was very similar to Bergkamp from what I have seen with one major difference being Bergkamp held on to the ball longer on average than Pele.

And of course, Pele in a 4-4-1-1 was an obvious GOAT choice for me.
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Pele scored way more goals than Zico and was more of a second-striker than Zico.
 
Physiocrat said:
Pele scored way more goals than Zico and was more of a second-striker than Zico.
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Yes, but I rate his playmaking very highly too.. That is why I said should have all of Berkamp's traits and more.

To put it another way, Pele for me was more nearer to possesing Bergkamp's game while Zico I feel is closer to Zidane with a better scoring rate. Hence the choice.

Also Bergamp in that Arsenal side bought everyone into the game (wingers/Henry) which Pele is the master of doing while Zico is more indivdualistic.
 
4-4-2 seems about right. That or 3-5-2 is optimal for him.

-----------Henry---Cruyff-----
Nedved---Matthaus--Neeskens--Figo
Facchetti---Kohler---Figueroa---J.Zanetti
--------------Buffon----------------


Think Cruyff and Henry might be a very good combo.

Matthaus/Neeskens is probably the optimal CM combo - either of those can find henry up the pitch and can hold their own in the center, especially with industrious wingers like Nedved and to an extend Figo.
 
Physiocrat said:
Here we go again. IMO he really wants to be part of a front two with licence to drift left. Apart from that I'm not entirely sure what would be ideal. I'd be interested to hear what you all think and especially Le Arse fan @oneniltothearsenal .

He was my attempt to GOATify the Arsenal setup with Henry.

-----------Henry---Zico-----
Rivelino-Davids--Desailly--Figo
R.Carlos-Stam---Nesta---J.Zanetti
--------------Buffon----------------
Click to expand...


Davids and Desailly really lack a bit creativity in the middle. I know that Pires and Bergkamp obviously were the main creative source in that side and Arsene usually employed creative wingers compared to the Scholes type in the middle or DLP, as already been mentioned Vieira held a key role with his passes from deep.

Matthaus IMO would be perfect along someone like Falcao or Neeskens.
 
Enigma_87 said:
Davids and Desailly really lack a bit creativity in the middle. I know that Pires and Bergkamp obviously were the main creative source in that side and Arsene usually employed creative wingers compared to the Scholes type in the middle or DLP, as already been mentioned Vieira held a key role with his passes from deep.

Matthaus IMO would be perfect along someone like Falcao or Neeskens.
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It's a bit light creatively in the middle. When I created it I tried to find the best Vieira replacement and I thought Davids was stylistically the closet. TBF I'd probably go Falcao and Rikjaard in the middle two but that's my default option in midfield twos.

How would you line up in a 352? I'm wary of classic 10s because I remember he complained that Zidane took too long to release the ball.
 
Henry Bergkamp
Nedved Scholes Kante Mbappe
Lizarazu Vidic Rio Zanetti
VDS
​
Fairly modern one, Scholes and Bergkamp in the same team was always my wet dream:drool:
 
Henry - Cruyff - Ronaldo
Davids - Redondo - Neeskens
Cole - Cannavaro - Desailly - Zanetti
Neuer
​
With Cruyff as the false 9. Up the Henry on the left haters, that would be total sex.
 
MJJ said:
Can swap him with Baggio from the draft final.
Click to expand...

That's the kind of setup I think would make sense in a 3412 (although you could easily change it to a diamond). I like Kopa at 10 because he's one of the most direct 10s you could play behind two strikers.
 
Moby said:
If I'm playing Henry in a front two I'd always prefer the second attacker to be a creator.
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I think with a number ten, you can partner him with somebody who is more clinical and more of a target man. Ideally you get somebody who combines the two qualities law or seeler maybe.
 
Moby said:
In that case probably another striker who can also create. Don't think he should be played next to an out and out 9 like Muller.
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As long as there is one proper creator in the middle and he has players to link with on the left I think he'd work lovely. e.g.

----------Henry----Muller--------
-----------------Kopa-----------------
------Nedved-------Neeskens----
----------------Rikjaard---------------
Brehme--Kohler--Baresi--J.Zanetti
-----------------Big Pete-------------

Muller was technically really quite good and had excellent movement. He could also drop very deep as he did in Euro 72. That said I still think he'd work well with someone like Batigol
 
7wu9QU4.png


  • Laudrup is the ultimate upgrade on Bergkamp. The quality of his through-balls (and perhaps the whole final third passing) was never surpassed, imo. He's had experience of playing alongside similarly dynamic striker in Elkjær
  • I feel that someone in the mould of Stoichkov or Blokhin would be perfect for Henry as an interchangeable partners. Pires played a somewhat similar role in the unbeaten Arsenal team
  • The rest is pretty straightforward — the usual GOAT contenders that were picked with that Arsenal team in mind
 
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Henry ---------
---- Baggio

Best -----------------------Stoickhov
Rijkaard - Matthaus

R. Carlos -- Baresi -- Kohler -- Cafu​
 
Physiocrat said:
Here we go again. IMO he really wants to be part of a front two with licence to drift left. Apart from that I'm not entirely sure what would be ideal. I'd be interested to hear what you all think and especially Le Arse fan @oneniltothearsenal .

He was my attempt to GOATify the Arsenal setup with Henry.

-----------Henry---Zico-----
Rivelino-Davids--Desailly--Figo
R.Carlos-Stam---Nesta---J.Zanetti
--------------Buffon----------------

Edit - Davids and Desailly were a choice to copy the Invincibles Arsenal side. I'd probably have Rikjaard and Falcao instead.
Click to expand...

For me, I pretty much love every formation everyone has posted more than any draft side that has contained Henry for the obvious that he usually gets shunted out to the left forward slot to accommodate a GOAT no.9
The reason I love all the sides is that I think the one quality modern commentators tend to forget about Henry is how versatile a team player he was. His best season IMO was the one where he set the single season record for Assists that still hasn't been broken even by all the assist masters and playmakers of today's PL - Ozil, Silva, Hazard, De Bruyne - Henry still has more single season assists than all of them playmakers. So for me having him combo with players like Zico and Pele even Cruyff creates some potential for great football being played. His pace, technique and dribbling combination let him create great chances for others

This is a good video highlighting that:



The next most important are the wide combo. I think the one that is missing from a few formations like yours is the Ljungberg type player. He gave workrate and a bit more directness than Pires. I think Figo-Rivelino is more like having 2 Pires so to speak. You could replace one of them with slightly different type of player - Nedved and Conti are always popular here. I like Sjor's daring in putting Mbappe in that role for instance. I think Henry would love to play with Mbappe on the RF role like that. Theres a lot of variations here I think could work actually, for the best it would depend on the opponent I think.

The back fours are all pretty standard GOAT affairs. Can't really go wrong with any of them. But for me I probably like the Cafu variations most as RB just because he played early as a winger and I like the early offensive push there. Zanetti would obviously be great there as well but I'd probably pick Cafu if I had the choice between the two.
 
Moby said:
Baggio is a brilliant shout. Probably the best replacement for Bergkamp so far.
Click to expand...

Thanks, man. I'd like to put Cantona there, but obviously that's just personal preference. Cruyff supposedly a better player, but I just feel he's more of a free role and would always be the main man (deservedly), instead of supporting role to Henry.
 
1970 version of Pele would be a great replacement for Bergkamp. Baggio tended to love to drift towards the left, so they both could in theory get in each others way.

Henry Pele (1970)
Littbarski Van Hanegam Falcao Nedved
Carlos Maldini Baresi Cafu
​
Tried to avoid players who would end up outshining Henry.. he's the type of character who wouldn't be at his very best alongside other big attacking stars (would end up a support act).

Nedved would be perfect Ljungberg replacement.. you need two b2b's in midfield, and ideally GOAT wise Best/Dinho would be upgrades for Pires, but they would end up the star of the show IMO.
 
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Raees said:
1970 version of Pele would be a great replacement for Bergkamp. Baggio tended to love to drift towards the left, so they both could in theory get in each others way.

Henry Pele
Littbarski Van Hanegam Falcao Nedved
Carlos Maldini Baresi Cafu
​
Tried to avoid players who would end up outshining Henry.. he's the type of character who wouldn't be at his very best alongside other big attacking stars (would end up a support act).

Nedved would be perfect Ljungberg replacement.. you need two b2b's in midfield, and ideally GOAT wise Best/Dinho would be upgrades for Pires, but they would end up the star of the show IMO.
Click to expand...

You say that and you put fecking Pele in there.
 
MJJ said:
You say that and you put fecking Pele in there.
Click to expand...

Yes but 1970 version wasn't the dynamic eye-catching force he once was. He was an intelligent playmaker/second striker, who could combine with other 10's and stars. He himself played a more restrained role and if you paired him with a Henry in his prime, Henry would be the main goalgetter/ball carrier etc. Take the 1970 final for instance, Pele's not at the heart of every attack.. I would say Rivelino (despite a very erratic first half) and Gerson were more involved with the running of the Brazil attack, with Jairzinho/Alberto being their ball-carriers if space is available. Pele was a subtle but quietly effective influence in the build up, as well as their main goalthreat.

Of course you have to concede that there will be some big players in the side with him, I just think if you've got wide men who are huge stars as well as his partner up front, then that simply becomes too much ego's for Henry to compete with. An elder statesman in Pele, is more likely to adopt a Bergkamp role tactically than say a Baggio in his prime - who was a virtuoso involved with every aspect of final third play.
 
Raees said:
Yes but 1970 version wasn't the dynamic eye-catching force he once was. He was an intelligent playmaker/second striker, who could combine with other 10's and stars. He himself played a more restrained role and if you paired him with a Henry in his prime, Henry would be the main goalgetter/ball carrier etc. Take the 1970 final for instance, Pele's not at the heart of every attack.. I would say Rivelino (despite a very erratic first half) and Gerson were more involved with the running of the Brazil attack, with Jairzinho/Alberto being their ball-carriers if space is available. Pele was a subtle but quietly effective influence in the build up, as well as their main goalthreat.

Of course you have to concede that there will be some big players in the side with him, I just think if you've got wide men who are huge stars as well as his partner up front, then that simply becomes too much ego's for Henry to compete with. An elder statesman in Pele, is more likely to adopt a Bergkamp role tactically than say a Baggio in his prime - who was a virtuoso involved with every aspect of final third play.
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Problem is that any side with Pele in it will revolve around Pele, Henry would defer to him too much to run the show himself. You are correct that by 1970 pele wasnt running things as much as before but his reputation would automatically mean any teammate, particularly somebody like henry, would defer to him other than the brazilian ones.
 
MJJ said:
Problem is that any side with Pele in it will revolve around Pele, Henry would defer to him too much to run the show himself. You are correct that by 1970 pele wasnt running things as much as before but his reputation would automatically mean any teammate, particularly somebody like henry, would defer to him other than the brazilian ones.
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That is a fair argument and one that I wouldn't necessarily disagree with.

Thing is, unless you go Pele or Baggio - there isn't any true upgrades to Bergkamp.. Litmanen, Dalglish etc it becomes around the same kind of level.
 
Raees said:
That is a fair argument and one that I wouldn't necessarily disagree with.

Thing is, unless you go Pele or Baggio - there isn't any true upgrades to Bergkamp.. Litmanen, Dalglish etc it becomes around the same kind of level.
Click to expand...
You need someone really creative and who doesn't hog the limelight. The Steve Nash of football.
 
MJJ said:
Problem is that any side with Pele in it will revolve around Pele, Henry would defer to him too much to run the show himself. You are correct that by 1970 pele wasnt running things as much as before but his reputation would automatically mean any teammate, particularly somebody like henry, would defer to him other than the brazilian ones.
Click to expand...

Problem is, you can never have a great team revolving around Henry.

You can just create a setup to maximize his potential output. That in itself would be an all time best 11 for Henry even though he might not be the best player on the pitch.

But you need to balance it. Which is why not picking Best or Dinho made sense as Raees said.

Any great Henry side deserves a GOAT second striker who might and most likely will dominate proceedings way more than him (which was not his job anyways) but then also bring the absolute best out of Henry himself. I personally cant better that than Pele.
 
I think Henry would have been amazing in Di Stefano's Madrid as well with a few additions from the hungarian batch.

-------Henry-------Kocsis--------
Gento-------Di Stefano-------Czibor
-----Rijkaard---------Desailly------
---Maldini----Baresi-----Thuram----
 
idmanager said:
I think Henry would have been amazing in Di Stefano's Madrid as well with a few additions from the hungarian batch.

-------Henry-------Kocsis--------
Gento-------Di Stefano-------Czibor
-----Rijkaard---------Desailly------
---Maldini----Baresi-----Thuram----
Click to expand...

I like the idea but I think you want someone less traditional left winger for Henry to link with and allow him space to drift leftwards. I could see Gento and him getting in each others way. Put Rivelino left with Davids instead of Rikjaard (as he can pull on to the left flank) and I think that could work really nicely
 
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