Football Punditry Versus Football Coaching; The Case Of Thierry Henry.
Thierry Henry is my favourite Arsenal player behind Denis Bergkamp. He made me become a die hard Gunner during his days at Arsenal. Is there any trophy he hasn't won? World Cup on home soil France in 1998, Domestic titles with Arsenal and Barcelona, etc. He would sign off at New York Red Bulls. During the peak of his footballing career, Sky Sports came calling. He was a delight to watch, as he would dish out strategies and tactics. I got carried away because I know him as a great player. At some point, many of my football friends suggested Arsenal hire him to replace Arsene Wenger. Who won't jump at such conclusion. His words on screen walk the talk of our expectations and we conjured up a ready made perfection from him all embedded in his verbal carriage and earlier achievements. Monaco came calling, and he took the job. For 104 days, he won only two league games out of 20. He complained about the departure of key players, injury ravaged tram etc. But at the end, one thing mattered, I.e being able to manage a team as he had always proposed on Sky Sports.He didn't live up to the billing. He was sooner found out by his poor man management skills. Calling an opponent's grandmother a whore, definitely is not what you would demand from a responsible manager. Calling out your players in the public and running a disorganised training timetable are neither too! So, for all his earlier braggadocio on the telly, he came back to earth with a mighty thud. "The grass is always greener on the other side until you start chewing" indeed. .. Talking and doing in football are world apart.! Worse is when you are a coach. Gary Neville, Tim Sherwood, Harry Redknapp et al have all walked and are still walking this way.