Could This Be Henry`s Year?

Some of you may remember an article some months back regarding the scandal that is Thierry Henry`s lack of a world player of the year award, well, could this be the year that that terrible statistic is put right?.

The short lists for the World Player of the Year has just been announced and there was no surprise so see our very own captain amongst the nominee`s (with Tomas Rosicky & Jens Lehmann in there as well).

Taking my time in sifting through the list, mentally comparing each and every player and what they have achieved over the last 12 months, and call me biased (which you probably will, but I don`t care because, Hey, this is an Arsenal site) but the only player worthy of challenging Henry for the award is Arsenal`s Jens Lehmann.

Lehmann has easily been the best keeper in the World over the last couple of years, his reflexes for a 37 year old are outstanding, the way he commands his area is unreal and his hands are safer than Mr. Seaman. Truly the only contender. But unfortunately for the crazy German, he is not quite there.

Some of the names in there are simply there just to make up the numbers (I mean what have Drogba, Essien, Rooney, Lahm or Vieira done to warrant a mention?) but the few who have shown genuine class have just not matched up to Mr Henry.

Ronaldinho? I don`t think so, he did little in Barca`s Champions League victory and was simply rubbish in the world cup.

Cannavaro? Excellent defender, but can you really give an award to a player who may have had decisions awarded in his favor by a dodgy referee?

Gerrard? No. Lampard? No. Eto`o? No. No. No. No.

Thierry Henry HAS been the most consistent, reliable and most astounding players over the past 5 years.

Not only does Henry entertain, but he`s effective. In the season that Ronaldinho took the award Henry easily outclassed and outnumbered him in goals, assists and general ability. The goofy fella has a nice box of tricks, but to be frank, if offered the choice, it would be Henry every time.

What we need to remember in all this is that the award is called "World PLAYER of the year" and not team of the year. The fact that Henry did not win a single medal matters little, whereas the fact that he dragged a far below par team kicking and screaming into that fourth Champions League spot and heroically helped us to our first CL final whilst at the same time becoming one of France`s & Arsenal`s all time top scorers and helping his nation to the World cup final must count for something.

Henry should have won this award in the past, but this is his year.

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