The worst kept secret since David Beckham staying in Milan is finally official: Thierry Henry is now a member of Red Bull New York. The problem is, Red Bull New York doesn’t really need him.
For the first time in years (the 2008 playoffs were a fluke) have played consistent, quality soccer. Henry certainly improves the talent level of the team simply by signing his contract, but as the LA Galaxy saw with David Beckham, the mere addition of a superstar player isn’t enough. That player needs to mesh with the rest of the team or it throws a wrench in the most vital cog of the Red Bull machine.
The advantage RBNY has over the 2007 Galaxy is Henry is healthy and can contribute immediately. He is also well rested as he did not see much action towards the end of the European season or in the World Cup. Perhaps most importantly, he doesn’t seem to be a total jerk like Beckham was during his first season with the Galaxy.
The other major difference between Beckham and Henry is that, while a huge signing, Beckham wasn’t desparately needed to boost attendance. The Galaxy were one of the few teams in the league with a consistently healthy fan base. With Red Bull Arena opening to disappointing attendance figures this season, Henry is expected to sell tickets in addition to scoring goals.
Despite being a world superstar, David Beckham took some time adjusting to being “the guy” in LA. The reasons were chronicled in Grant Wahl’s exquisite book, The Beckham Experiment. Whether or not Henry will have the issues remains to be seen. The crux of the entire deal will likely be Juan Pablo Angel.
Angel is accustomed to playing with stars thanks to his time in the Premiership. That he’ll handle Henry’s arrival better than Landon Donovan did Beckham’s goes without saying. Angel’s experience should make the transition smooth. Should the rumored trade of Angel to Seattle for Freddie Ljungberg go through, it could actually benefit Red Bull New York as Ljungberg and Henry were once teammates at Arsenal. Ljungberg could help speed up Henry’s acclimation to life as an MLS Designated Player more than Angel ever could.
Will Henry succeed? Probably, at least on the field. Where must succeed is in the seats at Red Bull Arena. If Henry can’t convince New York fans to spend their hard-earned dollars in Harrison, New Jersey, it won’t matter if he is the second coming of Pele on the field. If Red Bull New York wins the MLS Cup but no one is watching, the Henry Experiment will be an abject failure.
Adam Soucie is the author of Soccer, Not Football, a blog focused on the American game. If you’ve liked this piece, check out his other work. If you haven’t liked it, he promises there’s better stuff on his site.