Aguero vs Henry: The Greatest PL #9?

Moby

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In my humble opinion, it is between these two looking at the entirety of their careers spent in the Premier League. In general, the likes of Rooney and Shearer have good claims to the title themselves however in terms of ability, skill, technique, physicality, finishing, consistency and being decisive in big games, it should come down to these two.

I personally lean towards Aguero, primarily on account of his record vs the 'Top 6' teams since he has joined, which is absolutely phenomenal. In addition to that he has a tremendous goals per game ratio despite facing injuries from time to time, is and will be considered one of the founding pillars of the juggernaut that is Man City in this decade and what unfortunately looks like a trend to continue. He has given one of the most iconic Premier League moments with that winner in 11-12 season. If I were to pick one #9 of the ones who have played in this league for a big game, I will easily go for him.

Henry was great in his own right, incredible match winner with frightening pace and dribbling and he performed very consistently as well, and I believe for most it should be round about even between these two coming down to personal preferences. I do think he falls short of Aguero's technique, close control in tight spaces, finishing technique from anywhere in the 12-18 yards range, etc.
 

Matt007a

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Henry wasn’t an orthodox 9 like Aguero but he was a better player. Aguero is ruthless in front of goal and great in an around the box, but Henry was an all round attacker of incredible talent. He looked like a man playing against kids.

Even the best Arsenal teams didn’t create the amount of chances Man City do. Henry also got a lot more assists. For me he’s the best player the Premier League has seen.
 

Cassidy

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Shearer should be in the conversation, I would go with Henry and I put Shearer above Aguero
 

Art

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Prime Henry was something else. I wanted him out of this league and was super glad when he did leave.
 

2mufc0

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Prime Henry was something else. I wanted him out of this league and was super glad when he did leave.
Yeah this, prime Henry put the fear into teams, you don't get that same feeling with Aguero.
 

BobbyManc

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Henry. He was the player I most admired growing up. I'd agree that Aguero is second only to Henry though.
 

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Here on the Caf back then it was frequently claimed that RVN was better than Henry. Supposedly Henry choked in big games or something.
 

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Yep Henry definitely superior. Only C Ronaldo has hit greater heights in the PL era.
 

Makelele

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Henry was just a different animal. Highbury, high socks and gloves. Game was over before it started. Aguero a scorer of tremendous class but Henry was just proper footballer all round, more so than Aguero I believe. They don’t make them like that anymore.
 
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Bastian

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Henry is the more spectacular player obviously. Aguero is the best striker in Premier League history for me though.

There are many amazing players who’d have gotten pulled down to mediocrity playing for United in the last few years, but I can’t help thinking Aguero would have banged in goals for this broken club regardless.
 

GeorgieBoy

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Henry quite comfortably for me; and that's not a slight on Aguero.
I think prime Henry can only be matched by Ronaldo for the PL era.
 

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It's Henry, but the comparison should be between Aguero and Shearer for the #9 shirt.
 

Yagami

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Not sure why Shearer and Rooney are excluded.

Anyway I'd pick Henry
to be fair, unlike Shearer, Henry and Aguero, Rooney was more of a 10 when you consider his career as a whole. Though he was a brilliant 9, too, at his peak. His versatility was something else.

For what it's worth, I'd go Henry with Shearer second.
 

lysglimt

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Henry was at least one level above Aguero - and I really like Aguero. When Aguero Plays against United I fear that he will score and decide the game - when Henry played against United, I feared that he would rip United to shreds.
 

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This is an interesting post. Shearer’s productivity in goals and assists was almost identical to Henry’s at their peaks. Something I wouldn't have thought

Going to do the obligatory Shearer comparison as they're often named as the best two strikers, or forwards if you'd rather call Henry that instead, in PL history. In some of Shearer's there were more teams in league so more games:

Shearer
1992/93 - 20 (21 apps)
1993/94 - 35 (40)
1994/95 - 47 (42)
1995/96 - 38 (35)
1996/97 - 32 (31)
Totals: 172 in 169, 1.02 per game

Henry
2001-02 - 29 goals + assists (33 apps)
2002-03 - 44 (37)
2003-04 - 36 (37)
2004-05 - 39 (32)
2005-06 - 35 (32)
Totals: 183 in 171, 1.07 per game

Henry just edging it there, and of course he was seen has having a better all round game by nearly everyone as he was better at making goals than Shearer ever was. Still quite close on those combined stats.

Another purely goalscoring comparison that I once came up between the two was that Henry was born on August 17th and turned 22 the same month he signed for Arsenal at the start of 1999/00. In 8 seasons at Arsenal he scored 174 in 254 in the league, 0.69 a game. Shearer was born on August 13th, and if you take the 8 seasons from when he was 22 you get 176 goals in 253, 0.70 per game. It's remarkably similar.
l
 

Redplane

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Imagine if RvP would have hit the same heights in prime Henry time - that would ve been a frightening striker duo to put Cole/Yorke to shame. Especially with Bergkamp behind it.

In my mind Shearer deserves the title of greatest PL striker though. Not just bc of stats--but also bc in my mind he was the face of the league simply by virtue of being a superstar who decided to stay with his favorite club and still take games by the neck.
 

VorZakone

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Those stats by Henry and Shearer are just nuts. But Aguero is a worthy contender with 4 PL titles.
 

Bwuk

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Henry, but I don’t think it’s a fair comparison, they are different sorts of players.

Aguero vs Shearer as both are out and out goalscorers would of been better.
 
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This is an interesting post. Shearer’s productivity in goals and assists was almost identical to Henry’s at their peaks. Something I wouldn't have thought

l
I wonder what Agueros' best five years are? I'm sure his goals would be up there but wonder what his assists would be like.

To me, he's a great scorer of goals/finisher (and has had some amazing players creating chances for him) whereas Henry could score the goals but also play in wider positions and do things Aguero couldn't.

A great goal-scorer versus a great all-round forward.



Peak Shearer versus Aguero would be close though. Probably edge Shearer as he scored goals in much worse sides and it'd piss off Owen.