That's the opposite of Zlatan who is overrated in his general play but has the knack for scoring regardless (and some special goals to boot). Someone like Henry at Arsenal seems more similar in his influence on the entire team/match.
Henry vs Cantona - who was better
- Thread starter VP89
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Cantona was the king of assist back then, maybe people has already forgot that. His visionary pass, throughball, flair and technique was second to none back in those time. I thought he was very similar to Zidane in terms of their style, although their position is different.
Henry takes this one pretty easily.
Gotta go with Henry, but not a great comparison.
It's akin to asking if Messi or Rooney was the better better player.
If we're being real here, only a United fan would pick Cantona over Henry.
Henry, and it's not close.
Henry has a claim for one of the greatest players in the PL, top 5 at least depending on your biases.
Henry has a claim for one of the greatest players in the PL, top 5 at least depending on your biases.
Henry by far, the numbers speak for themselves
In terms of overall all round physical abilities such as Pace, Acceleration, Stamina...
Henry
But in terms of technical ability...
pretty even
But mentally.... Composure, Leadership, Bravery, Vision, Decision making....
Eric
Eric was more niche. Its difficult to compare. Both used their skills to their advantage and both succeeded.
Henry
But in terms of technical ability...
pretty even
But mentally.... Composure, Leadership, Bravery, Vision, Decision making....
Eric
Eric was more niche. Its difficult to compare. Both used their skills to their advantage and both succeeded.
A great goal scorer Vs a great leader who often single-handedly pulled his team team to titles. That’s title(S).
It is even a question here? Virtually everybody is saying Henry was better. Who had the bigger impact on English football though... nobody who watched the PL in the 90s could say anything other than Cantona. He utterly dominated the league.
If Henry had come to United in 90s, we might not have won all those trophies. And, if Cantona played in that Arsenal team, then they would have mostly won a CL with Henry scoring 35+ goals every season very easily.
Talent wise Henry was definitely better. But impact wise Cantona was way ahead. He can drag an entire club and stand out even when the club had personalities like SAF and Roy Keane.
Talent wise Henry was definitely better. But impact wise Cantona was way ahead. He can drag an entire club and stand out even when the club had personalities like SAF and Roy Keane.
If you look at the stats, yes, Henry is the better player.
But football is not just about stats, if it was, we wouldn't all be here.
Some players rightfully have legend status, and that goes above stats for anyone that is a football fan.
You can make a lot of similar comparisons (Socrates v Neymar, Figo v Di Maria, Zidane v Ozil), but the legend will always win, because that's what your heart says.
But football is not just about stats, if it was, we wouldn't all be here.
Some players rightfully have legend status, and that goes above stats for anyone that is a football fan.
You can make a lot of similar comparisons (Socrates v Neymar, Figo v Di Maria, Zidane v Ozil), but the legend will always win, because that's what your heart says.
Also don’t forget Cantona won the league with Leeds the year before he joined us so he’d have won it 92,93,94,95,96,97 if he didn’t get banned!
Far more substance to Eric than Henry.
Talent wise, Henry edges it. But football is more than the technical aspect and as forwards they were different. Cantona was more dynamic-agressive and a stronger leader. Both beautiful players and i m sure that they would have formed a legendary partnership.
Well, they did win it in 1998 without him.
Henry was better. Cantona was enigmatic for sure but should have done better in European competition then he did. During this period we went out of a few games where it just didn't click. That's not to knock Eric. He was what we needed. But it's not really a fair comparision. We still had a very good team before Eric game and we might have won the league season prior to the premier league if not for fixture congestion. Not a certainty but it didn't help us that's for sure ...but it was just meant to be.
Henry was a great player. Cantona was a revolution. Trying to compare them is daft.
Henry was an amazing player, one of the best strikers in the PL, but Eric was King, it was he who finally got United to the top and started the decade of dominance.
Yeah, that’s the answer for me as well.
Cantona vs Bergkamp is certainly a more interesting comparison. Bergkamp probably edges it in terms of pure talent/technique (although it’s close), but Cantona has an edge in terms of mentality.
I meant that Arsenal to be fair. You could even say Henry's Arsenal
Dumb thread, Cantona
Henry was the better player. But similar to Shearer being better individually than our strikers backs then, this doesn’t bother me a bit as we were extremely successful with the players we actually had / got anyway.
Henry was a great player who built a fantastic career for himself with all the goals, assists, trophies and individual accolades, but Cantona was the catalyst for English footballs greatest ever dynasty. That's why for United supporters of my generation, Eric is, and always will be, the king.
Now go home and get your fecking shine box, Thiery.
Now go home and get your fecking shine box, Thiery.
That's not the question OP was asking in the thread. Just saying, this would be laughed at anywhere outside of a United forum.
Henry
Henry, that's not a slight on Cantona who was obviously excellent. For my money, Henry's the best attacker in PL history, after Ronnie of course.
Henry was on another level between 04 and 06. Didn’t see Cantona live but I’d be surprised if he was as good as Henry. From what I have seen though they were totally different players. Henry was a goalscorer and Eric played off the front man?
Different players.
Henry had more pace, maybe was better technically and pretty much scored the same goal every week with a few exceptions. He could be bullied out of games, but for a time that whole Arsenal team was week and could be. He went onto Barca and he played well but was never the same level as at Arsneal.
Cantona was a more intelligent player, he had better vision, control, passing, he was stronger, never allowed himself to be bullied. He didn't score with the same finish over and over, he was more of an off the cuff player and that made him better to watch.
For me Cantona was a better player, he just had a more about him as a player and that includes his aura.
Henry had more pace, maybe was better technically and pretty much scored the same goal every week with a few exceptions. He could be bullied out of games, but for a time that whole Arsenal team was week and could be. He went onto Barca and he played well but was never the same level as at Arsneal.
Cantona was a more intelligent player, he had better vision, control, passing, he was stronger, never allowed himself to be bullied. He didn't score with the same finish over and over, he was more of an off the cuff player and that made him better to watch.
For me Cantona was a better player, he just had a more about him as a player and that includes his aura.
Cantona was great but Henry is the best to play in the Prem, along with Ronaldo.
He wasn't, In terms of touch and ability with the ball at your feet he was never of that level. The better comparison in that sense would be Bergkamp.
Henry was miles better. Cantona had 2-3 good seasons while Henry was successful in 10 years.
Henry was faster, quicker and had more acceleration. In all other aspects I’d have to say King Eric was better.
Henry was magnificent, but the undermining of Cantona is quite shocking. He was special in his own right.
2-3 good seasons?
This is why arguments that hinge on casuals knowing about a player are instantly trash
Very different players. Who was better Kaka or Raul?
I think longevity has to be a factor, despite them playing different roles, and Henry was world class for longer.
I think longevity has to be a factor, despite them playing different roles, and Henry was world class for longer.
Cantona by some distance. Henry was a great player but there are lots of really great players but very few with Cantona's technical ability, flash of genius and ability to lift those around him.
Why did Cantona perform poorly for France and in Europe with Utd? Those are the big question marks over him