Scholes and Henry Show the Value of Investing in an Antique ...

As soon as the returns of Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes to the clubs of their legend were announced, the jokes started. Gianfranco Zola was rejoining Chelsea, Alan Shearer was heading back to Newcastle, and Bobby Charlton was soon to be partnering Scholes in the Manchester United lineup.

But those eager to ridicule the re-signing of two players deemed to be beyond the peak of their once worldly powers have been forced to reconsider. In just over a week, Scholes has inspired United to a victory in the F.A. Cup and scored on his Old Trafford ?debut? against Bolton, while Henry made an emotional homecoming to Arsenal by scoring the winning goal against Leeds only minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Of course, neither signing will solve major squad issues at each club. Both Scholes and Henry have indeed seen their best days, and each has been forced to adapt his game with age, but it?s how their return will affect others that could have the biggest impact.

This psychological influence was demonstrated in United?s win over Manchester City in the F.A. Cup in particular. Scholes was not introduced until an hour into the action and was even blamed by some for conceding possession too cheaply in the buildup to City?s second goal. But United?s first half mind-set, which saw it race into a stunning 3-0 lead over the Premier League leaders, had to be attributable at least in part to the boost delivered by Scholes?s return, which had been announced to the rest of the team only an hour before kickoff.

Scholes hasn?t just lifted United?s first team; he?s given a boost to the entire club. That fact was demonstrated by the deafening noise that greeted his opening goal against Bolton on Saturday.

Just as United?s signing of an aging Henrik Larsson on a three-month contract in 2007 invigorated the United squad at a critical time in the season, Scholes could have the same psychological effect for a similarly minimal investment. As detailed in a post just after the January transfer window opened, United Manager Alex Ferguson had been reluctant to recognize a lack of presence in the center of United?s depleted and frail midfield. While Scholes is by no means a long term solution, he will perform a bit-part role in desperate need of fulfilling.

Henry?s impact was more instant, and more obvious ? a winning goal elegantly stroked home in typical fashion. Like Scholes, Henry, who joined Arsenal as cover while Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh are away at the African Cup of Nations, offers a bit of something invaluable at any price: stability. One man who wasn?t part of the celebrations when Henry?s shot against Leeds tucked inside the far post, but one who would have been as jubilant as anyone in North London, was Robin Van Persie, who was enjoying a holiday in Dubai. If just for the mental break, he must be thrilled that Arsenal has added another striker who knows the route to goal.

Some will say that the S.O.S. issued to Scholes and Henry by their respective clubs represents how Arsenal and United no longer possess the allure or the finances to attract the European soccer elite. However, neither player has been signed solely on the basis of his previous capabilities, but rather on what he can offer now, both on the field and off. (Both deals also make commercial sense: the Red Bulls demanded a minimal loan fee for Henry, and although the Gunners will pick up his $140,000-a-week salary, merchandizing prospects will likely outweigh that expenditure. Negotiations were even more straightforward with Scholes; since retiring last summer, he had been working as a coach with United?s reserve team.)

English soccer?s top flight may not boast an elite quality to challenge the might of Barcelona and Real Madrid right now, but it is the drama, exemplified by the return of two of its most celebrated greats, that still marks it as the world?s most exciting league.

There was another joke doing the rounds last week, that Henry?s new nickname at Arsenal is The Decorator, as he?s going to spend the next two months papering over the cracks.

Whether that?s true or not, at least it?s guaranteed to be more exciting than watching paint dry.

Follow Graham Ruthven on Twitter.

Source: http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/the-value-of-investing-in-an-antique/

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