Football statues

Arsenal FC have recently unveiled three bronzes of club heroes to celebrate their 125th anniversary:

Herbert Chapman - led the club to their first league titles in 1931 and 1933,

Tony Adams - most successful captain in a career spanning three decades;

Thierry Henry - top goalscorer with 226 in eight years.

Chapman:  Before his arrival Arsenal were unknown.  Chapman however had survived a football ban before the first World War whilst at Leeds City, being implicated in an illegal payments scandal.  Arsenal would win five titles in all in the 30's, although Chapman died of pneumonia in 1934 after the first two;

Adams: a one club player from an apprentice in 1984 to 2002, although not without his much publicised troubles with gambling, drink, and even a spell in gaol following a drink driving conviction.  In 2000 he founded the Sporting Chance clinic, "a safe, dedicated environment, where sportsmen and women could receive support and counselling for the kinds of destructive behaviour patterns that exist in the world of competitive sport, but that are often denied."  He has though been relatively unsuccessful since then in management, and is still just 45.

Henry: Joined Arsenal after several years at Monaco, one at Juventus, then after eight years at the Gunners went to Barcelona for three, before heading off to the USA for the New York Red Bulls. Whilst he is top scorer, he only spent part of his career there, is still playing, and is perhaps better noted for winning the World Cup in 1998 and the Euros in 2000 with France.  The Irish will remember him for controlling the ball with his hand twice in the World Cup 2010 qualifier play-off, which led to a William Gallas goal and Ireland being eliminated.  He also has a reputation as being rather easy to go to ground under challenges. 

In my view it is a bit too early to start putting bronzes up of Adams and Henry.  Adams I feel would merit one in the future - as the days of a one club player are long gone.  Henry though hasn't even retired from the game yet - and although 226 is a remarkable tally, I reckon it takes a good few decades to weigh up anyone's contribution to a club, particularly if they are still alive and well.  Newcastle United haven't erected an Alan Shearer statue, but apparently plans are afoot to do just so, alongside one for Jackie Milburn as well in time for the Olympics next year.

As football statues go, I like the following

Sir Matt Busby

Dixie Dean

Sir Stanley Matthews

Billy Bremner

Brian Clough

Emlyn Hughes

Bobby Moore (at Wembley)

England captain Bobby Moore being carried shoulder-high by Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, with Ray Wilson looking on.

At Southampton the first Ted Bates statue was a bit too much like Jimmie Krankie, very short legs and a hand bigger than the football he was holding. Similarities with Milan Mandaric were also pointed out. 

so they had another go