Portrait of a genius: Dennis Bergkamp

[Mibbes Aye]

Decent if somewhat short article on Dennis Bergkamp in the EPL, on the Football365 site.

Also has Youtube links to three of his most ridiculously sublime goals.

We've had the debate on here a few times about the best foreign player to have played in the EPL but I think there's another question here.

Outside Bergkamp and Wenger, has there ever been a better combination of a player and a manager who were both on exactly the same page? A manager and player who just combined to get the best out of each other?

For me, Brian Clough and (the original) John Robertson maybe?

[The_Exile]

I would say Thierry Henry was a better fit for the style of play Wenger wanted that team to play, without Henry, who was a winger originally remember, that Arsenal team wouldn't have functioned properly. Bergkamp was twice the football player though. Funny old game.

[Nakedmanoncrack]

And was signed by Bruce Rioch, yes it's hard to believe.

[jacomo]

Good question. Fergie and Keane were a great fit for years, until the wheels came off.

Cantona was the player Ferguson loved most, but Keane was the captain who took his manager's will to win out onto the pitch, season after season.

[MWHIBBIES]

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I would say Thierry Henry was a better fit for the style of play Wenger wanted that team to play, without Henry, who was a winger originally remember, that Arsenal team wouldn't have functioned properly. Bergkamp was twice the football player though. Funny old game.

Don't even think Bergkamp would agree with that, Henry was sensational with the ball. In the unbeaten season he had something like 30 goals 25 assists, very few every get close to those numbers.

[HoboHarry]

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Decent if somewhat short article on Dennis Bergkamp in the EPL, on the Football365 site.

Also has Youtube links to three of his most ridiculously sublime goals.

We've had the debate on here a few times about the best foreign player to have played in the EPL but I think there's another question here.

Outside Bergkamp and Wenger, has there ever been a better combination of a player and a manager who were both on exactly the same page? A manager and player who just combined to get the best out of each other?

For me, Brian Clough and (the original) John Robertson maybe?

Brian Clough and John McGovern perhaps? Not to mention that the way he brought out Kenny Burns was remarkable....

[GlesgaeHibby]

Colin Calderwood and Matt Thornhill

[lyonhibs]

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Colin Calderwood and Matt Thornhill

Sometimes after a bad day, I still see his miss at Tynecastle in my nightmares.

On a slight thread tangent, Bergkamp's first touch is probably the best - consistently - I've ever seen.

Curling finishes from outside the box as well, and his beyond telepathic understanding with Freddie Ljunberg in the early 00's.

Oh, and this commentary:

https://youtu.be/3bGv7ltJGPA?t=14s

[Johnny_Leith]

If you've got a spare 23 minutes this is well worth a watch

http://youtu.be/_aWDJdlaIVk

[jacomo]

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Don't even think Bergkamp would agree with that, Henry was sensational with the ball. In the unbeaten season he had something like 30 goals 25 assists, very few every get close to those numbers.

Henry must be up there as one of the best strikers in the EPL. His stats are amazing.

However, I guess the point is that the Wenger 'project' was already well under way by the time he arrived. Berkgamp was Wenger's first signing, and embodied the kind of player he wanted to revolutionise the club (and English football) - clean living, hard working, and technically brilliant.

[Baader]

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Henry must be up there as one of the best strikers in the EPL. His stats are amazing.

However, I guess the point is that the Wenger 'project' was already well under way by the time he arrived. Berkgamp was Wenger's first signing, and embodied the kind of player he wanted to revolutionise the club (and English football) - clean living, hard working, and technically brilliant.

Wenger didn't sign Bergkamp. As stated before it was Brice Rioch who signed Bergkamp from Inter - his first signing as manager.

[Treadstone]

Wengers first signings were Remi Garde and AC Milan reserve Patrick Vieira.

[Iggy Pope]

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If you've got a spare 23 minutes this is well worth a watch

http://youtu.be/_aWDJdlaIVk

Touch. Genius. That is all.

[Haymaker]

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Touch. Genius. That is all.

He weren't too bad, could have played for Hibs I guess.

[MWHIBBIES]

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Henry must be up there as one of the best strikers in the EPL. His stats are amazing.

However, I guess the point is that the Wenger 'project' was already well under way by the time he arrived. Berkgamp was Wenger's first signing, and embodied the kind of player he wanted to revolutionise the club (and English football) - clean living, hard working, and technically brilliant.

Wengers first signing was Vieira.

[Scouse Hibee]

Gerard Houllier's signing of Gary McAllister was inspirational.

[crash]

A fantastic football player in a brilliant Arsenal team.

[Stewboy]

Chick and Duffy

[Sammy7nil]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=drScL8q956o
7mins of genius great music too it is amazing how many chips and similar goals he scored

[jacomo]

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Wenger didn't sign Bergkamp. As stated before it was Brice Rioch who signed Bergkamp from Inter - his first signing as manager.

My bad.

Wenger did say he was arsenals best signing though. Obviously appreciated what Rioch had left him!