Think its a big gamble when your looking at spending £25m or so on a player based on performances in other leagues. Your prime example being Shevchenko, looked the bollocks at Milan but he hasn't done it so far in England. Maybe he will have a Drogba like 2nd season, once he is more attuned to the pace & physicality of the league but I ain't holding my breath waiting for it.
Likewise Torres, looks decent enough in Spain but its a different league (obviously) in England. Maybe he just won't translate his form to the EPL way of playing. Come to think of it, has there been any or many successful exports from Spain to Italy or England? Off the top of my head, I can't think of any. Bit of a gamble at £25m+, especially when you ain't Chelsea and can just right it off it he turns out to be a dud.
The Henry/Bent thing is the best (or worst) example of mentalness though. Ok Henry had a ropey season with injuries last season but I think he needed a break after the WC, missed a fair bit of pre-season and just never "caught up" at any point in the season. He will be a different player, or most probably the same as usual player, this coming season I would suspect.
The fee is silly too. Shevchenko moved as a 29 year old for £30m, Henry for £16m. I think many people still suddenly think "Ohh, approaching 30 year old, nearly past it then, all downhill from here on". Aye, sure if its 1980's England and your training routine is 8 pints down the Dog and Duck after training followed by steak and chips for tea each night. Players look after themselves much better nowadays, Henry in full flow looks like a fucking machine. Not an ounce of fat on him, looks more like a racehorse than a footy player (or is that RVN
).
The thing is, I think you will easily get 4 seasons from Henry, £4m a season, a bargain, and he will still only be 33. Good players look after themselves much better, last longer. FFS you have players like Sheringham still in the EPL at 40, Larsson did a decent job at Barca at 35 or whatever, Baggio in Italy in recent seasons.
I would say over the next 4 seasons that Thierry Henry contributes more to Barca success than Darren Bent will in the EPL for Tottenham.