He could play at RB
Owen Hargreaves | 2009/10 Performances
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I've been saying this for ages
I dont think he's anything special when played centrally, certainly not better than what we already have. Some fans seem to think he's a magic wand or something but the reality is he's yet another ball winner with average passing. He's had his better moments for United when on the right hand side.
And he has a good cross, his delivery from the wing if Valencia is double marked could be helpful
There's no doubt he can do a very good job at right back but I personally believe he can and will be more effective in the middle. SAF signed him because of his performances in the middle and I've no doubt that's where he'll see him playing. I know what you mean about the magic wand thing but there's more to his game I think than just that ball winner.
I think initially we'll see him come in at RB just to get some of his match fitness back but once fully fit i'd expect to see him pushed centrally.
Just my opinion though of course
I'm more and more convinced that the only part he'll play this season is coming on as a sub with 7 minutes left after we're convincingly ahead in the second leg of our Champs League QF.
we only have one real ball winner in Fletcher. I wouldn't describe Gibson, Giggs, Scholes or Carrick as ball winners and while Anderson get stuck in, he is inconsistent and he passing can be less than average.
Hargreaves is different to the majority of our midfield options, Fletcher is the only one like him - and it would be good to have hargreaves back if only to give fletcher a rest without screwing the defensive side of our midfield.
Then he'll head off to South Africa and get crocked again.
I'm quite looking forward to seeing him score some free kicks...
he played badly due to his problems, he did show glimpses of his potential, so an injury free Hargreaves is just what we need right now, him, rooney, VDS and fletcher would give us a good spine in the team
What G_B is saying is that, he is no mean machine who will bring the sudden change that people think he will. He is not going to come in and transform our side like the way people are expecting. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that..
If he gets a start this entire season I'd be happy, and a bit surprised.
Me too, as the original "three weeks" was in fact over three MONTHS ago.
FERGUSON SET TO INCLUDE HARGREAVES
By Simon Stone, Press Association Sport Chief Football Writer
Sir Alex Ferguson intends to name Owen Hargreaves in his 25-man Champions League squad even though he has no real idea when the midfielder will make his Manchester United comeback.
FERGUSON SET TO INCLUDE HARGREAVES | Football Transfer News, Football News, Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Stats
By Simon Stone, Press Association Sport Chief Football Writer
Sir Alex Ferguson intends to name Owen Hargreaves in his 25-man Champions League squad even though he has no real idea when the midfielder will make his Manchester United comeback.
FERGUSON SET TO INCLUDE HARGREAVES | Football Transfer News, Football News, Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Stats
he included him in the September-December list so this doesn't fill me with anymore confidence of his return to form and fitness
From the same source:
Yet there have been some positive signs, even if a full recovery has so far proved elusive.
"Owen is still training with the reserves," said Ferguson.
"Now it is two days on and one day off and he is preparing to get to the proper levels.
"He has done two or three sessions with us in the last couple of weeks and did very well in Qatar last week.
"But it is a process and hopefully we will get to the point where he feels confident about playing again."
Yet there have been some positive signs, even if a full recovery has so far proved elusive.
"Owen is still training with the reserves," said Ferguson.
"Now it is two days on and one day off and he is preparing to get to the proper levels.
"He has done two or three sessions with us in the last couple of weeks and did very well in Qatar last week.
"But it is a process and hopefully we will get to the point where he feels confident about playing again."
Re the positional issue. I think he's a bit of a liability in central midfield - he vacates the area too much. His best position is right wing. Superb short passer and crosser, and his inclusion means that we can easily shift to a central three and drop one of the strikers out wide.
Hargreaves best form was always at RB/RW for me...I dont like him in the middle.
feck me. That doesn't inspire confidence, does it?
His season's a write off, I'd say. The only question is whether he will ever feature in our plans. If there's any substance to the Sissoko rumous then possibly not?
Dont know but if there was a good chance of seeing him back, I think Fergie would have used a more "optimistic" word..
I have no confidence of seeing him play for us again, I'm afraid.
Hopefully I'll end up being wrong, but I just don't see him coming back from this.
Hopefully I'll end up being wrong, but I just don't see him coming back from this.
Some years ago me and some fans were talking to Mike Phelan (at the time he was still playing) and someone asked him whether Gascoigne will get back after his most serious injury.
Phelan said that after a terrible injury and a long lay-off, the problem is more mental than physical....
And it seems that this is the case with Hargreaves
Phelan said that after a terrible injury and a long lay-off, the problem is more mental than physical....
And it seems that this is the case with Hargreaves
With him in the middle we never lost a game against the big four.
He is very effective there. he can feature on the wing or right back and do it excellent but his defending is much better than we are doing at the moment in the middle.
We are not dominating in midfield and Hargreaves is much needed there.
Yeah the mental side was the downfall of Saha here, hopefully Hargreaves is made of sterner stuff but we'll see. It's good to see he's training though and keep your eye on the reserves.
Fergie wont use a place in the CL squad if he doesn't think there is a chance that Hargreaves will be fit to use it.
Depressing stuff. Still, let's remind ourselves of the good times by watching this compilation of his best moments...
It's not hugely inspiring, no. But if he's in the squad, Ferguson must feel he'll use him. He's not daft, he wouldn't bother if he knew it wasn't worth it.
That said, he's training and been doing it a few times so after a while out it's just about him being ready to make the step up. A few reserve games and you never know.
You could say that if he made the 18, not the squad of 25 players.
are you sure you are talking about the right player ? or, may be it is me....
I always thought OH was FC Bayern's equivalent of Makalele, a ball
winning, back four protecting patrolling, ball-winning midfielder - and that
playing out wide was another string to his bow ?
from a defensive point of view, particularly in Europe, a player of his calibre is vital to the team, and he'd have had a good chance of making a difference to the outcome in the Stadio Olympico had he been fit......
Yeah, I'd be amazed if he plays any real part this season at this point. Maybe he'll come on for 15 minutes in a game we're winning towards the end of the season or something. But it seems like he's still months away from being able to start an important fixture for us.
As regards the CL squad, I think Fergie has to leave him out.
I feel sorry for him but I have serious doubts
And yet nobody has bothered to pick up that they are exactly the same quotes 'not about Rio' that was recorded in late December.
Throw him onto the freakin field - even if it is for the reserves. If it's in his head and feeling comfortable with his body - enough. Throw him out ther and figure out if he will play and not waste another CL spot like we did for the first stage.
I don't want to do anything to jeopardize his long term future but, if it truly is in his mind and not physical then 15-20 min should get him at least over the mental block and give SAF an idea if he really can count on him to help in the CL.
Also - guess the story about him playing 90 min behind closed doors was BS? Surely SAF would have mentioned it in his press conference instead of just talking about spending time w/ the reserves and a few training sessions with the first team.
I don't want to do anything to jeopardize his long term future but, if it truly is in his mind and not physical then 15-20 min should get him at least over the mental block and give SAF an idea if he really can count on him to help in the CL.
Also - guess the story about him playing 90 min behind closed doors was BS? Surely SAF would have mentioned it in his press conference instead of just talking about spending time w/ the reserves and a few training sessions with the first team.
Maybe Hargreaves didnt fair too well, so its best not to pile pressure on him with the media asking when he's stepping it up, when maybe the truth lies in that maybe he needs more time. Fergie saying that only serves to the papers sensationalising something thats part & parcel of coming back from long-term injury - nerves & loss of technical ability!
He'll be back - he's a tough lad
I agree. If he still has his pace, he'll give us another good option for the right side of the pitch.
He needs proper competition. Playing against team mates will not help his mentality.
IT HAS CLEARLY BEEN THREE WEEKS!
Anyway, to summare this thread for people that are interested
Anyway, to summare this thread for people that are interested
- Hargeaves is coming back soon
- Hargreaves is shit playing through the middle
- Hargreaves should be played at right back
- Christ it's been three weeks where is he?
- Hargreaves is just what we need through the middle
- Hargreaves should play RW
- HARGREAVES WAS SIGHTED AT TRAINING!
- Hargreaves is three weeks away AGAIN?!!?!?
- HArgreaves is shit in the middle
- Hargreaves is just what we need in the middle
The sooner we all realise he wont play again the better.
I don't think we'll renew his contract next summer. Which is sad, he was brilliant when he was fit.
I don't think we'll renew his contract next summer. Which is sad, he was brilliant when he was fit.
That's pretty bang on.I am really looking forward to having him back where ever he is going to play. I really like the style of football he plays, hope he can stay fit.
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