He is definitely not the worst signing of the decade, that is ridiculous. That kind of honour should belong to players who were signed and absolutely flopped. Hargreaves did not flop at all. He sustained a serious injury. There's a hell of a difference.
Owen Hargreaves | 2009/10 Performances
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calling him "worst signing of the decade" is disrespectful and childish
He is definitely not the worst signing of the decade, that is ridiculous. That kind of honour should belong to players who were signed and absolutely flopped. Hargreaves did not flop at all. He sustained a serious injury. There's a hell of a difference.
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Worst signing ?
'Owen Hargreaves definately played a major part in us winning the European cup'.
Even if he never kicks a ball for us again, what price can you put on that?
'Owen Hargreaves definately played a major part in us winning the European cup'.
Even if he never kicks a ball for us again, what price can you put on that?
Hargreaves reveals injury heartache
Dont know if this was posted today
HARGREAVES REVEALS INJURY HEARTACHE
Posted 28/02/10
Owen Hargreaves has admitted he has struggled to come to terms with the true extent of his injury nightmare.
Hargreaves has not played since featuring in a draw with Chelsea back in September 2008, with fears the injury could see him omitted from England's World Cup finals squad.
Tendinitis in the midfielder's knees has limited him to 25 starts for United in three years since his £17m move from Bayern Munich in 2007, with Hargreaves saying he never expected the injury to cause such a lengthy lay-off.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been optimistic that the 29-year-old could make a remarkable return to first team action before the end of the season, putting Hargreaves in contention for Fabio Capello's 23-man squad for the tournament in June.
But the Canada-born star conceded he rushed his initial comeback from another knee problem in the Chelsea match 18 months ago, and explained how his desperation to play had made the problem worse.
Hargreaves told the Mail on Sunday: "I probably shouldn't have played in that game. I struggled to drive my car for three days afterwards. Something was very wrong.
"The last year has been difficult. As an athlete you think you are invincible. You don't think something of this magnitude will happen. I obviously had the problem when I came to Manchester United from Germany in 2007 and we tried to manage it.
"Part of the problem for me was my competitiveness. I was new to United and they had spent a lot of time, energy and money in getting me from Bayern Munich.
"I wanted to do well, obviously. I came with symptoms (of tendinitis) but everyone said, 'Don't worry, it will go', so I always tried to be available. But playing on it made it worse. I wanted to play, though, so I played through it."
There were hopes Hargreaves could make a return in November to help United retain the Premier League title, but after another setback his hopes of a comeback were dashed as he was left out of the Red Devils squad for the UEFA Champions League knockout tie against AC Milan.
Three Lions boss Capello is said to be eager for the midfielder to make a return, but has reiterated his belief that World Cup hopefuls must be featuring regularly for their domestic teams.
A fully fit Hargreaves could provide the Italian boss with midfield options, as well as the chance to fill the now problematic left-back position vacated by Ashley Cole's injury and Wayne Bridge's withdrawal from the squad.
But the injury-plagued midfielder has shown no new signs of nearing a return, and could struggle to be fit in time for the June tournament - with a rushed comeback possibly affecting his chances further.
And Hargreaves spoke of the emotional moment that Richard Steadman - the player's doctor - told him he had never seen such bad tendons during his 35 years of surgery, revealing the extent of the problem he is experiencing.
He added: "It was a dark day, hard to take because this was coming from a guy who was 72 years old and had seen a lot of knees."
Dont know if this was posted today
HARGREAVES REVEALS INJURY HEARTACHE
Posted 28/02/10
Owen Hargreaves has admitted he has struggled to come to terms with the true extent of his injury nightmare.
Hargreaves has not played since featuring in a draw with Chelsea back in September 2008, with fears the injury could see him omitted from England's World Cup finals squad.
Tendinitis in the midfielder's knees has limited him to 25 starts for United in three years since his £17m move from Bayern Munich in 2007, with Hargreaves saying he never expected the injury to cause such a lengthy lay-off.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been optimistic that the 29-year-old could make a remarkable return to first team action before the end of the season, putting Hargreaves in contention for Fabio Capello's 23-man squad for the tournament in June.
But the Canada-born star conceded he rushed his initial comeback from another knee problem in the Chelsea match 18 months ago, and explained how his desperation to play had made the problem worse.
Hargreaves told the Mail on Sunday: "I probably shouldn't have played in that game. I struggled to drive my car for three days afterwards. Something was very wrong.
"The last year has been difficult. As an athlete you think you are invincible. You don't think something of this magnitude will happen. I obviously had the problem when I came to Manchester United from Germany in 2007 and we tried to manage it.
"Part of the problem for me was my competitiveness. I was new to United and they had spent a lot of time, energy and money in getting me from Bayern Munich.
"I wanted to do well, obviously. I came with symptoms (of tendinitis) but everyone said, 'Don't worry, it will go', so I always tried to be available. But playing on it made it worse. I wanted to play, though, so I played through it."
There were hopes Hargreaves could make a return in November to help United retain the Premier League title, but after another setback his hopes of a comeback were dashed as he was left out of the Red Devils squad for the UEFA Champions League knockout tie against AC Milan.
Three Lions boss Capello is said to be eager for the midfielder to make a return, but has reiterated his belief that World Cup hopefuls must be featuring regularly for their domestic teams.
A fully fit Hargreaves could provide the Italian boss with midfield options, as well as the chance to fill the now problematic left-back position vacated by Ashley Cole's injury and Wayne Bridge's withdrawal from the squad.
But the injury-plagued midfielder has shown no new signs of nearing a return, and could struggle to be fit in time for the June tournament - with a rushed comeback possibly affecting his chances further.
And Hargreaves spoke of the emotional moment that Richard Steadman - the player's doctor - told him he had never seen such bad tendons during his 35 years of surgery, revealing the extent of the problem he is experiencing.
He added: "It was a dark day, hard to take because this was coming from a guy who was 72 years old and had seen a lot of knees."
Please use the long Hargreaves thread already in progress.
Hargreaves said:
Hargreaves said:
I feel sorry for the guy, but FFS, we knew about the problem and still went ahead with the transfer? I had presumed (or hoped), that the tendinitus started after the signing. Great one.
Why do people on here seem intent on blaming players for injuries they've suffered? He'd have been out there today, given a choice, but his knees are fecked (perhaps 'were', fingers crossed). No amount of heart of desire or whatever you lot think he's lacking will change that.
What does it matter how long he hasn't played for? Sir Alex has made it well and truly known that his issue is now a confidence one. After going what he's been through, you cannot blame him. He'll get there, but it takes time. I'd rather him miss this season and the world cup and come back fit as a fiddle for next season.
The time difference also are quite funny
For that freekick against Arsenal alone he was worth 17m 
Tedinitis can clear up as quickly as it starts and only very rarely turns out to be career-ending (which might be the case here). It was reasonable enough to assume that it would only be a short-term problem.
So one Owen's out and the other's on the way back.
He's pencilled in for next Thursday's reserve game, so only one week now!
He's pencilled in for next Thursday's reserve game, so only one week now!
Make of that what you will.
I'll believe it when i see it.
already expecting to see that he had a minor setback in training on either Wednesday or Thursday.
Even if he does play vs City, you would have to expect that he would be a good few weeks off a first team return, and at that point would it make any sense to bring him back with only a couple of games left in the season?
already expecting to see that he had a minor setback in training on either Wednesday or Thursday.
Even if he does play vs City, you would have to expect that he would be a good few weeks off a first team return, and at that point would it make any sense to bring him back with only a couple of games left in the season?
I won't quite believe if I only see it on TV. I'll suspect some CGI was involved to make it look like he was playing.
Hope its true
Fergie's press conference this morning.
Wait, we can't do the 3 weeks joke anymore?
Cmon Hargreaves, get your game face on, we want to see your spaniel hair bounce around the pitch again.
Cmon Hargreaves, get your game face on, we want to see your spaniel hair bounce around the pitch again.
Whilst I'm fully expecting an injury setback after the match or a career ending re-lapse, I am also slightly hopeful that this could indeed be the light at the end of the tunnel for Hargreaves. I sincerely hope that is the case and that very soon we'll see him play a first team match. I can only imagine the reception he would get.
"Pencilled in"?
Hmmm....
Hmmm....
Really? What difference is it then?
That's what i thought. Again, i'll believe it when i see it.
I'd say having a substantial impact in winning the league and the Champions League would be a pretty huge fecking difference.
Hope he can gain his form and fitness quickly
He's a top player.
Handy for England too!
He's a top player.
Handy for England too!
One week
There will probably be record viewers for MUTV if he does play.
There will probably be record viewers for MUTV if he does play.
My problem is I cannot see SAF risking him in any games from now until the end of the season unless they become meaningless. This would mean we would effectively lose the title as this is likely to be the only way games will mean nothing.
I think a loan move to the championship at the end of the month could be on the cards. Its the only way he can get any match time other than reserve football. It will be a bit like Gary Nev when he came back. Fit for three months but was not risked.
I think a loan move to the championship at the end of the month could be on the cards. Its the only way he can get any match time other than reserve football. It will be a bit like Gary Nev when he came back. Fit for three months but was not risked.
Would be pointless loaning him. He'd be better training with the first team and playing in the reserves than going on loan.
We'll soon be able to do a '3 days' joke though!
One week
There will probably be record viewers for MUTV if he does play.
We need that bender Yuri Gellar to tune the feck, into that game & project positive energy in the path of Hargo - by feck does that lad need every ounce of alternative healing & prevention more importantly!!!
Substantial is not a word befitting Hargreaves contribution. When moved out wide he did a decent job, But there were a lot of players who contributed a lot more to our success. For the price paid and impact he has been a flop. No fault of his own but that's the bottom line.
Just having Hargreaves in the team always made me feel the team was stronger physically & that we were harder to beat. That for me is concrete proof that he was a great success in his first season!
True. He provided an added dimension of mental toughness to our side that will be welcome.
A person's opinion is not concrete proof. 17 million or whatever we paid for the return so far means he can be considered a flop. It may not be his fault and he may return and contribute again but until then we have not had our money's worth.
Well except that its not really your money, which sort of undermines the FMish argument that he's a flop.
Right. He's been well worth the money that United paid from the money made somehow. I don't know how United made their money, some form of charitable donation no doubt.
Nice mention of Football Manager there. It's a wonderful way to belttle somebody's opinion when it doesn't match your own.
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