can he get through the training without being injured?
Yes. He has this week anyway.
Owen Hargreaves | 2010/11 Performances
- Thread starter SharkyMcShark
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Yes. He has this week anyway.
Not at all. I remember the derby we lost against City where it seemed like he covered every blade of grass and we dominated possession. We lost but it was one of the weirdest losses ever.
He is a very intelligent player who has the engine and the tactical awareness to control the midfield. A big loss for us. Not the best player in the world but a big loss.
Indeed, Hargreaves has certainly benefitted from some of that on here
He didnt start his career very well for us centrally and was eventually shifted wide where he improved. He was getting better over time though and was very good in the CL final but he certainly never reached some of the heights people have elevated him to in this thread. i suppose its understandable though
if he's been fine all week i'd throw him on the bench for saturday, his career's at such a point now i dont see whats to be gained from easing him in through the reserves. Fergie gambled on him last time so why not again? he's pretty much got 3 months to save his career (with us at least) so feck it give him 20 mins at right back and fingers crossed he stays in one piece
Are you sure?
I think so.
I love how people berate Hargreaves, like he is held to a double standard.
His first season in the Prem. Rushing back from a broken leg. Struggling to find his form and a run of games.
Put in some amazing performances and some average ones. Gets shunted to the right because he was our best option right at the time. Starts to find his form and puts in some stellar performances.
That is what happened. No other player on the squad in recent memory that I can think of has been treated as harshly.
His first season in the Prem. Rushing back from a broken leg. Struggling to find his form and a run of games.
Put in some amazing performances and some average ones. Gets shunted to the right because he was our best option right at the time. Starts to find his form and puts in some stellar performances.
That is what happened. No other player on the squad in recent memory that I can think of has been treated as harshly.
Put the crack pipe down for a bit, you're overdoing it.
Sharky rates this post!
He also got 'shunted' to the right because he was behind Carrick, Scholes and Anderson in performance levels. So in many of those games it was a case of him being either on the right or on the bench.
His performances on the right were better than he performed for us in the centre. The question is, did his performances become better because he was on the right, or because he had had more time to get integrated with the team? Nobody knows for sure, and anybody who says that they do is a fool.
He was brilliant in central midfield vs Arsenal and at Anfield. He and Ando
If we can get him back playing anywhere close to his old level it'll be a huge huge bonus.
If we can get him back playing anywhere close to his old level it'll be a huge huge bonus.
Great post.
I don't understand your point. Just quoting a positive post about Hargreaves doesn't make me some sort of idiot romanticising about the Canadian's heyday and hair.
He played a crucial role in one our most successful seasons ever, offered useful versatility and set-piece expertise, and, most critically, possessed a strong tactical nous and engine. Are you honestly claiming he hasn't been a big loss?
I'm just imaging Scholes, Ando or Carrick playing right flank.... ha ha!
Versatility seems to be a negative thing around here, a fella even made out Valencia plays BETTER than Nani and that's why Nani is shunted, I mean it's got nothing to do with the fact that only one of them can actually play on the other wing??
They really weren't that brilliant. When we used the two of them it was like a far better version of the O'Shea/Gibson combo we used against Arsenal in the FA Cup. There was no creativity or attempt to control the team around; rather, they just destroyed everything the opposition tried to send through the middle and then our superior players everywhere else on the pitch took care of business.He was brilliant in central midfield vs Arsenal and at Anfield. He and Ando
Don't get me wrong, it's certainly a viable way of playing. An option I wish we could still use at times when we seem to be trying to play that same way but without as much success. But I certainly don't class it as a brilliant midfield display.
Versatility definitely isn't a negative thing. In fact, it was great that our big signing who was struggling to really make his mark in the centre of midfield had the versatility to move onto the right and actually stake a claim as being the best option there.
But it certainly wasn't a case of him only playing on the right because of his versatility and others lack there-of (as it is in Nani's case). I'm sure that played a small part, but unlike Nani, Hargreaves was also struggling to perform to the necessary standard in his preferred position.
He's not exceptional, but he seems to play very well in the big games. I'm not sure I can say the same for some of our other midfielders. For that, and his dead-ball ability, of course he'll be a huge addition to the squad. If he ever makes it back.
We could have used something like that in so many of our away games and big games in general tbh.
So its stupid to wish all our injured men to be fit for the title run ins? Really?
Selective memory. Vs Arsenal away we never lacked creativity at all. It was at Anfield where we packed the bus. Yet since then we haven't looked a comfortable as we did that day playing a 4-4-2 Anfield. So its amaizing how it is looked on as a such a negative thing.
Hagrevs came toa new league, recoering from a broken league. Of course it had to take him time to find his feet. When he did he became a crucial player. But on here just because he finally found a niche in a team out wide rather than in a midfield in which the likes of Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher and Anderson where in fine form, it is held against him. It's ridiculous.
It the same type of argument fools always like to use on Beckham, claiming he was places out wide because he wasn't good enough in the middle. Like it never occurs to them that SAF simply found a way of placing the 3 best center midfielders on his books in the same side.
Spot on
Wow.
Have I just read that people think Hargreaves was crap in the centre.
Unbelivable.
If you added a fully fit Hargreaves, no injury to Valencia and Park not being away/injured we'd be popping champagne cork already.
Our midfield has been missing a world class player in the position we need most for 2 years. I can't see him getting back to his best, not even sure he'll play that much again, but it has, and always will be regarded as a massive loss to the side that we missed him for so long.
Have I just read that people think Hargreaves was crap in the centre.
Unbelivable.
If you added a fully fit Hargreaves, no injury to Valencia and Park not being away/injured we'd be popping champagne cork already.
Our midfield has been missing a world class player in the position we need most for 2 years. I can't see him getting back to his best, not even sure he'll play that much again, but it has, and always will be regarded as a massive loss to the side that we missed him for so long.
Hargreaves' start for us wasn't great because he was coming off a feckin broken leg. He was obviously struggling for fitness and had to settle but still performed extremely well in the middle of our midfield in 2 huge games for us - Liverpool and Arsenal.
Then he was shifted out wide and proceeded to play blinders in some of the biggest games of the season - Roma, Barca, and Chelsea in the CL.
Not bad for a first (and only season) after a broken leg.
In fact, Hargreaves busting his ass in the 08 season most likely contributed to the tendinitis in his knees.
Hargreaves was world-class from 2003-2008 in central midfield.
He's back, well according to the Daily Mail...
Hargreaves set for shock call to solve United defensive crisis | Mail Online
Hargreaves set for shock call to solve United defensive crisis | Mail Online
He's been training for a few weeks now.
I hope if he is back in contention that we ease him in gently. Fergie gambled last time by throwing him in from the start and it clearly backfired.
Christ. Didn't realise Evans was a doubt.
Can't even shift Fletch to fullback, seeing as Scholes and Anderson are both out. Unless, maybe, we play good and evil Carrick in midfield?
Faff ux hake...
Can't even shift Fletch to fullback, seeing as Scholes and Anderson are both out. Unless, maybe, we play good and evil Carrick in midfield?
Faff ux hake...
I can't think of anything more ironic than Owen Hargreaves solving an injury crisis.
lol, its funny cos its true. Hargraves being back and providing us with minutes in games would be the biggest of big boosts that nobody would have expected.
Good luck to him.
Emergency right back? Most of his best performances for us have come there tbh.
Won't believe it til I see it.
Does he even remember how to play football?
Cant wait to see him back
His worst performance came in that position against Chelsea. A Natural defensive midfielder in my opinion.
Its very depressing but I just get the feeling that he'll get injured again.
I wouldn't put Hargreaves as rightback given the amount of time he's been out of the game. Right wing, maybe. But I'd rather have Jonny Evans playing rightback.
If he does play, it will be tough to watch.
He won't be needed at RB.
We have Fabio, Smalling, Brown and Evra fit.
We have Fabio, Smalling, Brown and Evra fit.
Is Fabio fit? Surely he is the obvious choice
He finished the game against Marseille and as far as I've read he's not been reported injured. So I'm assuming he's fit. We just about have a fit back 4.
There's no need to risk Hargreaves given what happened last time.
There's no need to risk Hargreaves given what happened last time.
Damn straight I would shit a brick if Hargreaves appears on the team sheet tomorrow
Even though I will worry about Fab - Smalling - Brown - Evra, if our midfielders (I am looking at you Carrick) play well we should be fine no matter what our back 4 is.
Even though I will worry about Fab - Smalling - Brown - Evra, if our midfielders (I am looking at you Carrick) play well we should be fine no matter what our back 4 is.
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