Hargreaves comeback confirmed

Shamikebab said:
Fletcher has come on a long way since then though. In the end you don't see one team being played every week, so the answer is they'd both play.
Click to expand...

Good cop (or should I say Kop lol) out Sham - in the really big matches givne Fletcher's current form and OH's form during his first season esp latter 1/2, which would you think would be the first mentioned?
 
FrankJH said:
Firstly OH played defensive mid AND right winger in Moscow, not just right winger, and secondly where was Fletcher when OH was on the pitch (when OH had an injury disrupted season he was still chosen ahead of Fletcher)

No way if everything being equal would Fletcher be ahead (great player but no where near as good as OH)
Click to expand...

It's only been the last two seasons whilst Hargreaves has been injured that Fletcher has really been looked upon as a first choice starter, just because Hargreaves is back (hypothetically speaking) doesn't mean he'll be in and Fletch will be out

No chance at all!
 
Tom84 said:
It's only been the last two seasons whilst Hargreaves has been injured that Fletcher has really been looked upon as a first choice starter, just because Hargreaves is back (hypothetically speaking) doesn't mean he'll be in and Fletch will be out

No chance at all!
Click to expand...

look at Jakeke's original question - the only way to fairly assess is on OH's former performances which imo are better than Fletcher currently - including his versatility (being defensive mid / attacking mid / winger and full back / free kick taker) I would bet he would get more matches than Fletcher IF he gets his form and fitness back that he had in 2007/08
 
FrankJH said:
look at Jakeke's original question - the only way to fairly assess is on OH's former performances which imo are better than Fletcher currently - including his versatility (being defensive mid / attacking mid / winger and full back / free kick taker) I would bet he would get more matches than Fletcher IF he gets his form and fitness back that he had in 2007/08
Click to expand...

How much? :p

Seriously though I disagree, comparing Hargreaves at his best for us with Fletcher now and Fletcher should get the nod over him if it's simply a case of who plays out of the two of them. Just Fletcher's presence on the pitch has won us so many games during his career whereas how many games can you really say during his 1 year with us that Hargreaves has done the same? I can think of one Roma at home which was a fairly routine game seeing as we had a 2-0 advantage from the away leg

Sure Hargreaves got the winner against Arsenal and with his free kicks he is more of a goal threat than Fletch but Hargreaves was hardly MOTM in that game
 
Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Owen Hargreaves is ready to return to action with Manchester United's reserve side.

The England international was due to end his near-18 month absence following surgery on both knees in a second string meeting with Manchester City on Thursday night.

But Old Trafford officials revealed on Wednesday that the midfielder would not feature, as the scheduled fixture interfered with his training regime.

Ferguson has now moved to clarify the situation, explaining that Hargreaves in fact went to see a specialist for the latest update.

And with the verdict positive, Ferguson believes an end to the 29-year-old's lengthy spell on the sidelines is in sight.

"Owen went to see a specialist yesterday (Thursday)," said the United boss.

"There is nothing wrong and the idea is for him to play in the next game.

"He has to play in the next game because he is ready to play."

United's reserve side is next due in action on Thursday, when they entertain Burnley at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground.
Click to expand...

So that's why he didn't play (the conspiracy theorist amongst us will no doubt still think there's some deeper darker reason though)
 
Tom84 said:
How much? :p

Seriously though I disagree, comparing Hargreaves at his best for us with Fletcher now and Fletcher should get the nod over him if it's simply a case of who plays out of the two of them. Just Fletcher's presence on the pitch has won us so many games during his career whereas how many games can you really say during his 1 year with us that Hargreaves has done the same? I can think of one Roma at home which was a fairly routine game seeing as we had a 2-0 advantage from the away leg

Sure Hargreaves got the winner against Arsenal and with his free kicks he is more of a goal threat than Fletch but Hargreaves was hardly MOTM in that game
Click to expand...

DOHHHH -Moscow to name but one
 
Hargreaves never put the shift in for us that Fletcher is currently. I personally thought he had a decent but not spectacular first season and we pretty much haven't seen him since.
 
FrankJH said:
Good cop (or should I say Kop lol) out Sham - in the really big matches givne Fletcher's current form and OH's form during his first season esp latter 1/2, which would you think would be the first mentioned?
Click to expand...

In a big game I'd like to see them both play alongside a more creative player (one from Scholes, Carrick and Ando)

As for first mentioned...Hargreaves...because he's number 4 and Fletcher is 24 :p
 
Tom84 said:
You think he was our MOTM that night? :eek:
Click to expand...

I honestly dont think we would have won the match without him, and on top of that I dont think any other player current at the time or present could have been so effective in both positions OH was asked to play that night
 
Personally i think Fletcher is a lucky boy. Had OH maintainted his fitness i doubt Fletcher would have been an established first XI player. Fair player to Darren for taking the chance but lets not get carried away.

Hargreaves has a lot more class and i think he slots next to carrick a hell of a lot easier that Fletcher does.

For the record however, Hargreaves put in the best crosses ive seen since Becks so a right sided role was always an option.
 
Got a good 45 minutes under his belt tonight, could he be a difference to us in the title run in? What with us still in Europe unlike Chelsea :p
 
While he can play in the remaining league fixtures I would actually say he would be in more "danger" from further injury in those games than European ones (which of course he cant play in) due to harder tackling etc and generally more contact

Also question whether he will be able to build up enough fitness / speed of thought/action after being out for so long, I guess he might get a few sub appearances once games have been won......but I doubt we will see him before the Chelsea game (which will leave 5 games I think)....lets wait and see
 
Personally I don't think MU need him, his only assets are versatility (rarely needed when you have a strong squad) and an extremely high workrate (nice to have but MU dominate possession in most games anyway). Now that we have such huge benches (7 subs!) I suppose you could stick him on there but to be honest any club that is in a situation where they are relying on Owen Hargreaves - coming back from a long term injury - to be the difference is in trouble.
 
I'd like to see him in the middle with Anderson in a 4-4-2. Yes Fletcher's come on leaps and bounds, but OH is still a better DM.


The thing is I'm not sure if Fergie has changed to the 4-5-1/4-3-3 style permanently or whether it's just until he gets a strike partner for Rooney that he's happy with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom