Originally Posted by John the Writer

Having taken account of other posters opinions I acknowledge that my initial post could have been better phrased. I admit, I was far too eager for the discussion and I acted impulsively. I aplogise sincerely if this has offended anyone.

To clarify, my point was that I have seen little from Hargreaves that has made him the vital signing he was supposed to be. In fact if anything, the performances produced by Anderson have made me realise just how limited Hargreaves' game actually is. I understand that Hargreaves is a destroyer, a different option, something we didn't have in the squad. But did we really need to sign him? That's all I'm asking

My initial post did allude to Hargreaves' fitness levels, a point I did return to subsequently, but this I felt was not a point worth elaborating initially as it would've been stating the obvious.

I know it's very early in his United career, and the majority of you feel that his signing will be justified over the course of a season, which is fair enough, and I also appreciate that he's an improvement on Fletcher, which is also fine by me. Don't think I dislike the player or want to see him fail, because that's not the case at all. I love Utd, and I'd love to see Hargreaves clattering Gattuso and the like in Champions league finals, of course I would. In fact, before our interest was made official I suggested him as the answer to our problems on another forum. It's just now, from what I've seen, I don't think his signing was as necessary as a lot of us had believed. He has shown me nothing that makes me feel we couldn't have coped this season had we not signed him. What he does in the future remains to be seen. He might go on to find a cure for AIDS, who knows, I'm just going on what I've seen.

Of course now, we do have fantastic strength in depth and in all honesty I'm not overly concerned about the money we spend, but if there is a limit, which I'm certain there is, the money invested in Hargreaves would've been better served being spent this summer on other areas of the team.

Now before you destroy the little bit of self esteem I have left, I think you should understand that I don't take myself particularily seriously. I made an observation and I stand by it. If that makes me a bad man then I'm a bad man.

That bit about self esteem was irony by the way, just in case anyone feels bad.