Hargreaves - one signing too many?

Bape · 27th January 2008, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van Piorsing

Quality defensive midfielder.

End of story.

(Injury-prone) Quality defensive midfielder. End of story. His quality was never in doubt for me, it's just he's always injured and that causes dips in his form. He was excellent today.

Scholesy · 27th January 2008, 17:01

Great performance.

Ekeke · 27th January 2008, 17:05

I don't see how a defensive midfielder can have a 'great performance' when the opposition's most dangerous and attack minded midfielder had a field day making runs into space and not being tracked by him.

He was much better on the ball and he did more good things today than he normally does in a United shirt, but his positioning and tracking today was very suspect.

The positive is, he showed gimpses of a £17 million player. Still much more to come... Hopefully...

Drifter · 27th January 2008, 17:05

Ok performance.

ecantona7 · 27th January 2008, 17:06

excellent performance by hargreaves today.

Ekeke · 27th January 2008, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drifter

Ok performance.

Ok/Decent/Pretty good for me as well.

MJWHY · 27th January 2008, 17:07

great performance from him - and i believe he even made a few good passes (by that i mean actually finding a red shirt!!)!

More of the same please Owen!

roonaldo78 · 27th January 2008, 17:07

Probably his best match for us so far, broke up spurs attack on numerous occasions.

malcolm31337 · 27th January 2008, 17:08

That was exactly why Owen was bought, to break down attacks from teams that like to get forward often/have good forwards. Great performance.

bbest · 27th January 2008, 17:09

Pawned Bebatov on several occasions.

Van Piorsing · 27th January 2008, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bape

(Injury-prone) Quality defensive midfielder. End of story. His quality was never in doubt for me, it's just he's always injured and that causes dips in his form. He was excellent today.

Ekeke · 27th January 2008, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by malcolm31337

That was exactly why Owen was bought, to break down attacks from teams that like to get forward often/have good forwards. Great performance.

So Jenas was in a stealth suit?

Alex · 27th January 2008, 17:12

Classs today

Justin · 27th January 2008, 17:13

Very impressed with the energy and running he brings in. Did a good job covering the defence

choiboyx012 · 27th January 2008, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam#1

Anelka would have been great at United. He's a better player than Saha. End of.

atm, i wouldn't take him even if it were for free. played for arse, city, pool, and now chelsea so no way.

Utd heap · 27th January 2008, 17:30

Fantastic today.

Sam#1 · 27th January 2008, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by choiboyx012

atm, i wouldn't take him even if it were for free. played for arse, city, pool, and now chelsea so no way.

That has no bearing on his ability as a footballer.

peterstorey · 27th January 2008, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekeke

So Jenas was in a stealth suit?

On at least two occasions as far as Hargreaves was concerned he was. A better finisher would have cost you the game.

lem8sh · 27th January 2008, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterstorey

On at least two occasions as far as Hargreaves was concerned he was. A better finisher would have cost you the game.

Agreed

Dreaded · 27th January 2008, 17:35

He was very good today, broke up the Spurs attack countless times

Mozza · 27th January 2008, 17:39

That was one of the most open games with played in a while, how can it be a great performance? Thats before you even consider Jenas running rampant

Simon Adebesi · 27th January 2008, 17:41

Yeah, big shout out to Jenas.

Ekeke · 27th January 2008, 17:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterstorey

On at least two occasions as far as Hargreaves was concerned he was. A better finisher would have cost you the game.

Exactly the point. Thanks.

Godfather · 27th January 2008, 17:43

Injury prone.
But had a good performance today, defensively. Should learn how to pass the ball, though.
Should be played either besides Scholes or Anderson.

skillz · 27th January 2008, 17:54

He needs to calm down he is way to stressed/trying to over impress

Bape · 27th January 2008, 18:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by skillz

He needs to calm down he is way to stressed/trying to over impress

You clearly havent seen Hargreaves play enough then, because that's how he plays, his energy is part of his game.

djemba's arse · 27th January 2008, 18:12

He won the ball a couple of times today, but offers very little in attack. We looked more shaky defensively today than we've looked for ages, with Spurs enjoying plenty of possession even when they were playing with ten men. I'm not convinced by this defensive midfielder business, to be honest.

I would also have to agree with whoever said that positionally he's not that good. It seems he runs after whoever has the ball, leaving little thought as to the space he leaves behind. Spurs had a couple of attacks where a runner from midfield (Jenas) were clean through, and this is exactly the sort of thing a defensive midfielder should prevent.

With that said, I believe he'll improve once he settles in. It's still far too early to cast any sort of final judgment on him.

RapidRed · 27th January 2008, 18:57

I really don't see how this was anywhere close to an excellent performance.

There was often a hole in the middle and Spurs were getting possession there and having a clear run at our back line. Even that kid Boateng seemed to have a lot of room and time on the ball in the middle.

He sure ran his socks off though, and put in a few important challenges. As Plech would say, hes Owen Hargreaves.

RapidRed · 27th January 2008, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by djemba's arse

positionally he's not that good. It seems he runs after whoever has the ball, leaving little thought as to the space he leaves behind. Spurs had a couple of attacks where a runner from midfield (Jenas) were clean through, and this is exactly the sort of thing a defensive midfielder should prevent.

this is pretty much what my impression of him has been so far. He runs an awful lot though and puts in a few tackles all over the pitch.

I hope there a lot more still to come from him.

peterstorey · 27th January 2008, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekeke

Exactly the point. Thanks.

I suspect TV eyes have got a lot to do with it. On TV you see Evra fall over and get skinned by Lennon = bad stuff. What you don't see is Hargreaves failing to track Jenas because that's happening out of shot until Jenas appears in the penalty area (and Hargreaves is still nowhere to be seen)

redender · 27th January 2008, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekeke

I don't see how a defensive midfielder can have a 'great performance' when the opposition's most dangerous and attack minded midfielder had a field day making runs into space and not being tracked by him.

He was much better on the ball and he did more good things today than he normally does in a United shirt, but his positioning and tracking today was very suspect.

The positive is, he showed gimpses of a £17 million player. Still much more to come... Hopefully...

May I just take this opportunity to call you a cunt, any problems PM me.

Wes · 27th January 2008, 19:48

Was impressed today, he still didn't track runners, seems to be his major failure as a footballer.

Overall, he won the ball well and bossed midfield. He was as ever unconvincing over 90 minutes, and yes Jenas did piss on him at times today.

27th January 2008, 17:01	#802 (permalink)
Scholesy biggest idiotic gay in the village Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Village Posts: 4,004	Great performance.

27th January 2008, 17:05	#803 (permalink)
Ekeke McFuckwit Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6,915	I don't see how a defensive midfielder can have a 'great performance' when the opposition's most dangerous and attack minded midfielder had a field day making runs into space and not being tracked by him. He was much better on the ball and he did more good things today than he normally does in a United shirt, but his positioning and tracking today was very suspect. The positive is, he showed gimpses of a £17 million player. Still much more to come... Hopefully...

27th January 2008, 17:05	#804 (permalink)
Drifter First Team Regular Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17,396	Ok performance.

27th January 2008, 17:06	#805 (permalink)
ecantona7 unlucky bet winner Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Whatever happens, there are always things you could have done better. You score two goals and you usually feel you could have done better.You score two goals and you usually feel you could have scored a third. That's what makes you progress in life. Posts: 7,703	excellent performance by hargreaves today.

27th January 2008, 17:07	#807 (permalink)
MJWHY Reserve Team Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: E8 at Cuckoo Farm...Colchester! Posts: 567	great performance from him - and i believe he even made a few good passes (by that i mean actually finding a red shirt!!)! More of the same please Owen!

27th January 2008, 17:07	#808 (permalink)
roonaldo78 Reserve Team Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,343	Probably his best match for us so far, broke up spurs attack on numerous occasions.

27th January 2008, 17:08	#809 (permalink)
malcolm31337 Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 93, 94, 96, 97, 99, 00, 01, 03, 07, 08...09 Posts: 3,810	That was exactly why Owen was bought, to break down attacks from teams that like to get forward often/have good forwards. Great performance.

27th January 2008, 17:09	#810 (permalink)
bbest The Caf's worst songwriter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: .................... Posts: 8,016	Pawned Bebatov on several occasions.

27th January 2008, 17:12	#813 (permalink)
Alex Spam Alert! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Californication Posts: 21,222	Classs today

27th January 2008, 17:13	#814 (permalink)
Justin First Team Regular Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 16,973	Very impressed with the energy and running he brings in. Did a good job covering the defence

27th January 2008, 17:30	#816 (permalink)
Utd heap First Team Sub Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: At an away ground near you... Posts: 8,257	Fantastic today.

27th January 2008, 17:35	#820 (permalink)
Dreaded First Team Sub Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dublin Posts: 5,920	He was very good today, broke up the Spurs attack countless times

27th January 2008, 17:39	#821 (permalink)
Mozza "Geek" Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Let Rooney be Rooney Posts: 16,745	That was one of the most open games with played in a while, how can it be a great performance? Thats before you even consider Jenas running rampant

27th January 2008, 17:41	#822 (permalink)
Simon Adebesi Reserve Team Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sanctity, like a cat, abhors filth. Posts: 2,560	Yeah, big shout out to Jenas.

27th January 2008, 17:43	#824 (permalink)
Godfather Reserve Team Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austria Posts: 3,794	Injury prone. But had a good performance today, defensively. Should learn how to pass the ball, though. Should be played either besides Scholes or Anderson.

27th January 2008, 17:54	#825 (permalink)
skillz Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 2,493	He needs to calm down he is way to stressed/trying to over impress

27th January 2008, 18:12	#827 (permalink)
djemba's arse Reserve Team Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The trophy room Bad Posts: 0 Posts: 1,551	He won the ball a couple of times today, but offers very little in attack. We looked more shaky defensively today than we've looked for ages, with Spurs enjoying plenty of possession even when they were playing with ten men. I'm not convinced by this defensive midfielder business, to be honest. I would also have to agree with whoever said that positionally he's not that good. It seems he runs after whoever has the ball, leaving little thought as to the space he leaves behind. Spurs had a couple of attacks where a runner from midfield (Jenas) were clean through, and this is exactly the sort of thing a defensive midfielder should prevent. With that said, I believe he'll improve once he settles in. It's still far too early to cast any sort of final judgment on him.

27th January 2008, 18:57	#828 (permalink)
RapidRed Reserve Team Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,286	I really don't see how this was anywhere close to an excellent performance. There was often a hole in the middle and Spurs were getting possession there and having a clear run at our back line. Even that kid Boateng seemed to have a lot of room and time on the ball in the middle. He sure ran his socks off though, and put in a few important challenges. As Plech would say, hes Owen Hargreaves.

27th January 2008, 19:48	#832 (permalink)
Wes Brown is no God Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dublin, in the Irish Republic Posts: 8,192	Was impressed today, he still didn't track runners, seems to be his major failure as a footballer. Overall, he won the ball well and bossed midfield. He was as ever unconvincing over 90 minutes, and yes Jenas did piss on him at times today.