Only by idiots.
I included those two as the best players in league, currently playing the position we signed Hargreaves to play. And he is a more accurate passer than they are. Makalele is a phenomenal defensive midfielder. The best there is. His powers are on the wane, to be fair, but the Chief's well wrong if he thinks Makalele is a poor footballer.
The Fabregas/Anderson/Gerrard stats was just to give some perspective.
At the end of the day, you tried to imply that Hargreaves is a hit and miss passer of the football. I proved that you're wrong on this. Maybe you need to take this into account, the next time you're slagging him off? Dunno why you need to refer to the Chief's opinion on Makalele, surely you have an opinion of your own?
He is hit and miss with his passing. You just have to actually watch matches to see that. It has nothing to do with stats because he could play 100 passes 3 yards with a 98% accuracy, but if he tries one 8 yards he could have a 5% accuracy.
He takes too long and his piroets before passing are a huge waste of time and an eyesore that are only detrimental to our attacks.
If you honestly think Hargreaves is a better passer than Mascherano you obviously have no idea what kind of player Mascherano has become. He's now of the same mold as a Keane or Vieira, not just protecting the defence but being involved in a lot of attacking moves.
The same way Flamini is not just a player who breaks up attacks but contributes to his own team's attacks with good passing and (a lot more so than Mascherano) the odd league goal from open play.
Because of this, he's good in a 442. Hargreaves is not.
Well, that's your opinion, clearly. I happen to disagree. My opinion is supported by the fact that none of his managers have deemed his range of passing as good enough to play in a midfield two. He ie only ever picked to play as one of three in the engine-room.
Doesn't mean he isn't a decent player, mind, only that he has a clearly defined role in the team. A role that doesn't include trying to be creative. Just like Owen Hargreaves.
He's playing for Liverpool in a 2 right now and has recently been their best central midfielder (Gerrard released to play behind Torres because of this)