Jul 07
Owen Hargreaves Will Be Key
Of all the signings Fergie has made this summer. The one likely to prove the most crucial was his securing of long term target Owen Hargreaves. The much marginalised and underrated, Canadian born English man is actually the one Roy Keane replacement Fergie has been looking for since Keane started losing his powers back in 2004.
Though it is clear that the one thing United would probably never replace about Keane in the team is his leadership and influence, his playing game was completely replaceable.
What made Keane special in his style of play was his ability to run all day, breaking up attacks and launching them with tenacity and consistency. Keeping his play simple while keeping United driving forward and ticking over. In many ways he was like the hidden conductor in chief of the side. His astute game reading was key in helping intercept attacks. Physically he would also disrupt opponents attacks, with constant harrying and tough tackling, while also driving forward to help the attack, with his vision providing a cutting edge to United very few defensive minded midfielders possessed in the final third. To top it all he was a box to box player. While also being so good defensively he was like an extra defender on pitch.
Anyone who has watched Hargreaves at Bayern for years knows the true reason behind Fergie’s interest in the player. In truth Hargreaves is possibly the only player who has played at the highest level who most directly mimics Keane’s game. Like the great one, Hargreaves has an incredible engine, a menacing tackle and astute game reading. Like Keane he keeps his passing simple, never ever opting for the difficult pass unless it is the only option, a thing that (unlike in Keane’s case) deceives people into thinking he is a limited player. Like Keane when on form, he keeps his side ticking over with a constant supply of ball to the more attacking players in the side, while getting into physical battles and disrupting the midfield play of the opponents, while protecting his defence like a female bear protecting her cubs. To top it all he is so good defensively like Keane he would be comfortable in the back four. And what Hargreaves lacks in terms of leadership that Keane had, he makes up for with his free kicks and his two-footedness. And last, but not least, he loves to get forward and supports the attack in a similar, and as effective, fashion.
Back in 2002, Fergie brought Veron to partner Keane to add a sophistication to United’s midfield while facing continental sides. A platform in front of which a Bergkamp/Cantona like player like Scholes would excel. Giving United a sort of 5 man midfield while not really moving too far away from his beloved 4-4-2 formation, brought him many a success. In other words, he wanted to combine Keane’s simple but tenacious class, with Veron’s artistry. Unfortunately, it never really worked on a consistent basis. But there were times where it did, like in Europe, and eventually in early 2003, when that platform with Scholes in front of it, was pretty awesome.
This time around when he chased Carrick and Hargreaves, getting Carrick first and then Hargreaves, he is attempting to do the same thing. Some say he is trying to imitate the Pirlo-Gattuso partnership Milan has. But in many ways they are a different animal. For one Gattuso as dominant as he is a pretty limited a player vision wise while Pirlo is weaker than Carrick defensively. In the long term, from a combo of Carrick and Hargreaves, Fergie will get what he should have got in the Veron-Keane partnership he tried to build. While in the short term he will be recreating the Keane-Scholes platform that made United rule Europe in the late 90′s.
Carrick like Veron is a passing artist, good defensively compared to most playmakers and brilliant going forward. Against Roma last season United fans got a glimpse of what Carrick can really do when liberated from the role of merely covering Scholes. In combining him with Hargreaves, long term United will have a shield capable of protecting the United defence from any attack, while being a physically match for any side, able to disrupt opponents play, while being the perfect platform to launch wave after wave of United attacks, like Roma witnessed at OT in their 7-1 drubbing. That night the platform that was built by Carrick and Fletcher made it easy for our make shift defence and marauding attack to operate. Yet that was only with the in experienced Fletcher alongside Carrick.
Alongside the experienced Hargreaves this can only be much much better. And in the presence of Hargreaves, Scholes will once again be able to burst forward from midfield like he did in the pre-Veron era. Moreover, to top it all off, United have the ultimate Bergkamp/Cantona like character in Rooney to place, in front of such a platform.
All in all, just like Carrick’s arrival last summer, Hargreaves purchase might prove to be the difference between this new United team Fergie is building, making the next great leap in fulfilling its potential, or just remaining where it is now: A team with great potential.
Hargreaves might not start like a house on fire, since he will need to adjust to the English game, but make no qualms about it, as the season wears on, people will finally see what Fergie chased for so hard last season. Keane’s true replacement.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Hargreaves Move Confirmed – Breaking News
- Hargreaves — so excited that he might pass out
- Owen Hargreaves – Made of Glass or Different Class?
- Man Utd v Barcelona: Preview
- Hargreaves’ Injury History Is Shocking
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (542)
Stephen (496)
RedDevilEddy (462)
Craig Mc (349)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Brilliant article, couldn’t agree more!
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nice article. can’t wait to see it actually formate on the field.
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” In truth Hargreaves is possibly the only player who has played at the highest level who most directly mimics Keane’s game ”
I think you forgot Essien. He’s brilliant in his offensive and defensive play.
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Perrif, i haven”t. Essien is wank in defence. You saw him alongside Terry and it wasn’t working. Besides, he is far more attack minded than Hargreaves or Keane are.
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decent article put a reli gfd enfocis on the defensive play and gave us a break frm the potentialy unstopable atak we mite hav lst season. anywayz movin away frm this need to ask a question to anybody who knows the answer to it. Q- WE HAV GT A NEW HM KIT AND A NEW GK KIT ASWEL WIL WE BE KEEPIN THE WHITE AWAY KIT WE ALREDY HAV AND THE BLU THIRD KIT PLZZZZZZZZ ANSWER IF ANY1 KNOWS CHEERS.
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AND IF NT WILL ANYBODY WHO KNOWS HOW THE NEW KITS WIL LK LIKE
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Well nice article but was’nt carrick purchased just b’coz hargo wasn’t available
I dont think fergie ever thought what u wrote hear last year whne he got carrick
Anyways as always cant wait and what happede to the tevez saga?
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Tevez ‘agrees terms’ with Man Utd but his shitty afaair might follow us
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6276064.stm
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Good Read b
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Indian Punk – no, Fergie wanted both Carrick and Hargreaves. Interest was indicated to Spurs and the player before/during the early stages of the WC.
re: the article itself
It’s a wel-thought out and well-written article. Enjoyable read and if things do work out as you predicted, the fans will be in for a very good ride indeed.
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Great article.
@Indian Punk, I belive this was exactly what SAF had in mind with Carrick and Hargreaves. Even though I must admit, I though it could be done with Mascherano – cheaper at the time – as well. But, I think SAF got it spot on.
We just need to hope and pray it all gells.
I think we – as excited as we may be with the new signings – should be a bit patient with the team and not expect things to go well from the start. SAF has a massive job on his hands to make everything gel and we need to respect that.
I don’t want to sound silly by claiming we “have already won all the competitions”, but I do feel that we have the potential now to “dominate” Europe for a couple of years to come. So confidently that I think its possible to in 3-4 years time we can equal Liverpool’s CL achievements.
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Man it would be gr8 to see united on the field this season with all there pace and striking force. Can’t wait for the Premiership to start and seeing United playing there first game.
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brilliantly written. I am one of those people who feels that Fergie is making something similar to milan defensive midfield wise and after reading what the writer has written i have realised how it is different. thank you for that.
For the guys who feel that the team may take time to gel initially… do remember that WE ARE CHAMPIONS and no one from last years winning formula has left yet so even if Fergie puts out the old team do expect results.
We can only do better with Hargo and the other guys we have gotten.
Europe is next guys.
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really thoughtful article kiera but i have to mention fergie is getting tevez for the cantona bergcamp role as i have been saying time and time again sir alex has been waiting patiently to achieve his formation of adjusted 4-5-1 formation which is really 4-1-3-1-1 with tevez in front of carrick and hargreaves ronaldo and nani to the flanks and rooney as centre forward/ striker… but again your analysis of hargreaves/carrick positional role was top notch. i cant wait to see us next season!
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btw the 41311 would be like the 4 defenders with hargreaves infront of them the 3 would be ronaldo on the right and nani on the left with carrick as the central playmaker (schools this season still carries that role) with tevez in front of the midfield line as a forward/ attacking mid plus rooney!
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nice article, the link of carrick and hargreaves never c crossed my mind as a main partnership
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Its kinda weird now we are brimming with players… Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Giggs, Anderson, Nani, Ronaldo, Fletcher, O’Shit, Park, Richardson(who?), Eagles, Lee Martin, that’s 13 players for 4 positions..WTH. Taking into consideration that Richardson is crap, that leaves us with 12, aka 3 per position. Eagles and Lee are young, so i dont think Fergie will risk them. If we get Tevez, thats not much better isit, too much players for a squad. Tevez, Rooney, Dong, Rossi, Smith, Ole, Saha..that’s 7 for 2 positions. Defence? Silvestre, Heinze, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown, Gary Neville, Pique, Shawcross, Kieran Lee, O’Shea, that’s 11 for 4 spots. Goalies, EVDS, kuzcack, Foster, Steele, Heaton..that’s 5 for 1 spot. Trim down manutd! We could get LOADS of funds from the sales of the extras. 15 mill at least!
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Kai- I think Luke Steele moved on last summer – to West Brom (and then out on loan to Coventry). Also, can add Simpson and Evans to your list of defenders.
Loan – Dong, Rossi (?), Eagles (?), Martin, Heaton (?), Simpson
Sell – Richardson, Smith, Heinze (? – possibly/unfortunately)
Reserves – Heaton (?), Shawcross, Lee
I assume we’ll go into the season with a first team squad of 23/24 – ie. two players for each position + a couple for flexibility/cover (eg. Fletcher, Park, Solskjaer, Kusczcak, Evans/Pique)
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Aus_Devil, definitely not Rossi! He’s had enough of these loan moves. Its time he had the chance to prove himself! If i were him and was farmed out yet again, i would seriously consider quitting OT. What would i have to do to get my chance i so deserve? Rossi scored on his debut mind you
..Dong goes off thats right, Eagles has massive potential and it will be cramped here at OT so he should be loaned as well…
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bu…bu…but what about andersin
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*anderson
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Good article.
I think you overrate carrick’s attacking game…”brilliant going forward”
He is more one to distate the game from fairly deep, and occassionally makes those forward runs. I think this part of his game will improve when he does eventually play alongside Hargreaves. Otherwise, good stuff
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Well written. I have been drooling over this combo since I read up a little on Carrick after we picked him up.
I could have been done ‘cheaper’ with different players as others have mentioned. But consider that Carrick and Hargreves are both on the England squad and it is a no brainer.
I’m pretty excited about this season, but if this goes off as planned, and these guys get a chance to get some solid play together…..Watch out Europe!!!
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