Hargeaves close to City move?
by Danny Pugsley on Aug 30, 2011 9:40 PM BST
in Manchester City: Transactions
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PrintWell this came out of nowhere:
Owen Hargreaves is on the brink of a sensational move to Manchester City.
After being discarded by arch rivals Manchester United this summer, the injury-ravaged midfielder is set to sign a one-year deal at the Etihad Stadium. He is expected to be unveiled later on Tuesday.
Hargreaves was pictured leaving the Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester at Tuesday lunchtime after three hours of tests.
More to come no doubt as the day progresses.
UPDATE: MEN reporter Stuart Brennan tweeted that the expectation is that a deal gets done in the next forty-eight hours to ensure his participation in the Premier League and Champions League squads that need to be named once the transfer deadline closes.
In many ways the move (which you imagine almost certainly will go through) could be low risk for City. In determining this though, much will depend on the deal City sign Hargeaves to: if it is a one-year deal (perhaps with an option at the end of this), for a 'pay as you play' type salary and minimal (or no) signing on fee then City are not investing much in this.
If Hargreaves comes in and is added to the squad to replace Patrick Vieira's minutes (which Roberto Mancini has spoken of) to play 15-20 games then he will be a useful addition. In terms of style, he could replicate the Nigel de Jong role, although offering less tenacity, in the sense that he can break up play and close down the opposition but equally be capable of being a creator of attacking plays - something the side has yet to really replicate in de Jong's absence.
The big 'if' of course though is exactly what he can contribute given he has played less than a handful of games over the past three years, breaking down on his return for United at home to Wolves last season barely five minutes into his comeback, but if City do sign off on him then they must be confident that Hargeaves is able to come in and make an impact.
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I can’t understand the point behind this one.. why? He’s a solid player but even when Yaya is at the African Cup, we should still be able to use Barry and Milner at CM.. he is always at risk to get injured within 5 seconds of being on the field and he plays quite defensively anyways. If its a 1 year deal, I guess its not too bad, though. Will surely anger the United fans.
Big players make big plays
by sonics097 on Aug 30, 2011 2:46 PM BST reply actions 1 recs
Yep
Will surely anger the United fans.
whose heads are currently exploding on espnsoccer (where sonics097 is more than holding his own) and mancunia.
Christmas comes early.
by SufferingBruin on Aug 30, 2011 7:01 PM BST up reply actions
Haha why thank you, it always amazes me how dumb/bitter some of them are. Do you comment on there too?
Big players make big plays
Yep
as “TheMrLandon”. Which is my real name, by the by. I’m a high school English teacher in Los Angeles. Clay Landon, pleased to meet you.
by SufferingBruin on Aug 30, 2011 8:40 PM BST up reply actions
Ah I remember seeing you earlier. Good to know. If a City fan makes the smallest comment on there the United (and apparently Chelsea now) fanboys just drive it to the ground.
I’m opposite of you, east coast, split my time between NJ and DC. We’ve got Blues all over the place now
Big players make big plays
DC, eh? If you want company at a bar, drop me a line next time you’re down here and City are on the pitch.
"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box
by Knee high to a duck on Aug 31, 2011 2:27 AM BST up reply actions
Owen Hargreaves is without doubt the most gifted English defensive midfielder of his generation. It`s been unbelievable what the lad has been through, but maybe, just maybe this will work out well. Personally, I think he has a chance at City due to the fact he won`t be worked too hard. If his fitness holds up for the games we need him to play he will prove a brilliant signing. I`m sure it will be a pay as you play, and maybe even 6mths at a time. On his day, Hargreaves is simply fantastic, and would be the best defensive midfielder at the club. Brilliant athlete, brilliant technical ability, and unbelievable tenacity and awareness. If it happens Owen, I wish you all the best, and welcome to Manchester
Let’s refrain from calling this guy a traitor and so on. Makes us look a bit childish.
@Wembelly, why do you think he is the most gifted DM?
I haven’t watched this guy play can you give us any pro’s and con’s minus his injury record?
Any movement in history which attempts to perpetuate itself, becomes reactionary.
- Marshal Broz Tito
by BosnianBronco on Aug 30, 2011 5:48 PM BST up reply actions
Sadly Bronco none of us has seen Hargreaves play for some time, but, and it`s a big but, if he can find his form he is in my humble opinion a superb all round footballer. Like all City fans i love De Jong, but he is one footed, lacks pace, vision, and also doesn`t possess a strong range of passing. Hargreaves is quicker, can play off either foot, has a much better range of passing, and can deliver devastating accuracy both on the move and also from set pieces. Obviously I can`t say what toll the years of injuries have taken, but the guy was a destroying machine that could really play too. I`d love to see him back to his best at City. He would look every bit in place in our side. There are very good reasons both Bayern and Manchester united wanted him. About 18 million united paid for him if I remember correctly.
Too bad the Tottenham blog has dibs on “Cartilage-Free”…
Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.
by Benjamin Massey on Aug 30, 2011 5:39 PM BST reply actions
Everyone seems to be getting pretty worked up over this, but doubt he sees any major minutes in meaningful matches. Unless NDJ is more hurt than we think.
by peppersquad on Aug 30, 2011 7:34 PM BST via mobile reply actions
He's a gamble
But worth it. If he works out and is back to, say, 90% of his form? We’ve scored big. If not, we’ve got some bullets left.
by SufferingBruin on Aug 30, 2011 8:41 PM BST up reply actions
Update to post
MEN reporter Stuart Brennan tweeted that the deal is expected to be completed within the next forty-eight hours (don’t forget as a free agent he doesn’t have to sign by the deadline tomorrow).
I’ve now also updated the post with a few comments on the potential signing.
Please keep him for a few years.
I hope he stays in England, so he doesn’t have Vancouver Whitecaps management trying to sign him, and I don’t have to listen to people apologise for and excuse his betrayal of his country at the international level.
Jeez
Maybe if his country funded the game, or if his countrymen ever paid any attention to the game, you would have a point, but Canada hangs it’s national team out to dry year in and year out.
There is paltry funding from the lowest levels to the highest and it’s barely a blip on the radar in terms of television exposure.
What obligation do you have to god king and country when the country hasn’t provided any support whatsoever, and every soccer team you have played for from the age of 16 was in Europe?
Maybe if we had a junior level sport funding that was enough to enable him to keep developing in Canada, he would have more attachment.
And that ignores the fact that his father was born and raised in England, his Mother in Wales, and his two siblings were both born overseas as well.
by ThePatmeister on Aug 31, 2011 6:47 AM BST up reply actions
You’re ignoring the reason that Hargreaves turned his back on the Canadian team was because he got cut from a national team at the age of 15. Maybe we’d have more opportunity to grow the game as a country if players like Hargreaves actually weren’t pouty little bastards and abandoned us.
Not Liking Nikolai Kulemin Means You Have No Soul
He gets cut from the national team and goes to play in Germany, where over the next few years, he has an opportunity to play for the father land. Literally, his mother’s country, and his fathers, and his two brothers.
How is that being a traitor?
Besides which, I have never even HEARD that he had been cut from the national team, do you have a citation?
by ThePatmeister on Aug 31, 2011 8:43 PM BST up reply actions
Sure he’s Benjamin Massey from above mentioning it…
He never lived in England before choosing to play for them. He was in Germany where he spent the last 5 or so years of his life, the first 16 of which where spent in Canada. Born and raised in a country then throws a fit when he gets cut from an age group two years above him.
Not Liking Nikolai Kulemin Means You Have No Soul
A link to another blog, which was written now, as opposed to when it happened, is ever so believable.
Even then, you conveniently ignore his English father and Welsh mother… They immigrated to Canada around the time of his birth.
How much do you bet there was a St. Georges Cross somewhere in the house, rather than a Maple Leaf?
by ThePatmeister on Sep 1, 2011 3:46 AM BST up reply actions
He gets cut from the national team and goes to play in Germany, where over the next few years, he has an opportunity to play for the father land. Literally, his mother’s country, and his fathers, and his two brothers.
How is that being a traitor?
Besides which, I have never even HEARD that he had been cut from the national team, do you have a citation?
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