The return of Owen Hargreaves is imminent – just in time to build up enough games to stake a claim for a place at next years’ World Cup – his last, in Germany, being a huge success. There is, however, a more immediate target for Hargreaves – to break into the Manchester United first XI.
If you haven’t been convinced so far then the game against Chelsea should have been the final display needed to sway your mind that Darren Fletcher is now one of the top midfielders in the English Premier League. Without him, United have no cover of the back four; causing big games to slip away so easily – last season’s Champions League final a prime example.
This is Darren Fletcher’s eighth season for Manchester United. Initially deployed on the right hand side of midfield in his early Manchester United career, it’s taken a while to realise his truth worth to the team – he’s now even started to weigh in with goals; two against Manchester City and an unforgettable one a week ago against Everton.
For nearly two years now there has been a noticeable improvement to the Scotland captain’s game – offering bundles of energy in the centre midfield with an added bite. The improvement has been attributed this to his work in the gym, with the United staff claiming that he’s the only one, except Cristiano Ronaldo, who has managed to get their gym workouts perfectly integrated into their weekly routine and development as a football player.
Fletcher’s game though is a lot more than that. He possesses excellent positioning, awareness and determination. On the ball his control and passing skills have improved; enabling him, when he wins the ball back, to quickly set his team onto the offensive. All this is underlined by the fact that Darren Fletcher is Manchester United’s most consistent player.
The above could equally describe Owen Hargreaves. Hargreaves also offers a greater level of flexibility to a team still trying to find their feet in their new system. He can play at right back, like he has done for England. Right midfield like he did for Manchester United against Chelsea in the Champions League Final however there is no doubt that his best position is in front of the defence, closing off attacks and pressing games in the middle of the field.
Whilst there may be questions raised whether or not he can get back into the England team, his flexibility surely makes him a candidate for the 23-man squad.
At club level, Alex Ferguson has another one of those ‘hard’ decisions to make – what midfield pairing should he use? Fletcher has already proven this season that he can reach the levels Hargreaves once did and besides this question is presumptuous that Hargreaves will fully recover from his injury. To play them both may require removing a striker or an attacking element from the midfield. Partnering either one with Anderson or Scholes may be Ferguson’s preferred choice to balance the side.
Ferguson may not have to choose between them however. Playing them both could see his side set up similar to the formation the Brazilian national team adopts. Two central midfielders in front of the defence allows both the full backs to bomb forward. Evra has hit the ground running again this season for Manchester down the left flank linking up well with whoever has played in front of him. The right flank has lacked the same drive but with two anchoring midfielders it gives Ferguson the option to pick Rafael or Fabio in that position in a less risky strategy.
It also allows the third midfielder to have a license to concentrate on attack. Rooney has been, at times this season, isolated when playing up front alone. It could be said that bar Ryan Giggs, none of the midfielders have really made a good enough attacking impression this season. The 3rd pick in a three-man centre midfield for Manchester United however can neglect his defensive duties knowing he has the best two defensive centre midfielders in the country next to him.
Written by Steven Jones
If we play a 4-2-3-1, I would love to see all three play. But the only way that would work is if Anderson, Rooney and valencia played behind Berbatov ( Can you imagine a Torres or a Drogba instead?) and front of Fletcher and Hargreaves.
Steven, where would all of this leave Michael Carrick? Do you see him having a long-term future at United, or could his place be under threat to accomodate Hargreaves?
Steven, given their current injury crisis (which includes Hargreaves), Man U look deeply vulnerable at a critical point in the season. They’ve got a tough game against Villa tomorrow and a tough few weeks ahead, without O’Shea, Evans, Vidic, Ferdinand et al. So, depending on when Hargreaves is match fit, and who else is deployed alongside him, your theory could be tested in some pretty challenging conditions. Do you think he can deliver, particularly if Utd are struggling at the back?
@elvido – My dream selection would be something like Fletcher and Hargreaves as the two. Maicon and Evra at full backs then wesley sneijder in the centre with ronaldo and valencia out wide and rooney up front. i think that team would be quite formidable both defensively and offensively!
@William – there’s two problems I see with Michael Carrick. The first is that he isn’t really a defensive or an attacking midfielder, the best description I can find of him is a deep lying midfielder, like Pirlo. Unfortunately his creativity is nowhere near the standards of Pirlo and although he’s a tidy player I don’t think there is anything exceptional about him. The second is I’ve never seen Carrick take a game by a the scruff of the neck. For me that an essential for a centre midfielder and Carrick is too reserved for my liking. To answer your question, I don’t see Carrick in the long term at Man Utd but I imagine Ferguson has other plans and who am I to question Ferguson?
@Ben I’ve left this comment until after the Villa game – it’s weird but I’m always better at predicting after the game rather than before
. No, seriously. The game at the weekend illustrated, once again, Man Utd’s lack of creativity and link up play in the middle of midfield. It lacked an orchestrator to guide them through a game against a well organised team
It was the first half where Villa took the lead, but the second where they won the game. Had a proper right back been playing at right back Ashley Young may have not got his cross in and had Darren Fletcher been playing centre midfield there may not have been the big gaps ahead of the Manchester United defence. It’s all ifs and buts but when Fletcher has played alongside another two midfielders such as Anderson and Scholes we’ve normally looked competitive. I think the first battle of a Premiership game is to win the midfield battle, I dont think many would beat Fletcher and Hargreaves in there, but it’s also important to have a mix for when the ball is won back you can (counter) attack effectively.
You forgot about Essien and Mascherano. Wouldn’t you want Xavi, Torres, Messi et al in your team?
You’re choice of Sneijder is interesting, he reportedly turned down two English teams to sign for Inter, more than likely Man U were one of them. That is according to the delightful Italian press, only slightly more reliable than our own. Truth in the rumour or not, he probably wouldn’t have played as well as Giggs has this season anyway – 9 assists in 13 games, and far more importantly the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award to hold while he combs his chest hair.
Also, while I have seen the good side of Sneijder, I haven’t been impressed with him so far this season at Inter. He has scored a couple of goals but consistently shoots on sight inspite of better options, perhaps there is a language issue or perhaps he is trying too hard to impress – he did get sent off last weekend – either way he appears wayward.
I was surprised no other English clubs went after Elano, such a talented player with superb and incisive distribution, and usefully already tested in the Premier League. He is exactly the sort of player you could pair with a destroyer and have the best of both worlds. After all, he only fell out with Mark Hughes, better men have fared worse on that score. Others in that position – ball playing midfielders rather than Mark Hughes’ antagonists – I like are Danny Murphy (brilliant and appallingly underrated), Arteta, Modric, Banega, Marin, Xaviesta (good luck). What do you make of Raul Garcia at Atletico?