When Owen Hargreaves came on as a sub against Sunderland in the penultimate game of the season it was his first 1st team appearance for United since September 2008. Tendinitis in both of his knees kept him out of the game up until that point and he was sorely missed.
There had been murmurs of a shock inclusion in Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad for the midfielder but according to newspapers Sir Alex Ferguson vetoed any chance of that, asking Capello not to select him and when Hargreaves was not selected for the final squad of the season against Stoke he was said to have left Old Trafford in a huff prior to the game.
The term “United >>>>England” is often used by United fans and I think this is a prime case.
Representing your country should fill any player with pride but Hargreaves should realise that the demands of the World Cup is a step too far having only played a minute of first team football and a half of reserve action all season whilst Capello should have had the common sense to have not even entertained selecting him.
We have been without Hargreaves for two seasons and now he has finally reached fitness he was potentially going to be taken to the World Cup. If he was in fact selected without that playing time under his belt and then injured on international duty we would have been left in the hole yet again. Compensation would have been talked about but would that really have made up for not having Hargreaves yet again?
The fact Hargreaves himself is talking about having showdown talks with Sir Alex Ferguson is quite disappointing. A season of performances for £18m does not make good business sense and even worse after the extent of the injury and the number of set backs certain clubs could have cut their losses (I’m assuming he was still being paid whilst injured) and cancelled his contract so surely he must see where Sir Alex is coming from in wanting to protect his player.
I doubt anything will come of this ‘showdown’, but I just feel Hargreaves should remember how United stuck by him during his injury thus the same loyalty should be returned!
This whole storming off saga and now the talk of a showdown has all come from The Sun. No other publication has offered the same reports – or if they have commented on it they have been quick to attribute the claims to The Sun. Until these claims are substantiated with concrete evidence – i.e Hargreaves/his agent or Sir Alex/the club say anything I’m taking this whole thing as sensationalist cr*p. Come on, Hargreaves knows how close he was to losing his career – do you honestly believe he would put his future at United on the block due to some outlandish belief that he *may* have made it to South Africa? The boy certainly doesn’t come across as stupid to me…
Totally agree with everything here. United players and staff and all the fans have missed Hargo greatly and we have been very patient awaiting his return, especially last season when he could have pushed us that extra bit when we needed it most. Plus as you said, United were surely paying him while off. So he should be putting his efforts into next season and being totally fit for us and giving his all, rewarding us for our patience, and then concentrate on England. He disappointed me with his reaction here, similar to when a certain diva acted up when taken off against city in April 2009
we’ve been paying the bastard for 2 seasons without a game being played, so he should stop throwing the toys out of the pram and with head bowed down ask for forgiveness from SAF and the fans for storming off the last game, also, work hardest in his life to get fit for nxt season and repay all the faith and money by completing 1 whole season in a good form.
I agree if the reports are true. It is worth considering though the upside if he is recovered and could’ve been added to the squad. It would’ve given him a chance to get in shape and get re-acquainted with competition at the highest level. If it worked that way, we’d have a much better player come August. High risk – high reward strategies are generally not the wisest, but it is worth considering.
I would be suprised if Hargreaves reacted badly to this suitation. He should be realistic about the World Cup. He has missed 2 years with Man Utd and the club has stuck by him. If he is even asking for showdown talks then Ferguson should show him the door. We need players who are commited to the club. In fact considering his injury problems the last thing that should be on his mind is England. If anything he should retire from International football and focus on his career with Man Utd.