Carrick would welcome Hargreaves move

May 21, 2007

MICHAEL Carrick would welcome Owen Hargreaves' arrival at Manchester United with open arms.

Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer confirmed yesterday that Hargreaves was leaving the German giants.

While Beckenbauer did not state where Hargreaves was heading, it is almost unthinkable his destination is not Old Trafford given Sir Alex Ferguson's dogged pursuit of the England star and the player's expressed desire to join United.

It is thought only the formality of a medical and actually signing the contract remains for Hargreaves to complete a £17million deal.

He should certainly feel at home when he reports for England B duty in Manchester at lunchtime today, with a training session at United's impressive Carrington complex pencilled in for Tuesday.

And Carrick, who knows the 26-year-old well from England duty, accepts Hargreaves' arrival at United will only enhance their chances of success.

"We are at the biggest club in the world and we want the best players," said Carrick.

"World-class players are going to strengthen you and Owen is a top player.

"We need a big squad. That has been proved this season when you are fighting on all fronts."

Midfield partner

Hargreaves' arrival should help take some of the weight off Carrick and midfield partner Paul Scholes.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney have played more than Carrick's 50 games this season and the former Tottenham man looked one of the most tired of a very leggy United side which lost the FA Cup Final to Chelsea at Wembley.

The defeat was harsh on the Red Devils, who were just about the better side in a largely drab contest settled by a rare moment of class from Didier Drogba five minutes from the end of extra time.

United were left grumbling about referee Steve Bennett's failure to award a goal when Petr Cech appeared to be bundled over the line by Ryan Giggs while the game was still deadlocked.

However, despite the loss, Carrick feels the Premiership champions will have every right to feel superior when England's big two square up again at Wembley in the Community Shield on August 5.

"The league table doesn't lie," he said. "We won the league. We are the champions. We have proved we are the best team over a period of time.

"I felt we were the better team again in the final. But cup games are one-offs and we have lost to a goal near the end.

"No-one remembers the runners-up on occasions like these but we can go into next season knowing how good we are and hopefully we will achieve what we achieved this year."

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Beckenbauer: Hargreaves will leave

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dpkmanc, Levenshulme (21/05/2007 at 11:06)

Oh, yes! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

edinburgh red, edinburgh (21/05/2007 at 11:11)

How can carrick be tired he never runs

george (21/05/2007 at 11:30)

As long as OH has lost nothing after breaking his leg this is a good addition.
Some say everyone's raving over one or two World Cup performances,but that is not the case.He has performed well in all Bayern's CL campaigns.
Carrick isn't on his own welcoming OH.Gary Neville said he'd be a massive help to the team.Another good sign is Bayern really made us wait.They didn't want him to leave.From what I've seen of OH over the last seven seasons i m o he'll be a good buy.UNITED did very well to hold on to win the premier.I think we'll see big changes both with new players and youngsters pushing others out.

bobbydazzler (21/05/2007 at 11:51)

hargreaves will be directly threatening carricks place. so if he wants to be in the team he will have to step up against the big teams.

george (21/05/2007 at 11:59)

BobbyD; England used Carrick and Hargreaves together in the World Cup and it seemed to work ok in that game.
UNITED beat Roma 7-1 without Scholes! Scholes has had a great season,but it's time to move onto a new era.Giggs,Solksjaer,Scholes,Neville great players tho they have been will have to play a reduced role if UNITED are to remain in the trophy hunt.

DC, Amsterdam (21/05/2007 at 12:09)

After the transfer has gone ahead, I will guess that within a month a Bayern official will comment that we have paid grossly over the odds for the player.

SAFs RedKnight, Manchester (21/05/2007 at 12:17)

At last! Well I think next season it will be Scholes and Hargreaves in midfield with Carrick coming on as sub for Scholes later in games. Scholes wont be around for much longer anyway, so Carrick and Hargreaves will be the future midfield over the coming years, IMO.

bobbydazzler (21/05/2007 at 12:22)

george just ask yourself who was the best man on the pitch on saturday it certainly was.nt carrick but it was scholes.

Steve, Glossop (21/05/2007 at 12:25)

Well Carrick had better up his game cos he's looking lacking for the top stage. Thank the lord Scholesy has been superb this season anyone can look ok playing alongside that genius. Hargreaves is far superior player than Carrick & as most of us want 442 I don't see Carrick as an first choice if Giggsy's on form or another good winger is bought. Come on Carrick a bit more spirit & nerve please we waiting in hope.

Birdy, Ireland (21/05/2007 at 12:28)

George England were sent home early from the world cup so they cant have been that brilliant together.

I think we need a player of Hargreaves ilk. Is he good enough? I dont know, i think he might be, we'll see next season i suppose. Is he worth 17m, possibly more with ad ons? Hardly. As BobbyD said, OH may be taking Carricks place. It depends on how we're going to play next season. If we're lining up with Carrick, OH and Scholes, then its the dreaded 5 man midfield, with Rooney either the lone striker or out on the wing, neither of which gets the best out of him i dont think.

It looks for all intents and purposes that this deal is done. Whether he's the right player at the right price i dont know, but at least the deal is done good and early and we can get on with the rest of our business.

I would worry though if we have the money. I know if i was in charge of a club selling a player to Utd, a striker say, i'd be looking at the OH deal and rubbing my hands because if we're paying that for hard working defensive midfielder what are we likely to be quoted for a top class(hopefully) striker??? When you consider we sold RVN to Real for a little over 10m and he's banged in over 20 league goals then where do we start our negotiations????

Reds4Ever, Entrance N410 (21/05/2007 at 12:33)

OH will make our first 11 far stronger and indeed the squad. Ever since RK we have lacked an aggressive tackler. It looks like we now have him. Also, we now, of course, have cover for Scholes in Carrick who at long last will be played in his preferred position.

Fredrik, Sweden (21/05/2007 at 12:39)

How much would Bayern pay for OH if he was a canadian international playing for lets say Mainz or Cottbus? 5m??

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (21/05/2007 at 12:49)

George Scholes has years in him yet. I dont think England played both Carrick and OH at any time did they ?? OH is first choice in that posistion because he does whats needed in there. BobbyD you will love OH I honestly believe that he will be your favourite player next year.

Jonathan Chin, Truly Asia (21/05/2007 at 12:53)

Birdy, good point on RVN. 10mil to Madrid?? and andry schvenkcvo 30mil for less than 5 goals. cheers

george (21/05/2007 at 12:54)

BobbyD;to be honest I thought it was Vidic.I have the view Chelski were happy to let Scholes have it in deep positions and then cut out the passes.Scholes is a superb player and I wouldn't argue with that.Sometimes tho we pass to Scholes he looks right and left and the opposition are funnelling back to defend.We seem to over use Scholesey and it makes us predictable.We were actually out muscled in the midfield generally.That isn't Scholes Carrick or Fletchers fault! It does however show that UNITED need a brute in there.

bobbydazzler (21/05/2007 at 12:59)

steve i dont often disagree with you but giggs is finished as a left winger , after all saf never plays him there anymore. we must find wide player and preferably left footed anderson of porto or maybe malouda at lyon. they may be prepared to take sick note in part ex.

george (21/05/2007 at 13:00)

Birdy: I can't remember exactly,but Gerrard or Lampard had to miss a game and Carrick and Hargreaves played.They did ok but England under performed in the tournament.If it's any consulation OH looked just as good as Gerrard and how much would Gerrard cost?

JamesP, Manchester (21/05/2007 at 13:18)

Bobbydazzler, Your getting an average player at best, for 15 million, he has a few decent games in the World Cup (largely be cause Lampard and Gerrard were even worse) and you think he's fantastic!!! Biggest waste of cash ever, considering you can have five Joey Barton's for that!!! Oh and the best player on the pitch wasn't Carrick or Scholes!!! It was Drogba!!! he he he CTID!!! Beware of The Blue Revolution!!!!!

Andy, Stockport (21/05/2007 at 13:25)

Who the hell's George Scholes? Scholesy's old man? Got years left in him Scholesy's old man, by George.

Duncan, London (21/05/2007 at 13:29)

By sicknote BD I take it you are talking about Park? Or Vidic? If you mean Saha then I would say no way unless we get another similarly skilled similarly paced striker (ok I mean Eto'o).

Alias Smith, over the moon (21/05/2007 at 13:47)

At the moment, it's not important whether the arrival of OH threatens the place of Carrick or Scholes or changes the system or means Carrick is Scholes' long-term replacement.

What's important is that his arrival strengthens the squad considerably.

george (21/05/2007 at 14:22)

Lee;of the old guard Scholes has had the most impressive season,but he can't go on forever! He'll be ok but if UNITED can find a playmaker with a bit more strength and pace they should get him.With Keano they waited till he was over the hill trying to accomodate him.We shouldn't fall into the same trap with Scholes.

Steve, Glossop (21/05/2007 at 15:11)

George you're right cos Carrick isn't the man to replace Scholes well unless standards are going to be severely dropped. I personally don't like the idea of a PS OH MC midfield particularly as Scholes seems to want to play so deep & so effectively. Maybe Spurs could have Carrick back with Saha & we'll have Lennon & Berbatov?

Duncan, London (21/05/2007 at 15:11)

Nothing wrong with Scholes' strength he outmuscled Obi Mikel on countless occasions. For me the problem is that in a 5 man midfield he plays too deep nullifying Carrick and Fletcher's strengths. He should be up there shadowing Ronaldo and Giggs looking for those goals that made him such a star a couple of years back.

bobbydazzler (21/05/2007 at 15:37)

duncan tell me please what exactly are df strengths that scholes is nullifying, the concensus of opinion on here is that he is slow cant tackle lacks physical strength is negative cant cross cant beat a man doesnt score very often not good in the air. from what i can see he can run about a bit( slowly) but for a 22 yr old thats nowt special. so tell me please what am i missing when i watch this lad play???

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