City in shock Hargreaves link

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Baffling signing. He's old, injury prone and we already have several dms.

It actually makes perfect sense if you put some thought in to it.

I've thought about it. It still doesn't. Barely played a minute's football in years. No better than what we have even as a bit part player.

Sorry mate but i don't see how we can lose in this deal, we pay him when he plays he's free so it doesn't cost us a thing. win win to me.

[avoidconfusion]

To be honest, I'd be fairly happy about this signing. If its pay as you play, and im pretty sure it would be, whats to lose? Even if he fills in for Vieira, 10 to 15 games a season. He will be an asset. Point to prove.

This.

[Green & Blue]

So surprised when i read about this earlier.I felt he would get a club alright but never did i expect it might be us.

He was a quality player but it would be a minor miracle in my eyes if he manages to stay fit for any length of time.

Would loved to see the chap get his career back on track it's tough to see such talent held back by injury.Although not as tough when he's playing for the rags.
Have to feel he would have a better chance of doing that elewhere, he may have pushed for a place when he was at the top of his game but after such a prolonged spell of injury its a masssive ask.

[phips]

Mancini has said he wants cover for Yaya when he leaves for the African Cup of Nations...i can only see this signing as that. and our interest in Van Bommel, Gago, and de Rossi were probably for the same reason. when Yaya leaves itll most likely Barry will play alongside NDJ in midfield but if one is injured we only really have Milner right? and if both are injured we dont have cover for that spot...maybe Zabaletta but i dont know if Mancini fancies that.

if this is pay as you play i dont care really.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Perhaps we need another injury prone crock to replace Santa Cruz in the squad.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Perhaps we need another injury prone crock to replace Santa Cruz in the squad.

Apolgies for the double post, computer playing up.

[King Kev]

I really dont get this signing if it comes to fruition.What does he bring to the squad that we dont have?

Cover for Yaya when he's away at the African Cup of Nations.

[Ted Hughes]

I really dont get this signing if it comes to fruition.What does he bring to the squad that we dont have?

Cover for Yaya when he's away at the African Cup of Nations.

It all depends how fit he is. If he's nowhere near what he was, then he'd just be a Vieira type figure; filling holes when players are tired or injured & one step from retirement. If we can get him anything like he was before though, he's 1st choice in our def mf imo. I rate Barry & DeJong highly but imo Hargreaves was a class above both.

Last time I saw him in the flesh he did the job of Barry & DeJong combined on his own; he was like Billy the fucking Fish. I couldn't believe how much ground he covered compared to all of our midfield at the time & he was carrying an injury then. I was dreading him coming back for the rags but they are partly resposible for his situation imo. They signed him injured & they played him injured & they pushed him back in when he was injured; just like they did with Rooney 2 seasons ago, when they nearly finished him off.

[Blueonblue]

then he'd just be a Vieira type figure; filling holes when players are tired or injured & one step from retirement.

Vieira was a tacical sub that payed off most of the time, despite the complete lack of any pace and being "Past it" he influenced more than a few results in our favor by taking the sting out of the opposition at the right time, slowed everthing down and held the ball or gave an out to the defence when under presure.

If Roberto wants him to do the same job or any other then thats fine with me, he has shown his nouse in the market an must think Hargreaves can bring something to the team, he certainly has experience of european type football from his time in germany so maybe thats tipping him towards taking a flyer on a player that will cost us little if he dont work out.

[Ted Hughes]

then he'd just be a Vieira type figure; filling holes when players are tired or injured & one step from retirement.

Vieira was a tacical sub that payed off most of the time, despite the complete lack of any pace and being "Past it" he influenced more than a few results in our favor by taking the sting out of the opposition at the right time, slowed everthing down and held the ball or gave an out to the defence when under presure.

If Roberto wants him to do the same job or any other then thats fine with me, he has shown his nouse in the market an must think Hargreaves can bring something to the team, he certainly has experience of european type football from his time in germany so maybe thats tipping him towards taking a flyer on a player that will cost us little if he dont work out.

Yeah & the reason he was a 'tactical sub' is that he couldn't be relied upon to start many games at the top level because he was close to being finished. If Hargreaves is also one step from retirement, he may be able to do the same job quite adequately but if he's anywhere near fit, he's much much better than that .