Bleacher Report - Articles by Hurricane 543216

Owen Hargreaves: The Linchpin To Red Devils Success?

Hurricane 543216 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:12:54 -0400

The general consensus is that Manchester United faces a dilemma. That dilemma is that following the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, the Red Devils will have a tough go at winning a fourth straight Premier League title and seriously challenging in Europe.

Many fans and analysts are looking in the direction of striker Wayne Rooney to steer the United ship to further glory. And while his play will certainly have an increased impact on the club's fortune in the coming season, perhaps we should be looking in another direction as to who success could really depend upon.

Owen Hargreaves, who signed with the club in 2007, is that player. No, he won't score 26 goals to make up for Ronaldo and no, he most likely won't net 15 to fill the void left by Tevez. But he can still be the reason that United come away with wins.

It's because a footballer like him can be vital to a side's overall play. He's someone that can bolster a defence and midfield at the very same time. That's an ability that could be a defining factor against the toughest of clubs.

Some of Europe's most efficient midfields are showing the importance of a player in the mold of Hargreaves.

For the perfect example look no further than FC Barcelona (It pains me to say it, but facts are facts). Yaya Touré provides the likes of Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta the freedom to roam in the middle and move forward, probing defences for the smallest of openings.

As if they hadn't already done it throughout the entire season, they showed their class as they totally outplayed Manchester United's midfield.

The point isn't to say that Anderson or Michael Carrick could match the Spaniards' efforts. It's that they'd be given more freedom to use their skill and creavity going forward, something fans have wanted to see from Anderson especially.

Other sides have used the defensive and attacking midfield tandem and seen plenty success:

- AC Milan during their Scudetto and UCL runs with Gennaro Gattuso or Andrea Pirlo in behind Kaká.

- Liverpool has found success with Xabi Alonso and/or Javier Mascherano supporting Steven Gerrard

- Real Madrid's Claude Makélélé (perhaps one of the best players ever to take up the role) was the engine room for Zinedine Zidane and the beginning of the Galácticos era as they took the Champions League crown.

Owen wouldn't simply be filling in a spot on the field. His contribution in such a position could completely alter the way that Manchester United prepare for and play against top sides.

An added feature is that Hargo may currently be United's best free-kick taker (Though Anderson may disagree). We can all remember the critical winner he had against Arsenal. While that may be the only thought of his dead ball ability in a United kit, he displayed during his time at Bayern Munich that he is very capable on set pieces.

It's just another plus for an already valuable player.

Obviously, the major hindrance to all of this bearing fruit is Hargo's injury woes. Operations on both of his knees in the most recent season made him an afterthought as he barely made any appearances. It wasn't the first time he's ever dealt with injury either.

It's an all too important detail to ignore and he will miss the start of the season, slated for a late September comeback at the very earliest.

Here's to hoping that he can see a return to fitness and greatly assist United to seeing returns in silverware.

Who Will Dethrone Lionel Messi as the World's Best Player?

Hurricane 543216 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:23:06 -0400

Being that it's the twilight of Summer means that the 2008-2009 season is long done with. And while Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year honors will not given until the end this year and the beginning of next, respectively, it's blatantly clear that Lionel Messi will win them. The Barcelona forward stormed the footballing world as he led his side to an unprecedented feat. Barcelona were the first team to win a Spanish treble consisting of the League, Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League. They were also just the second team to tally over 100 goals in a season during league play. - 38 goals in all competitions - Top Scorer in the UEFA Champions League - Second highest scorer in Copa del Rey - 4th highest scorer in La Liga The statistics alone are enough for him to praised as the world number one. And when you consider his majestic and clutch play, along with the consistency to produce with seemingly every touch, it's impossible to really believe someone else is currently better. Yet with a new season on the horizon the question is now who will succeed the Argentine as the globe's best player. In this slideshow, we will look at the ten men who will most likely challenge Messi for his title. Some are no strangers to the recognition, while others are poised for seasons to launch them into such spotlight. So Lionel, here's your personal competition for this season...

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A Ronaldinho Comeback? Everything Is In Line

Hurricane 543216 — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:27:35 -0400

To some it seems the glory days are long gone; stepover after stepover, popping the ball over opponents, and no-look pinpoint passes.

He made Joga Bonito advertisements and 10 minute Youtube videos out of those who tried their best to stop him.

He was unstoppable and in turn, Barcelona was unstoppable. He inspired the side to two league titles and European glory in the Champions League. It was a force that hadn't been surpassed until, well, last season.

It's this fact and their new No. 10 that make his majestic aura fade even more.

And now at Milan, there he sat on the substitutions bench. Many are wondering along with him about how this happened.

Once crowned as the world's best player for two consecutive seasons, Ronaldinho was indeed a true force to be reckoned with. No one can sustain that level of play for that long.

But nobody expected this massive drop in form.

Yet a bout with injury and weight gain saw him quickly fall out of the Barca first team.

Add the fact incoming manager Pep Guardiola wanted nothing to do with the Brazilian star and several others, and you had a situation that many would not have foreseen two years prior.

Ronaldinho would be offloaded.

Joan Laporta's "new challenge" for the playmaker would be at AC Milan. It appeared to be the perfect place, as Ronaldinho claimed it was a dream destination. But after a promising start, things became a nightmare.

The beginning of the 2008-2009 Serie A season saw him net seven league goals, including the winner against rivals Inter, before the turn of the year.

That's more than Kaka and Alexandre Pato had.

While he wasn't perceived to be at his very best, things were going well for the superstar. However, minor leg injuries led to a regular spot on the bench even when fully fit.

Owner Silvio Berlusconi blamed manager Carlo Ancelotti for not using Ronaldinho's talents. And maybe Ancelotti wasn't completely wrong in dismissing him.

Perhaps Kaka's already established role in sparking the attack meant there was no need for another player in his mold. Perhaps David Beckham's unexpected amount of success shifted players around to leave no space for the Brazilian.

Perhaps last year was the wrong season for Ronaldinho to join Milan.

Things at the San Siro have now vastly changed though, and the midfielder could return to his once illustrious form.

With the departure of Kaka and no direct replacement signing in sight, Ronaldinho would logically be the one to fill the important void. A quick look at a friendly with the LA Galaxy and the ongoing World Football Challenge will show that he's already being given the responsibility.

It also can't hurt that his new coach is Brazilian great Leonardo. A former Milan attacking midfielder himself, Leonardo has proclaimed that he wants fluid attacking play from his side.

Who better to promote such a philosophy than his fellow countryman? He is much more likely to give his trust and patience than Ancelotti did.

His teammates and the club also want to see him do well. So much in fact, that they'e pushing him.

This includes Berlusconi making him promise improvement and Clarence Seedorf urging him to put a pep in his step during a training session.

Recent reports suggest that Dinho is working hard to regain the physical shape he had during his best years at Barca. If he can regain his unrivaled burst when taking on defenders, he can once again be dangerous in the slower paced Serie A.

And in a season leading to the 2010 World Cup, he will personally want to do well in order to earn a spot in Brazil's final squad. It's a feat he will have to try especially hard to achieve, as he was left out of the team for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

The Selecao went on to win it anyway, scoring a bucketful of goals.

Most importantly, Dinho appears to be taking all of the correct measures to be the one that steps up.

From his words to his actions, he knows the time is now to prove his worth. His play in Milan's American tour this summer has suggested he's still very capable of moments of brillance in his favored position. And it seems everyone is quickly adjusting to his leadership in attack.

So, can the former top player in the world make a comeback?

Last year was supposed be his chance, but things didn't quite work out. Now though, everything only points to a positive atmosphere and promotion for him to succeed.

It's all on his shoulders now and there will be no excuses whatsoever. All he must do is perform to his capabilities, and the 2009-2010 season will be one in which Ronaldinho will shine again.

Kaka's Chances According to History: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Hurricane 543216 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:16:09 -0400

The new Galaticos have arrived, and with them a slew of expectations. One the players bearing such weight is Brazilian play maker and 2007 World Player of the Year, Kaka. The former world record transfer signing (for roughly a week), will head into the 2009 season as a Real Madrid squad member. Players in his mold have made the switch from Serie A to La Liga before. Some have succeed whereas others have failed. While the world will compare him to just one of those players in the coming season, here we'll take a look at some of the prominent figures who have made the same move during recent years. To keep things comparable to Kaka, we'll try to focus on players in similar positions.

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CR9's Chances According to History: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Hurricane 543216 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:38:44 -0400

So former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo was recently presented in front of thousands of fans at the Santiago Bernabeu. In an presentation that was by far one of the largest in recent history, it's evident that the Madrid faithful expect huge things from the world record signing. Since 2003, the transfer window has seen several successful Premiership players make the move from England to Spain's La Liga. Their transition between clubs and leagues has been met with mixed results. Here, we'll take a look back at how a few those players have fared, and what it could mean for the man formerly known as "CR7". For the sake keeping it comparable to Ronaldo's position(s), I'll focus on forward and wide players.

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Donovan's Beckham Comments Justified?

Hurricane 543216 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:28:56 -0400

Maybe we all could have seen this coming.

2007 brought the arrival of David Beckham to the Los Angeles Galaxy. He was to be not only the savior and star of the team, but the entire MLS. Jersey sales had already reached 250,000 before he even announced his number and he attracted the largest crowds in league history.

The former England skipper was even handed the captaincy less than two months after his debut.

It appeared he was doing all of the right things. Landon Donovan however, may not have been so impressed.

In Grant Wahl's The Beckham Experiment, to be be released later this month, teammate Landon Donovan goes on a rant of sorts about the globally known sports icon.

After relaying positive initial thoughts on Beckham, it appears that his respect for him has not withstood the test of time. Says Donovan, "All that we care about at a minimum is that he committed himself to us...As time has gone on, that has not proven to be the case in many ways—on the field, off the field."

The United States international didn't stop there. Despite what seemed to be a positive and professional relationship between the two, he also said, "Let's say he does stay here for three more years...I'm not going to spend the next three years of my life doing it this way. This is f****** miserable. I don't want to have soccer be this way."

He had even more to say. His other other comments can be seen here.

There's a number of reason's that he could have had to warrant such as outburst. Maybe Donovan was merely frustrated with the dismal team he's been forced to lead, without the help of a very good player who is under contract to the LA club. It could the fact that he likely lost his captaincy just because of celebrity status.

Or maybe he didn't think the comments would come to light until after the season's end, when Beckham will surely be on his way out to find a better club and competition in hopes of making the England squad for the 2010 World Cup.

It is for this reason that Donovan could be justified in his ridicule of Becks.

Let's ignore the fact that Landon himself has been looking for a way out of MLS and into Europe ever since his departure from Bayer Leverkusen. Beckham has openly spoken of his desire to be called up to his national team, admitting that the Galaxy and Major League Soccer give him little chance to accomplish it.

In order to do so, he became the prime figure in extending his loan deal at AC Milan to the end other the Serie A season.

Donovan probably had no problem with Becks leaving to improve himself abroad, until it was evident he'd do it well into the Galaxy season and only return just in time for the halfway point.

From his (Landon) point of view players themselves should not be the ones who really push for loan extensions. To him, Beckham was shunning the team who he had decided to play for and was the captain of.

And yet, the Galaxy organization will welcome Beckham back with open arms, as if it never happened. Even upon visiting the LA Galaxy website, you are immediately greeted with a "Beckham's Back" banner. It's understandable that Donovan could be frustrated by the treatment of a player who, according to him, does not care. And it wouldn't be crazy to say that those within the club could be enablers to their global cash cow.

However, in the grand scheme of things Mr. Donovan, David Beckham is your teammate. To publicly go on blast about someone who is such an important part of the team, someone you share the lockeroom and the limelight with, is hard to side with.

While it probably wasn't what he intended, this won't be an issue between just the two of them. This is going to be the talk of everyone around the league and, more importantly, within the Galaxy organization. People may be forced to side with one star or the other. It has the potential to create a whole other windstorm of distraction for a team that already isn't good.

It could of course have a positive effect. Maybe Becks will step up in all of the facets in which he was criticized and everyone will be happy. On the flip side, Beckham could take his foot off the pedal, still have everyone by his side, make things even worse for Donovan.

It's likely that won't happen though. Beckham has dealt with public criticism from those within in his own club before and he's bigger than this. And so is Donovan, who probably just slipped up in frustration but nevertheless slipped up.

How do you feel about what he's said? Do feel it was harsh or right on? Should it have been said at all? Do you think it'll affect anything on the field? Please feel free to answer in your comments.

2009 Manchester United Starting XI: Already Good Enough?

Hurricane 543216 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:47:24 -0400

So far, the summer of 2009 for Manchester United has seen comings and goings of highly touted football talent. Departures of stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, along with the aging of those who remain have provoked fans and pundits to ask the question, "Can United defend their league title and still challenge in Europe?". The question surely must irk United fans and higher-ups as well, as it has prompted the signings of Michael Owen and, more importantly, Antonio Valencia so far in a quest to fill voids that have been left. With his abundant transfer kitty, Sir Alex Ferguson will definitely still be looking to add more to a side which has lot a considerable amount of talent. However, we'll look here see that the team under his belt could already be good enough to play with and defeat anyone.

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Did US Success at 2009 Confederations Cup Show Bob Bradley's Weaknesses?

Hurricane 543216 — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:35:52 -0400

As we all know, the second place performance of the U.S. Men's National Team at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup shocked the soccer community and proved that the USA was possibly a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.

Big wins over a well-performing Egypt side and also then number one ranked Spain, paired with a courageous second outing against winners Brazil was a sign to doubters that the Yanks could compete with anyone. Unfortunately for U.S. coach Bob Bradley, the effort shows even more that he isn't the man to lead the team to the top on 'THE' stage, that is, the FIFA World Cup.

Normally in the sports world, general success is a sign that a coach is doing all the right things. Phil Jackson with the Bulls and Lakers, Bill Belichick with his Patriots, Joe Torre/George Steinbrenner's wallet and the Yankees. Even those feeling the warmth of their hot seats can have their jobs and reputations saved with the occasional big performance, just ask Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson about his crucial win against Nottingham Forrest in 1990s FA Cup.

The Curious Case of Bob Bradley however, is different. Everything about the USA's second place finish against some of the best teams in the world says that we should turn up the heat, and wonder if he should even be given credit.

Look at the squad that started against Brazil. It could easily be argued that if not through a combination of injuries, red cards, fatigue and blatantly terrible performances, we could have seen an entirely different team rather than the one that started out so well against the Selecao.

To start things off, there's the Oguchi Onyewu/ Jay DeMerit defensive partnership in the center which wasn't perfect but was certainly effective through the tournament (Yes, despite the vast number of goals that were conceded).

If not for the injury to captain Carlos Bocanegra, it's obvious we would've never seen the pair together. Onyewu paired with 'Blackmouth' has given quick goals to CONCACAF opposition such as Honduras and Costa Rica. Surely the combo would've fared worse against much better sides.

Also Jonathan Spector may have not made an appearance (or the squad for that matter) if not for knocks to Steve Cherundolo and Frankie Hejduk prior to the Cup. While he was somewhat suspect defensively, he was a godsend in terms of working down the right and swinging pinpoint crosses into the box.

Now take Landon Donovan being such a force in the outside midfield, specifically on the left. Had it not been for the Ricardo Clark red card in the Italy match, and Sacha Kljestan doing his best imitation against Brazil, Donovan would have been starting up top with Jozy Altidore through the tourney.

There he'd be, hopelessly waiting for service rather than having the ball and forcing the issue on the defences of Eygpt, Spain, and Brazil as he did. The red cards made him a midfielder. Well, those and the 45 minute cameo from DaMarcus Beasley. One of those aforementioned 'blatantly terrible performances' belonged to DMB with his outing against Brazil. As Bradley stubbornly wanted Donovan to be a forward, he hoped against hoped that Beasely could turn things around for himself and shine on the left...wrong.

After the 3-0 massacre to the Brazilians, Bradley's hand was forced to find another forward while Donovan dropped to midfield. Only two options: Connor Casey, a poor man's Jozy Altidore(not saying much) who was awful against Honduras a week prior to the competition, or Charlie Davies, who could add pace to the counter attack and a different style from Altidore. Duh.

With just those forced changes, and a game plan that had to do more with heart and luck(Brazil's trashing of Italy) rather than tactics, the U.S. managed their way to the semi-finals.

Add a another 'blatantly terrible performance' from Jonathan Borstein(more so in the Italy and Brazil games), and Bocanegra was slotted in a left upon his return, adding a little more stability to the defence.

So there it was, through all of that, a very different looking team lined up against the likes of Spain and Brazil, world powers, and gave them a run for their money. The defeated Spain, ending their 35 game unbeaten streak, and unfortunatley collasped to Brazil after leading 2-0.

The squad against Spain/Brazil:

Davies Altidore

Donovan Clark Bradley/Feilhaber Dempsey

Bocanegra Onyewu DeMerit Spector

Howard

Had all the problems mentioned not happened this is what things would've looked like. This side would not have worked as well together at all.

Donovan Altidore/Ching(If healthy, BB would've tried)

Beasley Clark Bradley Dempsey

Bornstein Bocanegra Onyewu Hejduk/Cherundolo

Howard

It wasn't mastermind shuffling that found a great setup of players, it was luck and common sense.

Apart from that, the Yanks' tactical approach, even in victory, under Bradley was far too simple and desperate at times. This could be seen with the U.S. launching the ball forward in attack, rather tahn patiently probe defenses, during virtually every game. Or look at the willingness to give up the wing play to teams with forward players like Alberto Reira, Fernando Torres, Robinho, and Kaka. It invites pressure. They barely dealt with it against Spain, but they weren't so lucky against Brazil.

And surely Bradley must take some of the blame for the multiple counts of his team's disappearance after going into the half. This could be seen against Italy, the final against Brazil, and yes, even the win versus Spain. The second halves were dominated by the opposition when the U.S. appeared to be in full control from the opening whistle.

It's all of these little things which people must focus their attention to when evaluating Bradley. We can't let the results, finally against big teams, sugarcoat the problems that remain. Are we willing to settle for looking good on paper, under the comfortable winning record of Bradley? Or do we want the USMNT to truly show their worth head-to-head against the very best in South Africa next year. I choose the latter, and if that is to be the case, improvements (To be fair, both from Bradley and the players) still need to be made.

I am a United States fan and come World Cup time, I will be cheering for them wholeheartedly. Whether I like it or not, because I am nobody, Bob Bradley will be there to coach this team. And with all that I've said here, I truly hope that he proves me wrong.

United Sign Michael Owen: Could It Be A Better Signing Than Benzema?

Hurricane 543216 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:26:30 -0400

After passing a medical and further tests, Michael Owen has signed a two-year deal with Manchester United, moving on a free transfer. The deal comes just days after news broke that Lyon star, and United target, Karim Benzema would be joining big-spending Real Madrid.

Many felt that the 21-year-old French international was possibly leaning towards a move to Old Trafford, as Sir Alex Ferguson had been a admirer for some time and United were on the lookout for striking options with the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

The fact that United also had at least £80 million in their pocketbooks also provided the idea they had more than enough to deal for the forward.

But then stepped in Madrid, also in search of an alternative to their failed exploits of signing Valencia's David Villa. They pounced quickly to bag Benzema, consequently leaving United in a very unfortunate situation.

With heavy price tags and wages applied to Europe's big guns such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero, and Samuel Eto'o; or blatant refusals to migrate to the Premier League by stars like Franck Ribery and David Villa, the Red Devils found themselves in the unfamiliar realm of not being solely linked with a great player when they wanted him.

The Antonio Valencia deal was a positive, but United had lost 40+ goals from last season and were only losing out on people to fill that void.

And to rise from the depths of relegated Newcastle United was Mr. Owen, who inevitably will be seen as United's reflex signing to the loss of Benz to Madrid. By no means is this really the case, as surely Ferguson will continue to search for another attacking option, but in some ways Owen could actually be better for United than Benzema.

First off, there is the obvious and impossible to ignore difference how much the player were to transfer. Karim Benzema comes in at £29.7 million (possibly £34.8, pending performance) while Owen was a staggering "£0".

Also Owen's contract is said to be fairly average and incentive-based while Benz will more than likely get a much larger deal. If Owen is to be a bust, so be it. It will not have hurt United too much as he cost nothing to bring him in, and essentially if he does nothing, he gets nothing.

If United were to spend big on another forward and have him flop in his first season as well (no offence Berba), it would reflect poorly.

Another point is that Benz would be another foreign player who would have to come in and adjust to the different playing style of English football. Some have easily managed the transition (Fernando Torres) while some great players (Diego Forlan) found plenty success elsewhere but weren't able to cope in England.

It would be another risk.

Owen has shown in the past that he can be a strong force in the Premier League. Even in his "terrible" stint with a underachieving Newcastle team with a slew internal problems he still managed a fairly decent strike rate with 30 goals from 76 appearances in all competitions.

If he were to stay away from the trainer, he could be even more effective with United, who easily would have the better supporting cast.

Thirdly, the status of the players in terms of there reputations and performance following last season must be taken into account. Benzema is a French national team regular, the undisputed forward star of his former team, and he was wanted by just about anyone who could afford him.

Wherever he is, he will be expecting to be the number choice even through a rough patch. He'll possibly want to lead the frontline like he did at Lyon and also seal his spot for France's World Cup squad.

If he were at United, it could virtually be a Carlos Tevez situation all over again, a player not getting the amount of action he wants. Owen on the other hand, has been out of his national side for some time and was practically an outcast of Europe's elite teams. While he'll want to be named for the Three Lions for WC2010, he's happy enough to be on a side as good as United and we'll relish the role of Tevez.

He isn't expected to be a first team regular, as Ferguson has surely told him. And given his past couple of years and the other places he could have ended up, he'll be willing to fit in as a role player.

So, head-to-head, most definitely just about everyone on this planet would take Benzema over Owen, but given the circumstances, United fans at least could soon be thinking it the other way around. Only time will tell the value of a signing such as this. He's been given the opportunity, the ball is now in Owen's court