guys manutd vs roma. go watch it and that is the formation that will be used with hargreaves in instead of fletch.

a 4-2-3-1.

dave, melb, aus

It is very clear where Hargreaves fits in. Fergie has at times preferred 4-5-1 with the emphasis on strenghtening the midfield. This may not suit Rooney best, but top players should adapt to any system. The trouble with Utd was with neither Scholes nor Carrick suited to a defensive role (Scholes is class, but can't tackle and Carrick is no heavyweight) and Fletcher simply not a top player, Rooney often became isolated. If teams double up on Ronaldo, logic would suggest Utd over-run the middle.

Now with Hargreaves, Utd have a genuine ball-winner, which will free Carrick to pass it around and Scholes to support Rooney. Against Milan, Scholes was ahead of the play and Milan controlled the midfield. Utd only gained a foothold when Scholes dropped back, but this left Rooney isolated again.

Alternatively, I see Utd going with 4-4-2, as Saha would've played all year if fit, dropping Carrick to the bench (I don't think he'd throw a strop). Who cares about the 18 million? Not Fergie.

Jay, Dublin, Ireland

i think hargreaves a great signing with him & carrick becoming holding midfielders & letting the other midfielders do what they do best is attack we got found out by milan for having no bite in midfield not no more now we need a striker as i think in time rooney will go into the scholes role of a attacking midfielder huntelaar fits the bill good in the air skillful takes free kicks which is what we need although bale who could be on his way i hope will potentially take giggs place in time can also take free kicks a cracking player which would make the perfect 3 summer buys

strev, eastbourne, england

In essence, Hargreaves won England's best player at the World Cup award by default .The rest of the team turned in stinkers. No question that Hargreaves has great stamina and like the Energizer bunny will run till he drops. But his positioning sense is non-existent, his passing is atrocious, his heading is dreadful, but to his credit he takes a decent corner kick.
In some quarters he has been hailed as Keane's successor and by others as the Prince in Waiting to take over from Scholes.
On the bright side, he can tackle better than Scholes, but, then, who can't?
Will his presence lift United to greater heights? I think not. I believe this signing is more a case of Ferguson being beguiled by Hargreaves and stubbornly getting the thought in his head that he must get his man at any cost.
Hargreaves would have jumped to the Premiership for the first club that came calling and Bayern was willing to let him go. The fact that no other club was interested in him, says much.

Todd Rayson, Barnstaple, England

Hargreaves is a good signing for United and Carrick grew into the team throughout the season. There will be rotation next season involving Scholes, Carrick, Hargreaves and Giggs as well as other members of the squad. Given what happened to both United and Chelsea in CL and FA cup I don't think you can have too many players nowadays if you're at the top.

As for formation, Alex Ferguson has been building towards a fluid, pacy 4-2-3-1 ever since Madrid knocked United out in 2003. Hence the sale of Beckham and van Nistelrooij, trying for Ronaldinho and getting Ronaldo and Rooney with the emphasis on players who can carry the ball and beat defenders. Which will mean 3 of Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs and Scholes interchanging behind a striker with 2 central midfielders from Scholes, Carrick and Hargreaves. The Roma game was a perfect example.

I feel for Heinze and I hope he stays. He's a true United player and it's only a matter of time before he gets his form back.

Stel, Hemel Hempstead,

Havent any of you noticed how many times we have played 5 acroos the middle - with Rooney and Ronaldo out wide and Scholes, Carrick and Fletcher/OShea playing

I think its going to be more along those lines

Im gutted about Heinze as he was such a brilliant player before his injury but he really hasnt been the same since

I dont think Evra is that good devensively but he is pretty alright attacking .but that may confirm Bale is on his way (every report I have seen alternates between Man Utd and Spurs being his final destination)

Hugo, London,

Hargeaves is a great signing !!! comptitive high energy tough tackler who is also an accomplished dead ball taker. he is also versitile and will give united the right balance for the style fergie has adopted. Most games will start 451 with rooney left, ronaldo right, carrick / Scholes / hargreaves in the middle. You will then see ronaldo and rooney in free roles switch from the flanks to support the striker. When this happens Hargreaves will provide the energy and cover for our forwards. This will also allow carrick more room to express himself.

Man U Fan, manchester, UK

Selling Heinze would be the right thing to do if United get Gareth Bale. This would leave Evra and Bale as first and second choice left backs with Silvestre and O'Shea as cover.

Hargreaves should be a good buy because it will allow United to deploy a defensive midfielder with Scholes against the tougher matches and in Europe, with Carrick being used for the less demanding games when United don't need a holding midfielder, as Carrick certainly isn't one.

I am a fan of Saha but it is obvious that you can't rely on him, so selling him for around £7m to Lyon would be the right thing to do, especially since he getting older and there are younger players or higher ability on the market such as Huntelaar, Torres or Eto'o.

Nick, London,

Spurs could use Heinze.
As a spurs fan I hope they go for him.

abritincanada, Calgary, Canada

I think you will probably see more of a 4-3-3 with carrick hargreaves and scholes with two wingers slightly further forward and a sole striker but as ever the front three will probably rotate on the counters with scholes backing up.

I disagree that carrick was a bad signing and also that evra isn't a good left back. Would be interesting to see if the reports of micah richards might be true or gareth bale. Most interested to see if we finally get a decent striker.

Jon, Manchester,

United need a complete clear out Heinze, Silvestre,Richardson,Saha must go Hargreaves is a waste of money as was Carrick , Fetcher has had problems with injuries over the years but is lightweight and slowin his use of the ball, Scholes is a great player his passing is super ..but this is a team with 3 midfielders who can't tackle.They need a new midfield terrier .a creative passer to take over from Scholes,a right back to take over from neville a solid left back which we have not had since Irwin left another winger who can cover either side and a good forward asrooney is better playing slightly of the front man.
another doubt in the team is Park busy little player but again too lightweight very easy pushed of the ball.And lets hope someone buys Fergie a book on tactics once he comes up against a good coach he is clueless.

neil , Carrick,

Quite refreshing to see what people have to say!
I have this concern as well as to where we will fit Scholes, Hargreaves and Carrick! If am right, Scholes is AM, Hargreaves more of a DM & Carrick holding midfield!
Unless we will conver Carrick into a more AM player and drop Scholes, this deal does not make any sense. What happens to the likes of Fletcher-though IMO not worthy of a 1st team place, he has taken to the bench like a fish in water! And Rossi who looks more suitable to take over Scholes!
Or is it a case of 'Wanted, wanted, wanted, finally got him' without prior thoughts to tactics! Surely we can't have Rooney on his own in attack-it didn't work against CFC and it wouldn't work next season either!

V, Watford,

I agree with william. Carrick has been pretty solid this season, and although no Keane, he certainly has been a success as United brought home the Premiership title. Will Hargreaves fit in? I doubt it, he is a better tackler, but a poorer passer and this could restrict United's attacking flair.
Poor Heinze. I am a big fan and recently his form has picked up, although Evra can attack more effectively. Still a defender's first job is to defend...hence Silvestre must go and probably Brown as well.

Dave, Newcastle,

injuries are only temporary, we looked to have signed owen for 4 years, broken legs and issues which arrise from this disappear after a year, i think hargreaves is a steal, this is the sort of player weve been missing from manchester united since keane left. After all thisplayer got englands player of the world cup award at germany, he cant be so bad can he?

Paul, Cambridge, England

hargreaves is normally a really healthy, play every game in a season type player. i don't think there are many players who suffer from recurring broken legs.

scholes was looking tired towards the end of the season so i can see carrick being rotated with the first choice partnership of scholes and hargreaves. his long term role will be to take over from scholes

Matthew, Manchester,

only one of carrick and hargreaves to play, william? I suspect they will both play alongside scholes and we can look forward to a whole season of mind-numbing 4-5-1 mediocrity, with rooney lonely and bored. in any case, giggs is more likely to be dropped than scholes to make room for hargreaves in "the fletcher role" (yikes!). in the end, it hardly matters. unless fergie grows a pair, united will get nowhere in europe or any cup game against decent opposition.

jem, london, uk

I am not as certain as Mr. Kay that the signing of Hargreaves is truly welcomed by Michael Carrick.

Unless I missed Paul Scholes retirement announcement, only one of them will be playing alongside Scholes.

After spending a like amount last summer on Carrick, it never made senxe to continue to pursue Hargreaves.

It is a lot of cash to pay for whichever of the two are left out.

william barlow, toronto, canada

Why are United looking to sign players who have been beset by injuries; why not look for healthy players.?

Fred, Montreal, Canada

we have alot to be proud of this season but i will miss gaby heinze with his style and approach to the game
if he goes i wish him well
will be missed

dave o keeffe , london,

So there goes 20 mill of the the 50 mill summer transfer budget. I am sure it be money well spent -
next maybe 6-8 million on the young defender bale and the rest for a world-class striker - that's who made the difference in the cup final - Chelsea had one, we didnt.
We have the best winger in Ronaldo and one of the young deep attacking forwards in Rooney - but he is not a front man/poacher in the classic mold.

Whoever Alex picks is fine by me - surely, after this season he has earned the right to pick who he wants without the chronic whining we heard last season - but i would humbly suggest we need a front man who is a proven premiership scorer and who works his backside off for the team - we can't afford someone who just waits in the box for the ball - ruud are you listening? - and there's no one who fits the bill better than tevez for my money.

kevin, usa,