Jan 16
Fletch Wants To Stay. Do You Want Him?
Darren Fletcher has quashed reports that he will be moving to another club during the January window. He seems as determined as ever to fight his way back into the team.
“I never heard anything about Birmingham being interested, I just know I want to be here for a long time. My only focus is on being ready when the manager needs me and being able to perform for the club when asked.”
I personally like the lad. He’s certainly is a very limited player in comparison with others in the central midfield position. The arrival, and surprisingly excellent performances, of Anderson and the assurance of Hargreaves, when he plays, has made Fletcher make only 15 appearances so far this season.
The other great part about players like O’ Shea and Fletcher that separates us from clubs like Chelsea and Pool is that they love being a part of the squad and do the job when called upon. They wouldn’t throw tantrums about being made to sit on the bench. They make the job of the manager so much more easier.
However with better players coming in to our squad — next season will probably see another few additions, as well as the promotion of hot prospects like Darron Gibson to our first team squad — his chances will certainly be limited.
It is his long term future that could be under question. While O’Shea’s versatility will still see him find a place in our side, no matter what, Fletcher will surely be crowded out of the midfield department. So as a footballer is it right for him to stay at the club in the next season. Loyalty may be great and much appreciated, but I am sure a lot of Reds may not break too much sweat if he were to leave.
Don’t get me wrong, he has been a great servant for United as a squad player despite the fact that he’s been mocked by many fans about being the apple of SAF’s eye for being Scottish. He could easily walk into many mid table clubs too — which is why the McLeish rumours abound. But long term, I believe he won’t be at United maybe a year from now.
What do you think? Would Fletch be here next season?
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Tags: Discussions
January 16th, 2008 at 10:18
Fletcher will be another Nicky Butt I woudl imagine. Never guaranteed first team action, never playing a season with less than 20 appearances. While he lacks any world class defining featuers, he is still a very useful player, and not half bad when he plays with confidence. His passing and vision aren’t awful, he has good fitness, is defensive minded and always offers energy. IMO if we needed to finish a game off, having Fletcher and Hargreaves as a part of a midfield 3 would ensure few chances for the opposition.
Fergie seems to be building up a whole bench of players that can play almost anywhere. O’Shea can pretty much play anywhere but wide, Fletch can play across midfield and full back as can Hargo. Having three such players is invaluable, and if they’re happy to stay, I say keep em as long as possible.
January 16th, 2008 at 10:21
he shouldnt leave!!
January 16th, 2008 at 10:38
get rid of him he is useless
January 16th, 2008 at 10:47
I like him. He throws no tantrums and does what he can.
But sadly, thst is clearly not good enough at Utd these
days. I would have loved to play for Utd. Not to mention
the money but actually to be part of Man utd. What a dream. but I was never
good enough. Not by a long, long shot. So why should we keep players like
Fletcher? As you say better talent is coming through. It’s
best for all if he moves on now.
January 16th, 2008 at 10:54
i don’t want to see him at united he is not united quality.just look at his passes movement ball control leaves a lot to be desired(miserable).Even in the united reserve the guy can not make the grade.We are losing that little finance for nothing its better to release him
January 16th, 2008 at 12:21
I think Fletcher shouldleave. For his own and our sace.
January 16th, 2008 at 12:56
For the club’s sake, he should certainly be kept around. A squad needs these type of players, because they can fill in at all times, be it because of injury or simply because someone needs rest. Fletch will play every match, be it against Liverpool in the league or Swindon in the CC, with the same attitude, and that’s absolutely necessary. Players who constantly try to prove themselves to the manager are a club’s best asset, and there’s no doubt that Fletch is such a player.
For his own sake, maybe he should start looking around. But he’s still young and has plenty of time to develop within this squad, and who knows what’ll happen. Hargreaves doesn’t appear to be able to play long runs without injury, and Scholes will stop at some point, so there’s need for Fletch, and he knows that.
January 16th, 2008 at 13:41
I think we need to keep him at least until summer. With Scholes getting older and injured, and Hargo being so injury prone, he is very important to us right now. After that I’m not too sure. I’m a bit fed up with Hargo’s injury problems.. but assuming he gets fit Fletcher will have a very limited role in our team next season. It would be great for him if he left, to get some starting football. He could probably start for any team outside of the big four.
January 16th, 2008 at 14:10
i don’t think that he is a good player, solid at best. I also believe that a club as good as us should not accomodate such players, but his will and determination is commendable. He is a fighter and will always step in but i think there is enough competition as it is with scholes, anderson, hargreaves and carrick (no one has mentioned him yet). With gibson coming through thats five players who are, or could be (gibson), man u quality. Carrick, although i don’t like him, can be devastating to a defence on his day with his delightful range of passing. With confidence and faith, he can be deadly, while hargreaves and andersons performances speak for themselves. Scholes may be old but he still has a trick or 2 up his sleeve and will be a useful player in the next few years (what do you think about him coming on with 30 min. left and playing cameo performances?) so i see no need to keep fletch. Average player without the quality for man u. Sell him and wish him luck at his next club.
January 16th, 2008 at 14:16
What tha fuck someones using my name!looking at the previous posts i see my name appearing everywhere.anywayz fletcher is a is an ok player,I do get annoyed when he starts games ahead of anderson(against westham) but the lad has a job to do when injuries and fatigue show up so we should keep him.He is happy to be a squad player after all.
January 16th, 2008 at 14:39
With competition from Hargreaves, Anderson, Scholes, Carrick, Park(yes!), Oshea, Gibsom and possibly Miguel Veloso as central midfielders next season, he should realise that he is not going to be used for United. He should leave for his own good, not only for United. Anderson will be the best midfielder in 3 years time, remember that!
January 16th, 2008 at 15:38
I used to hate him…….a LOT….but then the header against
… he plays defensive minded..which makes him so
Chelsea(the one that curled around the post..) simply changed my
attitude ..
useful in the last 20 minutes….Its his wish if he wants to stay..
he knows about the limited oppurtunities he gets..but he makes the most out of it..
Also Man u is prone to Mindfield injuries than anywhere in the footballing world..
.he is guarenteed a place then…
January 16th, 2008 at 16:11
Miguel Veloso - where did that come from? Last we heard anything about him was when SAF assured that we weren’t and never have been interested in him.
January 16th, 2008 at 16:13
ronaldo new football shoes cost around 120 pounds.is anyone goin to buy it?lol
January 16th, 2008 at 17:09
I think Fletcher should leave to further his career and I think he would leave united next season.But i do think he is an handy player to be in the squad and his biggest quality is that he is happy to sit on the bench
January 16th, 2008 at 17:10
taehr, my guess is that its someone from that republican of manchester site(something like that).
any news on huntelaar?
January 16th, 2008 at 17:13
http://www.nieuwnieuws.nl/archives/sport/2008/01/ajax_meldt_zich_voor_engelaar.html
can anyone translate?
January 16th, 2008 at 17:37
Translated version. Why Dan?
January 16th, 2008 at 17:45
Keegen new Newcastle boss.. Just in…
January 16th, 2008 at 17:50
I would love it if we beat them…classic. United play Newcastle on February 17 i think. Should be fun.
January 16th, 2008 at 18:02
How we would love to beat them… We could do it then.. we can do it now!!!
January 16th, 2008 at 18:54
dan(uol)this is what the page is tranlated into
Ajax meldt zich voor Engelaar Ajax sign up for Engelaar
Ajax wil Orlando Engelaar overnemen van FC Twente. Ajax wants Orlando Engelaar over FC Twente. De Amsterdammers zouden ondanks de komst van Kenneth Perez de selectie graag met nog een extra middenvelder willen versterken. The Amsterdammers, despite the arrival of Kenneth Perez happy with the selection still want an extra midfielder.
De Tukkers lieten in een reactie echter weten dat er niet over een transfer te praten valt. The Tukkers were in a reaction, however, know that there are not talking about a transfer. Het contract van de 28-jarige middenvelder loopt nog door tot medio 2009. The contract of the 28-year-old midfielder runs until mid-2009. Bovendien hoopt de formatie van trainer Fred Rutten met Engelaar opnieuw een plaats bij de beste vijf af te dwingen. Moreover hopes the formation of trainer Fred Rutten Engelaar again with a place on the best five enforce.
January 16th, 2008 at 19:01
thanks, only problem is its nothing to do with huntelaar
January 16th, 2008 at 19:10
http://www.sport24.com/football/transferts/fil-info/huntelaar-plait-a-mu-107594/
from what i can make of this site, is that their saying we’ve made a 16 mil euro bid for him.
i’ll look for more sites
January 16th, 2008 at 19:54
by any chance reddevil, did you mishear and he said next wednesday? 23rd, 30th.
Apparentley the bid that newcastle put in was £400,000 according to skysports, heres me thinking we didnt except because we’re stuborn.
January 16th, 2008 at 21:23
dan the french site says that itds a rumour manchester united have made a 16 million euro bid for hunterlaar from ajax according to the sun, they are full of a crap, so take it with a pinch of salt mate, man i love being able to speak 5 languages
January 16th, 2008 at 21:24
fletch can stick around as long as he likes as far as i’m concerned. he has the proper attitude, and i don’t think any other side has a better fifth choice central midfielder. in fact, i can’t think of a better fifth choic player at any position. and he has the most important feature of a player that far down the pecking order. he has the proper attitude. i’m sure there will be a point in the near future when he is no lnger needed, or he realizes it’s time to move on for the sake of his career. When that day comes i’ll applaud him for his years of hard work and dedication and wish him well wherever he goes. until theni’ll enjoy the luxury of having an established full international in reserve.
poor kevin keegan. he’s already being called a footballing messiah. stupid geordies, setting up one of their most iconic figures to fail in their cycle of self destruction. if i were alan shearer i’d be taking up a technical position at sunderland just to be sure to avoid that mess.
January 16th, 2008 at 22:08
Dan- He just said next wednesday on monday, so i dunno.
January 16th, 2008 at 22:35
unless our midfield guys get injuried all together i dont see fletch playing much and dont forget we have Ji sung park back as well and yes i wont cry if he leaves today as well but he’s a good /avg player when we are in crisis he can fill the numbers
January 17th, 2008 at 15:47
I want him. Who ever doubts his contribution to our side is a moron. I’m not sorry to say. Especially for this season.
But there is a possibility he will be surplus next season. Since Fergie really wants Veloso and there is Gibson too.
January 18th, 2008 at 9:42
One player I would love to see leave is Darren Flecther.
January 19th, 2008 at 20:01
The only game i saw him play good was against Chelsea where he scored. Other then that, he’s only normal. He almost gave away the equalizer to Reading today. Lucky thing Harper missed. If not… =(
January 20th, 2008 at 18:41
He has to leave. He’s not in the same class as any of our other options in the center. He’s a liability when he plays. I mean, while he gives his all, yada, yada…. his all isn’t good enough to win titles at the end of the day. What is he good at? He’s not a great attacking midfielder (Anderson, Scholes) he’s not a great defensive midfielder (Hargreaves, Carrick), he’s just an average player. We’ve 4 perfectly capable players there, and Giggs can cover if needs be.
January 21st, 2008 at 22:06
I agree with those that say he should leave. He is not Man Utd quality, he lacks TALENT period, the dude can’t even match up to Reserve players. He runs around the pitch touching the ball maybe 5 times in the game, and 4 times he passes it he gives it to the opposition. He lacks speed, power and skill, so already thats enough reason why he shouldnt be in the team. All the goals he has made, have been flukes, or handed to him by other players. I doubt any club would be interested in signing fletcher, they would be mad to Lol! Man Utd need to get rid of him.