El Grande: The Darren Fletcher debate

I know why you're posting this in here. You think Fletch is injured. More than he's letting on.

You know what I think. He never got that bone chip properly fixed from last year and thought it went away. And now it's flared up again.

Just my hunch...

 

We could only speculate whether he is injured or is having some problems with his girlfriend. Who knows, perhaps Rooney is banging her?

As Michael said, I am not surprised he did not show up for this game in particular because he was the one that showed up in big games.

Personally, in the past, I think he was motivated to actually make it on the team and there were always speculations that he was going to be transferred out. With new signings like Hargy, Nani, and Anderson, I believed he wanted to prove himself and worked his a$$ off to impress. Now, I believe he has gotten a lil too comfortable with his position knowing that he is the first person on every big PL and CL matches and has not improved since last year as a result of complacently and lack of competition. In addition, because Anderson and Hargy are injured, Scholes and Giggs not playing regularly, and Carrick's Achilles, and no one in our reserves who is touted to step in immediately, he is not motivated and is slacking off in his position.

Fletch better shape up because I know Fergie and the fans expect more out of him and is looking into fortifying our CM position.

 

Do you keep him on the first team or push for a replacement and have him retire?

He take up a role in the youth system.

 

If anyone is going to give Fellaini games, Fletcher still has a role. He should play over Fellaini whenever he is fit.

 

Fletcher should be allowed to leave if he can actually play without health problems.

The rumour is that we will allow him to leave if we get a "good" offer.

 

No.

Fellaini is a blunt object, but one that can come in useful against the lesser PL teams. Fletcher is slow, weak (now), and doesn't do anything exceptionally well. He doesn't have the speed, strength, or wheels to be the harassing midfielder he once was and is now essentially just another body taking up a spot on the bench. He needs to go.

 

If we are going to pass the ball, he beats Fellaini every day. Fellaini doesn't even look good against lesser PL teams.

 

While I agree that Fellaini has shit passing and vision, I think you are overestimating Fletch's passing. He has been a pylon that just gives the ball back to Carrick when he receives it. I understand he's coming off a long layoff, but he doesn't have it anymore and likely never will again. He needs to go.

Also, Fellaini was just purchased for big money (unfortunately), so he's not going anywhere. Why keep 3 below standard CM's (Clev included) when we could offload Fletch and bring in another body or a youth like Petrucci?

 

Petrucci wasn't sold. He's on loan until the end of the season.

 

Fletcher is our second best central midfielder and still has a clear role to play. However I would not want his presence to prevent us from making the required changes in midfield particularly considering the uncertainty with his illness.

 

Everyone bar Moyes. And Rooney. And Fellaini.

 

who is fighting for hte future of Old Trafford??

 

Fletch does not have, and never will have the stamina to play his high tempo / mobile / destroyer type game that he excelled at in his peak. I just dont see what the plan is with Fletch, but that has been the case for years now.

 

The problem we have is despite his illness he is clearly still the best midfielder we have, across the board, not called Carrick.

 

I agree to some extent, although I think Cleverly can play much better than he currently is.

Regardless, its the same situation we have had for some time (Scholes for eg) in that we have a player who is taking up a CM spot, is better than other options (Fellaini etc), but still prevents signing or promoting to fill the spot properly. We have far, far to many players in a similar situation in both CM and wide midfield positions.

 

How long have we been complaining about this midfield issue now? How long are we going to be complaining about it before it's actually addressed in a meaningful way?

 

Who knows? Until it's fixed, I guess. I thought Darren played well today in that he was able to tackle and actually get possession of the ball in midfield. No one else was tackling/pressing and winning the ball, especially in the second half.

 

It started when Keane went into decline - so about 2004.

 

He's done at United sort of level, but don't think he was the main problem at all yesterday atleast.