What to do with Darren Fletcher?

[Dark Savante]

The season is finished for us in less than 24hrs. I'm pretty sure the manager has a picture of who he's going to get rid of and who he wants in...all but Darren Fletcher. His fall from grace has been ignominious all things considered. Completely removed from not only the first team, but the entire squad?? He seems to have been dropped back down to the reserves, which is unheard of considering the club released a statement recently to say he is not injured.

Of late I've found myself saying this or that reserve is better than Fletcher (and a host of others) and I say it wholeheartedly, not to bash him, but simply acknowledging what we have in waiting for his position in the squad. I should perhaps point out that the reason I'm so excited about a player like Darron Gibson is that central midfielders really don't rise to prominence before 24 unless they are something special.

I know i've been judging/comparing Darren to a Godly-given talent and it is unfair of me in retrospect. The manager has said we wont see the real Darren Fletcher until he is 24 or so and that is precisely the age that most midfielders start to really become top class. This is something we all overlook when we assess Fletcher as a United player - we want performance now, we're not particuarly forgiving of a bad run of games from him although at his age he is perfectly entitled to them, honestly. I also think the views of United fans has been tainted somewhat by having two of the world's best youngsters outshining Fletch whenever they play - we see they are 20 & 21 and become even less forgiving of Fletcher for his misgivings.

It's actually quite ludicrous how much stick Fletch gets and I say that wholeheartedly and as I've already said above, I have kind of been doing it of late because I'm comparing him to a 17yr old who is every bit a God-given talent who anyone who has seen him would put in the squad ahead of Fletcher. These things really aren't Fletcher's fault. He's just a normal kid who will develop at a normal rate, whom we wont see what he really is going to be until he's 24, 25. His 'crime' has always been the fact he has the bear faced nerve to be a midfielder of inferior quality to Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, who came into the team with the memory of the aformentioned fresh to all.

Immediately he has been classed as a flop, a joke and all kinds of things by other club's fans and he gets some unbelievable stick (in the grounds) from fans at the stadium in both OT and at reserve games!

Fletcher has now played over 100games for Manchester United 1st team and it looks like the manager has 'suddenly' decided Fletch is not even worth being in the 1st team squad :confused: I don't know what this indicates for Fletcher's future, but with the emergence of Gibson, D.Jones possibly returning to us next season and us buying new CM's, it really doens't look good for Fletch, imo.

My question though, is what would you want to happen with Fletcher? Feel free to vote as well as discuss.

As usual and as with every Fletcher thread, please keep it civil and sensible. We may be seeing his last game at the club tomorrow :confused: If this is the way he's going out, I think it's a shame.

[lotfilms]

Darren Fletcher is a good player, but he is not a MANCHESTER UNITED player. He doesn't add much to our team. Rooney, Crerand, Robson, Cantona, those are Manchester United players. Fletcher and O'Shea are not.

[MtP07]

I say keep him a couple more seasons. What I don't know is whether he should be sent back to Reserves or out on loan. The only thing I don't want to happen is Fletcher being in the way of someone younger and more promising (Gibson) getting a shot in the first team.

[Sapphire]

I think Fletcher has enough potential to suggest that selling him would be a mistake. I'd like to see him develop further as a Manchester United player, despite the fact that he's not quite "there" yet.

I'm really not sure which is the better option between loaning him out or pushing down to the reserves next season. If we put him in the reserves, he can play and develop, but he may be seriously demoralized for losing his spot in the first team. A loan out might help preserve his confidence, and also keep him playing at a higher level throughout the season. Of course, in a loan situation, we lose his services altogether if we have injuries (and, let's get honest, who knows how our midfield will look at the beginning of next season). Is there a way we can loan hm for only half of the season?

I'm leaning toward loaning him out. Let's give the kid another year to see if he can fulfill his potential, but not at the expense of our midfield.

[Dark Savante]

tbh, I can't think of anything more demoralising then being a 1st team starter om front of 68,000 and playing nearly every game in the league to being dropped back down to reserves. I think that'd be the worse thing we could ever do to him, tbh.

[Sapphire]

tbh, I can't think of anything more demoralising then being a 1st team starter om front of 68,000 and playing nearly every game in the league to being dropped back down to reserves. I think that'd be the worse thing we could ever do to him, tbh.I tend to agree. However, how he reacts may depend on his personality. If the coaches feel that he's not giving 100 percent and he's the right personality, a drop down might be the kick in the ass that he needs. But my first instinct is to agree with you -- how humiliating for Fletch. :(

[Dark Savante]

I tend to agree. However, how he reacts may depend on his personality. If the coaches feel that he's not giving 100 percent and he's the right personality, a drop down might be the kick in the ass that he needs. But my first instinct is to agree with you -- how humiliating for Fletch. :(
I'll say another thing about the reserves, if Gibson is there next season instead of going on loan or being promoted, Fletcher will not outshine him, which would render his tenure at the club almost redundant.

Demoting him would be the end for Fletch!

[johno]

meh... Fletcher has played over 100 games and not had 1 dominant performance. The problem most people have w/ Fletcher is that while we will be willing to spot him a few crappy performances, we'd like to see one or two "wow" performances a season. They just don't happen. He NEVER looks as good as the players around him at any level. He's a donkey and he knows it. All those CMs who matured at 24, I'm sure most of them showed flashes... where the heck are these flashes w/ Fletcher? 100 games and maybe 10 times he's done something above average. Everything is so ********ing vanilla with him.

[omar_mufc]

i hope fergie can find a way, to get the best out of fletch, while at the same time, not, as you say DS, stand him in the way of someone like gibson (if he's all what DS says he is)...

maybe a formation change? something like a christmas tree? or a milanesque 4-2-3-1? BUT would the fans accept such a drastic change?

a 4-2-3-1 could mean this for the midfield:

-------------Gibson------Fletch

Ronaldo-------Rooney---------D.Jones

while the christmas tree could make our midfield look like this:

Fletch---------Gibson-------Jones

-----Ronaldo----------Rooney


i, would personally be happy with either, as it could mean that we could have rooney and ronaldo playing in their natural positions simultaneously, while potentially sorting out the midfield also.....
HOWEVER - a word of caution - such a system with the personnel mentioned, is a VERY long way off (if it ever happens)....

[MtP07]

tbh, I can't think of anything more demoralising then being a 1st team starter om front of 68,000 and playing nearly every game in the league to being dropped back down to reserves. I think that'd be the worse thing we could ever do to him, tbh.

You're absolutely right, but I think he's got to almost there in the demoralized aspect. I mean to come from playing over 100 matches and being a week in, week out starter to not even making the bench the past few months has got to make the kid feel horrible. Not to mention the fact that he has already dropped down to the Reserves and got out-shined by Gibson.

He's really not worth selling... I doubt we'd get very much for him. I'd much rather send him out on loan and see if something happens.

[omar_mufc]

meh... Fletcher has played over 100 games and not had 1 dominant performance. The problem most people have w/ Fletcher is that while we will be willing to spot him a few crappy performances, we'd like to see one or two "wow" performances a season. They just don't happen. He NEVER looks as good as the players around him at any level. He's a donkey and he knows it. All those CMs who matured at 24, I'm sure most of them showed flashes... where the heck are these flashes w/ Fletcher? 100 games and maybe 10 times he's done something above average. Everything is so ********ing vanilla with him.

i wouldnt say that johnno....

remember his performances against arsenal, chelsea, and liverpool last year, especially in the carling cup semi-final 1st leg, 4-2 and the
cup final?
remember this time last year? when fletch, along with hartley (who plays for hearts) totally dominated italy's FIRST CHOICE midfield of pirlo, gattuso and totti?

such performances definately indicate that fletch has the talent, its just that he's young, and a normal talent (instead of diabolical freak), added to that, he is going through a rough time in terms of confidence, and when any player no matter how young, has a confidence problem, its very hard to snap out of it, just look at ruud. and the problem is exacerbated when the player is young

[johno]

Fletcher is rubbish he's been rubbish for awhile... OK, now THAT was harsh... but lets be real - at his best, he's been functional. He's never been stellar. That's what it takes to succeed... I don't ever see him becoming stellar. At anything.

[SirManchester]

If we loan him out to a mid to lower team in the PL, he will most likely shine for that team. As Saph said previously, he has enough potential to suggest that selling him would be a mistake. However I don't want to see him being constantly benched, especially after he's had his time for the first team, 100 games is no joke. With that said, I'm for loaning him out in order to get some perspective on the lad. Ferguson can't seem to get the most out of the boy and I believe he has what it takes to become a "Man United" player.

[SirManchester]

Fletcher is rubbish he's been rubbish for awhile... OK, now THAT was harsh... but lets be real - at his best, he's been functional. He's never been stellar. That's what it takes to succeed... I don't ever see him becoming stellar. At anything.

Even great teams need functional players every now and then.

[johno]

BWAHAHAHAH... Fletcher shining... what did Leto say about not being able to polish a turd?


Even great teams need functional players every now and then.

yes, but they've got to be good at something... Fletcher's not particularly good at anything.

[SirManchester]

BWAHAHAHAH... Fletcher shining... what did Leto say about not being able to polish a turd?


oh stop it, Fletcher has had plenty of good, solid games for us, where he's played a major role in obtaining three points. He's not consistent but then again, many of our players aren't either.


yes, but they've got to be good at something... Fletcher's not particularly good at anything.

In all seriousness, he's hard working, and when he's on, he can make creative long distance passes, he's also shown then ecessary off the ball movement. I personally think he would do very well at the likes of Wigan, Villa, or Fulham if he's given a start. Maybe that will be enough to just shed some more light on him.

[johno]

Fletcher has never in my recollection been our best player in a match. Neither has Richardson or Evra, but they don't have 100 games for the club.

Even Silvestre has been our best or second best player on numerous occasions. Fletcher is amazingly underwhelming. Amazingly.

[SirManchester]

Fletcher has never in my recollection been our best player in a match. Neither has Richardson or Evra, but they don't have 100 games for the club.

Even Silvestre has been our best or second best player on numerous occasions. Fletcher is amazingly underwhelming. Amazingly.

Then we will have to agree to disagree because there were occasions where I thought Fletcher was our best player. Also, there have been matches where he was among the best players and contributors to our win, it's very unfair to say he's pretty much worthless I think. With that said, if Ferguson doesn't plan on even using him as a sub, or "functional" player every now and then, just loan him out.

[benni...]

Its probably already been said, loan him out for 2 years. (Maybe not that long) but a loan would help him out.

This is what I feel about he and Oshea. They both need to spend 3 months with Valter Di Savio (our fitness and conditioning coach) who had a hand in making Rio the player (in terms of fitness, pace, and physical shape). That would be one step. Then a loan move maybe.

[benni...]

Then we will have to agree to disagree because there were occasions where I thought Fletcher was our best player. Also, there have been matches where he was among the best players and contributors to our win, it's very unfair to say he's pretty much worthless I think. With that said, if Ferguson doesn't plan on even using him as a sub, or "functional" player every now and then, just loan him out.

Wasnt it the Arsenal match where Darren Fletcher was Man of the match? Not too sure.