Jones offers far more than Fletcher in CM. The injury crisis is just so bad we can't spare him.
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- Appearances
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
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I don't like saying it but, he's done at this level, as a starter! He's been abysmal for us and he was dreadful tonight.
Scotland looked so much better once he went off
Scotland looked so much better once he went off
I thought he was miles off the pace, felt sorry for him at times.
Would it be too harsh to say that he wouldn't be playing for Scotland so soon after his return if he was playing for Sunderland, Stoke or Aston Villa?
Its a bit horrible watching him right now in all honesty. You so badly want him to be good, but he's miles off the pace.
He's at that point Gary Neville was when he just needs to realize it's over.
i admire the attempt to get to a point where he's able to physically get onto the pitch, but he's done and dusted unfortunately .
I think somebody will have to tell him it's over. Gary Neville made the decision himself when he knew he was done. He set himself the highest standards, and when he couldn't live up to them he called time.
To be fair to him, I just re watched our first half vs Swansea, and he was actually quite good. Haven't watched the second half yet though, so maybe that's where he turns to shit.
It's really sad and why I think it will be hard for him to accept that he can't play at the top level anymore after working so hard to get back.
That is where LvG will have to step in as I don't see Giggs doing it.
Giggs certainly won't do it. Somebody less attached to United's past will have to do it.
He's still 30. Was his illness really so bad that it has damaged his playing ability forever? Maybe if he is given a few more months he'll warm up and become better? 
Last 25 mins he goes to pieces, by which time we'd used all our subs. I agree 1st half was decent.
To be fair, in the game against Burnley, where we played the 5-3-2, he had no support in central midfield whatsoever. Both Mata (who was permanently stationed forward) and Di Maria (Who was very good, but kept bombing forward) were hardly of any defensive help in the areas ahead of the defense. It was a nightmare for Fletcher and he kept getting overrun; he just could not cope with the lack of support.
Problem is, if we drop him and play Blind there, Blind will have the same issues.
Our midfield is still a mess.
Exactly. However, I am hopeful when Herrera is back; hopefully Blind and he will lend more balance in there
Fletcher doesn't look premier league standard nowadays. Not sure what happens next with him given that he is vice captain.
I think there's decent balance if we play both Blind and Herrera. One of Fletcher's main strengths was his energy and stamina and he looks to have lost most of that which is a real shame. Blind offers tactical discipline and safe passing, while Herrera gives us that all action energy and dynamism. I think the midfield is vastly improved, especially with Di Maria too.
He can still do a job as a utility player for us. I would also guess that with so many changes in personnel, the loss of experience over the summer and the young age of a lot fo the squad, Fletcher is valuable just being around day to day for the new players.
If there's any chance of all at Fletcher getting back to a level that is near his previous best it was always going to take him a while to get back up to speed. Looking miles off the pace, for club and country, in his first 4 or 5 games tells us nothing we didn't know already. It's still far too soon to draw conclusions about his likely contribution this season.
Don't think our midfield was overrun vs Burnley. Especially after the first 20 minutes we were mostly in control of the game and defense settled as well.
just hoping blind starts infront him from now on, but i have a feeling blind will start at wing back
I dont think he will ever be good enough for us.
But then I do suffer from premature concludulation.
with Jones and Smalling out - could Fletch be an option to start in a back 3?
I would not have much faith in a backline of Evans, Rojo and Blackett TBH
I would not have much faith in a backline of Evans, Rojo and Blackett TBH
He is worse than Anderson in any position now. His decline is pretty depressing.
I would have 100x more faith in that back line than in one with Darren Fletcher.
he's been poor but I still take him over Anderson and think he could fit into a back 3 - we lacked someone with experience to organise the defence and to bring the ball out of defence, he could do both of those
Fletcher in the back 3??? What!! He has no pace, can't tackle, has no composure under pressure, trips over the ball and can only pass backwards or sideways! Yes play him at the back FFS !
There's a lot wrong in that post but the bit in bold is deranged.
Pogue, even you have to agree he can't play at the back. It's just a nonsense.
He came back toward the back end of last season and was poor, to be fair he had a great pre season but has been disastrous since and playing him at the back (especially in a back 3) is just not viable in any shape or form.
He was at that point last season too. It's inspirational that he could come back, but he really isn't capable of playing ath the highest level any more. Can't run, can't control half the balls, and he turns like an oil tanker now. He can still pass decently but event hat was inconsistent. he gae away several balls vs Swansea and Burnley.
It was great that he made it back. I think he'll realise soon that he isn't up to it anymore. Definitely don't want him in the back three against QPR. Too timid and can't control a ball. Imagine if he and the Evans from last game are both in there
Darren Fletcher battling to save Manchester United career with Villa, Hull and Stoke on alert
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...attling-save-manchester-4296425#ixzz3DtotVPKZ
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...attling-save-manchester-4296425#ixzz3DtotVPKZ
I think Hull is the best option from those 3.
I wouldn't let him go if if he's still keen to stay. He'll work fine as back-up or cup competitions (we saw how well he moved in pre-season until he played too many games in a row), as well as being a leader in the dressing room.
Cup competitions should be for the kids, not for players about to retire soon. Dont think we need him as backup either tbh.
He deserves to stay at the club as long as he wants, providing he's not first choice until he absolutely has to be. I fear that there is no hope now.. But I still think he deserves everything he gets from the club in terms of minutes.
What do you mean by this? Didnt get it.
As in, the club has stuck by him through his UC battle, so any minutes that they give him start or off the bench are deserved in terms of loyalty to a player they stood by and let try and get back to full productivity. Maybe it doesn't make sense?
We should give him minutes in the hope he becomes productive again out of loyalty to him and because we stuck by him during his illness? Yeah, doesnt make sense to me if that's what you mean.
Cup competitions are usually for guys on the fringe, whatever the age. The fact that Van Gaal named Fletcher as vice captain clearly shows that values and appreciates what he brings, even if it's not as a starter. As for not needing him as back-up, I disagree. I would prefer Fletcher to Fellaini or Anderson, and really right now that's all we have. Of course, if we get Strootman or another high quality central midfielder then it's a different story, but I'll factor that in if it actually happens.
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