Fletcher has been really poor this season

[samabachan]

I haven't really seen it said much at all, but I think he's been one of the main reasons why we've been so poor in midfield against the weaker teams this season. His use of the ball seems to have regressed unbelievably from the heights of the last 2 years, and it's costing us at the moment when we are relying so heavily on him.

I am struggling to remember a single good pass or use of the ball today other than in our defensive third, constantly either playing a pass to the opposition, dwelling on the ball too much like he used to when he was 20/21 or when he finds the man the pass has the wrong weight or it's behind him, and he has to check to receive it. It really costs us momentum on counter attacks when the winger has to wait half a second to get the ball under control because the pass is behind him.

The worry is it's hard to see what other options we have, apart from starting Gibson in games like today which Fergie seems reluctant to do.


Summary: Darren Fletcher woke up one day during the summer and found he had inexplicably turned into Fabrice Muamba.

 

[askabob]

I was surprised that Carrick went off for Hernandez instead of Fletcher considering the latter's slump in form as of late. With Carrick's return to form (atleast defensively) I would have thought a midfield duo of Scholes and Carrick for the remainder of the game against Wigan would be enough.

 

[Orton]

Carrick was alot worse than Fletcher today.

 

[SharkyMcShark]

Carrick was losing the ball something chronic today.

Fletcher wasn't doing that much better than him but of the two Carrick was giving it away more.

 

[Boss]

he has been ok overall, not the Fletcher we know but many other players are not performing to their potential, I hope it all clicks at once, really poor is pushing it

 

[samabachan]

Carrick was alot worse than Fletcher today.

Totally disagree. While he was hardly Fernando Redondo in his pomp, at least he generally maintained possession and showed for the defenders.

 

[SATA]

He's played lots of games this season already. Needs a little break for the busy Christmas and New Year period. Where's Anderson anyway?

 

[wr8_utd]

He's not been extremely bad but some of his passing has been downright shocking this year. I'll honestly be shocked if we don't sign a centre mid next summer.

 

[askabob]

Carrick was losing the ball something chronic today.

Fletcher wasn't doing that much better than him but of the two Carrick was giving it away more.

Carrick made relatively few bad passes and was caught in possession once or twice but unlike Fletcher he wasn't regularly passing the ball to the wrong team.

 

[Ole's_toe_poke]

I think this season this guy has gone to manage Bolton

And this guy is playing for us

 

[M160RA]

Fletch gave away the ball in our half at least three times, which could've been costly. I thought Carrick was much better. Fletch hasn't looked sharp this season - and he seems to overestimate his own pace and strength.

 

[TonyMontana]

No fecking way.

He has played almost every match for us, has to carry the midfield by himself because injuries and bad form by Carrick, does good enough to win the match and be top of the league alongside Chelsea and yet we say he's been "poor this season"

I can not belive it.

 

[Laphroaig]

No doubt that he has been hugely disappointing this season, and that has been part of our troubles so far. Oh well, hopefully he is just waiting for the big games to turn it on. Hopefully.

 

[RedSky]

Fletchers just starting to find some form. He's been awful from August - October. But this month he seems to be on the up. Thought he played well in midfield today, won the ball alot and kept it simple retaining possession. Our wingers didn't carry much threat until Wigan went down to 9 men that was the problem today.

 

[Plechazunga]

Carrick was unbelievably weak today. He's such a fecking pussy, and so unathletic. And I'm someone who likes him.

Fletcher was good. If you're looking for him to unlock a defence... which United unfortunately all too often are... you'll be disappointed. But he put himself about and used the ball well in general.

Paul Scholes is amazing

 

[samabachan]

No fecking way.

He has played almost every match for us, has to carry the midfield by himself because injuries and bad form by Carrick, does good enough to win the match and be top of the league alongside Chelsea and yet we say he's been "poor this season"

I can not belive it.

We've struggled in midfield in almost every single game this season, particularly away. We're still doing well because of our attack, defence and Nani.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Fletcher's not really got going this season but it can't be easy playing with a different partner every week.

The OP is a bit melodramatic tbh.

 

[AttackingFlair]

Fletcher has been poor, I agree.

 

[JezChan]

Someone really needs to get up to him and tell him to man up and put his foot through the ball. Too often the little flick or sidefoot pass under physical pressure has resulted in possession being lost cheaply. He's certainly capable of a lot more and probably needs to be shown a video of his top form and his recent form.

 

[askabob]

No fecking way.

He has played almost every match for us, has to carry the midfield by himself because injuries and bad form by Carrick, does good enough to win the match and be top of the league alongside Chelsea and yet we say he's been "poor this season"

I can not belive it.

Except it's been Scholes in midfield that's been carrying us this season.

 

[Boss]

He's not been extremely bad but some of his passing has been downright shocking this year. I'll honestly be shocked if we don't sign a centre mid next summer.

Has it really?

I haven't really noticed, Anderson's passing is downright shocking, Fletcher, no, not at all

 

[samabachan]

No doubt that he has been hugely disappointing this season, and that has been part of our troubles so far. Oh well, hopefully he is just waiting for the big games to turn it on. Hopefully.

I'd still be starting him in big games for sure, because that ball-winning ability is vital against the big teams, but you need to be able to use the ball decently against the lesser teams and Fletcher's poor use of it is really costing us so far this season.

 

[Kelvin]

Apart from Scholes, our cm is really shite......

 

[Red Dreams]

Fletcher was poor but Carrick was worse. That was the reason we struggled to beat a 9 man Wigan.

 

[askabob]

Carrick was unbelievably weak today. He's such a fecking pussy, and so unathletic. And I'm someone who likes him.

Fletcher was good. If you're looking for him to unlock a defence... which United unfortunately all too often are... you'll be disappointed. But he put himself about and used the ball well in general.

Paul Scholes is amazing

He lost the ball cheaply once or twice but to be fair to him he stuck in and won some tackles as well, especially one against N'Zogbia (?) that was awesome.

 

[M160RA]

Except it's been Scholes in midfield that's been carrying us this season.

It's ridiculous how much better we look with Scholes on the pitch.

 

[finneh]

He has had a very poor start, he's lucky that Carrick is next to him making his poor performances look average in comparison.

 

[samabachan]

Fletcher's not really got going this season but it can't be easy playing with a different partner every week.

The OP is a bit melodramatic tbh.

When Fletcher was getting panned from all sides I was one of his staunchest defenders round here, buit he's been really disappointing this season, especially when you bear in mind how good he was in the last couple of seasons. I guess I just expect more of him now than I used to.

 

[askabob]

Fletcher was poor but Carrick was worse. That was the reason we struggled to beat a 9 man Wigan.

We never struggled to beat them, we only struggled to get into top gear.

Our lack of a cutting edge in the final third meant that we could only score 1 in 30 minutes against a 9-man Wigan. That being said, Rooney just came back after a month out and will probably take a game or two to find his finishing boots.

 

[Plechazunga]

This poor use of the ball stuff is just rubbish. Compared to Scholes or Xavi, yes. But Fletcher gets it, makes an intelligent decision, and executes it well.

It can be frustrating when he's in an advanced position cos he rarely does anything really unexpected or creative. But that's not his job, and it's not his fault that it's falling to him to provide an attacking impetus. His distribution is good.

 

[Ferguson]

Scholes hasn't looked himself either for periods this season which makes me think it has less to do with Fletcher or Carrick and more to do with the runs off the ball not being made.

Rooney and Valencia have been absent, and Park wasn't himself early on. When Wes and O'Shea were in the team United lacked fullbacks getting forward. Scholes missed some passes to Obertan today which may have been as much Obertan not running into the space in anticipation as Scholes being off target.

I would argue it is less Fletcher, and more the makeup of the team which is the problem.

 

[askabob]

He has had a very poor start, he's lucky that Carrick is next to him making his poor performances look average in comparison.

What are you talking about, for the last month and a half, Carrick has been easily better than Fletcher.

 

[R.N7]

I think he needs to be dropped for a game, would like to see Scholes and Carrick get one game together.

People saying Carrick had a worse game today.

 

[TonyMontana]

Scholes hasn't looked himself either for periods this season which makes me think it has less to do with Fletcher or Carrick and more to do with the runs off the ball not being made.

Rooney and Valencia have been absent, and Park wasn't himself early on. When Wes and O'Shea were in the team United lacked fullbacks getting forward. Scholes missed some passes to Obertan today which may have been as much Obertan not running into the space in anticipation as Scholes being off target.

I would argue it is less Fletcher, and more the makeup of the team which is the problem.

Finally someone with a little bit of logic, thank you.

 

[Plechazunga]

Scholes hasn't looked himself either for periods this season which makes me think it has less to do with Fletcher or Carrick and more to do with the runs off the ball not being made.

Rooney and Valencia have been absent, and Park wasn't himself early on. When Wes and O'Shea were in the team United lacked fullbacks getting forward. Scholes missed some passes to Obertan today which may have been as much Obertan not running into the space in anticipation as Scholes being off target.

I would argue it is less Fletcher, and more the makeup of the team which is the problem.

Definitely, without Rooney our movement is awful. Hernandez has his moments but they're not on his wavelength yet.

 

[samabachan]

This poor use of the ball stuff is just rubbish. Compared to Scholes or Xavi, yes. But Fletcher gets it, makes an intelligent decision, and executes it well.

It can be frustrating when he's in an advanced position cos he rarely does anything really unexpected or creative. But that's not his job, and it's not his fault that it's falling to him to provide an attacking impetus. His distribution is good.

He really didn't today though, literally 80% of his possession was poorly executed or outright wasted today, at least in the middle and attacking thirds. That's how it seemed anyway. And nobody is asking him to be Xavi or Iniesta, just to keep moves going because that is his job as a centre mid. I've seen Muamba use the ball better than that for fecks sake.

 

[Allforone]

How many times have a Fletcher/Carrick midfield pair actually worked well?

 

[Cantona07]

What really annoys me is the fact that he is careless with possesion. Constantly he gives the ball away. His work rate is without a doubt very good.

 

[Sojiro]

Carrick was unbelievably weak today. He's such a fecking pussy, and so unathletic. And I'm someone who likes him.

Fletcher was good. If you're looking for him to unlock a defence... which United unfortunately all too often are... you'll be disappointed. But he put himself about and used the ball well in general.

Paul Scholes is amazing

good post, he maybe hasnt reached the heights of last season but I wouldnt call it poor.

We are just missing that creativity that unlocks people when scholes isnt playing. Carrick, well not quite sure whats going on with him tbh

 

[finneh]

What are you talking about, for the last month and a half, Carrick has been easily better than Fletcher.

Strongly disagree. Both their distribution has been awful and their passing has been equally as poor, the only difference is that Fletcher gets around the pitch and puts way more pressure on the opposition than Carrick. If we didn't have a poor/injured central midfield Carrick wouldn't be anywhere near our best XI, Fletcher would still be in it.