Darren f*cking Fletcher

[Feed Me]

Who cares. He is ours for life!!

I do. I think it makes for a pretty interesting debate actually. I'm always interested to note that people say that Essien, for instance, is without a doubt a world class midfield. The modern embodiment of Roy Keane apparently.

Whereas with Fletcher, such a comparison is laughed at. It's as though people just can't bring themselves to say it. But when you ask for a reason why, the response is usually something along the lines of, "just because." Compelling reasoning.

 

[golden_blunder]

Some day our fans will wake up Feed Me

Sometimes what you have under your nose is hard to see

 

[Rory 7]

Fletcher has matured into a fine player. I think he is our most important midfielder since Keane. And I don't say things like that lightly...

 

[Name Changed]

His he excellent and he is only getting better. Top quality player and a real leader on the pitch.

 

[Plechazunga]

The most telling thing is how keen the top players are to give him the ball these days. Players like Keane, Ronaldo, Rooney and Ferdinand used to look for another option unless they were under a lot of pressure. Now they know he'll use it well.

He could still us it quicker, as could Carrick. That's my only real gripe now. You can see the difference when Scholes gets it. But then, he's Paul Scholes...

 

[hungrywing]

Some day our fans will wake up Feed Me

Sometimes what you have under your nose is hard to see

It is darkest under the lamp.

- Old Asian Proverb

 

[Eriku]

The most telling thing is how keen the top players are to give him the ball these days. Players like Keane, Ronaldo, Rooney and Ferdinand used to look for another option unless they were under a lot of pressure. Now they know he'll use it well.

He could still us it quicker, as could Carrick. That's my only real gripe now. You can see the difference when Scholes gets it. But then, he's Paul Scholes...

Good to be mindful of what you're actually saying when you compare someone's first touch and economy on the ball to Scholes' abilities. And I believe Fletcher'll continue his development. The past two seasons he's just started showing finesse on the ball, which I've reckoned we would see more and more of from 05 onward.

 

[Plechazunga]

Yeah he's very comfortable in possession now. The most striking thing of all is how successfully he's worked on his pace. He's not fast, but he doesn't seem particularly slow either now.

I didn't really think that was possible... twitch fibres?

 

[Eriku]

Yeah he's very comfortable in possession now. The most striking thing of all is how successfully he's worked on his pace. He's not fast, but he doesn't seem particularly slow either now.

I didn't really think that was possible... twitch fibres?

You mean pace on the ball? That'd be due to being more decisive and more confident in his ability to run with the ball. If you mean in general then I'm not sure I've noticed the same deal. He may be an African love-child like Giggs... let's keep twitch fibres in mind.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Yeah he's very comfortable in possession now. The most striking thing of all is how successfully he's worked on his pace. He's not fast, but he doesn't seem particularly slow either now.

I didn't really think that was possible... twitch fibres?

Apparently he's put on 12kg of muscle in the last couple of years. Increasing upper body strength can add a yard or two of pace to a big long dork like Fletch.

 

[Plechazunga]

You mean pace on the ball? That'd be due to being more decisive and more confident in his ability to run with the ball. If you mean in general then I'm not sure I've noticed the same deal. He may be an African love-child like Giggs... let's keep twitch fibres in mind.

I'm pretty sure that's racist.

Apparently he's put on 12kg of muscle in the last couple of years. Increasing upper body strength can add a yard or two of pace to a big long dork like Fletch.

How?

 

[Pogue Mahone]

How?

Dunno. Ask a sprinter. Something to do with "tekkers" no doubt.

It's true though.

 

[Eriku]

I'm pretty sure that's racist.

I'm pretty sure it's ok if I do it lovingly... which I did.

I considered adding to it, but I think I'll stop there in case I do overstep the mark.

 

[Tumbling-Dice]

He's always been as fit as a butcher's dog, even in his 'wiry' days he looked a hard bastard. What he's become now is a very good footballer due to improvements in his touch and passing. As Pogue said, he's bulked up a bit recently, but he's always been an athelete.

 

[surf]

The question I have is: do we now have the best midfield in the league? It has outplayed Arsenal and Liverpool recently. We'll see how they go against Chelsea, who are missing Essien badly.

 

[prateik]

apparently getting a new contract
~80k
will be deserved

 

[lysglimt]

The question I have is: do we now have the best midfield in the league? It has outplayed Arsenal and Liverpool recently. We'll see how they go against Chelsea, who are missing Essien badly.

Best ? No - the best balanced ? Yes

Realistically our central midfield lacks pace - but since we have Rooney, Valencia and Nani - that covers the problem. Ferguson has found a formula that works brilliantly - with 3 men in midfield - he can use Scholes' passing and composure. With 2 men in midfield - Scholes is too slow against the best teams and we are often overrun

Not best - but best balanced

 

[Justin]

How?

He said in an interview he started going to training early to do gym work with weights.

 

[Gio]

Apparently he's put on 12kg of muscle in the last couple of years. Increasing upper body strength can add a yard or two of pace to a big long dork like Fletch.

Aye the stronger you are the more force you can apply. And the upper-body is important too, as the build of any top-level sprinter will illustrate.

 

[Name Changed]

The question I have is: do we now have the best midfield in the league? It has outplayed Arsenal and Liverpool recently. We'll see how they go against Chelsea, who are missing Essien badly.

I'd back our first midfield to outplay any other midfield in the league.

 

[Anderson Searl]

I'd back our first midfield to outplay any other midfield in the league.

A midfield 3 of Fletcher-Carrick-Scholes is more than capable of topping most midfields.

It's a shame we never got to see that in Rome, but there's a betting chance we might have that on display in May.

 

[RedRonaldo]

A midfield 3 of Fletcher-Carrick-Scholes is more than capable of topping most midfields.

It's a shame we never got to see that in Rome, but there's a betting chance we might have that on display in May.

For me its either Fletcher-Scholes-Park or Fletcher-Carrick-Park

 

[Anderson Searl]

Well if we're talking 4-3-3 then yes, I kind of agree.

But if history repeats itself and Fergie goes with what is hot, we play the 4-2-3-1, Park is in a CAM position.

The thing I love about Park is you can play a assertive 4-5-1, an aggressive 4-3-3 (Wide), a well positioned 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and he could play any of the positions bolded as well as anyone.

 

[mariachi-19]

Thought he was fan fecking tastic in the last half of the game. What is it about big games that brings the best out in dazza.

 

[RedThaiDevils#7]

Thought he was fan fecking tastic in the last half of the game. What is it about big games that brings the best out in dazza.

Its his stamina and engine that has always impressed me, you don't see many MF's running the whole game and accelerating in the 90th minute to defend.

It just makes him shine and his determination will always make the crowd impressed.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Was far more influential than Yaya Toure and pissed all over Gareth Barry.

How much did they cost again?

 

[jamesblonde]

I noticed he had a new tactical role yesterday where he ran past our midfield and received a lot of ball with his back to goal.
This tactic works to his main strength of being able to quickly turn and play passes with the outside of his foot.
When city tried to press us, he was often the outlet for defence who broke through city's first line of pressing. Interesting development. We have a coaching system, IMHO, that is good at spotting players strengths and adapting their roles in the team to maximise those strengths.

 

[Escobar]

One of the players who were carrying an injury / being ill. And although not being as energetic as he usually is and his first touch let him down, he did fairly well. Our midfield trio was far better than theirs, thats for sure.

 

[RedSky]

Still has a while to go to reach last years form imo. But was one of his better performances this season, interesting to see him being pushed further up the pitch.

 

[Fiskey]

Thought he was absolutely brilliant, truly in awe of how good he was. He was always our most advanced midfielder yet there was a time when Rafa was caught upfield and you look back and its Fletch covering at right back. Just an absolute beast of a player, would not swap him for anyone in the world.

 

[kouroux]

He's improved so much in terms of linking up and off the ball movement.

 

[cj_sparky]

He's a legend!!!

 

[Anduin]

One of the best midfielders in Europe right now, usually very consistent (though he had a bit of a dip in form up until a few games this season)... if you're the first name on the teamsheet in a Manchester United midfield you must be good. Quite good actually.
If only he could add a few more goals to his game, around 10 a season would be a brilliant return.

 

[Eriku]

I noticed he had a new tactical role yesterday where he ran past our midfield and received a lot of ball with his back to goal.
This tactic works to his main strength of being able to quickly turn and play passes with the outside of his foot.
When city tried to press us, he was often the outlet for defence who broke through city's first line of pressing. Interesting development. We have a coaching system, IMHO, that is good at spotting players strengths and adapting their roles in the team to maximise those strengths.

He really is one of our better players when it comes to decision-making and turning into space... At one point he got a ball which bounced on the first touch, and he feigned that he was going to take it down before accelerating and taking it with him... Reminded me of a certain Zidane move against Juventus, though he didn't quite embroider his moves like Zizou used to ;P

I used to credit Rooney for having an incredible ability to do the same, to get it right in crowded situations and turn in a way that left the defenders in the middle of no-where... hope we get to see more of that from him as well.

Thought he was absolutely brilliant, truly in awe of how good he was. He was always our most advanced midfielder yet there was a time when Rafa was caught upfield and you look back and its Fletch covering at right back. Just an absolute beast of a player, would not swap him for anyone in the world.

Agreed... One of our best resources. If he continues to develop his long passing game then we may see him become truly world class, beyond reasonable doubt.

 

[gbgary]

He's a legend!!!

dang it! twins too.

 

[Lynk]

We need him back.

 

[Carl]

I'm not sure how he would have improved that performance.

 

[FreakyJim]

Do we? He won't bring us creativity or goals. We look better with Giggs in the middle than with him.

 

[Lynk]

Do we? He won't bring us creativity or goals. We look better with Giggs in the middle than with him.

We need him for the legs and workrate he provides. Giggs was average tonight and looked tired.

 

[TheReligion]

It is getting beyond daft this virus thing. What the feck is it, AIDS?

On a more serious note, we could do with him back as tonight we had to shoehorn Ryan Giggs, who was playing poorly, into the centre midfield role as Anderson was struggling.