It's a guess not worth making, it's not valid at all, because it's a guess. He had one season, and I have always felt that he never became the player he was supposed to be for us. It's sad, because I have never seen a player that has gone trough the things he has.
Darren Fletcher
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
What are you talking about? Speculation isn't worth making because it's a guess? That's just about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Regardless of whether you agree with me or not we're on a forum discussing things like this and it's a perfectly valid guess.
There's propably going to be an official club statement during or before pre-season games about Darren's health.
If he'll miss whole pre-season, it's going to be hard for him to have bigger impact on team's football, next season.
It's extremely hard race with time for him, now.
If he'll miss whole pre-season, it's going to be hard for him to have bigger impact on team's football, next season.
It's extremely hard race with time for him, now.
Speculation is not worth a mention because we know the end of the story.
Fletcher had at least four good seasons for United so to say he had one good season is wrong. He was consistently good from 06/07 onwards through to 09/10. 08/09 is the only season he was not a first team regular as well when we rotated Hargreaves, Anderson, Scholes, etc around Carrick.
So just so I know I'm not allowed to do what ifs because you consider them unworthy.
No, he was still a squad player by 07/08, but was improving and fighting for a spot. In 08/09, he was our best midfielder and that was probably his best season, and he kept that form into 09/10, until he got sick. He got suspended for the final in 08/09 and in 09/10 we had the games against Milan that I remember he was great in. Don't remember exactly when he started being sick, but he made around 40 appearances every season between 08/09 and 10/11.
Think he got sick near the end 10/11 or starts of 11/12. He was quite awful at the start of 11/12 and people were attributing it to something else. Not sure what but it was related to the general malaise about the midfield after the Anderson-Cleverley partnership got broken up.
Possibly effects from an illness that he didn't yet know about?
Fergie mentioned him in his speech and I didn't see him at the game, must be struggling if he didn't feel up to the celebrations. Hopefully he returns soon.
He wished him a speedy recovery but didn't mention where he was atm or when we would see him again.
Well let's just hope he will get fit this year again.
Well let's just hope he will get fit this year again.
Nice touch from Fergie there wishing Darren a speedy recovery.
The way Fergie said it as a return to the club, my feeling remains that it'll be a case of getting healthy enough to be on the coaching staff.
He actually said 'speedy re-comeback to our club'. I'm not sure what a re-comeback is but I'll be watching this space to find out.
So fecking gutted for him.
I'd guess this to be the case as well. I can't see Fletcher playing for us again sadly. He managed to come back for a few games, but then illness dragged him back down so I can't see him putting his body through that all over again.
No quotes from Darren or the club but I am hoping this true.
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher raring to go following successful bowel surgery
Fantastic news. I'm delighted for him.
It's always the new season they're set to be ready for isn't it 
Hargreaves, Anderson and Fletcher...
"Shall we get a midfielder in?"
"Well we have to take XXXXXXXX into consideration"
"Oh, true that, we'll leave it then, that's enough midfielders for us".
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU........
Hargreaves, Anderson and Fletcher...
"Shall we get a midfielder in?"
"Well we have to take XXXXXXXX into consideration"
"Oh, true that, we'll leave it then, that's enough midfielders for us".
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU........
I sincerely hope he get well & is fit enough to play again, but the reality is he's not the answer.
Exactly
It is harsh but if we are being realistic then we have to sign someone effectively in his place. Of course he should come back and try to win his place back but who actually thinks that he is going to be good enough to play a significant role for us?
I 100% hope that he can recover and get back to his best, if he can then I would say he IS the answer. Having Fletcher and Carrick together behind the more creative likes of Kagawa, Welbeck and Van Persie would be a fantastic balance.
I really hope I am wrong, but I cannot imagine him getting back to that standard though.
I really hope I am wrong, but I cannot imagine him getting back to that standard though.
I agree, it's time for him to come and coach at United.
As I've stated before, I had the same condition as Fletcher and also had the surgery he has had.
Without surgery, the condition is dormant but when it 'flares' it massively impacts weight and fitness and vitality.
When I heard he was having surgery, I was more confident of his possible return than I was before he had the surgery.
If the surgery is successful, there is no reason why you cant get back to previous weight and fitness ... the surgery 'cures' the condition.
Would not surprise me at all to see him in the squad for pre-season and we take it from there.
Without surgery, the condition is dormant but when it 'flares' it massively impacts weight and fitness and vitality.
When I heard he was having surgery, I was more confident of his possible return than I was before he had the surgery.
If the surgery is successful, there is no reason why you cant get back to previous weight and fitness ... the surgery 'cures' the condition.
Would not surprise me at all to see him in the squad for pre-season and we take it from there.
Speedy recomeback.
After so long out of the game, it'll come down to so much more than health. Regaining that sharpness and match fitness is difficult enough after a long injury. He'll be looking to regain strength as well. It's going to be difficult for him, but I do hope he gets there. Failing that, I can only imagine the club will always have a door open for him to join the staff. He always struck me as strong character. He made it through alot of criticism to get to where he got in his career, and hopefully he's successfully battled his illness too. A tough and inspiring presence will be good to have.
I'm glad he's recovering, very glad, but he'll likely never be good enough to play for us again, let alone solve our midfield issues.
It's always good to hear your input on the subject, and it's promising that you are optimistic for Fletcher.
Apologies if you've already answered this but am I right in assuming a successful surgical operation actually puts an end to the condition itself? In other words - it won't resurface again (as it might without the surgery)? I see that you put "cures" in citation marks, hence my question.
Yes surgery removes the problem.
Good news, if he can get fit enough to play some league games as Carrick's cover that would be a boost for the squad.
If that's the case, why did it take so long for him to have the surgery? I have no knowledge of this condition so you'll have to excuse my ignorance!
Good to hear. Thanks, man.
As for why he waited to undergo the surgery, I have no idea - but I would imagine it's a major operation and given the nature of the condition (which, as I understand, may be kept in check, as it were, through diets and other means) perhaps he'd rather keep surgery as a last option?
Good news to hear during all this Rooney shit
Well that's the midfield problem sorted for next season. Phew.
(gulp)
(gulp)
Great stuff as always.
He really isn't. Even at his best he shouldn't really be a starter for Man United.
And with Carrick getting on, we need to invest anyway. We need someone who can both complement and ultimately compete with Carrick. Not Darren Fletcher.
Would be great to have him available as a squad player though.
I'd say Fletch could compliment Carrick IF he manages to get back to his BEST. That's a huge IF, though, and clearly too much to ask.
He wouldn't work as a back-up option, though, regardless of form. Not unless he comes back a different sort of player. Fletcher was never a DM/holder.
Best case scenario: He comes back as a squad man and we benefit from his experience and character for a good few seasons. If that happens I'll be very happy indeed. And anything beyond this would be an unprecedented bonus.
Disagree personally. I think Fletcher at his best, particularly with Carrick playing with the confidence he is would be a good partnership for us. As a pairing they were always very solid with the issue being creativity. Carrick has stepped up in that regard, and now with Kagawa we have someone who can give us an extra creative edge from central areas. I think those two would allow Kagawa/Rooney to be more involved in the attack with less need for them to drop in, and allow the likes of Nani to have a reduced defensive burden out wide.
That said whether Fletcher can get back to his best is a different matter and probably unlikely. Hopefully if he can get back playing regularly he can be a good squad option for us, but as I said I think if we had 09 Fletcher with Carrick as he is now it'd be really good. We'd still need to start planning for Carricks replacement, but the combo as it is could have been/be would have suited us well for me.
Essentially what Chester says.
It's a massive surgery .... One requires a vertical 18 inch incision scar from just above the pubic region to the mid region of your chest. The surgery itself is complex and takes hours (mine was over 5 hours), and the surgery itself is not always successful. There is a 5-10% chance you die in surgery ... Though that is dependent on how sick you are going into the surgery. .. My stats were that I had a 40% risk of dying in surgery ... I was that sick! And you need to perform the same operation twice! About 3 months apart.
So basically, if its possible, avoid the surgery as some patients don't get that sick and can live with it (eg Steve Redgrave) but some like me or poor Fletch get so sick, surgery is the best route ... Which also is the 'cure' albeit a very tortuous way to get it!