Personally I think he's played himself into the team for next week. The only issue is that he might struggle to last the 90, so we'd need a midfielder on the bench which, given our injuries, would likely mean leaving Cleverly out and playing Rooney off of Welbeck.
Darren Fletcher | 2013/14 Performances
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Personally I think he's played himself into the team for next week. The only issue is that he might struggle to last the 90, so we'd need a midfielder on the bench which, given our injuries, would likely mean leaving Cleverly out and playing Rooney off of Welbeck.
Andershow?
He looks to be well out of favour at present, if the league cup is anything to go by.
We'll get 3 excellent seasons out of him now.
Just great to see him back and being able to play a full 90 minutes for us. He might need a while to get back to his best but I actually believe he can do it if he stays fit for the rest of the season.
Still only 29 and a player that hasn't got many miles on the clock, at this point he is our first choice midfield partner to Carrick and there's a massive drop-off after that. Just the fact that he can receive the ball, control it and pass it to a team-mate puts him leagues ahead of the competition.
Completely agree. At least we keep the ball when he is playing.
I agree with the sentiments about making him the next captain.
Totally. The pair of them today, although a flawed combo in ideal terms was the best looking pairing we've had.
And to think he only ever got a game because he was Scottish.
Did anyone feel like he had a great understanding with Kagawa ahead of him in the 2nd half? They linked up so well and kept us ticking a lot better.
His passing is just what we need: accurate, direct to the feet to the man ahead
His passing is just what we need: accurate, direct to the feet to the man ahead
He's surely got to start against Chelsea. Got a good amount of time to recover and even if the team has struggled each of his performances since he's been back have been towards the better end of our midfeld showings this season, and some of them arguably the best. Plus if there's one thing he's shown since he came back it's that he's still very much willing to take on responsibility which is what you need against the better teams.
I enjoyed seeing how much Carrick obviously appreciated having a real, experienced midfielder alongside him.
That sort of experience is invaluable.
That sort of experience is invaluable.
Yeah I'd play him, but it would be a huge step up from today. All those times in the first half he insisted on spinning around in a circle with the ball for example, while the Swansea players politely backed off him. Cleverley is far too panicky at the moment though. I would leave him out I think.
I think Fletcher has what Fellaini has lacked in a United shirt so far. In that he knows he's not an attacking player, but wont shirk away from playing an incisive ball or quick ball in behind if he sees the pass is on. We've had no one from midfield doing that all season, even last season it was coming literally only from Carrick.
He plays like he remembers we're Manchester United.
A shot in the arm getting him back. Like the US Cavalry in the old cowboy movies - out of ammunition, Injuns everywhere, the bugle sounds in the distance, and Fletcher rides to the rescue on his white horse.
A shot in the arm getting him back. Like the US Cavalry in the old cowboy movies - out of ammunition, Injuns everywhere, the bugle sounds in the distance, and Fletcher rides to the rescue on his white horse.
Great game from him today... Fantastic to see he's getting fitter all the time..
Oh yeah definitely, it's ridiculous how much Carrick has had to do everything on his own for such a long time now. I've said it a few times but I don't think it's really appreciated than in his time here he has only really had for a couple of seasons a partner who could share the full burden in the middle with him. Scholes towards the end needed more and more help defensively forcing them deeper, Giggs/jones/clev/ando all have positional issues, it's only been Fletch and Hargreaves who've been both technically and physically good enough to do their share of the work.
Scholes, Keane etc were great individual players but they were certainly helped by the fact that they had top partners as well. Carrick has had his own problems that have hindered his performance but he's certainly also been hindered by the fact he's rarely have a proper partner as well.
It's not a case of settling with Fellaini I don't think, more a mental barrier he needs to overcome before we can really see if he's good enough. He sees a pass but he's not willing to try and play it. The same pass he would have played and I've seen him routinely play in an Everton shirt.
Excellent post-match interview.
Always comes across well in interviews, does Fletch. Love him to bits.
He seems to have a great appreciation of the game too, far more interesting interview then most you'd get from a British footballer. I'd be very surprised if he didn't go into management.
In a way I think his time out actually helped him a bit. He's a real student of the game and I remember when it first became clear that he was going to be out of a period of time, Fergie said he had started to study video footage of his game and really learn his weaknesses and also tactics in general. He obviously went in to take his coaching badges which again must have increased his tactical awareness.
He's nailed on to be a manager when he hangs up his boots though. I wonder what odds you could get for him to manage Scotland one day.
I had assumed that his career was finished but it's so great to see him back. If he can stay healthy (well relatively) for the rest of the season and build up his fitness, it'll be *ahem* like signing a new player for next year. Either way, it's great that he's playing again.
Yep.
Above all what Fletcher's giving us that most others in the team aren't is a bit of positivity. A bit like Januzaj I guess. They both came into this season just desperate to get on the pitch for United and show what they can do and by focussing on that they're almost oblivious to the negativity and pressure within the club at the moment.
Has there ever been a former player to manage us with some success?
One thing I've come to associate with United is the self belief to prove the doubters wrong. Fletcher epitomises that spirit in the same way he represents so many of our qualities when he plays. I'm proud of him and of the club for sticking with him.
Have to admit I was wrong about him, in that I didn't really expect him to be healthy enough to make it back to the first team. Very encouraging - I would like to see how he would partner Jones in midfield.
He's inspirational. I can't get over how well he played today considering the length of time he's spent out of the game.
Rooney future captain??? Eh yeah feck off!!
This guy is an incredible man and is Manchester United through and through! He's also an inspiration to every person around!
fecking unreal seeing him play again
This guy is an incredible man and is Manchester United through and through! He's also an inspiration to every person around!
fecking unreal seeing him play again
Really good performance in the 2nd half. Like in the Hull match, he kept things simple and gave us a lift. Glad that he is back. And that back heel
Fantastic interview that was. Very very interesting compared to the rest of the interviews we see.
Someone should gif his back heel, was brilliant. He simply has to play next weekend. Fully fit or not, these last few games he's been better then anything we've seen this season in the middle, I'd play Carrick next to him as well and hope he picks up some form. Cleverley can stay on the bench for all I care, he's had about 2 good performances all season despite being first choice.
Thought he was excellent for the second half yesterday. It was heartening to see his refusal to pass it out wide at first chance but rather play it forward centrally.
He did not over complicate things and always showed up as an option specially for Kagawa to keep both the player and ball moving until the right moment. We've been missing that outlet consistently from central midfielders this season. Otherwise we would have defaulted to passing to the free wide men or dallying on the ball till losing it.
It was also good to see him feinting pass out wide but passing it forward centrally, opposite of what we are used to for few seasons now. He is currently earning his place in the team and it's not because of sentiments.
He did not over complicate things and always showed up as an option specially for Kagawa to keep both the player and ball moving until the right moment. We've been missing that outlet consistently from central midfielders this season. Otherwise we would have defaulted to passing to the free wide men or dallying on the ball till losing it.
It was also good to see him feinting pass out wide but passing it forward centrally, opposite of what we are used to for few seasons now. He is currently earning his place in the team and it's not because of sentiments.
Least Cleverley can sit on the bench and relax now
Just watched the game, very happy with Fletcher yet again. A real credit to him how he has come back.
A guy who knows how to play the United midfield role. Hope Cleverley is watching.
People were saying the same about him, lest we forget.
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