Fletcher: I want to stay

Stuart Mathieson

January 16, 2008

Darren Fletcher

DARREN Fletcher has vowed to stay patient and fight for a place at United despite rumblings of an imminent transfer window bid from Birmingham City.

The Reds midfielder hadn't started a Premier League match this campaign until back-to-back matches at Sunderland and West Ham over Christmas.

The bulk of his league appearances have been as a sub. Yet he's been named in Sir Alex Ferguson's XI four times in the Champions League.

Having been nudged aside by the form of summer signing Anderson, he became the centre of speculation linking him to his old Scotland boss Alex McLeish at St Andrews.

But Fletcher insists he's not thinking about jumping ship to the Midlands.

"I never heard anything about Birmingham being interested," he said.

"I am still happy playing for Manchester United. I want to be here for a long time. Looking to the short-term this season, I would like to win a few trophies and, hopefully, going a few steps further than last year.

"I am not thinking of going elsewhere. We will see how things pan out at the end of the season in terms of games played and what you have contributed to the squad.

Focus

"But I am not thinking about that just now. My only focus is on being ready when the manager needs me and being able to perform for United.

"It is frustrating because any player wants to play. It is a long season, you come on as substitute and play your part and you get your odd starts here and there.

"It has been down to the form of the midfield. Paul Scholes got injured, then Anderson came in and has been in great form.

"Fair play to him. The manager stuck by him, which is what he does when you perform well.

"It is frustrating for me but I am here and always ready and waiting and ready to perform at a high level when the manager needs me."

Anderson's arrival for £17m in August from Porto, combined with Owen Hargreaves signing from Bayern Munich and Nani from Sporting Lisbon, has upped the ante in the engine room.

It has put the squeeze on Fletcher but he accepts it is all part and parcel of United's pursuit for trophies.

Last spring, while they won the title, the Treble was lost as their numbers dwindled.

But Fletcher believes United are now better equipped for the challenge. "In terms of numbers and quality, this is a strong squad," he said.

"We have players in a lot of positions, others, like me, who are looking for games. We came close last season in the Champions League. Unfortunately it didn't happen.

"We feel with the acquisitions we have had, with the strength of the squad and the form of the team that we can go further."

Do you think Fletcher has a first-team future at Old Trafford? Have your say.

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Alias Smith, over the moon (16/01/2008 at 09:10)

The boy just needs a few games in the first team to prove his quality...

TMUF, Manchester (16/01/2008 at 09:10)

Decent 5th choice midfielder so unless he wants to leave for first team football, am happy for him to remain a member of the squad

Jonathan Chin, Truly Asia (16/01/2008 at 09:27)

He can hold regular place for Villa, Portsmouth, everton. Would like him to go for his own future.

edinburgh red, edinburgh (16/01/2008 at 09:30)

Basically no, he will always be a squad player, he gives his all but isn't upto the job. Still think we need to strengthen ,all the other top 4 teams have a bigger squad than us and chelsea have just added another forward and a defender we looked at (no shock there), would love for us to get defensive and attacking cover in, if i'm being greedy someone who can score from midfield bar ronny.

Billy S (16/01/2008 at 10:07)

what about giggs,nani and scholes when he comes back. With Veloso looking like he will be signing at the end of the season i can see fletch leaving.

RCH, Salford (16/01/2008 at 10:13)

I'll cancel those balloons, Frank.

tooth&claw, manchester (16/01/2008 at 10:24)

I don't see Veloso signing and I don't think we need or could really cope with another big name midfielder. Fletcher does a job whenever asked, doesn't make waves and is a good preofessional. You need that in the squad and you can't have too many stars who'll throw their toys out of their prams if they are rotated. The only thing I'd say though is I'd like to see Fletcher get a run of games with Carrick because I think that would show that Fletcher is a talented player. His problem is that his seasons are all too stop-start to really get the momentum going.

Gerry, Glastonbury (16/01/2008 at 10:38)

Fletch will never get a regular spot at United and should go for the sake of his career. I don't see a top six side coming in for him though. How can he give his best for Scotland when he's hardly ever playing?

Steve in Brussels (16/01/2008 at 10:50)

Where are BobbyD's comments? They are always good for a laugh on the Fletch debate. I for one think he is a worthy squad member but he would need to make some strides to regularly play in front of Anderson, Scholes or Hargreaves.

Fletch is a bit like Carrick in certain respects - mostly in the sense that he always works hard and does his job, is capable of much more but only shows it occasionally and will give possession away unnecessarily a couple of times a game.

I expect he will stay at United doing a worthy job - like Wes - until he is told he is surplus to requirements. He will then move on to a mid-table team for a modest fee and drive the whole team from midfield. Then the debate will of course wantonly change to why we let such a good player go and for so little.

Jack Thorley Timperley (16/01/2008 at 10:51)

Fletcher needs to give himself a reality check,the reason he has not been picked for United is because he only a run of the mill very average player.He is not Premiership standard so to turn down working under a fellow scot at Birmingham is unbelievable!

seasider, blackpool (16/01/2008 at 11:16)

Let's face it, if you're trying to raise money towards buying, say, a striker or a full back, whether he likes it or not, Fletch is the first name that springs to mind. He'd bring in a few million that could be better invested in other areas of the team.

It's simple economics and I'm afraid that might just be his fate.

Robbo, North Stand (16/01/2008 at 11:55)

Fletch must stay!

Robbo, North Stand (16/01/2008 at 11:55)

Only joking... Fletch out!

Macca, Cornwall (16/01/2008 at 11:56)

make sense to sell him in jan when birminghame will pay over the odds for him, i reckon we could get £5mill for him if we got a similar amount for richardson, who incidently played well the other day. fletch should look at him and Pnev and follow suit...

Mick, Dublin (16/01/2008 at 12:03)

Definitely slipped to 5th choice but, like it or not, the ginger ninja isn't gonna be round much longer, so if Fletch is willing to wait in the wings and work on his game, then good on 'im.

Totally agree with Steve that if we did sell him to a mid-table club, for a few million quid, he would be a big success, his value would sky-rocket and there would be an outcry about Fergie selling a good player for buttons.

It happens again and again. Phil Neville has been brilliant for Everton and there's already been grumblings from one or two punters about letting him go, despite the unanimous disdain his efforts got in his final season at the club.

I see that Richardson got 2 goals in a MOTM performance last weekend. Surely it's only a matter of time until the "Bring Back KR" campaign kicks off?

tooth&claw, manchester (16/01/2008 at 12:10)

Jack Thorley, firstly it's lazy paper talk to link Fletcher with Brum. It goes like this... Scotland manager takes over at Brum and jurnos lazily invent stories of mcLeish buying up all of Scotland's internationals. As Fletcher said, he's heard nothing about it. Second, Fletcher is a very good squad player, who, if given a good run in the side can show his worth. I think it's great and admirable that he wants to stay and help the United cause.

tooth&claw, manchester (16/01/2008 at 12:15)

seasider, no, I'd suggest that Saha, Eagles, Silvestre, Bardsley, Heaton and Pique would be ahead of Fletcher in candidates to be sold. I think he'll only move if he's really not getting enough games to hold down a Scotland place.

Laura Norder, Didsbury (16/01/2008 at 12:21)

As a Scottish national team regular; and an irregular regular at Old Trafford, I think it would be best for Fletch to move on - sadly.

Scotland need him to be playing week in: week out at the highest level possible... and that's not happening while he's with the Reds.

I will be sorry to see him go, though.

Alias Smith, over the moon (16/01/2008 at 12:55)

Mick, it's becoming a long list - players who were the butt of huge levels of criticism for United going to other PL clubs to be one of their best players. You correctly point out PNev and KR - what about Butt & Smith at Newcastle? Virtually ever-present this season and wasn't Smith even captain at the weekend?

And apart from KR, Keano has almost built his Sunderland side around ex-United players.

Balders, Tier 2 Stretford (16/01/2008 at 13:28)

I'll leave the stats side of the argument to bobbyD !

let me state tho', at the start, that i think we all agree it's great to have someone in your SQUAD like DF - 'spaceghost'- (anyone remember him/the cartoon).

Right, as with 'soulglow' (aka Kieran Richardson) they're good footballers in their own right and would be/are stars when away from OT. The pressure/expectation of playing for Utd every week tho' is a different kettle of sardines!

The next George Best had to be a world class player. Many tried, many failed but then, along came Giggsy... another once in a lifetime player - worthy of being mentioned in the same breath!

The traditional number 7 & 11 shirts are etched in Utd folklore (& that's without mentioning the right wing players -eg Ron) so how was KR ever have been expected to make it at Utd. He would & will NEVER meet those expectations.

At WBA or Sunderland on the other hand, 4 or 5 poor passes is acceptable, the whole team does it. The fans are used to it. Then, one fantastic dribble (per game)past three or four men, possibly ending with a goal, elevates them into folklore status as there isn't another player in their team that can do that!

At Utd, not only is that world class play expected throughout the match, but we've been privaleged enough to witness/enjoy it. KR couldn't do it consistently on the big stage !
AND, IMO THAT's THE DIFFERENCE !!

Fletch has a similar issue to overcome but the fact that he can't & prob' never will doesn't make him a bad/poor player either. The bottom line imo is that he'll never be a Robbo/Keano or an Ince (the nearest types of player i can think of to him).

So when/if these players have a good game in the future (against us or not) just remember that doesn't make them good enough to wear the red shirt every week!!

happy days!

Duncan, London (16/01/2008 at 13:31)

Seeing Smith at Newcastle just reminded me why it was such a good idea to sell him. Richardson on the other hand actually scored two quality goals and was within a hairs breadth of a hat trick.

Steve, Glossop (16/01/2008 at 13:40)

You've got to laugh at some of the drivel on here. So the plan is play Fletch at every opportunity particularly with Carrick & he'll be a star hahaha..... The lad is what he is hard working honest etc but that's it ok he's not going to improve alot & if ?4M can be got Alex has got to snatch it.

Iben Wong (16/01/2008 at 13:57)

The usual "when he gets a run of games he will show his worth" drivel from the usual suspects. The fact is there aren't any mid-level or even lower level teams that would ask about him! He's lower on the pecking order and should continue to move in that direction as we acquire, develop and give "runs" to players with potential. DF has had his chance and proved he is just not good enough for this team. If/when he becomes useful then we will be watching this team slide down the table. For me I hope we never see it or him again.

Iben Wong (16/01/2008 at 14:00)

Fergie keeps him because:
a) he's a Scot
b) he really knows how to fold the laundry
c) he's got great potential
What is it?

Mick, Dublin (16/01/2008 at 14:09)

He may well improve a lot, Steve, although that's not guaranteed. But he will DEFINITELY improve a bit.

And if last season proved anything, it proved that Darren Fletcher is ALREADY a valuable squad player who helped us out on numerous occasions, including providing very competent cover at full-back, playing an integral part in beating the dippers and helping to boss midfield in our most impressive Champion's League display since winning the treble.

And he's only gonna get better over the next few years.

Are you seriously suggesting we should sell a player with a CV like that for a few million quid?!?

Cause if you have any idea of a better player we could sign for the same price, then I hope you've been on the blower to our chief scout!

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