Fletch stakes Lyon claim

Stuart Mathieson

February 18, 2008

NET GAIN: Darren Fletcher nods in the fourth against Arsenal

DARREN Fletcher will fly to Lyon sweating whether he will be on French leave after his superb FA Cup display.

In a largely inactive personal campaign, the 24-year-old Scot has started more Champions League matches than domestic games.

The midfielder was named in Sir Alex Ferguson's XI for four out of the six group games.

None was preceded by a performance of the magnitude he produced against Arsenal.

He scored once and a second is in the balance awaiting the decision of the Dubious Goals Committee.

But with Owen Hargreaves, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes all rested against the Gunners, he faces another nailbiting wait to see if he'll be rewarded with only his second back-to-back match action of the season in France on Wednesday.

"It is a squad game and everyone has to be patient," said Darren. "We have a talented squad and a lot of players. Fortunately I was called upon against Arsenal. You have to do your best in every game. It may be a sub appearance or startyou just have to give your best.

Vital

"Fortunately I started Saturday and hopefully I will get a few more towards the end of this season.

"Everyone wants to play. It doesn't matter what level you play at, you want to play football and I am no different.

"But it is vital to keep yourself fit and train hard and when your chances come, you have to take them."

Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledged that Fletcher certainly staked his claim.

The United boss has been anxious to up Fletcher's minutes on the pitch and the fifth round showdown was the perfect stage for the Edinburgh-born midfielder.

"Darren is one of those players who always plays well against Arsenal," said Fergie.

"Sometimes it is horses for course and I think it was Darren's day.

"We decided to play three in the middle of the park to control things, which we did very well.

"Some of the passing was very good and the running off the ball was also very good. It was a great performance by us.

"The FA Cup is special and hopefully we can go all the way."

Should Fergie put Fletcher in against Lyon? Have your say.

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seasider, blackpool (18/02/2008 at 09:12)

Save him for St James's Park.

chris spence, Altrincham (18/02/2008 at 09:14)

After the performance against Arsenal he should definitely play. He was full of running, at both ends of the pitch he was superb as was everyone else. Can't think of one player who didn't run back to help defend. He hasn't figured in many games up to now so his performance at the weekend was all the more impressive. I say there is no reason to take him out, hopefully he'll get another two.

Robbo, North Stand (18/02/2008 at 09:55)

Here's the plan... 1. Keep Fletch locked in a cage at Carrington 2. Don't feed him for a week 3. Unleash him on Arsenal twice a season. He played like a rabid dog on Saturday - well played Fletch! Others doubted you but I always kept the faith! Come on!!!!!!

Demo, Glossop (18/02/2008 at 10:08)

i was definately impressed by fletcher. is it just me or has he picked up abit of speed? maybe robbo, north stand prediction has come true - we have seen the emergance of fletherinho!

not sure if i would play him against lyon altho he did do well against them gooners! thought carrick played well and for me it would be either fletch or carrick to start with anderson. Hargo has to play as this is what he was bought for! oh i dont know

TMUF, Manchester (18/02/2008 at 10:09)

I think it would be very harsh to drop Fletcher, but with the quality we have and the fact Scholes and Hargreaves have been rested.

With Tevez and Ronaldo also rested, I haven't a clue what formation or players to select.

Do we play 3 in the middle?

If so which 3, because they were all brilliant against Arsenal, but Hargreaves and Scholes obviously provide us with quality to.

Ronaldo would play in the 3 but surely Tevez(our second highest goal scorer) should play as well?

Does that mean dropping nani with Tevez and Ronaldo as the players providing width?

This I am sure is the selection headache SAF is glad to have. We have so many options that our bench will be the strongest its EVER been on Wednesday!

Steve, Great Britain (18/02/2008 at 10:10)

I feel sorry for Darren. He is not a top quality player like Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez but to name a few. However he does his very best and on performances like Saturday he should give SAF the odd selection headache. Well done lad

cjh, Portland (18/02/2008 at 10:26)

Doubt he'll start, but I'd like to see him in the squad after his efforts Saturday. I think it's good for our "first-string" to know that the lads on the bench are hungry, ready, and good enough to be able to shine. Pushes you forward but also gives you confidence.

Team looks ready to attack on all three fronts. Can't wait.

Gillian England (18/02/2008 at 10:42)

This is a hard one
Im not a fan of Darrens but hells bells he played like a champion on Saturday and deserves a place !!!
at least to start !!
the others
Anderson and either Scholesy or ummmmm im not sure
Lyon are a very good side , they have Junhinho and Tourlalan both very good !!
and to say nothing of Benzema and Ben arfa
United will have to be on their toes thats for sure
lets hope Rooney and Tevez and Ronaldo are on form !!!
go United !!

Khalad Mahmood, Silet, Bangladesh (18/02/2008 at 10:49)

Steve, Fletcher is in nowhere near the same class as the other players you mention. You must be Scottish? He was brilliant on Saturday, but his other 160 performances have been pathetic. It beggars belief that he can turn in a performance like Saturday. He reminds me of Phil Neville. He had one good game in 10 years, against....you guessed it Arsenal. Maybe this was Fletchers one good game in 10 years, heaven forbid he's at United THAT long.

Savant, Singapore (18/02/2008 at 10:53)

Fletcher gives this squad depth. Even though he pales in consistency and creativy and ... (well, almost every department except hard work), he is a great player to put on when you need to rest some of your players. The best part is that he is willing to be a squad player.

Leave him out for the Lyon game though as I believe the players rested were for this purpose, to keep them fresh. If Fletcher plays and had a bad game, his critics will hang him and he will play probably only in April against Arsenal. : )

edinburgh red, edinburgh (18/02/2008 at 11:01)

To be fair to that display against arsenal I would only change park for ronaldo, we had more pace with giggs and scholes out of the team, or I suppose we could play with tevez and rooney upfront and if we score a few revert back to a 5 man midfield and withdraw a striker, luckily i dont have to make these descisions

roykeane (18/02/2008 at 11:03)

Fletch should play against Lyon. He should have been played against the bitters as well...

Mick, Dublin (18/02/2008 at 11:13)

I've always been of the opinion that, when you've got a squad as deep as ours, if a fringe player comes in and plays a blinder he should keep his place for the next game. And Fletch certainly played a blinder yesterday. I think it would be demotivating to drop someone who's been so patient and gone on to make such a big impression when he's eventually given his chance.

One thing's for sure, I hope that Sunday's performance puts an end to all the snidey comments about Fletch on MEN. I think he would be the first to admit that he didn't have a great season, two years ago when, to be fair, he was trying to fit into a midfield full of the likes of Alan Smith, Djemba-Djemba and Kleberson.

From the beginning of last season, however, he's done very little wrong. Sure he's put in one or two mediocre displays but I defy any of you to name a single player in our squad who hasn't? In general he's been good to excellent and, by saving his best displays for the really big games, the bloke should be a cult hero, rather than a figure of fun! After Liverpool and Roma last season and the humiliation of Arsenal this weekend, I think Fletcher has earned a bit of respect from EVERYONE who regularly posts on this message board.

Really tough team selection for Wednesday. I'm loath to criticise Fergie's transfers but I'm starting to wonder if we really needed to sign Hargreaves? I know he was bought with European football in mind but I can't help thinking we've played better without him this season and I think we've got other midfielders in our squad who can make a much more convincing claim for a start on Wednesday. Based on current form, I would put Hargreaves behind Scholes, Carrick, Anderson AND (oh yes) Darren Fletcher in the midfield pecking order.

RCH, Salford (18/02/2008 at 11:26)

Just fell off my chair laughing Robbo, cheers:) Unless it was a complete fluke of a performance which is not hard to believe with Darren, but like Carrick did we see just the right set up for the players like them on Saturday? Like I've said on another thread I'm one for seeing those so called one's for the Future get a break instead of wasting them in the stands making way for O'Pie's seat on the bench, or letting them sod off to Villareal. Will we see another gut busting performance when Giggs is introduced back for this weeks game or if the CM positions are jiggled around again Hargreaves, or Scholes and Carrick sat deep together, or no Anderson conservative Euro away, etc. etc. Part of our success last season was the fact Fergie knew his best team sure they were knackered towards the end but now I believe we have that little extra this year,(maybe even Louis can show his early form from last season in the closing stages) I just hope Fergie can figure out what his best team is for the up coming games and Saturday's line up was to boost the confidence of the players on the fringe and analyze their performance for consideration and not just a case as many believe, of his obsessive tinkering and resting players in preparation for the Champions League.

outstation, perth, australia (18/02/2008 at 11:35)

Gentleman Jim, the European teams love it when you talk nonsense like that. Please refrain. That style of hard pressing went out in the 60s didn't it ... ie when England last won anything at all.

bobbydazzler (18/02/2008 at 11:35)

Mick dublin as you know I am fletchers number 1 critic but from time to time i have to admit he plays a blinder and thats what he did saturday evening. what the lad needs to do is follow it up with a number of good games. you are stretching credulity by saying he did allright last season when in reality he had 3 good games several mediocre and some downright bloody awful matches. he showed what he can do now he needs to do it a lot more frequently

RCH, Salford (18/02/2008 at 11:42)

Well done Mick, I was with you there untill that last paragraph. How can you moan about people dismissing Fletch and then write off Hargreaves. He's not even completed a season! Darren's been here a while and has hardly impressed on a consistent basis, in fact if he was as outstanding as some make out we would not have needed to buy Hargreaves or Carrick! Steady on Mick it's one game, I agree he deserves a place in this weeks CL game but you use that 7-1 Roma result more times than a Blue shouts about 5-1;) You'll just get the non believer's riled we'll have another Bash-Fletch thread.

Steve, Glossop (18/02/2008 at 12:08)

Yeh he played & ran like a Doberman on Saturday he was great. Trouble is he's capable of turning back to Scooby Doo. If OH is fit he has to play IMO he's less likely to give away free kicks & has the experience. If anything I'd keep Fletch instead of Carrick.

Demo, Glossop (18/02/2008 at 12:26)

i agree that maybe he should keep his place for the reason that he did so well and what message does it send out if you get dropped and people who arent having a good season come in! give fletch credit he has obviously trained hard rather than give up and ask for a transfer! he looked relatively quick on saturday

Duncan, London (18/02/2008 at 12:31)

For me the midfield needs to be treated as a unit. You can't talk about midfielders abilities in isolation you have to talk about how they play as a unit and as a unit Fletcher, Anderson, Carrick and Park played well. I think having three energetic hard tackling midfielders gives Carrick the time to play his natural passing game. Against Arsenal this works well because they have attack minded midfielders who don't close us down as well as more physical teams and rely on a quick moving passing game to get them moving that is suceptible to more energetic tackling midfields.

If we play high up the pitch then we will also get plenty of runs from the midfield into the box which gives Nani the opportunity to find targets with his crosses. Against more defensive minded teams then we might need more guile to penetrate the defences.

One thing I will say about Fletcher as opposed to Hargreaves though - he does get more goals. And he has the height to get on the end of crosses - something Hargreaves lacks. One of the problems we had against City was the distinct lack of targets to aim crosses or long balls at.

Mick, Dublin (18/02/2008 at 12:36)

Fair point, RCH, I'll admit I was stirring with that comment!

I'm only basing my opinion on Hargreaves based on what I've seen on the season so far and it has to be taken into account that he hasn't had a decent run of games, nor has he had a consistent partner in midfield. So the jury's still out and there's lots of reasons why he hasn't excelled just yet.

The one thing that Fletcher doesn't get much credit for (well, one of many!) is the goal threat he provides. His goals per game last season was as good, if not better, than any of our central midfielders. This means that, IMO, he provided the energy and harrying that Hargreaves provides combined with that little bit extra in the final third. On the downside, he's not as quick, nor as strong.

Here's hoping that all these midfield options work in a positive way and keep things fresh as the season goes on. I don;t mind saying that I'm bricking it they'll have the opposite effect and our season will be remembered for the return of the tinker-man!

I NEVER thought I'd say this but I'm starting to see some positives in the very sad day when Scholes and Giggs finally hang up their boots.

moorz, Dublin (18/02/2008 at 12:39)

It's very hard to say, if i was to guess it'd be a similar formation but Fletch, Park, Nani and maybe Anderson will drop out for Hargreaves, Tevez, Ronaldo and Scholes. Harsh on a few but 12 players into 6 positions just doesn't go!!

Mick, Dublin (18/02/2008 at 12:39)

As for Carrick, he has been our best midfielder, by a stretch, ever since the Newcastle game. Yes, better even than Paul Scholes.

Does anyone think it's a coincidence that our two poorest displays in recent weeks came after Carrick got dropped to the bench? Hmmm...

Robbo, North Stand (18/02/2008 at 12:50)

Look, re the first so-called 'goal'. He completely missed it, Gallas headed it in. End of story. No goal for the Fletch.

arthurdawkins (18/02/2008 at 12:54)

THERE YOU LOT OF WON NOWTS!! THIS LOT IS NOTHING LIKE THAT SQUAD THAT BARNES WAS ON ABOUT ?? WHAT A LOAD OF TOSH YOU TALK. IM SURE MOST OF YOU COULD NOT HAVE SEEN EM IN THE FLESH. AND ITS A INSULT TO COMPARE !!! ALL YOUR GAMES HAVE BEEN DIRE EVEN THE LAST ONE ! AND I HAVE ASKED YOU NOWTS BEFORE.WHAT GAMES HAVE YOU PLAYED WELL IN.... HE OLD SEV PLAYS THE SAME WAY HOME AND AWAY.SOMETIMES NEVER HAVING A SHOT IN ANGER PATHETIC IT BE.AND HOW THE HELL YOU STAND IT ? MUST BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE WILDERNESS FOR A LIFETIME... SAME AS MOSES !! OH DEAR AND ANOTHER SUMMER TO BROOD !! NOWT AGAIN IT BE..THAIART.. arthurdawkins 16/02/2008 at 15:35
arthurdawkins
18/02/2008 at 08:17

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