Ferguson: Fletcher one of our key men

Stuart Mathieson

November 03, 2009

Darren Fletcher (right) in action against Arsenal

BIG game hunter Darren Fletcher will warm up tonight against CSKA Moscow in readiness to snare Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The midfielder has been absent from United's squad since returning from Scotland's jaunt in Japan with an injury.

The 25-year-old has missed five matches since but is booked in for his comeback against the Russians.

It is a timely return for a player who now has a well-earned reputation for being a key Red in the headline showdowns.

"Most people now recognise Darren Fletcher as a big game player," says Sir Alex Ferguson.

"We have been aware of that for quite a while but now he is getting an acceptance from most people that he is a very important player for us.

"I think Darren has been a very good player all the time but you find young players develop a maturity and an experience of playing.

Fletcher confidence

"That is probably the difference you see now. And I think there is also an acceptance by our fans that he is a key player in major games.

"That has been very important to the lad. It gives him a confidence. But the biggest confidence he gets is when we pick him. That has been happening for quite a while now."

Unavailable for selection are Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, who are both suffering from calf problems, and Ryan Giggs.

Ji-sung Park (knee) will be given another two weeks training before being considered again for action.

Dimitar Berbatov, who suffered a kick on his kneecap against Blackburn, is a doubt as the Reds look to seal passage to the knockouts.

Ferdinand and Vidic have been struggling for form of late, highlighted by their struggle at Liverpool, and both will remain doubtful for the trip to Chelsea.

England defender Ferdinand, in particular, has been getting it in the neck for his performances.

But Fergie has no concerns over the 30-year-old.

"We have always had it where one of our star players finds that his little blip he is going to get criticism," said the Reds boss.

"But he will come out of it there is no question about that."

Is Fletcher United's best midfielder now? Have your say.

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Monkey tennis?, yes please (03/11/2009 at 12:28)

Without doubt he's been our best midfielder of late, but whether that is a poor reflection on the rest of our midfield in an entirely other matter. Fletch has got a certain dynamic to his game but lacks a more creative element, that's all that's needed to really set him up as a class act.

Scholes is blowing hot and cold, Carrick is utterly stuck for form, Anderson is anderson, i'm uncertain how to categorise his game any more, Giggs does it in the middle sometimes, but not always and who knows what hargreaves will deliver.

All in all it's far from the best midfield in the world no matter what combination is used.

Uwe the Goat, Brighton (03/11/2009 at 13:57)

I totally agree with Fergie, Fletcher (who I used to think was a joke) has been Utd's best player this season, but that does speak volumes about the lack of quality at Utd this season in spite of your hard fought points tally. Will this team playing this way be enough to stay at the top all season? I have my doubts.

stevi, france (03/11/2009 at 13:58)

well he's been our most consistance midfielder and probably the best of that type currently available but he is never gonna be creative as such, that's not his game nor will it ever be. I think Carrick's game is better suited when there's someone like Fletcher or Hargreaves around. I never feel comfortable when we play both Scholes & Carrick in mid-field as neither can tackle.......Anderson has lost his way and doesn't seem to know where he is supposed to be. Obertan's best position might be as a attacking/ creative midfielder....

Niftyatfifty2, Belfast (03/11/2009 at 14:05)

Could Hargreaves really be the key man? A few weeks ago I thought we were told that he would be ready for action by (was it?) the end of October. Things seem to have gone worryingly quiet on that front. Anyone know anything?

All of our players are key to our future success.

Duncan, London (03/11/2009 at 14:28)

Its been a shame that Fletcher never had a chance to show what he could give to the team in the Champions League final or the last three matches against Liverpool. I agree with your comments Stevi apart from about Anderson. I think Anderson is another player who can benefit with having Fletcher next to him. To his credit he does try and provide the cover Fletcher provides that neither Carrick or Scholes get close to - the trouble is noone has the stamina of Fletcher so he runs out of steam. But he is only 21. No midfielder we have currently had the consistency needed at 21. In fact neither Beckham nor Keane never had it either at that age.

Gilly, Belgium (03/11/2009 at 14:49)

Lets hope H

Gilly, Belgium (03/11/2009 at 14:49)

Lets hope Hargreaves is back sooner rather than later........

sara99, Windsor (03/11/2009 at 15:05)

Hargreaves was always due to be back in November, he is training and I expect he'll get some game time in the next few weeks. Him and Fletcher are our best options in midfield at the moment and Hargreaves is great at taking free kicks. I do rate Anderson and it was nice to see him play a full 90 minutes for a change against Blackburn.

bobbydazzler (03/11/2009 at 15:12)

uwe the goat a
straw poll of match going reds would tell you in no uncertain terms that evra has been our top performer so far this season.

then giggs

and then fletch

and then rooney

many of the others have been bloody average at best

david allen (03/11/2009 at 15:15)

It's a sign of the times when Fletcher's presence is missed. When United were a formidable outfit and had the likes of Keane, Ince and Robson in midfield I'm afraid Fletcher wouldn't get a sniff of first team action.

Lou Macari's Fish and Chippie (03/11/2009 at 15:16)

We could have really done with you at Anfield, you are the best option we have in midfield, hope that you are back for the Chelsea game.

Sparky was the best ever (03/11/2009 at 15:21)

Scary headline. Are we really that weak, that an average midfielder is a key men in a United squad?

nyotakubwa (03/11/2009 at 17:20)

Without doubt Fletcher's tireless running and competitiveness brings a spark to the mid field. Can't wait to have him and Hargreaves both available. Good headache for the manager to have then. I'm curious how a three man mid field of Anderson, Fletcher, Hargreaves with a front three of Giggs, Rooney and Valencia would perform.

Pepe (03/11/2009 at 18:25)

I'm with "sparky" , scary headline. Le't see, Deco , Lampard, Ballack, Essien ,(Makelele), are all ahead of him ., Maybe Fletcher is in the same league as Obi Mikel.

Fletcher has improved 100% this year but not a to World Class player level yet.

Gianni Rossi (03/11/2009 at 18:41)

Let's keep it real, Fletcher is greatly improved agreed, but in his last couple of games before getting injured he was not firing on all cylinders. in fact he was taken off against Sunderland. For me Evra has been our best player this season, yet because people accept his ability, they just forget about his performances and rant and rave about players who are surprising them.

If Darren Fletcher is our best midfielder at the moment, then that proves we have big problems at the club. As I said I know he has improved, but when you talk about top midfielders I automatically think of players like, Gerrard, Lampard, Fabregas, Essien. These players all play for our nearest rivals and it's players of this quality that I would like to see at united.

john murray (03/11/2009 at 19:00)

So glad that Darren is now a big part of United set up. He has become one of the best midfielder players in the PL, I have no doubt that SAF had seen this in him and that is why he continued play him when the vast majority of the old trafford crowd thought he was rubbish. I will never doubt the judgement of SAF he has won us to many cups . So keep it up Darren.

paul salmon (03/11/2009 at 19:13)

Many continue to knock Flethcher, despite the fact that he has been consistently excellent for quite some time now, and is clearly sorely missed when absent.

I agree, he is no Keane or Robson, but then who in the name of God is? We are talking two of the most formidable box to box midfielders of modern times. Two of the very best around right now are Gerrad and Essien, yet neither would I have swapped for Keane or Robson. Also Fletcher pales in comparison to Paul Scholes. Well of course he would, Scholes has been arguably the most completely inventive midfield player from these shores in the past twenty years plus. Only Gasgoine came close to matching the inventive genius of the ginger maestro.

So yes, when comparing Fletcher to the acts he has had to follow at Utd, he would struggle. But he is deserves to be recognised as a class act in his own right.

IMO he would command a place in every premiership midfield with the possible exception of Chelsea. Likewise, across Europe he would not look out of place in any of the top teams. As a dynamic ball winning midfield player he has come into his own. Team him up with any top quaility midfielder, particularly a creative one, and you will have some player.

And I am big enough to admit that I was one of the fools who called for him to be cast as far away from OT as possible just a couple of seasons ago.

Further proof why I, like many, many others, am NOT the manage of MUFC!

Paul, Whalley Range

danny, WILMSLOW (03/11/2009 at 21:52)

Fletcher has some connection with Fergie because he does nothing more than an impression of Park without the credit cards he is no more rthan a squad player and would not even make the bench for the other three top sides.

Solskjaer20Legend, Epsomville (03/11/2009 at 22:17)

Paul salmon
3/11/2009 at 19:13

Great post there!!

bobbydazzler (03/11/2009 at 22:49)

paul saloman i have gone from a fletcher hater into a closet fan. but after his ****ing shit performance tonight was i right all along. seriously though he was fast asleep on their 2nd goal. had the opportunity to volley the winner deep into injury time but passed up on having a pop. he has improved from the depths of mediocrity to being our most important midfield player. that statement alone says everything about the quality of our midfield which has mediocrity running all through it.

tooth&claw, manchester (03/11/2009 at 22:53)

Well, he looked only 60% fit today. I hope that did him good because we need him for the weekend.

charbel (04/11/2009 at 06:11)

To all those belittling Fletcher's quality compared to the Chelsea bunch, here's a reminder:

November 6, 2005
Manchester United v Chelsea 1-0
Scorer: Fletcher

Kiyonori Tada (04/11/2009 at 06:20)

Fletcher has been best midfirld this season sure,but if Hargreaves coming back and get back his performance,then it`s gonna be headache for fergie,but hope Anderson and Hargreaves will be dominate our engine room,I think this pair are only compare like Chelse`s Lampard & Essien,Liverpool`s Gerrard & Mascherano and Arsenal`s Fabregas & even Denilson?? but it will be shame that Fletcher sitting on the bench if Hargreaves coming back his best...

Duncan, London (04/11/2009 at 11:08)

bobbydazzler unless you post from the closet you are anything but a closet fan - you have been fairly open with your praise - but sometimes you need to temper your judgements at least in this case - Fletcher is just back from an injury so he probably is a little rusty with a makeshift back four and an unfamiliar attack so surely you can pull your punches a little for his performance last night.

Scholesy passed me the ball..., England (04/11/2009 at 11:28)

We can't seem to do without Fletch at the moment.

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