Darren Fletcherai??i??s long awaited return has lifted the gloom surrounding Unitedai??i??s beleaguered midfield but that shouldn’t stop Moyes from buying in the January window.
ai???Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkensai???, Man United, however kept faith in one of their own and Darren Fletcher is back for good. Almost two seasons out with a chronic ailment that threatened to cut short a soaring career, Darren Fletcherai??i??s comeback is perhaps the most heartening aspect of Red Devilsai??i?? turbulent season so far. It surely highlights the class of theclub and how the club didnai??i??t turn its back and stood by the Scotsman during a trying phase not just in his career but his life. At a time when football clubs are increasingly run like business houses, when managers are sacked on the drop of a hat and when club loyalties are threadbare, United as a football club showed remarkable patience and character to stick by their man.
Now, Fletcher is back and the midfielder reckons this time he is back for good. Man United in the last couple of seasons have been woefully short of quality in the middle of the park with Michael Carrick being the lone savior. Darren Fletcher, before falling victim to ulcerative colitis, was on top of his game and was an integral part of the United squad. Especially in big games and European contest United flourished with the solidarity that Fletcherai??i??s presence provided.
The Carrick-Fletcher axis would be pretty competitive against most sides with Fletcherai??i??s incredible engine and box to box abilities complementing Carrickai??i??s talents to hold his position, intercept play and build attack from the back. The pairing did have its flaws though, creativity was at times in short supply and the Old Trafford club would often fail to break teams down through the middle. Nevertheless, it was a combination that served United well.
With Fletcher back in the mix and slowly regaining match fitness it would be interesting to see the role that David Moyes has in mind for him. Also there is a school of thought that United might never get Darren Fletcher the box to box midfield dynamo back. There is a possibility that Fletcher would need to fine tune his game as his body may not endure the all-action Fletcher circa 08-11. With that in mind and with his brief appearances so far for the under-21s and United first team, it might very well be the case that Fletcher would play the role of a holding midfielder. Now Fletcherai??i??s definitely got the attributes and the intelligence to succeed in that role and create a niche but only time will tell if he can mold his game appropriately. Fletcher would turn 30 in couple of months and is hence no spring chicken.
Michael Carrick when fit is Unitedai??i??s first choice central midfielder, the Englishman is the quintessential deep lying playmaker and Fletcher would be a good understudy to him. But Fletcherai??i??s perceived changed role could perhaps eliminate the chances of the pair operating in tandem. Nevertheless, in the big European games the duo could yet work their charm as the added steel and big game experience would surely come in handy.
Fletcherai??i??s return is more than welcome and has been applauded by United fans with great fervor. However, the return in no ways negates the need of a quality addition to Unitedai??i??s midfield options. Creativity from the middle of the park continues to remain the issue and Fletcher will all his qualities isnai??i??t necessarily going to satisfy those needs.
January window is round the corner and though there might not be many first choice options available there are certainly a few that would instantly walk into the first eleven and improve it tenfold. To spend in the winter or wait till the summer will be the million dollar question, literally. United in the past have acquired rare gems like Vidic and Evra in the January window and there is value to be had.
Darren Fletcherai??i??s long awaited return has lifted the gloom surrounding Unitedai??i??s beleaguered midfield and with Carrickai??i??s return also around the corner, Man Unitedai??i??s options look a shade healthier. The famous clichAi?? associated with a returning long term absentee is that the player would be like a new signing thereby reducing splurge on fresh faces, United fans would be hoping that this wonai??i??t be the case and Fletcherai??i??s comeback would not be the only welcome news this festive season. Fletcherai??i??s like the cherry on the icing on the cake, hopefully the actual icing and the cake would follow suit.
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