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Post by felonious on Sept 11, 2017 17:30:54 GMT
I hold my hands up. I was definitely anti-Fletcher when we first moved for him. An ageing centre midfielder (to add to the others) just didn't feel like what we needed. Wow. Just how much has he proved me wrong? His pass for our first goal was nothing short of sensational and he has just been controlling the games. He looks a far better player than at West Brom and I think that comes down to our way of playing, which is far more to his abilities than West Brom's. Hope he can keep this up for at least another few years. He's never been the quickest player.... all about intelligence and players like that can play till they're 38+ (see Pirlo etc) I went to the West Brom away game a couple of years back and he ran the show, simply the best player on the pitch while we hoofed it up to Crouch.
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Post by metalhead on Sept 11, 2017 17:35:08 GMT
I hold my hands up. I was definitely anti-Fletcher when we first moved for him. An ageing centre midfielder (to add to the others) just didn't feel like what we needed. Wow. Just how much has he proved me wrong? His pass for our first goal was nothing short of sensational and he has just been controlling the games. He looks a far better player than at West Brom and I think that comes down to our way of playing, which is far more to his abilities than West Brom's. Hope he can keep this up for at least another few years. He's never been the quickest player.... all about intelligence and players like that can play till they're 38+ (see Pirlo etc) I went to the West Brom away game a couple of years back and he ran the show, simply the best player on the pitch while we hoofed it up to Crouch. that the one we lost 1-0 with Bera looking hopeless?
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Post by felonious on Sept 11, 2017 17:38:48 GMT
I went to the West Brom away game a couple of years back and he ran the show, simply the best player on the pitch while we hoofed it up to Crouch. that the one we lost 1-0 with Bera looking hopeless? That's the one but I can't remember Berahino being that bad. I just remember Fletcher being the standout playing and, I'm whispering this so no one can hear, West Brom being the team that were playing with the ball on the floor
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Post by penkvillepotter on Sept 11, 2017 18:51:30 GMT
Think he's saved hughes job tbh Maybe Hughes had a part in saving his own job by getting in like Flint to bring Fletcher here.
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Post by thegift on Sept 11, 2017 19:41:39 GMT
The guy plays 2 yard passes backwards for 90 minutes. Stole a living. So fucking what? Go and dredge up an old whelan thread if you feel that strongly about him. I don't feel strongly about him at all, I'm stating a fact he's absolute garbage. Fletcher makes a mockery of him.
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Post by AlbertTatlock on Sept 11, 2017 20:09:27 GMT
Even when Ryan is fit, was very vocal and passionate superb leading organising motivating and talking to the ref on Saturday and IMO should continue to wear the captains armband. Gouranga.
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Post by GeneralFaye on Sept 11, 2017 20:10:15 GMT
Shit bin for you.
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Post by JetBlack on Sept 11, 2017 20:11:13 GMT
Yes.
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Post by Gifton on Sept 11, 2017 20:12:18 GMT
He doesn't need to wear the armband to give out orders...
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Post by GeneralFaye on Sept 11, 2017 20:14:11 GMT
He doesn't need to wear the armband to give out orders... Exactly. A football team should have more than one leader and we're lucky that we've found another one in Fletcher. What would removing the captaincy do to Ryan? No one knows but I'm sure he's proud as anything to be our captain and it should remain that way.
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Post by walrus on Sept 11, 2017 20:15:02 GMT
I think if we were choosing a brand new captain between the two then Fletcher may well be the better candidate.
But we're not.
You can't just go taking the captaincy off a bloke who's been at the club ten years and played hundreds of games for Stoke and giving it to someone who's played four.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 11, 2017 20:50:32 GMT
He doesn't need to wear the armband to give out orders... Exactly. A football team should have more than one leader and we're lucky that we've found another one in Fletcher. What would removing the captaincy do to Ryan? No one knows but I'm sure he's proud as anything to be our captain and it should remain that way. Ryan is ace at the flipping of the coin. Rarely concedes the Boothen first half.
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Post by thischarmingmanc on Sept 12, 2017 0:08:03 GMT
So fucking what? Go and dredge up an old whelan thread if you feel that strongly about him. I don't feel strongly about him at all, I'm stating a fact he's absolute garbage. Fletcher makes a mockery of him. Your not stating a fact its an opinion, its a shit one and it goes to show your pretty much a twat
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Post by StatesideStokie on Sept 12, 2017 0:23:06 GMT
So fucking what? Go and dredge up an old whelan thread if you feel that strongly about him. I don't feel strongly about him at all, I'm stating a fact he's absolute garbage. Fletcher makes a mockery of him. Garbage? Give it a rest. He was arguably our most consistent player for about four or five seasons. Fletcher is certainly an upgrade with more to his game, but Whelan was far from garbage.
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Post by trickydicky73 on Sept 12, 2017 0:30:03 GMT
Fletcher is one of several payers we have who are suited by our wingback system. It means that he can stay central which reduces his workload and enables him to find time and space to hit those long passes. Under our previous defensive formation, Whelan had to cover the whole line and was often seen helping out the fullbacks. I bet he'd struggle in the current formation, too. No coincidence we look miles better than last season for his departure. I won't go as far as one poster, but Whelan was very limited. Good value and gritty, but limited. Fletcher is a proper midfielder. Does a bit of everything, pretty well.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Sept 12, 2017 0:46:42 GMT
Fletcher is one of several payers we have who are suited by our wingback system. It means that he can stay central which reduces his workload and enables him to find time and space to hit those long passes. Under our previous defensive formation, Whelan had to cover the whole line and was often seen helping out the fullbacks. I bet he'd struggle in the current formation, too. No coincidence we look miles better than last season for his departure. I won't go as far as one poster, but Whelan was very limited. Good value and gritty, but limited. Fletcher is a proper midfielder. Does a bit of everything, pretty well. He's about as close to an N'Zonzi replacement as we could hope to find, without having to shell out mega-millions. Not quite as elegant as the Frenchman, but shares many of the same qualities and seems to a decent bloke and great leader.....two things that Fonzi was not. It's just a shame he's not a few years younger because he looks like everything you want to build a team around in the middle of the park.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 12, 2017 0:49:05 GMT
Fletcher is one of several payers we have who are suited by our wingback system. It means that he can stay central which reduces his workload and enables him to find time and space to hit those long passes. Under our previous defensive formation, Whelan had to cover the whole line and was often seen helping out the fullbacks. I bet he'd struggle in the current formation, too. No coincidence we look miles better than last season for his departure. I won't go as far as one poster, but Whelan was very limited. Good value and gritty, but limited. Fletcher is a proper midfielder. Does a bit of everything, pretty well. Less of a need for a 'protective shield' with a proper back three. Limiting.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 12, 2017 0:55:14 GMT
I bet he'd struggle in the current formation, too. No coincidence we look miles better than last season for his departure. I won't go as far as one poster, but Whelan was very limited. Good value and gritty, but limited. Fletcher is a proper midfielder. Does a bit of everything, pretty well. He's about as close to an N'Zonzi replacement as we could hope to find, without having to shell out mega-millions. Not quite as elegant as the Frenchman, but shares many of the same qualities and seems to a decent bloke and great leader.....two things that Fonzi was not. It's just a shame he's not a few years younger because he looks like everything you want to build a team around in the middle of the park. That's something to ponder. I see him as a younger more dynamic Charlie Adam. Distribution, leader, etc. But that's probably equally weird given his age etc. I think we agree we can enjoy him for a couple of seasons, ample time to find the 'right' replacement. Get the feeling he'll hang around for a while. He fucking loved it on saturday didn't he?
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Post by trickydicky73 on Sept 12, 2017 0:55:30 GMT
I bet he'd struggle in the current formation, too. No coincidence we look miles better than last season for his departure. I won't go as far as one poster, but Whelan was very limited. Good value and gritty, but limited. Fletcher is a proper midfielder. Does a bit of everything, pretty well. He's about as close to an N'Zonzi replacement as we could hope to find, without having to shell out mega-millions. Not quite as elegant as the Frenchman, but shares many of the same qualities and seems to a decent bloke and great leader.....two things that Fonzi was not. It's just a shame he's not a few years younger because he looks like everything you want to build a team around in the middle of the park. He's exactly what we needed. It's like when Clough and Taylor signed Dave McKay; a really shrewd move from left field. Cheees was right earlier, even when he gets caught out, it's because he's trying to make something happen. Cracking player, sure to be a fan favourite.
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Post by StatesideStokie on Sept 12, 2017 2:29:44 GMT
He's about as close to an N'Zonzi replacement as we could hope to find, without having to shell out mega-millions. Not quite as elegant as the Frenchman, but shares many of the same qualities and seems to a decent bloke and great leader.....two things that Fonzi was not. It's just a shame he's not a few years younger because he looks like everything you want to build a team around in the middle of the park. That's something to ponder. I see him as a younger more dynamic Charlie Adam. Distribution, leader, etc. But that's probably equally weird given his age etc. I think we agree we can enjoy him for a couple of seasons, ample time to find the 'right' replacement. Get the feeling he'll hang around for a while. He fucking loved it on saturday didn't he? He certainly did, Cheesy. Looks like he relishes going up against the big boys, maybe feels his still has something to prove.It was infectious, and that can only be a good thing for some of the other lads around him.
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Post by malisastokie on Sept 12, 2017 3:05:00 GMT
Fletcher is not only a good player in his own right but he brings the best out in the players around him.
He spoke when he first joined about managing games, when to sit ,when to push the go button.
I thought if he does have those qualities he will compliment Hughes because he is very week in that area.
Hughes let's games drift and the it's to late to make a substitution becsuse we have conceded, in Fletcher we have an on field general whilst he obviously won't make substations he will change things on the field.
A real leader
I think he will continue to those around him on the field shine and have the added benefit of making our manager look good as well.
I think he will make a great manager once his playing days are over.
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Post by elystokie on Sept 12, 2017 7:59:19 GMT
I think if we were choosing a brand new captain between the two then Fletcher may well be the better candidate. But we're not. You can't just go taking the captaincy off a bloke who's been at the club ten years and played hundreds of games for Stoke and giving it to someone who's played four. I'm sure back in the day there used to be such a thing as 'vice-captain', I'm sure cos I was one for our Ladsandads team. Our Captain (centre half) was kind of the figurehead and organised the defence whilst I was the mouthy twat in midfield who never shut up
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Post by biglad180 on Sept 12, 2017 12:05:02 GMT
I have to admit ive never really rated him . but I hold my hands up just shows how wrong you can be
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Sept 12, 2017 14:58:57 GMT
I always rated him at Man U before his illness and was delighted for him that he recovered form after what must have been a horrible couple of years out of the game. When TP signed him, I was gutted that Hughes didn't use his Man U connections to try to bring him here. Still, better late than never, I'm delighted he'll probably see out his career with us. I wonder what's the full story behind his not accepting a new contract at the Baggies? They had a good season - which would have been even better if the players hadn't gone on their holibobs a month early. I wonder if Fletcher, as captain, was pissed off with some of his team mates who clearly didn't give a toss about winning games after the start of April? Did he burn a few bridges by telling some of his team mates what he thought of their lack of character?
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 12, 2017 15:08:57 GMT
I always rated him at Man U before his illness and was delighted for him that he recovered form after what must have been a horrible couple of years out of the game. When TP signed him, I was gutted that Hughes didn't use his Man U connections to try to bring him here. Still, better late than never, I'm delighted he'll probably see out his career with us. I wonder what's the full story behind his not accepting a new contract at the Baggies? They had a good season - which would have been even better if the players hadn't gone on their holibobs a month early. I wonder if Fletcher, as captain, was pissed off with some of his team mates who clearly didn't give a toss about winning games after the end of April? Did he burn a few bridges by telling some of his team mates what he thought of their lack of character? I could certainly see that happening, isn't there also something about being relieved at being released from the cage and the treadmill. Maybe sees something in the more scientific/periodisation approach here, perhaps a tendency not to run players into the ground etc that appeals. His illness must have been debilitating and demoralising, massive massive character to get back out doing it at the top. Hit the ground running.
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Post by pez75 on Sept 12, 2017 15:09:37 GMT
He doesn't need to wear the armband to give out orders... Exactly. A football team should have more than one leader and we're lucky that we've found another one in Fletcher. What would removing the captaincy do to Ryan? No one knows but I'm sure he's proud as anything to be our captain and it should remain that way. The club captain is the first name on the team sheet - not sure if Ryan will have that luxury this season...
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Sept 12, 2017 15:12:40 GMT
Exactly. A football team should have more than one leader and we're lucky that we've found another one in Fletcher. What would removing the captaincy do to Ryan? No one knows but I'm sure he's proud as anything to be our captain and it should remain that way. The club captain is the first name on the team sheet - not sure if Ryan will have that luxury this season... Tell that to Manchester United's captain...
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Post by Kjones9 on Sept 12, 2017 15:27:07 GMT
Old, shit, free...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 15:33:59 GMT
I'm glad he proved me wrong.
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