"I can't understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher," Roy Keane said in that interview with MUTV, which ultimately saw him leave Old Trafford. I had to agree with him. It was 2005 and Fletcher was getting in our squad far too often. I'd complain about it, but then, we didn't actually have [. Click to continue reading...

Blackburn away is one of the highlights of the fixture list for United fans, with a massive 8,000 tickets being given to our fans. Every year a letter accompanies these tickets, warning us if we stand throughout the match as we did the season before, our allocation will be cut. They've yet to live up [. Click to continue reading...

Former England international Paul Scholes and Scottish midfielder Darren Fletcher have signed extensions to their current contracts. Scholes will stay at Old Trafford till 2010, while Fletcher has committed himself to the club till 2012. Salford born Scholes, 33, has been at Manchester United for all his life. Click to continue reading...

This evenings Champions League tie between Manchester United and AaB Aalborg has certain Scottish connections: Alex Ferguson, Bruce Rioch and Darren Fletcher. While reading up about the game, Inside Left noticed that both Darren Fletcher and Bruce Rioch are (and where) Scotland internationals, yet neither has ever played for a Scottish team. Click to continue reading...

Following in the footsteps of last season's emphatic success was never going to be easy, nor was it ever guaranteed. However, those of a Manchester United disposition could be forgiven for perhaps expecting a little more in the opening games of the new season. This season's early uncertainty culminated in last weekend's frustrating loss to Liverpool, a result which subsequently puts even greater emphasis on the trip to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but just why haven't things gone quite to plan for the European Champions on the pitch so far this season? Click to continue reading...

Manchester United have today been rocked by the news that midfielder Michael Carrick will be out for up to six weeks. The England international picked up the injury during the side's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday and now Sir Alex Ferguson will be without him for the foreseeable future.

The 27-year old broke a bone in his foot following a collision with Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun and was seen on the touchline at Anfield with crutches during the second-half. Click to continue reading...

I had the good fortune of rediscovering the infamous German song about Lukas Podolski last night. And then again this morning in the shower. And on the treadmill. And every goddamn 5 minutes inside my head since then. It reminded me of all the awesome and utterly horrendous songs about footballers we've been afforded over [. Click to continue reading...

İngilizler liglerini Premier Lig (EPL) yapalıberi ülke futbol takımlarına sınıf atlattılar. Stadyumlar iyileşti, futbolun ticari yönü ön plana çıktı, ligin pazarlandığı rakamlar inanılmaz yükseldi, takımların transfer bütçeleri arttı, yıldızlar geldi vs vs. Gerçekten endüstriyel futbolun başat aktörlerinden biri oldu EPL. Click to continue reading...

Something to read while you hide from Storsjöodjuret the Swedish Sea Monster... Who's leaving MLS next? (WVHooligan) No Team GB in 20120, but maybe a Team Scotland (Leaders We Deserve) French reaction to Champions League draw (Forums Offside) Is this Darren Fletcher's year? (Soccer Training Info) Sheva's return, in photos (Serie A Talk) Optimistic in Amsterdam (Ajax Offside) China puts a totalitarian [. Click to continue reading...

Is this the year of Darren Fletcher at Manchester United? Click to continue reading...

If the opening day of the season went pretty much to form, the book was ripped up and thrown out of the window in the season's second weekend. Having habitually failed to get their due reward on trips to Fratton Park, Manchester United took three deserved points from Portsmouth with Darren Fletcher's thirty-second minute strike. Click to continue reading...

Picture from the Independent via Getty Images.

2 games, 0 points. No goals scored and five goals allowed.

What those numbers don't tell you are the two opponents in question. At Stamford Bridge against Chelsea and then host to Manchester United.

When Portsmouth saw their early season schedule, they had to be a little concerned.

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After two matches, there are only two clubs in the Premiership with 100% records: Chelsea and Liverpool. Chelsea did not match their dominant display of week 1, a 4-0 thrashing of Portsmouth, but thanks to a brilliant free kick from Deco, the Blues continued their winning ways with a 1-0 win over a scrappy Wigan side.

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Manchester United beat Portmsouth 1-0 with Darren Fletcher scoring his second goal in as many games....three points in the kitty for Fergie

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I'm a freak aren't I? I am. Those bells are ringing in my ears, constantly. I forgot how long it first took me to tune them out -- Defoe said he's still getting used to it. Unbelievable. At least Vidic seems a little intimidated by me. God knows they laughed when I fought them off at Anfield. So bitter those Mancs. Click to continue reading...

There is always apprehension ahead of travelling to Fratton Park due to their recent good history against us. When looking at the players we had available to us, the worries increased. No Ryan Giggs, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Park Ji-Sung, Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves, with Anderson supposedly exhausted after 6 games in 18 matches in China. Click to continue reading...

There is no denying it - Darren Fletcher is not a Manchester United caliber player. It amazes fans around the globe how the Scottish captain remains at the club after so many years of mediocre performances. United's first two matches of the season are evidence as to how Darren Fletcher has kept his name amongst [. Click to continue reading...

Who messed up in their opening match? 1. Manchester United We are sure Fraizer Campbell will become a very good player in his own right, but he is not ready to lead the line for the champions of Europe. Man Yoo did not look comfortable against Newcastle, and you don't want to be relying on Darren Fletcher to score your goals all season. Click to continue reading...

Who messed up in their opening match? 1. Manchester United We are sure Fraizer Campbell will become a very good player in his own right, but he is not ready to lead the line for the champions of Europe. Man Yoo did not look comfortable against Newcastle, and you don't want to be relying on Darren Fletcher to score your goals all season. Click to continue reading...

Soccerword's Premiership Team of the Week - 01

Goalkeeper: Shay Given, Newcastle

Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea), Vedran Corlucka (Man City), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn), David Wheater (Middlesbrough)

Midfielders: Mikel Arteta (Everton), Deco (Chelsea), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Samir Nasri (Arsenal)

Strikers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Dean Ashton (West Ham)

Honorable Mention: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Dunn (Blackburn), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Julian Faubert (West Ham), Darren Fletcher (Man United), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle), Fernando Torres (Liverpool)

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The Community Shield was decided with a penalty shoot out yesterday, following a one-sided match in United's favour, that unfortunately saw all our best chances falling to Darren Fletcher. So, for the third time in a year, United took part in and won a penalty shoot out. England, take note, this is how it's done! Click to continue reading...

After a dull and uninspiring Charity Shield match in which Manchester United and Portsmouth drew 0-0 after 90 minutes, the game was finally put out of its misery with a penalty shoot-out, with United winning 3-1. Man United dominated parts of the game but were unable to break through, with Darren Fletcher guilty of missing their [. Click to continue reading...

United welcomed club captain Gary Neville back into the first team for the Community Shield curtain raiser on Sunday, it was a fairly comfortable afternoon for Neville & Co in the Reds back four with Portsmouth's new strike force of Crouch and Defoe failing to hit the high notes on what was a pretty forgettable day for Pompey and their fans. Click to continue reading...

So then, after weeks of speculation Ronaldo has confirmed that he's staying, the boo-boys among United's support are now faced with the dilemma of what to do when Ronaldo scores his next goal for the club. Do they cheer, do nothing and act as if nothing has happened?

To be honest, I couldn't care less, because if these so called fans cannot appreciate that Ronaldo was always going to want to play for Madrid given where he comes from then there's no hope really. Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

The 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough was arguably one of the most embarrassing moments United have endured over the last ten years or so. We got absolutely battered that day at the Riverside and certainly didn't deserve the consolation goal Cristiano Ronaldo scored at the death. The following day, there was talk in the tabloids of a [. Click to continue reading...

Roy Keane has reportedly had a £4m offer for Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher rejected by the Premier League champions. The Black Cats boss may return with a £5m bid but it isn't believed that Sir Alex Ferguson wants to... Click to continue reading...

Darren Fletcher certainly splits the vote where United fans are concerned, with some trusting Sir Alex Ferguson's judgement on the player, whilst others are insistent he is not good enough for Manchester United. Now facing competition with Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick and Anderson for the central midfield roles, all of whom come above him [. Click to continue reading...

In a somewhat emotional return to Aberdeen for Sir Alex Ferguson, 25 years after winning the UEFA Cup Winners Cup against Real Madrid, United finished 2-0 winners. Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney were the goalscorers, in a game which featured first teamers Gary Neville, John O'Shea Wes Brown, Nemanja Vidic, Michel Silestre, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, [. Click to continue reading...

The funniest story I've heard of recently relates to the comedy store over at Eastlands and the ongoing saga of City's owner Thaksin "Frank" Shinawattra and "PastryGate" as the case has become known. Apparently three of Frank's lawyers have been sent to jail for trying to bribe three high court judges over the City owner's impending trial, the judges were given a cake-tin stuffed with £30,000 and told to "enjoy the contents". Click to continue reading...

... and pigs flying? Too many questions. So little time. Well there is plenty of time but, you see, I have to run off on an errand or two after this so I'll get right into this straight away without much waffling. There have been stories that Darren Fletcher has caught David Moyes' fancy. I think [.. Click to continue reading...

Darren Fletcher has a big-time dilemma on his hands (and no, it's not whether or not he should enter the Rick Schroeder Look-a-Like contest). Everton have targeted the Scottish national as one of their summer transfer priorities. The conventional wisdom is that a move to Everton would afford Fletcher more playing opportunities. Click to continue reading...

Everton boss David Moyes is set to once again fall back on his tried and tested transfer tactic, bidding for a Man Utd player. This summer the lucky Old Trafford star to be in David Moyes' cross hairs is none other than fellow Scot Darren Fletcher, and ... Click to continue reading...

I'm back to give you the latest transfer headlines from around Europe, and there's a lot to discuss in today‘s roundup, from Liverpool to Lyon. Everton are set to make a four million pound bid for Manchester United's Darren Fletcher in the coming days. Rumor Rating: 3 - Fletcher may not want to move from a [. Click to continue reading...

The Daily Mail, an exuberant - if unreliable - transfer barometer, reckons that David Moyes is set to try his luck at nabbing Darren Fletcher and taking him to Goodison Park. With Everton's midfield looking very low on numbers indeed, Darren Fletcher would be a good addition, and with Tim Howard and [. Click to continue reading...