Fleck - good game today on return

[raul]

John Fleck has, like many of his peers ( Sir Billy / Didz/ Bash etc) given so much to this club that the inevitable slide down the other side of the slope should be ignored.


On a free from Coventry....

 

[Houston_Blade]

His left foot gave us balance, certainly needs games for fitness but he was solid and unspectacular today.

 

[Roygbiv]

If you watch him off the ball he's much better when defending than Doyle or McAtee. I think he will be really valuable in the tougher games we have left

 

[Bergen Blade]

Probably not the only one who was concerned when saw Flecks name on starting lineup and thought we would have another disappearing act alongside Berge.

However thought Fleck was really up for it, wanted the ball and didn't try to hide, was pleasantly surprised.

Even Berge was more involved too than previous games.

In fact I would say Norwood was slightly below Fleck and Berge today, but overall a proper midfield outing today.

Agree Fleck did well. If the clearly offside Ndiaye had not gone for the ball in the first half, Fleck may have been clean through. It showed he was very alert and very willing to contribute on and off the ball.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

He was really good, best performance from him for a good while.

 

[Houston_Blade]

If you watch him off the ball he's much better when defending than Doyle or McAtee. I think he will be really valuable in the tougher games we have left

He was obviously told not to press high today, he worked along a line about 10 yards higher than Norwood. Berge was the same.

We allowed them onto us until the final 3rd then we engaged. Interesting tactic with them having some tricky players who can hurt you in the final 3rd but we managed their attacking output well most of the game.

 

[Stretch]

I was saying a few games back in the shoutbox, that him coming back could be just the solid midfielder that we need to help get us over the line, and I got pelters.

I haven't been proven totally right yet just on today's performance, but if he puts in a few more like this, it could be a huge boost.

 

[robbiez666]

He was ok today but clearly still lacking fitness. The thing about Fleck that when he plays ok we're a lot more solid. He's pretty reliable on solid form.

 

[Silkblade]

He was really good, best performance from him for a good while.

for a good while, must be a long time ago since his

He was ok today but clearly still lacking fitness. The thing about Fleck that when he plays ok we're a lot more solid. He's pretty reliable on solid form.

consistency is key, the more game time he gets the more fitness he will build up. Time will hopefully come

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Definitely wouldn’t be calling Fleck MOTM but he added a bit more bite to the midfield & is a welcome addition to the run in , also thought when Doyle came on for him it gave us that big more drive . Both played there part

 

[Roygbiv]

He was obviously told not to press high today, he worked along a line about 10 yards higher than Norwood. Berge was the same.

We allowed them onto us until the final 3rd then we engaged. Interesting tactic with them having some tricky players who can hurt you in the final 3rd but we managed their attacking output well most of the game.

Totally agree but I'm not sure Doyle or McAtee would have had the same discipline

 

[Iceybabey]

I agree. I was at the game and I thought he was poor. I'm sure the "he's just back from injury brigade" will pipe up but I think people have short memories as before he got injured he was very poor and there were comments that he was finished like Stevens.

Few times Lowe had got in acres of space on the left and Fleck instead of laying it off straight away dithered and when he actually decided to play the pass it went straight to Watford. We had no attacks of worth down the left. Yet on the right Anel, Bogle, and dare I say it Berge were a better combo. Even Ndiaye and McB it was all down the right.

On the 2nd half we started better but it wasnt till Fleck and Lowe were subbed that we started to pressure them. We were attacking on both sides then and thought Ozzy was great.

An unpopular opinion but just my opinion how I saw it at the match.

Saw it pretty much the same mate.

Them moments when Fleck dithers, he would have glided past a player or two back in the days.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Totally agree but I'm not sure Doyle or McAtee would have had the same discipline

Doyle didn’t when he came on, he was chasing them down like a bit of a headless chicken. It’s fine to do that as long as a forward drops in.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I was saying a few games back in the shoutbox, that him coming back could be just the solid midfielder that we need to help get us over the line, and I got pelters.

I haven't been proven totally right yet just on today's performance, but if he puts in a few more like this, it could be a huge boost.

That’s the problem for me. He’ll never be fit enough to string a few together, I hope I’m wrong though.

 

[mattbianco1]

Fleck > Osborn.

Doyle?? Nor so sure. But a decent come back.

Give him minutes and he'll come good.

I do prefer left footers on left and right on right, so if he can come good

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Nice to see the shape and movement that makes him so reckonisable - turn and run at them.
Well done Flecky, welcome back.

 

[PaulHalfway]

Had a decent game today, good to see him back, good solid performance

 

[Charlieblade]

I need to eat some humble pie. I’ve been a bit hard on him recently, but he shows the quality and experience we will need against Spurs, and next month in the league. Good to have him back.

 

[JayGreen17]

Got stuck into tackles, created a chance or to. Good to have him back and had a good game. Looked more like the Fleck we used to see. Let’s hope he keeps improving and that his injury problems stop. Another body in midfield for us is fantastic.

Two

 

[KeithEdsgoalWards]

Still my current favourite blades player.
No way would we have got 3 points today without his tracking and defensive contributions.
Solid and invaluable player for the run in.

 

[jono_t2000]

That ball squared to Anel on the edge of the box which went just over was class.

How many of our other players would have just hit an aimless cross into the box hoping someone got their head on it.

None of the Watford players were expecting it, they were all getting ready for the cross.

 

[XH536]

Flecky has been there and done it, he knows what it takes to win promotions, his know how will be invaluable for the run in.

Experience, that's what it is, helps even when not up to speed and it's a squad game these days, so more the merrier.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

A 7/10 Flecky improves our midfield by orders of magnitude. We’ve been complaining about our midfielders, despite being individually talented, being collectively below par. Fleck brings a bit of steel, guts, experience and no shortage of ability into our spine. Great to have an all-time Blades great, back.

 

[Blade56]

Unlike Berge Fleck isn’t scared to put a foot into a tackle to break up their midfield.

 

[Tony Currie]

As mentioned already adds steel (prepared to tackle) and nouse to the midfield. Really pleased he is back, he was getting some criticism before being out with injury but he was clearly playing with an injury, good to see Hecky protecting him now. Brilliant substitutions from Hecky today - Lowe was getting skinned and a liability.

 

[Antonb]

theres no doubt fleck made a difference to the midfield today. We were a lot more solid . He brought a bit of steel and composure in there

 

[bonobo]

Fleck has been so off his best for a longtime, that I think we can assume it will not be coming back. He has lost that drive to go past players and bravery in tight spaces. But he is still an experienced, technically competent footballer who reads the game well. He may do less on the ball.than Doyle or McAtee, but.when he is fit, we look better balanced and he manages to knit together that weaker left handside. I don't see that we should retain him next season even in the championship, whatever his form. But he will be valuable in his run in. He had a very good game yesterday, he control of the ball and vision to set up Ahmedhodzic, reminds you what he can do at his best

 

[Selly]

That’s the problem for me. He’ll never be fit enough to string a few together, I hope I’m wrong though.

He's a very very good extra body.

Considering our next 6 games are

Wednesday - Spurs
Saturday - Blackburn
Tuesday - Reading
Saturday - Luton
Wednesday - Sunderland
Saturday - WBA

Then into the international break, having people available even for 1 in every 2 games is a bonus.

 

[Wards]

Really nice to have him back. Not shown much in the last 2 years but felt he brought some much needed balance. Once or twice he was the furthest man forward and we don't often see that from any of our midfielders. He also brings a bit of added bite. Hope he can keep it up.

 

[RecordBreakers]

Got stuck into tackles, created a chance or to. Good to have him back and had a good game. Looked more like the Fleck we used to see. Let’s hope he keeps improving and that his injury problems stop. Another body in midfield for us is fantastic.

Was good yesterday he gave us that steel in the middle that allowed us to push berge and ndaiye further forward which improves us no end. The fleck of old? No where near but good he was