[jamboscotty]

worth a thread rather than a bump


http://www.dailyreco...86908-23429446/

IN A basement lounge on West George Street in Glasgow's city centre there is an explosion. One of unadulterated joy.

If you stood in the right place, you would hear it echo from every doorway of every boozer in every corner of every town and city in the country.

The ripples of Darren Fletcher's goal against the Czech Republic, circling out from its Hampden epicentre.

The difference in this one, though, is that front and centre of the celebrations is Steven Fletcher.

Grinning from ear to ear at a Scotland goal, revelling in it with his mates. Like every other fan. Only he's not like every other fan. He's a 24-year-old Premiership striker at the peak of his powers. He's the guy who should be ON the screen, not the guy staring at it.

Fast forward 10 days and we're in a storage cupboard in the entrance to Wolves' Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground. Literally.

It's more like the venue for a beatdown than an interview. Bare bulb, stark metal shelves piled high with power drinks, kit bags, cases of water, reams of paper. Two chairs.

And an elephant in the room. Because that's what the subject has become. A drama. A soap opera revisiting the same script every time the national squad is announced by Craig Levein.

The question of why one of our most gifted players is missing every time.

A question running all the way back to his withdrawal from a friendly with Northern Ireland in February.

And as Fletcher recounts the story of his weekend back home with his mates, it's clear that deep down, he knows he wants to be a part of it again. He doesn't have horns growing out of his head. He's not a pariah, a turncoat. He's not in the huff. He doesn't wear the air of an outcast, a rebel. He's just ... just stuck, really.

That's the way it comes across. Like a kid on a roundabout who knows he has to jump but doesn't really know if he wants to. He's been told all that separates him from selection is one phone call, one text message even, saying he's available.

But to him, that's an admission that he did something wrong in the first place, something he doesn't seem ready to accept. So either way, he's damned in his own mind if he does, and damned by others if he doesn't. Catch 22.

He said: "I understand why people feel frustrated at me. I'd be the same if it was another player. If it was Darren Fletcher, say, and I was still in the squad.

"Everyone wants to play for the country, and I DO want to play for Scotland but I feel like it's out of my hands. People say it's in my hands but I don't believe it is.

"All my mates are the same. They go to games and send me picture messages, trying to be smart. But they all want me to play. So do I, believe me.

"We all went to the Golf Lounge in Glasgow to watch the game, I watched it as a fan and I was cheering when we scored. Why wouldn't I be? I want us to do well."

The debate is whether he should be contributing to that rather than talking about it as a third party.

For Levein's part, he has long insisted that all Fletcher has to do is make contact and say he's available. If he does, he'll be in. No questions, no recriminations.

And he doesn't see that as a problem.

Fletcher's a popular boy among his peers - his return isn't going to rock the boat the manager has fought so hard to steady. Sounds simple. One call.

But softly-spoken Fletch sighs: "There's no point bringing it all back up again because it didn't help me then and it probably won't now.

"I've read him saying I have to make myself available for selection again but I feel I never made myself unavailable.

"Will I make the call? I just feel as though I'd be made to look like an absolute knob, know what I mean?

"And even that doesn't bother me all that much because I want to go and play for my country but it just makes it look one way when it was another. I don't want people saying I turned my back on my country because I didn't.

"I just laugh it off, a lot of the comments, because some of it's ridiculous, but when it comes from players you've played with it can get a bit frustrating."

Fletcher still has sounding boards in the squad though, not least of whom is club-mate Christophe Berra.

He said: "I see him leave for international breaks and there's maybe a feeling we should be walking out the door together. I sit next to him in the dressing room so I always hear about it.

"But apart from Christophe, I haven't really spoken to anyone about it. Well, that's not true. Broony's always texting me about it - but I think he just wants his room-mate back. He's missing me!

"He's missing someone to phone room service at night for him!"

There's little doubt Fletcher would be a huge asset in a squad so thin in the front line. His six goals in eight games at the end of last season saved Wolves.

Three to earn points in draws, three in two crucial wins. Nine points, and they survived by one. And he's started this season in the same rich form. Form Levein knows he could use.

Kenny Miller will always be his preferred choice in the lone-striking role but against the likes of Liechtenstein next month, a foil for him like Fletcher would be perfect.

And it's a role he's relishing alongside Kevin Doyle at club level as well as Wolves embed themselves in the top half of the Premiership.

Fletcher said: "We've started well but we did last season as well so the gaffer is warning us not to jump the gun.

"We see ourselves as an established Premiership side now, though - last season we were still just the side people saw as coming up with a few surprise wins.

"But now we feel as though we belong. We feel we're good enough to stay here. And I feel like that myself a bit as well.

"When I first signed for Burnley, and even before I left there I was thinking 'Am I really here?' I was going into every game like that.

"But I've lost that now, I think. That's two managers who have had the faith to buy me and play me in the Premiership.

"Between that and the goals I've scored, I feel like I can compete here. I'm not surprised if I score any more.

"People are expecting it from me now and that's a good feeling."

All that's missing now is the capacity to do it for the country he loves as well as his club.

[craigkillie]

It seems as though Fletcher still wants to play for us, which is good. He needs to suck it up and phone Levein to confirm he's available for selection again. His comments about not wanting to look like a knob are daft. I wouldn't imagine Levein would make much of an issue of it.

I don't like the "matey" style of the article either. The stuff about how good a player he is could easily have been written by his agent. It doesn't mention his mediocre Scotland career to date, and fails to address the fact that it would be difficult to fit him into our system anyway.

[Bobby Skidmarks]

I don't know the reasons behind Fletchers omission but i do think he should be involved in the International squad.

Also across all International teams, i don't know why someone would ever ask to be omitted from their national team, its surely the epitome of your career to be one of the top 22 players from the nation of your birth regardless of their success.

Its almost insulting to the nation to see someone ask not to be selected because they don't get on with the manager. Man the f**k up.

[Michael W]

So what it's saying is that Fletcher wants to play for Scotland, but isn't prepared to apologise to Levein because he'll feel daft.

I think Levein feels the same way, in that he's like Fletcher to be availiable but isn't prepared to reach out to him first. We're dealing with a couple of very stubborn men who don't want to do something they feel will make them seem weak.

It's a shame.

[jamboscotty]

Michael W, on 18 September 2011 - 21:05, said:

So what it's saying is that Fletcher wants to play for Scotland, but isn't prepared to apologise to Levein because he'll feel daft.

I think Levein feels the same way, in that he's like Fletcher to be availiable but isn't prepared to reach out to him first. We're dealing with a couple of very stubborn men who don't want to do something they feel will make them seem weak.

It's a shame.

This is exactly what I think.

Stubborn fools the pair of them

[HibeeJibee]

Which is why someone (most obviously Regan) should do something behind closed doors to get an amicably acceptable settlement. Both are probably at fault, tbh.

Whether Fletcher would start for us or not: we're not good enough to chuck a player of his capability. He's a talented upcoming striker, playing and scoring for a reasonable EPL club.

This post has been edited by HibeeJibee: 18 September 2011 - 21:14

[craigkillie]

I expect Fletcher to be back in the squad for the next campaign, if not sooner. Now that he has declared that he wants to play for us again, I think Levein will select him. He's a good option to have on the bench.

[Kyle]

craigkillie, on 18 September 2011 - 21:47, said:

I expect Fletcher to be back in the squad for the next campaign, if not sooner. Now that he has declared that he wants to play for us again, I think Levein will select him. He's a good option to have on the bench.

He's probably our best striker, or certainly was at the tail end of last season. Quite disappointed that more wasn't done to get him involved in the most recent squad to be honest.

I don't care which party makes contact, but we could really do with having him available again.

[Supras]

Bobby Skidmarks, on 18 September 2011 - 20:59, said:

I don't know the reasons behind Fletchers omission but i do think he should be involved in the International squad.

Also across all International teams, i don't know why someone would ever ask to be omitted from their national team, its surely the epitome of your career to be one of the top 22 players from the nation of your birth regardless of their success.

Its almost insulting to the nation to see someone ask not to be selected because they don't get on with the manager. Man the f**k up.

Pendant alert!

Michael W, on 18 September 2011 - 21:05, said:

So what it's saying is that Fletcher wants to play for Scotland, but isn't prepared to apologise to Levein because he'll feel daft.

I think Levein feels the same way, in that he's like Fletcher to be availiable but isn't prepared to reach out to him first. We're dealing with a couple of very stubborn men who don't want to do something they feel will make them seem weak.

It's a shame.

Oh definitely, both are at fault here and neither is willing to take the intiative and man the f**k up. As for Fletcher saying he will look daft? Eh, you want to play for your country, your country wants to play for you and you aren't willing to say you are available to the manager? Given this, you are a knob. It's a trait weakness from both of them, the Ballack situation isn't all that similar but he's shown his flaws as well by refusing to play for Germany.

I do agree that someone like Regan should get to two of them together and stop this charade which has been very damaging to the national team, Fletcher is a great player and out most talented striker, by some distance in my opinion.

[Frankie S]

This is exactly what I predicted in the Czech Republic game thread:

Quote

On the Steven Fletcher issue, Levein's comments ("Steven Fletcher is a fantastic player and I would never say anything other than that. But until he indicates that he wants to play for Scotland, he won't be selected. It's simple.") are as close as the intransigent Scotland manager is ever going to come to opening the door for a Fletcher recall. All Fletcher has to do now is tell a friendly journo that he "really wants to play for Scotland....." and, hey presto, he's likely be reinstated at the first available opportunity.

Fletcher has swallowed his pride and taken the first step, now Levein must swallow his and reinstate him.

[RobbieD]

If he isn't in the next squad then you can only point the finger at Levein.

[Savage Henry]

RobbieD, on 19 September 2011 - 00:31, said:

If he isn't in the next squad then you can only point the finger at Levein.

Why? I think Fletcher's coming across as, in his words, "a bit of a knob" by not just saying there and then he's available. He's not being asked to apologise, he's not being asked to rescind any statements, all he being asked to do is to say he's available. A little bit of wounded ego, I suspect.

Incidentally, what the hell is the opening part of that article all about? That's one of the worst pieces of faux-prose I've read in the Retard/Hail.... and there's a lot.

[Bobby Skidmarks]

Supras, on 18 September 2011 - 23:54, said:

Pendant alert!

I think you're looking into things a bit too much. I'm not that Pedantic ... or should i say pendantic

[Supras]

Bobby Skidmarks, on 19 September 2011 - 11:29, said:

I think you're looking into things a bit too much. I'm not that Pedantic ... or should i say pendantic

Nah it was cause Fletcher was born in Shrewsbury.

[RobbieD]

Savage Henry, on 19 September 2011 - 08:41, said:

Why? I think Fletcher's coming across as, in his words, "a bit of a knob" by not just saying there and then he's available. He's not being asked to apologise, he's not being asked to rescind any statements, all he being asked to do is to say he's available. A little bit of wounded ego, I suspect.

Incidentally, what the hell is the opening part of that article all about? That's one of the worst pieces of faux-prose I've read in the Retard/Hail.... and there's a lot.

Levein said all he had to do was say he was available. He said he was available. Done and done.

[MattBairn]

What was the issue in the first place?

[forehead7]

MattBairn, on 19 September 2011 - 13:53, said:

What was the issue in the first place?

Something along the lines of that Fletcher was pissed that he didn't get selected in the Czech Republic away game. That's what someone said in the Czech/Lithuania thread said a small while back. I can only assume that Fletcher mentioned it in an interview and as such Levein took it badly.

Levein should just pick him then, that article says as much that he is available for selection. He's taken a step towards getting back, if Levein picks him then the ball is back in Fletcher's court. We certainly need two strikers against Liechtenstein cause we need to hammer them to get the confidence back if we need something against Spain.

[SOL]

Get Fletcher back in the Squad. But Levein would rather call up Forrest instead of a premiership striker who scores about 1 goal every 3 to 4 games.

[MattBairn]

forehead7, on 19 September 2011 - 16:39, said:

Something along the lines of that Fletcher was pissed that he didn't get selected in the Czech Republic away game. That's what someone said in the Czech/Lithuania thread said a small while back. I can only assume that Fletcher mentioned it in an interview and as such Levein took it badly.

Levein should just pick him then, that article says as much that he is available for selection. He's taken a step towards getting back, if Levein picks him then the ball is back in Fletcher's court. We certainly need two strikers against Liechtenstein cause we need to hammer them to get the confidence back if we need something against Spain.

If he didnt declare that he didnt want to play for Scotland, I'm not sure what Levin's problem is.

[Michael W]

MattBairn, on 19 September 2011 - 16:52, said:

If he didnt declare that he didnt want to play for Scotland, I'm not sure what Levin's problem is.

Fletcher publicly criticised his 4-6-0 debacle as well.

[craigkillie]

Fletcher was called up for the NI friendly after that, and apparently texted an SFA official saying "Tell him I'm not playing".

[qos_75]

Savage Henry, on 19 September 2011 - 08:41, said:

Why? I think Fletcher's coming across as, in his words, "a bit of a knob" by not just saying there and then he's available. He's not being asked to apologise, he's not being asked to rescind any statements, all he being asked to do is to say he's available. A little bit of wounded ego, I suspect.

"Everyone wants to play for the country, and I DO want to play for Scotland but I feel like it's out of my hands. People say it's in my hands but I don't believe it is.

The simple way to resolve this other than to pick up the phone (either party, albeit that would take some commonsense) is to select him for the next group of games and see if he is true to his word.

[FC_1919]

forehead7, on 19 September 2011 - 16:39, said:

We certainly need two strikers against Liechtenstein cause we need to hammer them to get the confidence back if we need something against Spain.

No we don't, we need continuity and that is playing the same formation we have used in the last 5 or 6 games.

[paul-r-cfc]

Michael W, on 19 September 2011 - 16:54, said:

Fletcher publicly criticised his 4-6-0 debacle as well.

Who didn't though?

[craigkillie]

paul-r- cfc, on 23 September 2011 - 22:33, said:

Who didn't though?

None of the other players criticised it.

If he had a problem with it, he should have raised it with Levein rather than running to the press. I am sure Levein would have sold the formation to the players, and the guys who took the field that night looked very committed to their roles.