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Never realised that Darren Fletcher had 40 caps. That's a heck of a lot considering he's only 23 or 24. He'll be passing Barry Fergushun soon.

The fact that he actually turns up for friendlies will help that

Absolute disgrace. doesn't deserve it.

Why?

Who in you're opinion does deserve it?

I personally couldn't give a monkeys who the captain is. I think this whole armband nonsense is completely overblown. They walk out first, they toss a coin, fiddle about with the armband when they should be concentrating on the game and that's about it. Unless we're talking about Roy Keane or someone of his ilk then a captain makes absolutely no difference.

40 caps too many in my opinion. Wish Man Utd would get shot of him to a club in the Championship where he clearly belongs.

Scored some important goals this season for man united. But i can tell your judgement of players is better than sir alex smithers-jones.

Has been doing well as of late and well why not give him a chance as captain. Has the experience, champions league medal afterall.

Someone who is now playing week in week out for the so called best team in Eourope. He is also commited enough to turn to all the games unlike half of them.

Don't have any complaints about this one.

Just my opinion, I watch Man Utd most weeks and just don't rate the guy. I'd actually have Michael Stewart in the team instead of him.

He doesn't seem like leader but I don't play for Scotland or Man. Utd. so what do I know. I would've gave it to Caldwell or Hartley.

But he hasnt made much difference to man united this season? Not won them any key points at the start of this season? Michael stewart ahead of fletcher? Come on be serious now. Stewart in the english premier league is laughable or do you mean scotland squad? Even that is laughable

Hartley probably won't even start the game.

I'd fucking hope not. He's absolutely murder.

The only guy in the squad who deserves it.

He's performed well in the role in the past, and I do think it adds to his game.

He may deserve it for always turning up, even for the most meaningless friendlies but personally i think he should be on the bench. I would turn up for every game so give me the captaincy. He doesn't even perform like one of the best players in the team nevermind as the captain, He's been a liability for a while now and giving him the captaincy will just give him even more reason to think he's undroppable so doesn't need to perform at his best.

This is absolute rubbish. He may not have been at his best but to say he's a liability is laughable. He hasn't been any worse than the rest of the midfield in recent games.

Agreed!!

You've obviously not been watching then! Fletcher has been arguably Uniteds best player so far this season, always gives 100% Scored important goals too. IMo Fletcher was alot better for us when he was captain (still haven't lost a game when he was captain). So why not? Hes there every International game, more than any of the OF's players he doesn't ever pull out of the squad.

Well done Fletch.. you deserve it

Aye I think it's fair enough he's the captain.
I think if he was captain for long enough it would really boost his game as well.

for the last three or four games he seems more intent on passing it straight to the other team or else trying hollywood passes that go out for throw ins. He should be our best player but the only influence he's had for ages in the Scotland midfield is a negative one. He has single handedly ruined just about every single counter attack we've had by giving the ball away because he thinks he's better than he actually is.

The boy has had a few bad games of late but you simply cant afford to drop a player of this caliber, its the bottom line, same with Barry Ferguson, he is the captain, and despite the rants of others, is sorely missed as a presence and dictacting a game when we need someone to...

Fletcher also deserves the armband due to his commitment to his country and his performances over a period of time and of course his progress he has made at club level

If Michael Stewart, Scott Brown etc were all much better, they'd be doing better for their club, themselves and probably move on to better clubs than they are at

Scotland fans have this habit of getting a talented player (like fletcher and ferguson) who reach a high level, then scrutinising their every move and jump on their back at any opportunity.

Bottom line is, Fletcher and Ferguson ARE the best midfielders we have on their day and we simply as Scotland CANNOT afford to drop them, it is that black and white.

If we were to pick every player who is playing well for that club at that time we'd be pumped off the park, Berti Vogts proved that when he picked those who werent of that same ilk as some players but were playing well for their club at the time(Russel Anderson and Webster, the centre half pairing the last time we played norway at home and got beat in a WC qualifer for the first time in 15 years), no disrespect to these guys but they have to make their way into the team gradually along with the experienced campaigners and guys who have performed consistently throughout their carreers (this includes the likes of Alexander, Naysmith and even the likes of neil mcann when he was around)

RANT OVER!!

And a great rant it was too. Some great points made however there is some truth to what another PBer mentioned in that Fletcher is prone to more than his fair share of "wonder passes" which unfortunately dont come off. If he could take that out of his game and keep a cooler head he may just live up to his reputation.

Two pence spent

Good luck Dazza.

C'mon!!!!11

I actually think George Burley has done something very clever here. By giving Fletcher the captain's armband, he's given him a massive responsibility for the team on the park. His recent performances for Scotland (NI, Macedonia and Iceland) have been woeful but by giving him this added responsibility, Fletcher will then know he'll need to do the simple things right, and not attempt passes that have a 20% chance of coming off.

It's almost a certainty by giving him the captaincy he'll play his best game for Scotland in a very long time.

100% Deserved. Get Barry Bluenose out of the Scotland frame altogether.

That's a great idea. We saw in the Macedonia game that the midfield can cope fine without him.

Absolute nonsense. He's our best player by a country mile. As anyone with a brain will have noticed, our midfield is a shambles without him. We have a choice of Scott Brown, Barry Robson or Paul Hartley to replace him.

Agree with this. Fletch and Brown have been off form for a while but I guarantee if you cut Fletch open he would bleed tartan (evidenced by the fact that he only misses Internationals when he's crocked).

Great choice of captain and I reckon he'll play a blinder today!

Massive game for Fletcher today. He's been poor the last two games, and wasn't a standout in our last campaign either.

If he keeps up his Man United form, he'll overrun the vikings. If not, we'll struggle.

He played perfectly well against Iceland. Not entirely sure what he's expected to do playing next to a bunch of guys who can barely trap a ball.

It was an improvement from the Macedonia horror show. I'll give you that.

I like him but I can think of very few games where he's stamped his authority in the midfield, despite getting to 40 caps. Iceland included. I still like him though.

I've never seen him stamp his authority in a game - including the much heralded Roma game, by the way - for Manchester United. That's not the type of player he is, especially playing right midfield. He is, however, on the periphery of the game too much, I will grant you that.

Aye right !!!