Fletcher backs youngsters to learn

09:45, Dec 1 2009

Darren Fletcher believes one game for Manchester United is worth 10 a young player might get elsewhere as they continue their footballing education. Sir Alex Ferguson is set to keep faith with the youngsters defeated by Besiktas last week when Manchester United face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Tuesday night in the Carling Cup quarter-final. "These players need games. They are an important part of the squad and will probably be needed later on in the season, so we will feel the benefit right through the club," said Fletcher. "A first-team game for Manchester United can mean the equivalent of playing 10 or 20 anywhere else. It is that big," said the Scotland skipper. "It is on so much of a higher scale. "That was always echoed through the youth system and from my own experience I know it is true. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT "It is all very well training, and at a club like United you do pick up lots, but the more games these lads get, especially big matches like tonight's, the more they will learn." It is a view Ferguson shares, which is why he was so irritated by the criticism his players received last week and why, at the first appropriate opportunity, he launched a fierce counter-offensive. "Those lads need to be challenged and I thought they did okay," said Ferguson. "They did not deserve that kind of criticism. "Those same people will be going cap in hand to them, begging them for interviews in a few years' time, mark my words. It is so hypocritical. "What is the difference between that and Alan Hansen doing it in front of millions. Yet one gets slaughtered for it and this guy gets off. Wonderful. What a world."

Top | Back | E-mail to a friend | Printable version

Sport latest headlines Charnley inspires Wigan triumph 20:45, Feb 11 2012 Winger Josh Charnley scored a hat-trick of tries as Wigan bounced back from their shock opening home defeat by Huddersfield with a clinical 20-6 destruction of Stobart Super League champions Leeds. more Spurs fans show Redknapp the love 20:45, Feb 11 2012 Tottenham's fans pleaded with Harry Redknapp to snub England and stay at White Hart Lane as the Spurs boss masterminded a brutal 5-0 hammering of Newcastle. more France/Ireland clash called off 20:45, Feb 11 2012 Ireland's RBS 6 Nations clash with France has been postponed due to the weather conditions in Paris. more Adebayor inspires Spurs romp 19:45, Feb 11 2012 Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp ended an emotional week on a huge high as his team ruthlessly hammered Newcastle 5-0 at White Hart Lane. more England claim narrow Italy victory 18:45, Feb 11 2012 England dug themselves out of a snow-hole in freezing Rome to beat Italy 19-15 with another charge-down try from Charlie Hodgson and Owen Farrell's perfect kicking display. more Chelsea suffer defeat at Everton 17:45, Feb 11 2012 Steven Pienaar and Denis Stracqualursi struck as Everton piled on the pressure for Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas with a 2-0 victory. more Late Henry winner rescues Arsenal 17:45, Feb 11 2012 Substitute Thierry Henry marked the final league game of his loan spell at Arsenal with a last-gasp winner to see off Sunderland 2-1. more McArthur clinches Wigan victory 17:45, Feb 11 2012 James McArthur boosted Wigan's survival hopes with a dramatic goal which handed the Latics a 2-1 win over fellow Barclays Premier League strugglers Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. more Williams inspires Quins win 17:45, Feb 11 2012 Harlequins returned to winning ways as winger Tom Williams helped orchestrate a 30-23 victory over London Irish which extended their lead at the top of the Aviva Premiership. more Fleming and Hutchins put GB ahead 16:45, Feb 11 2012 Great Britain moved to within one rubber of a fifth consecutive Davis Cup win under captain Leon Smith after Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins beat Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek of Slovakia at Glasgow's Braehead Arena. more Cold snap affects sporting weekend 15:45, Feb 11 2012 The cold snap continued to wreak further havoc with the sporting calendar on Saturday after the npower Championship clash between Peterborough and West Ham was postponed due to a frozen pitch along with a number of League One and League Two matches. more Rangers ease to win at Dunfermline 15:45, Feb 11 2012 Lee McCulloch grabbed his first goal of the season as Rangers fought back from behind to claim a 4-1 win and deny Dunfermline their first home victory of the season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. more

 

Copyright and Trade Mark Notice

© 2012 owned by or licensed to ncjMedia Limited. icNewcastle™ is a trade mark of ncjMedia Limited. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement before using this site.

 

Jobs Newcastle, Homes in Northeast, Used Cars Northeast, Newcastle Free Classified ads Mortgages, Jobs in Newcastle Local Mole - Local Directory