I fear a scenario where I have to compare Fletcher to every single player from now on, but with Milner I feel that he pretty much matches Fletcher's work-rate. They're both very sick in that department. Obviously Fletcher is better defensively but I don't think Milner is bad at all, whether on the wing or even central.
Then compared to Fletcher, and this is Fletcher's downfall compared to most who will be ahead of him, but maybe I'm missing something if he should really be top 50 like some think, Milner in all areas are just better on the ball. He has range of passing. Crosses it well and while not flashy can dribble too with decent pace. He can create. Has a great shot. And contribute with all those things in different positions.
Similar is the case with Arteta who aren't up to par physically with the two but I do actually think something of a magician technician. Great first touch and passing. Creating for himself and others. And defensively good enough to hold his own central.
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Fletchers defensive ability, workrate, off the ball runs etc are being criminally underrated
Agree with this or he wouldn't be so high at all. He is ahead of other primarily defensive midfielders like De Jong, Palacios, Song, Gargano, Alou Diarra and Barry, Busquets + many others lower on the list just because I started seeing there was something more to his midfield presence. Like those off the ball runs and going forward. Quite a few of those below I would say have better technique than Fletcher. They're all good defensively and have great work-rates, but with his ability,
not shared by some of those, of also applying pressure the other way while being excellent defensively, I put him ahead.
However I just think with many players still to come, many who will also have great work-rates (basically a must now) and be very good without the ball, that they're on a higher level technically than Fletcher is, even if he is underrated, putting them in some cases well ahead.
Last edited by Bjørn; 06-02-2010 at 01:47 PM.