How Jack Fletcher, Son of Darren, Did For Man Utd vs Newcastle

Manchester United fans have given their thoughts on Jack Fletcher’s performance after he was brought on for his first senior team appearance at Old Trafford during the Red Devils’ 1-0 win against Newcastle United.

The hosts, who surprisingly lined up with a back four, took the lead on Boxing Day through Patrick Dorgu, who hit an excellent volley past Aaron Ramsdale in the 24th minute. And Ruben Amorim’s side continued to push forward in search of a second, threatening on multiple occasions.

However, despite United dominating much of the first half, they made a change at half-time as Mason Mount was withdrawn. In his place came Fletcher, the son of club icon Darren, for only his second senior appearance.

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Jack Fletcher’s Mixed Display vs Newcastle

Having been handed his debut in United’s 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa prior to Christmas, Fletcher was given an even bigger opportunity against Newcastle. Amorim clearly felt as though he was the best man available to replace Mount, giving him 45 minutes to make an impact.

However, the young midfielder showed his inexperience for a substantial chunk of the second half. The hosts lost a large portion of the control that they had established with their starting XI all on the pitch after Fletcher’s introduction, as the Magpies were able to get more of a foothold in the heart of the pitch and drive forward, while United sometimes struggled to get up the other end.

Although the 18-year-old did show glimpses of what he can do, such as when he flicked a nice ball forward down the left flank as Amorim’s side attacked, he really didn’t manage to impact the game as much as he would have liked. Managing just 14 touches during his debut, he lost possession four times and attempted just nine passes in the game.

Check Out Fletcher’s Statistics Against Newcastle:

It certainly seemed as though Fletcher was slightly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the occasion, but that was always likely considering he was coming up against seasoned professionals like Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Jacob Ramsey. While he’ll no doubt be ecstatic to have played his first game at Old Trafford, he seemingly has a way to go until he’s ready for more regular minutes in the first team.

Fans React to Fletcher’s First Old Trafford Appearance

For a lot of United fans, Fletcher’s making his first appearance at Old Trafford filled them with a sense of pride. Roy Keane, who was on punditry duty for Sky Sports, had stated at half-time: “If he’s half as good as his dad, he’ll be a hell of a player. Good luck to him.”

Following the match, the former United captain didn’t lavish him with praise. But he did say that it was a good thing for him to be a part of a gritty win.

Many United fans, though, were less enthused by what they saw from him. One wrote: “Jack Fletcher is so out of his depth. It’s kind of sad to watch.” And those thoughts were echoed by another supporter, who said: “Jack Fletcher is a prime example of how nepotism works.”

One more added: “Jack Fletcher doesn’t have it.” And a fellow United supporter was equally harsh in their criticism, stating: “Jack Fletcher is stinking up the pitch. This is not the nepo baby ball I signed up for.”

Other supporters were more measured, stating that shortcomings were to be expected considering it was only his second senior appearance. One wrote: “Jack Fletcher is disappointing tonight. It’s okay. It’s a learning curve.” And that was echoed by another, who said: “Jack Fletcher, I don’t blame the lad but clearly he’s not ready yet.”

An additional United fan added: “That Jack Fletcher is slow man.” And a final individual wrote: “Jack Fletcher is nowhere near ready ngl.”