Doesn't seem to have gone on the trip to Austria though. Surely not a major sign that the club necessarily plans on keeping him around?
Excellent news that he’s returned. No doubt he’s the missing piece to the puzzle and Edwards is going to turn him into a goal scoring machine. Fletcher to bag 20+ goals this season.
While not pretending he’s the answer to our goalscoring issues, personally I think Fletcher is sometimes slightly unfairly maligned. He scored in both his starts in the League Cup and looked fairly lively a few times when coming on as a sub in the league.
He should’ve scored 6 in each. And besides his paltry goal-scoring, he offers nothing else. Woeful player.
Was posted by Transfermarkt last night that he'd returned to Watford, but has since been deleted so not sure whether it's true or not. But considering his loan was initially only up until the end of July and he hasn't made their last few match day squads (even choosing to keep a spot on the bench vacant rather than name Fletcher in the squad), it wouldn't surprise me if it were true.
He also just went to MLS and sunk so historically without trace that his loan has been cut short. Speaking as a well-publicised fan of the league, that is abominable.
After two days of being the forum grump, I thought I’d try to post something slightly more positive but seems I was misguided
I honestly thought he looked about the same level of player as Cucho when they played alongside each other in the cup competitions. Albeit Cucho ended up being given more chances later on in the season in the league which seemed to help boost his form slightly.
From the rare moments we saw him, his overall game looked pretty weak, for a big lad he didn't use it at all to his advantage. However, and I remember thinking this when watching his YouTube video montage, he seems a little bit of a goal poacher. If we were all over teams this season and had the luxury of having him do nothing but get into goal scoring positions he'd probably do ok. Thing is, I don't think we can afford that luxury and him playing would mean we'd create less chances in the first place. Admittedly that's all based on a few games and a highlights reel.
Amazing, and you pulled me up for posting nonsense yesterday, this has to be up there with the most ridiculous post I’ve read on here
Wonder how he feels having basically been binned off 6 months into a 5 year contract and deemed not good enough for the Premier league which is probably why he signed for us (to play in the top flight )? And when he returns not even certain of a role in the squad .
I’m not sure he’s too fussed, like most of us he probably couldn’t believe his ears when he learned a premier league club wanted to give him a five year deal.
Is that what I said? But it's a fact that in the games they played together vs Palace, Stoke and Leicester that Fletcher made a contribution in each - 1 goal; 1 goal; 1 assist. Meanwhile the claimed superior player Cucho didn't produce anything in the 3 games. Cucho was given more opportunities in the PL (perhaps because the club had invested more in him and were wanting to keep his value up), but in the games they played together he did not do anything to indicate that he was a better player. In fact even if you look back at the matchday thread for the Leicester cup game in Jan there are a couple of posters saying Fletcher was alright, but basically no one saying Cucho played well. Hornpete also just lumped them together as equals in commenting " Fletcher, Tufan, defenders, Sema, Cucho. Not really good enough are they?" and the comment was liked by 5 posters. So it's hardly as if my comment and recollection is just me imagining things.
Except for the direct assist to put the ball on a plate for Fletcher's goal against Palace, you mean?
https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/forward-ashley-fletcher-returns-to-watford-fc Return has been confirmed by NYRB now.
Masterstroke from The Stability here. Receive loan fees from NYRB. Get player back early. Receive further loan fees from another club with less savvy owners. Scott and Gino do business properly.
(Return of the Fletch) Come on (Return of the Fletch) Oh my God (You know that he'll be back) Here he is (Return of the Fletch) Once ManU (Return of the Fletch) Pump up the ball (Return of the Fletch) Watch his goals (You know that he'll be back) Here he is.
