Baggies Blogs

Opinion: Some West Brom fans are letting themselves down with criticism of this man

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West Bromwich Albion fans have been given the news that one of their former players has been added to the club’s coaching staff, and for the most part, they’re all delighted. The man in question is Darren Fletcher, and the former Baggies skipper has been welcomed back by most.

However, there are a few fans out there who have got very little nice to say about Fletcher, and it seems that they’re still hung up on the fact that the Scottish midfielder left the club for Stoke City in summer 2017 (BBC), the summer before they suffered relegation.

Now, though, the Baggies are into their second season in the Championship and the fans have had the opportunity to welcome the 35-year-old back to the club, but some of them have hardly been very welcoming as they’ve got the grudges they still hold from his exit.

However, these feelings are ridiculous and the Scot should be welcomed back with open arms. In his two and a half years at The Hawthorns, the former Manchester United man racked up 97 appearances, scoring six and assisting six (Transfermarkt) as he helped them to 13th, 14th and 10th placed finishes in the seasons he had a hand in.

After his exit the Baggies fell to 20th, finishing at the foot of the table and going down despite a late resurgence, so it’s clear he was a key player, but now he’s made his return and over two years later the fans who are slating their former player are out of place.

Will Slaven Bilic guide us back to the Premier League?

Yes

No

West Brom have given the Scot a chance to start his managerial career with them, and given how his career played out and all of the years he spent learning under Sir Alex Ferguson, he should be welcomed back instead of shunned upon his return.

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