A usually reliable source has insisted he's heard of developments from his sports people that talks are going on to bring midfielder Carl Fletcher on loan to the Hall.
Nothing online yet but maybe some weekend talks going on al la Dougie.
That's the best I can bring and I'd hate to join the red faced Shrimpers that have had Blues signing every ex-Premiership midfield player in the UK this week but this guy has brought me many drinks which is as good a recommendation as anything in my book!
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock had placed midfielders Carl Fletcher and Paul Ifill on the transfer list at Selhurst Park. Warnock believing that both players would benefit from a change of scenery.
He told the South London Press last month: "This is a good opportunity to let other clubs know we will listen to player exchanges and not just transfer fees for some of them. Other clubs might have surplus players and just need a new face themselves. I honestly don't know if any of them will move on, but with two weeks of the window left we've got to highlight they are available."
Warnock wrote this on August 18 but with time still for players to be signed on loan, just, there could be legs in this one. However, it should be noted he came on a 77th minute substitute at Reading in their last Championship match so he could be back in Warnock's plans.
We will see but personally I will be more than happy to see Mr. Fletcher joining Dougie in the ex-Eagle club. Many feel we need a more creative midfielder, well I believe we need to stop the leaking of goals first and let's face it, we have enough forwards that should be doing some creating of their own, especially the wide boys.
The Fletcher Files
Carl Neil Fletcher (born 7 April 1980 in Surrey Heath, England) is a Welsh professional football player of English descent, who plays for Crystal Palace. He wears the number 7 shirt, plays as a defensive midfielder, and has also served as Palace Captain.
Fletcher started his career at English club Bournemouth, making his debut in February 1998 as a 17-year-old. He made 185 league starts for the south-coast club, including captaining the side to a 5-2 victory over Lincoln City in the 2003 Division 3 playoff final and scoring 2 of the goals himself, before earning a move to West Ham United in 2004 for £275,000.
He is nicknamed "Fletch" by his fans, like his fictional namesake Karl Fletcher, a character on Sky One's Dream Team.
Fletcher then played in the Premiership after West Ham won promotion the season he signed for them. He also had a month-long loan spell at Watford. Upon his return from Watford in October 2005, he made 12 league appearances for West Ham. On 13 May 2006, Fletcher was drafted into the West Ham team to face Liverpool in the FA Cup Final due to the suspension of Hayden Mullins. Despite ending on the losing side, he still contributed to one of the best FA Cup finals of modern times.
The FA Cup final proved to be his last competitive match for the Hammers, however, as he signed for Crystal Palace in that summer, for £400,000. He was immediately appointed as Eagles Captain by then-manager Peter Taylor. After Neil Warnock took over, the captaincy went to Mark Hudson.
Fletcher's Palace future has been in recent doubt, following Neil Warnock's signing of fellow midfielders Shaun Derry and Neil Danns.
On 28th May 2008 Fletcher captained Wales for the first time against Iceland. However, he was substituted after just 41 minutes after damaging his ankle ligaments.
On 18th August 2008 Fletcher and team mate Paul Ifill were put on the transfer list by manager Neil Warnock.
| Carl Fletcher | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carl Neil Fletcher | |
| Date of birth | April 7, 1980 (1980-04-07) | |
| Place of birth | Surrey Heath, England | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | |
| Playing position | Defender/Defensive Midfielder | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Crystal Palace | |
| Number | 7 | |
| Senior clubs | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1997-2004 2004-2006 2005 2006- | Bournemouth West Ham United → Watford (loan) Crystal Palace | 193 (19) 44 (3) 3 (0) 66 (4) |
| National team | ||
| 2004- | Wales | 32 (1) |
* League goals only
(The Fletcher Files brought to you by Wikipedia, so they must be true.)