Cherries: Le Tiss blown away by legend Fletcher

12 March 2011 07:00
ONE-CLUB man Matt Le Tissier believes Cherries legend Steve Fletcher is playing the best football of his 20-year career.[LNB] Saints hero Le Tissier, now a pundit on Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday, has looked on with interest as Cherries have taken League One by storm this season leaving his old club trailing in their wake.[LNB] And the Channel Islander, speaking ahead of Cherries' mouth-watering home clash against Saints this afternoon, reckons player-assistant manager Fletcher has been key to the Dorset club's rise up the table.[LNB] The 42-year-old told the Echo: Fletch is an absolute legend and is still going strong at the ripe old age of 38.[LNB] He's been at Bournemouth for a long time and I watched a couple of their games on Soccer Saturday this season when he did a really good job.[LNB] For him to still be playing is brilliant but for him to making a massive contribution like he is, even from the bench, is just fantastic. He is probably playing as well as he ever has.[LNB] Le Tissier made 444 league appearances for Saints during a glittering 16-year career.[LNB] Fletcher, meanwhile, has racked up 585 league games for Cherries across two spells at the Dean Court club.[LNB] Le Tissier added: You know your game better as you get older and you play to your strengths better with age. You put yourself in positions that reflect your strengths and where you know you will be effective and that's what Fletch is doing so well.[LNB] For him to be racking up the best part of 600 appearances for one club in this day in age is a phenomenal achievement.[LNB] Le Tissier will in May link up with Fletcher and former Saints boss Lawrie McMememy for a special Evening With Legends night at the Pavilion, hosted by comic Mike Osman.[LNB] We've done one night with myself, Lawrie Mac and Francis Benali and it worked pretty well so we thought we'd do something in Bournemouth and get Steve Fletcher along, he added.[LNB] Mike will host it and do a bit of comedy and we'll all be telling a few stories about our playing days. It's a good craic and the crowds seem to enjoy it so I'm looking forward to it and seeing Fletch.[LNB] Le Tissier, however, will not be at Dean Court this afternoon despite an invitation to attend from Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell.[LNB] He added: I will be in London doing Soccer Saturday, but I would have loved to have come down and watched the game. If it had been a midweek game, I would have definitely come down.[LNB] An Evening With Legends is on Sunday, May 15 at the Pavilion (7.30pm).[LNB] Tickets cost £24.50 and are available from the BIC box office or via bic.co.uk.[LNB]

Source: Bournemouth_Echo