Frustrated Fletcher is focused on big picture
DARREN FLETCHER has hit back at the critics putting the boot into West Brom.
The Baggies have been hammered by pundits recently following a shocking downturn in form during the final weeks of the season.
When they reached the magical 40-point mark way back in February, Tony Pulis’ men were sitting pretty in eighth spot.
There was even talk at the time that they might snatch a Europa League place.
Since then, however, Albion have gone into reverse.
They have picked up only one win in 11 outings – losing eight times, including seven of the last eight.
That astonishing dip in form leaves them travelling to Swansea this afternoon in danger of finishing a promising campaign down in a disappointing 12th place.
And it has led to many claiming the Midlands men have been on the beach, mentally, for the best part of 10 weeks.
But Hawthorns skipper Fletcher, 33, has rubbished that verdict, insisting they should be assessed over the entire season.
The Scotland international said: “You have to look at the season over 38 games – that’s the only benchmark.
“I really don’t understand people who break it down into a calendar year or results since Christmas or whatever.
“That’s all irrelevant. In a season you have good runs and bad runs, sometimes the fixture list is kind to you, sometimes it’s horrible.
“So the only measure is playing everyone twice – and the only judgement that counts is the final table.
“And that will show us as being safe in the Premier League – and well clear of the relegation battle.
“Looking back at the season as a whole, I think it’s been another one where we’ve made good progress.”
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Ben Foster has hailed the performances of Jonny Evans – and expressed surprise that none of the top flight’s elite have targeted the ex-Man United defender.
He said: “Jonny is unbelievable. I honestly do not understand how he’s not being touted for a move to one of the really big boys.
“I know at times he probably makes the gaffer pull his hair out but he is so calm. He’s not a typical Tony Pulis defender. He’s not 6ft 5ins for a start.
“But for us he’s been absolutely brilliant. He brings a calmness to the team and we trust him implicitly.” TOP-EIGHT And he insists consistency from day one of the campaign will be the key to scaling such heights. When Clement quit as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant at Bayern Munich in January to replace Bob Bradley at the Liberty Stadium, the club were bottom of the Premier League. In their opening 19 games they had won just 12 points – under the ex-Chelsea No.2 they have amassed 26 points from 18 matches. They have made it to 38 points and that is e nough f or s afety – guaranteeing them a sixth straight season among the English elite. Swansea face West Brom at home in the final game of the season this afternoon with a four-point lead over Hull in 18th place. And, according to Clement, the superb form of the last five months has shown exactly what can be achieved in the next campaign. Asked about his side’s ambitions for the 2017- 18 season, Clement said: “That’s a good question. “All I can say is that since I’ve come here we have put 26 points on the board. “This weekend we have the chance to add another three. To get 29 points over half a season is a pretty good tally. “If you can replicate that over a whole season, which is a difficult thing to do, of course, then you’re going to have a total that puts you up around eighth place i n t he Premier League. “The first step to doing this is to continue building the identity of the club and to play the sort of football we want to here.
“And then we have to make sure we are not in the same situation we have found ourselves in this season – fighting relegation right up to the penultimate game.”
The fact Swansea have survived with a game to go is remarkable, given where they were only a month ago following a major dip in form and confidence.
Five defeats in six games for the Welsh side through March and April meant Hull were suddenly favourites to stay up.
But then a dramatic home win against Stoke suddenly reignited Swansea’s winning streak.
Clement, the fourth Swans boss in less than a year, reckons the penalty miss by Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic that afternoon was the moment t hat t r a n s f o r med everything at the bottom of the Premier League.
“It’s such fine margins,” explained the former Real Madrid assistant.
“If he scores it’s 1-1 but he doesn’t and then we go straight up the other end and make it 2-0.
“That was the major turning point and the catalyst for a decent run of results.”
While the stock of Clement – whose only other managerial spell ended with the sack at Derby County after six months – is on the rise, he prefers to pay tribute to his resilient squad.
He said: “I was starting fresh from day one but the players had been through several managers and experienced difficult games earlier in the season. “That can’t have been easy. “But from the day I arrived they have worked extremely hard on the training ground.
“That is ultimately what enabled us to survive.”