Darran Pratley
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should never have gone and would not have if the club had done the right thing, we miss him in midfield where he would get his fair share of goals, he wont come back here now not while jinks is still here...
If he cannot crack the line-up at a very weak Bolton, what makes you think he would make our team and contribute. We don't need bench / squad players - we need starters that can make an impact. IMO, Pratley does not fall into that category.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/...dian-readers-team-season-so-far?newsfeed=true
It's a blog detailing who Guardian readers have voted the team of the season thus far, but also has a few interesting facts about players who've not done so well;
Pratters back? Err....
as much as I loved the guy when he was here I don't think bringing him back will do us any favours ,we do need players who can slot straight in and I don't think he can , in out of the side last year for what ever reasons
Gonna put my tin helmet on here because I think that Pratley could do a job; a job that no other player in our squad can do and that is a fact. The job? Going box to box supporting the defence, getting up to support the striker and grabbing the odd goal. Who else have we got who does that?
The much lauded Joe Allen? Gower? Britton? No, no and no! Kemy is trying and getting better. though. Our middies are stuck in a rut and seem content to play pass ball in innocuous areas of the pitch. In terms of goal threat or supporting our lone striker they might just as well be sitting in the dressing room. Sure, part of their job is to retain possession to tire out the opposition. What a laugh that is! Of late they haven't even been able to keep the ball anything like as well as they did in the early games and, as for tiring the opposition, that is a complete and utter fallacy.
Think on. Fulham ran us off our feet in the second half. Toon blitzed us. Everton did a job on us and QPR were hammering forwards in the latter stages of our game with them and we struggled to get the ball. I can think of no game where we demonstrably tired out the opposing team to the extent that they were hanging on like grim death trying to keep us out. Please correct me if you can think of one. However, there have been quite a few when I've heaved a sigh of relief at the final whistle. Even Wolves battered us so badly in the last 15 minutes, we surrendered a two goal lead. Hang on, weren't they supposed to be tired?
The fact is, we often tire ourselves out more than the opposition. PL fitness levels are far superior to those in the Championship where we struggled far too often late on in games for my liking. Pl teams are canny. They organise themselves better and save their collective legs so they have the energy to counter when the chance arises. Our poor fitness levels don't help either but don't get me started on that.....
So, should we sign Pratley? As I said, I believe he could do a job. He didn't fit in at Bolton - neither did Britton at Sheffield United, so that shouldn't rule him out. Perhaps there is too much history to bring him back but, if we did, there shouldn't be too much of a transfer fee involved as he cost them nothing. He hasn't settled there and he knows our set-up and players. I would understand if some people didn't want him back, however. What I am saying is that, if it is a "no" for Pratley, we do need a player with a big engine who can go box to box and he does offer that.
The much lauded Joe Allen? Gower? Britton? No, no and no! Kemy is trying and getting better. though. Our middies are stuck in a rut and seem content to play pass ball in innocuous areas of the pitch. In terms of goal threat or supporting our lone striker they might just as well be sitting in the dressing room. Sure, part of their job is to retain possession to tire out the opposition. What a laugh that is! Of late they haven't even been able to keep the ball anything like as well as they did in the early games and, as for tiring the opposition, that is a complete and utter fallacy.
Think on. Fulham ran us off our feet in the second half. Toon blitzed us. Everton did a job on us and QPR were hammering forwards in the latter stages of our game with them and we struggled to get the ball. I can think of no game where we demonstrably tired out the opposing team to the extent that they were hanging on like grim death trying to keep us out. Please correct me if you can think of one. However, there have been quite a few when I've heaved a sigh of relief at the final whistle. Even Wolves battered us so badly in the last 15 minutes, we surrendered a two goal lead. Hang on, weren't they supposed to be tired?
The fact is, we often tire ourselves out more than the opposition. PL fitness levels are far superior to those in the Championship where we struggled far too often late on in games for my liking. Pl teams are canny. They organise themselves better and save their collective legs so they have the energy to counter when the chance arises. Our poor fitness levels don't help either but don't get me started on that.....
So, should we sign Pratley? As I said, I believe he could do a job. He didn't fit in at Bolton - neither did Britton at Sheffield United, so that shouldn't rule him out. Perhaps there is too much history to bring him back but, if we did, there shouldn't be too much of a transfer fee involved as he cost them nothing. He hasn't settled there and he knows our set-up and players. I would understand if some people didn't want him back, however. What I am saying is that, if it is a "no" for Pratley, we do need a player with a big engine who can go box to box and he does offer that.
Don't think Pratley's the answer, he's just coasting on his big payday at Bolton, I've not been impressed with his game this season, watched a few of his wimpish performances, and to be honest, he's lost his way, not even the Bolton fans rate him, he's gone right off the boil!.............
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I think Agustien is going to make Pratley's old position his own , slowly but surely . Hopefully Agustien will stay healthy !
Musty, just my opinion of course but I really do not think that our fitness levels are up to PL standards. If they are, how is it we come under the cosh so often in the later stages of games? After all, Buck maintains that our possession game is designed to keep the opposition running and tire them out. I repeat my question; what team(s) have we tired out to the degree that they are defending desperately to keep us out approaching the final whistle? Most games it has been the other way round. We started off against Man City, looked great for 60 minutes then went down like a concrete Zeppelin.
Okay, I concede that was to be expected but think back to the Wigan game. We more than held our own for 75 minutes then had to hang on to scrape a draw against them. This was Wigan at home, everyone's favourites for the drop. Sorry to be repetitive but, choosing a team from among our peers, Norwich City are far more athletic man for man than we are and play at a far faster tempo, for far longer than we do. We play more pure football but, for me, top fitness is a must if you want success however you play the game. I don't believe we have it.
Phil, I understand what you say about Pratley but I believe the guy has become demotivated playing in a poor team. I refer you again to Britton. Could be that Pratley would relish a return to familiar surroundings where he did well for us and a move might just ignite that spark in him. I have no doubt that a top form Pratley could be a big asset to the squad and give us a different type of player to select when we need to offer some variety.
Okay, I concede that was to be expected but think back to the Wigan game. We more than held our own for 75 minutes then had to hang on to scrape a draw against them. This was Wigan at home, everyone's favourites for the drop. Sorry to be repetitive but, choosing a team from among our peers, Norwich City are far more athletic man for man than we are and play at a far faster tempo, for far longer than we do. We play more pure football but, for me, top fitness is a must if you want success however you play the game. I don't believe we have it.
Phil, I understand what you say about Pratley but I believe the guy has become demotivated playing in a poor team. I refer you again to Britton. Could be that Pratley would relish a return to familiar surroundings where he did well for us and a move might just ignite that spark in him. I have no doubt that a top form Pratley could be a big asset to the squad and give us a different type of player to select when we need to offer some variety.
Ivor, got to agree with you about Norwich, they just keep going & going without fading until the 95th minute. As you say, they have a far faster tempo, but still keep going.
If Pratley is interested it might be worth a punt, he is a box to box player. Wasn`t Allen supposed to be our "Pratley" player this year?
If Pratley is interested it might be worth a punt, he is a box to box player. Wasn`t Allen supposed to be our "Pratley" player this year?
IF Pratley did return i think he would find himself where he was during the last three months of last season and thats on the bench.
Personally i,m not sure it would be in his best interests or Swansea's.
Personally i,m not sure it would be in his best interests or Swansea's.
iff we got him free and negotiated as low a wage as possible with him considering his current low standing he may be worth another punt and rogers can polish his game back up ?
that would be worth a punt, but bear in mind the total squad numbers that we can use ,would he be taking up a valuable position
prattley is better with our system than The one they play at bolton and would slot into the side with no problem, the only thing he would not be use to is the back passes that are unnecessary most of the time. He can also make chances and score from anywhere, but sadly he wont be in a hurry to get back with us for obvious reasons....
Ivor I don't doubt that, and you are right to reference Britton, though I don't see Pratley as significant to our game right know, as Britton is, though if Pratley were to become available for free, then maybe, but I can't see Pratley eating humble pie, after his spats in the media, that were directed at Jenkins, and that's another issue, would Jenkins want him back??....................
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