H-Bomb....took the words right out of my mouth....To be fair TLF, Pratley is a fine player...but the Prem is a different class...The same as I would say just 1 (maybe 2) of Blackpool's players were Prem class and in the end it showed. I don't think Swansea have anyone apart from Sinclair who is. Pratley is not Charlie Adams! This is not meant as being disrespectful towards Swansea but just looking through the squad it is not a squad that will stay up. You will need to bring in a few players and if Pratley is still in your starting XI, I think you will have problems. And before you say that you are better than us so our squad must be crap...I never said we would have stayed up either
No doubt were going to be in for a culture shock . The big thing we have going for us , that works in any league , is we play a total team game . Agreed though , were a few players light although it looks like we signed Graham . You guys must be ****ting bricks wondering who the new manager will be & the type of game he'll bring with him .
No Cracker, or should I say Breezey, just chomping at the bit as to who it will be, what he will do and which players he will use to do it with. All perfectly normal bowel movements on this board.
I think playing in our "tippa tappa" system in the Premiership, Pratley might struggle and his lack of technique (compared to others in our squad) might be shown up a little in a more high-tempo environment. Having said that, I think he could be an important player for us this year if he signs back on, giving us the option of changing our style a little if it´s all going a little tits up! I´d imagine he´d do a quality job for your lot, and I think the thing about wages is right. I wouldn´t like to guess as to who *could* pay bigger wages, but it´d be interesting to see if our top earner this coming season was earning as much as yours? Football is a crazy sport...
siam. i just go back to the last post. what do you base your decision on. how often have you watched any of our players to make the decision, i do actually agree with you that a lot of ours arent prem quality. but some will be and pratley i think is one.
Got to agree that he is prem quality. Everyone needs a box to box player who can tackle and score. Wigan's season got better once Ben Watson forced his way into their side. Maybe Pratley's style didn't always fit Buck's plan A but he was always a useful guy to come on and use in plan B. As I said earlier, while it would never happen for obvious reasons, I would love to see him at Cardiff.
"Pratts is Premier quality " No he isn't, he is a player who has done reasonably well at championship level, and MAYBE has the potential to succeed in the premiership, he has yet to do this, until he has performed consistently in the premiership, well you can't make a statement like "Pratts is Premier quality " Until he actually does it, it's just your opinion. In reply to the original question, I think he's overated, but he would still be a decent addition to the Cardiff squad as a player but even so I wouldn't wasnt him here
The issue here is most cardiff fans think he is not, where most swansea fans think he is. in relation to cardiff players, i have not seen enough of any of them to judge whether they would be good enough for the premier league. Yes it is all down to opinons as he hasnt played there. But surley the ones who watch him every week are more informed to make that opinion. Just a thought like. Just to add somethig to this thread. Would whittingham be a good aqusition for Swansea. Is he premiership quality?
the trouble is cardiff are still seething as we have yet again showed them the way to do things properly. last team in the top flight old system, first to get a new stadium, (by miles) and now the first welsh club to reach the premiership, how the cardiff fans must be feeling after all the "we are the only club in wales that will ever be a premiership club" ..come back sam we can do with another larf......
I agree TLF, it's all about opinions. Nobody denies he's a good player but, like everyone else I guess, he has to prove he a premier player. He has, or potentially has, in your eyes but like you say, you've seen a lot more of him. On that point though, I don't think you need to see someone that often to see their level. I offer JL Samuel as evidence...only saw him half a dozen times and no f'kin way is he premier quality imo Anyway, I'd like to see them all (bar 1) stay at the Liberty and have their crack at the Prem 'big boys'. There is no denying they have earned it. Unfortunately, football doesn't work like that so, inevitably, some will go and new players will arrive. So long as Beaker fails miserably, I'd be happy enough to see you Swans do well next year.
Your sadly disillusioned mate. The majority of bluebirds I know couldn't really give a **** about it and are more concerned about CCFC than whats happening down the M4. Most agree you deserved your promotion, congratulated you at the time and have moved on. Yes you will get a few who hold a grudge but that's just the nature of the beast. Firsts are for the history books dude but if that helps you get through the day...then well done you!
Superswan Change your record, the needle's stuck. Repeating yourself doen't make you right so time to move on.
Would whittingham be a good aqusition for Swansea. Is he premiership quality? He be a good signing for Swansea IMO is he premiership quality? Some times he shows flashes of brilliance that convinces me he would do well in the premier, other times he goes missing for long periods, definite potential, but until he performs consistently at premier level you can't really say he's premier quality.
Blue, can you tell me was he released by Villa. Appologies if wrong. What was the reason or did he need to just re discover his form with another club. just interested. My opinion of him is he seems to strike a fantastic ball, but lacks a little passion, effort. but does look a good player.
We signed him for £250/300k I think. He is one of those gifted players who can drift in and out of games. When the mood takes him and he has the right support he is extremely effective and knows where the goal is - 23 goals season before last. I think he is more skillful than the Swans central mid fielders but doesn't battle as much and does not have great pace so might not fit in your system. Good at keeping the ball if people moving around him and can also hit the Hollywood pass. Anyway, you can't have him so don't get too interested. LOL.
Whittingham was a squad player at Villa, who did OK when he got on the pitch, but he was never going to be a regular starter at Villa, he made 56 appearnces in 3 seasons at Villa starting 22 games. We paid £350,000 for him in the January transfer window in 2007, Villa wanted to keep him as a squad player, but let him go as he would have been a free agent in the summer...........Whitts turned down the new contract on offer at Villa, and took a pay cut to come to Cardiff, but he had the promise of first team football.
Fair enough TLF.......just my observations, but as you say you see them every week so you have a better knowledge of him for sure. I hope this will be remembered by Swans fans who suggest they know our players and club better than Cardiff fans It was mentioned that Swansea's style of play will see them right in the Prem. I wonder about that. The passing game that you play so well is going to pressed, pressured, and beaten up by Prem oppsition that you may actually get opened up and caught on the break a lot. i think Rogers will have to adapt to a more direct style. Depends on the players he bring sin of course.
Thanks for the views on Whittingham. I have to say he is one I would be interested in. But there is no chance of him moving on from you. The problem is with this question of being premiership quality is that really no one knows until they are tried aginst premiership opposition. Guys you may be right about Pratley. But you know what, until he plays ther neither of us know. Personally i think he can play there. But i dont think it will be with us. I fear the call of a more established side will be the way he will go. Grass isnt allways greener springs to mind. But if he fails i promise to come back and eat some humble pie.
Poor choice of words here. BR is climbing a mountain for Marie Curie Cancer Care in remembrance of his late mother who passed away from Cancer. His dad has also been diagnosed with cancer. There are things bigger than football in life, and getting a signature off Pratley can't even compare in the slightest to what Rodgers is doing this summer.
Fair points Bigkidd. Good luck to BR in his climb. I hope he can raise a shedfull of money for the charity. Any idea how us Bluebirds can make a donation?
