Agree with Bangkok here. Didn't he only just release a statement a week ago stating that he was ready to sign a new contract if we had one on the table and that he didn't want silly wages? The guy was settled and would've stayed given the chance, but if we don't make him feel wanted by offering him a decent contract, then what can he do? He's been here 5 years and if we had to give him a bit of a pay rise to keep him, we probably should have - could have always wrote into his contract that his wages would get reduced if we got relegated. In fact, we should probably write that into most new contracts this year! BUT, we won't necessarily miss him. We've got funds to get a fresh face in, and he probably was one of the top earners at the club already so the wage bill is looking healthy after the release of a few players.
I agree with what has been said about him possibly not having the technique to play our style of football at the top level, but his other qualities are something we currently don´t have in anyone else, so I´m a little disappointed to see him go to be honest. Good luck Darren, you took abuse from some when it was undeserved and always tried your best for the club.
Sorry to see you go Daz, thanks for the memories with the two stand out goals against Cardiff and Forest.
Contract declined / no contract ... whatever, this is going to be a story to follow. If he declined a contract it is strange indeed.... Our goal as a club, every day in every way, has been to become better, stronger, bigger than we were the day before. It's been a long road back from the gapping chasm of non-league football, but steadily but surely season after season we've climbed higher, and here we are finally with a ticket to the big dance. DP has spent the last five years of his life working on this project and now, finally, when we're about to embark on the final big adventure, after all his sweat and effort, he fails to show-up, he walks away. Why!?!?! Who's advising this kid. Wouldn't "you" want to see this through to the end. Now if this news release is immediately followed by another that he's signed a fat contract with another Prem club, then OK, I can see how he might want to follow the money road and sever or subordinate any emotional / personal vestment he might have with us, but otherwise, where's the sense. Definitely a story to follow.
rhys makes a great point there RE pratley slowing the game up a little bit , i think those are fair comments from huw /cooze . our game has moved on especially in the final 3rd and sometimes prats would delay the pass slightly ,ive seen moore and borini having to check back onside when a quicker pass wasnt made,we are only talking about split seconds but a more natural player in that part of the field is on the money a bit more . i would still have liked him to sign on with us though ,being a more defensive player and breaking up the opposition play like he does done coming on recently and did in the past . i wish him well at his new club and im sorry to see him go, i think overall he has been our top 1 or 2 player last 3 seasons ,gives all and has a fantastic fitness levels to match, never let the team down and been a good pro ,even when he was getting stick from some fans , in fact that is the only time ive seen him below par in about 3 years so that tells you alot about him as a player . good luck darren, you have been a great pro and im sure you go with the fans blessings ,most understand that you ve given 5 years of execellent service to SCFC and dont begrudge you a nice signing on fee and bumper pay day
I have to admit I was never Pratley's biggest fan, but yet I'm grateful for his contribution and all his hard work. I always felt that he looked cumbersome at times and lacked that extra yard of pace that really would have benefitted his game. He also had the ability to be completely anonymous at times when he really should have been bossing the midfield. I think he would have been exposed a lot more if it wasn't for the likes of Leon, Joe and Bodde around him, something that mat have happened more in the Prem. As people have already mentioned, our game has moved away from him and he doesn't really fit the slick passing mould. It's a positive move for us, Brendan obviously has other ideas, but he has played his part in where we are today so good luck to him.
Its a big shame that he is going he is a class act to have in any team so i will wish him luck with his next team, if i remember rightly daiswan said that he would go regardless if we went up or not due to a massive feud with huw over the forest fiasco. he said he would never sign for huw ever again, it looks as if he was right after all..
Well that is a matter for speculation, the fact is huw didn't want him to go in january even for a fee, pratley helped us get promoted, if there was any feud it should be kept behind closed doors, something he didn't do as he was airing his views on the post, thereby in the public realm, that is not the way to do things IMO The truth is probably somewhere down the middle, he refused to discuss a contract last summer probably because he wanted to know where we'd be at, in the January transfer window he wanted to go, but we refused and then probably that is where the strife was, he was a great player for us, but remember he is one person the swans are the employers, he is the employee and signed a contract with us, I got no sympathy for players who act the boyscout no matter who they are.
Good luck to him I say. Been a great addition to the side, and helped us get to where we are at. Will always remember him for his super goal V Forrest. All the best Pratters.
Very good player but was bit part last season therefore i couldnt see him being more than that this season, especially if we get some new signings in the midfield to add a physical side to it and i dont think the board would offer him a contract big enough to justify him sitting on the bench all season. Could see him going to another premiership side who havent got buckets of money (everton for example) who need to add a bit of depth to their squad but if a team like that dont come in for him i can see him going back to Championship level which is unfortunate for him
Good player on his day, who will forget the Forest goal and against Cardiff with a factastic breaststroke!!! Do feal he got a bit stale with us. No suprise that he's gone onto pastures new. What bugged me this season with Pratley was that he would go down very easy, he was very fustrating to watch against Pompey, constantly falling over. Do feel that he would only be a bit part player next season, and I don't think Brendan pulled all the stops out to keep him. Anyway thanks Darren for 5 years great service, good luck in your next club but not against The Swans!!!!! Do hope you get a good reception when back at The Liberty.
Gutted to see him go - we could have used him in the Premiership. That goal against Forest has ensured him a place in Swansea folklore.
Not taking anything away from him as it was a great goal but he was mainly to blame for Earnshaw scoring and letting Forest back in the game
Agree with PGFWhite, sad to see him go. Hope it works out better than the majority of those who have sought pastures new!! Cheers Pratts
And Pratley just held his arms in the air and let the ball go when he could have easily chased it down.
Agreed Rangels bad pass led to the goal, but in fairness it was a quality pass and an even better finish to be fair. Pratters has qualities that none of our other players have at the moment unless we sign someone with a more combative attitude. For example, if Bodde doesn´t get fit our central midfield options are currently Joey, Leon, Dobbie, Gower, Augustien...seeing as Kemy didn´t get a look in, that´s hardly a feisty midfield! Don´t get me wrong, Joey and Leon like to put it about and harry a bit, but still, we could do with some more muscle and longevity in the midfield! Pretty much every team in the Premiership is going to have a bigger, stronger midfield than we do... at the moment we just have to hope the fact we play with three dedicated, trained central midfielders, who know theier roles better than any other in that comparative position, will still allow us to retain posession and dictate play. That is, unless we sign Marcos Senna... In that case, I predict us to finish 2 or 3 places higher as a direct result!
Whatever the reasons for his departurte, good luck darren. Memories galore especially against forest and the brace against cardiff. Good Luck
http://www.futegoal.com/2011/05/nottingham-forest-vs-swansea-live.html Unless he took the Forest player out he could never get to that ball!!
