Darren Pratley - Rumours Rife...

Right its splashed all over the papers this morning that we're close to signing swansea midfielder Darren Pratley. could be utter bollocks but if we're letting barton go its only logical that we would sign a much cheaper, championship and untested player to replace him.

So, i can't honestly say that i know anything about him other than the fact that he's a midfielder that plays for swansea. anybody know if he's any good and have any idea why we would attempt to sign this player to warm the bench?

 

Whenever I've seen him play (albeit; not very often) he seems to have a decent game.

Apart from that I've not the foggiest about him.

 

He's pretty good mate tbf, he'll be a decent signing but that's the problem right there. He's decent. He could be brilliant I guess but it's a typical lower/mid-table prem team signing imo. We should be getting better.

 

We until i've seen him play i will reserve judgement. the 'tiote factor' comes into play. until you've seen what he can do in the shirt you really just have to give them the benefit of the doubt.

If he is 'decent' i fail to see how he's gonna get into the side ahead of nolan, tiote, guthrie or gosling. is he attacking or defensive? i'd welcome him if he's defensive because smudgers past it and Tiote only plays in bunches of 5 games due to suspensions etc.

 

Sounds just the sort of thing I was expecting

 

I have honestly said for ages he is a player that could step up and that we should look at!!

 

he aint exactly one for the future though and is he as good as Joey ? no

 

what i've seen he seems ok but agree with APs comments we should be looking at better

 

If hes a free signing then expect him to just be to add depth to the squad, with all the injuries we have had this season we need more players so any signing is a good signing imo

 

Even the Romans used to use manure to plug gaps...

 

Chris Hughton was looking to sign this lad - he's no replacement for Joey, more of a box-to-box grafter rather than a creative force.

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/footb...er-midfielder-darren-pratley-102039-22676426/

 

There was another thread about him yesterday where a fair bit of info about the sort of player he is was given/discussed.

He is a box to box midfielder with a good engine and is a no nonsense player. Not as creative as Barton but does have a good shoot and gets a few goals. I would rate him more as a backup quality player on a par with (or slightly better than) Guthrie.

As a free signing and as backup I would say that he is a good signing but he is not a direct replacement for Barton (just my opinion).