Who knew the player this lad would become. I chose to moniker his name out of random ignorance to find a little gem......or not as some may say. I'd just like to stand up for the guy. Everyone says he's not a right winger, and yet somehow he beats players as often as our wingers, tackle back more than our wingers, gets into the box more than our wingers, links up with our saviour of a little RB better than them and most importantly of all.........can actually deliver a cross with vague consistency. Why does he get slated, because he does the job properly with no flash or pomp, so it makes a big mark of his errors of which there aren't many. This guy quietly gets his head down, plays for the club, for his shirt, for us, for Sir Chris & for his livelihood. He may not start week in week out forever, but who'd of thought he'd have as many appearances as he's had at the start of last season, including a serious injury. Quietly effective.
Well said. He has converted me from "well worth a place in the squad" to "well worth a place in the team". I heard a rumour that he got a tremendous boost in confidence when he learned that one of the Addicks' most distinguished supporters had incorporated his name in his handle.
Haven't posted for a while but this post is superb. When Pritch first got that red shirt on you could see it meant the world to him. He plays his heart out every game and what he lacks in skill he more than makes up for in determination, passion and complete professionalism. I cant think of a single reason any charlton fan could feel anything other than happy seeing him in our shirt. He plays where he is asked, and does a very good job of it too. I still remember him holding his arms out to hug the guy who went on the pitch after the hartlepool game and then being the only player who tried to get the steward to leave the guy alone. The game needs more Bradley Pritchards, but there is only one, and he is ours
Great thread, you never get me slating him. If Haynes is fit CP may have to choose between Pritchard and Stephens (assuming Frimpong is also fit), and for my money Pritchard consistently makes a greater contribution.
Pritchard is growing on me. I've always liked him but never really felt that he's up to this standard. It's not his fault that he is being played out of position and, in the process, keeping out a perfectly good (if slightly fragile) right winger. He certainly can't be faulted for effort and is learning rapidly. Just not sure where he should play. Assuming that Frimpong is bolted on so long as he's here and Green/Wilson should be RM, Pritch has either got to displace Stephens who is a better footballer (puts tin helmet on and retreats into corner with a bag of crisps) or CP has to get over his Jacko fetish. That of course means that pritch would have to play LM which would be unfair on Kerkar and Pritch is no more a LM than he as a RM. confusing eh?
I have been a Pritchard detractor. I am still not 100% convinced he is the long term answer, but his recent form has been excellent. I still think he is personally better on the right than he is in the middle because he contributes to the midfield losing it's shape when inside, but out wide he has a bit more freedom to hurry the opposition without the fear of overrunning a parter. Lets see if he can push on and continue to prove the detractors wrong. I'd happily eat humble pie if he does.
Great thread, Ben. As everyone's probably sick of hearing me say, I think his performance last season at The Massive Club was one of the finest midfield displays I've ever seen by a Charlton player. Kicked from pillar to post, he just picked himself up, dusted himself down and carried on. Magnificent.
I agree in a way that he has been almost more effective out wide. Reads as out of position, but secretly a huge contributor.
I think he's crap... nah I did earlier this season couldn't stand him especially being put on the Right, I thought he was decent but not a class act or a good player last season I saw no reason why he'd be good this year either. Earlier this season I was fuming about him, his performance against Forest was the worst I had seen from a player in a long long time.... BUT he has proved me wrong, and in this case I'm happy to be proved wrong, hope he goes from strength to strength to a brilliant player, it'll still take some convincing for me to be willing to put his name on my shirt.
He's good, but he's not better than Scotty Wagstaff! I'm sorry, if people don't agree with this, but Waggy should be playing. He was one of the few players with Championship experience, and lest not forget, bloody awesome last season. Solly and Himself make a good partnership. Prichard should never be starting in front of him, irrespective!
I'm sad to say it but Waggy would start behind current options, Green, Pritch & Wilson for me at the moment. For one main reason though, lack of quality delivery, all 3 of those out of 10 crosses each, would deliver more useful crosses than Waggy. He has the stunner in him and the pace, but not the trick to match it. His type of desire is sometimes to the detriment of his performance, where as Pritchards passion is quite well considered on the pitch. This isn't anti Waggy, I wouldn't want to see him leave, he can be a big impact player for 20 minutes lets say, tired defenses etc. But can waste too much over 90 compared to others around him. It's a surprisingly good situation to be in in my eyes
