For me Pratley will always encapsulate everything that was good about a Lee Bowyer team, and everything that was bad.
No one can question his desire, or when he was in that CDM role, his ability to read the game and make timely interceptions and tackles. We've seen on many occasion him completely nullifying oppositions midfield threat.
However, especially towards the end of LBs reign, I felt we played some of our worst football with an over reliance on Pratley (not his fault) to have to link up play.
For me Pratley will always encapsulate everything that was good about a Lee Bowyer team, and everything that was bad.
No one can question his desire, or when he was in that CDM role, his ability to read the game and make timely interceptions and tackles. We've seen on many occasion him completely nullifying oppositions midfield threat.
However, especially towards the end of LBs reign, I felt we played some of our worst football with an over reliance on Pratley (not his fault) to have to link up play.
It was hard to watch at the end, but then I think that was a lot to do with Bowyer having lost control of everything on the pitch in general. It’s not a criticism as either. Both should be thanked for all their hard work over the time they gave us. I agree with you that the two seemed to symbolize everything about the team that I hated last season. Bowyer would play him every game, we were crying out for more creative football, and Pratley couldn’t give it to us.
I am 100% thankful for everything they both gave, but I am grateful we moved Pratley on and Bowyer chose to leave. Sometimes things just run their course. I hope they both go onto to have a good next step in their careers
Pratley picked up a lot of yellow cards, but probably had a low percentage of bookings per foul. He seemed to be the master of the foul which wasn't quite enough to get a booking...
For me Pratley will always encapsulate everything that was good about a Lee Bowyer team, and everything that was bad.
No one can question his desire, or when he was in that CDM role, his ability to read the game and make timely interceptions and tackles. We've seen on many occasion him completely nullifying oppositions midfield threat.
However, especially towards the end of LBs reign, I felt we played some of our worst football with an over reliance on Pratley (not his fault) to have to link up play.
My favourite Pratley performance was the one where he man marked the Milton Keynes lad out of the game. (I think it was MKD?). It’s always good to have an experienced pro around the place, and I think he’ll be missed on the training ground.
My favourite Pratley performance was the one where he man marked the Milton Keynes lad out of the game. (I think it was MKD?). It’s always good to have an experienced pro around the place, and I think he’ll be missed on the training ground.
Are you sure it was against MKD if he marked a Milton Keynes player out of the game? - Could have been Oxford
My favourite Pratley performance was the one where he man marked the Milton Keynes lad out of the game. (I think it was MKD?). It’s always good to have an experienced pro around the place, and I think he’ll be missed on the training ground.
Are you sure it was against MKD if he marked a Milton Keynes player out of the game? - Could have been Oxford
My favourite Pratley performance was the one where he man marked the Milton Keynes lad out of the game. (I think it was MKD?). It’s always good to have an experienced pro around the place, and I think he’ll be missed on the training ground.
Are you sure it was against MKD if he marked a Milton Keynes player out of the game? - Could have been Oxford
I think we should be after David Friedman as a replacement then......
My favourite Pratley performance was the one where he man marked the Milton Keynes lad out of the game. (I think it was MKD?). It’s always good to have an experienced pro around the place, and I think he’ll be missed on the training ground.
It was Scott Fraser at MKD who had a brilliant game against us Thr Valley and ran the midfield for the whole game.
Pratley man marked him their place and he hardly got a touch. It was a superb 1 on 1 performance from Pratley.
I wish him well but with Gunter and Watson having one more season, Darren Pratley had come to the end of his stay at Cafc. Too many seniors in our squad.
He found his form at the Business end of our promotion season when his experience was enormous and the Donny goal at the Valley in the semi final saved our bacon as he scored the vital second goal.
It felt at times as if he was on a bonus if he got a yellow card but Watson and Chuks seem the same.
I don't see why he won't get a League 1 club who want an enforcer.
Charlton need replacements for Prats, Shinnie, JFC, and Millar in midfield and out wide.
Morgan and Gilbey showed what energy and legs can give you we now need some top recruitments to take us on from this season.
We need to have players that can get us into at least 2nd place not trying to grab 6th place in League 1.
The ambition of Thomas Sandgaard and Nigel Adkins is straight promotion in 21/22 so I wonder if anyone will be leaving early by mutual consent?
Good luck prat’s on your next venture, you never gave less than 100% and you had the heart of a lion.You was the perfect example of a destroyer and true warrior,all the best.
Good interview, he didn’t expect to be released and would like to come back as an academy coach one day. Wants us to be promoted next season.
When he signed in the summer of 2018 I doubt many of us expected him to be with us for 3 seasons.
I thought he started well enough but by Christmas of his first season he looked to me like he may just be one of those midfielders we signed a year too late.
Our team improved as the season went on and with Bielik becoming better and more consistent and Cullen a very reliable player throughout we had no need for Pratley in the midfield.
That changed unexpectedly when we were in the playoffs. He played such an important part in the second leg that starting him the final was a must. It paid off, but we’re thinking surely he’ll be cover in the Championship.
With us doing a lot more defending in a higher division he had to step up and he did, he looked a better player than he did in L1.
He offered us the type of player we never tend to have in our midfield, a genuine physical presence - hopefully we can replace that physicality with a younger player with the potential to play in the Championship.
With him in the team weren’t going to bullied and outmuscled like many midfields of Charlton past were. The closest I can think of in recent years is Semedo, but he always looked like a defender playing in midfield. With Pratley there was no doubt that he was midfielder.
Good luck to him, hope he finds a club where he can continue to play.
shame to see him go but he must've had half an idea that all the senior pro's weren't going to be kept on - really it was either him or Watson and it would appear the latter triggered another year in his contract, surely he saw the writing on the wall
Seems a bit stung, which you can't particularly blame him for. I'd take him over Watson definitely, as I think the majority of players would. Hopefully another team will come in for him.
Seems a bit stung, which you can't particularly blame him for. I'd take him over Watson definitely, as I think the majority of players would. Hopefully another team will come in for him.
I hope we don't live to regret the decision, he's right about his fitness/age and even if that wains over the next 18 months or so having him around in a push for promotion year could be vital.
If you ask the younger players (not just those in the 1st team) they'll tell you how great he was to them with advice, taking the time with them etc. You can't buy experience, I get the 'we want a younger squad' but...... should have given him another year (even on lower wages) and maybe allowed him more time to work with the youngsters and finish his badges, he'd repay that in spades and think he would have been a fantastic addition to the academy staff in the future (maybe there's still that chance when he finally hangs up his boots).
Good luck to the old pensioner a proper pro, just like the good old days and a top bloke.
For want of a better term, I agree. With the greatest of respect to him, Pearce, Gunter, and Watson, they were a large part of why we didn’t go up. They all played far too many games.
I don’t know if it was Bowyer lauding him each week, or the fact he seemed to be able to start week in, week out that gave him that false sense of security, but he really did epitomise a lot of what was wrong with our play last season. Those fouls that he likes to win are great late in the game, but there were times when I was thinking, just bloody turn on the ball and pass forward, but he couldn’t do it, so opted to just put himself across an opponent and buy a foul, winning us free kicks in the centre circle. That’s a sign of a limited team that don’t have the ability or the belief in their talent
Comments
No one can question his desire, or when he was in that CDM role, his ability to read the game and make timely interceptions and tackles. We've seen on many occasion him completely nullifying oppositions midfield threat.
However, especially towards the end of LBs reign, I felt we played some of our worst football with an over reliance on Pratley (not his fault) to have to link up play.
Model Professional and absolute Gentleman too. Good luck Darren!
This is an excellent post.
It’s always good to have an experienced pro around the place, and I think he’ll be missed on the training ground.
Pratley man marked him their place and he hardly got a touch. It was a superb 1 on 1 performance from Pratley.
He found his form at the Business end of our promotion season when his experience was enormous and the Donny goal at the Valley in the semi final saved our bacon as he scored the vital second goal.
It felt at times as if he was on a bonus if he got a yellow card but Watson and Chuks seem the same.
I don't see why he won't get a League 1 club who want an enforcer.
Charlton need replacements for Prats, Shinnie, JFC, and Millar in midfield and out wide.
Morgan and Gilbey showed what energy and legs can give you we now need some top recruitments to take us on from this season.
We need to have players that can get us into at least 2nd place not trying to grab 6th place in League 1.
The ambition of Thomas Sandgaard and Nigel Adkins is straight promotion in 21/22 so I wonder if anyone will be leaving early by mutual consent?
I thought he started well enough but by Christmas of his first season he looked to me like he may just be one of those midfielders we signed a year too late.
Our team improved as the season went on and with Bielik becoming better and more consistent and Cullen a very reliable player throughout we had no need for Pratley in the midfield.
That changed unexpectedly when we were in the playoffs. He played such an important part in the second leg that starting him the final was a must. It paid off, but we’re thinking surely he’ll be cover in the Championship.
With us doing a lot more defending in a higher division he had to step up and he did, he looked a better player than he did in L1.
He offered us the type of player we never tend to have in our midfield, a genuine physical presence - hopefully we can replace that physicality with a younger player with the potential to play in the Championship.
With him in the team weren’t going to bullied and outmuscled like many midfields of Charlton past were. The closest I can think of in recent years is Semedo, but he always looked like a defender playing in midfield. With Pratley there was no doubt that he was midfielder.
Good luck to him, hope he finds a club where he can continue to play.
If you ask the younger players (not just those in the 1st team) they'll tell you how great he was to them with advice, taking the time with them etc. You can't buy experience, I get the 'we want a younger squad' but...... should have given him another year (even on lower wages) and maybe allowed him more time to work with the youngsters and finish his badges, he'd repay that in spades and think he would have been a fantastic addition to the academy staff in the future (maybe there's still that chance when he finally hangs up his boots).
Good luck to the old pensioner
Anyone for a protest?