(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

Very short memories some folk.

 

Remember Fleetwood away, and our from from then to the end of last season?

 

Without Pratley we'd have been fucked..

Short memory indeed....

 

We won at Fleetwood mainly because ALF started scoring, the good form of that period was largely down to Morais's purple patch & Madine's return was vital for the last 2 games ....Pratley contributed next to nothing & didn't even start the last game.

 

Pratley has suddenly become a much better player by not playing, but it's telling that the best season we've had since Pratley joined us, was the season when he was mostly out injured.

we are usually on the same page but pratley had a massive influence on that game

we are usually on the same page but pratley had a massive influence on that game

That game he did, but he soon returned to his usual self in the games after that.

 

Pratley is an athlete and a very limited footballer, he just about got away with it playing centre mid in league one, he can't and won't get away with it in the champ.

Pratley runs around, usually without the ball, gives away needless free kicks, falls over a lot and balloons most of his shots. but offers little else. For me Madines return was the turning point of last season not Pratleys return.

and yet he was promoted as part of the footballing swansea side

 

i dunno, really

He had a really decent spell a while back when he played further forward and got some goals.

Plenty of hard work but limited.

Parky knows what he wants though. Time will tell.

This primarily

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4629686/amp/Cameroon-1-1-Australia-Mark-Milligan-converts-penalty.html

 

But I bow down to your superior Wikipedia searching usually but on this occasion wiki appears outdated

 

Fair enough. But he is only captain because Jedinak withdrew with injury.

He is an experienced captain at club level.

we are usually on the same page but pratley had a massive influence on that game

The difference with pratley and without is that an extra body gets forward. Spearing Thorpe and especially Trotter were always ten yards too deep.

 

Is Pratley world class. No.

 

Can he do a job. Yes.

Pratley gave is an energy in midfield we'd been missing. His return certainly improved us IMO.

 

That said, I hope we can bring in someone better.

Pratley did well in league one for a short spell helped us go up credit where's its due. We've gone up into a division where he's done v little to impress in a bolton shirt so sceptism is fair, he's going nowhere so we've a great chance to see him prove a point either way

You could say that about them all though

 

What do we do, get rid of anyone who played for us the season before last?

 

I like Pratley, think we could get a tune out of him this season

Don't rate him whatsoever! Seeing as we are stuck with him we have too give him a chance to prove his doubters wrong . Tbh he will be out most of the season injured like normal.

Blaming the guy for breaking his leg?

So the heat is off madine folk need someone to moan about, pratley it is

So the heat is off madine folk need someone to moan about, pratley it is

Can't really moan about a bloke who tries hard. No problem there.

Just not the best talent.

Pratley has one big advantage over Spearing. He's bigger and he covers more ground in 90 mins. I'm a fan of Spearing but when we were under the cosh in the Championship we always seemed to be slightly short handed in centre mid. This was particularly pronounced when Spearing and Medo were in combination. I know having midfielders who are there to close down and cover every blade of grass is a bit old fashioned but every side needs one or two. Spearing does his best, he has qualities, but his little legs can't cover the ground of a Per Frandsen, Kevin Nolan, Jason McAteer. Consequently he's just not quite in their class. Admittedly this is just one of the differences between Championship strugglers and top half sides.

Your above guys all were more creative with a goal in them.

Spearing is more of an old style ratter.

Would quite like all of them together now!

He is an old style ratter.... but he's also a few inches shorter than them. He consequently just can't quite cover the same ground. We need to get the blend of other midfielders right for Spearing to thrive in the Championship and we rarely did. Not helped by Freedman's tactics and Lennon's lack of tactics.

Pratleys strength is his fitness and running. Not a great compliment for a pro footballer.in the Championship a great engine alone will not have much of an impact.pace and skill will, but that's not what he possesses. Never been a fan tbh.

Pratley has one big advantage over Spearing. He's bigger and he covers more ground in 90 mins. I'm a fan of Spearing but when we were under the cosh in the Championship we always seemed to be slightly short handed in centre mid. This was particularly pronounced when Spearing and Medo were in combination. I know having midfielders who are there to close down and cover every blade of grass is a bit old fashioned but every side needs one or two. Spearing does his best, he has qualities, but his little legs can't cover the ground of a Per Frandsen, Kevin Nolan, Jason McAteer. Consequently he's just not quite in their class. Admittedly this is just one of the differences between Championship strugglers and top half sides.

 

I wouldn't compare Spearing & Pratley.

 

Spearing has one specialist position which is effectively an extra line of defence in front of the back 4 or 3 stopping people running straight at our defence, picking up the loose balls & often dropping back & getting in last ditch tackles & clearances. Nothing glamorous about it but a vital role in the team & just as important to the defence as Wheavers last season.

 

Pratley on the other hand doesn't seem to have any position..... is a liability in defence lunging in giving away dangerous free kicks, in midfield can't control the ball or see a pass so kills any momentum going forward, & up front has no composure. 

 

It will be interesting to see if Parky has him as 1st choice next season.....for me he's already behind Spearing, Vela, Karacan, Morris & hopefully 1 or 2 more we can bring in this summer

I'm not singing Pratley's praises. I'm just saying I think Spearing will only ever be a solid rather than spectacular Championship standard player and even then needs the right combination of midfielders around him to make it work. If I was PP I wouldn't be certain I couldn't get better on the open market for much cheaper wages.

Anybody else have a feeling that Spearing could pitch up at Blackburn?

Anybody else have a feeling that Spearing could pitch up at Blackburn?

I thought that was possible but heard today they have spent 750k on Bradley Dack.

I thought that was possible but heard today they have spent 750k on Bradley Dack.

He could still go there, Dack is an attacking midfielder and Rovers must have cash available.

He could still go there, Dack is an attacking midfielder and Rovers must have cash available.

Aye that's true. Surprised at that fee though.