He is as fit as a fiddle,if he wants he can play until he is 40,great signing for Orient,we may on occasions this coming season,miss what he brought to the team.
I think we are going to miss his experience and influence in the dressing room. I am hoping that the calibre and finesse of the squad we assemble will mean we have less need of a midfield enforcer/destroyer this season - but I bet there will be occasions when I will be thinking, I wish we had Pratters to bring on. Having said that, I think he has reached a stage in his career of diminishing returns, so now perhaps was the time to move him on. I thank him and wish him the very best
Seems a good fit for club and player. Will do very well in L2 and no doubt his experience and personality will be good for their team/morale in the dressing room too. Good luck to him. I like Orient.
Pratley is a very good and experienced footballer, at league two level even at his age he'll be bossing it most games, but more importantly he'll manage the games and talk the younger less experienced players through. We miss him massively on and off the pitch.
Shame we couldn't of kept him. Still think it was a mistake in letting him go. Especially looking at the midfield we have now.
It was the right time to replace him as we were aiming to improve. The mistake was doing that with Dobson and Arter - though either could still go on to have a good season.
as you say a true proper pro, how we could have done with him around the last few years.
A proper pro yes, but I’ll be very happy if he’s on the team sheet against us next season!
he likely will be, I think over the past two seasons whilst he may not have been a starter every game had he stayed he'd definitely have had game time. After all we let him go as couldn't keep him and Watson....... where's Watson been the last few seasons?
It may be a division below but he's just led LO to the title, and played 41 games. I think they'll be a mid table league one next season at least.
He may be well past his prime now, but a fantastic professional that was underrated for a lot of his career in my personal opinion. 4 promotions and a leader on the pitch. Forgetting he scored in that game I honestly don't think we'd have got through the home leg against Doncaster without him. When the heads were down as we went behind for the 1st time and looked like we may be out, he dragged the players through.
Have huge respect for Darren, pleased for him. Still remember his last season with us helping out at CB. Hope we’ll see him at the Valley, & he plays well but we win.
Really like Pratley the leader, pro and person. Dobson has been an improvement on the playing side and hardly been injured since he came in as Pratley's replacement.
A rare example of succession planning actually working at Charlton.
Always remember the play off final. We get a free kick, Sunderland player faffing around with ball, Pratley walks over, grabs the ball and pushes their player over.
Not sure he even got a card, maybe the ref had a quiet word.
Still irks me to this day that Watson stayed and Pratley went.
Just seen the highlights of Doncaster at The Valley (4 years ago!!) and scoring an equaliser with a ripped shirt just showed the warrior he was...we miss that!
If it was a case of Pratley or Watson it would've been Darren who stayed but because of DP contract had finished and Watson could get another year then that made the decision.
Ben Watson had a good career but unfortunately he came to cafc when his legs had gone and he had lost his edge. I don't doubt he was an excellent trainer as Adkins stated but he struggled on match days with the odd exception when he looked good on the ball. Problem was he was off the pace. Charlton was Ben's last club before retirement !
Darren Pratley has had a good career but at the time I wanted to replace both Watson and Pratley despite DP being a leader and great squad player who could help on match days and Sparrows lane.
Not many outfield players are still going at 38 and 653 apps in all competitions!
Comments
I am hoping that the calibre and finesse of the squad we assemble will mean we have less need of a midfield enforcer/destroyer this season - but I bet there will be occasions when I will be thinking, I wish we had Pratters to bring on.
Having said that, I think he has reached a stage in his career of diminishing returns, so now perhaps was the time to move him on.
I thank him and wish him the very best
It may be a division below but he's just led LO to the title, and played 41 games. I think they'll be a mid table league one next season at least.
He may be well past his prime now, but a fantastic professional that was underrated for a lot of his career in my personal opinion. 4 promotions and a leader on the pitch. Forgetting he scored in that game I honestly don't think we'd have got through the home leg against Doncaster without him. When the heads were down as we went behind for the 1st time and looked like we may be out, he dragged the players through.
Still remember his last season with us helping out at CB.
Hope we’ll see him at the Valley, & he plays well but we win.
A rare example of succession planning actually working at Charlton.
Dobson definitely the better player in his position now but would like to see some Darren Pratley type signings in key positions this summer.
Not sure he even got a card, maybe the ref had a quiet word.
Just seen the highlights of Doncaster at The Valley (4 years ago!!) and scoring an equaliser with a ripped shirt just showed the warrior he was...we miss that!
Good luck to him!
Ben Watson had a good career but unfortunately he came to cafc when his legs had gone and he had lost his edge. I don't doubt he was an excellent trainer as Adkins stated but he struggled on match days with the odd exception when he looked good on the ball. Problem was he was off the pace.
Charlton was Ben's last club before retirement !
Darren Pratley has had a good career but
at the time I wanted to replace both Watson and Pratley despite DP being a leader and great squad player who could help on match days and Sparrows lane.
Not many outfield players are still going at 38 and 653 apps in all competitions!
I wonder how many yellows in that number 🤔