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Darren Pratley and Ben Watson Q&A - Bromley Addicks 11 Feb
Comments
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No wonder they get injured in training , their playing so hard they over do it and so are fucked by the match day , hence the plethora of shitness we’ve been showered with !1
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Ok,
Some brief notes but first Alan Curbishley has agreed to be our guest but not via Zoom so for this and other upcoming meetings please sign up for the mailing list by emailing tony.warran@btinternet.com
There is no membership fee and it's open to anyone, regardless of where you live. There will be some meetings, Curbs is likely to be one, were it will just be "members only" so best to get on the email list now and avoid disapointment.
So, last week.
DP and BW longevity in the game.
DP still at the front in the long pre-season runs. Both look after themselves, do extra in the gym, etc and set an example for the younger players. Both want to play for as long as possible.
Both players are Londoners. BW started at Palace at 10 but was still able to play with his local side. He joined their academy at 13.
DP was at Arsenal from 12 or 13 but signed on the old YTS scheme for Fulham, where he signed pro. He made his debut at the Valley in a 3 - 1 defeat..
The two are of similar ages and played against each other at youth levels.
BW and the Jon Fortune game. Atmosphere in the Palace dressing room was bouncing before the game, there was pressure but they were up for it.
BW played under a lot of Palace managers including Francis, Kember and Taylor but he preferred Dowie and Warnock16 -
So the email is tony.warran@btinternet.com to join the email list
DP went on loan to Brentford and that was the best thing for him. He then got a move to Swansea under Kenny Jackett where he has a great time for five seasons and won two promotions.
Moving clubs as a player
BW: have to take it in your stride, has also moved his family with him which helps a lot but sometimes in can be very short notice. Out of the blue you have days or even hours to decide. Difficult when you have a young family
DP: not moved around much but having family with you the most important thing IE Xmas day if you're away from them can be very hard
Tracey Leaburn, who was in on the call, praised by both players for all the work she does helping players settle in and even has players who are on their own over for meals to her house. @Tracey
Mention of Leon Clarke who holds the records for most clubs (20). DP he's not the brightest and he broke my leg but don't think it was deliberate.
BW Was all set to sign for Middleboro and had had medical when got a call from Steve Bruce at Wigan. Went there and spoke to him and it just felt right. Had five brilliant years there, Martinex was the best manager he's had.
Scoring the winning goal in the last minute of a FA Cup final is the pinnacle of any career, a part of history forever. Raheem Stirling broke his leg but not on purpose so was out injured in the cup run and was expecting to miss out, travelled for the semi-final and on bench for final, came and scored.
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Did I mention that some meetings might be "members only" so sign up now.
What's the email? So the email is tony.warran@btinternet.com to join the email list
BW Couldn't really celebrate the cup win as had a league game 72 hours later at Arsenal where Wigan were relegated so from the highest to the lowest in days.
Bowyer as a manager (@Afkabartram said it above already)
LB is honest and wants hard work DP Will tell you of playing well and if not. hope he stays as other clubs looking at him. Has a good backroom team in JJ, Marsh and Basey.
New ownership (coincidently just as Thomas joined us) DP: The last lot were cowboys, now the club is stable and we're not worrying. Understand there is a good relationship between LB and TS. Kyle Henderson was in on all of the call BTW.16 -
As AFKA says they both made it very clear but very diplomatically the while MM is very skillful what we fans don't see if what the players put in mon to fri on the training ground and how important it is that players train hard and look after themselves. Said that Bolton was the "last chance saloon" as where does he go from League 2? The inference was clear and it didn't seem he is missed.AFKABartram said:Only thing outside the usual Oggy was it come across quite clear that if you don’t go about things the right way, don’t put the effort into training, you won’t be playing on Saturday. Was clear that Maddison fell under that and he didn’t help himself, and that Morgan has really upped his game in that respect since he come back from Covid.
Clear also that Bowyer doesn’t sugar coat, he tells it how it is and his honesty with players is his strength.
Neither of those will be surprises to anyone but they were my two main take aways.
Later on DP praised Albie Morgan and how with hard work he's turned it around and is now a championship player. Also said that maybe while Lapslie is maybe not the most talented player he works hard and that's the sort of player you want alongside you in the team. Also praised Vennings.
Team building in the time of Covid
BW It's tough as all the usual meal out etc you might do as a team aren't possible but a good group who have a good time in the gym and physio room; it's a tight knit group. Difficult for players like Ronnie coming from abroad and who is in an apartment (not a hotel) but again well supported by @tracey. Ronnie is a finisher so we need to create chances for him
That all I can remember now
PS did I mention that you might want to sign up for the mailing list now and avoid future disappointment, even miserable East Kenters like @Addickted welcome tolerated
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DP also mentioned he was a bit gutted that Lapslie leftHenry Irving said:
As AFKA says they both made it very clear but very diplomatically the while MM is very skillful what we fans don't see if what the players put in mon to fri on the training ground and how important it is that players train hard and look after themselves. Said that Bolton was the "last chance saloon" as where does he go from League 2? The inference was clear and it didn't seem he is missed.AFKABartram said:Only thing outside the usual Oggy was it come across quite clear that if you don’t go about things the right way, don’t put the effort into training, you won’t be playing on Saturday. Was clear that Maddison fell under that and he didn’t help himself, and that Morgan has really upped his game in that respect since he come back from Covid.
Clear also that Bowyer doesn’t sugar coat, he tells it how it is and his honesty with players is his strength.
Neither of those will be surprises to anyone but they were my two main take aways.
Later on DP praised Albie Morgan and how with hard work he's turned it around and is now a championship player. Also said that maybe while Lapslie is maybe not the most talented player he works hard and that's the sort of player you want alongside you in the team. Also praised Vennings.
Team building in the time of Covid
BW It's tough as all the usual meal out etc you might do as a team aren't possible but a good group who have a good time in the gym and physio room; it's a tight knit group. Difficult for players like Ronnie coming from abroad and who is in an apartment (not a hotel) but again well supported by @tracey. Ronnie is a finisher so we need to create chances for him
That all I can remember now
PS did I mention that you might want to sign up for the mailing list now and avoid future disappointment, even miserable East Kenters like @Addickted welcome tolerated17 -
Thanks for the updates. Interesting to hear DP say Albie is a Championship midfielder. @Dazzler21 will be happy with that!1
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Too right I will, it's clear that if he can sort his few minor failings he will be very good.Chunes said:Thanks for the updates. Interesting to hear DP say Albie is a Championship midfielder. @Dazzler21 will be happy with that!
I believe he's shown he has the ability to respond positively to criticism and grow as a player.
He handled Bowyer's comments in the exact way Bowyer would have wanted.8 -
Agree. Sounds like he's been working hard in training so would like to see him playing more.Dazzler21 said:
Too right I will, it's clear that if he can sort his few minor failings he will be very good.Chunes said:Thanks for the updates. Interesting to hear DP say Albie is a Championship midfielder. @Dazzler21 will be happy with that!
I believe he's shown he has the ability to respond positively to criticism and grow as a player.
He handled Bowyer's comments in the exact way Bowyer would have wanted.2 -
With JFC out I guess it's him or Smith.Chunes said:
Agree. Sounds like he's been working hard in training so would like to see him playing more.Dazzler21 said:
Too right I will, it's clear that if he can sort his few minor failings he will be very good.Chunes said:Thanks for the updates. Interesting to hear DP say Albie is a Championship midfielder. @Dazzler21 will be happy with that!
I believe he's shown he has the ability to respond positively to criticism and grow as a player.
He handled Bowyer's comments in the exact way Bowyer would have wanted.
@Henry Irving thanks for sharing.
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Thanks, @AFKABartramAFKABartram said:Only thing outside the usual Oggy was it come across quite clear that if you don’t go about things the right way, don’t put the effort into training, you won’t be playing on Saturday. Was clear that Maddison fell under that and he didn’t help himself, and that Morgan has really upped his game in that respect since he come back from Covid.
Clear also that Bowyer doesn’t sugar coat, he tells it how it is and his honesty with players is his strength.
Neither of those will be surprises to anyone but they were my two main take aways.
Much appreciated!
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And a big thankyou to Sir Henry Irving.
I appreciate it takes time to write up notes, so a big thumbs up.
Cheers, Henry!
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Thank you for the summary. Very illuminating.0
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Dazzler21 said:
With JFC out I guess it's him or Smith.Chunes said:
Agree. Sounds like he's been working hard in training so would like to see him playing more.Dazzler21 said:
Too right I will, it's clear that if he can sort his few minor failings he will be very good.Chunes said:Thanks for the updates. Interesting to hear DP say Albie is a Championship midfielder. @Dazzler21 will be happy with that!
I believe he's shown he has the ability to respond positively to criticism and grow as a player.
He handled Bowyer's comments in the exact way Bowyer would have wanted.
@Henry Irving thanks for sharing.Gilbey maybe back in the running now too judging by recent comments. Speaks well that Morgan cam on on Saturday and not Smith though, even it might have been better for him to come on for JFC in the first half. Bit like when we all expected Dillion to be dropped for Maxwell, but Dills kept his place and upped his performances and never looked back. Morgan just needs to find consistency and probably a few more goals and assists, but if he finds consistency the end product will probably take care of itself. He definitely could go a long way in the game, and its definitely not unreasonable that he isn't starting every week yet either.Thanks for the write up Henry.6 -
AFKABartram said:Only thing outside the usual Oggy was it come across quite clear that if you don’t go about things the right way, don’t put the effort into training, you won’t be playing on Saturday. Was clear that Maddison fell under that and he didn’t help himself, and that Morgan has really upped his game in that respect since he come back from Covid.
Clear also that Bowyer doesn’t sugar coat, he tells it how it is and his honesty with players is his strength.
Neither of those will be surprises to anyone but they were my two main take aways.
And as I think you identified on another thread - that's very Curbs like. Some players will buy into it, others won't. It may alienate the odd talented player which will frustrate some fans, but the flip side is some players will run through brick walls for a manager like that. You have to find 11 of those players (maybe 20 these days in the era of squads rather than teams), but if you can you'll be amazed how far that team can go.
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Remembered something else.
Asked about the game last season at Forest he said he was willing Sarr to cross the ball as he was so far out he couldn't do any damage....(in case you've forgotten Naby fluked one and Taylor got lucky with a wild swing to score 😂)
He said the then Forest manager didnt realise that teams near the bottom of the table weren't automatically rubbish. He frequently rested players against them, as he did v us, and forest lost three or four like that.
The players even tried to explain it to him but without success.13 -
Fixed.Henry Irving said:
It really wasn't that interesting.Oggy Red said:
Henry Irving, of course.killerjerrylee said:Which virtual guest would you like us to get next?
Seriously, I'd be interested to learn of the behind-the-scenes stuff, when he was Fans Director.
The lack of drugs, money, girls, fast cars, it all gets very boring very quickly0
