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Darren Pratley (Page 25 - Detailed interview with the SLP pre Leyton Orient match )

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Comments

  • Elthamaddick
    Elthamaddick Posts: 15,812
    TEL said:
    Woukd have given him another year, top pro, can’t fault his efforts unlike some. 
    I suspect he'd have got one had Watson not triggered his extension
  • Croydon
    Croydon Posts: 12,728
    edited May 2021
    Top pro, wish him well for the future. Gave his all, and a figurehead in the changing rooms by all accounts.

    I hope this is an insight into the type of football we'll be looking to play next season.
  • Redmidland
    Redmidland Posts: 44,700
    Thanks to Darren for his 3 years of loyal service, sorry to see him go, but understandable. I also wish him well for the future, but now we need more agile and mobile players.
  • stoneroses19
    stoneroses19 Posts: 7,220
    Plenty of Shots (@Plenty_of_Shots) Tweeted: Darren Pratley makes it 4-4 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final against Doncaster. #cafc https://t.co/Rp5qEfRWQh
    https://twitter.com/Plenty_of_Shots/status/1392784279575437318?s=20
  • ColinTat
    ColinTat Posts: 2,794
    Think Darren was an excellent signing.  One of the best, and one of the most effective signings of the late Duchatelet era.

    I'd rather have him still in the squad than Gunter or Watson.  Gunter and Watson seem to need others to cover their weaknesses, whilst Pratley still effectively covered for other players.  I understand the financial logic of only keeping one of Watson and Pratley.
  • DOUCHER
    DOUCHER Posts: 7,899
    Great attitude and commitment and i wish him all the best but 100% the right decision to release him  
  • cafc4life
    cafc4life Posts: 4,632
    Hero, wish we’d had him earlier in his career
  • BR7_addick
    BR7_addick Posts: 10,210
    Players of different quality come and go but one thing I think all fans can agree on is that when you play for Charlton you play for the badge.  Pratley had that in abundance, best of luck to him wherever it takes him.
  • Sage
    Sage Posts: 7,278
    Had some unbelievable moments in his 3 years with us and will be missed.

    The influence and professionalism he shows carried through the whole group of players. He always gave 100% and proved he can play, when many were doubting.

    Only got huge respect for Prats and wish him all the very best. As long as he finishes in the top 3 for those running stats, he’ll continue to play.

    Good luck to him.

    PS, George Lapslie will be praying he comes to Mansfield. If you know, you know :wink:
  • robinofottershaw
    robinofottershaw Posts: 1,921
    He has been a very good signing for us and always gave 100%. As others have said, that Doncaster play-off semi at home was particularly notable. Also he played a number of games at centre back when we were struggling with injuries.

    But i think the timing is right for him to leave. If you buy in to the Bowyer philosophy of having 2 players for every position (which I do) I don't think you need two veterans in the form of Watson and Pratley. I feel the same about Matthews (not so much a veteran!) and Gunter. Would like younger players to come in and compete with Watson and Matthews for the defensive midfield and right-back positions.
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  • Nadou
    Nadou Posts: 1,725
    It's given me a lot of pleasure to watch you playing and always giving 100%. Thanks and good luck for the future.
  • moutuakilla
    moutuakilla Posts: 7,568
    Brilliant club servant. Still amazed how he stepped up his game for the championship. POTY for me last year (can't remember who won) - always gave his all.

    Best of luck for the future.
  • mendonca
    mendonca Posts: 9,405
    edited May 2021
    stoneroses19 said:
    Plenty of Shots (@Plenty_of_Shots) Tweeted: Darren Pratley makes it 4-4 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final against Doncaster. #cafc https://t.co/Rp5qEfRWQh
    https://twitter.com/Plenty_of_Shots/status/1392784279575437318?s=20
    This goal gets me going just as much as Bauer's at Wembley. They go hand in hand. 

    Great to see such great tone in this thread. 
  • jonseventyfive
    jonseventyfive Posts: 3,353
    Didn't really watch much of DP until he came our way, he must have been terrific in his hay day, because he certainly gave everything he had for us, good luck for the future Darren. 
  • BFG94
    BFG94 Posts: 457
    Thanks for everything, Darren. A player who always gave 100 per cent - a Charlton man through and through. Hope his memories of the Donny semi-final goal are as good as mine.
     All the best for the future and thanks for your kind words about everyone involved in the Charlton family.
  • Southbank
    Southbank Posts: 5,252
    When he was effective he was really effective. I loved seeing him nick the ball from opponents in midfield and also win free kicks by using his strength to shield the ball. Always gave 100% and I hope we can say the same of whoever replaces him.
  • AddickUpNorth
    AddickUpNorth Posts: 8,325
    Will always respect a player that gives their all when they pull on the shirt and Pratley did that every time. He never hid and never gave up. I thank him for his dedication and wish him all the best for the future.
  • golfaddick
    golfaddick Posts: 33,628
    Good pro but glad he is leaving. Having him in the side just meant the passing was always slow & stodgy and not what you need in a newly energised team. 

    2 stand out moments for me were the Donny goal & him shackling the MK Dons midfielder. 

    100 appearances......wow. 
  • killerandflash
    killerandflash Posts: 69,846
    A sign of his quality if that he spent 5 years at Swansea under Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa and Brendan Rodgers, when they were a proper passing team. I imagine he did the "ugly" stuff for them, but you don't get to play in such a side if you're just a clogger
  • charltonbob
    charltonbob Posts: 8,255
    Maccn05 said:
    Sad news but the right decision.

    You can see he's a great pro and a top team-mate. Clearly he has the respect of everyone at the club and that says a lot, I think he'll be missed in the dressing room next season.

    He really stood up in the Championship season when everything else was crumbling and along with the goal against Donny i'll always have a soft spot for him

    On the pitch his hard work, tenacity, leadership and game management have been as important and his passing was annoying but he was top class at what he did.

    All the best Pratters x
    Thought he might have been kept on as a coach/mentor for the youngsters. Hope he gets a deal somewhere else.
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  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,560

    shame Watson triggered his contract extension otherwise I'm sure Pratley would have got another year but we certainly don't need both.

    Has been a good servant, always gave his all and scored that crucial goal v Doncaster. Wish him all the best, I'm sure he can find a League One club if he continues playing.

  • roseandcrown
    roseandcrown Posts: 7,587
    Great pro over the last 3 years and was so important the back end of the promotion year. 

    Good luck DP and thank you. 
  • mendonca
    mendonca Posts: 9,405
    It is a shame Watson triggered his extension but he also offered some simplicity in the middle during the run-in. It ended up being a dilemma. 
  • bobmunro
    bobmunro Posts: 20,843
    mendonca said:
    stoneroses19 said:
    Plenty of Shots (@Plenty_of_Shots) Tweeted: Darren Pratley makes it 4-4 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final against Doncaster. #cafc https://t.co/Rp5qEfRWQh
    https://twitter.com/Plenty_of_Shots/status/1392784279575437318?s=20
    This goal gets me going just as much as Bauer's at Wembley. They go hand in hand. 

    Great to see such great tone in this thread. 
    Let me lower it then - goodbye, good luck and good ri.....!

    Only joking - Darren never gave less than 100% when he wore the shirt, and above all was a team player. As fans, we can never ask for more than that. His part in the promotion, the play-offs and especially the second leg against Donnie on a night none of us who were there will ever forget.

    Best wishes Prats and hope to see you back at The Valley one day. 
  • king addick
    king addick Posts: 3,701
    Cant fault his effort and you could tell he loved playing for Charlton. Loved his cameos where he chased everything put a couple of crunchers in!

    Best thing he would do is score against Donny....one of my favourite moments in football personally. 

    Good luck Darren. 
  • Redrobo
    Redrobo Posts: 11,330
    🥲
  • RodneyCharltonTrotta
    RodneyCharltonTrotta Posts: 14,827
    Always gave 100% and got stuck in when he could have shyed away especially at his stage of career and seemed committed to the cause.  A good role model in that respect for younger players. 
  • Jac_52
    Jac_52 Posts: 1,460
     :'( 
  • cabbles
    cabbles Posts: 15,255
    As others have said, great pro, 110% in the shirt and was integral to getting us up and then almost keeping us up last season.  

    Very important player doing things that we as fans might not notice.  I wish him well and hope he finds a club that can accommodate him regularly.

    Taking a pragmatic stance, definitely the right decision for me.  I get the argument that had Watson not triggered a contract extension there may have been a role for him.  However, on a personal level, I didn’t really want either to be in the playing squad next season.  I wish Darren all the best and thank him for his time.  

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