Those of you hoping to listen to some classic rock and roll, sorry guys.

This'll be about the devil in our midsts, Darren Pratley. Now this is a guy that has looked poor for us so far, but let's put this into perspective. He's stepped up a league to come here and found himself playing against better opponents in a worse side (and we have been worse than Swansea this season, by a mile). I've seen how poor he has been, but the reaction of some fans has been ridiculous - with some even booing if he's brought off the bench.

I wasn't too fond of the idea of getting him in, but I understand why he was signed and I resolved to give him a shot. 8 starts in a crap side, no matter how you slice it, is not giving the guy a real chance. He showed at Swansea that, even if not good enough for this league, he's sure as hell better than he's showed with us so far. But he's been asked to play in a central 4-4-2 role, which isn't his natural role, and wide right, which isn't either. He reminds me, when used as he has been, of a struggling Kevin Nolan. Nolan has shown he can play a bit, but his game has many of the same failings as Pratley's and that shows when he's in the middle of a 4-4-2.

When you play a player in a role that doesn't suit them, when they've just stepped up a division and they're playing in a side that is woeful, it might be as well not to slaughter the guy whenever he makes a mistake. We're short in the middle, if we're sticking with 4-5-1, so he's probably going to get a few games between now and the end of the season. And 4-5-1, pushing up to support a forward, is his game.

Anyway, that's my view. He may well be crap, but I do wish he'd get some support from the crowd and the chance to actually fit into the club.

For those of you not expecting a rant about Pratley, have a bit of this as a reward:

Stones v Pratley.... Home win

A really good point, capped off with a splendid song (although I can't hear the thing, as we've no speakers at work - yeah; I know...).

Pratley has been poor so far, but booing the guy is fairly low. A 4-5-1 may just see him bring something to the party, as it were.

I still don't think that gets him out of dodge for the mistakes he's made... He just doesn't seem to playing well at all. No matter what position you play as, you should be expected to make good passes, mark well, and even Cahill and Steinsson can finish.
Forget who we were playing against, but remember when he scuffed an apparent open shot on goal? I think even Jussi or Bogdan could have slotted it away.

I don't rate him at all. I don't boo when he gets subbed in, but I definitely drop a lot of f-bombs.

Pratley must rank amongst the worst players on the books since the Reebok opened.
Frank Pasi and John O`cane spring to mind, no doubt one or two of you may have your own donkey`s.

Give the bloke a chance! He certainly hasn't hit many if any high spots so far but he might come good.
Too many of us Bolton fans are not happy unless they have a player to moan about Henrik/Jimmy Phillips/Farrelly spring to mind

If they wear a white shirt GET BEHIND THEM!

Well said!

JacquiBWFC wrote:


ha....which one?

Denn wrote:


I just don't see this. He's been crap, fine, but this is a guy who was one of Swansea's better players in a side which is now going a good job at this level. Any player can struggle for half a season, and he may just be rubbish all-through, but my point was that 8 starts is hardly conclusive.

Azreal88 wrote:


I think they're doing well because they offloaded him...

You're right, Dawg. His goal or assist every 2 starts last season really held them back

That goal made a difference to him today. He was making runs in the second half and trying things, even played quite well. But I was glad to see him come off and say "not good enough, I'll be better".

Right attitude.

Pratley strikes me as a poor man's Kevin Nolan. Not the quickest or the best technically (so a 442 definately doesn't suit him) but he does appear to have a knack of popping up with a goal from midfield. Today, he didn't play 'well', yet he was only inches away from going home with the match ball.

Was his game improved by a motivation to beat his old team?

If that was it, Wendy, it didn't work.

He was immobile and sullen for most of the first half; which was probably not helped by the fact people booed when his name was read on the team sheet - which is a fucking disgrace, by the way.

The goal seemed to give him a bit of confidence though (with the same morons who booed him now cheering). In the second half he started to look to run in behind, got on the ball and played some good passes (and one or two awful ones) and got into the tackle a bit more. It still wasn't great, but it was a definite improvement.

Like I say, I was pleased to see him come off shaking his head at those saying "well done" and telling them "not good enough". He has a lot more to offer, in his right position and with a bit of confidence to him.

One thing for sure, he'll get more games this season and we'll need him to play well.