Darren Pratley signs on a four year deal

[Lofthouse Lower]

Ricketts said yesterday he's not likely to be back before October.

Back.

Not playing.

Just back.

Won't see either til Christmas.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

So I imagine he could do either, which given our system means he'll have to do both all at the same time.

Which will suit him down to the ground.

Pratley's not the most skilful player in the world, but he's a lot better technically than many of his detractors at Swansea gave him credit for. His biggest strength however is an engine that could drive a train. On many an occasion he's dragged us back into games almost single handed through sheer effort and force of will, and over the last 4/5 years we almost always played better with him in the side and in form than without.

Your best bet is to give him an unrestricted midfield role. Make him sit deep and you won't see the best of him. Allow him to pop up where he wants and cover every blade of grass and you will. He'll be winning tackles deep in your half and ten seconds later having a pop at goal. He's that sort of player, and he'll be hard for us to replace. Doesn't score that many (although he did this year) but he'll get some and create a few too.

Thanks for the info, Forkbeard. Here's hoping you manage to enjoy the Premier League despite the inevitable condescension that will come your way (as it did to us, Barnsley, Hull, Blackpool...)

From where I sit, Pratley is an excellent signing (if hardly unexpected). He's keen, has something to prove, and didn't cost owt. My kinda guy.

[BWFC_Insane]

So I imagine he could do either, which given our system means he'll have to do both all at the same time.

Which will suit him down to the ground.

Pratley's not the most skilful player in the world, but he's a lot better technically than many of his detractors at Swansea gave him credit for. His biggest strength however is an engine that could drive a train. On many an occasion he's dragged us back into games almost single handed through sheer effort and force of will, and over the last 4/5 years we almost always played better with him in the side and in form than without.

Your best bet is to give him an unrestricted midfield role. Make him sit deep and you won't see the best of him. Allow him to pop up where he wants and cover every blade of grass and you will. He'll be winning tackles deep in your half and ten seconds later having a pop at goal. He's that sort of player, and he'll be hard for us to replace. Doesn't score that many (although he did this year) but he'll get some and create a few too.

Thanks for the info, Forkbeard. Here's hoping you manage to enjoy the Premier League despite the inevitable condescension that will come your way (as it did to us, Barnsley, Hull, Blackpool...)

From where I sit, Pratley is an excellent signing (if hardly unexpected). He's keen, has something to prove, and didn't cost owt. My kinda guy.

Yes cheers forkbeard, I missed that post. Backs up what I've seen of Pratley. Looking forwards to seeing what he can do with us.

And agree with DSB sort of signing we need.

And the length of the deal suggests one that Coyle really wanted.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

according to the physio room... our long term injuries are due back as follows...

Code: Select all

S Holden 	Knee Injury 	Oct 11 	 
S Davis 	Knee Injury 	no return date 	 
S Ricketts 	Calf/Shin Injury 	31st Jul 11 	 

Davis = never coming back

[Lofthouse Lower]

Yeah that's the surprising thing - he must have real faith in the lad to sign him up to his 30th.

Has to be encouraging.

[Tombwfc]

He had previously made 199 appearances during a five-year stint with Swansea, scoring 31 goals.

Fair-to-middling

If Wikipedia isn't lying to me (and why would it?) that's more than any of our other five have managed in their entire careers.

Very happy with the signing, although I can't say I've seen much of him. We're crying out for someone who can score more than two goals a season from midfield.

[Lofthouse Lower]

S'only in Division Two though, innit

Give him a fair crack. If he's not scored by half time vs QPR then I'm booing.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

S'only in Division Two though, innit

Give him a fair crack. If he's not scored by half time vs QPR then I'm booing.

From the halfway line.

[Lord Kangana]

At the Reebok.

[Lord Kangana]

So anyway, where is Pratley in the pecking order? I'm guessing he goes straight in to the midfield at QPR as the direct replacement for Holden, unless the injury curse strikes again. Or do we think Mvs is now first choice with Muamba?

[Lofthouse Lower]

Muamba and Mark Davies until Holden is fit

Pratley to come on when one of the two needs a rest with 20mins to, then he can bomb on a bit

[Forkbeard]

Here's hoping you manage to enjoy the Premier League despite the inevitable condescension that will come your way (as it did to us, Barnsley, Hull, Blackpool...)

We're already copping it. Our chairman was at a fans Q&A last night and made reference to other PL chairmen "looking down their noses at him" during a recent meeting.

Doesn't bother us much though. We've been punching above our weight and shredding expectations since we started our rise in 2004. No doubt we'll have rubbed plenty of people up the wrong way before the season's over.

[thebish]

Here's Dratley's farewell from Swansea youtoob compilation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McFrRDLKszc

(I recommend you turn off the sound)

[Lofthouse Lower]

Here's hoping you manage to enjoy the Premier League despite the inevitable condescension that will come your way (as it did to us, Barnsley, Hull, Blackpool...)

We're already copping it. Our chairman was at a fans Q&A last night and made reference to other PL chairmen "looking down their noses at him" during a recent meeting.

Doesn't bother us much though. We've been punching above our weight and shredding expectations since we started our rise in 2004. No doubt we'll have rubbed plenty of people up the wrong way before the season's over.

All the best to you - anyone with a player called Angel Rangel is OK by me

[thebish]

Here's hoping you manage to enjoy the Premier League despite the inevitable condescension that will come your way (as it did to us, Barnsley, Hull, Blackpool...)

We're already copping it. Our chairman was at a fans Q&A last night and made reference to other PL chairmen "looking down their noses at him" during a recent meeting.

Doesn't bother us much though. We've been punching above our weight and shredding expectations since we started our rise in 2004. No doubt we'll have rubbed plenty of people up the wrong way before the season's over.

I was in Swansea the day you got promoted - the Western Mail that day and the subsequent week was summat to behold! enjoy the ride!

[thebish]

true to his word, Iles has posted 10 things he reckons we didn't know about Dratley...

1 Former Swansea boss Roberto Martinez talked Dratley out of playing for Jamaica in 2009 when he was called up for a friendly by John Barnes, claiming he could go on to play for England.

2 His last touch at the Liberty Stadium was to score the third and decisive goal in the play-off semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest, from 55 yards.

3 Dratley made his senior debut at Fulham aged 18, coming on as a substitute for Latvian midfielder Andrej Stoicers in a Carling Cup defeat at Wigan Athletic.

4 He has played only 16 minutes of Premier League football, with his only appearance coming as a substitute for Fulham against Charlton Athletic in November 2003.

5 Swansea manager Kenny Jackett installed Dratley as his club captain at the tender age of 21 after regular skipper Garry Monk was struck down with a long-term knee injury.

6 He cost Swansea £100,000 and finished top scorer with seven goals in the 2009-10 campaign. He scored 12 last season, but finished behind Scott Sinclair for the club’s Golden Boot.

7 During his time with the Swans, Dratley earned the nickname “Peperami Man” from his team-mates, owing to his resemblance to the advertising character.

8 Dratley caused controversy last season after scoring against Crystal Palace. He celebrated by making a “T” sign at the television cameras, interpreted by some as an admission he was about to sign for Wanderers, the Trotters. It turned out that the gesture was actually a nod to his brother’s Thursday night card school!

9 After two spells on loan at Brentford, Dratley often attributes his tough-tackling style to former Bees boss Martin Allen. “You had to train the way you played,” he said. “And God help anyone who pulled out of a challenge.”

10 Dratley came close to signing for Nottingham Forest last January and turned down an offer from Newcastle United to sign for Wanderers on a Bosman free.

[KDIMBG]

I still expect Holden and Muamba to be the first choice CM pairing when all are fully fit. I'm glad we signed him as it gives us another option and he seems like a worse version of Holden, but an upgrade on Cohen.

What this does make interesting though is the issue of Henri Lansbury from Arsenal. I was in Denmark and he looked brilliant. Certainly had the ability to change a game when he came on. Word has it he could be part of the Cahill deal, which I would love, but 5 CMs is too many considering there's also Sean Davis and Ricky G could still be there.

[Lord Kangana]

Sean will never play for us again, and Ricky is a last chance saloon midfielder.

For that reason, if he's good, get him.

[BWFC_Insane]

Did Lansbury not play out wide for Norwich or am I imagining it?

[t_o_molloy]

Taken from the BWFC Facebook Page:
"Hes a gud playr. Cuda had a bril 5 man midfield if kept cohen... Lee, pratley, muamba, cohen, taylor. If we get wright-philips he be in for taylor"

Christ.