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Criticised for a ‘defeatist attitude’ and panned for his performances on the pitch, Wanderers skipper Darren Pratley has borne the brunt of fans’ scorn following the club’s relegation to League One.
The midfielder spoke from the heart after defeat at Derby County killed off any hope of avoiding the drop but his words were met with little sympathy from the terraces.
Based purely on performances it is little wonder. Pratley has struggled to replicate his best form this season and after signing a three-year deal to stay with the club last summer he is one of a number of players who now look an expensive luxury.
Pratley’s warnings in the aftermath of last weekend’s game, however, must be ignored at their peril.
The captain correctly said “those upstairs” should shoulder some of the blame for the club’s failings. Not on the pitch, of course, but most certainly in the way financial and communication matters have been handled.
Pratley fears a “double drop” relegation if such matters are not cleared up quickly. Again, his words were seized upon by fans who feel his attitude to be negative, or that it is not a player’s place to be making such predictions.
The 30-year-old is in a no-win situation and would have been condemned if he had painted a rosy picture of the future too.
Personally, it gives me some encouragement that the players are aware of just what a tipping point this club is at, and why the attitude going into next season will be so vitally important.
Pratley has rarely found his popularity among supporters to be particularly high, even though his form in Neil Lennon’s early days suggested he had finally found his niche. But few players in the squad speak with such honesty and without platitude. Feel free to disagree with his sentiments but do not doubt their sincerity.
Senior players, Pratley included, have done little to earn fans’ grace this season with their performances on the pitch but to castigate them for the wage they earn is a little unfair, in my view. They did not draft up the contract and had Wanderers been more cautious with their cash in the last few years who knows how many problems could have been avoided?
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The midfielder spoke from the heart after defeat at Derby County killed off any hope of avoiding the drop but his words were met with little sympathy from the terraces.
Based purely on performances it is little wonder. Pratley has struggled to replicate his best form this season and after signing a three-year deal to stay with the club last summer he is one of a number of players who now look an expensive luxury.
Pratley’s warnings in the aftermath of last weekend’s game, however, must be ignored at their peril.
The captain correctly said “those upstairs” should shoulder some of the blame for the club’s failings. Not on the pitch, of course, but most certainly in the way financial and communication matters have been handled.
Pratley fears a “double drop” relegation if such matters are not cleared up quickly. Again, his words were seized upon by fans who feel his attitude to be negative, or that it is not a player’s place to be making such predictions.
The 30-year-old is in a no-win situation and would have been condemned if he had painted a rosy picture of the future too.
Personally, it gives me some encouragement that the players are aware of just what a tipping point this club is at, and why the attitude going into next season will be so vitally important.
Pratley has rarely found his popularity among supporters to be particularly high, even though his form in Neil Lennon’s early days suggested he had finally found his niche. But few players in the squad speak with such honesty and without platitude. Feel free to disagree with his sentiments but do not doubt their sincerity.
Senior players, Pratley included, have done little to earn fans’ grace this season with their performances on the pitch but to castigate them for the wage they earn is a little unfair, in my view. They did not draft up the contract and had Wanderers been more cautious with their cash in the last few years who knows how many problems could have been avoided?
Source