Darren Pratley: Charlton’s players should stay off social media and focus on job in hand
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
Darren Pratley reckons Charlton Athletic’s players should stay off social media as they focus on their Championship survival push.
The Addicks dropped into the bottom three after Saturday’s 1-0 reverse to Middlesbrough at The Valley.
Pratley, 34, suffered two relegations at Bolton Wanderers – from the Premier League in 2012 and then losing Championship status in 2016.
“We’ve got nine games to go and we’ve got to pick up as many points as we can,” he said. “The important thing is that we stick together.
“I’ve been in this situation before – when you don’t stick together and you start pointing fingers, get in your groups and start slagging each other off is when things go wrong.
“The boys need to stay focused for the next nine games and if they are on social media, maybe stay off of it. That would be my advice.
“If you go home and are going on the internet, you’re not going to find nice things when you’re down the bottom.
“We need to keep going and keep fighting. After 46 games, you’ll finish where you should finish. If we remain in the league I’m sure everyone will be happy.
“Since I’ve been here it has been all rosy – winning games and getting promotion. There are two sides to football. You get the pats on the back but you also get booed and pressure on you.
“It’s why you can’t get too high when you’re winning or too low when your losing. You have to remain on an even keel. If I can keep them positive and buzzing around then I’ll do that. The young lads are working just as hard, it’s not just the experienced ones.
“Frustrating, we have away a sloppy goal in the first half. In the second half we huffed and puffed – we had a few chances. We’re disappointed not to get anything out of it.
“We know we’re in a dogfight, whether we’re above or below the line.”
Charlton go to Hull City this weekend – the hosts just above them in the standings but on a torrid run of form.
“If we win that game next week, we’re not safe,” said Pratley. “We want to win but I’m not going to say we have to win.
“If we win that we shouldn’t get carried away, because I believe it will go right down to the wire. We have to be prepared for that.
“We’ve got nine games to save our season.
“No player wants relegation on their CV – we’ve got pride. No-one deserves to be anywhere, you’ve got to earn it.
“I was relegated with Bolton. Twice I’ve been relegated.
“It’s not a nice feeling. Over a season, it’s not like a cup final, you’ve got 46 games and you’ll finish where you finish. You have to earn where you are.”
PICTURE BY PAUL EDWARDS
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
100% Good Advice from Darren Pratley.
Hi Richard
As The Glaswegian in Kent I write regularly for Dr Kish. I could not agree more with Darren Pratley’s common sense advice to the Addicks squad to stay off social media and focus 100% on their football.
The internet is a minefield of distractions and pitfalls.
The Addicks are paid to give their utmost for 90 minutes once or twice a week. It’s not a lot to ask. But nobody should have to ask in the first place.
In Lee Bowyer we have 100% committed manager who deserves 100% committed players. Even if some are – sorry to say – really not good enough for the Championship.
Let’s hear it for Darren Pratley guys.
He hws got that spot on