George Pratt Appreciation!!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

1 hour ago, bluebruce said:

I think Pratt is considered agricultural in his style, and Litherland more cultured. The latter being more popular in the modern game. But I think there is still a place for the old fashioned no nonsense CB, personally.

Litherland is definitely better on the ball, or he was when I last saw him play.

[arbitro]

I believe Litherland would have been the centre half to step up to the first team based on what I have seen of him and Pratt but injury has stopped him progressing. For me he is better equipped to handle all aspects of Championship football.

What might have swung things in his favour is the fact he is left footed given Ismael's penchant for left and right footers at centre back.

However Pratt got his chance and took it exceptionally well so right now he has the shirt and (in the short term) it's his to lose.

[47er]

8 minutes ago, arbitro said:

What might have swung things in his favour is the fact he is left footed given Ismael's penchant for left and right footers at centre back

Logically that should have swung things Pickering's way shouldn't it?

[KentExile]

13 hours ago, bluebruce said:

I think Pratt is considered agricultural in his style, and Litherland more cultured. The latter being more popular in the modern game. But I think there is still a place for the old fashioned no nonsense CB, personally.

Pratt was playing in grassroots football up until 2019 which possibly accounts for him being a bit of a throwback compared to Litherland & Atcheson who both grew up in the academy system

 

[arbitro]

1 minute ago, 47er said:

Logically that should have swung things Pickering's way shouldn't it?

Ismael doesn't seem to do logic at times.

Pickering would have been my choice for the Derby game for sure but he seems to be completely our of favour as does Ribeiro.

[NeilInBristol]

14 hours ago, Exiled_Rover said:

The priority for a CB is to defend.

I loved watching Batth put the ball into Row Z when he was playing for us - he assessed the situation and rather than trying to lay off a deft header / pass to a teammate he just cleared the danger and got us set.

It's a lost art. Everyone tries to be Rio Ferdinand these days.

Agree entirely 

we aren’t arsenal, no need to try to pass it around the box which is suicidal if you haven’t got the right players and concentration which of course we won’t have

we are an average championship side at best currently, hoof the ball in to row z, re compose, move on to next phase in play - suits us well

Pratt seemed to play with that sense of pragmatism too, hope he kicks on for us and he becomes a mainstay of our defence 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

2 hours ago, arbitro said:

Ismael doesn't seem to do logic at times.

Pickering would have been my choice for the Derby game for sure but he seems to be completely our of favour as does Ribeiro.

Me too, or Ribeiro. Moving Hedges there weakened us in two positions. I think you need experience in the centre half position more than most of the other positions. Good “ apprentice “ centre halves are as rare as hens teeth. Look at the lad we signed from Everton a few years ago. He looked extremely raw, now he’s played a few games he’s knocking on the door of the England team.

You can have centre halves who are great in away games when you’re under siege. You’re always in the game and you’re more or less constantly in and around your own penalty area. However they can become unstuck in home games were we have the ball a lot of the time and they are positioned much further forward. You need to have much higher levels of concentration when you aren’t involved in play. That’s where the experience comes in.

I like how Pratt played at Preston but it would be unwise to expect too much too soon. As it is we have no choice but to throw him in at the moment.

Edited 1 hour ago by Tyrone Shoelaces