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Darren Pratley - The 7 year journey to be appreciated by the Bolton fans

Darren Pratley. A name that can either denote praise or frustration amongst the Bolton fanbase. There have been countless arguments as to whether Pratley deserves either one of these over the years. Arguments for the praise include that he is clearly an important figure in the dressing room, proven by his current position as club captain. Others include the fact that he is probably one of the fittest players, strength and stamina wise at the club and has been for a while. However, equally valid arguments from other side state that while he does work hard, he lacks any real technical ability on the ball or fails to create any positive attacking play when he does have possession of it. Many would argue that this is just the type of player he is and does the dirty work for the rest of the team but others would argue that he brings down the rest of the team because of it.

The cycle continues. He is a player that has been unfairly associated with the decline of Bolton unlike David Wheater who is the only player to have spent longer with the Wanderers than Pratley. I think I speak for the majority when I say that regardless of what you think of him, he is clearly a vital figure at the club in Parky's tenure and we can, at the very least, appreciate all the effort he has put in and continues to put in to help the club. However, his contract is up in the Summer and this reputation for getting nothing more than appreciative acknowledgement amongst the fanbase could be what he is remembered for. Not being loved but being acknowledged. While it's very possible he signs an extension and improves this situation, myself thinking it's quite likely he signs on into next season at least, is this a fair way to remember Darren Pratley over his Bolton career? Let's take a look back at his Bolton career and see how he's gotten to this position and been associated with Bolton's decline.

2011-12

Darren Pratley is the first player through the door, signing on a free from Swansea City. Scoring 9 goals in their play-off winning campaign, Pratley seemed a shrewd signing as a potential goalscoring midfielder, something much needed in a position ravaged by injuries to Sean Davis (remember him) and Stu Holden (P*** off Jonny Evans). However, he didn't quite live up to that possibility, scoring just 2 goals in our relegation season. However, he only started 14 times and had 11 sub appearances with, Mavies and Reo-Coker often being preferred to him only playing really when Mavies was injured and Muamba fell out of favour and eventually 'that night' which suddenly ended Muamba's career. Not really a fair swing in the top flight but how would he do for the Wanderes back in the Championship.

2012-13

Pratley again only scored 2 goals but was starting to discover his current role as a nuisance on the pitch. Though again falling behind in the pecking order on occasion to Mavies, Spearing, Keith Andrews (somehow) and eventually Medo, more exciting or technically gifted players or in the case of Spearing, in better form as an energetic, scrappy fighter. Pratley was slowly proving to be not popular amongst the fans but because we nearly got into the play-offs, any real venom was spared towards him. The next season though would prove not as kind.

2013-14

This season would prove not as kind to Darren. With the team not challenging for promotion like we thought we would and with Freedman trying to play a more free-flowing and expansive football but not really succeeding and names like Mavies (when fit), Medo, Spearing and Danns ahead of him due to their more technical approach, Darren was derided by fans for not being able to adapt and some silly mistakes in games lend to him being branded 'useless' and a 'donkey'. I myself was part of that and most Bolton fans were expecting him to move on at the end of the season, if anyone would take him...

2014-15

Yet he remained. A dreadful start and no-one really playing well. Bolton seemed destined for relegation and Pratley was in his final year as a Bolton player and still playing badly. After Freedman's log overdue sacking, it was Neil Lennon's job to salvage the season. Not only did he salvage the season but seemed to salvage Darren Pratley. From December onwards up until he got injured and joined the seemingly 100's of other players on the injury list that season, he was a man possessed, scoring lovely goals regularly and playing fantastic football. The tide was seeming to turn for Bolton who were playing well and there were even some calls to renew Pratley's contract based on this form alone, with hopes that he could take it into next season, a decision he did eventually agree to. Amidst all this though was the news of financial ruin and the dreaded embargo, a common theme for the next season.

2015-16

Bolton's possibly worst ever season. Financial struggles coincided with poor performances on the pitch and Bolton fulfilled this prophecy of failure by putting up barely any fight with just 5 wins, no away wins and a meagre 30 points to doom us to relegation. But what about Darren? He celebrated his renewed contract by becoming club captain, taking over from Zat Knight, whom I'm sure we can all agree, was a crap player. It was still a strange decision though, with Jay Spearing and David Wheater being more likely candidates to the fans. Yet Pratley did mostly play this season, albeit not very well, but barring Rob Holding, no one came out of this dreadful season with anything to their name. Pratley instead, assumed a role this season of being the voice of disgruntled players behind the seasons, with a public call out asking for new owner Ken Anderson to bring some proper stability to the backroom with a new manager ASAP and pleading for the fans to give them all a chance to prove themselves and back the team in League One. Probably his toughest time as a player as even those call outs were met with mixed to negative reviews from the fans, despite their truthful nature. Could he turn his career around?

2016-17

The signs of a turnaround appeared. Phil Parkinson had rejuvenated the whole club and Bolton shockingly seemed primed for a promotion campaign and every player who played terribly in the previous campaign had a new lease of life. Pratley didn't benefit though, getting a nasty leg break in the game against Sheffield and was projected to miss the majority of the season. As we all know though, Pratley is a fighter and this mentality, shockingly brought him to start against Fleetwood, when most fans thought he was still out injured. A strange decision but would it pan out. Absolutely! He was tremendous for the most part in the remaining games and though he faded near the end, it can't be understated how much his return saved our season then, renewing our promotion campaign after a bit of a poor run in the 4 games prior and letting our rivals catch up. He seemed to properly fill the captains role now and led us to promotion.

Now here we are, fighting relegation with Pratley being a key part of the fight, like last season. Much like Bolton itself, Darren Pratley has had to endure some really tough times in recent years and has had to scratch and claw through a mountain of crap to see the light at the end of the tunnel. His attitude has been tremendous throughout these 7 years. He could have moved clubs when his contract was up or when he fell out favour or when the club was in financial turmoil but no. He has stuck with Bolton through the bad times and is now seemingly starting to gain some appreciation for this from the fans. He arguably be deserves more though but because he is not a very technically gifted player and doesn't score many goals for us, he still has a bad reputation amongst some fans. However, his workhorse mentality is serving us well this season and should he sign on, which I believe he should and will, he will only further improve his reputation from being appreciated for his services to, if I dare say it, a club legend. A tag which, in my opinion, would be deserved after everything we've been through together.

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