Well we pay him enough to drive a pink Rolls Royce but I'm not sure he would be a West Ham player now had we had a real Brains in the set up. Is Parker a Thunderbird who should go, or rather, should he have gone back in the January transfer window?
Parker is a class Premiership player when he makes it onto the pitch, no argument about that, but then so is Bellyache. Not many dissented when we took the money from City for Period Pains however - everybody knew that he was overpriced at £14m and most understood that the guy is damaged goods, mentally and physically. And look what has happened. A handful of games, two goals, and, surprise, surprise, he has pulled up lame and is out for the season. I bet Bellamy is moved on next January, surplus to City's requirements, and I bet he goes for less than half what City paid for him.
What's true of the Welsh Gripe is also true of Aloysius "Nosey" "Scotty" Parker. Like Bellamy, Parker is just that little bit short of class. He is a very good Premiership player but he is not an International midfielder. Eriksson took a look and didn't fancy what he saw (and he isn't choosy is he?), McClaren flirted but didn't make a long term proposal and Capello has looked him up and down and said a resounding no. As good as he is, Parker presents a problem for the team because he doesn't score enough goals (only 2 in 50 games for us). That puts a huge onus on others and some feel that Parker is the reason why Noble's career has stalled. The thought is that Noble cannot play alongside Parker in the same way that Lampard can't play with Gerrard. So Noble has had to change his game to accommodate the senior colleague and, as a result, he has lost confidence.
But it is not Parker's ability that is in question - he is worth his place in any Premiership team outside of the top 5 or 6 - what is at issue is his fitness record. It now seems likely that we will not see him again this season. That means he will have mustered a grand total of just 45 appearances in two full Premiership seasons. That also means he has missed almost 50% of the games played. And what's more, he has been substituted in 15 of those 45 appearances, so, in fact, he has only completed 90 minutes in 30 games spread over two full seasons. That is 33% of the games only. To be frank, that is shocking and moves Parker into the liability category.
Sadly, some players are injury prone. I don't know why, I am sure there are medical explanations. Maybe injuries cause injuries as the structure of the whole is undermined by each knock, each chip, each crack. Parker, like Bellyache, seems to be damaged goods. Good player, undoubtedly, but if City came again and offered £12million, I would take it. If only to give Bellyache some company in the City treatment room next season!
12 comments:
Apink Rolls Royce?
Are you fucking sure son?
The man has started 31 games this season and been outstanding in most of them. You dont write for the sun or the mail do you?
I must admit that article was rubbish enough, Parker isnt and internation midfielder as he has Lampard, gerrard, carrick and barry infront of him in the pecking order so I would deem that a very unfair assessment of my hammer of the year.
Perhaps he is injury prone however i think its unfair to compare him to bellamy who is so injury prone it borders on the upsurdity of a Monty Python film. Parker isnt that bad and proved it this season and he also isnt a complete twat either so lay off him,he is propably the main Cogg in the Mechanics behind the good season we are currently finishing.
your always knocking our players! do you even support west ham ?
Blind faith is a dangerous thing Anon 09:59. It also makes you look stupid. Measure your perspective of how the world should be, against that of a religious fanatic and what do you see? I see idiocy!
0809 - Parker drove a pink Rolls Royce for Miss Penelope - And no, that's not what Di Michele calls himself when he cross dresses!
0843 - No I don't write for The Sun or The Mail. A couple of stats that you missed. Yes Parker has started 31 games but he has been substituted no less than 10 times this season. That means he has completed 90 minutes in only 21 games - less than 50% of the games we have played. He has also collected 8 yellow cards, that is more than one every 4 games. He has only contributed one goal all season - a true International class midfielder will give you more.
Colm, yes Parker faces competition for an England place but that is as it should be. I say he would walk into any team outside of the top 6. He isn't good enough for the top 6, or for England, however. That's why Chelsea moved him on and why none of the big clubs were interested when we bought him.
959 I haven't knocked Parker, I have appraised him honestly. Counter my argument if you can.
I think that a little perspective is required. With our current squad we cannot afford to lose a player of Parker's ability. I totally disagree with those that say Noble and Parker cannot play together or that Parker stifles Noble somehow. Parker playing the holding role should allow Noble to flourish as an attacking force. I like Collison and rate him highly, however, his emergence this season has been helped by Parker doing the dirty work that allows him to venture forward. Parker IS injury prone but he seems a decent lad to have in the dressing room that the youngsters can learn from. We have to be careful not to jettison all our players who are in their prime and just leave the youngsters. Only a silly offer would persuade me to sell (i.e. 10m+) if I was manager.
I said £12m Den. I would take that. Spend £3m on Murphy, £3m on Bates from Boro and £6m on Bent and I think that would work out in our favour!
There is no way Spuds would take an 11m loss on Bent. If you offered me those three, I would have to consider it. However, I'm not sure that Bates is any better than what we have in terms of young talent and perhaps Murphy is a little old?
For once you speak some sense sheep shagger unlike your boyfriend, 3m for Murphy. Parker has been class this season. His workrate and commitment to the cause are appreciated by real Hammers who actually go and support their team.
LOL Full marks for clocking up another Fanno handle. How many more can you remember?
Den, it is 'Arry. He wants to regenerate the squad. He will take £6m if he has his eyes on somebody else - and you can bet your life he is planning to bid on 3 or 4.
I was going to get a pink Rolls Royce but in the end I settled on the Bentley.
Post a Comment