This is getting positively odd. I am not the biggest fan of Parker, as regular readers of this blog well know, but his continual exclusion from the England squad is seeming strange even to me. Against Tottenham, Parker played Huddlestone off the park, and yet the Tottenham man has been given the nod again over "Mr West Ham". Why? Peculiar.
It may be that Capelllo is choosing to go with youth, seeing Huddlestone as the better long term prospect. Or maybe he is not a fan of the Parker pirouette and believes that, at the higher level, Scotty will represent too great a risk, turning this way into potential trouble and then back again into more possible trouble. Then there is Parker's appalling tackling technique which saw him collect yet another yellow for a needless foul on the half way line against Fulham. At international level, some of Parker's challenges might well buy a straight red card.
I would select Parker ahead of Huddlestone but not ahead of any of the others picked by Fabio. Barry is the better anchor and his left foot adds balance to the midfield. Wright-Phillips has looked lively as a sub, even though I don't rate him highly. Adam Johnson and Gerrard are shoe ins. Ashley Young has superstar potential. Aaron Lennon does have a frightening turn of pace and Wilshire and Cole both offer more flair than Parker. My issue, though, is if Barry is injured, who in the squad deputises for him? Parker seems like the logical understudy to me, rather than Huddlestone.
So, what are Capello's issues with Super Scotty Parker? It would be good if he explained, except if he explained in English, it wouldn't make any sense anyway!
i dont know but remember how long it was before dean ashton and rob green got there chances back in the england team but im sorr yHF i do not agree with you about barry i honestly would prefer him to barry who i think is the most overrated player in the prem and judging by early form i know alot of people would say this but if wilshere is in the team with his form this year then surley noble deserves a go. stani dont moan about noble like usual
ReplyDeleteActually Fred, I was about to moan about Barry but you got there first. Probably the only thing you'll beat me in. Damn. I feel ashamed.
ReplyDeleteI don't rate Huddlestone as a holding midfielder either but in the last two games he has impressed me. He got in some very good last gasp tackles and interceptions. Nevertheless, Capello has over-compensated on the attacking/creative side and under-compensated in the holding/defensive side, when it comes to the midfield selections.
i dont rate capello to be honest he shouldve been sacked straight after the world cup
ReplyDeleteAny manager who says they pick on form is a verbal crowd pleaser. That idea went out the window the minute he picked Heskey. Insulting to pick K. Davies at 33 years of age, Even if he is picked and even if he does impress, will he really make the next tournament aged 35? Even Tottenham fans are saying Lennon is playing crapn no replacement right-back again, nobody even close to replacing Johnson should he pick up an injury. And why pick Rooney exactly? Teach the man a god damn lesson! I still feel Wilshere has had it too easily, and disagree he warants a place in the first team. Thought Andy Caroll certainly deserves a place if that is the case.
ReplyDeleteThere was no point in sacking him Fred. You're not thinking further ahead. You sack him, with that cv and experience, then what do you do next?
ReplyDeleteThe problem is not the manager.
stani its more his fault then u8 think he didnt have to pick the same players that werent performing every match and after all thatt crap about picking players on form when it came to the world cup he picked the same team that fails jus cause his CV says this and that dont mean he shouldnt be sacked and in my opinion we never played well in any of the last 5 qualifiers ill probably get abit of stick for this but harry redknapp or a manager of his quality shouldve been offered the job long before capello
ReplyDeleteFred,
ReplyDeleteI accept Capello got a bit desperate nearer the time of squad announcement but with what he had to work with I'm not really surprised.
Harry Redknapp? You cannot be serious Fred! I rather have Ian Holloway than Harry Redknapp.
Parker doesn't need to do anything to upset Capello - as revealed this summer, the latter is a numptie pure and simple.
ReplyDeleteThis should be no surprise, most England managers have been numpties - since Sir Alf Ramssey only Sir Bobby Robson and (Sir?) Terry Venables have been any good.
( God save Leicester City I wouldn't even wish SGE on Arsenal! ).
Fact is Parker merits much more - pity we didn't get him at Spurs. However, ré Huddlestone comments, ok he can be a bit slow sometimes but he's definitely sharpened up - perhaps you didn't see his last couple of games? idem Lennon who looked really sharp against Villa second half.
English FA politics mean that we're stuck with Capello for some time ( why did they extend his contract before the World Cup ???)but in any case they'll never recruit 'Arry for the same reason they got rid of venables and never recruited Cloughie?
Too much for the ......... brigade?
"Then there is Parker's appalling tackling technique which saw him collect yet another yellow for a needless foul on the half way line against Fulham."
ReplyDeleteDid you see it?
Huddlestone is the best passer of a ball in the league. Is genuinely two footed and is simply a better player than Parker.
ReplyDeleteYes I did see it, did you? Marriner certainly did. The tackle was from the side and slghtly behind and scissored the standing leg of the Fulham player - Dempsey from memory. It could have resulted in ankle or knee ligament damage because of the way the standing leg was scissored or a broken ankle. It was a foul, it was unnecessary and it risked serious injury.
ReplyDeleteI had a clear view of that tackle and Parker clearly and cleanly won the ball. It wasn't a foul.
ReplyDeleteParker has a fantastic tackling technique, one of the best in the league. He has his limitations as a midfielder (mainly shooting and creative/forward passing) but tackling isn't one of them.
Marriner had a terrible game from both team's perspectives. It was one of the worst ref perfomances that I've seen in a long time.