Fans love the Parker pirouette but how many times do we lose attacking momentum as Parker receives, looks, holds, spins, looks, holds, spins and passes sideways? Tell me, how many killer balls did Parker manage at the Stadium of Light? Cole got a lot of stick, but how often did he receive swift ball? How many times were either he or Obinna given the chance to spring and break beyond the Sunderland back four?
Who has delivered the killer balls this season? Noble, Piquionne and Obinna. Parker has surprised me with his goal scoring, but as a creative player in midfield, he has offered little if we are honest. The true quality of his contribution is perhaps best summed up by how much Spector has looked like him over the last two games. Time and again on Sunday I asked, "Is that Spector or Parker?", and on Tuesday, Spector filled in so well that Parker was not missed at all.
Fans are getting their knickers in a twist about Scotty leaving in January. Back in August, I insisted that selling him made sense and, whilst his goals have been a bonus, we could hardly be in a worse position had we sold him could we?
On Sunday Parker collected yet another stupid booking for a ridiculous challenge in injury time. He was lucky not to see yellow against Wigan, and had he been booked in that game for his tackle from behind on the edge of our box, he would be facing his first suspension already. I say first, because he is odds on to reach ten yellow cards before the season ends. And whilst Parker has complained every time the card has been produced, I have considered every yellow merited. He goes to ground when he tackles and comes in from behind. That was alright in the days of Bremner, Giles and Norman Hunter, but the game has changed.
Yes Parker plays with passion, but how much intelligence and guile does he demonstrate? Spector looks as if he can do a similar job to me. So does Behrami. It may be time to cash in on Scotty after all.
11 comments:
He "spins" etc as you put it, most of the time, because nobody is moving to receive the ball. I lost count of the number of times Parker looked to both flanks and saw no support whatsoever from the wide players (Boa Morte and Dyer) or the full backs. The full backs never crossed the half way line and the wide players (along with Cole) were a complete waste of space
Look elsewhere for the reasons that we are so ineffective away from home. Parker is NOT the problem. The dross around him are
Parker as a player is not the problem..but Parker and Spector were both pushing forward, and Dyer was doing too, just like you said. I feel like Dyer had to stay on the wings...there were MULTIPLE times where we we were on the break and we couldn't pass it anywhere because Dyer wasn't on the right, and Gabbidon unlike Jacobsen and Faubert don't move forward.
Parker and Spector, if they're going to work together.. like you said, ONE will have to hold the midfield. They can't both go at it without someone anchoring the midfield and doing the dirty work.
How could Parker be the problem in that team HF? There are so many problems you could close your eyes and be sure you hit one and you choose to pick on the only one that plays as if his life depends on it?!!!
Please don't start the Parker to Spurs nonsense again! I noticed that the Redknapps are up to it again feeling that West Ham is going down the abyss and trying as usual to profit from it. Parker, beleive me is not the problem. Start from Grant and work down to so many others (Cole, Gabbidon, Spector, Dyer, etc.).
I believe Parker is better utilised as a holding midfielder playing just in front of the back four. His tigrishness, tireless defending and ball-winning capabilities dictate that he is more suited to that than to a more advanced role. Creativity is not his strong suit. Let Dyer/Noble and Spector be the attacking outlet and link to the forward pairing. I have been impressed with Spector in this role and believe he has finally found his niche.
Like most of your arguments, HF, the case is put intelligently and with conviction. I understand where you are coming from but tend to agree more with 2225 on the Scott Parker front.
Also, I know that you have continued to suggest that Cole is a victim of poor service but frankly I really do believe that belies the evidence. Cole received the ball on plenty of occasions yesterday. His first touch is atrocious and his languid body language and petulance (he really should have seen red for the hand ball, if not for his constant gobbing off to the ref when on a yellow) is unforgiveable in my book. No, of the two, I really do trust that it is Mr Cole who 'does the off' in January.
What is interesting about this is that its the exact opposite problem we had last season under Zola. Last year we were all urging the CM's to push forward but they rarely left the centre circle. This year Scotty/Noble or Scotty/Spector are BOTH running with the ball and leaving us with no midfield when they lose posession. We clearly need to find that balance.
I agree with HF.
In fact when i said the similar thing to my brother months ago i was shot down and my other brothers joined in.
Im sure HF is not saying Parker is a bad player, far from it, he is saying that the balance of the team doesent work with him in the team.
In my debate with my brothers i eventually backed down but we all agreed for Parker to keep his place an out and out holding midfielder would be needed and more width to compensate for the lack of flair centrally.
In fairness Parker and Behrami worked superbly against wigan, the balance centrally was excellent
AppyAmmer
It's not that Parker is the problem, it's the role he is being played in. I completely agree with Zito. Parker should be our holding, defensive midfielder just in from of the back four. He has played that role before but I'm not sure where this idea of him getting forward like he ahas been has come from. Those are not his best qualities. Even Specs looks better going forward than him. Unless we're playing the top 5, we should go:
......Cole....Hines
.........Obinna
...Boa............Beh/Spec
.........Parker
Gab...Ups...Tom/DaCost..Jacob
..........Green
stani why gabbs he is shocking and everybody the problem is parker he is meant to be playing as aholding player but he thinks he should be goin forward and stani again what is your problem with noble and the fact that every other player u wud give an extended run in the team to noble i think if parker goes we strengthen the team with the money and the teams unfortunaltey looks alot more balnced without parker
obinna piquionne
barerra noble spector stanislas
brown upson tomkins jacobsen
green
simple give jordan brown a run out as he cant be much worse then gabbs noble knows what his job is he breaks up oppostion play then starts attack and runs forward gets back quickly aswell and hines as an impact sub sell cole in january along with parker a cozy 15-20 mil to strengthen the team
I'm entitled to my choice Fred. Why does it upset you so much? Are you Noble himself? I don't get upset when you include Noble. I make my argument that he is poor, but it doesn't upset me that you and others want him in the side. I respect your choice, even if I think you're wrong.
We live in a democracy Fred.
Gabbidon is better at left back than Ilunga, Spector, Ben Haim and anyone else we've tried. Until we get a left back, I choose Gabbidon (I'm allowed to Fred!). I could choose Ashley Cole, but he doesn't play for us Fred.
I've not seen much of Brown and I'm not sure how much you have, but to be able to play him he would have needed to have been bloodied in by now. I think the midfield in the team you suggest looks weak. We wouldn't survive with that.
I've never once considered Parker as anything more than a defensive midfielder. It's by far what he's best at and in my opinion how he should always be used. He's certainly not a Lampard or Gerrard type player.
Cole and our lack of firepower and quality finishing are a big problem.
Our uninspiring manager is a problem.
Persisting with Boa Morte is a problem.
Upson is the worst WH captain I can remember and an average defender at best. He's a problem.
Injuries to key players (Collison, Da Costa, Dyer etc.) continue to be a problem.
Our lack of an in form, specialist left back is a problem.
Our nervous GK was a problem for quite a period but this seems to be improving of late.
If Parker is a problem in this team there are many more bigger problems to deal with at the club before we point the finger at him.
I appreciate that we have many players of average to low PL ability but if even half of them showed the passion and effort of Parker or Noble then we would be in a much better position.
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