Let's consider what I always maintained, that Parker is a good holding midfielder but a poor midfield general. So, how many games has Parker now played for Spurs? I'm not sure but I think it is eight. How many goals has he scored? That would be none wouldn't it? OK, so how many assists then? That would be one wouldn't it?
But he is a holding midfielder the Parker acolytes will scream. Exactly! That's what I kept saying, but we couldn't afford to use Parker as a holding midfielder could we? We needed creativity as well as industry. And because Parker was used as a midfield general, we were toothless going forward and, time and again, he conceded free kicks in key areas as he tried to back peddle after we lost possession.
The new Dave Mackay? Mackay scored 82 goals in 591 appearances; Parker has netted 24 times in 325 appearances - and keep in mind that Mackay played as a sweeper at the tail end of his career. So, Parker scores you approximately 3goals a season from midfield. That puts a huge pressure on the other players to compensate!
That, of course, isn't a problem at Spurs. They have Defoe, Modric, Van der Vaart and Bale. Who did we have? Cole, Noble, Boa Morte and Obinna! Were they going to get the goals to make up for Parker's inability to score? Of course not! How many assists did Parker have to his name last season? Three I think. So where were the goals ever going to come from? It doesn't matter at Spurs. Modric will create and so will Bale and Lennon and Van der Vaart.
So, Parker is the cog that Spurs required. He is doing nothing special, he is sitting, holding, sweeping in front of the back four and releasing short passes to the true footballers in the team. There's a skill in that, no question, but to accommodate Parker, you have to have creativity elsewhere in the team, and we never had it.
So was I wrong about Parker? Far from it. Was 'Arry right to prioritise the signing of Van der Vaart over Scotty? Unquestionably so. Goals win matches, players like Parker help you to avoid defeat. Finish a season with 38 points from 38 drawn games and you are in a relegation dog fight. To escape the bottom, you have to win and to win you have to score and to score you have to create.
Why are Tottenham pushing towards the top three? Because they kept Modric and Bale and because they signed Van der Vaart last season. Parker is playing a role, an important role, but a very limited role suited to his limited ability. And, just like his "great performance" against Wales, Parker has been looking good against modest opposition. Let's see how good he looks when Spurs are tested by the better teams in the division!
15 comments:
hahahaha and your fantasy league is being owned by a Millwall supporter - you're dropping like a stone - you really know nothing. IT's OFFICIAL!
Am I? Haven't checked for a while.
Trust me mate your position is awful - Stani is making a mug of you too, not too surprising - I reckon he'll save you from being made to look like an idiot by a Millwall fan, at least Stani is reliable and knows what he is talking about. Shame you don't treat him with respect - he's the best you've got.
agree about Parker - your phrase 'and we never had it' just about says it all on whu, since [say] at least the advent of zola.
Been too busy of late to bother I'm afraid. Will try to look in and change things around.
Too busy - Mmmwwwaaahaaaahaaaaaa don't make me laugh - you're not too busy to post your drivel on here day in and day out. Just goes to show that you really don't care for league positions and are happy to look like a joke on your own league. Pride doesn't mean too much to you does it? That's Tragic.
Run along now HF - you've royally mugged yourself off.
kevin in manchester ..
...is pissed.
Hammersfan...is right!
Why thank you 1906! I don't think HF's moral turpitude will ever allow him to treat me with respect! I've grown a thick skin though....we'll get along for the sake of the children! Hahaa!
The Millwall fan's doing it ain't he? I've been away for a bit, now I'll get back to it! We cannot allow him to win!
At Tottenham he has already made a lasting impression with the fans........ a standing ovation after he was replaced against QPR confirming that.
He is already well on the way to becoming one of Spurs' most important signings in recent times.
You say I am predictable for identifying the weaknesses of Noble but you don't consider yourself obsessively biased against Parker.
I have once said, and I repeat, if only we had eleven Parkers on the field we would never be in this trouble. Nothing wrong with the player, his personality and his commitment for the team.
LOL Green is bad enough under crosses, imagine Parker in goal! Eleven Parkers? Who would score? Who would create? Who would win the ball in the air? It's that sort of stupid comment that is so typical of the Parker camp! What you mean is you like his attitude. But football isn't all about attitude is it? Any team with eleven Parkers would definitely finish bottom if you stop and think about it Sav. And my argument all along was that we had greater priorities than a holding midfielder. Who will win us more games, Baldock or Diop?
Still, bugger it, why not have a referendum on it mate? Do we want eleven Parkers in the team and do we want to reject the latest rescue package whilst we are about it? Talk about fiddling whilst Europe burns!
At Tottenham he has already made a lasting impression with the fans........ a standing ovation after he was replaced against QPR confirming that.
He is already well on the way to becoming one of Spurs' most important signings in recent times.
Well after Van der Vaart, Modric and Bale of course!
Post a Comment