Didn't he work a stall on match day selling kit to Asian tourists. he might as well have, selling kit and manc PPV and merchandise was the reason he was signed.
We signed him because he was a quality player, having been named in the 2005 CL best 11, and believe it or not he was even nominated for the Ballon Do'r that year. SAF signed him for his footballing ability, no other reason
Wasnt the best technically but he worked very very hard, very honest and amazing attitude which endeared him to the manager and his teammates as well as fans. If only more footballers had just some of Parks character and personality. Somehow always had the knack of scoring against Arsenal. I think if he went to any other team other than Man Utd then he would have been found out very very quickly for not being a very good footballer. He did exactly what SAF ordered him to do and because of that he survived at Man Utd whereas any other top club he would never have got a look-in A few games stand out for me as some of his best - Arsenal in Champions league semi-final second leg at Emirates in May 2009, Arsenal at Emirates in premiership in January 2010, Barcelona at home in CL semi-final second leg in 2008 where he and Tevez worked their socks off, Milan at home in 2010 where he harassed Pirlo all night and Chelsea at the Bridge in September 2008
Have to say as a QPR fan he was another of Mark Hughes terrible signings for our club. He was a complete lightweight in midfield, never got stuck in and his most humbling moment was a central midfield appearance with Esteban Granero of Real Madrid for us when MK Dons stuffed us 4-0 in the 3rd round at home of the FA Cup two years ago. I don't think I saw him play one good game for the Rs and that was his worst. Thank god were back in the Prem and Harry Redknapp in charge.
Smith may be the most common surname- but you don't get THAT many footballers named "Smith". Why is it that you get 5 Cole's playing football for every Smith?