A good signing, but with reservations. I can't see him doing many 90+ minute matches. But then again, Danny did same for much of his last year. Still - A good move. COYW
Thanks for the insight, PNP. He's not the creator/playmaker than many of us were hoping for to play in centre midfield, but perhaps we don't need one in that position with any three from Berbatov, Ruiz, Taarabt, Kacaniklic, Duff, Dejagah and Kasami playing behind Darren Bent. One thing it does mean is that it's going to be very hard to say what our strongest starting eleven is. There's genuine competition for places now, which seems like a very healthy development. I think he'll do well for us, adding the solidity and leadership we've been missing in recent months.
Not sure how I feel, haven't seen him play in a while - if he is the same player as I remember then I'm satisfied as Sidwell will drop out the first team, I reckon Kara will take his place on the bench. I've got a suspicion he isn't going to be quite the same and we might end up wasting what appear to be restricted resources on a 32 year in a position we already had cover for. I can't understand the strategy, if we spent 3/4 times more on a younger up and comer we would be less likely to make a loss- we will not recoup anything on Parker and there is a high risk he will get injured for an extended period. I'm sure he will give us some bite in midfield but I'm a bit concerned about the disconnect- its like Jol can't be arsed with the jigsaw and is just meshing random pieces together.
I'm not so sure, Silky. I think it may be more that Jol is creating a different design of jigsaw to the one that he's assembled in the past. Remember that interview earlier in the summer where he talked about how he'd always had a passer (playmaker) at the heart of midfield, and how he maybe had to think of doing things differently now. I suspect he's looking to have two centre midfielders whose job it is to provide a solid base, and then putting the flair and creativity in the front four. The signing of Taarabt, who is probably more dangerous and less of a risk in the front four than the heart of midfield, suggests he's relocating the creativity to different areas of the pitch rather than abandoning it altogether. I share your concerns about whether he's the player we remember from a couple of years back, but I do think he's going to do well for us. My only fear is fitness/injuries, but that could just as easily go either way. Ironically, a couple of years ago I was berating people on this board for suggesting we go out and sign Parker as I thought it was unrealistic. Some of the same people are now complaining that this is a bad signing! Funny how circumstances change.
He is a quality player there's no doubt. He's played in the Prem, for England. All in all he's better than Sidwell who I fell will be benched now.
yeah I think Jol has lost faith with Sidwell the double red card affair really did him in - isn't he in his last year...Sparky purchase right?
I think he's been signed for exactly the reasons C58 cited; leadership. I hope people here aren't going to constantly berate him just because he's not Dembele or his direct replacement. I think he'll add quality.
I haven't been a Parker fan in the past (although that's probably - at least recently- because I couldn't see past the fact he played for spurs) but now he's here I'm interested to see what he can do and ready to get behind him. I agree with what everyone else has said about his positives but one more is that he (like Bent) will be hoping to catch Roy's eye this season.
Something feels wierd about this signing and I can't pinpoint what it is. I hope he proves to be a great assett to the team
One other, completely peripheral, thing about Parker. He's always struck me as looking rather retro, like a dashing RAF fighter pilot or a plucky junior officer in a black and white World War 2 movie with Richard Attenborough or Kenneth Moore. You know, the one who doesn't get many lines but lays down his life in a noble act of sacrifice to safeguard his men. I've always liked that about him.
I know exactly what you mean. It would never surprise me to be watching one of those old black and white films of a 1940's cup final and see Parker in the line up of players. I think it's the sensible hair cut and lack of earrings and tattoos that does it. You could possibly say the same thing about Gerrard. I did say possibly.
No. Gerrard looks like one of the big lads hanging around behind Gripper Stebson on old episodes of Grange Hill. Obviously, the accent is all wrong for a South London Comprehensive, but the look is all there. I think it's the stuck-in-early-teens haircut, I think.
For some reason, Graeme Le Saux has always reminded me of a dog. And Gareth Bale reminds me of a cartoon dog. I can't explain either of those, but when I see them, that's what crosses my mind.
Leighton Baines is another retro-looking fella. The big 'burns and shaggy mop do it. His name sounds like a popular one from the 60's too!
Great signing. I probably watched him 10 times last year; even at 32 he's lost little of what's necessary to make an impact for us in the middle. If there's a player out there who can play the Danny Murphy role (and that we can afford), it's Parker. We need a steady hand in the middle, and it's going to take months for Boeteng to get up to EPL standards.
It will be interesting to see how if he does goes with this style- I'm not sure what to expect from it. It's great to now have a range of talent for 4 attacking positions and it might be this new systems sees the goals raining in. I'm still worried about how we get the ball to these players in that system - we've had a tendency in the past to play sideways and then eventually backwards in midfield with Hangeland or Hughes sending it long. Although neither are known particularly for passing maybe Parker and Boateng are actually good enough all round to not make the lack of Murphy style player an issue. It's not a terrible option to go long with Bent and I wouldn't want us to not do it at all, but I think the best way to get in is from the central midfielders putting the wide players in behind the full backs to either cross or shoot- with a poacher in Bent on the front foot and Berbatov in behind to sweep anything home it's a better way to approach than with the front men facing back when they receive the ball. I'm not too worried though, I expect we will be treated to some exciting football. Parker is a good addition providing he doesn't get injured, maybe Kasami is going to be more prominent that I had expected
