OK, so I like(d) Scott Parker... I was a huge advocate of him after Eddie left and I was excited for his arrival as I felt that he could be the next Eddie and a great fit for this club... I liked what Parker said at the outset in that he was buying in to the 'project' that the club set out in front of him and that he was excited to get things going...
I stood by Parker and defending him on here (for the most) as when some were screaming from the rooftops about how bad we were, I didn't feel comments were justified... I didn't think we were anywhere near as boring as some made out and the fact he got us promoted, for me, meant he had some 'in the bank'...
I did and still do believe that the current squad has more than enough to compete with the likes of Everton, Wolves, Villa etc. and have it in us to stay up... However, things have turned over the last few weeks... I really didn't like the arms length approach that Parker adopted in the media... Throwing every person under the bus except himself... He took on the 'project' and surely the project was clearly laid out to him that we are not an open cheque book... To indicate that overloading the squad in January was purely to get us up and that these players are now surplus to requirements is beggars belief... Did parker just expect a Fulham 2.0 with circa £100m to spend...??? If he did he's obviously never, ever, understood this club.
I commented to several people this weekend that I thought Parker was angling to get sacked... He wanted out and was in self-preservation mode... That has seemed to be correct, in which case, he is clearly not the right person for this club... I feel for Parker a little bit, but I fail to believe he didn't know what the deal was here, and the to come out in public crying about it... ?!?!
Am I gutted Parker is gone...? On reflection, no. He's never really created any sort of relationship with the fans and his approach to the last 3 games, setting us up for damage limitation and showing zero belief that we could actually do anything, with a far better side than Eddie had, has been worrying... I think Parker's true colours have surfaced and despite the wider footballing World AFCB bashing right now, those that really understand us, and football are seeing what Parker has done and support this decision...
Going forwards... Get Phillips in as it's the corner we find ourselves in, Get Tommy and Coops to reinstall some belief in this side and those upstairs sort out who we are first, and then appoint to fit that vision...