Scott Parker

On to Scott Parker.

I know we can’t ever read too much into an introduction video. But this morning I’m excited.

What this squad lacked from November 2019, was professional pride, player effort. An attempt to match their talent with hard work.

Parker clearly wants his sides to work hard, he wants effort. Something fans always want to see.

I do think then, he wants his players to be progressive, he mentions playing on the front foot, hopefully this means a nice passing game in possession.

Maybe it won’t be swashbuckling over lapping full backs, inverted wingers, box to box central midfielders and two strikers throwing everything forward and leaving us exposed defensively like many of us enjoyed. Equally many always complained about us defensively, so perhaps we can expect a more measured but equally easy on the eye footballing team.

Either way. Since Howe we’ve clearly lacked a vision and an identity and I think this move could be the first step to restoring that.
 
Da Bomb said:
Really gutted to lose Purches, not only did he seem a good coach, he was a thoroughly approachable and amiable guy when I randomly spoke to him in a tile shop.

Given the form of Bego too, I think Moss will be a loss too. No idea about the other 2
Click to expand...

Completely agree about Purches, I wonder if there's no role that matches his ambition as he does seem to heading towards senior management and the Parker appointment will build a layer above him.

Weatherstone came from Burnley a few years after Eddie returned. Recently got a new coaching badge and trusted by Eddie. Based on that he sounds qualified with the highest recommendation.

I think Hard was appointed well after a few ex-players had some less than kind words to say about the department. I imagine it's a role that needs a lot of trust and perhaps that's why Parker wants to bring in someone.

I know it's a meme to blame Moss but I don't think a single 'keeper has left AFCB better than when they joined so it'll be interesting to see if that changes.
 
klaus_afcb said:
Hard to put into words how I'm feeling this evening, but sadness is my overwhelming emotion.

The Eddie Howe years encompassed over half my supporting life. I know that players, managers and staff come and go (it's the nature of life) but the last 12 months have been extreme. Eddie going was obviously a blow, but to have also lost JT, Purchy, Neil Moss and stalwart players like Franno, Surman and others in the few short months that have followed is as dramatic a change as I've experienced as a fan. At least Fletch is still here!

I've always struggled with the business, winning-at-all-costs, side of high-level football and naively see AFCB as a community institution built on local connections and long-standing relationships. I said before that I'd rather have gone back to League 2 with Eddie than hover around the Championship with someone who doesn't really care for the club. It feels like today we have finally become just another mercenary football business.

I'm know I'm being overly dramatic and sentimental, and I'll get over it soon enough. Just feels a bit raw right now. I do of course wish SP all the best and will be supporting as passionately as before. Hopefully in 10 years time I'll feel the same sadness about him, his staff, and the new club legends he unearths moving on to pastures new. UTC!
Click to expand...

You should have been about when John Bond was manager. We lost what seemed like half the team and a stand when he went to Norwich! :D That was seriously tough to accept!
 
Thought he spoke well... Yes there are the obvious cliches in there, but that's par for the course...

I liked that he spoke about the club in a way that showed he at least knows about our history and the journey it's been on this last decade... and not just form what he's read, but first hand experience from Arter and watching him and us play...

He 'knows' this club perhaps that little bit more than any other manager would have, which might not mean that much in the grand scheme of things, but it puts him in a place that instantly resonates with fans...

The video has served it's purpose as I do feel a little bit better about it all and at the end of the day, I'm just pleased we can now start talking about pre-season and transfers...
 
Last edited:
DJ said:
Just playing devils advocate for a moment.

Individually, is it really a fair expectation that so many people in their individual fields of expertise can step up from League Two to the Premier League?

Eddie Howe was the exception, Eddie Howe was clearly special, his worth ethic, his drive, his vision and obvious knowledge of each separate challenge. He learned and grew to everyone.

Would the other members of staff had made that same journey individually?

Together as a unit and under Howe, perhaps it all worked. But now with a new vision, whether rightly or wrongly, it’s probably time to get the broom out.

Equally I don’t doubt that Purches and Weatherspoon will depart once Howe dips his toes back into the water anyway.
Click to expand...
All potentially true. There are also lots of great examples of leaders who were great at surrounding themselves with such great people that they looked better than they were.

What is peculiar to football, largely, is that in most businesses a new leader would arrive, spend time understanding the value of every individual and then release and upgrade as required. Instead, managers, including those who 'failed' at their previous job being those people who they know rather than seek out people fit for the circumstances. To suggest before he arrives that he knows they won't be better than the ones he is bringing in, a normal business is a gamble.

We can debate whether JW would do any better, but what he did do, perhaps with guidance, is bring in people suited to the circumstances that got him as close as possible.

I hope SP can be successful but he has to use this as a opportunity to re-invent himself to fit the new environment, transfer useful skills but learn new ones specific to managing our club and not Fulham.
 
fuzzydude said:
Is he? Words are cheap, but his actions will show whether this is the case.
Click to expand...

True, but all Parker can do for now is to set his stall out.
The only true test is whether Scott's team are a winning and entertaining side.

Suggest we revisit this after ten or a dozen matches...



...or after we get pasted by West Brom ;)
 
..well at least the saga is over and we can plan the way forward with a Manager in the chair...work to be done to put a squad together to compete at the top end of the Championship.

I wish him the very best in his quest to establish himself on the south coast

UTCIAD
 
Garbo said:
..well at least the saga is over and we can plan the way forward with a Manager in the chair...work to be done to put a squad together to compete at the top end of the Championship.

I wish him the very best in his quest to establish himself on the south coast

UTCIAD
Click to expand...

will be interesting to see who moves on this summer now. last seasons position proven we have a squad good enough for top 6 - with average average at best people in charge. no doubt budgets were discussed and he'll have a few players in mind for improving the squad further.
 
DJ said:
Just playing devils advocate for a moment.

Individually, is it really a fair expectation that so many people in their individual fields of expertise can step up from League Two to the Premier League?

Eddie Howe was the exception, Eddie Howe was clearly special, his worth ethic, his drive, his vision and obvious knowledge of each separate challenge. He learned and grew to everyone.

Would the other members of staff had made that same journey individually?

Together as a unit and under Howe, perhaps it all worked. But now with a new vision, whether rightly or wrongly, it’s probably time to get the broom out.

Equally I don’t doubt that Purches and Weatherspoon will depart once Howe dips his toes back into the water anyway.
Click to expand...
I agree that Eddie, was special and the success was incredible for us all to enjoy. Eddie had great people around him too to allow him to focus on delivering performances on the pitch. This has been highlighted over the past 12 months with the shambolic leadership from the board and total disrespect for these people who along with Eddie got the club that they love to the pinnacle of English football.
New chapter now so let’s hope the identity of our unique club does not get lost.
 
Having watched the interview, all I would say - eye contact man! Spends most of the time looking at the desk/floor.

Plenty of cliches which you expect but Parker says a lot of good stuff. A nice nod now and again to the club's recent past as well as looks to the future.
 
fred1407 said:
I agree that Eddie, was special and the success was incredible for us all to enjoy. Eddie had great people around him too to allow him to focus on delivering performances on the pitch. This has been highlighted over the past 12 months with the shambolic leadership from the board and total disrespect for these people who along with Eddie got the club that they love to the pinnacle of English football.
New chapter now so let’s hope the identity of our unique club does not get lost.
Click to expand...

Perhaps one of the Board members will put out a statement, stating what the club's vision is, and how they plan to achieve it?:grinning:
 
So we know who is coming in from his staff and who has left from the old staff.

Purches has left as assistant manager, but in Scott Parker’s team there is no mention of an assistant manager, someone within the club going to be promoted or new face?
 
People banged on about Eddie needing a decent coach unconnected to the club and with top level experience. They got one in and, as predicted, Eddie walked.

People have also been banging on about the club needing a long term plan and big clear out behind the scenes and now they've done this.

Not sure why people are still whinging about the board when they've done what these people have been calling for.
 
SlowDownDerek said:
People banged on about Eddie needing a decent coach unconnected to the club and with top level experience. They got one in and, as predicted, Eddie walked.

People have also been banging on about the club needing a long term plan and big clear out behind the scenes and now they've done this.

Not sure why people are still whinging about the board when they've done what these people have been calling for.
Click to expand...

If you mean Woodgate, think he came in after JT was appointed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

;