Lay off Parker urges Barton

[Scottish Mag 3]

Warren Barton, who at one time was given a rough ride by the Newcastle United supporters, has appealed to the fans to lay off skipper Scott Parker.

 

The former United full-back was at St James' Park for Saturday's defeat by Manchester City in a new and successful role as a Sky Sports summariser - just as he will be at Bramall Lane in three days' time for the match with Sheffield United.

 

Barton is another Cockney by birth who is proud to be a Geordie by adoption and who still refers to Newcastle United as "we."

 

And speaking from his home in London, he told me today: "I could not believe it when the supporters turned on Scott Parker on Saturday.

 

"Nobody knows more than me that every single supporter has a right to an opinion and the right to express that opinion, but I was disappointed at what I heard on Saturday.

 

"For if ever a player gave 100% for Newcastle United that player is Scotty Parker. When he pulls on that black-and-white shirt he is so committed it is untrue.

 

"The way he flies into tackles I have to say that he is putting himself in danger of personal injury.

 

"And whenever things are going wrong you could put your house on the fact he is the one player who never hides.

 

"In my view he is a great lad and he has turned out to be great signing for my old club."

 

When Barton arrived at St James' Park in a £4m move from Wimbledon in the summer of 1995 he was actually the world's most expensive defender.

 

But he was able to joke today: "In the eyes of some Newcastle supporters I was also the world's worst defender."

 

Barton won over the United supporters and he is now part of Graham Forster's stable on the talk-in circuit, and when he returns to Tyneside he has almost a cult status.

 

His club is undoubtedly Newcastle United and he was as disappointed as anyone at Saturday's defeat by Manchester City.

 

He added: "City made it awkward for us, but if I have one complaint, it was that the tempo of United's play was too slow.

 

"What is needed these days, especially at St James' Park, is to start off with a house on fire, with every player giving his all.

 

"That's what Parker did on Saturday and it is obvious he wants to play for Newcastle United - that makes what happened all the more disappointing.

 

"Indeed I could have understood it if the fans had had a go at some of the other players.

 

"For there are players at Newcastle who should take a leaf out of Scotty's book, and I only hope what happened to Gary Speed in his last couple of seasons at St James' Park does not happen to Parker.

 

"Football is just the same as life in as much as you do not appreciate what you have got until you have no longer got it."

 

The United captain was distraught on Saturday night at a time when he should have been celebrating after the birth of his son.

 

And what will go through his mind when he leads United out against Arsenal in the next game at St James' Park on Monday is open to conjecture.

 

Parker made his United debut against Arsenal at Highbury in the opening day of the 2005-06 season when he had the travelling Toon Army chanting his name.

 

And in the corresponding game at St James' Park last season, Parker had to be helped off in the closing stages because he was clearly physically exhausted after running himself into the ground.

[asteroidblitz 12]

Barton won over the United supporters and he is now part of Graham Forster's stable on the talk-in circuit, and when he returns to Tyneside he has almost a cult status.

 

Huh?

[Happy Face 29]

Similar sentiment in .com's match report....

here's something that will fill my inbox. If Parker had been a local lad promoted from the reserves he would have got man of the match in this game. Not that he was in any way outstanding.

 

The whispering campaign seemingly started after some bright spark linked our positive results with Parker not being in the side seems to have gathered an incredible momentum. Every time he doesn't play a defence-splitting pass a murmur of discontent fills the ground. The "pirouette" never seemed to upset fans of Rob Lee. Some would call it retaining possession.

 

Personally, I prefer him over Butt. It's not his fault that when he does his spin and finds a man they promptly lose it. But he does do his spins a helluva lot, even with no-one within yards.

[Guest alex]

The stick he gets is shocking like. He runs himself into the ground - as he did against Alkmaar where his running created one of our only clear cut chances - where he should have done better perhaps and he also scored a goal that shouldn't have been chalked off imo. You could argue the same about Saturday. He's the new boo boy though - you can hear people having a go every time he does the pirouette now, even if it is to retain possession when he's under pressure. As an aside, I don't really trust Roeder to get the best out of any of our players anymore and Parker is no different to the rest.

[Happy Face 29]

 

http://home.skysports.com/optastats.aspx?c...ited&cpid=8

 

One of the least deserving of a slating on the whole, maybe people just expect more of him when the whole team aren't performing.

 

....and how bad is martins accuracy?

[Papa Lazaru 0]

The stick he gets is shocking like. He runs himself into the ground - as he did against Alkmaar where his running created one of our only clear cut chances - where he should have done better perhaps and he also scored a goal that shouldn't have been chalked off imo. You could argue the same about Saturday. He's the new boo boy though - you can hear people having a go every time he does the pirouette now, even if it is to retain possession when he's under pressure. As an aside, I don't really trust Roeder to get the best out of any of our players anymore and Parker is no different to the rest.

 

I agree, the abuse he gets is getting stupid, but toon fans aren't happy unless they have a target and since Shola's out with injury somebody had to get it. He always gives everything which is perhaps more than some players can say. And the pirrouette thing, obviously its annoying but there are occasions he does it when its right that he turns from say the left where there is fuck all to pass to and goes right, other times it is uneccesary.

 

And i might add he wouldn't be in my team at the moment, but i certainly don't think he deserves all the hate he gets, but thats the way it is at St. james these days.

[Sima 0]

How woeful is our crossing ffs?

 

Actually, I don't need any stats to see that.

[Renton 21636]

Bottled it the other night at the Talk in like. Fair enough, his wife had had a baby the day before but you would have thought he could spend 30 minutes out his schedule. Bet you he would if we were winning.

 

And HF, since you have "proven" that Roeder is superior to Robson using your statistics, I'll take them with a pinch of salt if you don't mind, they don't tell the whole story. He has to take his blame along with the rest of the team, more so in fact being the captain. It's my impression we play better without him, something other statistics reflect but are not explained by that article!

[Papa Lazaru 0]

How woeful is our crossing ffs?

 

Actually, I don't need any stats to see that.

 

I don't think i've seen a worse season of crossing from Newcastle and that is saying something, and when you combine it with easilly one of the worst seasons of set pieces both as passes and shots its no wonder we're struggling for goals when we create next to nothign from through balls and quick passing football either!

[Happy Face 29]

How woeful is our crossing ffs?

 

Actually, I don't need any stats to see that.

 

19th in the league in terms off cross completion is shameful tbh.

 

They must practice low inswingers straight to the first defender.

[Ally 0]

The criticism is getting a bit over the top, he's not an attacking midfielder and never will be but thats not his fault for being picked there.

 

He's not playing too well at the minute and its a shame he's captain becasue that kind of makes him undroppable (to a weak man like Roeder anyway) Its not that he's a bad player, we just pair him with unsuitable players. All depends on whether we want to build the midfield around him, in which case the likes of Butt must be in competition to play instead of Parker, not alongside him.

Edited April 4, 2007 by Ally

[Happy Face 29]

And HF, since you have "proven" that Roeder is superior to Robson using your statistics, I'll take them with a pinch of salt if you don't mind, they don't tell the whole story. He has to take his blame along with the rest of the team, more so in fact being the captain. It's my impression we play better without him, something other statistics reflect but are not explained by that article!

 

"My" statistics are provided purely for the purpose of debate. I don't think Roeder is a better manager than Robson, that would be silly.

Edited April 4, 2007 by Happy Face

[Guest Patrokles]

Bottled it the other night at the Talk in like. Fair enough, his wife had had a baby the day before but you would have thought he could spend 30 minutes out his schedule. Bet you he would if we were winning.

 

 

I bet he would if we were losing but he wasn't being treated like shit. Why should he take time out to deal with people who abuse him roundly when he's clearly giving as much effort as possible? I wouldn't. I'd stick two fingers up at the lot of them.

[Renton 21636]

Bottled it the other night at the Talk in like. Fair enough, his wife had had a baby the day before but you would have thought he could spend 30 minutes out his schedule. Bet you he would if we were winning.

 

 

I bet he would if we were losing but he wasn't being treated like shit. Why should he take time out to deal with people who abuse him roundly when he's clearly giving as much effort as possible? I wouldn't. I'd stick two fingers up at the lot of them.

 

Aye, because people have gone to the effort of attending a talk in purely to abuse him.

 

And I think you'll find he's already stuck two fingers up at the fans this season.

 

Boo hoo. Poor Scotty Parker.

[Happy Face 29]

he's clearly giving as much effort as possible?

 

The use of the word 'clearly' from you seems a bit presumptious. Would 'apparently' or 'reportedly' not suit your knowledge of the matter better?

 

[khay 10]

The criticism is getting a bit over the top, he's not an attacking midfielder and never will be but thats not his fault for being picked there.

 

He's not playing too well at the minute and its a shame he's captain becasue that kind of makes him undroppable (to a weak man like Roeder anyway) Its not that he's a bad player, we just pair him with unsuitable players. All depends on whether we want to build the midfield around him, in which case the likes of Butt must be in competition to play instead of Butt, not alongside him.

 

 

[Ally 0]

The criticism is getting a bit over the top, he's not an attacking midfielder and never will be but thats not his fault for being picked there.

 

He's not playing too well at the minute and its a shame he's captain becasue that kind of makes him undroppable (to a weak man like Roeder anyway) Its not that he's a bad player, we just pair him with unsuitable players. All depends on whether we want to build the midfield around him, in which case the likes of Butt must be in competition to play instead of Butt, not alongside him.

 

 

 

Whatever

[Ketsbaia 0]

I dislike him, I don't rate him, I never will. He's a very mediocre player who got tossed over in his early days because of his 'passion'. Fuck passion. I want quality. Statistics can only prove so much but from what I see with my two eyes every weekend is that he's holding us back.

[Gemmill 44935]

I dislike him, I don't rate him, I never will. He's a very mediocre player who got tossed over in his early days because of his 'passion'. Fuck passion. I want quality. Statistics can only prove so much but from what I see with my two eyes every weekend is that he's holding us back.

 

To be fair though, even when he has a good game, you rant on about how shite he was. He's not overrated because of his passion either, he's got plenty of ability too. He's having a fucking mare at the minute though I will admit that.

[Ketsbaia 0]

I dislike him, I don't rate him, I never will. He's a very mediocre player who got tossed over in his early days because of his 'passion'. Fuck passion. I want quality. Statistics can only prove so much but from what I see with my two eyes every weekend is that he's holding us back.

 

To be fair though, even when he has a good game, you rant on about how shite he was. He's not overrated because of his passion either, he's got plenty of ability too. He's having a fucking mare at the minute though I will admit that.

 

He has got ability, he showed it at Charlton but he doesn't even show flashes of it here. He spends half off the match on his arse and when he isn't he turns, turns and turns some more, slowing the play down in the process.

Edited April 4, 2007 by Skol

[Scottish Mag 3]

I dislike him, I don't rate him, I never will. He's a very mediocre player who got tossed over in his early days because of his 'passion'. Fuck passion. I want quality. Statistics can only prove so much but from what I see with my two eyes every weekend is that he's holding us back.

 

To be fair though, even when he has a good game, you rant on about how shite he was. He's not overrated because of his passion either, he's got plenty of ability too. He's having a fucking mare at the minute though I will admit that.

 

They all are tbh, thats why I think its really hard to judge how good or bad Gooch is. He has came into a side that has been not only changed practically week to week but is playing some absolute shit football.

[David Kelly 1245]

The stick Parker is getting ridiculous tbh. He gets the ball and there's no pass on so he turns to find a man (and actually manages to find his man more than 90% of the team) and people are up in arms. If Martins had done that on Saturday he might not have lost the ball leading to them scoring!

Parker was our best player last season playing as an anchor man but that fuckwit Roeder in all his genius decided to play him as our attacking midfielder this season and it's something he can't do no matter how much effort he puts in.

He shouldn't be playing now because Butt is playing better and you can't play the two of them (especially at home to teams like fucking citeh) but for my money he's probably our best midfielder if he was used correctly.

[Shearergol 0]

How woeful is our crossing ffs?

 

Actually, I don't need any stats to see that.

 

19th in the league in terms off cross completion is shameful tbh.

 

They must practice low inswingers straight to the first defender.

 

Emre trains all of the other players.

[Kid Dynamite 7034]

Bottled it the other night at the Talk in like. Fair enough, his wife had had a baby the day before but you would have thought he could spend 30 minutes out his schedule. Bet you he would if we were winning.

 

 

I bet he would if we were losing but he wasn't being treated like shit. Why should he take time out to deal with people who abuse him roundly when he's clearly giving as much effort as possible? I wouldn't. I'd stick two fingers up at the lot of them.

 

 

I wouldnt care if we were top of the league tbh, if i were parker id want to spend the first proper day with my baby and wife, regardless of what i was meant to be doing that night.

[Baggio 0]

The stick Parker is getting ridiculous tbh. He gets the ball and there's no pass on so he turns to find a man (and actually manages to find his man more than 90% of the team) and people are up in arms. If Martins had done that on Saturday he might not have lost the ball leading to them scoring!

Parker was our best player last season playing as an anchor man but that fuckwit Roeder in all his genius decided to play him as our attacking midfielder this season and it's something he can't do no matter how much effort he puts in.

He shouldn't be playing now because Butt is playing better and you can't play the two of them (especially at home to teams like fucking citeh) but for my money he's probably our best midfielder if he was used correctly.

 

If we want to get anywhere as a club then we should only be playing an "Anchorman" in midfield in a 4-4-2 formation for maybe a dozen games a season, the rest of the time it's just a negative tactic that holds us back against teams we should be destroying.