True, but every player has his price and especially when he wanted to go.
I do agree that the decline started then. We have never replaced him 4 years on and 1 division lower. He was our heart beat of the team and without a heart the body doesn't work.
[cite]Posted By: leftbehind[/cite]Would it of helped refusing to sell him?
Having a player that does not want to be at the club disruptive and no doubt demotted to the bench
The point would be ???
Yes...I know we've heard that leftie....and no one around here more than me....The Parker debate is without doubt my very own property almost...at least at various fans meetings....I do tend to repeat the argument I admit.
But for me it was the defining moment as to whether we took that huge step forward as a club who meant business or a catastrophic step backwards as little old Charlton...we took a backward one....for whatever the reason/reasons...we should have stuck him in the ressies and sent out a huge message to the football community as a whole....CAFC are going to be areal force to be reckoned with starting here and now.I know there were several reasons for letting him go...but the reasons to have kept him and called his bluff were IMHO greater.
Wise after the event I admit.
Had I have had to make that decision it would have been hard I admit but it would have been coloured by what I had seen happen over the previous 50 odd years, when you repeatedly sell the crown jewells.
Parker was undoubtedly a major loss but I think for psychological as much as playing reasons.
We played half a season without him yet still came 7th in the Prem followed by 11th and 13th (or was it 12th?). Good solid midtable stuff which reflected our level.
What his deparure did do though is subconsciously send out the message that this was as good as it was going to get when some fans were, unrealistically in my opinion given our relative lack of resources, expecting much more.
Comments
Having a player that does not want to be at the club disruptive and no doubt demotted to the bench
The point would be ???
I do agree that the decline started then. We have never replaced him 4 years on and 1 division lower. He was our heart beat of the team and without a heart the body doesn't work.
Iceberg dead ahead?
Yes...I know we've heard that leftie....and no one around here more than me....The Parker debate is without doubt my very own property almost...at least at various fans meetings....I do tend to repeat the argument I admit.
But for me it was the defining moment as to whether we took that huge step forward as a club who meant business or a catastrophic step backwards as little old Charlton...we took a backward one....for whatever the reason/reasons...we should have stuck him in the ressies and sent out a huge message to the football community as a whole....CAFC are going to be areal force to be reckoned with starting here and now.I know there were several reasons for letting him go...but the reasons to have kept him and called his bluff were IMHO greater.
Wise after the event I admit.
Had I have had to make that decision it would have been hard I admit but it would have been coloured by what I had seen happen over the previous 50 odd years, when you repeatedly sell the crown jewells.
"WE'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE WE'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE ,WE'VE HEARD IT ALL , WE'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE"
NOW ....
lol
We played half a season without him yet still came 7th in the Prem followed by 11th and 13th (or was it 12th?). Good solid midtable stuff which reflected our level.
What his deparure did do though is subconsciously send out the message that this was as good as it was going to get when some fans were, unrealistically in my opinion given our relative lack of resources, expecting much more.