That season me & my mates were dreaming of following Charlton in Europe, would we play a team in France or Portugal or Germany? It didn't matter if we were playing on a Thursday night on channel 5 Charlton were going to have a European tour. The season was going well we beat Chelsea on Boxing Day, a game We'll never forget. Then Chelsea decide they want Parker to warm there bench, our best player who has been at Charlton since he was 8, every kid in the ground had his name on the back of there shirt & he went on strike demanding a move. He could of waited till the end of the season, he was star man every week he was just braking into the england set up but no he held the club to ransom. Parker is a slag & he always will in my eyes
What? Read what I said, don't put your spin on it 'If there is substance in these rumours'. Whether I could see the alleged incident is irrelevant! If It is true as has been mentioned on here then let the club identify them and take appropriate action. I'm sorry but I just don't get what is funny about that.
Are these both aimed at me or are you talking to yourself?
Did what you are getting upset about actually happen?
@PL54 Don't be silly you're not an idiot so don't act like it, of course they are both aimed at you and I'm not in the habit of talking to myself, your post just happened to precede mine by a minute. You clicked the 'lol' icon to my original post which I asked for clarification on.
Now either you were laughing with me or at me and I think it was the latter. I'm not upset at all, I'm just saying that if a certain element of our support are tarnishing our clubs name they need to be weeded out. Do you agree or not? Yes or No? Executing them is not an option, on second thoughts don't bother to reply I'm going file you in the ignore pile like others have on here.
Right this is the reason I have so much hatred for Scott Parker. We finished 3 points behind Newcastle in EPL, Newcastle then got drawn against Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin of Israel in the first round of 2004–05 UEFA Cup, Newcastle won 7-1 on agg and then got placed in a group with Sochaux, sporting Lisbon, Panionios, and FC Dinamo Tbilisi, Now I'm not saying that's what we would have been guaranteed but it would have been along them lines, and as a 21yo with not a care in the world I was ready to conquer Europe with my beloved Charlton.
I cannot understand or believe the vitriol surrounding Scott both last night and on this forum the rubbish being spoken over his departure and reasons are frankly pathetic. In regards to loyalty in Football talk to Chris Powell/Kergomant talk to all the kids who don't make it - Footballers are a commodity
We as fans can be irrational at times even with our own we can be disloyal in terms of support/critism of players who play for us so how can we expect any player in any era to show complete loyalty - unfortunately its a job !!
At the time Chelsea or rather Abramovich was chasing big names - Duff was Blackburn through and through - Bridge was the 2nd best England left back and went to Chelsea when they had the 1st in Cole. He clearly thought after seein Scott in the boxing day game that there was a player that could stop the Chelsea bandwagon rolling or at least help it get going.
Its been said before that given the opportunity to secure your future for life and that of your family why would you pass up on that? Who knows if the offer was " you come now or you don't come at all"
On last nights game whilst as a Charlton supporter over 50 years I recognise passion and that supporters need an "edge" when following their team.Those who call someone a c*** and w****** and sing it should take a long look at themselves. Standing in the crowd amongst Charlton fans last night was plainly embarrassing
There are some people who no doubt show a wholly than thou attitude over racism in football yet vent their spleen in the most disgusting ways. Why is it ok to call another human being a C*** with so much anger especially when you don't really know them.
On a last point those who question Scott's career would probably give their all to have been in the position once where he has been.
I for one will stand proud to applaud him when he returns to the Valley - I hope fair minded Charlton fans do also.
Thanks for giving us your side of the story Scott. :-)
Leaving CAFC for Chelsea, hinded Parker's England career.
He went from being in the shop window, to being put back in a box in the store room.
His weekly wage was double at Chelski but no truth in the rumour we offered him a 1 million pound loyalty bonus ?
instead of calling him a cuxx, either ignore him (not easy when he scores in 7 mins) or a song about being a effing Chelsea bench warmer.
Out of all the players that have left CAFC, that on the final moments of the window was the most depressing, because i knew that i wouldn't see my team as high in the prem again,
when he did that run, after CS misplaced pass, it just brought back all that misery, and when the net bulged......
I find it hard to move on, despite it being over a decade ago.
I cannot understand or believe the vitriol surrounding Scott both last night and on this forum the rubbish being spoken over his departure and reasons are frankly pathetic. In regards to loyalty in Football talk to Chris Powell/Kergomant talk to all the kids who don't make it - Footballers are a commodity
We as fans can be irrational at times even with our own we can be disloyal in terms of support/critism of players who play for us so how can we expect any player in any era to show complete loyalty - unfortunately its a job !!
At the time Chelsea or rather Abramovich was chasing big names - Duff was Blackburn through and through - Bridge was the 2nd best England left back and went to Chelsea when they had the 1st in Cole. He clearly thought after seein Scott in the boxing day game that there was a player that could stop the Chelsea bandwagon rolling or at least help it get going.
Its been said before that given the opportunity to secure your future for life and that of your family why would you pass up on that? Who knows if the offer was " you come now or you don't come at all"
On last nights game whilst as a Charlton supporter over 50 years I recognise passion and that supporters need an "edge" when following their team.Those who call someone a c*** and w****** and sing it should take a long look at themselves. Standing in the crowd amongst Charlton fans last night was plainly embarrassing
There are some people who no doubt show a wholly than thou attitude over racism in football yet vent their spleen in the most disgusting ways. Why is it ok to call another human being a C*** with so much anger especially when you don't really know them.
On a last point those who question Scott's career would probably give their all to have been in the position once where he has been.
I for one will stand proud to applaud him when he returns to the Valley - I hope fair minded Charlton fans do also.
I would respect him if he respected us. he is probably the best player to have played for us in the last 50 years. When he played against u against Newcastle I was determined not to boo him but after he scored his celebration showed his feelings. Same last night. He will look back in years to come knowing he ruined his career chasing the money. Sad really
He was my first Charlton hero! I was too young to hate him at the time but did hate him a few years later when I read about the manner of his departure.. I did get over it and am proud that Charlton produce him and players like him. But that goal last night hurt! It hurt a lot!
And I also take pleasure in the fact that although he's earned more money than he's ever likely to spend, he's won f**k all in his career. His total of England caps is pathetic for someone of his ability too.
This x1000. Add to that the fact that he probably won't be that well remembered at anywhere he has played. Had he left at the end of 03/04, I think he would have left a hero, as it is he just gets booed relentlessly at his first club. Add to this the fact that he will probably just be seen as a bit part, workaday sort of bloke at Chelsea, Newcastle and so forth.
Even if we are only talking about Charlton midfielders in the mid noughties, Danny Murphy has achieved more in the game.
The sad thing is that it could all have been so different
By going Chelsea to sit on the bench he perhaps lost the potential respect and acknowledgement of Alex ferguson, who most probably, would have rated him highly and as a possible replacement for Roy Keane.
The Chelsea move ruined Parkers career and he would know it. He got better by going Newcastle etc but never quite re-gained that spark he had with us. The Chelsea move generated 2 losers.
I recently saw a bit where this woman said there were two sides to this story and Parker was not all to blame for the break down of relationship between him and charlton. I think the fact that charlton, at the time, so strictly and stubbornly refused any approach from Chelsea and would not allow Parker to know or get involved, perhaps made him think the other way, that he was the big man and should be entitled to seek it out...
This might get a lol or 2 and sound really stupid, but, I genuinely think that however hard it may have been, if charlton were a bit more relaxed about the Chelsea approach and went along with Scott's ego...then he wouldn't have gone. We done things the right way and it back-fired...under the growing turn of player power.
I would respect him if he respected us. he is probably the best player to have played for us in the last 50 years. When he played against u against Newcastle I was determined not to boo him but after he scored his celebration showed his feelings. Same last night. He will look back in years to come knowing he ruined his career chasing the money. Sad really
I'm afraid I can't agree with this. He has shown respect since leaving. He's had nothing but positive things to say about the club and could have reacted to all of the abuse he's had thrown at him but has maintained his dignity which is more than can be said for some. He should celebrate his goals with his fans. It hurt me but that's football. I hate it when players don't celebrate goals against former teams and find it to be an empty gesture.
He hasn't won anything in his career but at least when he looks himself in the mirror he can say he took a huge opportunity to be part of a team that would challenge for major honours. And in fairness to him he has captained England and been PFA Player of the Year. Not bad. His career at Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs could have been so much different had he not suffered so many injury setbacks. He didn't go there to pick up a huge paycheck and sit on the bench and he did feature for Chelsea before getting injured. At the end of his career he can be immensely proud of his achievements. Not many captain their country.
As always with these discussions it boils down to whether money is everything to you or whether other things are more important.
Why those who judge everything in monetary terms feel the need to justify themselves by insisting everyone else actually feels the same (when clearly they don't) is an interesting psychological point.
I also find it interesting that whenever a player makes a big money move - apart from claiming that they dreamed of playing for Moneybags FC since they were a foetus - is that they have gone there "to win things". Yet our esteemed colleague thenewbie doesn't think he (Parker) cares as [he] "I wouldn't".
Like I have stated previously, and others have too, if he had stayed twelve/eighteen more weeks he would have been a hero and this discussion would not be happening.
That season me & my mates were dreaming of following Charlton in Europe, would we play a team in France or Portugal or Germany? It didn't matter if we were playing on a Thursday night on channel 5 Charlton were going to have a European tour. The season was going well we beat Chelsea on Boxing Day, a game We'll never forget. Then Chelsea decide they want Parker to warm there bench, our best player who has been at Charlton since he was 8, every kid in the ground had his name on the back of there shirt & he went on strike demanding a move. He could of waited till the end of the season, he was star man every week he was just braking into the england set up but no he held the club to ransom. Parker is a slag & he always will in my eyes
I do find the argument that Parker was responsible and to blame for us not getting into Europe an interesting one.
Parker was and never has been a goalscoring midfielder in the mold of a Lampard or a Gerard - he scored just nine in 128 League games for us. He was the engine room and his asset is driving the team forward and breaking down the opposition. So we are not talking about losing a Darren Bent at the height of his abilities.
Now if we then consider where we got a large number of our points with Parker it was away from home. But look at who we still had to play on the road after he left - Arsenal (finished 1st), Chelsea (2nd ), Man United (3rd), Liverpool (4th ), Newcastle (5th), Fulham (9th), Everton (17th) and Leeds (19th).
That is an extremely hard set of fixtures. In addition, Parker might well have missed some for us through suspension or injury but, even if he hadn't, there is absolutely no doubt, because of the way he plays, he would have been a spent force at some pint in the season.
Yes we missed out by four points. One could argue on the basis of probability that, had Parker stayed, we might have bridged that gap but there is absolutely no guarantee we would have achieved the sort of results we did in his absence (away to Liverpool for example) let alone the extra points required.
So, should we really be making him such a scapegoat for destroying the European dream when there are simply so many other factors involve? And abusing him both verbally and physically in throwing coins at him won't change that situation.
In that season we were an awesome team until he left. It was the best charlton side I have ever seen, and Parker was right at the centre of it. We played with a drive, a belief and a game plan, and we could give ANYONE a tough match in that league, the team had gelled and we had a bit of a swagger in our play. When Scott left or was on the verge of going, we travelled up to Goodison, where we battled out a 1-0. But we looked half the team we had been without Parker. There are no guarantees we would have got into Europe, of course, but with Parker there we had a chance. He was that good for us. In the end, it all went wrong for both parties, Parker should have gone to 2 more World Cups than he did imo, he has had a fine career, but it could have been a great one. And as for us, we were just left with our dreams. Maybe true for Parker too in some ways, who knows. I will remember him as the best young home grown talent I have seen in the red shirt, and I am glad he captained England. His ability deserved that. But just maybe that ability actually deserved something more in the same way that we feel about the timing of his move from Charlton. I have to say I find it sad that our probably one of our greatest English players will never be able to return to the place where he played some of his best football and be universally cheered for what he achieved. But that is how it is. In many years to come, will Parker the ex footballer appreciate his money, or would he rather be having the sort of reception at the Valley, that the likes of Paul Went, Killer etc receive at their former footballing home?
I do find the argument that Parker was responsible and to blame for us not getting into Europe an interesting one.
Parker was and never has been a goalscoring midfielder in the mold of a Lampard or a Gerard - he scored just nine in 128 League games for us. He was the engine room and his asset is driving the team forward and breaking down the opposition. So we are not talking about losing a Darren Bent at the height of his abilities.
Now if we then consider where we got a large number of our points with Parker it was away from home. But look at who we still had to play on the road after he left - Arsenal (finished 1st), Chelsea (2nd ), Man United (3rd), Liverpool (4th ), Newcastle (5th), Fulham (9th), Everton (17th) and Leeds (19th).
That is an extremely hard set of fixtures. In addition, Parker might well have missed some for us through suspension or injury but, even if he hadn't, there is absolutely no doubt, because of the way he plays, he would have been a spent force at some pint in the season.
Yes we missed out by four points. One could argue on the basis of probability that, had Parker stayed, we might have bridged that gap but there is absolutely no guarantee we would have achieved the sort of results we did in his absence (away to Liverpool for example) let alone the extra points required.
So, should we really be making him such a scapegoat for destroying the European dream when there are simply so many other factors involve? And abusing him both verbally and physically in throwing coins at him won't change that situation.
AA, I don't mean this to sound disrespectful, but your piece comes across like the passionless view of somebody utterly ambivalent that your club was close to making history only to see their chances sabotaged. Personally I care more about that than Scott Parkers hurt feelings. I also resent the view of myself and others who share them being undermined by a lunatic minority who verbally and physically abuse Parker
I do find the argument that Parker was responsible and to blame for us not getting into Europe an interesting one.
Parker was and never has been a goalscoring midfielder in the mold of a Lampard or a Gerard - he scored just nine in 128 League games for us. He was the engine room and his asset is driving the team forward and breaking down the opposition. So we are not talking about losing a Darren Bent at the height of his abilities.
Now if we then consider where we got a large number of our points with Parker it was away from home. But look at who we still had to play on the road after he left - Arsenal (finished 1st), Chelsea (2nd ), Man United (3rd), Liverpool (4th ), Newcastle (5th), Fulham (9th), Everton (17th) and Leeds (19th).
That is an extremely hard set of fixtures. In addition, Parker might well have missed some for us through suspension or injury but, even if he hadn't, there is absolutely no doubt, because of the way he plays, he would have been a spent force at some pint in the season.
Yes we missed out by four points. One could argue on the basis of probability that, had Parker stayed, we might have bridged that gap but there is absolutely no guarantee we would have achieved the sort of results we did in his absence (away to Liverpool for example) let alone the extra points required.
So, should we really be making him such a scapegoat for destroying the European dream when there are simply so many other factors involve? And abusing him both verbally and physically in throwing coins at him won't change that situation.
AA, I don't mean this to sound disrespectful, but your piece comes across like the passionless view of somebody utterly ambivalent that your club was close to making history only to see their chances sabotaged. Personally I care more about that than Scott Parkers hurt feelings. I also resent the view of myself and others who share them being undermined by a lunatic minority who verbally and physically abuse Parker
I was indeed trying to be dispassionate and objective in order to present a few facts that might make some people re-consider their view that Parker was totally to blame for us not getting into Europe.
But, as you weren't trying to be disrespectful, I won't take umbrage at the accusation that I lack passion. I do have passion for things that matter. And I can't be passionate about someone who I don't think was wholly and solely responsible for what might have been a once in a lifetime into Europe.
Having said that, this wasn't our only potential route to Europe and perhaps we should also have a thread aimed at Curbs for his refusal to allow us to enter the Intertoto Cup?
...this wasn't our only potential route to Europe and perhaps we should also have a thread aimed at Curbs for his refusal to allow us to enter the Intertoto Cup?
That used to hack me off as well. But there's two big differences. 1. Being in the Intertoto wouldn't have been a patch on qualifying for the UEFA Cup, let alone the Champions League. 2. No matter whether you agreed with Curbs or not (I didn't), that decision was always taken from the perspective that he wanted the best for Charlton.
I do find the argument that Parker was responsible and to blame for us not getting into Europe an interesting one.
Parker was and never has been a goalscoring midfielder in the mold of a Lampard or a Gerard - he scored just nine in 128 League games for us. He was the engine room and his asset is driving the team forward and breaking down the opposition. So we are not talking about losing a Darren Bent at the height of his abilities.
Now if we then consider where we got a large number of our points with Parker it was away from home. But look at who we still had to play on the road after he left - Arsenal (finished 1st), Chelsea (2nd ), Man United (3rd), Liverpool (4th ), Newcastle (5th), Fulham (9th), Everton (17th) and Leeds (19th).
That is an extremely hard set of fixtures. In addition, Parker might well have missed some for us through suspension or injury but, even if he hadn't, there is absolutely no doubt, because of the way he plays, he would have been a spent force at some pint in the season.
Yes we missed out by four points. One could argue on the basis of probability that, had Parker stayed, we might have bridged that gap but there is absolutely no guarantee we would have achieved the sort of results we did in his absence (away to Liverpool for example) let alone the extra points required.
So, should we really be making him such a scapegoat for destroying the European dream when there are simply so many other factors involve? And abusing him both verbally and physically in throwing coins at him won't change that situation.
AA, I don't mean this to sound disrespectful, but your piece comes across like the passionless view of somebody utterly ambivalent that your club was close to making history only to see their chances sabotaged. Personally I care more about that than Scott Parkers hurt feelings. I also resent the view of myself and others who share them being undermined by a lunatic minority who verbally and physically abuse Parker
I do have passion for things that matter.
And our best player; the fulcrum of our side and the way we played, walking out in January when we were 4th in the table and with a once in a lifetime shot at Europe. Did this matter to you?
I do find the argument that Parker was responsible and to blame for us not getting into Europe an interesting one.
Parker was and never has been a goalscoring midfielder in the mold of a Lampard or a Gerard - he scored just nine in 128 League games for us. He was the engine room and his asset is driving the team forward and breaking down the opposition. So we are not talking about losing a Darren Bent at the height of his abilities.
Now if we then consider where we got a large number of our points with Parker it was away from home. But look at who we still had to play on the road after he left - Arsenal (finished 1st), Chelsea (2nd ), Man United (3rd), Liverpool (4th ), Newcastle (5th), Fulham (9th), Everton (17th) and Leeds (19th).
That is an extremely hard set of fixtures. In addition, Parker might well have missed some for us through suspension or injury but, even if he hadn't, there is absolutely no doubt, because of the way he plays, he would have been a spent force at some pint in the season.
Yes we missed out by four points. One could argue on the basis of probability that, had Parker stayed, we might have bridged that gap but there is absolutely no guarantee we would have achieved the sort of results we did in his absence (away to Liverpool for example) let alone the extra points required.
So, should we really be making him such a scapegoat for destroying the European dream when there are simply so many other factors involve? And abusing him both verbally and physically in throwing coins at him won't change that situation.
AA, I don't mean this to sound disrespectful, but your piece comes across like the passionless view of somebody utterly ambivalent that your club was close to making history only to see their chances sabotaged. Personally I care more about that than Scott Parkers hurt feelings. I also resent the view of myself and others who share them being undermined by a lunatic minority who verbally and physically abuse Parker
I do have passion for things that matter.
And our best player; the fulcrum of our side and the way we played, walking out in January when we were 4th in the table and with a once in a lifetime shot at Europe. Did this matter to you?
Yes but not as much as the day we picked up a leaflet upon arrival at the Stoke game telling us that this would be the last game at the Valley.
And not as much as when Killer, Paul Walsh and Paul Elliot were sold by the Club. Perhaps that taught me that players are just commodities. So to let Parker's departure fester (when we got top dollar unlike most of the time we've sold our stars of the future) with me for a decade was never going to happen.
Parker should have waited 'til the end of the season and then gone to a Newcastle or Villa where he would have been first choice and built his career from there. How much do you think we would have got by comparison from those Clubs at that time?
As the father of a young lad finding his way in another sport I have also become more aware with how professional outfits actually do or don't look after the players of the future. And for every Parker and Defoe there are thousands that have shown devotion to Charlton every step of the way only for their dream to be shattered. I'd rather waste my energies hoping that those "discards" find their way in life than become wrapped up in hating a former player who, when he was on the pitch, gave his all.
Comments
Now either you were laughing with me or at me and I think it was the latter. I'm not upset at all, I'm just saying that if a certain element of our support are tarnishing our clubs name they need to be weeded out. Do you agree or not? Yes or No? Executing them is not an option, on second thoughts don't bother to reply I'm going file you in the ignore pile like others have on here.
He went from being in the shop window, to being put back in a box in the store room.
His weekly wage was double at Chelski but no truth in the rumour we offered him a 1 million pound loyalty bonus ?
instead of calling him a cuxx, either ignore him (not easy when he scores in 7 mins) or a song about being a effing
Chelsea bench warmer.
Out of all the players that have left CAFC, that on the final moments of the window was the most depressing, because i knew that i wouldn't see my team as high in the prem again,
when he did that run, after CS misplaced pass, it just brought back all that misery, and when the net bulged......
I find it hard to move on, despite it being over a decade ago.
If that doesn't happen, he doesn't get sold.
Even if we are only talking about Charlton midfielders in the mid noughties, Danny Murphy has achieved more in the game.
The sad thing is that it could all have been so different
By going Chelsea to sit on the bench he perhaps lost the potential respect and acknowledgement of Alex ferguson, who most probably, would have rated him highly and as a possible replacement for Roy Keane.
The Chelsea move ruined Parkers career and he would know it. He got better by going Newcastle etc but never quite re-gained that spark he had with us.
The Chelsea move generated 2 losers.
I recently saw a bit where this woman said there were two sides to this story and Parker was not all to blame for the break down of relationship between him and charlton.
I think the fact that charlton, at the time, so strictly and stubbornly refused any approach from Chelsea and would not allow Parker to know or get involved, perhaps made him think the other way, that he was the big man and should be entitled to seek it out...
This might get a lol or 2 and sound really stupid, but, I genuinely think that however hard it may have been, if charlton were a bit more relaxed about the Chelsea approach and went along with Scott's ego...then he wouldn't have gone.
We done things the right way and it back-fired...under the growing turn of player power.
I would respect him if he respected us. he is probably the best player to have played for us in the last 50 years. When he played against u against Newcastle I was determined not to boo him but after he scored his celebration showed his feelings. Same last night. He will look back in years to come knowing he ruined his career chasing the money. Sad really
I'm afraid I can't agree with this. He has shown respect since leaving. He's had nothing but positive things to say about the club and could have reacted to all of the abuse he's had thrown at him but has maintained his dignity which is more than can be said for some. He should celebrate his goals with his fans. It hurt me but that's football. I hate it when players don't celebrate goals against former teams and find it to be an empty gesture.
He hasn't won anything in his career but at least when he looks himself in the mirror he can say he took a huge opportunity to be part of a team that would challenge for major honours. And in fairness to him he has captained England and been PFA Player of the Year. Not bad. His career at Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs could have been so much different had he not suffered so many injury setbacks. He didn't go there to pick up a huge paycheck and sit on the bench and he did feature for Chelsea before getting injured. At the end of his career he can be immensely proud of his achievements. Not many captain their country.
"He didn't go there to pick up a huge paycheck and sit on the bench" -Oh yes he did.
And when he looks in the mirror his eyes will be full of regret because he knows like most know he has not had the stellar career it could have been.
Why those who judge everything in monetary terms feel the need to justify themselves by insisting everyone else actually feels the same (when clearly they don't) is an interesting psychological point.
I also find it interesting that whenever a player makes a big money move - apart from claiming that they dreamed of playing for Moneybags FC since they were a foetus - is that they have gone there "to win things". Yet our esteemed colleague thenewbie doesn't think he (Parker) cares as [he] "I wouldn't".
Like I have stated previously, and others have too, if he had stayed twelve/eighteen more weeks he would have been a hero and this discussion would not be happening.
He won the championship as much as John terry won the champions league.
Edit. Just realised you meant the championship with us, not the premier league.
Parker was and never has been a goalscoring midfielder in the mold of a Lampard or a Gerard - he scored just nine in 128 League games for us. He was the engine room and his asset is driving the team forward and breaking down the opposition. So we are not talking about losing a Darren Bent at the height of his abilities.
Now if we then consider where we got a large number of our points with Parker it was away from home. But look at who we still had to play on the road after he left - Arsenal (finished 1st), Chelsea (2nd ), Man United (3rd), Liverpool (4th ), Newcastle (5th), Fulham (9th), Everton (17th) and Leeds (19th).
That is an extremely hard set of fixtures. In addition, Parker might well have missed some for us through suspension or injury but, even if he hadn't, there is absolutely no doubt, because of the way he plays, he would have been a spent force at some pint in the season.
Yes we missed out by four points. One could argue on the basis of probability that, had Parker stayed, we might have bridged that gap but there is absolutely no guarantee we would have achieved the sort of results we did in his absence (away to Liverpool for example) let alone the extra points required.
So, should we really be making him such a scapegoat for destroying the European dream when there are simply so many other factors involve? And abusing him both verbally and physically in throwing coins at him won't change that situation.
When Scott left or was on the verge of going, we travelled up to Goodison, where we battled out a 1-0. But we looked half the team we had been without Parker.
There are no guarantees we would have got into Europe, of course, but with Parker there we had a chance. He was that good for us.
In the end, it all went wrong for both parties, Parker should have gone to 2 more World Cups than he did imo, he has had a fine career, but it could have been a great one. And as for us, we were just left with our dreams.
Maybe true for Parker too in some ways, who knows.
I will remember him as the best young home grown talent I have seen in the red shirt, and I am glad he captained England. His ability deserved that.
But just maybe that ability actually deserved something more in the same way that we feel about the timing of his move from Charlton.
I have to say I find it sad that our probably one of our greatest English players will never be able to return to the place where he played some of his best football and be universally cheered for what he achieved. But that is how it is.
In many years to come, will Parker the ex footballer appreciate his money, or would he rather be having the sort of reception at the Valley, that the likes of Paul Went, Killer etc receive at their former footballing home?
Personally I care more about that than Scott Parkers hurt feelings.
I also resent the view of myself and others who share them being undermined by a lunatic minority who verbally and physically abuse Parker
But, as you weren't trying to be disrespectful, I won't take umbrage at the accusation that I lack passion. I do have passion for things that matter. And I can't be passionate about someone who I don't think was wholly and solely responsible for what might have been a once in a lifetime into Europe.
Having said that, this wasn't our only potential route to Europe and perhaps we should also have a thread aimed at Curbs for his refusal to allow us to enter the Intertoto Cup?
Did this matter to you?
And not as much as when Killer, Paul Walsh and Paul Elliot were sold by the Club. Perhaps that taught me that players are just commodities. So to let Parker's departure fester (when we got top dollar unlike most of the time we've sold our stars of the future) with me for a decade was never going to happen.
Parker should have waited 'til the end of the season and then gone to a Newcastle or Villa where he would have been first choice and built his career from there. How much do you think we would have got by comparison from those Clubs at that time?
As the father of a young lad finding his way in another sport I have also become more aware with how professional outfits actually do or don't look after the players of the future. And for every Parker and Defoe there are thousands that have shown devotion to Charlton every step of the way only for their dream to be shattered. I'd rather waste my energies hoping that those "discards" find their way in life than become wrapped up in hating a former player who, when he was on the pitch, gave his all.
Hope that helps you to understand.