This is an interesting discussion, even if it has been done before (more than once).
It's all if's and but's, but IF we'd got into Europe with Parker and 'only' got 5 million for him in the summer, I'd bet the club would have been better off than letting him go in January.
It was not a now or never situation to leave charlton and go to a bigger club.
His talent would not have evaded him over night.
It is even more probable that a selction of clubs would have been fighting for his signature in the summer. We probably would have negotiated a higher fee for him in that instance. Fergie would have been on blower.
(P.S, I dont know what makes this thread addictive to comment on)
people can't get over it because he was such a brilliant talent and hasn't achieved anything close to what he should have done. The move hurt his career when his excuse was he was bettering it and it hurt charlton and was the beginning of the end for curbs. So it's an incredibly frustrating subject
kermogant and parker in the same sentence is the only right bit of the post Treacey both wanted more money and spat their dummies out to get it
Yann was 32, and wanted to be paid 12 to 15K a week, depending on who you speak to. Scott was 22 and wanted to be at a more glamorous club, earning a higher weekly wage 40k against 25k plus a 1 million loyalty bonus at CAFC (not too Shabby for a 22y old).
Murray and Curbs did everything they could too get him to stay. (parker still wanted to go) Roland said to Katrien no to any increased deal after talks with Cherries (Kermogant wanted to stay)
Also Yann lost 4 years of his career when he was ill as a youth player so understand on his last contract why it needed to be right for him.
Scott at the end of that season, could of had his pick of clubs, Spain as well of top prem. Yann knew the clock was ticking, and had very few options.
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.
Hope that helps you to understand.
I recall my good friend and fellow Addick Del, many, many years ago sharing a train carriage after a home game with a large number of youth team members. They were all giving it large about what fantastic players they were and discussing which super-club they would be joining after leaving little Charlton, their only thought was of using the club as a means to "better" things. There was one exception who sat quietly while the others mouthed off. He was Paul Konchesky. None of the others made it to the first team.
Maybe today's little protégés are different, but I have my doubts.
Oh come on, the guy in the corner who wound him up was thoroughly embarrassing. He was a grown man (with his son!) and was giving Parker the wanker gesture.
Oh come on, the guy in the corner who wound him up was thoroughly embarrassing. He was a grown man (with his son!) and was giving Parker the wanker gesture.
I mean he was probably about 40. Grow up
You found someone giving it to a former player 'embarrassing'? Christ, I'm surprised to turn up to football at all, must be mortifying for you every week
Lot of upset at the time, but the vast majority of us have had our say over the years and have all moved on. In amongst that was the fact he was the best footballer I've seen play for Charlton in my life.
I looked around tonight and no lie, the vast majority of those giving him dogs abuse (when they wasn't taking their shirts off, and bizarrely singing about Adam Johnson being a peodophile, wtf has that got to do with Charlton v Fulham??) would have aged around 3 when he left us.
Sounds like a thoroughly unsavoury incident and no way to behave in front of children. Parker takes a lot of shit pretty well generally, ,but its been time to forget it for 10 years now. He was actually a great servant to Charlton and i wish we could show him some gratitude some day.
Lot of upset at the time, but the vast majority of us have had our say over the years and have all moved on. In amongst that was the fact he was the best footballer I've seen play for Charlton in my life.
I looked around tonight and no lie, the vast majority of those giving him dogs abuse (when they wasn't taking their shirts off, and bizarrely singing about Adam Johnson being a peodophile, wtf has that got to do with Charlton v Fulham??) would have aged around 3 when he left us.
Lot of upset at the time, but the vast majority of us have had our say over the years and have all moved on. In amongst that was the fact he was the best footballer I've seen play for Charlton in my life.
I looked around tonight and no lie, the vast majority of those giving him dogs abuse (when they wasn't taking their shirts off, and bizarrely singing about Adam Johnson being a peodophile, wtf has that got to do with Charlton v Fulham??) would have aged around 3 when he left us.
still think he's a judas and all part of the pantomime booing him. But swearing in front of your kids and giving him the wanker sign... embarressing.
like when he walked off the pitch after giving an interview when we played them on sky this season, after politely not answering a question about scoring against his former club, he sarcastically smiled and waved at some charlton "supporters" who were waiting by the tunnel giving him "wanker" signs and shouting abuse.
what makes it even worse is despite the abuse he gets he seems like a model pro and a nice guy. Makes his move to chelsea and behaviour then even more baffling.
We had the Carson incident earlier on in the season now an incident with parker. Shame really when we have our own pond life fans that want to react against former players. Whether Parker left for more money is irrelevant. He was a great servant to this club. Will the fans , when the time comes for Cousins to move on treat him in the same way ? Who wouldn't want to quadruple their salary. I would that's for sure.
We nurtured a talent that went onto captain our country we should be proud if his achievements, we were all angry about his departure when we had the best Charlton team that most of us have seen but that's gone, as they say to all you haters move on
I didn't boo him I'd gladly have him back.i do hold my hands up though I would have killed him given the chance when he left but that's the past good luck to him
Time to move on. He is still a class act and would have him join us next season at the drop of a hat, although never going to happen. By far the best player I've ever seen in a charlton shirt!
Comments
one came through the youth team and cried over a pound note, the other, arguably, had one last chance at some money.
and didnt refuse to train (whilst sat in his baby Bentley )
It's all if's and but's, but IF we'd got into Europe with Parker and 'only' got 5 million for him in the summer, I'd bet the club would have been better off than letting him go in January.
His talent would not have evaded him over night.
It is even more probable that a selction of clubs would have been fighting for his signature in the summer. We probably would have negotiated a higher fee for him in that instance. Fergie would have been on blower.
(P.S, I dont know what makes this thread addictive to comment on)
Scott was 22 and wanted to be at a more glamorous club, earning a higher weekly wage 40k
against 25k plus a 1 million loyalty bonus at CAFC (not too Shabby for a 22y old).
Murray and Curbs did everything they could too get him to stay. (parker still wanted to go)
Roland said to Katrien no to any increased deal after talks with Cherries (Kermogant wanted to stay)
Also Yann lost 4 years of his career when he was ill as a youth player so understand on his last contract why it needed to be right for him.
Scott at the end of that season, could of had his pick of clubs, Spain as well of top prem.
Yann knew the clock was ticking, and had very few options.
Maybe today's little protégés are different, but I have my doubts.
Whoever wound him up in the corner of the lower north at the end of the game well done it was great to see
I mean he was probably about 40. Grow up
Didn't boo Parker. Don't see the point really.
Lot of upset at the time, but the vast majority of us have had our say over the years and have all moved on. In amongst that was the fact he was the best footballer I've seen play for Charlton in my life.
I looked around tonight and no lie, the vast majority of those giving him dogs abuse (when they wasn't taking their shirts off, and bizarrely singing about Adam Johnson being a peodophile, wtf has that got to do with Charlton v Fulham??) would have aged around 3 when he left us.
like when he walked off the pitch after giving an interview when we played them on sky this season, after politely not answering a question about scoring against his former club, he sarcastically smiled and waved at some charlton "supporters" who were waiting by the tunnel giving him "wanker" signs and shouting abuse.
what makes it even worse is despite the abuse he gets he seems like a model pro and a nice guy. Makes his move to chelsea and behaviour then even more baffling.
Nevermind, his knees are knackered now...
way ? Who wouldn't want to quadruple their salary. I would that's for sure.