The only reason Fletcher has looked OK against good sides is because of his team-mates alongside him. Parker is the better of the two mediocre players.
Scotty Parker anyone?
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I'm constantly hearing about how player "x" is better than player "y" in terms of ability etc, but surely the only way to judge it is based on a player's performances?
Parker was the only bright spot in a dire West Ham side last year and people were quick to suggest that he only stood out in a poor side. Now he's at Spurs and performing equally well.
In my opinion Fletcher. Carrick and Anderson have been poor for the last couple of years for whatever reason, despite being surrounded by very good players which leads me to believe that they maybe dont have the quality that we might have hoped.
I doubt a player like Scott Parker is the answer but at least he's a player seemingly at the top of his game.
He does provide good protection for the back four and always puts in an incredible shift but you need someone like Modric next to him who is capable of completely handling the midfield responsibilities going forward because Parker offers so little in that respect. We don't have anyone like Modric.
Up there with Joey Barton in terms of players that could walk into our midfield then.
Barton could still walk into our midfield right? I mean, that wasn't just a kneejerk thing, and this isn't just a kneejerk response to a bit of good form from Parker right?
Barton could still walk into our midfield right? I mean, that wasn't just a kneejerk thing, and this isn't just a kneejerk response to a bit of good form from Parker right?
Got a lot of time for Parker.But we should have gone for him at Charlton.
To be fair, he's maintained his form for longer than our central midfielders have in aeons. Just saying.
Like it or not Scott Parker has been playing very well for the last few years.
Didn't get a chance at Chelsea, was consistently very good for Newcastle and West Ham's top player and he's now got another chance at a good club.
Hardly "kneejerk" given United's problems in midfield (and seeming reluctance to spend big on really top players in that position) to suggest that he might have been a viable target or that he would have done well.
Didn't get a chance at Chelsea? 
Wasn't good enough at Chelsea more like, who waskeeping him out of the team at the time again?
I'm not denying he's shown a bit of good form for 2 shit teams and that he's been doing well enough for Spurs so far. I disagree that he's the answer in any way shape or form to what we need in MF and I'd hate to see us signing players like him.
I'd much rather solider on with what we have for a while and give the likes of Pogba a shot when the time is right.
Wasn't good enough at Chelsea more like, who waskeeping him out of the team at the time again?
I'm not denying he's shown a bit of good form for 2 shit teams and that he's been doing well enough for Spurs so far. I disagree that he's the answer in any way shape or form to what we need in MF and I'd hate to see us signing players like him.
I'd much rather solider on with what we have for a while and give the likes of Pogba a shot when the time is right.
Made the final of the CL and won the PL. God help the rest of them if we get a "good" midfield.
The armchair managers are out in force again.
That's the whole point isn't it? We'd be a far better team if we had a top midfield.
No. The whole point is that we don't require the services of Scott Parker.
Or his daft haircut.
You're still that angry about that?
What's Scott Parker actually got to do with Joey Barton?
His haircut really winds me up.
I wouldn't say angry, its just a nice reference to point to in terms of the unbelievable bullshit some people who think they know something about football spout on internet forums.
Whats Parker got to do with Barton? Lets see
... midfield player.
... had decent time at Newcastle.
... vastly overrated.
... Suggested that they would improve our team.
Granted I understand that those who were banging on about how Barton was the answer to our midfield problems 6 months ago would now distance themselves from that position.
Whats Parker got to do with Barton? Lets see
... midfield player.
... had decent time at Newcastle.
... vastly overrated.
... Suggested that they would improve our team.
Granted I understand that those who were banging on about how Barton was the answer to our midfield problems 6 months ago would now distance themselves from that position.
Spot-on.
He's a very good player - would have fitted in United's midfield without a problem giving players like Anderson or Cleverley license to link up with the strikers.
Very good signing for Spurs, missed a trick there. Although Fletcher is at about the same level for me, he's not having the best of season's so far though.
Fergie wouldn't sign him on that basis alone.
Are you suggesting Parker is 'vastly overrated' on here? I've barely seen anyone have a good word for him, Glaston apart. Might be changing now but I'd say Parker is fairly underrated on here actually.
Seems like it can only be put down to that POTY award last season which seemed to piss everyone off and lead to some pretty bitter comments about him.
What the hell does he think he is anyway, a fecking miner from the 1930s?
There's a few people who reckon that Gibson is a better player than Scott Parker (see the first few pages of this thread).
Only at the Caf
Only at the Caf
Still don't see any connection between Parker and Barton - I think you're doing a disservice to Parker there.
WTF!!! We talking about the same Fletcher that has been MotM in at least 2 CL semi final wins? Really, REALLY? I feel for some people, I really do.
As for parker, he is a solid performer, hard working, good solid proffessional.
This ^
Loads of bitterness about FC Barcelona and players-who-perform-well-but-don't wear-a-United shirt at the Caf of late.
There's a few people who reckon that Gibson is a better player than Scott Parker (see the first few pages of this thread).
Only at the Caf
Neither are good enough. End of story.
There's a few people who reckon that Gibson is a better player than Scott Parker (see the first few pages of this thread).
Only at the Caf
Sorry, I forgot to add 'by some' to the vastly overrated bit.
I'd forgotten the POTY award to be honest.
I've nothing against him, I just dont think he'd improve us or is the answer to our midfield problems. Lets look at the facts, we've won 3 of the last 4 premier leagues and done pretty ok in Europe too. Granted we've lost Scholes from the MF that achieved that but other than that they're the same players and despite being continually labelled mediocre () by a few fans with short memories and high expectations, they've served us well.
We also have a crop of young players with bags of potential just about ready to come through the youth set up, the first of which Cleverly, is already starting to have an impact.
Could we do with someone? Undoubtably yes and I suspect if a really special player came along, say someone like Sneijder, I'd say Fergie might be tempted, but Scott Parker isn't a really special player is he? On his best form he might be slightly better than Carrick or Fletcher when they're on their worst form.
I'd forgotten the POTY award to be honest.
I've nothing against him, I just dont think he'd improve us or is the answer to our midfield problems. Lets look at the facts, we've won 3 of the last 4 premier leagues and done pretty ok in Europe too. Granted we've lost Scholes from the MF that achieved that but other than that they're the same players and despite being continually labelled mediocre (
) by a few fans with short memories and high expectations, they've served us well.We also have a crop of young players with bags of potential just about ready to come through the youth set up, the first of which Cleverly, is already starting to have an impact.
Could we do with someone? Undoubtably yes and I suspect if a really special player came along, say someone like Sneijder, I'd say Fergie might be tempted, but Scott Parker isn't a really special player is he? On his best form he might be slightly better than Carrick or Fletcher when they're on their worst form.
Why would we replace Hargreaves with someone who's also the wrong side of 30, only not as good?
Well he's clearly not what we need. But people always go overboard in their criticisms of players who rely on grit and hardwork rather than skill. Just like opposition fans do with the likes of fletcher and park.
Has anyone really suggested it though?
Parker's just another that seems to attract random hate on here, along with Walcott, Bale, Martin O'Neill, David Moyes etc etc etc and a few have tried to suggest he's not all that bad. I've seen people say 'he'd actually be an improvement on what we've got' after some games but I don't think anyone seriously envisages seeing SAF go out and buy him.
Go read the thread mate, we've people suggesting he's better than our current MF options, that he'd 'walk into our team', that we missed a trick, blah blah blah....
He's a good player, I've nothing against him and I dont see people criticising him here other than say we haven't missed a trick and that he wouldn't walk into our team.
As soon as I saw him picking up the MOTM award I knew we'd have a strew of people here suggesting he'd walk into our team....
That's because some opposition fans don't understand the need for a Fletcher type player in every successful side.
For example, to suggest that the only reason Fletcher has looked OK against good sides is because of his team-mates alongside him shows a lack of understanding of the game.
Ferguson has stated that he's the first name on the team sheet for the big games.
Didn't get a chance at Chelsea?
Wasn't good enough at Chelsea more like, who waskeeping him out of the team at the time again?
I'm not denying he's shown a bit of good form for 2 shit teams and that he's been doing well enough for Spurs so far. I disagree that he's the answer in any way shape or form to what we need in MF and I'd hate to see us signing players like him.
I'd much rather solider on with what we have for a while and give the likes of Pogba a shot when the time is right.
He hardly played for them - and being up against Essien in that position its hardly a surprise. When he did play I always like the look of him - tidy on teh ball and keen to get up and down the pitch.
As for "soldiering on" we'll see how the season goes but I'd suggest that your opinion might be different if we lose the title to City.
As I said - I don't think he's the answer to our problems, nor do I ever think that it was a realistic possibility that United would have gone in for him but I do think he's at least as good as most central players we curretly have although perhaps thats more of a comment on recent form than anything else.
We have our own Parker in Fletcher and we don't consider him shit. I'm more concerned about cover for Carrick when he is missing.
Chelsea didn't sign Essien until 2005, with Parker on his way to Newcastle.
It was mainly Tiago that kept Parker out of the side.
I was actually taking the piss with the 'soldiering on' bit, we've had one of the most successful periods in the clubs history with the current players we have in MF.
And yes I will still feel the same if we loose the title to City, just as I felt the same when we lost it to Chelseas money before them, and responded without signing players like Scott Parker.
Parker was not signed by any of the traditional big sides because they already have player just like him in that position he plays, it had feck all to do with any quality he may or may not have.
Didn't get a chance at Chelsea?
Wasn't good enough at Chelsea more like, who waskeeping him out of the team at the time again?
I suggest you do some research. Parker was a regular player for Chelsea when he first arrived then got crocked the following season and Mourinho's penchant to collect midfielders forced Parker out. He should never have moved to Chelsea IMO but like we have seen in the past and present (with both Chelsea and City), players will take the paycheck.
Whether or not he'd perform for United is purely hypothetical. He certainly wouldn't stand around looking lost ala Carrick vs Barca, Anderson vs City, etc. I've no doubt SAF would have molded him into a useful player for the club. Certainly a cut above the likes of Djemba, Kleberson and Miller that were signed around the time Parker was on the move to Chelsea.
Funny how players like Lampard & Essien didn't suffer due to Mourinho's penchant to collect midfielders, particularly Essien, seeing as he too suffered from being crocked a fair bit.
I agree he should never have went there, as for being a 'regular', he only played for them about 15 times.
I agree he should never have went there, as for being a 'regular', he only played for them about 15 times.
Oh dear. Obviously Lampard and Essien are world class. You just like to moan and spout shit it seems.
To be fair you can't compare him to the likes of Lampard and Essien. They're far better than our midfielders as well. Especially Essien, given he's a proper central midfielder. Fletcher and co. wouldn't stand a chance of getting over a fully fit Essien.