Paul Parker
  • Two big clubs with big problems

    Match of the weekend: Manchester United v Liverpool

    This match is always going to be a huge deal, one of the marquee fixtures in the Premier League.

    Both managers rested top players for their midweek European engagements in preparation for this match, but the gamble paid off for Roy Hodgson a lot more than it did for Alex Ferguson.

    However, looking at their last domestic fixtures, United did almost everything right for 90 minutes before Everton made their heroic comeback, whereas Liverpool were lucky to leave Birmingham with a point.

    No Liverpool manager in the Premier League era has ever won

    Read More »from Two big clubs with big problems
  • Same old failings at Arsenal

    Match
    of the weekend: Liverpool v Arsenal

    It is not often two big teams meet on the
    opening weekend and both sides would probably rather have a more gentle first
    match. It should provide great entertainment, however, with Roy Hodgson looking
    to win over a sceptical public at Anfield. He has made a good start by keeping
    Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at the club, and seems to be getting the
    dressing room on side in his understated way. Rafa Benitez's lack of
    man-management skills cost him his job in the end, but it seems Hodgson is a
    much better communicator. Arsenal's weaknesses look to be

    Read More »from Same old failings at Arsenal
  • Sceptical about Liverpool takeover

    Liverpool fans can be
    forgiven cautious optimism over the possible takeover by a Chinese billionaire,
    but they should remain sceptical until the offer becomes clearer.

    It sounds too good to be true: Kenny Huang intends to buy
    out the hated Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks, pay off the club's debts
    and provide Roy Hodgson with transfer funds.

    If true, that is good news for the club, but it is a familiar promise - few people take
    over clubs pledging to cripple them financially.

    The truth is we do not know enough about Huang, a
    stockbroker by trade, and we have to assume he is motivated by

    Read More »from Sceptical about Liverpool takeover
  • Make or break for Arsenal

    This looks like a make-or-break season for Arsenal.

    Four years without a trophy have created discontent in North London, and if they were to lose their top four
    position, it would be a disaster.

    Although the club's
    ownership is in a state of flux, the present situation does not allow them to
    throw silly money at transfer targets.

    They are finding it increasingly hard to attract new
    signings, particularly considering the massive wages on offer at clubs like Chelsea, Manchester
    City and Real Madrid.

    Without the lure of Champions League football they would
    have no chance of attracting top

    Read More »from Make or break for Arsenal
  • Arshavin a joy to watch

    PLAYER TO WATCH: Andrei Arshavin

    The little
    Russian is one of the few players in the Premier League who I would regularly pay
    to watch.

    He was
    magnificent against Porto in midweek and you can be sure that there were
    envious looks on Tuesday night from other members of the Big Four who did not
    want to take a gamble on him when he was available.

    Arsene
    Wenger did, despite concerns over his ability to adapt to the rigours of the
    Premier League, and it has certainly paid off for the Gunners.

    He's got
    everything you want from a top class player - he's a thinker, he's creative, he
    makes goals and

    Read More »from Arshavin a joy to watch
  • Disrespectful Terry is undermining Gerrard

    If there is one thing more harmful for a team than speaking out against the manager, it is upsetting the rest of the players and undermining the skipper.

    That is exactly what John Terry has done by trying to muscle his way into power within the England camp. While his attempted mutiny may have been quashed, it was still hugely disrespectful and bang out of order.

    Terry may still be bitter about the fact that Fabio Capello demoted him as captain, but he needs to get over it because he is causing real damage to the team's morale.

    I think it's a classic case of money polluting a team and a player

    Read More »from Disrespectful Terry is undermining Gerrard
  • What is the point?

    You have to wonder as to the motives for
    arranging an international friendly three days before the start of the new Premier
    League season.

    I just wonder whether the FA planned the
    match with Hungary on the pretext that England would do well at the World Cup.

    Their thinking might have gone something
    like this: after our boys heroic performance in South Africa this game
    will give the fans a chance to welcome back Fabio Capello's side - maybe even
    as world champions. Weak opposition pretty much guarantees victory so there'll
    be celebrations galore and the chance to make a bit of money from it.

    Read More »from What is the point?
  • United too reliant on Giggs

    Ryan Giggs
    showed his enduring quality at the weekend with a match-winning substitute
    appearance for Manchester United against Stoke, but United's reliance on him is
    a little worrying.

    Giggsy came
    off the bench to set up both goals in a 2-0 win, and he - along with Wayne Rooney
    - is one of the few truly creative players they have left after the departure
    of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

    The ball he
    squared for Dimitar Berbatov was simple but exactly the sort of incisive play
    United had been lacking; you could see how much Berbatov appreciated it because
    he went straight over to Giggsy

    Read More »from United too reliant on Giggs
  • Inter to win bore final

    UEFA might have moved the Champions League to a Saturday to boost TV ratings, but I don't think Bayern versus Inter Milan is a match to make many people in this country change their Saturday night plans.

    The simple fact is that neither side is particularly entertaining to watch, and it feels like a bit of an empty occasion without Barcelona who are undoubtedly the most entertaining side around.

    That is not to say Inter do not deserve to be there. They do. Even though they hardly touched the ball in the second leg of their semi-final at the Camp Nou, they did enough and deserve credit for the

    Read More »from Inter to win bore final
  • Chelsea recruitment gives them the edge

    The Community Shield may be played for charitable causes, but that doesn't mean it isn't an important game.

    Certainly in terms of performance, Sunday's curtain-raiser to the new season is hugely significant.

    It gives the two sides a chance to show how they have improved over the summer and a decent run-out will give them a springboard to get the new campaign off on the right foot.

    The performance will have a bearing on how the players approach their first games of the season, and it will give the manager a real insight into what is left to be done before the big kick-off.

    You can never judge

    Read More »from Chelsea recruitment gives them the edge

Pagination

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About Paul Parker

Paul Parker enjoyed a distinguished career for club and country. The versatile defender won 19 England caps and played the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany. After spells at Fulham and QPR, Paul joined Manchester United in 1991, where he helped the club claim their first league title for 26 years, and won the Double twice. During six seasons at Old Trafford, he played with legends such as Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and David Beckham.

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    Pitchside Europe - Fri, May 17, 2013 17:59 BST
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    Pitchside Europe - Fri, May 17, 2013 17:48 BST
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    Beckham retirement a reminder of England’s …

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    Jim White - Fri, May 17, 2013 11:54 BST
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    David Beckham’s legacy: The view from …

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  • What will David Beckham do next?

    What will David Beckham do next?

    Early Doors is in mourning but has pieced itself together to offer the retiring David Beckham a few suggestions on his future career choices after football. Continue reading → More »

    Early Doors - Fri, May 17, 2013 07:12 BST
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