Paul Parker Article

Defoe on fire

Sat Aug 22 09:55AM

Match of the weekend: Burnley v Everton

The way both teams have started the new season leads me to believe Burnley have a great chance of making it two wins out of three in their first season back in the top flight.

The Clarets were excellent in their midweek victory over Manchester United, showing resilience at the back and playing some nice football, while Everton were simply awful against Arsenal last weekend.

The Toffees may well have hit back with a win in the Europa League, but Sigma Olomouc are a million miles away from Premier League opposition, and playing at Turf Moor is an entirely different proposition to Goodison Park.

With fervent local support, Burnley have made their home ground a bit of a fortress - they were unbeaten there against top-flight opposition in cup competitions last season - and Everton could well struggle on Sunday.

Upset of the weekend: Manchester City v Wolves

Wolves bounced back well from their opening-day defeat to West Ham - when they didn't even play that badly - with victory at Wigan. They will head to Eastlands on a high, with nothing to lose.

Mick McCarthy's side will be well up for Saturday, as most teams will be when they visit City this season - that is the inevitable consequence of having spent so much this summer - and with the absence of any pressure, they will be able to express themselves on the pitch.

Conversely, City will be under huge pressure in their first home game of the season and have a great deal more to lose. After a good start to the new season, which has seen them beat Blackburn and then Barcelona in a friendly, their fans will expect nothing less than a convincing win over newly-promoted opposition.

That could work against Mark Hughes's men and I think there is potential for a real upset at the City of Manchester Stadium.

One to watch: Jermain Defoe

The Tottenham striker is on fire this season and it would not be a surprise to see him on the scoresheet again at West Ham in the early kick-off on Sunday.

If Defoe gets a good run in a team, more often than not he scores. And since Harry Redknapp is such a big fan of his, I'm sure he will get plenty of chances to play this season.

Even Fabio Capello has given him a chance to shine for England, and he has not disappointed. Indeed, he has timed his run of form to perfection, with a place alongside Wayne Rooney in the national set-up there for the taking.

Centre-backs hate playing against Defoe - he never stops moving and his pace is devastating. And West Ham's defence know that if they give him a sniff at the weekend, he will punish them.

Under pressure: Phil Brown

It was great seeing Hull stay up last season - but their end-of-season form was anything but great. And after two defeats from two games this season, Brown needs to see his side get some points on the board if their chances of survival are not to be seriously damaged.

The Tigers' home game against Bolton gives them a great chance to do that, but they will have to put memories of a terrible performance in the 5-1 defeat to Spurs well out of mind if they are to get their campaign up and running this weekend.

Brown will be feeling the pressure after failing to attract any big names to the KC Stadium over the summer - Alvaro Negredo has become the latest to snub Hull - and he now needs to show that he can guide his team to safety with the players he already has at his disposal.

That may not be so easy. Brown needs to turn things around quickly - one or two points from the first five or so games of the season is simply not good enough - and already these are worrying times on Humberside.

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"One to watch: Jermain Defoe - Under pressure: Phil Brown" facepalm...."Upset of the weekend: Manchester City v Wolves" so which hole did you pull that nuget from eh parker, god you talk a load of faeces at times. "Match of the weekend: Burnley v Everton" yea if you're from Planet Zog.
From ravinginsomnia on Sat Aug 22 12:18PM
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Parker stating the bleeding obvious
From dj_elusive_uk on Sat Aug 22 12:26PM
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what no mention of ManU, what no they are always slow starters and that come May they will be top. oh is that too complicated for you. "defoe on fire" oh wow really. The only good thing you can say about ManU is that Citeh will lose. Stop all your fu%%#$#cking @#$% and get your toungue out of ManU Azzz. Citeh will beat Wolves 3 - 1 and I am not even a Citeh fan. YOU ARE THE BY FAR THE WORST JOURNALIST PERIOD
From wiyonorahardja on Sat Aug 22 12:27PM
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Of course Defoe is on fire any one would be on fire after getting repeatedly routinely arrested by the police for no particular reason
Bet he does not score against West Ham United on Sunday though
From arttidesco on Sat Aug 22 12:28PM
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Well comments has to be made but you know that teams like everton finishes well while a team like AFC falters when the boyz run out of ideas and so on and ..... The interesting thing I want to see at the end of it all is worthy champion, I hope is not going to be MUFC
From anyibaba on Sat Aug 22 12:35PM
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we watch everyone that plays. what do you think?
From anyibaba on Sat Aug 22 12:43PM
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Would you like to make friends with people from other country or place?
Log on--------- S uga r Da d dy Cha t ---C o m ----
Then you can get help and suggestions from all over the world.
While you may find your true love or friendship there.
From larryjo70 on Sat Aug 22 12:47PM
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i really dont care what parker says anymore. We dont like his articles but he has a lot of fans even more than Jim White.
PP, you forgot to call drogba cheap diver and fluke goal getter...poor parker, you even forgot to name the worst game of the last weekend, Burnley vs Man U....i guess its intentional because it was manure
From lennoxmallory on Sat Aug 22 01:14PM
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If Parker doesn't state the obvious, where else will we read it...lay off you haters @#$% its getting sooo old reading the same comments everytime...u are way more boring than parker... the lot of haters...keep ur thoughts to urself as we read the same thing week in week out...grow a pair. "Parker stating the bleeding obvious" so the f.ck what?!? If you hav more to contribute ABOUT FOOTBALL, let's hear it then.
From driaan86 on Sat Aug 22 01:18PM
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parker....
you are FIREEDDD!!!!!!
From emirimran on Sat Aug 22 01:19PM
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i am gunna get him in my fantasy league now he is legend
From edanrickford on Sat Aug 22 01:22PM
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Why don't you lot contribute to his articles by giving us a bit more insight, instead of writing the same bull@#$% replies about PP's articles...if he's so obvious, u lot are even more cuz ur comments are more predictable than his obvious statements...u are the ones getting sooo boring it gives me the bollock ache..let's hear your opinion about FOOTBALL, not the same old PP song u sing after each of his articles...these bad comments are old and I care about FOOTBALL...so what if he states the obvious, so what?? who else is gonna do it?? You can't do better, so u slag him off...very witty
From driaan86 on Sat Aug 22 01:25PM
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Yawn, Parker, get lost
From gozzlechop on Sat Aug 22 01:34PM
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na lie, city is not going any where this season.them go fight for relegation gbam.keyamo
From anthonykeyamo on Sat Aug 22 01:37PM
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Paul, I know you read these articles just to let you know, you are well dispised. Another load of wallop.
From darrendimascio on Sat Aug 22 01:40PM
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Fokkk you Parker and I really mean it. Bloody Scum.
I can not believe that of all people ManU supporters always go on and on and on about City's spending.
Before Ferguson arrived to Manchester they were without the title for 20 years!!! Then was given enough money year after year to make them the most spending team in the UK.
And after another 7 years they became champions.
Later they became the 2nd biggest spenders and started talking about Chelsea buying their success, even though Chelsea was similarly good before Abramovich as ManU were before their big spendings.
So @#$% you to you Parker and retarded fans of ManU!
From shantaram108 on Sat Aug 22 02:00PM
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Bloody @#$%. This guy is starting to get really annoying.
Better to switch to another football website.
From shantaram108 on Sat Aug 22 02:01PM
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Give it up Parker, just like the goal you gave away when you were an "international"
From heypresco on Sat Aug 22 02:03PM
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@#12: Way to go! I'm sick of people disrespecting PP about "stating the obvious"... He doesnt actually state the obvious that badly anyway!
From alfbotelho on Sat Aug 22 02:04PM
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I am sick and tired of this Paul Parker bloke - a washed up nobody in footballing terms and now on here talkin and writing in just about the same way he played football - RUBBISH! PP, no one cares about your opinion. Please retire from ALL footballing interests and sit back in your sofa and watch TV and do some knitting.
From jandm696969 on Sat Aug 22 02:15PM
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1st comment is on point(and ridiculously funny), "Match of the weekend: Burnley v Everton" yea if you're from Planet Zog."
initially i thought numerous criticism(95% of comments) of parker was unfair, but dis article is sooooo DUMB! ,full of @#$% and an utter was of cyberspace....
From dannygeorge_001 on Sat Aug 22 02:27PM
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Mr. Paul 'Bleeding Obvious' Parker is a top class journalist impersonator.
From london_league_promoter on Sat Aug 22 02:29PM
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I think it is becoming worisome all these people saying childish stff about PP. I think it is becoming an addiction to them to the extent that they don't even read the article before raining abuses on PP. Sometimes I agree with PP and sometimes same as ED and Jim White, but if we can all be a little bit mature no matter our age then some people wont be making mess of themselves here.
One thing certain is that if you continue to post your stupid and childish comments 24/7 it aint gonna make Yahoo! sack PP. He wasn't employ to post what you all will like to read but to write on what is necessary no matter what you think.
However, it is adviceable for your health sake, you haters, to stop clicking on PP's page if you can not afford to read the "rubbish" he writes. You are all beginning to sound like a broken record reeling out stupid and senseless songs (yawn!). For common sense sake GET A LIFE!
From labdurrazaq on Sat Aug 22 02:41PM
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Can't C Hull beating Bolton - whem they (Bolton) have Matty Taylor, Sean Davis, and Kevin Davies (ex - scummer). Quality reliable players. R u really in touch with prem footie in 2009 Paul parker? Or any league footie for that matter? With respect 2 Mick McCarthy, surely Man City would be practically embarrassed if they lose at home 2 Wolves........
From tony_c_heath on Sat Aug 22 02:48PM
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Who cares about b****y swellhead Defoe or Tottenumb Hotspuds anyway. Bet he'll b booed no end by West Ham fans - aren't they always unforgiving 2 other x players?......i.e. Paul Ince, Frank boring Lampard..... up the hammers - bloody el, where's ol' Alf Garnett these days?
From tony_c_heath on Sat Aug 22 02:52PM
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wow... a win over united, and suddenly turf moor is a forteress! One game does not proove anything. A fortress is like what Stamford BRidge was. Unbeaten over 80 games.. Not after a win over united..
From shaunthomas2590 on Sat Aug 22 03:20PM
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Always talking down on Citeh because they threaten his beloved United
From kellz_86 on Sat Aug 22 05:11PM
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so far 0 for 2
From tdann1 on Sat Aug 22 05:39PM
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a) Man City 1 - 0 Wolves - er... at least give Mark Hughes some credit
b) Hull 1 - 0 Bolton - I think Phil Brown is better than this. He was under pressure for a negative style of football but it's upto his team to perform to surpass his expectations.
c) Jermaine Defoe - its great to see him back in form, but the only one who maybe needs to watch him is Michael Owen. He also burns out but i admit this is a world cup year. The one to think about is Bent, surely.
From sameenuk on Sat Aug 22 07:32PM
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My pencil sharpener leaves a strange shape to the tip of my pencils?
From cdidcott on Sat Aug 22 09:08PM
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