Paul Parker Article

Nugent has point to prove

Fri Sep 25 10:34PM

Match of the weekend: Fulham v Arsenal

In a weekend of few, if any, standout Premier League matches, this one is probably the most interesting.

Considering Fulham took four points from the Gunners last season without conceding a goal, they certainly have recent pedigree against Arsene Wenger's side.

Arsenal's resilience and mental strength away from home will be under scrutiny. It's one thing blowing away Wigan at home, but travelling to play in a London derby is quite another.

Opposition sides know they have to stop them playing football so Wenger can expect a tough game, full of fierce challenges and a gritty, battling performance from Fulham.

Do they have the fight to compete at Craven Cottage? It will be interesting to see.

Upset of the weekend: Tottenham v Burnley

This could be a difficult game for Tottenham. They were totally outplayed by Manchester United before losing their way against Chelsea, despite enjoying a decent enough start at Stamford Bridge.

It's been a tough couple of weeks, but their fans will expect them to beat Burnley at White Hart Lane. However, many of them will remember how well the Clarets played during the first half of last season's Carling Cup semi-final.

Yes, they were ultimately blown away but they did enough before the break - and in the return leg at Turf Moor, which they won - to suggest they will be no pushovers on Saturday.

Burnley have not changed a great deal since that tie, whereas Tottenham have. And of course, Redknapp's side have real injury problems at the back, which will not help.

While their home record is fantastic, they are yet to prove themselves on the road this season. But Spurs could well become their first scalp this weekend.

Player to watch: David Nugent

Nugent's brace last weekend, and the fact he may have a point to prove to Harry Redknapp, marks him out as this week's player to watch.

I like Nugent and firmly believe his only mistake was in deciding to go to Portsmouth. He simply signed for the wrong club.

Redknapp never played him on the south coast and as a striker, you need minutes on the pitch.

If he'd gone to the right club, he'd be in the England squad. He's got a good touch, good movement, he can score goals, he can play wide, he can go through the middle.

When looking at some of the players who are in the England squad at the moment, I can't help but think he is more of a complete package. He just has not had enough regular Premier League football to prove himself.

The goals he scored against Sunderland were quality goals - the kind he used to score for Preston in the Championship. He's still got it in him and if he gets on the scoresheet again against his former boss, it will be quite some story.

Under pressure: Phil Brown

I know I keep going back to the same man, but after last weekend's defeat to Birmingham, Phil Brown is a man under real pressure this weekend.

If Hull cannot win at home against teams who they are competing with to stay in the top flight, the future is bleak indeed.

And with Liverpool away to contend with this weekend, defeat for the Tigers is likely. Another week, another loss.

Where are the points they need to stay up this season going to come from?

Brown needs to find something from somewhere, and soon, or his job could be put in real danger.

Comments1 - 26 of 26

good article
From zac.fudge on Fri Sep 25 11:22PM
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One word. Spacebar. Use it!
From bobbykilkenny on Sat Sep 26 01:50AM
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where are all the spaces, does he have a legitimate education to be writing this, otherwise a subpar article with many disagreeing
From red87590 on Sat Sep 26 01:51AM
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#2 ROFL ! xD
From sunil_mufc on Sat Sep 26 09:07AM
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Has A point to prove.
From p.hamilton33 on Sat Sep 26 10:40AM
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common burnley beat spurs tonight !!!
From stevenkop on Sat Sep 26 11:04AM
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Polinteriors at least if you're throwing out racial slurs use proper diction. Monkey is spelt with an e. Perhaps you are the monkey furiously banging away on that keyboard. Good article Paul agree with most of what you're saying.
From ould_jim on Sat Sep 26 11:13AM
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Hahahahahahah 2009/2010 chlesea all the way. i can see it i can feel it
From infor.centralbank on Sat Sep 26 11:21AM
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Parker you are donkey
From sachinkhadke on Sat Sep 26 11:26AM
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Parker you donkey
From sachinkhadke on Sat Sep 26 11:26AM
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Parker you're lucky I would sound like a goat to rant relentlessly about your pathetic attempt to spite the potential of the Gunners!...but alas it is not even worth the time! OR IS IT?!?......IT IS. CRAVEN COTTAGE IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A SHOOTING GROUND FOR ALL THE GREAT MARKSMEN IN LONDON PREMIER CLUBS! DONT EVER FORGET THAT FACT! THEY TRY TO BE THE TEAM USA IN ENGLAND! pFFFFTTT!!!!!! I RESPECT AND LOVE THE LIKES OF DEMPSEY AND BOCANEGRA AND THE RESILIENCY OF FULHAM TO ALWAYS FLOAT TO THE TOP AT THE END OF THE YEAR EVEN IF DABBLING IN RELEGATION DEPTHS FOR A BIT, YET THAT DOES NOT AND NEVER WILL MEAN THAT THEY ARE SOME KIND OF DAVID FOR GOLIATH. THEY WILL BE PUNISHED SEVERELY BY EDUARDO TODAY AND IF NOT HIM THEN BENDTNER AT SOME POINT!! SO JUST SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE HOMBRE.
From northlondoncannons on Sat Sep 26 11:26AM
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Parker you are donkey
From sachinkhadke on Sat Sep 26 11:29AM
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is parker on my planet, i always thought he spoke @#$% to say nugent would be in the england squad if he was at the rite club is total nonsence and an upset at the lane get a life parker you tit . coys
From cope343 on Sat Sep 26 11:34AM
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good shout I am a pne fan and Nugent definately picked the wrong club he should have gone to sunderland, he would have been a first team regular there.
From wing_commander_jackson on Sat Sep 26 11:35AM
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parker ur a tit, nugent in the england squad? upset at the lane? u need to get out more u fool.coys
From cope343 on Sat Sep 26 11:35AM
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I just love reading your articles !
From emil.schwartz on Sat Sep 26 11:39AM
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No.2 Bobby K where are you from, we share the same surname? I agree with Paul Parker in that Nugent chose the wrong club and his game is all about confidence. Given a run in the team he will produce the goals.
From johnakilkenny on Sat Sep 26 11:39AM
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And yet again Forest sell out of their away allocation at Plymouth.
On a sunday!! 600 mile round trip!! For a game they could watch at home!! After years in the 3rd tier of English football.
FOREST the most loyal fans in football
From tricky.trees on Sat Sep 26 11:48AM
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another player who signed up to a prem team only to be left rotting on the bench or in reserves, happens more at chelsea but its stalling the careers of decent players who'd get a regular game in a lot of teams given the opportunity. look at Glen Johnson, only just got back where he should be, shaun wright philips again back where he should be playin in the prem on a weekly basis.even Theo Walcott still can't command a starting place at arsenal so how can he breakthrough on the international scene regularly. far to many english players with potential sat on benches when mediocre foreign players are getting regular football at the less glamorous clubs in the league
From gogetgus on Sat Sep 26 12:14PM
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No 18 Johna K I'm from Dublin Ireland. Its more common than you would think.
From bobbykilkenny on Sat Sep 26 01:56PM
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Wow, there are a lot of racists on this board. All criticism of Paul Parker is racism. What the hell are you talking about, Spacebar. It's 'Space Bar' anyway so maybe you should learn to use one.
From paul_byrneuk on Sat Sep 26 02:02PM
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Is Man u not playing today. or did Jim White already lick Fergies ringpiece clean?
From willjh_2003 on Sat Sep 26 02:05PM
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25, was not racist, you idiot. this post has been edited since it was 1st put up yesterday. There was a lack of spaces throughout the entire article yesterday afternoon which has since been rectified. Merely some constructive criticism.
From bobbykilkenny on Sat Sep 26 02:20PM
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Hey Parker, do you ever read those comments said to you? I bet you do and you must have a bullet proof vest on. HAHA
From lim_yuyu89 on Sat Sep 26 08:02PM
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Funny, I thought Spurs did OK!
From twomjc on Sun Sep 27 03:56AM
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Great predictions! Tool
From jamesgwild on Mon Sep 28 11:07AM
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