His best years were definitely at Charlton... Well in my opinion at least...
Charlton made the man, Chelsea was a wasted move for him, Newcastle was a decent decision for him, West Ham was a great decision and Spurs a brilliant one. Finishing his career at Fulham, who could blame him. He was a proper London player (barring the short Geordie spell) and I'd have him back this season in a coaching role without a doubt.
Love or hate him, he is one of the players that learned from their big money move mistake and done brilliantly after it. I will always be proud to say he was one of ours.
Absolutely idolised him. Great career but I'm sure the inevitable debate will ensue. I've never been a bigger fan of a player, possibly due to my age at the time. I'm sure he can look back on his career with pride.
Absolutely idolised him. Great career but I'm sure the inevitable debate will ensue. I've never been a bigger fan of a player, possibly due to my age at the time. I'm sure he can look back on his career with pride.
Completely the same, was about 11-12 when he was in his prime with us and I never loved a player like I loved him at the time.
Putting aside the way he departed if we can just for now, one of the very very best we've produced. His commitment and tackling ability made him a natural holding midfielder but with so much else to offer (see above clip v Southampton). There were times in the Prem when the rest of the team seemed to stand and watch as he ghosted past players deep in the opponents' half, only to find he had nobody to pass to. I'll always fondly remember too the crunching - and perfectly fair - tackle on Henry that set the tone for our 4-2 away win (that still sounds ridiculous). Henry admonished him but received plenty more. Funnily enough Arsenal could still do with a player like Parker.
Easily the best player I have seen play for us, he had everything, shame other clubs utilised the negative side of his game more than the creative running side. His rise coincided with demise of one of my all time favourites Kinsella.
Loved it when he went head to head at The Valley with Gerrard (subbed), Lampard (subbed) and Keane (also subbed!) in 2004. If only he could have hung on to the end of that season, we would have been in Europe and he would have had a dream move to Old Trafford.
I never thought a player leaving could hurt more than when Wide Tie Boy left us but then these melon farmers sold Yann.
It's a measure of how much I loved Scotty P and how great some of the memories he left were that I got over it and have always wanted to see him do well.
He was our N'Golo Kante and he could have been Chelsea's but they wasted him and stalled his career. He was good enough to play for any of the top sides in England but he chose, or was offered, the wrong option in Chelsea. I think he'd have played more games in his correct position at Man Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool. Should have more England caps too.
Enjoy your retirement Scott, maybe we'll see you back at the Valley as one of KR's celebrity cameo coaches.
Probably the best Charlton player I've seen in 50 years of supporting the club. When he left for Chelsea he went from hero to zero. But that was a long time ago time to forgive and wish him well for the future
I was ten when he left Charlton - perhaps at the very nascent stages of my obsession with football - and absolutely devastated when I found out he was leaving. I would be more devastated in years to come when the reasons for his doing so became apparent. And for that, there is a certain amount of dislike in there.
If he'd stayed...
But yet, I can't really blame him. Chelsea were offering him a ridiculous deal, more money than most footballers would be coming close to - a lot more than Charlton could ever offer - and they were going to go and win things. That's probably something that Parker felt he could never achieve at Charlton, so he did the right thing for his career in one regard.
Also - what a bloody good player, and there were some fantastic memories in there. I don't think I can fault the way he played for us.
Certainly the best home-grown player I've seen us produce, and maybe one of the best ever players to have worn the shirt.
Hope he has a smooth transition from playing into whatever he decides to do next.
I honestly believe we saw the best of him here. He had more to his game with us and was just starting to develop into more of an attacking threat and adding goals to his game. That pretty much stopped when he left us. One of my all time favourite Charlton players and arguably the best our academy has ever produced. We should be proud that an England captain started his career with us. Good luck to him and I hope stays in the game as he has a lot to offer.
Not so much wanting to leave because he was offered more money at a different employer because we would all take it but you at least have to show some proffesional attitude towards your old employer after being made that offer by the new employer. You don't just spit your dummy out. If he had given his all in that period for us then moved on then we would say good luck more willingly.
Top player imo - never really held a grudge over his move to Chelsea, just thought maybe he should've waited until the end of the 03/04 season
One memory for me was when West Ham came to the Valley in a night game, don't think it was the 4-4, and in the first minute he and Bowyer went for a ball on the touchline of the covered end half, West stand side. Parker nailed Bowyer, took the ball and Bowyer ended up going over the hoardings
Comments
Charlton made the man, Chelsea was a wasted move for him, Newcastle was a decent decision for him, West Ham was a great decision and Spurs a brilliant one. Finishing his career at Fulham, who could blame him. He was a proper London player (barring the short Geordie spell) and I'd have him back this season in a coaching role without a doubt.
Love or hate him, he is one of the players that learned from their big money move mistake and done brilliantly after it. I will always be proud to say he was one of ours.
Will split opinion on here but probably the best player I've seen for us.
Had a very good career. Very nearly a great one but not quite.
I noticed that he mentioned us three times in his statement while all the other clubs he's played for has only one mention each.
One of my favourite Charlton players. Truly hope he will have a decent coaching career. Best of luck to him.
Does anyone think his son Murphy is named after Danny?
Going to Chelsea may have been the wrong move but he's had a good career at the top level.
Be interesting to see what he does next. No doubt he's a good friend of Robinson so he could be back before we know it
Class player. As many have said probably the best I've seen for CAFC
It's a measure of how much I loved Scotty P and how great some of the memories he left were that I got over it and have always wanted to see him do well.
He was our N'Golo Kante and he could have been Chelsea's but they wasted him and stalled his career. He was good enough to play for any of the top sides in England but he chose, or was offered, the wrong option in Chelsea. I think he'd have played more games in his correct position at Man Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool. Should have more England caps too.
Enjoy your retirement Scott, maybe we'll see you back at the Valley as one of KR's celebrity cameo coaches.
But that was a long time ago time to forgive and wish him well for the future
I was ten when he left Charlton - perhaps at the very nascent stages of my obsession with football - and absolutely devastated when I found out he was leaving. I would be more devastated in years to come when the reasons for his doing so became apparent. And for that, there is a certain amount of dislike in there.
If he'd stayed...
But yet, I can't really blame him. Chelsea were offering him a ridiculous deal, more money than most footballers would be coming close to - a lot more than Charlton could ever offer - and they were going to go and win things. That's probably something that Parker felt he could never achieve at Charlton, so he did the right thing for his career in one regard.
Also - what a bloody good player, and there were some fantastic memories in there. I don't think I can fault the way he played for us.
Certainly the best home-grown player I've seen us produce, and maybe one of the best ever players to have worn the shirt.
Hope he has a smooth transition from playing into whatever he decides to do next.
One memory for me was when West Ham came to the Valley in a night game, don't think it was the 4-4, and in the first minute he and Bowyer went for a ball on the touchline of the covered end half, West stand side. Parker nailed Bowyer, took the ball and Bowyer ended up going over the hoardings