Is Parker fit for the long-term?
Who ever would have thought the floppy haired, 13-year-old, ball juggling maestro from the McDonalds advert would one day end up captaining his country? Well believe it or not that was Scott Parker leading England out at Wembley to face Holland on Wednesday night sporting the much heralded armband. Debate over which player would lead the Three Lions into battle against the Dutch had been ferocious in the weeks leading up to this game after John Terry was stripped of the captaincy and Fabio Capello ousted from the dugout. Ultimately it turned out to be Parker who interim boss Stuart Pearce turned too ahead of the more senior internationals in his squad.
At 31-years-old the Tottenham midfielder became one of the oldest captains in England’s recorded history. His superb debut season at White Hart Lane had turned him into a front runner for the role. Soon enough the media started to champion the cause for Scott (or is it Scotty) Parker to be beamed up to the role of England braveheart and the valiant new hero of our national game.
I’d like to start off by saying that I think Parker is a good player. Not great but good. He offers an anchored, stable presence in midfield and is a master at his craft of breaking up opposition attacks. He does the ugly work in the engine room and doesn’t complain about it. All the hallmarks of a footballer who possess great dignity, professionalism and sets an outstanding example to the countries adolescent population. He also connects well with the working class who see hard graft and perseverance as the embodiment of success. Those are his defining attributes. However they alone shouldn’t be used as a benchmark for how an England captain should be selected. Is Parker really in the mould of David Beckham, Bobby Moore or Alan Shearer?
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Truthfully the role has lost the prestige it used to bear. Wearing the captains armband has become more ambassadorial in the modern era as opposed to being seen as England’s leading light. It’s easy to see why Pearce chose him for Wednesday’s friendly. It’s as if he’s has chosen a player who is a mirror image of himself. Someone who will scrap, fight and pull no punches. Someone who personifies the values shared by the people sitting in the stands and watching at home. Someone who will make the captaincy great again albeit for the wrong reasons. You could hear the nation rejoice simultaneously after he made two courageous blocks at the end of the England penalty area. In truth he had a steady game although for the final 25 minutes he was anonymous as the Dutch took control. Then again he’s still learning the ropes at international level.
And that is what scares me. When Wesley Sneijder started to dictate the game Parker was no where to be seen. As a Newcastle United fan I was severely underwhelmed during the season he spent captaining the side. Little or no vocal presence and a tendency to fade out of games when we needed him most. I said above that Parker is a good player. But in this day and age that just isn’t enough to captain a national team. In terms of relevant experience he’s severely lacking compared to Steven Gerrard; his only serious rival for the captaincy. England are going through a major transitional period at this current time. The managers position has yet to be filled and younger players are making the breakthrough into the squad. A lot has been said of his valiant effort to keep West Ham up last year which led to him being named the Football Writers Player of the Year. However that accolade alone doesn’t automatically make him a viable option to take up the captains armband. What England need right now is a leader who has been there, done that and got the t-shirt.
Must I remind you that Parker has won only 11 England caps stretched out over a nine-year period. Admittedly he should have quadruple that by now. Unfortunately for him the previous managerial regimes became obsessed with trying to marry Gerrard and Frank Lampard together in midfield meant chances were thin on the ground for anyone else. Still he’s has never played in the Champions League or major international tournament and the only major silverware he’s lifted is the Intertoto Cup with Newcastle in 2006. Compare that with Gerrard and you’ll start to see my point. The Liverpool skipper has picked up nine major European and domestic trophies throughout his career, appeared 90 times for his country and played consistently in the Champions League for much of his career. Add to that the two World Cups and European Championship campaign in 2004 and Parker’s career really starts to pale into comparison. And thats what i’m trying to get at. Experience is key. Gerrard has played on the big stage and understands how to influence games for the betterment of his team. He knows what is required when it comes to taking on the best and even the worst sides an international tournament can throw up.
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And thats why he should be the man to wear the armband at Euro 2012 and beyond if he choses to remain an England player after the finals. Parker, on the other hand, lacks the practical knowledge and experience to lead the Three Lions. There is no doubt he’ll play a huge part for his country in the coming years. But as far as the captaincy goes he doesn’t have what it takes just yet.
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