Managers press conference .....

[MikeW]

"The last time we got promoted, we were struggling by Christmas but then we went on a little bit of a run. If we get a run going, we'll be around it."

A little bit of a run? Bit more than that I fancy.

[WindyCity]

"The last time we got promoted, we were struggling by Christmas but then we went on a little bit of a run. If we get a run going, we'll be around it."

A little bit of a run? Bit more than that I fancy.

Haha...yeah, hoping for a FFC all time best unbeaten run to magically appear during this campaign is a bit of a stretch. 

Will continue hoping though....fingers crossed.....

[Statto]

Don't like that at all. Basically justifies further poor results over the next couple of weeks on the basis that we could (but realistically we won't) experience another post-Christmas miracle.

He should be coming out and saying the team is underachieving and they need to step it up, starting this Friday.

I increasingly get the impression Parker casts himself as the players' best mate, which is fine for getting 70% effort from them but if you want 100% you probably need to be their worst nightmare at times.

[Enfield]

Don't like that at all. Basically justifies further poor results over the next couple of weeks on the basis that we could (but realistically we won't) experience another post-Christmas miracle.

He should be coming out and saying the team is underachieving and they need to step it up, starting this Friday.

I increasingly get the impression Parker casts himself as the players' best mate, which is fine for getting 70% effort from them but if you want 100% you probably need to be their worst nightmare at times.

Yep,
when viewing training photos everyone seems to be having a laugh, not what's needed, more discipline is needed.

[Sting of the North]

Don't like that at all. Basically justifies further poor results over the next couple of weeks on the basis that we could (but realistically we won't) experience another post-Christmas miracle.

He should be coming out and saying the team is underachieving and they need to step it up, starting this Friday.

I increasingly get the impression Parker casts himself as the players' best mate, which is fine for getting 70% effort from them but if you want 100% you probably need to be their worst nightmare at times.

Yep,
when viewing training photos everyone seems to be having a laugh, not what's needed, more discipline is needed.

I assume you are joking, but on the off chance that the comment was serious, this one is really out there in my opinion. Personally I would definitely not draw any sort of conclusions at all about anything ever from a select few photos of a training session. But to each their own I guess, and this would be far from the first time on here that conclusions are made from nothing (or next to it).

Now, whether Parker has instilled the sufficient discipline and mentality in the squad may be debatable. Unfortunately, at this point in time it is very difficult to assess in my opinion. Neither some comments at a press conference, nor a few players laughing in training photos paints much of a picture really. 

[Statto]

Neither some comments at a press conference, nor a few players laughing in training photos paints much of a picture really. 

My view is derived from a broad range of quotes and actions both by and about Parker over the last year and even before. But thank you for assuming it's based on a single quote or some photos. May I reciprocate with a similarly wild and insulting assumption, and assume your comments are based on how Parker ties his tie. That being the case, I must say with all due respect, I think it absurd to make judgments about someone's management skills based on how they tie a tie.

[Sting of the North]

I assume you are joking, but on the off chance that the comment was serious, this one is really out there in my opinion. Personally I would definitely not draw any sort of conclusions at all about anything ever from a select few photos of a training session. But to each their own I guess, and this would be far from the first time on here that conclusions are made from nothing (or next to it).

Now, whether Parker has instilled the sufficient discipline and mentality in the squad may be debatable. Unfortunately, at this point in time it is very difficult to assess in my opinion. Neither some comments at a press conference, nor a few players laughing in training photos paints much of a picture really. 

My view is derived from a broad range of quotes and actions both by and about Parker over the last year and even before. But thank you for assuming it's based on a single quote or some photos. May I reciprocate with a similarly wild and insulting assumption, and assume your comments are based on how Parker ties his tie. That being the case, I must say with all due respect, I think it absurd to make judgments about someone's management skills based on how they tie a tie.

Thank you for clarifying, although you misread me.

My first comment was against the training photo comment (which I did find ridiculous, hence why I quoted it), not against your comment (which I didn't find ridiculous, and which just happened to tag along because the previous poster quoted you). After that, I stated that in my opinion it is difficult to assess (SPs level of friendliness with the players). I didn't state that others have to find it difficult. I also did not state that I believed that your comment was based solely on the comment in the press conference.


I hope that clears it up. Sorry if I unintentionally insulted you.

[davew]

Don't like that at all. Basically justifies further poor results over the next couple of weeks on the basis that we could (but realistically we won't) experience another post-Christmas miracle.

He should be coming out and saying the team is underachieving and they need to step it up, starting this Friday.

I increasingly get the impression Parker casts himself as the players' best mate, which is fine for getting 70% effort from them but if you want 100% you probably need to be their worst nightmare at times.

Well said!!

[filham]

"A little bit of a run" has to be the managerial understatement of the season. It was a run that Parker is never going to achieve.
To stand a chance of a top six finish he has to get his players performing better starting on Friday not waiting for a miracle of a post Christmas run. Make no mistake to date his players have underachieved and really he should be honest with us and come out and say just that.

[copthornemike]

Don't like that at all. Basically justifies further poor results over the next couple of weeks on the basis that we could (but realistically we won't) experience another post-Christmas miracle.

He should be coming out and saying the team is underachieving and they need to step it up, starting this Friday.

I increasingly get the impression Parker casts himself as the players' best mate, which is fine for getting 70% effort from them but if you want 100% you probably need to be their worst nightmare at times.

Yep,
when viewing training photos everyone seems to be having a laugh, not what's needed, more discipline is needed.

Not sure 'training photos' mean anything. Almost certainly taken by a staff photographer before the players start any serious traning session. I would be more worried if they looked pissed off before training started!

[FFC1987]

Blimey. Im worrying more now if we're thinking of post christmas runs as a way to salvage the season....we should be making it right before xmas and build from a strong position......Starting to even dislike Parkers attitude when he says stuff like this.

[Statto]

Don't like that at all. Basically justifies further poor results over the next couple of weeks on the basis that we could (but realistically we won't) experience another post-Christmas miracle.

He should be coming out and saying the team is underachieving and they need to step it up, starting this Friday.

I increasingly get the impression Parker casts himself as the players' best mate, which is fine for getting 70% effort from them but if you want 100% you probably need to be their worst nightmare at times.

Yep,
when viewing training photos everyone seems to be having a laugh, not what's needed, more discipline is needed.

Not sure 'training photos' mean anything. Almost certainly taken by a staff photographer before the players start any serious traning session. I would be more worried if they looked pissed off before training started!

I'm sure Enfield can defend himself but just because he gives training photos as an example, that doesn't seem to me to imply that's all his opinion his based on.

For me, to elaborate on my post above, I've got the sense ever since Parker took over that he has a great relationship with the players. After all, he was one of them not that long ago, and the kind who did things like (reportedly) covering the fine Magath levied on Hyndman for some reason. Then he comes back as coach, putting his arms around Anguissa etc, and all the players consistently say in interviews how much they like him. There's very little, if any, criticism of the players in his post-match interviews, and no anger, except of course when he angrily defended Arter after his sending off. But all the while he's been this warm and friendly to the players, their performances have generally alternated between absolute sh1te (last season) and lukewarm (this season) just as they did back when he was captain. So IMO there's a body of evidence to support this view that he's all carrot and no stick, and of course you can add the smiley training photos to that even if they don't count for much on their own.

[RaySmith]

I think it's a shame if players aren't going to feel able to smile in training photos because some might  construe it as not taking  their job seriously.

In the old days - i mean the 60's, when i began supporting Fulham, and used to go and watch  them training sometimes, as well as  hanging around outside the Cottage for  autographs after every home game, i think you could say that the, mostly not that well paid under the wage capping that  existed -  until Haynes broke it and became the first £100 a week player, players didn't take it  it too seriously. Compared to today anyway.

Well, that  Fulham team certainly seemed to underachieve,  with the all talent it contained - Haynes, Cohen, Leggat, Macedo Mullery, Robson, Langley, Clarke, Marsh, Macdonald etc., though we were probably lacking in certain positions, with top internationals alongside some  fairly ordinary, though viewed with great affection by fans, players - in hindsight.

We were mostly struggling against relegation  for the 60's, until finally going down. The club also sold  top players, and very talented up and coming young players, at crucial times, and replaced them with  players  of lesser standard.

But that was then, and was a part of Fulham's charm, the  friendly, cosy ground near the River, where things weren't taken too seriously. But things are different today. And i would be  very surprised if the Fulham  players, manager and staff, didn't have a completely professional attitude towards their job, a job in which you can gain great benefits and lifestyle, but where you are constantly on the line, and have to perform, or else you're out.

Whether Scott is  very, or too, friendly towards the players, is something i have no way of knowing, because who knows what he is like behind the scenes, where i strongly suspect he is more critical on occasion than he seems in public.

Isn't that was players respect - don't slag them off publically, which can cause rifts and poor morale, do it behind closed doors.

That's my personal take on it anyway.

[toshes mate]

The nuance of a language and the problems it doth cause.  A misplaced breath in some tongues can be the difference between a compliment and an insult and a date for a duel.  But here we have understatement used to demonstrate the greatness of something that went before much as I could imagine the players who were around at the time referring to it. And whilst we are entitled to doubt Parker's ability until he proves otherwise there is absolutely no reason for anybody to say he can't do it ever.  Runs like that achieved by Jokanovic and even longer can come along at any time.  You just have to start it going.  So far our unbeaten run is one game and so let's see if we can make it two wins out of two just to settle into a nice pattern for the future e.g. four wins in four, etc.

And, as RaySmith says, you really don't need to air your dirty linen in public.

[Dr Quinzel]

Stopped listening to press conferences pre-game a long time ago. Too many quotes such as this raise eyebrows and frustrate me, so I just let myself judge them on the pitch.

[Jim©]

So IMO there's a body of evidence to support this view that he's all carrot and no stick, and of course you can add the smiley training photos to that even if they don't count for much on their own.

Bloody hell, I hope I don't ever get sent down on your paltry body of evidence. They're in fact just snippets that you've chosen to interpret in that manner.
You see paying Hyndman's fine as odd it would seem, I see it as a senior professional stepping forward and protecting a young player.
I thought Anguissa showed a marked improvement after the exact incident that you mention, as most fans did!
Protecting Arter- isn't that what 99% of managers would do?
I would also question your "lukewarm" appraisal of the season thus far. I read somewhere that after 12 games it was our best start to a season for 19 years!!! There's been some poor performances no doubt (Barnsley, Hull and Stoke) but there's been some sensational ones too (Millwall, Reading and I'd even say 70 mins against West Brom we were excellent), rest just OK (Luton, Boro, Huddersfield etc).

I think Scott's doing pretty well. I never read too much into press conferences and prefer to see what players make of their "boss". It was easy to see what players thought of Ranieri/Magath even Symons at times compared to how they are with SP.

[Dr Quinzel]

The 19 years thing is a bit of misnomer when you consider how many of those were in the Premier League, where we wouldn't expect to be top 6.

But slightly off topic, so apologise.

[Statto]

Bloody hell, I hope I don't ever get sent down on your paltry body of evidence. They're in fact just snippets that you've chosen to interpret in that manner.
You see paying Hyndman's fine as odd it would seem, I see it as a senior professional stepping forward and protecting a young player.
I thought Anguissa showed a marked improvement after the exact incident that you mention, as most fans did!
Protecting Arter- isn't that what 99% of managers would do?

No I do not expect 99% of managers to invariably defend players and never criticise them publicly. All the top managers, including Hogson and Jokanovic, regularly call out mistakes and poor performance publicly. Parker doesn't, and there's no evidence he does it privately either.

And for the record I never said the Hyndman incident was "odd" or disputed that there was "a marked improvement" after the Anguissa incident. I think you're missing my point with all due respect. I've no issue with a bit of 'carrot' if it's balanced against a bit of 'stick'. Parker is all carrot and no stick. 

[Statto]

The 19 years thing is a bit of misnomer when you consider how many of those were in the Premier League, where we wouldn't expect to be top 6.

But slightly off topic, so apologise.

Not off topic.
I believe we only finished in the top six in 2 out of those 19 seasons, and even then it was only 6th and 3rd. Unless our objective this year is just to avoid relegation to League One, they're not a useful benchmark. 

[Jim©]

No I do not expect 99% of managers to invariably defend players and never criticise them publicly. All the top managers, including Hogson and Jokanovic, regularly call out mistakes and poor performance publicly. Parker doesn't, and there's no evidence he does it privately either.

And for the record I never said the Hyndman incident was "odd" or disputed that there was "a marked improvement" after the Anguissa incident. I think you're missing my point with all due respect. I've no issue with a bit of 'carrot' if it's balanced against a bit of 'stick'. Parker is all carrot and no stick. 

Fair enough, but the point I was making (badly) was that privately we don't know how Parker is and what he says/does with the players ("no evidence he does is privately" is a bit of an oxymoron isn't it?). Personally, after watching him play and make the very very best out of meagre ability, I'd think that he'd not accept anything other than 100% from his team.