Thank you Scott Parker

[Milltown1882]

I was critical earlier in the season but 100 points, clean sheet records broken for fun, 33 undefeated. Unbelievable job.

We go again for the rollercoaster in August.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Same. Incredible job

[clitheroeclaret3]

Scotty had the rug pulled from under him after a fantastic start to season. What he`s done to mould that team and get the best out of the players is just remarkable, some of the football today was sublime.
Manager of the season, well deserved

[BurnleyFC]

He’s done an incredible job.

I didn’t think he had it in him but all things considered the job he’s done so far matches anything in our recent history.

[ClaretAL]

I have to echo the OP, hat tipped and well done that man

[Vegas Claret]

said it elsewhere, taught me a lesson in patience. He fixed an absolute mess and he deserves huge credit.

[louieollie]

Agreed, I was incredibly underwhelmed when he signed and like others fancied a sexy name like RVN ..............just shows myself and many more don't have a Scooby🫣. He has been incredible and against the odds produced a marvellous team spirit/ethic and cohesive group of players, as someone has already highlighted back in November I really didn't think it was working and boy was i wrong and I've never been so happy to have egg on my face . UTC and massive credit to Mr Parker 🫡

[RVclaret]

Incredible season from him. His best yet as a manager, clearly took his year out to improve, let’s hope that continues into learnings from his PL relegation.

[bumba]

If we kept the squad we had the opening two games we'd have been champions by March under Parker with even more records smashed.
What a manager, potential to become the club's best yet

[Ric_C]

What is really encouraging is how the team have gelled over the last 15 games. Bodes well for next season. The game could have finished about 7-3 today

[Guller Bull]

Good job well done. Some really good football played towards the end of the season.

Proved me wrong.

[Bosscat]

Agreed, I was incredibly underwhelmed when he signed and like others fancied a sexy name like RVN ..............just shows myself and many more don't have a Scooby 🫣. He has been incredible and against the odds produced a marvellous team spirit/ethic and cohesive group of players, UTC and massive credit to Mr Parker 🫡

Exactly this summed up what I would have put perfectly.

[Hedontplayforyou]

He’s done a brilliant job. Fair play to him, now on to the Premier League , well done Scott. UTC

[agreenwood]

He’s done a brilliant job. One for the history books.

Deserved the title in my opinion. Aside from all the records, we took 10 points out of 12 from the other two best sides in the division.

[Vim Fuego]

Brilliant job

[Indecisive]

As much as anything, I’ve got so much time for the character he has shown absolutely consistently since joining.

No drama. No sign of ego. No bowing to pressure… which at times I felt was peddled in the media as much as our fan base (the ‘boring’ criticism).

He’s took over a club that had everything thrown in the air a bit. He’s managed a high turnover of players and quickly identified strengths and weaknesses, and got a team relatively unfamiliar with each other, quickly playing a disciplined and organised style.

There were challenging times this season. There will undoubtedly be challenging times next season. But this kind of character at the helm, is EXACTLY the kind of character I’d want to get behind.

[Hibsclaret]

Thanks Scottie. We are absolutely purring with confidence right now. It’s a shame the season has ended because there would be no team to catch us on current form.

[warksclaret]

Some really genuine posts on this thread recognising and praising Parker's efforts. Its great to read these and are truly deserved. Two more caveats to the amazing achievements. Firstly he did it without a genuine No 9. Fleming came in as a No 10, and has filled in outstandingly. Foster was on the treatment table the majority of the season. Barnes came in after Christmas more as a mentor and motivator, and made a significant contribution, but generally as a sub for the dying minutes.You only need to look at the options Sheff Utd and Leeds had in the No 9 role. The second other caveat is that he used the existing coaches and back room staff. I believe only one member of staff who he had previously worked SP with was recruited. A number of manager appointments are followed with an entourage of coaches who previously worked with that manager.

[aclaretinstevenage]

The second other caveat is that he used the existing coaches and back room staff. I believe only one member of staff who he had previously worked SP with was recruited. A number of manager appointments are followed with an entourage of coaches who previously worked with that manager.

This was one of his best moves, guys like Jackson know the ins and outs of the club allowing SP to hit the ground running - then the rug was pulled out from underneath him and we went again.

Like others I was underwhelmed by the appointment but Mr Pace and his team got it spot on. Thanks Scott Parker for a wonderful ride.

[Tribesmen]

I think the comment of having the rug pulled from underneath him after a good start to the season was spot on . I would say certain managers would have folded but SP knew what he wanted it just took his time the players bought into it and they never looked back .
Bring Ash back was a master stroke , as to have him in the dressing room was worth 12 on the pitch .

[Spike]

Parker has done an absolutely fabulous job.
The fact that some folk were still not onside throughout this incredible unbeaten run is mind blowing

[Bosscat]

I think the comment of having the rug pulled from underneath him after a good start to the season was spot on . I would say certain managers would have folded but SP knew what he wanted it just took his time the players bought into it and they never looked back .
Bringing Ash back was a master stroke , as to have him in the dressing room was worth 12 on the pitch .

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall after the Norwich away game coming off the pitch when Scot had his arm around Ash's shoulder ... next thing we hear is Barnesy is on his way back to Burnley. Cracking bit of business

[mybloodisclaret]

He's done an absolutely sterling job this season. Hopefully we are now well on with preparing for next season, identifying who we want to sign quickly and getting the deals done and giving him a really good pre season with his squad - hopefully keeping as many players together from this squad as he can/ thinks he needs.

We must remember to stick by him next year when the chips are down, not be one of these that bin the manager off. In all of his magnificent qualities he has shown that he knows exactly how to get out of the Championship if the worst happens again.

[TheOriginalLongsider]

Hopefully he is not lured to Tottenham!

[warksclaret]

As we went from game to game, particularly in the last third of the season, there was an expectation to win the next game. Time to reflect now and take an overview of our season and I think our performance, records and stats are simply unreal.Far more than I ever expected, and whats nice is that just about every pundit I have listened to since promotion was secured, feels we are set up defensively and through our style of play to have a decent chance of surviving what the PL Challenge throws at us

[Steddyman]

Also adding my thanks Scotty.

I was underwhelmed with the appointment, but I accepted it pretty quickly, before we got out of preseason, though I very much doubted he would be any use in the Premier League. I wobbled in my support of him a bit around November when we were drawing every game 0-0 and the entertainment value was low.

Last time we were in the Championship with VK and especially in the Prem, I hated us playing the ball around at the back. I've come to love it under Scotty, because the players never seem panicked or pressured in any way. It is entertaining now.

Today was a sublime game, the football we played today was better than the football we played under VK. We played like that at the start of the season too for those first two games, before the squad was decimated.

Surprisingly, I feel more confident that the base we have built at the back, will stand up in better sted than the attack at all cost mentality of VK.

[StuWestMidsClaret]

Well done Scott. I had my doubts but you proved my wrong kudos.

[Clive 1960]

Well done Scott Parker you proved you could do it now enjoy the moment. UTC.

[Woodleyclaret]

I still hate us pxxxing about at the back when we have two wide players Anthony and Edwards unmarked and ready to strike quick counter attacks.

[Quicknick]

I was delighted when SP joined us. Obviously I still am.

[Musky]

I have to admit to being underwhelmed by his appointment but two games in and everything looked potentially rosy in the garden. I remember though thinking after the Sunderland debacle and defeat that we wouldn't be eclipsing the Kompany Championship season and that we'd never see only three defeats during a said season again. Forty three games later and we have more than eclipsed it, and some. I don't know why, i just had an impression that SP was arrogant and aloof but i couldn't have been anymore wrong. What a season and what a manager. He has put together a wonderful squad, who have a spirit i don't think we'll see the like of for a while. Roll on next season and as the title says, thank you Scott Parker, for my favourite season to date.

[NewClaret]

I can’t deny being underwhelmed when Parker joined us but really warmed to him since his first interview.

At first I thought some of the man management rhetoric was a bit of PR from the club but what’s become clear is that he really is a brilliant man manager. It’s so good to hear how the players talk about him. It’s clear they love him and he’s rebuilt the dressing room (will caveat that it’s easy doing that when you’re winning; the true test is if you can when you’re losing).

That speech after going up was a joy to watch. Well done Scott for delivering an unbelievable season after being dealt a poor hand. I’m glad to see he’s finally getting the love off fans that he deserves.

Credit also to Alan and the people involved in the interview process for choosing the right candidate.

[IanMcL]

I think he will go far as a manager/head coach. Players love him and yet he gives the impression of what he decides is it and all follow.

[bumba]

Great to see him and Natasha sampling a Bene'n'Hot after the game too

[Anonymous Claret]

He’s done a brilliant job. One for the history books.

Deserved the title in my opinion. Aside from all the records, we took 10 points out of 12 from the other two best sides in the division.

Our record against the other top 5 clubs excluding Sunderland was nothing short of exceptional. And with everything that went on before the Sunderland away game I think it was remarkable that we kept the score to 1-0. We also picked up maximum points from the 3 relegated teams.

[gandhisflipflop]

Tremendous job and I was a doubter early on in the season. The frustration for me came after travelling to watch the 0-0 at Oxford and its didn’t improve much in the subsequent weeks but when it came together wow. Fair play Scott Parker and the support next season should be unconditional as it should have been for VK in the PL.

[Bacchus]

I still hate us pxxxing about at the back

If you still don't understand how drawing the press and moving the opposition players out of their defensive formation is a fundamental part of our game plan then I guess you never will... It's credit to Parker and the players that they continued to show the bravery to play that way when their was growing pressure from the stands to do anything but.

[ArmchairDetective]

Agreed, I was incredibly underwhelmed when he signed and like others fancied a sexy name like RVN ..............just shows myself and many more don't have a Scooby🫣. He has been incredible and against the odds produced a marvellous team spirit/ethic and cohesive group of players, as someone has already highlighted back in November I really didn't think it was working and boy was i wrong and I've never been so happy to have egg on my face . UTC and massive credit to Mr Parker 🫡

Same here. Well done Scott and the team.

[Tackler49]

What a magnificent job Scott Parker done and echo all the above posts on his and the teams outstanding record’s this season also imo i SP is responsible for nurturing the magnificent team spirit and togetherness. Really Impressed

[Firthy]

Another here a bit dubious about his appointment but can't fault it at all. The patience, caring and emotions he has shown is evident in that video. He genuinely cares about every player and tactically he got it spot on. I really, really hope he can keep us up next season for himself as well as the club. He and the players who stay thoroughly deserve their chance to play in the best league in the world.

I know money speaks volumes nowadays but why would any player want to leave unless it's for a big club and Champions League football.

[jlup1980]

I thought Scott was a shrewd appointment based on his Championship record but, like many, I wasn't enamored with him as I felt the football would be a tough watch... which it was until the end of January.

I'll admit I fell out with him a bit over winter. However, I had a particularly strange run in where, after the 26th minute Josh Brownhill penalty versus Plymouth on 1st Oct, I didn't see another goal for us or the opposition until the 94th minute penalty versus Swansea on 10th November! I made that a run of 425 minutes without seeing a goal of any kind (Plymouth 1-0, PNE 0-0, QPR 0-0, WBA 0-0, Swansea 1-0). Not only that, I went two months without seeing us score a goal from open play (2-1 vs Pompey on 21st Sept, 2-0 vs Coventry on 26th Nov). Safe to say I was on the fence at that point.

Looking back it's clear he was trying to find the right formula. We were solid defensively, but we needed another outlet on the opposite wing to Anthony. Koleosho, Hannibal, Foster, even Agyei... none of them really worked. The introduction of Edwards changed all that. He was the missing link. Had he been part of the squad all season we would have won the league at a canter. So, it's clear Parker wasn't far away, even in the long winter!!

Hats off to Scott and his staff. 100 points is a magnificent achievement, and I'm looking forward to August with an element of optimism. We've seen that open football equals relegation in the PL. Leeds will still try and play that way, but we won't. We'll buck the trend and be pragmatic. I look forward to upsetting a few of the bigger clubs and getting slated by opposition fans like we used to do under Dyche. Anti-football here we come!!

[NottsClaret]

I absolutely didn't want him at the start - apart from for an afternoon in Spain at that friendly - he seemed a really professional and amiable chap - then went back to not wanting him right up until we got really good. I've no issue with being fickle.

The problem is, the pressure to fire him at times next season will be huge - trust me, it will, as early as November. We'll be in the bottom three pretty much all season - hopefully not on the final day - and take some right hammerings. But then he's probably the safest bet to get us up again the year after.