Parker appreciation

[IAmAClaret]

Only from the Daily Mail (paywalled) - but may be of interest to many on here.

How Burnley's Scott Parker became one of England's best young coaches: Mind tricks, shutting out snobbery and avoiding promoted teams' biggest mistake, writes MATT BARLOW

If automatic promotion was decided by Rudyard Kipling it might go to someone keeping his head when all around lose theirs and trusting himself when others cast doubt.

On Saturday at the very least, Scott Parker was your man, my son.

Parker's Burnley hit the front with six to play in the long race for the Premier League, fighting back from behind to emerge as winners at Coventry as others faltered.

Leeds drew at Luton and have won only once in six games. It might be a cheap shot to claim they're falling apart but the Championship's favourite song is back in the charts.

Sheffield United, meanwhile, are still fretting about those two deducted points while slipping to uncharacteristic defeat at Oxford.

All three teams have been exceptional across nine months and yet one is destined for a death dance in the playoffs, where stamina and mental resilience will be tested by those charged up on momentum.

Parker has become one of the best young English coaches and next season will provide intrigue, whatever league Burnley are in
'It's an emotional strain if you let it consume you,' said Parker after winning at Coventry. 'Jump on the rollercoaster of, oh, they've won and that means this, all these things go through your head, and it's a drain and becomes very stressful.'

He jokes about turning off his phone but admits it takes commitment to avoid the noise.

'15 years of training my mind,' as he puts it. 'I speak to someone on a weekly basis in terms of controlling things and controlling my mind, and not getting emotionally involved.'

Respect for Burnley this season has been grudging. Difficult to beat, is the usual reference for Parker's team, rebuilt after losing Wilson Odobert, Sander Berge and Dara O'Shea.

Indeed, they are unbeaten in 27 league games, have conceded only 12 goals in 40 matches and the one scored by Coventry in a 2-1 win was clearly offside.

It is a remarkable defensive record, the source of which stretches far beyond the talent of James Trafford, the goalkeeper tipped for a move to top end of the Premier League this year.

Maxime Esteve and CJ Egan-Riley, both only 22, are excellent centre halves ready for another Premier League test, and protected by a strong midfield shield and industrious full backs.

Frustrated home fans filing out of the CBS Arena reckoned the visitors wouldn't last long in the Premier League playing that way, but Burnley went up two years ago playing football under Vincent Kompany from the opposite end of the spectrum.

That plan did not endure at the next level up, just as it didn't this season for Russell Martin at Southampton.

They were easily exposed by stronger teams with better players, although it did not work out too badly for Kompany, who took his pure passing philosophy into the richest club in Germany and now sits top of the Bundesliga.

Parker will expect to add quality if his team go up again. He has been through it before and still carries the scars.

He bounced up and down with Fulham without finding a foothold and spent an awkward summer after promotion at Bournemouth waiting in vain for an imminent takeover to fund reinforcements.

His decision to go public with the fears he had been airing in private for weeks after losing 9-0 at Liverpool days before the transfer window in August 2022 backfired spectacularly.

He was sacked, Gary O'Neil stepped in, the takeover was completed as Parker began a sobering 67 days in charge of Club Bruges. Bournemouth stayed up and have not looked back.

Parker flirted with the managerial scrapheap. There is little tolerance for those learning their trade in modern English football.

But Burnley threw him another chance as an expert in leading relegated clubs back to the Premier League and have been rewarded. Promotion next month would make it three in six years for Parker by the age of 44.

We should view him among the emerging young British coaches. He took time to learn the ropes in Tottenham's academy and as an assistant to Slavisa Jokanovic and Claudio Ranieri at Fulham.

Just as he did as a player, he hopped through clubs leaving a good impression. Those who have worked with him describe him as studious, determined and ambitious, and fair.

Still some people seem more likely to cast snide comments about his head boy credentials and fashion mistakes, while peddling perceptions about charmed access into attractive jobs, blessed with the benefit of parachute payments.

These things help in the Championship, no doubt. But it is no springtime stroll. Daniel Farke's Leeds illustrate as much. With further evidence supplied by Luton in the drop zone or Huddersfield in League One.

There is a fair bit of selective snobbery about. This season it tends to frown upon Parker for his style of his football, but he won't be listening as he goes for the line. Promotion, the biggest if of all

[ecc]

"If automatic promotion was decided by Rudyard Kipling it might go to someone keeping his head when all around lose theirs and trusting himself when others cast doubt."

That's a good quote.

[ecc]

Post by dandeclaret » Sat Apr 05, 2025 5:16 pm
Proper leader

Proper morals

Proper togetherness

Proper workrate

Proper calm

Proper manager

[dvalley69]

He's been in the arena many times, if you didn't know, so must know what he's doing!

[Luppy]

I have to say he comes across as a class act, both in every item I see of him in mainstream interviews, and behind the scenes in the "keep the faith" episodes. They are a team together and that comes from the values instilled by the manager.

[Hibsclaret]

Another example of his class yesterday at Watford. During the warm up the forwards and midfielders are blasting balls into the practice net. One misses and fortunately misses my head by not much more than a few inches hitting the empty chair next to me. Scotty watching the action gives me a cool thumbs up as the action around him continues. So even when keeping an eye on his troops he has the awareness to check up on any old sod in the crowd. Well done Scotty and great to see.

[mdd2]

I think Hannibal jumped the fence to check on a Watford lad when a ball from him went hard into the front row.

[warksclaret]

Another example of his class yesterday at Watford. During the warm up the forwards and midfielders are blasting balls into the practice net. One misses and fortunately misses my head by not much more than a few inches hitting the empty chair next to me. Scotty watching the action gives me a cool thumbs up as the action around him continues. So even when keeping an eye on his troops he has the awareness to check up on any old sod in the crowd. Well done Scotty and great to see.

Thats nice to hear-also, how many modern managers actually come out during the pre match warm up these days??-not many

[watsonsclarets]

The thing I have noticed more than the wins the undeafeted run the team spirit the club re build is player development he and his staff have brought

CJ
Pires
Anthony
Flemming
And Cullen back to his best and he has added to a few forward late runs.



Without doubt everything he has done for our wonderful club in such a short space of time. Thank you

If we are not happy with the guy now we never will be, absolute legend and deserves us all to whack 3 stripes on our shirts and jackets !

[watsonsclarets]

The thing I have noticed more than the wins the undeafeted run the team spirit the club re build is player development he and his staff have brought

CJ
Pires
Anthony
Flemming
And Cullen back to his best and he has added to a few forward late runs.



Without doubt everything he has done for our wonderful club in such a short space of time. Thank you

If we are not happy with the guy now we never will be, absolute legend and deserves us all to whack 4 stripes on our shirts and jackets !

[Ampth7]

If we are not happy with the guy now we never will be, absolute legend and deserves us all to whack 4 stripes on our shirts and jackets !

Ha ha, white electrical tape and green stain is the only way I can afford to even attempt to replicate that jacket!! I think the price tag was around £5-6k

[dandeclaret]

We’ve got our Burnley back….. well done Scott Parker.

If you can keep your head whilst all around you are losing theirs….. then you will be a man my son…….

[ecc]

Kipling's poem from which Dan has quoted must be Scott's favourite. It sums up perfectly his philosophy.

If—
By Rudyard Kipling


If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

[dandeclaret]

It’s spot on for him…… he’s a very good fit for Burnley, and I’m delighted his endeavours have been rewarded and recognised.

[Wile E Coyote]

To untangle the mess he walked into as quickly and efficiently as he did speaks volumes.
Getting any team to the top in this league is no mean feat.
Throughout the season he has had to put up with the usual media scrutiny, but he did so with a quiet reassurance of a man who knew his stuff.
All in all a phenomenal achievement. Well done Scott Parker.
A wonderful job completed successfully.

[Muric Leggings]

A nice fella done a good job he's a hero at this moment in time,10 games into next season 80% of our support will be calling for is head

[Bin Ont Turf]

A nice fella done a good job he's a hero at this moment in time,10 games into next season 80% of our support will be calling for is head

Never going to happen.

But bumping this thread up this time next year will be interesting,

[warksclaret]

To untangle the mess he walked into as quickly and efficiently as he did speaks volumes.
Getting any team to the top in this league is no mean feat.
Throughout the season he has had to put up with the usual media scrutiny, but he did so with a quiet reassurance of a man who knew his stuff.
All in all a phenomenal achievement. Well done Scott Parker.
A wonderful job completed successfully.

Eloquently put W E C

[Cooclaret]

No surprise the Chairman thread has gone.

[Cooclaret]

Gone and rather locked tells you everything and how right it was. Won’t be told why either.

[TsarBomba]

Gone and rather locked tells you everything and how right it was. Won’t be told why either.

Some idiot telling a very respected poster in Chester to ‘f off’ for no reason is a good starting point.

[Cooclaret]

Some idiot telling a very respected poster in Chester to ‘f off’ for no reason is a good starting point.

Agreed, but like other similar threads, delete the post, ban the person. Don’t delete it.

The thread that’s 99% in praise of the chairman shouldn’t be deleted.

People don’t like the chairman and it shows!

[Cooclaret]

This will be gone in the morning and a ban to follow. Got one for saying Kompany out, supporting the chairman will get the same.

[ClaretPete001]

As I recall I was one of the few that thought Parker was ideal for the job. Congratulated the board at the time but I'm loathe to re-iterate that for 230 million reasons but that's for another time.

He has done a wonderful job because I feared for the club had we not achieved promotion.

It's SP and the players day. And a super super day for the town, the club and the fans.

[steve1264b]

This has been a season of redemption for Parker.
The big test comes now, after Bournemouth questions remain.

However he seems to have grown this season, im sure he has reflected on the bumps on the road.

What we have now is a highly motivated young pragmatic manager.

[Quicknick]

As I recall I was one of the few that thought Parker was ideal for the job. Congratulated the board at the time but I'm loathe to re-iterate that for 230 million reasons but that's for another time.

He has done a wonderful job because I feared for the club had we not achieved promotion.

It's SP and the players day. And a super super day for the town, the club and the fans.

I was in full agreement with you. I was delighted when he signed on. The most important signing of the season.

[GetIntoEm]

Agreed, but like other similar threads, delete the post, ban the person. Don’t delete it.

The thread that’s 99% in praise of the chairman shouldn’t be deleted.

People don’t like the chairman and it shows!

The problem for those who seem to have some agenda against our chairman is that they are in the vast vast minority. 90%+ are really happy with what Alan Pace has done.

I've yet to come across anyone in real life who has an issue with Alan or him buying the club, in fact most are really complimentary about him.

All that rubbish people spout off about "communication" or "being connected" is just that, rubbish. It's better now than it's ever been.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I wasn't thrilled with the prospect of having Parker as manager
I thought we'd end up in or around the playoffs at most

Credit where its due, he's smashed it out the park this season, without a prolific striker etc

I hope he can carry on this run into the PL, with a better striker

[Cooclaret]

The problem for those who seem to have some agenda against our chairman is that they are in the vast vast minority. 90%+ are really happy with what Alan Pace has done.

I've yet to come across anyone in real life who has an issue with Alan or him buying the club, in fact most are really complimentary about him.

All that rubbish people spout off about "communication" or "being connected" is just that, rubbish. It's better now than it's ever been.

Absolutely this. The club has evolved, sparked by the chairman and his team. It isn’t the same BFC of ten years ago.

That’s a good thing, footballs moving, so we need to move with it.

The old days need to be respected and lauded, but there’s a new horizon now.

[bumba]

The problem for those who seem to have some agenda against our chairman is that they are in the vast vast minority. 90%+ are really happy with what Alan Pace has done.

I've yet to come across anyone in real life who has an issue with Alan or him buying the club, in fact most are really complimentary about him.

All that rubbish people spout off about "communication" or "being connected" is just that, rubbish. It's better now than it's ever been.

The people complaining about 'being connected' are the ones who felt in the loop and are no longer in the loop, they've gone from fans with somebody feeding them information so they can say on platforms like this they know more than most but now they don't have that in house information anymore and are just treated like normal fans.

[dibraidio]

Record number of games unbeaten. Record number of clean sheets (almost). Record low of goals against. Record number of goal scorers. Record number of players in and out of the building. The way he set the team up probably even has Sean Dyche looking on with envy.

As much as the players Parker deserves a chance to show what he can do with this team in the Premier League. Now that we are guaranteed Premier League football for next season I hope that this band of brothers are keen to continue this adventure together.

[evensteadiereddie]

Proper leader

Proper morals

Proper togetherness

Proper workrate

Proper calm

Proper manager

And it's been that way since he gelled this team.
I do hope that those who lacked the patience or were too entitled to appreciate what he was building have come to their senses.
A genius.
Our hunting down and reeling in of Leeds and Sheffield U reminds me of that Natural History footage of the merciless giant lizard relentlessly tracking the buffalo it had bitten and subsequently poisoned. You just knew how it was going to end.

[Jakubclaret]

Record number of games unbeaten. Record number of clean sheets (almost). Record low of goals against. Record number of goal scorers. Record number of players in and out of the building. The way he set the team up probably even has Sean Dyche looking on with envy.

As much as the players Parker deserves a chance to show what he can do with this team in the Premier League. Now that we are guaranteed Premier League football for next season I hope that this band of brothers are keen to continue this adventure together.

It'll go 1 of 2 ways parker will kop the flack when we inevitably struggle or it'll be another PL season of blaming VAR for everything under the sun like the last time out as deflection when kompany got a easy ride.

[evensteadiereddie]

Or, as Pace said, we give it a good go and if, as seems probable, we come down but, hopefully, stronger and still with Parker to have yet another fabulous Championship season.

[ecc]

https://x.com/BurnleyOfficial/status/19 ... gr%5Etweet

[NW1O Claret]

I like to view from afar and haven't posted in ages but feel now is the time in cast my opinion on this matter. I feel Scott Parker is an absolute tremendous young England coach and Man Manager, whose CV shows at Championship level there is no better. The adversity he's had to deal with at the beginning of the season with all the comings and goings, and to galvanize the team literally overnight and create Europes best defence, go 31 unbeaten and only lose 2 games, whilst not having an out and out goalscoring striker is just beyond anything I've witnessed as a Burnley fan over a entire season. A proper grind in an epic 3 horse race. Sometimes you have to for substance over style to achieve success, and i never doubted us whilst other's were wetting the bed, over negative play and 0-0 draws. I enjoyed the journey.

Leeds play Bristol who need a result to maintain their playoff ambitions and Plymouth away, who could need a result on the final day. I still think we have plenty to play for, and I'd absolutely love it if everybody involved in this incredible season put the cherry on the cake by lifting the league trophy on the final day. UTC.

[jedi_master]

I think it spoke volumes about the type of man Parker is that his first thought after promotion was confirmed was to get up to his family and give them a hug and a kiss, and then follow it up by big up his backroom team, and then the players, before acknowledging the job he himself has done. He is a proper sort.

[ClaretOfMancunia]

His post-match speech in the dressing room last night... https://x.com/BurnleyOfficial/status/19 ... 2993248680

[Vintage Claret]

Time to rename the pub opposite the club shop 'The Parker View'?

[JR1882]

LETS HEAR IT…..for Scott Parker!

[dandeclaret]

Championship manager of the season. Absolutely well deserved.

[helmclaret]

Bournemouth and Fulham fans did warn us about him!!

Absolutely delighted for him.

[whiffa]

491465301_18502432207036857_8145028744600772549_n.jpg (290.02 KiB) Viewed 1238 times

[CoolClaret]

Or, as Pace said, we give it a good go and if, as seems probable, we come down but, hopefully, stronger and still with Parker to have yet another fabulous Championship season.

This.

We need to keep this culture, and hopefully, we will have another 5-10 year manager like we had with Dyche.

Stability is imperative for our club, and it's a massive contributing factor to why we've always punched above our weight throughout our history.

[TPClaret]

Hopefully this will be a lesson to all those Parker out brigade to be more patient.