Man of the match in a game his side ultimately lost: if anyone was seeking a microcosm of Scott Parker’s season so far with West Ham United, this was surely it.
Parker’s subtlety of pass, composure on the ball, intelligent movement and overall drive and determination, alongside a superb spot kick stop and flagrant use of the arm from team-mates Robert Green and Frederic Piquionne respectively, seemed to have saved the Hammers after another shoddy defensive showing and earned them another go at Stoke City in the FA Cup 6th Round on Sunday. That was until Danny Higginbotham’s free kick left Parker again on the losing side, despite being voted the game’s best player by the match sponsor.
Parker has belatedly received help from the returning Thomas Hitzelsperger but had, up until recently, been single-handedly keeping his side in with a fighting chance of Premier League survival, securing a spot in Fabio Capello’s England squad and impressing in last month’s friendly against Denmark as a result.
A man who seemingly thrives under hardship; many see the Londoner as the ideal answer to the question surrounding the national team’s midfield anchor role. It was no coincidence that, with his team three goals down and facing a potentially decisive defeat at West Bromwich Albion in February, Parker was the man picked out by striker Carlton Cole for special praise, due to his energetic performance and rousing half-time team talk, which helped to cancel out the deficit after the interval. And, with Gareth Barry underperforming and uncertainty clouding the issue of captaincy, the need for a real leader in the middle of the park has been thrust to the fore, with the European Championships qualifier in Wales fast approaching.
The question is: has he duly received the recognition he undoubtedly deserves, or has he simply been picked past his peak? The former Charlton Athletic, Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder, with whom he won a solitary cap apiece, could point to previous displays that may well have merited selection, had it not been for the disdain with which his rugged style is often looked upon by many of those in authority.
It is understood that key figures remain cautious when considering Parker in what is a crucial position on the pitch, taking into account the nature of refereeing on the continent, (and there was certainly a 'continental' air to the penalty awarded against him on Sunday) especially under tournament conditions - the treatment of Wayne Rooney, in particular, still resonating in English minds.
However, Parker’s approach represents what millions of people around the world love about the English game, and had he been given a chance to strut his stuff on the international stage at an earlier juncture, he could possibly have learned from experienced others, refined the rougher edges of his game while nurturing all we hold dear, to have by now become a symbol of the national sport, as he reaches the apex of his career.
If chosen in Cardiff, perhaps he can finally set out on that road to redemption, which comes out in Poland and the Ukraine next summer.
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