Parlour and the English National Side

[Catfish]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=283052&cc=5901

Personally, I'm glad he isn't working with the English Nats. We need him healthy for our title run.

[fox point fury]

God, what a great attitude to have. "Razor the role model;" bet he never expected that nickname!

[dwinkler]

Oh boy. Look, this whole "Revival of Ray Parlour" is a neat little story (that the lazy "journalists" are deciding to push en masse, all of a sudden), but he's got as much business playing for England's national team as I do. Sure, they're a pretty mediocre outfit, but even *they* couldn't find a play for Ray. There are enough talentless midfielders on that team as it is.

[Coach_McGuirk]

But how do you really feel about Ray, Dan?

*L*

I can actually understand the reason so many people are enamored with Ray. He and Keown are the last 2 links to the "Old" Arsenal, and he's English. It's just like the sports press in the US getting giddy over American born hockey players, or Canadian journalists waxing poetically about goalies from Quebec. What amazes me is that Ashley Cole is English and plays regularly for the national team, yet no one goes on and on about his contributions to the club.

I, myself, could care less where a guy is born. Now that may be because I'm more removed from it being in Texas (as a hockey fan) or the US (as a soccer fan). There is one player in the NHL from Texas (Leetch, I think), and he lived here for 2 months after he was born, and I think we all know who the last USMNT player from Texas was. He was no great shakes, for sure.

[phishy]

chad deering or jeff agoos? both absolute spares

[Coach_McGuirk]

Forgot about Deering. "The State of Texas: Supplying Football Spares to the World"

[martymarts]

Not going to bite on this cultural thing, Mr Dwinkler and I have already had one Anglo-French war! However, it is offensive to suggest that the support given to Keown and Parlour is down to longevity and Nationality.

The final arbiter is what happens on Saturday afternoons. I haven't seen anyone suggest that Keown should get a start ahead of Koure, whether they're British or otherwise, but when he's not injured I'm glad we still have him in a supporting role. Partly because of what he can teach, partly for his comittment to the cause and finally because he's still a half decent centre back!

Ray Parlour gets the response he does, because, he has consistantly performed for Arsenal and just happens to be playing well this season. This is something I never thought I'd say, but, he made some phemonal passes against the Scum!

Seaman is English and Arsenal through and through, but, having seen him this season, I'm glad he's gone and that we have Lehman instead. I don't think you'll find too many Brits who'll disagree?

Rayzer's praise is deserved not patriotic or loyalty based!