Source: Team_Talk
Green hails heroic Hammer Parker
Robert Green tonight hailed Scott Parker as West Ham's saviour and backed him for a place in England's World Cup squad.[LNB] Parker capped another lung-bursting performance with a 78th-minute thunderbolt to seal a 3-2 victory over Wigan yesterday which catapulted West Ham to the brink of Barclays Premier League safety.[LNB]The Hammers' superior goal difference means Hull cannot now realistically overtake them, while Burnley went down today after losing 4-0 at home to Liverpool.[LNB]Parker not only scored the winning goal to settle a roller-coaster encounter but he produced another Herculean performance on his return from a two-match ban.[LNB]West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola described Parker as the "complete midfielder" and he proved it once again with a performance of drive, dynamism, courage and creativity.[LNB]Parker threw himself into tackles with little concern for his own well-being and restored West Ham's spine after their limp defeat at Liverpool on Monday.[LNB]But he also played a key role in two goals. Parker launched the counter-attack for Ilan to draw West Ham level at 1-1 and he then slammed home the winner from 25 yards.[LNB]"That goal sums up everything about Scott Parker this season," said Green.[LNB]"He has given everything he can for the club. He will win player of the year by a country mile. He will win goal of the season, players' player of the year - he will win everything going and you don't need to say much more.[LNB]"He is probably the reason why we are a lot safer.[LNB]"The confidence he brings the team and his attitude is infectious. It drives everyone else on. He is a leader in example as well as character.[LNB]"If we're under heaps of pressure and they're about to shoot from 25 yards I'm thinking 'right, I'm going to have to do something here'.[LNB]"Then Scotty is diving in front of the ball, taking one in the face. The times he has taken one in the privates this season and just picked himself up. He wobbles around a bit and then gets on with it.[LNB]"What more can you ask for in a player? I wouldn't want to insure him!"[LNB]But Green would want Parker alongside him in England's World Cup squad.[LNB]"Personally, I would love him to go," said Green.[LNB]"You look at the strength and depth of England's midfield and you are looking at players of quality. If he doesn't go then you know everybody else is flying."[LNB]Parker still holds out hope of making the plane to South Africa but realistically he is resigned to missing out, having only been called up once by Fabio Capello.[LNB]"I think if I had a chance to go to South Africa I would have been called into the squad more than I have so it is obviously against me a bit," he said.[LNB]"All I can do is play well for West Ham and if I can keep producing the performances I am producing then hopefully it would be enough.[LNB]"If it happens it will be great and I will be raring to go but I think it is a big ask."[LNB]Zola's ambitions at the start of the campaign were greater than simply survival but given the turbulence that has hit the club this season, it would stand as an achievement he can be proud of.[LNB]West Ham's perilous financial state meant that key players like James Collins had to be sold to raise cash and the club would have gone into administration with debts of £105million had David Gold and David Sullivan not taken charge.[LNB]Speculation is rife that Gold and Sullivan are looking to replace Zola in the summer, with the likes of Mark Hughes and Steve McLaren linked with the job.[LNB]West Ham insist no decision will be made until the end of the season but the reaction of the players to yesterday's victory show they are right behind Zola.[LNB]Parker ran over to give Zola a hug after he had scored the goal.[LNB]"I am not thinking about trying to make a point. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and everyone will be stronger for this experience," said Zola.[LNB]"The future is important but I'm not going to spend time right now speaking about things because I don't know how things will turn out.[LNB]"Staying up would be a big, big deal because we've had to deal with so many problems this season. You only know half of them.[LNB]"It's been difficult, but despite that we've stuck together. It's been an emotional year and Scott's goal was an unbelievable moment.[LNB]"This result will change our season."[LNB]
