Scott Parker press conference: Burnley's losing run, big Fulham clash and Kyle Walker's absence
Scott Parker spoke to the media this afternoon as his Burnley side gear up for a hugely significant game against his former club Fulham.
The Clarets will be out to end a miserable six-game losing run that has left them five points adrift of safety down at the bottom end of the Premier League table.
Despite that, Parker was able to take huge encouragement from last week’s narrow defeat at Newcastle, where the 10-men of Burnley almost grabbed a late point.
As it is, they’re looking to avoid something they’ve never done in the Premier League: which is to lose seven games on the bounce.
Thankfully their record, especially at home, is a good one against Fulham, having not suffered defeat in 34 encounters – a record that stretches back 74 years to 1951.
Parker discussed a number of topics this afternoon ahead of Saturday’s clash at 5.30pm. Here’s what he had to say:
Team news
“We're pretty much the same to be fair, so everyone that was out last week, it will probably be the same score this week really.
“There’s no new injuries other than the ones that are obviously suspended this week, but we're pretty much clean on that.”
Many feared the worst at half-time at Newcastle last week...
“I took massive encouragement, to be honest with you. In fact, I took massive encouragement over the whole course of the game.
“I thought we started the game excellent in terms of the team we want to be, in terms of more of an intent about us, we were that.
“The game goes away from us a little bit and at that point, we’re down to 10 men. I think it's really clear that that game could turn in maybe a different way than what it did. But despite being down to 10 men for large parts of that second half, you probably wouldn't have noticed it.
“There was a fight and a spirit and a doggedness about us, what we needed to be. While also, as well, a real threat in the game. We get ourselves back in it and then obviously there’s the last chance, it was very close.
“But overall, like I said, I was hugely pleased with that. Again, I understand that we didn't get a result, I totally get that.
“But there were many, many things at the weekend which gave us all great hope and it doesn’t surprise me saying that, as well. I know where this group are, and I know where they were, and that was exactly how I see it.”
Back-to-back games against former sides [Fulham and Bournemouth]
“I'm looking forward to them.
“I know there's obviously a link there, I’ve obviously managed both of those clubs, so I’m looking forward to them just for the fact that it's another game for us to obviously go into, a Premier League game, certainly the next one being at home as well, so excited about that.
“But of course, I have some real fond memories of being at Fulham, not only as a player, but certainly as a coach as well, so yeah, looking forward to them.”
Mini league, Fulham are one of those sides within touching distance
“Well yeah, for sure. I think that is the case and we're at home as well.
“I'm not taking a real look at, like I've said before, in terms of the league table, but this is a home game for us, which we're going to go into and obviously try and get a result and win. That's where we are.
“We're on a little bit of a run at this present moment in time. We're working tirelessly to try and correct that and the next opportunity for us is Saturday, 5.30pm at home, with our home fans as well and our home supporters.
“It's a game that hopefully we can go and execute some of the real good things we've done this year, polish up on the things that have probably let us down in certain moments and put in a strong performance that hopefully can get us a result.”
Importance of experienced players in such a high pressure game
“I lean on them a lot.
“Ultimately I sit in that position and I give that example and I try and send that message of what exactly we need to be. Senior players in any team are crucial.
“These are the boys who are on the pitch and at certain moments need to make decisions, and make decisions that are good decisions or the right decisions. Experience obviously gives you that.
“You can make better decisions with certain experiences because you've got know-how and these guys will be fundamental for us this year.
“They were at the start of this season before we even kicked the ball. They will be now and they will be all the way to the end.
“So there's always, from my side, a big emphasis around those boys to obviously step forward at a certain moment, show leadership qualities for sure, and bring a young group together as well and educate on the pitch as much as we do off it.”
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Is there a concern your younger players aren’t developing quickly enough?
“It might be the case, [but] I don't really see that at this present moment in time. I see a group that has picked up things, developed things really, really quickly.
“Again, I understand from my position and from our position in terms of them players maybe not even recognising it.
“Why? Because we haven't won games over the last five games or six games, whatever it is. But last year was exactly the same.
“I've been involved in football for a long, long period of my life and the similarities are there for sure. This is a progression and progress and I get that maybe that sounds fluffy. I understand that, but it's just a cold, hard reality.
“The cold, hard reality is along any journey, any season, any journey in life, there's some bumps and there's some adversity.
“Maybe the modern-day world has not allowed us to embrace that adversity or deal with that in certain moments. If we're on a quick fix and we want an instant click of a finger for something to be put right or done right or expect certain people to execute in certain moments, that's just not the reality. Whether you like it or not, speaking with experience, that's not the reality.
“Sometimes you need to go through a bit of pain. Sometimes you need to accept where you need to improve.
“That doesn't mean that you just step aside and move on to the next one, but with a commitment, with a hard work, with a desire and a passion and a hard head at times, certainly in the world these young boys live in, you need a concrete head at times because there is a lot of noise and that can produce doubt and that can produce a lack of commitment through doubt.
“I don't have that in this group, I honestly don't have that. I have a group here, a young group, that can accept at times where we're falling short.
“But trust me, every single Monday we come back in and debrief or accept certain areas, I've got a group that look up, face up and go again and with that attitude and with that desire, you have a chance in terms of progressing and becoming better - and I see that in this group.”
Importance of home fans this weekend
“Well, they're massive for us to be honest.
“The fans are crucial and they have been crucial for us for large parts. Again, I echo what I just said there really. I understand that in this moment in time, there's a fanbase, a hard working fan base that come and pay their hard money to come into a stadium to support this team and are fundamentally desperate for a result.
“We're equally as desperate. You know, we're committed more than ever. We're literally a group that are coming into that stadium fundamentally wanting to get a result and please everyone.
“We need their full backing, we need their full support. We need them right behind this young group, through thick, through thin.
“We need to make this place and we need to make Turf Moor a really difficult place to come and I'm hoping that will be the case at the weekend.”
Kyle Walker missing through suspension
“I think it'll always leave a big gap, no matter what team Kyle Walker's playing in. To be honest with you, there's always going to be a gap there because he's quality, he's experienced, he's understanding a certain situation, so of course he's going to be a miss for us at the weekend.
“I still think he can add something to us and he will do, and I've seen that this week in terms of his general aura around the place and helping this young group.
“It gives another person an opportunity as well. But yeah, of course a player of Kyle's ability and what he brings will be a big miss for us.”
What do you make of Fulham?
“It's always a tough game. A team that has been together for some time, and Marco's done an incredible job there.
“A really good side, a well-coached team, so like I said, every Premier League game you go into is a tough game.
“The opposition always pose you problems and you as a coach and as a team, you're obviously looking to try and pose your own problems on them really, so we're in for a tough game at the weekend.”
Unbeaten at home against Fulham since 1951
“It wouldn't be something I'd use [with the players], no. I mean, look, it's nice to hear, of course, but it's not something I'd use.
“Every situation changes and every situation is different. I'd love it to be the same and that's what we're planning to do.”
Message to players
“You build the week up in a tactical element in terms of us and what we need to be and how we can pose problems.
“As always, the overriding message from me at the back end of a week or going out before a game is the level of commitment we need to show and that's exactly what we need to be.
“We need to be fighters. We need to represent what this club represents and that's exactly what would be full-hearted commitment. That's the main message.”
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