BonusCodeBets had the pleasure of catching up with former Manchester United defender Paul Parker, who had some choice words for United’s Brazilian £80m attacker Antony, who has flattered to deceive during his time at the club. Parker also discussed his thoughts on Crystal Palace midfielder Ebere Eze, who has always been a player linked with a move away from Selhurst Park, but a move has yet to materialise.
In this article:
- Antony should return home to Ajax
- Antony has one of the worst left feet Parker has seen
- Eze and Fernandes cannot co-exist
Antony should return home to Ajax
According to recent reports in the media, Manchester United have given up. They have accepted their fate. Antony was signed in the summer of 2022 from Dutch club Ajax in a big-money move worth £86m. It was a signing that ten Hag was eager to make. He saw the right side of the United attack as a part of the team that needed a remedy, and having worked with Antony at Ajax, the move seemed to make sense, despite an inflated fee. However, Antony has failed to impress, and reports now suggest United are ready to cut their losses. Newcastle and Crystal Palace have both been linked with moves, but Parker can’t see either happening. Instead, he suggests that the Brazilian should consider a return to Ajax.
“I’m not seeing Newcastle or Palace being interested in him unless they’re going to virtually be given him by United. They may see value in that. I just don’t want to see him turn out like a van de Beek. It would be best for him to go back home, and his home is Ajax. That’s where he had a lot of success and where his name was made. I’m not seeing Newcastle, and Palace financially doesn’t work.”
Antony has one of the worst left feet Parker has seen
Having previously worked with ten Hag, in tandem with the United right side being a fairly vacant position in the team, it was all laid out for Antony to be a success and make the position his own. Antony has played just 27 minutes of Premier League football this season, and Parker doesn’t hold back at all with his thoughts. Parker claims Antony lacks the physical tools as well as the quality expected of a left-footed footballer.
“I just don’t think he’s good enough. He hasn’t got the physicality, and it’s less to do with muscle and size and more to do with presence and strength comes from within, but he doesn’t play that way. He plays like someone with a small stature, rounded shoulders, and doesn’t stand up with belief in himself.
“For someone with a left foot, he’s got one of the worst left feet I’ve seen, and left-footers are normally always talented. They’re either really talented or they’ve got a rocket of a left foot, and he just lacks any strength in his left foot. He struggles with power. Technique he struggles with. It just hasn’t worked, and I don’t see anything materialising for him now.”
Eze and Fernandes cannot co-exist
Manchester United have also been linked with a move for Crystal Palace and England attacking midfielder Ebere Eze. Having established himself as one of the league’s most exciting attacking players alongside being an England international, Eze has attracted massive attention in recent years. United, Arsenal, and Manchester City are just a few of those known to have been looking at the 27-year-old, but is he ready for a big move?
“My big worry with Eze is that I’ve never really seen him go out and attack big games and big teams. Is he consistent enough? Olise made Palace talk about him whilst Eze had been there longer. Eze has never done that. It’s been flashes with him.
“If Eze can lift his levels and is willing to take on the challenge of being consistent, I would say yes. But you can’t have Eze and Fernandes in the same team. It doesn’t work because Fernandes wouldn’t complement him.
“A lot of people still question Fernandes because in games where Fernandes isn’t playing, the ball retention has been really, really good. Eze joining would leave a big question mark on the future of Fernandes.”
