unsettled boy
大佐のインタビューです。
以下は、いきなり〆の談話から引用なのですが、こういうバックボーンがあるから、前半で自身の移籍について語った談話が重い。先日のコメントでも、移籍について聞かれて、自分の意志で決まることではない、と断っていた。ああいう語り方をするのは、軽率な言動のない彼の人柄を差し引いても、やっぱり不自然だし、背後にあるトラウマが透けて見える。
Parker knows things can change quickly in football, after his time at Chelsea was hindered by a metatarsal break and then he was sold by Sam Allardyce at Newcastle.
He reflects: "Chelsea didn't work out. The injury killed me in the end, just when I was starting to turn the corner, getting a little run in the side.
"I went to Newcastle and, contrary to what people say about not settling in the North East, me and my family absolutely loved it up there.
"Then a new manager comes in and sells me."
チェルシーからニューカッスルへ行ったのは志願移籍で、ニューカッスルからウエストハムに来たのは監督交代による売却だから、両極端な事情だけれど、居場所がないゆえの本意に反した移籍ということについては、どちらも一緒だった。どちらも、大佐自身の思惑とは外れた。
特に、後者はきつかったと思う。うまく行きかけていたことが、手のひらを返したように崩れた。あの時、北東のメディアは大佐（の奥さん）がロンドンに帰りたがっているという出所のないうわさを躍起に書きたてて、大佐の放出という事実にニューカッスルが傷つかないよう、さも自分たちが被害者のように装っていたけれど、この談話を読むと、やっぱり大佐も奥さんも、ロンドンに帰りたいなんて考えてはいなかったんだとわかる。
私、いまだにカーブスやマグヌションと並んでたハマーズ入団会見の大佐が忘れられないんです。嫌なものを見た。ずっと腕組みして、心からの笑顔がなくて、ニューカッスルについて語った後に黙り込んだ無言が重くて、売られたことへの不審というか憤りというか恨みというか、整理しきれていない感情が、どうしてもにじみ出ていた。私もあの会見を見るまでは、カーブスとの再タッグがうれしいなんて単純に思ってた側面が強かったんだけど、あの大佐を見てからは、そういう考えがさめた。
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というわけで、大佐のインタビュー。誠実だし、それゆえに、シニカルでもある。
真ん中のゾラについてのところも興味深いんだけど*1、沁みたのはなんといっても、前半のベラミーがシティへ行ったことについての談話と、上に引いた最後の部分です。
シーズン途中で出て行ったベラミーへの共感や擁護は、そのままチェルシー行きを選んだ5年前の大佐自身の立ち位置を、あらためて肯定しなおしているようにも聞こえる。チャンスが来れば行くものなんだ、と。
最後についてはもう、本人の語る言葉がすべてだと思う。今度こそ、自分の居場所に恵まれてほしい。
Midfielder happy to stay at Upton Park
Coveted midfielder Scott Parker insists he is happy with West Ham and does not want to move away.
The 28-year-old was linked with a switch away from Upton Park in the January transfer window after West Ham owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson was hit by the credit crunch.
Despite Manchester City's interest, Parker was pleased to hear West Ham wanted to keep him and boss Gianfranco Zola shared the same vision for the club, which was all he needed to know to stay.
He told the Daily Telegraph: "As soon as I was put in the picture about things here - because you hear the club need to sell - it was fine.
"City is obviously a big club that's going places but I'm happy here. As long as West Ham were stable and the manager's views were the same as mine then it was okay."
Team-mate Craig Bellamy jumped ship though when City came calling but Parker - while acknowledging it was a blow to the side - defended his former colleague.
"Yeah, that was a severe loss," he said. "It's different circumstances as well. I'm sure Craig's were different to mine.
Big opportunity
"I know people say there's no loyalty in football but that's just the way it is. It was a big opportunity for Craig and he felt he had to go. We just have to get on with it now."
The Hammers are up to eighth in the table on the back of a six-match unbeaten run in the league but face a tough task against Manchester United at Upton Park on Sunday - in a game being shown live on Sky Sports 1 at 4pm.
"It's obviously a tough game this weekend but you look at our fixtures after that and they're winnable," Parker said.
"The way we're playing, the way we're organised, I think we can stay in the top half, maybe get in the top eight. That would be good for a season when the manager arrived after the start."
Parker has played under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and sees similarities with new boss Zola.
"Mourinho is the sort who draws a line that you know not to cross. It's the same here with Franco," he said.
"There's definitely an edge there that you don't mess with. At the same time, he gains respect from the players through how he was as a player and how he is as a person.
Good knack
"He's never going to be one for throwing tea cups around but when he speaks, you listen. As a manager, that's a good knack to have."Parker knows things can change quickly in football, after his time at Chelsea was hindered by a metatarsal break and then he was sold by Sam Allardyce at Newcastle.
He reflects: "Chelsea didn't work out. The injury killed me in the end, just when I was starting to turn the corner, getting a little run in the side.
"I went to Newcastle and, contrary to what people say about not settling in the North East, me and my family absolutely loved it up there.
"Then a new manager comes in and sells me."
