Former West Ham United man Jussi Jaaskelainen believes Scott Parker is a perfect choice to give his old club the best chance of promotion this season.
The Hammers replaced Nuno Espirito Santo with ex-midfielder Parker this week amid a slump in their Championship promotion push – and there was an almost immediate upturn in form.
The team recovered from 3-0 down at half-time against Cardiff City on Wednesday to earn a valiant point. Jaaskelainen, on the Hammers books between 2012 and 2015, has given the thumbs-up to the appointment.
He said: “I think Scott Parker is the best choice, given what he’s done already in the Championship. He knows the football club very well, he knows the fans, he knows the demands of the football club. He’s won promotion with three different teams already, and I think all the fans will be behind him.
“We know at West Ham you need to win in style, but I think the best connection you will create with the fans is going out, working hard as a team, fighting for everything and winning your football matches. That’s the best way to connect the fans with the team.”
The Finn expects Jarrod Bowen to continue to play a major part for his old club as they aim for an immediate Premier League return and now he wants to see Parker bring the defensive nous he oversaw at Burnley – in the Championship – to West Ham. Parker’s time in charge of the Clarets saw them clinch promotion in the 2024-25 season in staggering style, losing just twice and conceding 16 goals all season.
“Jarrod is the one who can win the matches for them,” he added. “He’s already shown it this season, and not just this season, all the time at West Ham, that he’s the biggest threat. He can create chances, he can score goals.
“It will be easier for him if he knows that when he gets one or two goals in a game, his team can defend and keep more clean sheets, because it is crucial that the team functions well, especially in that league.
“It’s important now that Scott gets the defending working like he did with Burnley. Their goals-conceded record was unbelievable there.”
Meanwhile, Jaaskelainen had his say on a potential blockbuster move for free agent Jadon Sancho – a prospect that has been mooted in the last few days.
“I think the club should look into it [signing Sancho],” he added. “You will look at his fitness levels, where they are at the moment, and you will look at what his motivation towards football is.
“Of course, if you get him anywhere near the level he was at when he was in Germany, then he will help the team a lot. But you need to look really closely at his fitness level, his motivation, and what he really wants from football.”
Jussi Jääskeläinen was speaking to kasinopartio.com.
