The Mail Bag
Phil Neville
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I have posted before albeit irregularly on unlinked subjects. No different today. Wanted to say I have been on the Official Website to view the "Purple Shirt Launch" and the VIP event, attended by our two Phil's. Have to say that Phil Neville is a proper gentleman.
His dignity shines through. As a Manchester lad his comments about supporting the youth of Liverpool are a tremendous example to all of us with parochial views; we are all the same bar accents. He's not a bad footballer either, but life transcends football.
I have seen the debate about Moyes tenure, both for and against; I dont know the answers... it's hard enough bringing two primary-aged schoolchildren up in a marriage with two full-time working parents trying to make ends meet without getting hung up about whether a manager is worth keeping on a contract of a couple of million pounds a year or not (or whatever we are paying).
Regardless, as a Club, wherever our future takes us, we could do a lot worse than keep Phil Neville involved actively in the long term once his playing career is behind him.
Mike Jones, Posted 29/10/2009 at 21:51:23
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We talk about not having the creativity of Arteta or Pienaar or Bily as a reason for our recent losses... I think losing Phil to injury is more significant. No leadership on the field, no one to encourage others or give an earful to those who need a kick up the backside... Get better quick Phil!!
It was only a matter of time before someone proposed the suggestion that our recent lack of form is due to the lack of Neville...
No-one doubts his credentials as a man...he’s shown them time and time again, and he should be rightly saluted for his integrity....
But I seriously hope he never plays in our midfield again...
No-one doubts his credentials as a man...he’s shown them time and time again, and he should be rightly saluted for his integrity....
But I seriously hope he never plays in our midfield again...
Did you see the way Neville was prowlig the touchline at Blackburn?? I’ll stick my head out and say when Moyes leaves, Ol’ Pip will do a Southgate and take over the reins. Hopefully not for a few more seasons though!
Unbeleivable Ciarán
Very narrow minded Ciaran, if the lads out there playing had half the passion and fight that Neville has, then we wouldn't be sat here with the dire results that we have!
For you to say you hope he never plays in our midfield again, is ridiculous. Football is not just about physical ability, but also mentality, and Neville more than makes up for his footballing abilities with his mental attributes!
I think it has shown how we have missed the leadership and organisational qualities Phil Neville has in the last three games.
We are definitely missing Neville’s leadership in the team now. There is no question of that.
The guy is a role model for all young players coming through with his genuine honest approach to the game and his off the field charity work. I truly admire the guy for this.
Look at England’s golden boys, Terry, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole etc....Give me Phil Neville any day. Honest as the day is long and a true pro.
The guy is a role model for all young players coming through with his genuine honest approach to the game and his off the field charity work. I truly admire the guy for this.
Look at England’s golden boys, Terry, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole etc....Give me Phil Neville any day. Honest as the day is long and a true pro.
Completely agree with Ciarán. It's no disrespect to Neville, but he simply isn’t good enough and to suggest we are missing him is ridiculous.
And this ’mental’ attribute business is laughable... too many people playing Football Manager!
And this ’mental’ attribute business is laughable... too many people playing Football Manager!
I don’t think our recent poor form is down to Neville’s absence. I would suggest it is physical (too many games, not enough players) and mental (why us, in terms of the injury crisis).
I didn’t go to Spurs, but I thought that aside from 15 minutes at the start of the second half in Portugal and 20 minutes at the start at Bolton, we haven’t played badly. We will be fine once we get ALL our players back.
I do agree with the atricle, however, Neville has surely proved to be one of four outstanding signings by Moyes (the others being Cahill, Arteta and Saha).
I didn’t go to Spurs, but I thought that aside from 15 minutes at the start of the second half in Portugal and 20 minutes at the start at Bolton, we haven’t played badly. We will be fine once we get ALL our players back.
I do agree with the atricle, however, Neville has surely proved to be one of four outstanding signings by Moyes (the others being Cahill, Arteta and Saha).
I have to agree with Ciarán on this; Neville maybe a great man but he really has no place in Midfield when we have a fully fit squad. Right Back he can be quite effective but certainly I hope he doesn’t grace our Midfield ever again.
Ciaran again spot on. Neville is no midfielder! He is clearly a defender full stop. Sir Alex tried him in midfielder and quickly realised his mistake. Sadly Moyes doesn't seem to notice this.
Not the gratest of players admittedly but the one thing that sticks in my mind about Neville is when many posters were having melt downs about selling Carsley and screaming who was going to repace him? Ti his credit, once Neville started playing in midfield the noises for a Carsley replacement stopped. He was a like for like player doing the ugly stuff and breaking up plays, no one is doinf this now so to suggest a hope that he never plays there again is a bit off.
He may not be the most gifted player but, for me, he summed up his attitude to the club when he made ’that tackle’ on Ronaldo against Man Utd at GP exactly a year ago. That turned out to be the tackle that kick-started our season and was inspirational. It's a pity there isn’t anyone in the team at the moment with any leadership qualities because right now, we need that.
Ciaran
Well your getting what you’ve wished a long time for.
Care to explain how with Ossie and Neville ( the two guys you say should never be in our midfield ) we managed to go on lenghty unbeaten runs, but now you have your it your way, we couldnt win an argument ?
Well your getting what you’ve wished a long time for.
Care to explain how with Ossie and Neville ( the two guys you say should never be in our midfield ) we managed to go on lenghty unbeaten runs, but now you have your it your way, we couldnt win an argument ?
Neville is not the most gifted player we have and I prefer him at RB than CM. That said I think he plays well with Mikel in the middle with him. He is great to have around the club and is a great captain who leads by example.
Ciarán awakes each day, denying that the sun has risen...
I think we have to make do with Neville to be honest, because he is the only natural holding midfielder we have. With Arteta, Ossie or Fellaini with him in the middle, the midfield does look more balanced. Rodwell has been class, but unfortunately he’s not creative enough to partner Neville, or not defensive enough (yet... definitely will be though) to partner a creative player.
But to go that far to suggest we have been playing badly because we have lost Neville is not true at all. Arteta is the sole reason we’re not playing well.
But to go that far to suggest we have been playing badly because we have lost Neville is not true at all. Arteta is the sole reason we’re not playing well.
Ha Ha "the ONLY reason we are not playing well is because Arteta is injured"
And heres me thinking we put in some terrific performances last season AFTER he was injured, seeing world class teams like Man United and being one of the few teams to get out of Stamford Bridge with a point before rounding of the season at Fulham with our best performance for years.
I’m a big Arteta fan, but he wasnt playing wasnt playing when we were scoring goals for fun earlier this season was he ?
Tony Marsh posted here almost hourly,
Ossie was the start and finish of all our problems, his mates lapped it up. "Get rid" of that right hand side of our team they screamed . . . well they’re not there now guys and without facing reallly top class opposition we are being blown away, Coincidence ? depends on how stupid you are.
We’ve barely got 4 fit midfield players and Ciarán comes out with the best yet, "I hope Neville never plays in our midfield again, Nevilles absence according to him has nothing to do with this nightmare of a run.
I wonder if the people who blamed the same individuals for everything wrong with Everton are now beginning to see the shortcomming they so readily overlooked elswhere in the team.
Will they make even bigger mugs of themselves by claiming it has nothing to do with these guys when they come back and we start winning again ? of course they will, they’ll call it coincidence - again
Ossie and Neville may not be superstars, but they are nowhere near as bad as people make out
And heres me thinking we put in some terrific performances last season AFTER he was injured, seeing world class teams like Man United and being one of the few teams to get out of Stamford Bridge with a point before rounding of the season at Fulham with our best performance for years.
I’m a big Arteta fan, but he wasnt playing wasnt playing when we were scoring goals for fun earlier this season was he ?
Tony Marsh posted here almost hourly,
Ossie was the start and finish of all our problems, his mates lapped it up. "Get rid" of that right hand side of our team they screamed . . . well they’re not there now guys and without facing reallly top class opposition we are being blown away, Coincidence ? depends on how stupid you are.
We’ve barely got 4 fit midfield players and Ciarán comes out with the best yet, "I hope Neville never plays in our midfield again, Nevilles absence according to him has nothing to do with this nightmare of a run.
I wonder if the people who blamed the same individuals for everything wrong with Everton are now beginning to see the shortcomming they so readily overlooked elswhere in the team.
Will they make even bigger mugs of themselves by claiming it has nothing to do with these guys when they come back and we start winning again ? of course they will, they’ll call it coincidence - again
Ossie and Neville may not be superstars, but they are nowhere near as bad as people make out
Bloody hell, Dave, you don’t need to attack everyone’s posts. Arteta is the key of our team and the key to us playing well, and we play the best with him in the team, And that is fact. Maybe we have two or three really good performances, but we play BETTER with Mikel in the team.
Osman isn’t very good on the right hand side, but that’s not his position, Centre-mid I do rate him, and he hasn’t been given a fair go there yet.
But we have lost more important players than Osman and Neville - Pienaar, Jagielka, Arteta and Baines to name four!!
Osman isn’t very good on the right hand side, but that’s not his position, Centre-mid I do rate him, and he hasn’t been given a fair go there yet.
But we have lost more important players than Osman and Neville - Pienaar, Jagielka, Arteta and Baines to name four!!
Dave Wilson - I’m sorry but what a load of rubbish!!!
I don’t think anyone got what they wanted with this injury crisis. I don’t see how Neville/Osman deserve to be in our midfield providing we have a fully fit squad.
I’m happy to see Neville at RB & Osman as a squad option for CM. But if they play anywhere else it’s pointless.
I don’t think anyone got what they wanted with this injury crisis. I don’t see how Neville/Osman deserve to be in our midfield providing we have a fully fit squad.
I’m happy to see Neville at RB & Osman as a squad option for CM. But if they play anywhere else it’s pointless.
The thread appears to have gone off on a tangent; I would try to keep him.
Michael? Naughty. Just doing a trawl. That post 01/11/2009 at 01:15:48 not mine is it? is it?
I can do a lot of things, Mike... but I’ve yet to figure out how to change the logged IP address... which in this case matches yours exactly.
And I have to ask: Why would I?
And I have to ask: Why would I?
Ok Michael, I accept that... must’ve been drunk 'cos I can't remember!!
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1 Posted 30/10/2009 at 04:54:18
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He’d certainly be an asset to keep around, and I still think he has a role in the team for a couple of years yet.
And compared to his older brother, he’s a class apart in my opinion.