Season 2011-12
The Mail Bag
I CAN Get Some Satisfaction
46 Comments: I don't know about anyone else, but the sense of pure pride, satisfaction and well-being of seeing that horrible individual Ashley Cole still in the SAME position on the deck that Neville left him in ? after we have celebrated and had lined up again after the second goal on Saturday ? made my hairs stand on end......
Let?s hope we can have more of these great tackles returning to the game. However, I reckon Mr Cole might disagree??.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Neville gets LOADS of shite from certain people in the crowd but, for me, his commitment to Everton FC has remained constant since his arrival. His professionalism and determination should be mimicked throughout the team, in my opinion. Although he isn?t the most gifted player, he?s always available, doesn?t hide, and leads from the front.
Well done, Phil........
NSNO
Andy Callan, Posted 16/02/2012 at 11:54:14
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When he has to defend against the best players he is never found wanting. Bale, Silva, Mata, Ronaldo ? he has done a job on all of them in the past. It is in the games against lesser sides when you want him as an attacking outlet that he is found wanting. This is why Moyes should rotate more.
In games where we are likely to be defending, then your Nevilles, Fellainis and Gibsons of this world should play. When we are against lesser sides and need to attack, then Coleman should be getting the nod at RB along with more creative players like Osman and Barkley in the centre.
In games where we are likely to be defending, then your Nevilles, Fellainis and Gibsons of this world should play. When we are against lesser sides and need to attack, then Coleman should be getting the nod at RB along with more creative players like Osman and Barkley in the centre.
Andy, very well put, what you see is what you get, Phil knows his limitations, a couple of things he does possess, is honesty & dedication.
And he is very proud to captain Everton.
And he is very proud to captain Everton.
Andy, very well put, what you see is what you get, Phil knows his limitations, a couple of things he does possess, is honesty & dedication.
And he is very proud to captain Everton.
And he is very proud to captain Everton.
If he could tackle Gerrard in the next derby, sever his leg right off, have it fly into the face of Kuyt poking his eyes out and still rise with the ball to set up a Landon assist I'd nominate him for greatest ever player ever ever.
Great point Andy, I'm also frustrated at the gradual disappearence of real tackling from the game whilst shirt tuggling and penalty area wresting almost appears to be an acceptable part of the game now. Ask most fans what they'd rather have and they'd say tackling any day.
Whilst I think Phil is probably our best captain in Premier history,I consider Hibbo to be the better full-back.
With Coleman also able to cover,we are blessed with talent in that position.
With Coleman also able to cover,we are blessed with talent in that position.
A different ref, at the bridge and he'd have been booked for that. Rightly or wrongly there's less room than ever for tacking in the game.
I admire Neville and the way he conducts himself, in fact our whole side. We never surround refs, challenge decisions, intimidate linesmen and above everything else cheat and lie our way to wins.
Cold hard facts are that this cost's us up to 10 points minimum a season and has done for a long time.
The only way this will stop is every single manager of teams outside the cheat 4 or whatever they get called these days get's together and starts a concerted media campaign highlighting the cheating bastards actions and back each other to the hilt.
Moyes and Everton should be making a great deal more of our sportsmanlike take on the game, it's excellent PR and can count for a lot with sponsors.
I admire Neville and the way he conducts himself, in fact our whole side. We never surround refs, challenge decisions, intimidate linesmen and above everything else cheat and lie our way to wins.
Cold hard facts are that this cost's us up to 10 points minimum a season and has done for a long time.
The only way this will stop is every single manager of teams outside the cheat 4 or whatever they get called these days get's together and starts a concerted media campaign highlighting the cheating bastards actions and back each other to the hilt.
Moyes and Everton should be making a great deal more of our sportsmanlike take on the game, it's excellent PR and can count for a lot with sponsors.
Stephen, even todays refs would have found it dificult to justify a booking for that tackle. The timing was superb given that it was 60-40 in Phils favour anyway.
I'm not Phil Nevilles biggest fan but that could be a turning point for our season just like the Ronaldo one a few seasons back.
I'm not Phil Nevilles biggest fan but that could be a turning point for our season just like the Ronaldo one a few seasons back.
You've definitely given credit where credit is due with this post Andy. I can't remember anyone being overjoyed when he joined us, but his attitude and leadership have earned many admirers, as have some aspects of his play - his tackle last week played a huge part in the game, not bad at 35. Still one of Moyes' better signings.
We have to hope that Moyes gets the transition right, because he is 35. His experience has to make him a candidate for a coaching role - or higher up in the club.
We have to hope that Moyes gets the transition right, because he is 35. His experience has to make him a candidate for a coaching role - or higher up in the club.
Mark they don't have to justify anything and never do. It was a great tackle but thats never stopped us getting robbed before!
Good post, Andy, tackles can be as good as goals and Phil Neville has made two of the best tackles in our Premier history. Season changing tackles perhaps.
Absolutely guaranteed the manager`s job if.....and it`s a very big if Moyes moved on whilst BK is Chair!
Doddy,I`m at a do in the Grapes on Saturday night and if you make any more threats like that,I`ll come down the road and sort you out.
Behave!
Behave!
One of Moyes's worst signings, orrespective of his attitude.
I fully support Richard but only if they make him manager now :-)
I have posted on here many times about Phil's value to the team.
He is an organiser and great defender, his distribution may lack for the better part but his commitment and organisational values far outweigh his downfalls.
He is an organiser and great defender, his distribution may lack for the better part but his commitment and organisational values far outweigh his downfalls.
Doddy, your wind-ups never cease to astound me. "Blessed with talent in that position" ha ha... Hibbert can't attack, Coleman can't defend. What a player Hibman or Colebert would be though.
How does everyone know Coleman can't defend? He's barely played at RB, admittedly one of the few times he did we got torn to shreds by Benfica but that wasn't solely his fault. In the other cameos he's had he hasn't looked out of place and whenever he plays right wing he is always mindful of his defensive duties. The real joke is that Drenthe can apparently play LB and that used to be his primary position when he went to Real Madrid
James he has played there in a few pre-season games and looked lost and tends to be left for dead by wingers running at him, instead of tracking backwards with them he makes the cardinal error of going towards them and they sidestep and pass him. Not saying he might become decent but right now he's not ready as a right back without cross over cover from a player in front of him, leave him on the wing.
Ciaran - Alex Cleland ,Earl Barrett, Tony Thomas, John O'kane were crap right backs. Are you honestly putting Phil into that category and worst Moyes signing?
He is no Cafu, but i think he has been a decent pro for us in comparison to the real garbage that has come and gone in the recent and middle past.
He is no Cafu, but i think he has been a decent pro for us in comparison to the real garbage that has come and gone in the recent and middle past.
Phil Neville is imo past it now, but he did a good job for several seasons and is good for team spirit. Ludocrous to suggest he is one of Moyes' worse signings.
Pip Neville deserves credit for the way he conducts himself on, and off the pitch in my opinion.
Yes he has his limitations as a player, but, he will still be remembered for these game changing / season changing tackles long into the future.
I can honestly say that although I have seen him have some dreadful games for us, I could never ever accuse him of not giving 100% in any game.
Off the pitch, he conducts himself in a manner that befits being the Captain of our club, I think he is immensely proud to be our Captain, and shows he is at every opportunity.
Once his career on the field is over, I will be happy if he's given a role on the staff.
Yes he has his limitations as a player, but, he will still be remembered for these game changing / season changing tackles long into the future.
I can honestly say that although I have seen him have some dreadful games for us, I could never ever accuse him of not giving 100% in any game.
Off the pitch, he conducts himself in a manner that befits being the Captain of our club, I think he is immensely proud to be our Captain, and shows he is at every opportunity.
Once his career on the field is over, I will be happy if he's given a role on the staff.
Not one of those players had an automatic starting place for nearly seven years. None of them were bought by Moyes either.
Picking Neville every game has been a major contribution the overwhelmingly dire football we've seen in recent years ? especially when he's been played in midfield. For me, two tackles, one of which was a yellow card anyway, doesn't make up for that.
I don't care if he's a lovely fella or not.
Picking Neville every game has been a major contribution the overwhelmingly dire football we've seen in recent years ? especially when he's been played in midfield. For me, two tackles, one of which was a yellow card anyway, doesn't make up for that.
I don't care if he's a lovely fella or not.
Nick #373 bit of a long shot with Landon back in LA. The rest still possible as long as he play center mid.
Spot on. I hope he goes on to have a great managerial role too.
Ciaran - My point was that Everton have a long track record of crap right backs since Stevens. Phil Neville does not fall into that category. The guy is 35, I hope he doesn't sign a new deal with us, but over the 7 years he has been decent. Moyes worst signing Billy, Beattie, Wright, Kroldrup and Davies.
Howard Don I agree and why is it acceptable for a player to obstruct another player from the ball without attempting to play it himself and allow it to run out of play. That really grips my shit every time I see it.
I hate that word 'several' because it's lazy and imprecise. Whatever Ciaran means by 'several' I assume it means a number greater than two and so the fact is that the football that has been served up by Everton has not been overwhelmingly dire for more than 2 years. Some of the stuff we watched in the 07/08, 08/09 (especially) and the 09/10 seasons was lovely to watch. It was some of the best stuff I've seen since the Kanchelskis days and strangely Neville was almost an ever present for all those seasons.
Neville has his limitations and I'm sure he knows it but there is one thing I have noticed. When he plays at right back he tends to perform against the better sides, the sort of games which, to be honest we usually expect to lose, such as Chelsea last week. I put this down to his experience of playing against better sides in Europe with ManUtd over the years and his experiences with England. In other words, it's as much a confidence thing as anything else, playing against so-called 'bigger' clubs doesn't phase him, he just gets stuck in.
It's all very well slagging him off for his shortcomings going forward but let's remember that for all his prowess as an attacker, Baines can be absolute shite when called on to defend for periods under pressure. In fact, when we are under pressure (which has been quite often so far this season) the two weak links defensively have been Baines and Jagielka (occasionally assisted by Howard's indecisiveness)
All players have strengths and weaknesses. We know what Neville's weaknesses are but when his strengths are called upon (fearless defending) he rarely lets us down.
Neville has his limitations and I'm sure he knows it but there is one thing I have noticed. When he plays at right back he tends to perform against the better sides, the sort of games which, to be honest we usually expect to lose, such as Chelsea last week. I put this down to his experience of playing against better sides in Europe with ManUtd over the years and his experiences with England. In other words, it's as much a confidence thing as anything else, playing against so-called 'bigger' clubs doesn't phase him, he just gets stuck in.
It's all very well slagging him off for his shortcomings going forward but let's remember that for all his prowess as an attacker, Baines can be absolute shite when called on to defend for periods under pressure. In fact, when we are under pressure (which has been quite often so far this season) the two weak links defensively have been Baines and Jagielka (occasionally assisted by Howard's indecisiveness)
All players have strengths and weaknesses. We know what Neville's weaknesses are but when his strengths are called upon (fearless defending) he rarely lets us down.
Dave,
I'll tell you what's 'lazy and imprecise' ? relying on the use of a word ('several') to launch into a rebuttal when the word was never actually used.
Anyway, despite that little faux pas... I refer to your suggestion that 'some of the stuff' we seen in 07-08, 08-09, 09-10 was 'lovely'... given your previous incredulous stance on 'lazy and imprecise' terminology, I expect you'll want to clarify what you mean by the term 'some'.
Hibbert is a far better defender than Neville... that gives your defence some perspective.
I'll tell you what's 'lazy and imprecise' ? relying on the use of a word ('several') to launch into a rebuttal when the word was never actually used.
Anyway, despite that little faux pas... I refer to your suggestion that 'some of the stuff' we seen in 07-08, 08-09, 09-10 was 'lovely'... given your previous incredulous stance on 'lazy and imprecise' terminology, I expect you'll want to clarify what you mean by the term 'some'.
Hibbert is a far better defender than Neville... that gives your defence some perspective.
Phil Neville never hides. I just wish he would.
Irrespective of his pure 'technical' abilities, that tackle on Cole spurred us on to score and win the game in style.
And what a bonus to hear the overpaid Chelsea ponce squeal too.
When it comes to attitude and a refusal to be overawed by an opponent's alleged superiority, Neville has no peers in this Everton team - although Heitinga comes (very) close
I seem to remember him getting similarly 'stuck in' on another overpaid popstar, Ronaldo, a few years ago which again turned the whole game in Everton's favour?
So whilst I freely admit he's no Gary Stevens or Peter Reid, he's no sh*thouse either and we could do with a lot more of that inner toughness in our current team.
He has a highly valuable and often underrated mental strength (again as does Johnny), which a lot of their teammates could do to learn from: neither will be intimidated and we should applaud that, not slag the guy off as some seem so keen to do on here (what a surprise...).
And what a bonus to hear the overpaid Chelsea ponce squeal too.
When it comes to attitude and a refusal to be overawed by an opponent's alleged superiority, Neville has no peers in this Everton team - although Heitinga comes (very) close
I seem to remember him getting similarly 'stuck in' on another overpaid popstar, Ronaldo, a few years ago which again turned the whole game in Everton's favour?
So whilst I freely admit he's no Gary Stevens or Peter Reid, he's no sh*thouse either and we could do with a lot more of that inner toughness in our current team.
He has a highly valuable and often underrated mental strength (again as does Johnny), which a lot of their teammates could do to learn from: neither will be intimidated and we should applaud that, not slag the guy off as some seem so keen to do on here (what a surprise...).
Ciaran - I am interested please name 3 better right backs in the premiership that everton could have afforded over that 7 year period? I like tony h - but he is a squad player at best, and neville until recently was miles ahead of him in quality. As said he is 35, he has been a good pro for us, but any new deal is a deal to far.
Mr Dodd
Dave Watson was a better captain than Phil Neville, he also lifted some silverware if I remember right.
Dave Watson was a better captain than Phil Neville, he also lifted some silverware if I remember right.
Terribly sorry Ciaran, got interrupted by the postman. I meant the word 'recent' was lazy and imprecise. Otherwise everything is as was.
The word 'some' means any or all of the following(and probably plus many more) off the top of my head:-
Aston Villa quarter final.
3-1 win over ManUtd
2-0 win over the shite
2-0 win at Spurs
2-2 draw away to Villa
3-1 win over Portsmouth
2-0 win at ManCity
3-0 win over Newcastle etc etc
I'm talking 'games' Ciaran of which there are about 45- 50 a season which makes my word 'some' a reasonable economy. You're talking years which makes your word 'recent' lazy and imprecise, just like 'several' would have been!
Must learn to ignore the post in future though!!!
The word 'some' means any or all of the following(and probably plus many more) off the top of my head:-
Aston Villa quarter final.
3-1 win over ManUtd
2-0 win over the shite
2-0 win at Spurs
2-2 draw away to Villa
3-1 win over Portsmouth
2-0 win at ManCity
3-0 win over Newcastle etc etc
I'm talking 'games' Ciaran of which there are about 45- 50 a season which makes my word 'some' a reasonable economy. You're talking years which makes your word 'recent' lazy and imprecise, just like 'several' would have been!
Must learn to ignore the post in future though!!!
That's a fine piece of sophistry Dave. You should've just blamed the postman and left it at that.
I will never forgive Neville for sitting in the away end with his Man Utd mates at WBA last season. Why couldn't he sit in the main stand like most professionals do, especially when you are captain of another team???
Billy I am sorry but thats ridiculous, so what he sat with some of his mates. Neville has never given anything but 100% for Everton, there are many things we can have a go at Neville for commitment aint one.
"I will never forgive Neville for sitting in the away end with his Man Utd mates at WBA last season"
Jesus, I bet you are a nightmare to buy something for at Chirstmas.
Jesus, I bet you are a nightmare to buy something for at Chirstmas.
Neville WAS a good player, now he is below average at best!!!
Liam, I think it shows a lack of respect for your employers and more importantly me and my fellow matchgoing Evertonians.
And by the way, Christmas is for giving! And Ian, I am not questioning his commitment ? I question his lack of ability.
And by the way, Christmas is for giving! And Ian, I am not questioning his commitment ? I question his lack of ability.
Billy
"I will never forgive Neville for sitting in the away end with his Man Utd mates at WBA last season"
That's me, and others, off your Christmas card list then. Years ago I went to Anfield with my mates hoping to see them get stuffed. I also frequently sat with Blackburn/Bolton fans when I couldn't get a ticket with our fans.
Don't be silly.
"I will never forgive Neville for sitting in the away end with his Man Utd mates at WBA last season"
That's me, and others, off your Christmas card list then. Years ago I went to Anfield with my mates hoping to see them get stuffed. I also frequently sat with Blackburn/Bolton fans when I couldn't get a ticket with our fans.
Don't be silly.
Ray, I am not being silly, he is the captain of my club, yet he openly goes to an away game to watch is beloved Man Utd. There is a certain etiquette professional footballers follow and one of them is to sit in a neutral area of the ground, eg, the main stand.
As for being silly, Ray, I only go to Anfield to see them get stuffed, what sort of statement is that. And as for sitting with fans from other clubs, yes all of us at some time will have had to sit with opposing supporters because we couldn't get a ticket with fellow supporters... but remember Neville had a choice!
As for being silly, Ray, I only go to Anfield to see them get stuffed, what sort of statement is that. And as for sitting with fans from other clubs, yes all of us at some time will have had to sit with opposing supporters because we couldn't get a ticket with fellow supporters... but remember Neville had a choice!
I think Phil Neville is a good servant of the club and is a good ambassador for Everton. He seems a nice bloke off the field too. However, I think he is an average footballer with limited technical ability. He consistently gives the ball away too much for me. Let's face it, a lot of us would offer pride and hard work as qualities if we were given the armband and told to represent Everton on the pitch.
Billy Bradshaw.
Billy, I noticed Rooney at Goodison on Saturday. He was watching his beloved Everton. Are you going to criticise him for that? He is still obviously an Evertonian and he's bringing his lad up the same way, regardless of what WE think of him, and good luck to him for that.
And I don't see anything wrong with an Evertonian going to Anfield wanting them to get wellied, either...
Billy, I noticed Rooney at Goodison on Saturday. He was watching his beloved Everton. Are you going to criticise him for that? He is still obviously an Evertonian and he's bringing his lad up the same way, regardless of what WE think of him, and good luck to him for that.
And I don't see anything wrong with an Evertonian going to Anfield wanting them to get wellied, either...
Billy.
That's the biggest load if shite iv'e ever read !
I seem to remember David Unsworth sitting in the street end with us when i think he was playing for Wigan or someone ?
That's the biggest load if shite iv'e ever read !
I seem to remember David Unsworth sitting in the street end with us when i think he was playing for Wigan or someone ?
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360 Posted 16/02/2012 at 13:16:40
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