Three Cheers for Captain Pip

There's definitely some cognitive issue going on here where the perception seems to be restricted to one fixed idea, to the exclusion of everything else, even though it's right there in front of them. I think it might be the Reality Tunnel....

Other than that, good post, James. I thought it was a pretty fair summation of Pip's contribution.

Phil, you're willing to play minor league ball for another year or 2, come on over here to MLS. Love to have you.

I assume James feels that any player that has given so much for the blues for so would receive almost 100% positive comments on his departure.

If you look at the first half a dozen posts on the article about him leaving on TW, they all open with comments about being happy he's going.

I agree generally with the point being made.

We will however at times miss his versatility.

If a player returns on good terms, past or present, they are treated like gods (Ferguson, Unsworth, Campbell, et al). Most leave the pitch with a tear, a lump in their throat, a feeling of worth and a smile of friendship on their face. Everton is a tight knit family club, a rare thing these days.

We won't miss him in midfield, we won't miss his regular public pronouncements – but we will miss him around the place. Quality club man.

Shite from beginning to end Thank God it's over. Or will he score another OG before he goes? Good pro so he might do. Maybe Anfield? That would be nice. Would cap 8 glorious years.

I guess you rate the guy, fine, I get it. I'm just relieved its over. Or will he play vs QPR, boss the game and lead us to 3pts? I'd love that. Won't happen though, will it?

Phil Neville is done! Celebrate guys who've actually done something other than contractually obligated PR b/s and picking up millions from our broke club for being a, and this is now a gem, "good pro" . We were never ever winning anything with him as captain so as I see it we're back to the world as of now. Sorry if that upsets you James - have a nice day.

What unsettles me is him saying he still wants to play at the top. As much as I am fine with him no longer being on the field for us, I wouldn't feel good about seeing him line up against us. It just wouldn't be right. I, and I suspect many other Evertonians, would be chuffed if he retired as an Everton player.

He gives his all and shows complete loyalty, unlike many footballers these days, (Mr Tevez, Peter Odemwingie) and does not make an embarrassment with attention seeking tweets,like a certain Joey Barton. He rightfully deserves the praise he is getting from the football world.

Who could forget his tackle on Ronaldo? Or the winning penalty against Chelsea in the FA Cup shootout? What about his masterclass on Gareth Bale? Something the best defenders in the world, e.g Maicon, have failed to do.

Whatever Neville decides to do next, I'm sure all Evertonians will wish him well in his next adventure, playing or coaching. Tootle Pip, Phil and good luck!

From where I see it he's in the position financially, physically, has won probably all he ever will and I'm certain gained the trust of Moyes to say he's not good enough anymore. Maybe he thinks he is though, and maybe so does Moyes. Maybe they both know he's not but due to the depth of our squad he's soldiered but has finally said enough's enough. Maybe he just wants to play football till he drops, he'll have scores of old team mates and a brother who no doubt are saying keep going as long as you can because once it's gone it's gone for good.

Neville made what was seen by many in he media as a 'brave' decision by leaving Old Trafford to come to us - a decision I think based on wanting to play at he highest level and have as long a career as possible, something which he doesn't seem to have dropped.

If he plays on down the leagues, nicks off to the States, or coaches somewhere good luck to him, it's his life after all. Either way he or Moyes, or both, have finally accepted he's no longer good enough for Everton and he's bowed out gracefully. In my opinion the least we can do now is recognise the contribution he's made with equal grace and bid him farewell.

6 premier league titles
3 FA cups
Champions league
50 odd caps for England.

More than the rest of our squad put together. Therefore are they all not worth celebrating??

Why do you need to come across as bitter and twisted, just wish the guy well.

Your opinion

If we had to have a whole team made up of a single player, I would prefer Jagielka. He played in goal for Shef U, and has played full back, centre back and (I think) midfield for us. Plus he's scored a few with his head so could play up front.

Sorry if this has been discussed before.....

I don't give a damn about what he won at Man U or how many caps he won when he wasn't playing for us. Why would I?

Why is anyone who's not up for a Phil-fest labelled bitter and twisted? I just pay my hard earned to watch and support Everton and I don't like crap players like Neville representing my club. It's that simple. If he'd lifted a cup or two and been good I'd love the guy. But...he didn't. It's never personal. I don't know him.

Neville gets in a select / sorry bunch of former players like Tony Thomas, John O'Kane, Hottiger and a few others where I've actually played against / with better players. Granted, they made it pro and the others didn't but that shouldn't really be happening, should it?

But as you said, my opinion and its not one shared by our manager so what the hell. Its history now, on to Saturday.

As a footballer, irrespective of what he won at United, he was simply poor, and to have his Everton career defined by a tackle against Ronaldo says it all. There would be a queue stretching from Liverpool to London of players who would have nailed him given half the chance. It was a block tackle on an already off balance player and I could do that when I was eight.

I would love to see Phil Neville continuing his top flight career, at Liverpool. But we never get that lucky do we?

When he was bad, he was very bad and was usually the first call from the crowd to get him subbed. One thing I have held him in high esteem for though is his loyalty, commitment and superb leadership skills he has bought to Everton that have undoubtedly rubbed off on everyone he has played with.

I remember him being sent off in the derby in a 3-1 defeat at our place, therefore ruling him out of what was a massive game at Sunderland on New Year's Eve. Neville travelled up there as a spectator. Yes, he was club captain and people will say it's the least he could do... but in today's football you wouldn't get many players doing that. However, the thing that struck me most about him was that night in Bucharest.

We had been drawn away from home first and anyone who was there will recall just how bad we were that night, it was truly horrendous. We took about 2,000 with us and lost 5-1; the mood of the Everton support was as angry as I have witnessed in a long long time.

As the final whistle went, players such as Kilbane, Marcus Bent and even Ferguson were off down that tunnel like a shot, didn't clap the fans... just got out of there as quick as possible. I recall two or three players having the balls to come over to clap us: Nigel Martyn was one and the other Phil Neville. Neville kept walking and walking till he reached us despite the torrent of abuse he and the other players were getting.

My point is Neville had only been at the club a little while yet, from the day he set foot in the club, he has never hid or shirked responsibility. He didn't have to do what he did that night; players who had been there much longer didn't have the balls to come over so why should he have done? Fair play to him. He knew the score that night and what Everton means to the fans.

He has never been universally liked but, as mentioned, he has never once hid in his time at Everton; even at the Wigan debacle where he was dreadful, he kept asking for the ball. I hope he does okay after leaving Everton but, before he does go, I for one hope he signs off with the winner against the shite!

Nick #963 - you sound like some player! Maybe you could have a 'show us your medals' head to head with Neville? My money's on..... erm.................................Pip, though. />
Which is probably why he gets paid £40k per week. QED?

And Neville was never first choice in all his time there.

As soon as he enters a team with players of his own ability he is shown up for what he is, average.

At 3 million he has been a great buy. 100% effort always. Never hides from the ball. And had a quality that anyone who's played any standard of the game will recognise and that's talking on the pitch. Can see him becoming a great manager.

1) Name a game where Phil Neville has given less than 100% for the Blue shirt, despite him growing up as a Manchester United fan and player.

2) Name an instance where Phil Neville has not accepted responsibility for his own mistakes - and then not vowed to try and redeem himself.

I suspect the above answers will both be NO. Because I see someone there who took the brave decision of moving down to a local rival (in locality as opposed to ability) and playing every game, over sitting picking splinters out of his backside while picking up winner's medals (and probably be on a lot more money).

I also see someone who has brought consistency to Everton. Our four previous finishes under Moyes (if you include the season he arrived 3/4 way through) were 4th, 17th, 7th, 16th. We were incredibly inconsistent and even though the season we finished 4th was magnificent, we were still a very green and very average side, and needed someone with leadership qualities who could steady the ship as well as play multiple positions. Since his arrival, we have had one season where we finished in the bottom half (11th, his first season), and since then finished no lower than 8th. It is also quite clear reading from his Twitter feed, that he is one of the characters at Everton, and is clearly one of the reasons our squad harmony is what it is.

So, for all those reasons above, he has my respect, irregardless of footballing ability which I'm sure he himself will be the first to admit ain't as good as others, and I wish him all the best and thanks for his service. I really, really wish we had won the FA Cup either this year or in 2009 so he could have achieved what he wanted here, sadly we won't get to do that, but thanks a lot anyway.