Hear, Hear. Everton Legend.

He is a real example to every young player and its no coincidence that he played alongside Scholes and Giggs who are still better than most others in their position.

The way he bounced back after so bad an injury is testament to his professionalism and pride in his fitness.
I really admire Pip and Distin for staying at the top level of football for so long especially as pace and fitness are priotities in todays game.

I would like to find out who is the fastest player on our books.
I reckon Mirallas, Baines and Distin must be near the top.

Anyway, congratulations to Pip, lets look forward to him always being a part of our club in some capacity.

Trevor: Whenever I've seen interviews with Everton players and they've been asked the "who's the fastest" question they've always answered "Distin".

I reckon Oviedo might now be our fastest.

Oh please... Neville is not a real footballer anymore, he should have done like his brother and retire. We do not need Neville or his £40-50k-a-week salary, he is a total waste of money that could go into getting a much better midfielder.

I cannot fathom why Moyes wants him to go on playing, he is well beyond his best and that says it all regarding Moyes. He just wants to keep his captain around to spur the boys on while he just gets overun and points his finger around yelling at his teammates, that is what Neville is good for now.

Such a shame, I hate when players who are past it cannot see when their time is up, Neville is no world beater either so any other midfielder can come in and do a better job then Neville.

Also Barkley has got royally screwed by Moyes, by looking at his face while sitting at the bench I felt for the guy. Here he does a very decent job for Sheffield Wednesday and then he gets brought back only to be sitting rotting away on the bench.

Moyes simply has no time for youngsters, it has been shown the last few years that he prefers players like Neville in midfield before Barkley. How are we going to produce our own talents when then NEVER get any playing time???

At least Brendan Rodgers has understood that you need to try your best youngsters out if you are to grow as a club. I'm so sick of Moyes refusing to try playing any of our youngsters, I hope Moyes does refuse a new contract and heads off to Germany.

A true professional, it’s a pity many of todays players don’t have Phil’s attitude. I can defiantly see him on the coaching staff at Everton In the future and possibly even managing the club one day.

"Everton Legend"

That is a step way too far!

He meant LEG-END, James

I guess it depends on your definition of legend. To me you would have had to be pretty special to earn that sobriquet.
Here is a link to our current hall of fame, there's a few yet to be included before Phil would get in

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everton_F.C.

Top pro and still a valuable player though.

Jimmy @296 - don't wish to appear picky but there might just be one or two holes in your argument....

"I cannot fathom why Moyes wants to him to go on playing" - I think you'll find that decision is down to Pip, and probably supported by his agent.

"He just wants to keep his captain around to spur the boys on" - er, no shit Sherlock, I reckon Paul Lambert would like a captain right now who does just that.

"And points his finger around yelling at his teammates" - and they're such a sensitive bunch, who does he think he is.....?

"Neville is no world beater either so any other midfielder can come in and do a better job" - oh let's see....Roysten Drenthe maybe....?

"At least Brendan Rogers..." - oh sod it I'm not even going to bother commenting on that one.

If the Americanos across the park asked Brenda to stand upside down in the Mersey in order to save a few bob, I'm pretty sure he would.

Moyes has always protected his youngsters especially the better ones from being thrown into the battle too early.

Look at Osman, a player who is local has been here since a relatively young age, yet more than 10 years later is still the target of some sections of the Everton support.

Expectations of Barkley are way too high and, like it or not, the only opinion that matters is that of the manager... he decides.

For anyone who says "we do not need Neville" – who was it who played a load of games at the beginning of the season when Gibson was injured? Hitzlsperger hadn't even joined by then so who else was going to play holding mid for us in that time and set us on a long unbeaten run?

He's not a great player anymore (probably never was) but as a squad player you can rely on him to do the basics well, he very rarely is caught out of position and still has a very good tactical brain. Whilst he's not going to fizz 80 yard balls around he has less tangible qualities such as leadership, organisation and the desire to win that are not always apparent to your ubercritical Match of the Day fans. There was a reason why Redknapp wanted him at Spurs; would they have been so rudderless in the second half of last season had he been around on the scene?

Sickens me to see lads like Ossie, Neville, Hibbo, and Cahill who have sweated blood for Everton being slagged off in comparison to mercenaries like Drenthe, Fernandes and Jo who are still remembered fondly by some for some odd goal they scored or trick they did.

I have championed Pip on here on loads of occasions.
I thought he played a blinder against Wigan, he was getting up and down the flank like a goodun.

People need to remember that his presence on the pitch far outweighs his deficits; it's no coincidence that we win more games than lose when he's in the side and I for one have no trouble calling him a legend.

Big Dunc is labeled a legend and he was either out injured or serving bans for assault on other players; long may he remain at the club.

James (336) - Well said.

As a side issue... Although he's won nothing at Everton, 28 more games for us and he'll pass his Man Utd appearances.

I think some people seem to brush experience to one side far too easily. I've seen calls for Barkley to be given a longer run in the team over the likes of Neville which isn't really based on anything other than we all hope the hype around the lad is true. But I think having someone like Neville at the club is even more important.

Look at how much Villa are struggling right now. They have a team full of kids (2 or 3 will probably eventually go on to do great things in football) but it just shows you that you can't actually win anything with kids! My point being that if we really want to push on to the next level we need players like Neville sticking around to help make that path for the likes of Barkley to come through.

And the comment about Brendan Rodgers doing it at Liverpool – well thank God he is because look how well that is turning out so far!

I've read mucho bollocks on here down through the years. I am pausing and thinking before I type; I am honest, but this is up there with the very very worst: Neville, 'Everton legend'.

That is an insult to Everton, our culture, our history, our legends, although admittedly from our Mount Everest WUM. OK: Dean, Sagar, Young, Hickson, Labone, Ball, Big Bob Latch?, Sheeds (God bless all who sail with him, love ya)... erm... erm... Neville, just trips off the tongue doesn't it? Only LB in the current shower has the scent of legend status.

Mong posting at its best or worst, take ya pick. The day Neville hangs up his sideways crab 1 foot to a guy in blue boots, will be a red — erm... blue letter day for my beloved club.

I had a quick look on the net what legend meant aand came up with this:

A person whose fame or notoriety makes him a source of exaggerated or romanticized tales or exploits.

Therefore, based on this explanation, I guess Phil is not a legend. However, in my humble opinion, Phil Neville is a wonderful professional, his captaincy is superb and I truly think he has blue blood. He is a fantastic inspiration to younger players and has made the best of what he has.

He was okay on Saturday, though I would have preferred Coleman down the right flank with a bit more of pass-and-go but he did supply the cross for Jagielka's goal, though it looked more of a hopeful lob into the box I suppose.

Future Everton manager, I reckon.

Top man, honest, reliable, a leader, an example to others all around him. Those crticising him on here, are viewing him in a shallow manner, as I did when I heard we'd signed him. Shallow because the most obvious thigs to see on the pitch are his technical deficiencies. What's harder to see, but is there, is the list of adjectives I started with which have a wider influence on the club.

Mike Brierly wasn't a good batsman, or a good bowler, but when he was called into a losing English cricket team, as captain, they started winning. He was a winner, Nev is a winner. I didn't say this when we signed him, but started saying it soon after "Proud he became an Evertonian".

Would Alex Ferguson have kept him around Old Trafford so long if he offered nothing? I would prefer Neville rightback than Coleman any day of the week and in any match. His passing is poor but he's not the only one in are back four, just ask Jageilka.