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Neville: 'Age is just a number'

Lyndon Lloyd , 6 July, 25comments  |  Jump to most recent

Phil Neville believes that he has two or three more years of top-level football in him as he describes how he is keeping himself in peak condition this summer ahead of next month's Premier League kick-off.

The Everton captain will turn 36 this coming season but he is determined to remain competitive for a first-team place at Goodison next season.

After starting his UEFA coaching courses after the conclusion of last season, Neville interspersed his summer holiday in California with training sessions at a Los Angeles facility.

"I worked quite hard over the summer. I went on holiday but I trained at a facility for a couple for weeks — that is par for the course now," he says.

"Particularly when you are getting older you have to stay ahead of the game.

"At the clinics I went to over the summer to do my training I learned that age is just a number.

"I want to play football for as long as I possibly can," says Neville, who has a year remaining on his Everton contract, "two, three more years hopefully at the top level.

"The way that science is improving now players can play for as long as they possibly can," the Everton skipper continues.

And his preparations for the new season are obviously continuing in the Blues' training camp in Austria this week.

"I'm quite a positive person. People say only look for this season but I am thinking 'Let's look for another three years'.

"But I have to remain fit, strong and keep playing well to keep my position in the team."

Quotes or other material sourced from Sky Sports

Reader Comments (25)

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Andy Morden
1 Posted 06/07/2012 at 19:18:02
Wooo, another three years of pointing and iffy passing. best news of the summer!
Nick Armitage
2 Posted 06/07/2012 at 19:40:23
'Age is just a number'

Is right Phil.

You were shit when you were 24 and you will still be shit if you are playing at 44.

Fuck off will yer.

Dave Owen
3 Posted 06/07/2012 at 20:33:33
Heitinga for Captain.
Christopher Kelly
4 Posted 06/07/2012 at 21:41:41
It's great if HE thinks that... I think it's long time he found another place to ply his trade. I'm sure he's a great man and a great locker room presence and all that shit but we need great players. I'm tired of seeing his frosted tips all the time as well.
Christopher Kelly
5 Posted 06/07/2012 at 21:44:35
...and age unfortunately is NOT just a number in football. That's a saying for tired/old birds who still want to shag a young bloke!
James Stewart
6 Posted 06/07/2012 at 22:03:05
Sadly not Phil.
Keith Slinger
7 Posted 06/07/2012 at 23:38:38
You all slag Phil off, FFS, give the guy a break — all he does is give 100% every game...
Mark Riding
8 Posted 07/07/2012 at 00:20:55
Come on Phil... I have been sticking up for you for ages now and you come out with this !!

What next ? 50 keepy-uppies and one of the 'balanced on the neck flipping the ball up again ones'... followed by " I've still got it ! "

Peter Thistle
9 Posted 07/07/2012 at 00:50:50
He can maybe play 3 more years but hopefully not with us. Time for him to drop down a division or at least be at a relegation team, give it up Phil.
Mick Davies
10 Posted 07/07/2012 at 02:56:03
The man has been a rock for us over the last 7 years. Some of his blood and guts tackles have turned the tide in matches and at least one season. Why not save your snide remarks for the likes of Hibbert, who hasn't done a thing in 10 years, a total embarrassment. Then again, he is a local lad :(
Rob Keys
11 Posted 07/07/2012 at 03:15:55
Always baffles me when people are looking for an opportunity to Neville. So what if he says that he wants to play on? That doesn't mean that he'll definitely play on as first choice all the time.
And even if he is, then the person to knock is not Neville but Moyes.
Get a grip, would you?

Mick Davies @ 540, that's a low blow and way out of line. To defend Neville, you decided to knock another honest pro. Wow, outstanding.

Steve Brown
12 Posted 07/07/2012 at 06:03:22
He may not be the most talented player, but you cant knock his dedication. Plus he is old school in having a bit of character and leadership.
Peter Thistle
13 Posted 07/07/2012 at 06:42:45
i don't mean to slate him, I just hope that EFC will improve as a team by replacing not so good ones with better ones. Isn't that how it works ?

Loyalty aside he ain't a great player.

Dave Wilson
14 Posted 07/07/2012 at 06:43:19
Lost what was left of my confidence in his "leader skills" when he repeatedly panicked and turned and ran with his back to the ball everytime the shite got it in the semi.
A decent leader would have been screaming at his troops to hold the line.

Oh sorry I was forgetting . .his manager told him to do it didnt he ?

Quite simply the worst paid passer of a ball I`ve seen.

Kevin Sparke
15 Posted 07/07/2012 at 07:39:36
I like Phil Neville - he reminds me every time I see him play that if you want something bad enough and put the effort in, it might not be beyond your reach. He never hides, he never shirks responsibility and despite what some say he's a very good Right Back - though, a very ordinary midfielder.

If you look at the win/lose/draw stats you'll notice that Everton with Neville in the side win more games as a percentage with him in the side than with him not in the side...

EG 2011/12 - Games played without Neville: 9... wins 4 - Draws 1 - Defeats 4 - win percentage 44%
Games played with Neville - 30 - Wins 14 - Draws 7 - defeats 9 - win percentage 47%

The trend has been continued throughout his Everton career every season he's been here the win percentage when he plays is greater than when he doesn't - In 2009/10 the win percentage with Neville was 52% and without Neville in the team it was 35%.

I don't know about you but I'd rather see Everton win than lose or draw and so I'm happy that Phil Neville has been a positive influence on our win stats... the evidence is clear and it's incontestable - Everton win more games with Phil Neville in the side - if you doubt this - do the sums yourself.

Having said all that, nobody can go on forever and Everton as a team have a vastly improved squad from the one that Neville joined in 05- it's time for another player to take on the role of leader on the pitch and I think it's time for him to consider management.

*All stats gleaned from Soccerbase - Racing Post

Dave Wilson
16 Posted 07/07/2012 at 08:21:37
Somebody put even more impressive stats up about Ossie last week Kevin.

Expect a call from the cause and correlation dept

Thomas Windsor
17 Posted 07/07/2012 at 11:09:20
Age does catch up with players and first in the Premier League. Maybe Phil could continue playing in the lower leagues? I would have respect for him for wanting to play on... but just not at Everton.
Denis Richardson
18 Posted 07/07/2012 at 11:58:21
Kevin, the past stats may point to Neville having a good / positinve influence, but the ignore the obvious fact that the guy is going to turn 36 (yes 36!) this season.

Call me what you may but I would hope our team is good enough so that a 36 year old Phil Neville is not able to be in the starting XI on merit. If the main thing he brings to the team is leadership (aka shouting and pointing) on the pitch, then it's high time Moyes started looking for another captain to replace him as he's no Stanley Matthews!

I would hope that neither Cahill nor Neville are regular starters this season. I would make a small exception for Neville if (and only if) played at RB as Hibbo is not that great either (honest hard worker but not that great).

Shane Corcoran
19 Posted 07/07/2012 at 12:13:51
Nick & MIck do you shout that shite towards Neville & Hibbert from the stand? If you don't rate them then say so and save the bullshit.
Derek Thomas
20 Posted 07/07/2012 at 13:34:02
Phil; been there done that, the whole I've still got it thing, yes I know I'm getting older, but I've got brains, the experience, let the head save the legs etc etc.

You can kid yourself, but you can't kid father time and the watchers on the side lines who can see the slow decline from a standard that wasn't that shithot to start with.

Kevin Sparke
21 Posted 07/07/2012 at 13:52:01
Denis (603)- I agree entirely (see my last paragraph).
Andy Meighan
22 Posted 07/07/2012 at 18:39:45
Yes, we all know he's limited, can't pass a ball, blah blah... but by god what a servant he's been for us! Never gives nothing more than his all and must be one of the most honest pros around... None of that rolling around in mock agony when he's been heavily tackled like some cowards (Hey, Luis!)... No, not our Phil. He just brushes himself down and gets on with it. An absolute model pro and a credit to the club.

Also it's heartening to know we win more games when he's in the side. I personally hope he plays for another couple of years because one thing is certain: he always puts a shift in.
Richard Dodd
23 Posted 08/07/2012 at 16:10:00
A consumate professional who has given Everton magnificent service and will be the automatic successor to Moyes in due course.
Mike Hayes
24 Posted 08/07/2012 at 18:04:05
For me, Neville can play at Everton til he drops... I just wouldn't want him as our manager.
Cathal Naughton
25 Posted 08/07/2012 at 20:54:07
Ah the Nevellator!!

Spouting his own inimitable brand of verbal diarrhea

That hole in his face must be red raw from the amount of shit that comes out of it.

If I have the sorry experience of seeing him hitting yet another telegraphed pass up the wing to no one in particular I will gouge my own eyes out.

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