Neville makes amends for TV comment

Lyndon Lloyd , 15 March, 44comments | Jump to most recent

Phil Neville has sought to clarify remarks he made in a television interview earlier this week insinuating that finishing in the top half of the Premier League is a good achievement "for a club like Everton".

The Everton club captain made the comments in the aftermath of Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup but, in his notes in tomorrow's matchday programme for the game against Manchester City, Neville insists he was misconstrued.

"I made some comment during the week about top 10 finishes being fantastic for Everton," Neville writes.

"My comments have been misconstrued. I was trying to compare where Everton are now to where the club was 10 years ago but it didn't come out right.

"Anyone who knows me, knows full well that 'top 10' isn't good enough for me — and the Tweets I received made sure I was aware of how the comments had been taken.

"Evertonians quite rightly have high standards for themselves, and for their team, and I can assure you that mine are just as high."

Quotes or other material sourced from Liverpool Echo

Reader Comments (44)

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Matt Butlin
1 Posted 15/03/2013 at 06:53:25

Say what you want about Phil Neville, and some people obviously have but there isn't any doubt about his commitment to the club or thoughts about where it should be.

Lets just hope he doesn't get picked in centre midfield again.

Paul Doyle
2 Posted 15/03/2013 at 06:53:42

So finishing in the top 10 is great news compared to where we where 10 years ago then Mr Pip?

By that measure, then it must be the equivalent of winning the World Club Championship after winning the Champions League compared to where we were in the Second Division in then 1950s then???

Yippee!!! — all is well at planet Goodison then... now pass me that renewal form!

Go and iron your cricket whites this Saturday, Neville, and leave your boots at home.

Ian Hollingworth
3 Posted 15/03/2013 at 07:19:51

I respect Phil Neville as a professional and do not doubt his commitment but sorry, he is just back tracking now. He meant what he said, think about it the comments were made in the immediate aftermath of the Wigan game and the fans backlash. I believe his comments were in line with a lot of neutral fans you talk to about Everton, where they think we should be happy where we are as we have no money blah blah. Plucky little Everton punching above their weight.
Unfortunately I believe we have a manager who has gained his reputation off the last sentence and probably most of the players and board members believe this along with the worlds media!!

Nick Waters
4 Posted 15/03/2013 at 07:25:27

"but there isn't any doubt about his commitment to the club or thoughts about where it should be."

Aye- but only after a shitstorm following his crass and ignorant comments which were really only about telling Evertonians that they should consider themselves lucky to have him and Moyes at the club, and that the fans' furore about the cup exit was unjustified.

I hope I never see him in an Everton shirt again, never mind CM, ( have you forgotten his performance at Oldham as RB?)

Paul Ellam
5 Posted 15/03/2013 at 07:26:31

I like Phil Neville, he is one of a few players who isn't afraid to accept responsibility and take criticism when it is deserved. However, as a player, he just doesn't reach the high standards we should be hitting if we want to be successful. Maybe if he were 5-10 years younger it would be different but that's life, just like Cahill found, you can't go on forever. If he is so dedicated to the club, find him a position somewhere helping coach in a motivational aspect (no more defensive coaches please!) and let him retire with grace because the way it is going he is going to be remembered for all he wrong reasons.

Matt Traynor
6 Posted 15/03/2013 at 07:52:32

Matt #326, I know PN is a model professional etc. etc., but if you believe that BK and the board have been constantly lowering expectations/standards, and Moyes has been complicit in that as well (he does talk us down as much as he talks us up), PN is part of the spin.

We've been down here several times over the last few years. Last season it was after the Anfield debacle, which was quickly followed up by the Wembley capitulation. It'll blow over soon enough, it always does. Then the cycle will begin again.

Ironically it seems only the Chairman has learned to control his public utterances after several cases of foot-in-mouth disease.

Tony J Williams
7 Posted 15/03/2013 at 08:00:18

It's a tough crowd on here, what with everyone never making a mistake or being misunderstood when making a comment and all ...

Matt Butlin
8 Posted 15/03/2013 at 08:17:55

Tough crowd indeed Tony !

James Morgan
9 Posted 15/03/2013 at 08:15:09

Come on, Tony, take off your 'I heart super Nev' t shirt.
Moyes and his pet are always playing us down! They try to lower the expectations so that when we ultimately fail, it doesn't taste so bitter. I'm fucking sick of it.

Eugene Ruane
10 Posted 15/03/2013 at 08:54:52

I like Phil Neville, I really think he's a decent feller. I think for the most part he does his very best and it seems gets involved in a lot of community and charity work for the club. I'm also conscious of the fact that HE doesn't select Phil Neville. But seeing him in an Everton shirt genuinely depresses the shite out of me. Never a great player, he is now a liability. Imo there is no way (or no reason why) he should ever play for us again. We can argue how good/bad he was/wasn't in the past, but is there anyone (blue) out there who still thinks "Yeah play him!"?

Andrew Laird
11 Posted 15/03/2013 at 09:16:22

but is there anyone (blue) out there who still thinks "Yeah play him!"?

Yes, Steve Round, Chris Woods and David Moyes.

Kevin Tully
12 Posted 15/03/2013 at 09:15:48

He was only reinforcing the attitude of the manager and Board.

Moyes has come out with similar (or lower) targets in the past, which make his top 7 finishes seem even more of a miracle.

You have to admit, the lowering of expectations has worked a treat. I am sick of reading about our relegation struggles every time change is mentioned.

Sack the Board = be careful what you wish for, look at Portsmouth.

Sack the manager = Walter Smith or Mike Walker are coming back.

Barry Rathbone
13 Posted 15/03/2013 at 09:25:05

Trouble is imports like him actually no fuck all about Everton and if he spends his time farting around on twitter then doubtless he reads the forums most of which are laden with fans saying "remember walter" and "challenging for europe" waffle.

The manager is clearly of the same mindset so it's hardly surprising he thinks as he does, when Moyes hops it bring big Joe back as caretaker give these fuckers some Everton education at least.

Patrick Murphy
14 Posted 15/03/2013 at 09:33:28

I'm sorry Phil, but your apology just doesn't wash, you are the club Captain and as such you are the voice of the team. Compare you're 'top 10' comment to the captain of another club who despite only having 9 games to go has not given up on CL qualification.

Steven Telford
15 Posted 15/03/2013 at 10:07:49

Please Phil, retire and slip quietly into obscurity.

Matt Garen
16 Posted 15/03/2013 at 10:27:54

The trouble is the past doesn't guarantee you a league finish or a cup final. Take the "4th most successful club in England" history bullshit out of it and look at the cold, hard, financial facts of modern top flight football. Liverpool are the 2nd most successful and they haven't won the league for 20-odd years and probably won't for another 10 at least.

Based on the matchday revenue and subsequent transfer / playing budgets of Man Utd, Man City, Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and even Sunderland and Newcastle and Phil Neville's comments aren't that far from the truth, even though nobody wants to admit it. It's not his fault but it is factually correct.

I had a hole in one 12 years ago at my local course, it doesn't mean I'll play in this years Open.

Shaun Brennan
17 Posted 15/03/2013 at 11:10:53

He may be a shit footballer but he never does hide.

Ken Williams
18 Posted 15/03/2013 at 11:17:09

Shaun #395 hopefully PN will hide, preferably in his garden shed until he hangs up his boots.

Tony J Williams
19 Posted 15/03/2013 at 12:06:50

James I'm fucking sick of posters coming out with dickhead comments such as yours, Neville lover? If he never plays again for us I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

Sam Bull
20 Posted 15/03/2013 at 12:13:25

Philip Neville pff, he has only ever played 1 good through ball in his career and that was to the opposition (Wigan) last week. Yes, he has leadership qualities (better than Jagielka, I would say), he gets involved and puts himself about... but, as far as the basics – passing, controlling, vision – he lacks in all departments,

Roman Sidey
21 Posted 15/03/2013 at 12:07:07

Even when he said it I knew he meant what he has cleared it up as. Like a few have said, genuine decent fella, considering what I've heard from a few mates around Manchester about his kin.

As a player, I used to defend him a lot, but the last two years he's been getting worse as a player every week. He's very professional, but the one thing missing from making him the ultimate pro is retiring. He should have done it last summer, and now he really should have done it this week.

Paul David
22 Posted 15/03/2013 at 12:22:23

Roman

Even if he was comparing this team to the one 10 years a go it has about as much relevance as comparing now to the 80's. In some ways, what he's saying now is even worse than what he originally said.

Roman Sidey
23 Posted 15/03/2013 at 12:30:27

Paul, don't get me wrong, I think it was a silly thing to say. I just don't think there was as much malice in it as some were claiming. We should expect more from our club captain, but at the end of the day, he's a Man Utd supporter, and makes very little effort to hide that fact.

Richard Dodd
24 Posted 15/03/2013 at 12:30:28

Pip owes us no apology.The incident only goes to show how Moyes` time here has raised our expectations and how totally unrealistic so many of our number have become.

I believe the Club budgets to finish tenth-so anything above that is a bonus for all involved and they are rewarded accordingly.We may aspire to finish higher but with the restraints associated with the present regime it`s just hopeful to do so.

Too many Evertonians still see Everton as a Super Club.It is not.The reasons for that is a totally different bag of worms.

John Keating
25 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:01:15

I see the wagons are circling at the Echo.
The well known journalist of all things Everton has decided to deflect the total slagging he brought on himself.
Its now the supporters fault that the Club don't speak to supporters. Its the supporters fault there are no AGMs
The list is endless.
What a total prick. No wonder the Echo has lost what little credibility it had with rank and file supporters.
Obviously the treble G+Ts went down well at Finch Farm yesterday.
Internet warriors hiding behind PCs are apparently causing all these problems - cowards that they are !
Obviously the unknown coward at the Echo who penned the shite in response to the Talksport piece doesn't count.
You really couldn't make it up !

Ross Edwards
26 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:17:20

I think that from now on our players should shut up and let their feet do the talking.

Mike Hughes
27 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:15:17

Richard - if we keep expecting mediocrity that's exactly what we'll get.

Passion, commitment, will to win......cost nothing.

That's the minimum we should expect EVERY game.

Kev Johnson
28 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:31:10

Richard - worms don't come in bags, they come in cans. At least they do here on Planet Earth - I dunno, maybe everything's different where you live in Cloud cuckoo Land.

Peter Cummings
29 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:20:32

However things turn out v Man City tomorrow, we have to face the fact that we are simply not good enough to compete at the top level without massive investment from someone or somewhere.

What we have feared for too long has finally happened: crucial injuries, apathy from some of the squad, a loss of form by key players and uncertainty about the managerial future of Everton FC.

Across the park, we see such investment and now real progress by Liverpool who now have the bragging rights over us, albeit on goal difference... is it any wonder that Evertonians are upset and angry at the continuing negativity from the boardroom who couldn't appear to care less???

Robert Collins
31 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:35:42

Paul Ellam @ 333

Hello Paul,

If you mean motivational coach to the youth, yes I could accept that, but he's pretty much on existant as a captian/motivator on the pitch.

He wouldn't be the man for me to motivate any first team, he's also been close to DM, I think it's time for a clean sweep.

Dennis Shaw
32 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:45:27

God knows how he had time to write that I thought he would have been on the treadmill all week or practising his passing I really hoped we would have Moyes ranting from the side at Finch Farm 'Come on Phillip get pat that half way line lad' but no he gets sent out to give a half arsed rallying call.

Too late!!!

James Morgan
33 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:34:04

Tony, you put yourself up for such comments by defending someone who spouts shite like "top 10 is good for a club like Everton". He meant what he said and now he's just trying to backtrack.

Apologies for mistaking you for a Neville fan, but if your monitor's background reveals the captain in all his pointing glory when you drop down your web page, you owe me an apology!

Kev Johnson
34 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:52:48

It's a shame. Neville is a decent man and he's given his all for Everton, but he's in danger of spoiling the whole thing by continuing to play for us. He was never the best but he did a job for us, and skippered us admirably. Sadly, he is now proving an embarrassment and is attracting dog's abuse. Do the decent thing, Mr N - retire!

Paul David
35 Posted 15/03/2013 at 13:54:28

Either comment smacks of a line from a Julian Cope song:

'Get your head back in the clouds and shut your mouth'.

Paul Gladwell
37 Posted 15/03/2013 at 14:34:26

I see Prentice is in tonight's Echo blaming Everton cyber bullies for the silence from our board, this man gets worse each week, I did predict this bullshit on here on Monday, he never fails us.

Dan McKie
38 Posted 15/03/2013 at 14:29:37

To me, Phil Neville claps, shouts an points whilst on the pitch and that's it. He doesn't get stuck in like some think, the game passes him by whilst in midfield. He never wants the ball, and when he gets it, he wants rid of it that fast that he often plays a hospital pass to a team mate. He wasn't even under any real pressure in that moment against Wigan, he just didn't want the ball. The decision to play him instead of Gibson was a defensive one, nothing more, and that is unacceptable at home to Wigan. His rallying cries are too predictable and too late. Moyes will be defiant though, and Neville will show he doesn't hide and be on the pitch again on Saturday. Fellaini will probably be struck down by a 'slight niggle' though and be replaced.

Si Cooper
39 Posted 15/03/2013 at 14:49:54

Seems like it is mission accomplished for Captain Pip!

Now we are bickering about whether we should be grateful for the overall achievements of the last 10 years or so, rather than musing over the frank admissions over why we couldn't perform against a smaller club in a very important cup game.

Brilliant misdirection to get us chasing our tails again.

Peter Knight
40 Posted 15/03/2013 at 15:28:11

Phil

10 years ago we had 48 points from 28 games, we only took 11 points from our last 10 games or we might have had CL with a better finish we ended up 7th and we had a 17-year-old Wayne Rooney.

Are we better off than 10 years ago?

Paul Ellam
41 Posted 15/03/2013 at 15:54:05

Robert #446
Yes, I meant the youths could look up to him and maybe learn how to be a model pro from him.
He has had a pretty decent career after all, despite a lot of folk thinking he is rubbish, and has the medals and caps to prove it.
I agree with you that he has to stop playing first team though, before it all turns a bit sour.
Maybe he could play U21 for a year or so, to add experience to our reserves?

Andrew Laird
42 Posted 15/03/2013 at 19:13:44

Neville tells the global media " top 10 finishes are fantastic for Everton" but its ok as he will remedy this by writing something in tomorrow's programme which will have a circulation of around 20,000 people.

The man is "mentally challenged".

Peter Foy
43 Posted 15/03/2013 at 19:32:55

Next season, Phil will be finished and sitting in the stand at Old Trafford with his honorary season.

Ross Kerry
44 Posted 15/03/2013 at 20:40:14

The problem with Neville has always been that he is a better captain than he is a player, but this really was a stupid thing for a captain to say.
Its at the other end of the spectrum from Gerrard’s “we need 100% wins to get in the CL” delusional rallying of the troops.
Footballers are asked stupid questions all the time and even the most media savvy (like Neville and Gerrard) still get it wrong. As captains they are a club mouthpiece, but they must get bored by their own answers to the same questions, it might even cause them to sometimes say what they actually think.
Gerrard knows LFC have no CL chance, I suspect Neville has shown his view of the club as it is , forgetting to pay due respect to its history.

James Stewart
45 Posted 16/03/2013 at 03:56:59

I wish he would just shut his mouth for once. Sick of hearing the mundane drivel he constantly spouts usually after an embarrassing defeat. The worst captain we have had in my time of watching the blues. Can't wait for the day he retires. Good riddance

James Morgan
46 Posted 16/03/2013 at 11:52:39

Anichebe back starting as is Gibson.

Shame McAleny isn't even on the bench.

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