It would depend on what his expectations would be on regards to appearances. He would have to be used as a squad player
... not in the Championship IMHO ... he would be a shoe-in in our team ... not just for his footballing qualities but he is also a winner and a leader ... accomplished one of the most difficult things in football ... an ex-Man United player getting almost universal praise from the siupporters of a Merseyside club ...
I think hes been around long enough to know you have to earn your place in the team whoever you play for. i'd take him in a heartbeat
... reflects what the Everton fans were saying to a man ... fabulous work ethic and combativeness in midfield made him a fixture ... but they now have the emerging Seamus Coleman, Hibbert plus Jagielka who can all play full-back (not to mention Baines - which I have ... doh) plus an embarrassment of riches in their midfield ...
yes yes yes, fabulous man, leader, great personality and desire, but the same could be said for our steve walsh currently... ... all those qualities are important but is he really good enough?
.. don't think anybody has mentioned either his personality or his wothiness as a human being ... but to the important question of is he good enough? ... to get into a powder-puff midfield in a team on a run of one win in 12 in the Championship? ... yes, undoubtely - I believe he has a good couple of seasons left in him ... barring injury ...
Brilliant player, I'd take him, but it's not going to happen. I'd say a perfect captain but we have one of those already (plus Kasper wouldn't be bad either!), I was under the impression he was retiring. Someone like Cardiff (one of the teams going up) would probably grab him if he isn't leaving. For a footballer, he's clearly an intelligent bloke too who'll likely go into management, wouldn't be surprised if he did a Chris Powell role (for us) somewhere.
ed - he's an ex-England international with double figure caps ... now admittedly that is not everything ... e.g we have a couple of pillocks in our current squad with a single cap each (and Nigel insists on playing them) ... let's throw it back at you ... why on earth do you doubt he's good enough? - particularly at our current level?
Not so sure about that, he's 36 already. Just look at how Murphy has struggled in this league since dropping down. People were hailing his signing as a superb bit of business but his legs just aren't up to it. I think Neville's a good player but wonder whether he'd cope with the physical demands of the championship at his age.
Ok, lets sign Gary linekar if its all about past caps! You have to look at when he last got a cap. Yes, at 28 im sure he could have added a hell of a lot. But he is now 36, not playing a lot for everton and, like someone mentioned above, look at what happened with danny murphy...
Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are 3 to 4 years older (and still playing in the Prem) - Frank Lampard just over a year younger - he appears to have kept himself in good nick ... I think he'd retire absolutely if he didn't think he could still cut it ... also think he is the kind of player that will help you hold on to a lead and inspire others to get stuck in .. by example ... get him on a free and play him with an OK basic but with 'bonus incentives' ...
yes but they are playing, Neville isnt still playing very often. Also man utd are exceptionally good at managing older careers as a club. Im not saying it as all 36 year olds are past it, im saying it because he is 36, not playing every often and hasnt shown to me like he has too much left to give
ed .. go and retrieve those toys ... Giggs 4 years older... Scholes 3 years older ... Lampard just over a year younger ... got nothing much to do with past caps ... but everything to do with having had the ability to have earned those caps in the first place and whether he is still playing currently ... plus what role are you going to play him in - and holding midfield players can play through to 40 if they have kept their fitness ...
Scholes had a whole year out of the game and still came back at the highest level ... people were even mentioning an England recall ... they are doing so even now for David Beckham who, guess what, is 2 years older than Phil Neville ...
Just trying to have a debate and put my point across. If he was as good as he was then he could be capped again within the last 10 years or however long it is. We would not be able to play him in a 4-4-2 i dont feel as he would have the legs for it, or the ability, so would have to be a 4-2-3-1 which we dont often play. I just havent seen this season that he has enough left to give.
yes but they are still playing at a high level. Neville isnt really playing any more. Its not all about his age, its about the fact that he rarely plays and when he does i see very little evidence that he has enough ability left.
