Apparently we might be interested in Phil Neville at the tender age of 36 Now, a few experienced players are needed and one that may be able to do us a turn is Arschavin who is 32 and destined to leave Arsenal on a free in the summer and probably wants to stay in London. He would have to take a massive cut in wages.
And then I've got to immeadiately ask - Will you not ever learn? - Have you not seen the contempt with which Arshavin is held by Arsenal fan? Apart from a great 1st year what else has he done? He has not applied himself at Arsenal, why would he apply himself with us? Have we not had enough of taking ageing "stars" for one last pay day? Are you being serious? Would want neither but if a gun was facing me it would be Neville as at least he would give his all and be honest throughout. Arshavin - You're having a Paul Magrath!!!
Arshavin is a very talented footballer who spends far too much time doing absolutely nothing on the football field, and we are already well overstocked in that department. If you could correctly mix Mackie's attributes with Arshavin's and make two completely new players, one would be a highly talented 90 minute match winner, the other would be an average member of our squad. Edit; The second guy would be on a lot more money
As Giggs, Scholes, Derry, Hill and many others have proven, age doesn't matter. As Boswingwa, Park, Granero and many others have shown, attitude does. I'd take P. Neville any day. He is a leader, would give his all, and would be excellent for some of our younger players to learn from. If we end up paying him to be an extra coach, it's money well spent.
Well said, mate. The right attitude is everything, the opposite is the same for all the wrong reasons.
100% agree age means little at that age ... I would welcome Neville if it was true. I have made the works five a side team at a ripe old age to maybe play in a national comp ... chuffed! No there is not five people working here! ...
Arshavin is exactly the wrong type of signing. Laughably overpaid, lazy and old. Hes earned 9k per minute played this season. Neville has the right character but is way way too old. Giggs and scholes only look good because they play for man u. Derry and hill have proved they are past it Age does matter for a team like us.
Hill and Derry, whenever given the opportunity, have continually proved they are Not past it. Only Park has proved he is past it.
Seem to remember hill getting crucified by many centre forwards (Saurez in particular) & Derry being completely lost against the same team... Think they are past Prem level mate. IMHO
I agree (IMHO!) that Clint has had trouble in 2 maybe 3 games against quick technical strikers of the Suarez calibre, but in the rest of the games at CB (not LB where that idiot played him against Hammers) he has been brillliant, and leads and organises very well at the back. Also if he had a quicker CB colleague than he has had most of the season I think he/they/us would have done better against Suarez etc. I think he's defo been good enough for the PL again this season, and could do another perhaps. Derry has also done his job simply protecting the back 4 well when asked to.
Sorry, can't agree with this at all, as others have pointed out already. Derry and Hill have not proved they are past it. Especially at CCC level. Hill did have one or two bad games, but who in our squad hasn't this year except for Townsend?! Taarabt has plenty of off games too, does that mean he is past it? Cesar has had off games, is he past it? Using the example of Suarez vs. Hill to prove Hill is past it is stupid in my opinion as Suarez is one of the worlds best, and can make some of the best CBs in the world look silly on his day. Giggs and Scholes are certainly helped by being surrounded by a blend of much younger players, but Alex Ferguson is no fool, and would not play them for sentimental value. He clearly knows they have something to offer. Neville really isn't too old. Speak to any EFC fan. He's played 25 games from them this year, and they aren't doing too badly in the league. I'm pretty sure he could play 20-odd games for us next year and add a huge amount of value to the coaching of the younger players too.
