On this - I'd be keen to see Neil / Diarra / ELF against Hearts. Although one would imagine in training they're already trying it and assessments are being made behind closed doors.
If we bring in Xhaka (or someone else of similar level), Neil should move on. Needs to be getting regular minutes at his age and can’t see that happening if we bring another top level midfielder on top of what we already have
Dan Neil has served his purpose he is a top quality championship player he was used to get us out of the championship. I think he would be great as a back up player in the prem. Is he good enough for the prem we will have to wait and see. . Personally I thought he played his best football when he was more advanced which has less responsibility. The only team that were sniffing around him was Everton 12-15 million was mentioned I'd snap there hands off at that price.
Has he ever suffered before? He is about the fittest lad at the club. The day got to him. First time I have seen it happen. I dont see any premier league game having the same emotional or pyschological demands as that day and all the build up. He didnt have a good game. That is not im dispute. But I wouldnt use that as a yardstick for whether he can or cannot cut it in the prem. We have a sample size of 200 games to go on after all.
yep this is why I'd be making Hume captain if Neil goes. Ballard is great but a bit quiet for me. And he won't be guaranteed a start if we sign 2 centre backs. Hell he might not be guaranteed to start if we only sign one the way Seelt is developing. I feel like the two most "guaranteed" to start players in the team are Hume and ELF. And ELF is too new. Hume has everything I look for in a captain. Positive body language, leadership by example, vocal. Without wanting to dig on Neil, and I know I took pelters for saying this last night, his body language is quite negative / withdrawn. He always "looks" miserable to me. And I know people will read the above and be pissed off with me but its just my perception from watching him for a couple of seasons and all the behind the scenes videos etc.
as I have said in a previous post he has had the contract long before we made any signings so I doubt fighting for his place has anything to do with the decision
I seem to remember Henderson blew hot and cold when playing for us but we, and Liverpool, could all see his quality and he thrived in a much better team when he left. If Neil stays and finds himself surrounded by better players, then that will up his game surely? If he has his heart set on leaving now, I cant see a Liverpool this time, or any Premier League team being interested until he proves he can do a job at this level. Unless he has top end European clubs interested in him, I feel he's in limbo at the moment.
Not that I think it’s the end of the world but worth noting Neil wasn’t only hooked from the championship play off final, he was also dropped for the League 1 play offs.
Hardly fair really. He barely played the last quarter of the season, it's not like he was just dropped for the playoffs. Also, pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
Not itk, have never implied I am, but heard from someone who occasionally gets little bits and bobs that DN has asked for a minimum of £70k pw and that's where it all fell apart. Leaning more to him leaving atm.