The ending to Gary Neville’s Manchester United career is not how he would have wished it to be, thanks to repeated injuries which have kept him off the pitch. He missed out on pretty much the entire 2007-2008 season, which saw us win the league title and European Cup, and hasn’t managed to get a run in the team since.
Neville reckons he still does have something to contribute and the manager must think the same, but his situation is very frustrating.
“The manager would not have me here if he didn’t think I contributed in some way,” said Neville. “I can contribute a lot more when I am fit. Over the last two years injury has been a concern for me. It is a concern for every footballer. It is frustrating. But it is not something I think about every day. I have just had to deal with it.”
Man Utd News 24/7
lets hope he can stay injury free – not the player he was, but his experience is invaluable.
im not gonna mince words here
i think gary neville is the best right back at united
not to take anything away from the fantastic players that are at united
its just the red nev just has something extra
agree.nev still ahs a lot to contribute,but in the dressing room
He’s invaluable…in the dressing room. I hope SAF only uses him against the weaker teams and the Carling Cup. I would hate to see him run ragged by a younger, lesser winger at this stage in his career.
I don’t know. I don’t want to slate a United great (he is!) but I believe that at the moment I’d choose Brown over him every time and when Rafa (not the FSW lol) develops more as a defender he’d become my first choice.
Gary Neville is a Red..
I have the utmost respect for Gary, he’s a true red through and through. His experience and presence in the dressing room will help our younger players. I feel we can still use Gary in the games against weaker sides. But I wouldn’t want to see him against young and pacey wingers like Aron Lennon, Ashley Young etc.
He has great character but hes lost alot of pace. Nasri ran rings around him at the Emirates last season…
Superb player and servant to the club but his day has gone I am afraid, love him to bits but unfortunalty time hasn’t been kind and the game is getting faster.
As a squad member, perhaps (unfortunately, injuries aren’t even allowing him to do that!). Instead, now is the time for Rafael to be groomed as his long-term successor with Wes used as cover.
At this stage RedNev should just (and is) focus(ing) on being the excellent influence on the younger players coming through that he is.
A true Red!
Great player in his day, but I think Fergie wants him more now for experience in the dressing room more than on the pitch. Someone the kids can look upto.
I don’t think Red Nev is good enough on the pitch anymore.
I think he is invaluable in the dressing room though as are Scholesand Giggsy.
I think nev will take ova from ole looking after the reserves, ole’s destined to be saf number 2.
Long as he keeps the kids in line…
he may not be at his best now, but he’s one mega inspiration when he’s on the pitch.And he’s a i’ll-keep-the-young-ones-grounded-to-reality type.Really wish he’ll be injury-free from now on.
“If you’re good enough, you’re not too old.” Alas, from what I’ve seen of RedNev, he’s no longer good enough. And I wonder just how much his “experience” counts for with younger players – this is a canard that’s frequently repeated in professional sports but my guess would be that almost all young professional athletes (in any sport) have so much self-belief that they don’t look for “role models” but trust in their own abilities. When they succeed then they’re confident, when they screw up then they’re big-headed but in either case they tend to look in the mirror first. Someone like Ole (in the accompanying article) would be the exception to the rule. And, most athletes looking back on their careers tend to forget (or minify) their enormous ego and learn to talk-the-talk so I’d count their valuation of changing-room-experience with a grain of sand. Really, how much do you think Raphael (or Fabio) “look up” to a geezer like RedNev who is in direct competition for a place – and a pay-packet ?
He’s a legend, but he is finished. Now him giggs and schole are standing in the way of the youngster. Rafael, fabio, delaet, gibbo, Anderson should all play ahead of the old trio
Quality post DD.
nev the legend….united through and through…
agree with willierednut…
nev succeeding ole as reserve manager…and ole for no 2
give him time ole will be good enough to succeeding sir fergie…