After months of set-backs, Gary Neville finally returned from an injury which had kept him out for over a season. He had to sit back and watch Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand lift the trophies, missing out on United’s second most successful season ever.
It was Neville’s performance in our 2-1 defeat against Arsenal that lead many to believe his United career was over. He was second best throughout the match, Samir Nasri ran rings around him, before his substituted replacement, Rafael da Silva, scored a blinding goal.
His form has steadily improved since then, although it is likely his dedication to our football club that is being rewarded with a year long contract extension, rather than any special displays so far this season.
“Manchester United is the only club I have ever wanted to play for so I am delighted to have signed for another year,” said Neville.
Sir Alex Ferguson has gone as far to claim Gary is part of the ‘spirit’ of this club, praising him for his successful return from his long-term injury.
“Gary, Ryan and Paul are the spirit of Manchester United and so we are delighted that Gary has signed for another year,” added Ferguson. “Gary is a true professional and I admire how he has overcome an injury which kept him out for over a year, returning as good as ever. He deserves this new contract and we are very happy to have him here.”
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fan fooking tastic those 3 can stay as long long as they want! LEGENDS
Just having their presence around the other lads in dressing room is inspiring. Thats before they even get on pitch and turn in performances like Giggsy against rentboys and West ham and Scholesy the other night. LEGENDS and won’t be the same when they hang their boots up.
Like Sir Alex, football will never be the same again at Old Trafford when Giggsy, Scholesy and Gaz decide to retire. Living LEGENDS the lot of ‘em. I salute you’s for your longevity and humble service at Manchester United. True servants of Old Trafford. Scholesy’s my childhood hero. I love you’s. RESPECT MUFC
I am so glad he is staying.I think that will be his final year.To be honest.i also hoped his brother would be with us today,but i guess he wanted to get out of Gary’s shadow.Slightly off topic but it lools like at Inter our only problem won’t be Vidic’s unfair ban.There is a problem at the right back position as well.Brown and Neville are still doubtful and even if they are fit we don’t know how long they can last right now.Rafael might be inexperienced for a game of this magnitude.O’Shea on the form he was in against Fulham is a good choice but now he has a knock as well.
Costas: SAF played Evans at right back other night for a bit so fuck knows what he has up his sleeve. Not really concerned though as whoever plays at Inter will be more than capable.
At Milan,Evans will be Ferdy’s partner.And right back is not his best position anyway.The Manu-Inter games,will be tactical chesses of the highest quality.That’s why i hope that our defense will be at our strongest.
Maybe time for Rafael to turn from a boy to a man at the San Siro, he a a great prospect and playing him in a game of that magnitude might be the making of him.
Why isn’t Rafael ready? He was the best player on the pitch against Derby…all this ‘game of this magnitude’ stuff is neither here nor there, it’s about the personality and he copes well so play him…and defensively he’s fuckin awesome, I’ve never seen him lose a 50/50 challenge yet so I don’t know where that all comes from and his positioning is pretty good too..I guess it’s because he attacks a bit people like to point out the apparently obvious which is that his defending can’t be up too much…well it is and he’s quality and Inter aren’t great either so he’ll play.
Last season Jake i was saying exactly what you were saying about Anderson.I couldn’t understand why on earth SAF wouldn’t start him in the Barca games.SAF likes to go with experience in these games.Rafael was good at Derby but Inter are a different prospect and they have a coach who could exploit his inexperience.The ideal thing for me would have been if Wes was fit.
The game against Inter is different to playing Derby mate, different quaility of opponents.
comparitively and in their relative positions, Rafael is better than Anderson…Mourinho would need to sign a new left-winger before he could even begin to think about exploiting Rafael
It’s funny.I don’t think Mourinho plays with wingers nowdays.He bought Mancini and Quaresma in the summer but i think he plays with A diamond formation in the middle and with Ibrahimovic and Adriano up front.I don’t think that the Anderson performances of last year are below Rafael’s.He was buzzing last year.O’Shea at right back could help out with their aerial threat.Anyway,someone will have to play there.Let’s just hope SAF gets it right.He usually does.
Costas: you always think the worst which is a typical fan’s behaviour before a big match. But Rafael put Robionho in his pocket when we bit the bitters this season at their ground and I have yet to see a good left sided player for Inter this season. I think Fergie will play Park in front of him and switch Ronaldo to the left wing which is his best position, imao. My ideal lineup is as follows:
VDS
Rafael Rio Evans Evra
Park Fletch Carrick Ronaldo
Berba Rooney
Awesome!!!! UNITED IGNITED!!!!!
Boolman – agree entirely with your line up for Tuesday. The only one thing that may differ is will SAF decide to use the experience of Scholesy or Giggsy?
By the way I have already joked to Costas about him being so negative. Its just the way he is he said! Always looking on the downside. Personally I find it amusing.