It was a bittersweet moment for Gary Neville at the end of last season. As as lifelong United fan, to celebrate on the pitch in Moscow after seeing the club win the European Cup must have been an amazing feeling. The Premiership title had been won a week or so before, with United really establishing themselves as one of the top clubs, if not the top club, in the World that year.
For Gary, as United captain, he knows he missed out on the opportunity to be the one to lift both those trophies, watching Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand delight in the honour. Whilst it was rather fitting that Giggs got the job, who equalled and broke the appearances record for United on the days he lifted the Premiership trophy and European Cup, Neville will obviously have been gutted to have missed out.
However, Neville is back now, more determined than ever before, but his performance against Arsenal showed him to be severely lacking. He reckons he just needs more games, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the season and no new offer on the table, should he be worried?
“I just need games,” said Neville. “Having been out for so long, I need a run of five, six or seven matches. It’s just a case of remaining patient, keeping fit and training well every day.”
With Wes Brown playing more games than any other player in our Double winning season and Rafael Da Silva proving himself as someone with great potential, Neville might find his request for a run in the team turned down.
Surely the only reason for a new contract would be sentimental ones, something the manager doesn’t oppose, after assuring Paul Scholes of a Champions League final place. Whilst I think Neville’s presence is good for the club, instilling the passion and desire in to the players, I don’t think his role within dressing room necessarily needs to be as a player.
What do you think the club should do?
Sorry to say Captain, you are not worthy of the number 2 jersey anymore other than your past contributions.
Gary has probably past by his top form, and should probably be used sparingly like Giggs and Scholes. But playing him just because of his “reputation” is definitely a no-no.
The game against Arsenal says it all…
might be another maldini situation, just keeps signing a one year extensions as it comes along.
Gary Neville has a problem with realistic and objective view.He is to old,to slow and incompetent to play serious football and run of 70 games will not help him to be like 5 years ago.
Wes Brown is not the best full back in the world,but he is now twice better then Gary in this position.
Gary must accept the truth ,take some coaching job and remain in our memory as one thrue legend.
Maldini has become a joke. We don’t need a joke. Although it’s hard to say (Gary’s celebration against Liverpool comes to mind), it’s better to retire when you’re still on top.
Gary should retire immediately and John Oshea also must go. Both players lack pace and skills, now that MU have 4 talented youngsters ready to be
in the first team.Ferdinand must be appointd the captain and Rooney or Ronaldo the vise captain.Its coming to the second half of the season Fergeson must do the cahnges now or MU will loose out.
I’m not the biggest supporter of Captain Neville but him having given so many years of services to the club he should be given the respect and the choice to retire at his own will. Time catches up with everyone but due respect must be given to the players who’ve given their lives to the club. 5 out of every 6 games Giggs plays he’s the least effective player on the field yet the manager persist with him and he hasn’t been wrong. Even if one can’t call Gary a hero he’s been a faithful soldier to say the least..this isn’t Real Madrid we can’t just discard our own..
I think Gary himself will retire if he feels he is unable to perform to United standards. I hope he will still have a role within United after his playing days.
he should stay as 3rd choice right back , provided he’s willing to take a pay cut and forfeit captaincy . he can definitely do a better job than o’shea . when we’re short on numbers he could easily fill in .
player-coach i think . not a bad option .
and maldini at nev’s age was twice the player he is . lets not start comparing the two .
one thing i agree with though – we arent real madrid . the sacking of hierro and del bosque – what a shocker!
Having missed a full season, plus the tag-end of the year before, Neville has been playing a kind of physical catch-up. So far, the results have not been very encouraging. I think it’s not unfair to say that in every game he has played so far, Gary has been the worst player for TheLads. He was clearly out of his depth on the weekend and that might be more of a testament to his age-related declining pace rather than general rustiness. So, I think he still has a place in the squad – near the bottom – but he should be given every opportunity to see if he can regain his previous level of skill, pace, quality in the reserves – starting tomorrow night at QPR. That’s a harsh judgement but it is also a reflection of the harsh reality that professional athletes have a short shelf-life; Gary might possibly be beyond his “best by date” but he should be given ever reasonable (and non-damaging) opportunity to prove otherwise. And, I also agree with the previous poster who said that Gary has enough professionalism, pride and intelligence to know when he is no longer “UTD quality”. He’s a player – but he’s also a fan and I would like to think that his personal pride won’t get in the way of his judgement of his professional ability.
SHOW SOME RESPECT GUYS……Neville pre injury was the best most consistent right back in the world…never mind how top he played in entre an all. A shoe in for utd and england. Mr relaible consistent and dependable.
Not to mention his die hard utd heart and passion…a true manc…a true warrior a true red. A man who epitomises utd.
Yes age catches up on all of us…but i fuckin hate fans disrespecting scholsey giggs and nevo….fuckin fickle 1 week memory fans. He’ll need time to regain match form and fitness. And yes he may not be the player he was….but he will improve and how can you dispel his bloody EXPERIENCE.
Rolling 1 year contracts
Play him in league cup games and fa cup games
Some physical prem games at home
Also do his coaching badges and also take on some other part time roles within the club
Then in 2/3 years time when SAF goes….he like giggsy, ole, choccy will all be part of the utd backroom
comprende
some harsh criticism here y some so-called united fans
he has come back from a lengthy injury spell, and has played, what, 5 games?
Ronaldo was injured in the summer and has only hit top form after 5 or 6 games
bear in mind ronaldo is much fitter and younger than neville, so will recover from injuries and get back to full fitness and to a high standard of playing quicker.
You don’t have to be TRUE United fan to see that Gary Neville is past.
And is good to see him in first 11 only if you are opponent manager.Face the truth.
I think the most glaring dip in form has been his crossing. Back in the day, he would overlap Becks and drive in that low swerving cross that keepers can’t come for and Cole, Yorke, Ole would be waiting to tap it in. Now, he can’t seem to get that cross in properly and the look on his face says it all. His brain knows the body isn’t cooperating much anymore and he just squandered a great chance.
Then again…how many people said Scholes and Giggs were past it. Valdez might not agree.
by maldini situation, just meant a rolling contract to play whenever he gets called upon. there’s no doubt that this injury has taken a lot from him, physically and mentally. he may not be the same player he was before. nev is still one of the strongest characters we have, he shouldnt be made to give up the captaincy until he chooses to.
“he should stay as 3rd choice right back , provided he’s willing to take a pay cut and forfeit captaincy . he can definitely do a better job than o’shea . when we’re short on numbers he could easily fill in .
player-coach i think . not a bad option .
and maldini at nev’s age was twice the player he is . lets not start comparing the two .
one thing i agree with though – we arent real madrid . the sacking of hierro and del bosque – what a shocker!”
just no.
Prasac..it isnt about facing the truth..or whatever truths you denote. We all….that is all utd fans know he aint the old gazza neville…and he may not be again.
BUT show some respect…he isnt for the scrap heap yet…and deserves some chance…..some time…..some smaller games…cup games..
You’re telling me his service, loyalty, years, experience means diddly squat?????
He may not be first choice….but he’s till an integral part of manchester utd….And we look after and honour and respect our own blood. Not berate em at every fuckin opportunity.
Fuck sake…every week fickle fans come on here…and slate him and her and this and that
Seriously..if it isnt scholsey..its giggsy…if it isnt him its ronaldo…then its neville…
Blimey god knows what would happen if were not to have the success we have
And prasac..thats not meant toward you…thats meant to soooo many fans that are such a fickle nature
@suhayl
I’m in class ‘optimist’ even when all our fans called for Fergie head few years ago.
I’m rare one who call for patient about Queiroz on ‘United Rant’ forum.
I’m also for ‘Thank You’ saison to Neville,Scholes and Giggs even that cost us title or CL.
I know what Big Club really mean and I think United is bigest of all.
My english is just crap and therefore you may differently perceive my words.
All I wanted to say is Gary Neville isn’t ready for first team football anymore.
Cheers.
no worries..respect