BoysInBlue
Player Valuation: £50m
Just thought I'd give a little recap, thought you might all be interested.
Everton always manage these fans' events so well. Parked in the Park End, and the event was held in the Peoples Lounge on the 1st floor of the Park End. Free food (scouse) and drink (Chang, Crabbies, Tea, Coffee, Fruit Juice) on offer. Looked like there was several hundred there, place was packed.
Darren Griffiths was the mc, with Graeme Sharp and Phil Neville at a desk at the front. First part of the 2 hour event was Griffiths and Sharp talking with Neville about his Everton career, highlights, lowlights, all sorts of stories and thoughts. Middle intermission of 15-20 minutes gave everyone the chance to get their autograph (free signed photo given) and a photograph with them if you were quick. Last part was an open fans Q&A.
Some highlights/things of note:
- Neville said he was '90% certain he would be retired as a player next week' and that's he very keen to go into coaching, either at Utd or Everton. He mentioned he's going away with England U21s this summer to get more coaching experience. He never said it, but it was quite clear that a) the fact they made a big deal about him leaving means it's highly unlikely he'll be a coach at Everton next season; and b ) it definitely seemed like he's nailed on for a coaching role under Moyes at United. B is just me speculating but from what he said it seems very likely.
- Neville confirmed what most people have suspected, that the Wigan game 'finished him as a player' (his exact words) and that it was his biggest disappointment of his career. He said he would have liked to have had 2 minutes or so at the end of the West Ham game, but it wasn't to be.
- His brother Gary didn't want him to join us, due to the Manc/Scouse rivalry.
- His occasional annoying habit of choosing to kick towards the Gwladys Street in the first half was due to superstition, due to it working during our 2009 FA Cup run. Whenever we were on a bad run, Neville always used to go back to it. It used to infuriate Leon Osman, who said he was ruining an Everton tradition!
- Neville said that he felt the 2009 Everton side was the best side he'd played in (as opposed to the current one).
- Neville said in the differences between Sir Alex and Moyes, that Sir Alex always told his Utd players to hound the referee to get decisions, to influence them as much as he could. Whereas Moyes was totally different, believed in honesty and instructed the players never to do that. Everyone was laughing at this point, saying, 'no wonder we never get any bloody decisions!'. Sharp noted that Kendall was like Sir Alex, he always instructed himself, Gray and Reid etc to hound the referee.
- In discussion about who they felt should be the new manager, only Sharp spoke. Sharp said he definitely didn't want Neil Lennon, or any kind of rookie manager. Everyone looked at Neville and was laughing, Neville too. Sharp said he has no inside info or anything, but said he thinks Gus Poyet could do a job for us, with his coaching experience and South American links. Everyone kind of murmured, 'Hmmmm' and gave it a lukewarm response.
- Neville said he had a premonition about the 2009 semi vs Utd going to penalties, and made a point of practicing for several weeks in training beforehand. Said scoring the pen vs Utd was one of his career highlights.
- When asked about the future, Neville made a point of saying how many players were settled and staying, mentioning Howard, Baines, Jags, Osman, Mirallas, Jelavic etc. Interestingly, it may have been an unintentional ommission on his behalf, but he mentioned Baines name and not Fellaini. He said there's a lot of kids coming through he rates, and says Barkley, Duffy and Lundstram would be knocking on the 1st team door next season.
- There were lots of other anecdotes mentioned, but they're the main ones I can think of.
- They did a presentation to Neville at the end, giving him a nice cake and a silver plaque from the supporters club marking his time with us.
It was a good event, a little sad at times because of the end of era feeling, and the feeling that both Moyes & Neville going at the same time, and the uncertainty about who we're getting as a manager and turnover of playing staff, but overall a good evening. If I can think of anything else, I'll post it in this thread.
Everton always manage these fans' events so well. Parked in the Park End, and the event was held in the Peoples Lounge on the 1st floor of the Park End. Free food (scouse) and drink (Chang, Crabbies, Tea, Coffee, Fruit Juice) on offer. Looked like there was several hundred there, place was packed.
Darren Griffiths was the mc, with Graeme Sharp and Phil Neville at a desk at the front. First part of the 2 hour event was Griffiths and Sharp talking with Neville about his Everton career, highlights, lowlights, all sorts of stories and thoughts. Middle intermission of 15-20 minutes gave everyone the chance to get their autograph (free signed photo given) and a photograph with them if you were quick. Last part was an open fans Q&A.
Some highlights/things of note:
- Neville said he was '90% certain he would be retired as a player next week' and that's he very keen to go into coaching, either at Utd or Everton. He mentioned he's going away with England U21s this summer to get more coaching experience. He never said it, but it was quite clear that a) the fact they made a big deal about him leaving means it's highly unlikely he'll be a coach at Everton next season; and b ) it definitely seemed like he's nailed on for a coaching role under Moyes at United. B is just me speculating but from what he said it seems very likely.
- Neville confirmed what most people have suspected, that the Wigan game 'finished him as a player' (his exact words) and that it was his biggest disappointment of his career. He said he would have liked to have had 2 minutes or so at the end of the West Ham game, but it wasn't to be.
- His brother Gary didn't want him to join us, due to the Manc/Scouse rivalry.
- His occasional annoying habit of choosing to kick towards the Gwladys Street in the first half was due to superstition, due to it working during our 2009 FA Cup run. Whenever we were on a bad run, Neville always used to go back to it. It used to infuriate Leon Osman, who said he was ruining an Everton tradition!
- Neville said that he felt the 2009 Everton side was the best side he'd played in (as opposed to the current one).
- Neville said in the differences between Sir Alex and Moyes, that Sir Alex always told his Utd players to hound the referee to get decisions, to influence them as much as he could. Whereas Moyes was totally different, believed in honesty and instructed the players never to do that. Everyone was laughing at this point, saying, 'no wonder we never get any bloody decisions!'. Sharp noted that Kendall was like Sir Alex, he always instructed himself, Gray and Reid etc to hound the referee.
- In discussion about who they felt should be the new manager, only Sharp spoke. Sharp said he definitely didn't want Neil Lennon, or any kind of rookie manager. Everyone looked at Neville and was laughing, Neville too. Sharp said he has no inside info or anything, but said he thinks Gus Poyet could do a job for us, with his coaching experience and South American links. Everyone kind of murmured, 'Hmmmm' and gave it a lukewarm response.
- Neville said he had a premonition about the 2009 semi vs Utd going to penalties, and made a point of practicing for several weeks in training beforehand. Said scoring the pen vs Utd was one of his career highlights.
- When asked about the future, Neville made a point of saying how many players were settled and staying, mentioning Howard, Baines, Jags, Osman, Mirallas, Jelavic etc. Interestingly, it may have been an unintentional ommission on his behalf, but he mentioned Baines name and not Fellaini. He said there's a lot of kids coming through he rates, and says Barkley, Duffy and Lundstram would be knocking on the 1st team door next season.
- There were lots of other anecdotes mentioned, but they're the main ones I can think of.
- They did a presentation to Neville at the end, giving him a nice cake and a silver plaque from the supporters club marking his time with us.
It was a good event, a little sad at times because of the end of era feeling, and the feeling that both Moyes & Neville going at the same time, and the uncertainty about who we're getting as a manager and turnover of playing staff, but overall a good evening. If I can think of anything else, I'll post it in this thread.
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