Lucas Neil

[alan ball]

Ex blue Lucas Neil has joined reigning United Arab Emirates champions Al Jazira



ABU DHABI: Australia captain Lucas Neill has joined United Arab Emirates champions Al Jazira on a free transfer after leaving Turkish club Galatasaray.

"This decision is the first part of my three-year plan which will hopefully take me to at least the next World Cup," the former Everton and West Ham United defender said on his website (lucasneill.com).

"I needed to pick an offer that was good for my family, good for my body while also competitive so that I can give my best for the Socceroos in the coming years as captain."

Neill, 33, left Galatasaray after an 18-month stint at the end of last season and was officially unveiled at the Abu Dhabi-based club's Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on Monday.

"I hope my experience would add a lot to Al Jazira team and to my new teammates. Playing twice in the FIFA World Cup with the Australian national team gave me more confidence to give for my new team Al Jazira," Neill told reporters.

 

[RFUS]

Good luck to him. He was boss for us in his short stint here.

 

[Silas]

I didn't rate him until he came to us and did a damn good job. Fair play to him.

 

[andrewkgsmith]

Hope he does well, I always thought he seemed very likeable despite being a fairly meh player imo.

 

[faddy the blue]

Good luck to him. He was boss for us in his short stint here.

He really was and looked the best RB option at that time

 

[Neiler]

Didnt he play mostly centre half - i beleive he was massive wages with us.

 

[Roztitute]

He's in the United Arab Emirates? I bet he's on £5,000,000,000 per week then.

 

[RFUS]

Didnt he play mostly centre half - i beleive he was massive wages with us.

He mostly played CB and did a damn fine job there during a period in which all our defenders seemed to get injured. He played RB on a few occasions too and was excellent.

 

[BiggyRat]

He was available on a free too... oh well, Sailor Vee!

 

[RFUS]

He was available on a free too... oh well, Sailor Vee!

There is no such thing as a free transfer!

That said, assuming he's not worsened significantly in the past 12 months or so, I'd definitely have had him back.

 

[Andy M.]

From a financial point of view, Neil was certainly a success. From a football point of view - well, I'll let the facts speak for themselves (this is from his "eulogy" on our local forum):

Games started: 10
Record: w 1, d 5, l 4
Goals conceded: 22 (2.2 average per game, the average for that season was 1.29, and he didn't even play in the Arsenal game)
Clean sheets: 1 (against Burnley)
Assists: 2 (both in the Bolton game)

I wouldn't even have commented if he wasn't part of the 11 that played the worst half of football I've ever seen Everton play (the Hull loss). I'll just say this: RFUS style football will forever be a mystery to me.

 

[BiggyRat]

There is no such thing as a free transfer!

That said, assuming he's not worsened significantly in the past 12 months or so, I'd definitely have had him back.

There's no such thing as not worsened significantly. He's aged a year or so, so his body has degraded somewhat.

 

[McBain]

He's an Aussie, and therefore a legend.

 

[toffee matt]

Gone to Watford.

I bet Caragher's sending the boys down south.

 

[WA Toffee]

He is currently in talks with Sydney Olympic in the New South Wales State league - one level below the A league.
I think he is not going to the World cup