Should Phil Neville be anywhere near our first team?

[BlueLlama]

now that explains a lot - it looks like promises were made by Mr Moyes when he signed Neville - those promises are haunting us now in that we have a captain who has never been , and will never be a a regular midfielder in any other PL side except Everton -
just look at the poll - how can 64% of Everton supporters be wrong and 25% right - Mr Moyes and Neville should get the message - stuff your private deals and act in the long term interest of Everton - get us a real midfielder as soon as possible so we can fire on all cylinders -
i would even play Baines out of position there in def mid - which will bring him closer to the action where he wants to be and bring in Oviedo in at left back -

ermm - how can you want your ideas taken seriously when you come out with something like this - taking the best left back out of position???

 

[BoysInBlue]

Age is starting to catch up with him. He's had more injuries than usual this season, plus his form hasn't been as good.

I'd have him around the squad, but I'd start using him like Liverpool use Carragher. He shouldn't be a starter, when everyone is fit.

I also think Jagielka should be given the club captaincy. Maybe not right now, but in time for the start of next season. We need to start preparing for life after Neville; he's been a good servant for 8 years or so, but he turns 36 on Monday.

 

[formerly manx toffee]

I'd like to see start to be eased towards coaching. Not sure if anyone knows whether he takes any sessions now. Might we see the end of Round ?

 

[Summerskin]

Best player in the squad for me.

Agreed.

 

[gonetomorrow]

He's been a stalwart this season. Keeping the right side going. He hasn't had much support in that role especially since Gibson got injured.

 

[Sideliner]

[/B]

ermm - how can you want your ideas taken seriously when you come out with something like this - taking the best left back out of position???

because the best left back plays out of position more than he plays in position - playing him def mid would bring him closer to where he spends most of his time in a game - replacing Neville he will see that we go forward and not backward or at Neville's best sideways - Neville is so over the wall it is not funny anymore - Humpty Dumpty will do better there than him at the moment - he is absalutely outdated - that is what 65% of Everton supporters think according to a poll this season -

 

[catcherintherye]

I think he should. We don't lose many games with him in the side. He reads the game well, and has got better at doing the simple things. I think he has had a good season.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

I've probably been highly critical of Neville in the past and in some ways i still am, he's absolutely useless when he crosses the half way line and he struggles to keep up with anyone running near him.

But i just can't deny that our performances and results as a team are just as good wtih him in the team as they are without him, as the executioners bong shows.

I'm really not that bothered about him being in midfield as cover, which he pretty much has been this season, When Gibsons fit yeah he should drop out. But thats out the team completly not to right back because i think he's worse there because as Coleman showed, we're much better with an attacking rb there and Neville isn't one of them.

 

[Howards tipple]

It's so easy to be critical of Phil, his skill isn't great to say the least.

However, I think he is a great leader and a true blue. I was fortunate enough to get seats for the stoke game in the directors box, and sat next to him and his lad. He wore his heart on his sleeve and got told to quiet down and stop shouting and cheering.

What he lacks in skill he makes up in passion and his ability to motivate the team. Again, I have been fortunate enough to fly with Everton and Phil had the rest of the team running round the airport, jumping ropes and working as a team.

I know many would argue that we could have a great player in his place, but we haven't got any one to step in and do the job where ever he's put, without complaining. He's always going to wind people up, hes always going to split conversation and he's always going to be blue and play with his heart on his sleeve.

 

[Whitty]

"Neville has started 12 games in midfield this term and we remain unbeaten when he’s in this role"

And people are questioning if he should be "anywhere near the first team?"

Bizarre!!!

 

[aardvark]

"Neville has started 12 games in midfield this term and we remain unbeaten when he’s in this role"

And people are questioning if he should be "anywhere near the first team?"

Bizarre!!!

And ?

Unless you know we would have lost those games if he hadnt played then it is a pointless statement to make, especially as he did absolutely nothing of note in any those games. If he had not played we may have won some of those games that we drew but you or I will never know

 

[Whitty]

And ?

Unless you know we would have lost those games if he hadnt played then it is a pointless statement to make, especially as he did absolutely nothing of note in any those games. If he had not played we may have won some of those games that we drew but you or I will never know

It's not a pointless statement at all - it's a fact that we're unbeaten with him playing in central midfield (trying not to sound like Benitez there!). I would have expected us to do a lot worse when he plays and in the same vein do better without him in the team if he's as poor as some make out on here. Central midfeild is a key role in the team and teams would dominate us if we had a totally useless player there. They don't and therefore we don't!

He might not have made assists or scored goals but i'm sure he made numerous important contributions by being in the right place at the right time which is what his role in the team calls for.

The way the question is worded makes it sound like he shouldn't even be considered

 

[Allezfan]

Executioners bong had stats that said we have more shots and concede less shots with neville in the side then without him.

You can't argue with that.

(Okay, you can. And he shouldn't and indeed isn't be ahead of Gibson but ahead of Hitz i can understand)

 

[TheBlueGibbon]

It's not a pointless statement at all - it's a fact that we're unbeaten with him playing in central midfield (trying not to sound like Benitez there!). I would have expected us to do a lot worse when he plays and in the same vein do better without him in the team if he's as poor as some make out on here. Central midfeild is a key role in the team and teams would dominate us if we had a totally useless player there. They don't and therefore we don't!

He might not have made assists or scored goals but i'm sure he made numerous important contributions by being in the right place at the right time which is what his role in the team calls for.

The way the question is worded makes it sound like he shouldn't even be considered

It is pointless because we've only lost 4 games out of 25 this season including the cups. It's not a good statistic to use.
The difference in games lost with Neville in midfield and without Neville are barely even one standard deviation apart.

 

[mawders]

Nev's played pretty well this season. I'd have him in over Hitz any day. But really, I would prefer to see Felli back in the deep role and Vic given his chance to play with Jelavic