With the ill wind currently blowing around Goodison Park it seems to have slipped somewhat under the radar that the club captain has signed a new two year extension to his contract until 2013.
The more discerning of Everton supporters certainly appreciate everything Phil Neville has brought to the club. Despite being viewed by opposition fans as something of a clogger, and roundly booed at pretty much every ground the length and breadth of the country, he is surprisingly cultured not only on the pitch but also off it. There is no getting away from the fact that all the noises Neville makes are the right ones, he is an ideal captain. Following the debacle against QPR he told Radio 5 Live: “There is a lot of negativity around the club and it really riles me. There’s so many plus points and positives at this place”.
For the past six years Neville has given his all to the Everton cause and you can guarantee that he will do the same for the next two. Most players upon leaving Manchester United, after winning pretty much everything the game has to offer, have become footballing nomads, drifting from club to club, yet nobody can accuse Phil Neville of that. He has actually improved as a player since signing for Everton and to say that his attitude is ‘first-class’ is doing the man a disservice.
The way he handles himself is nothing short of exemplary, when Harry Redknapp tried to sign him for Tottenham in the January transfer window he made it quite clear, that although flattered by the approach, when David Moyes stated that he didn’t want to sell, and just how important he was to the club, that was the end of it. An inevitable pay rise was rendered irrelevant. Steven Pienaar, who had just left Everton for Spurs, even felt moved to tweet that there was no way Neville would leave Everton, in his opinion.
It cannot be stressed how important it is for Everton to have Neville on the field leading the team. His versatility is unquestionable and he brings so much in terms of leadership, quite simply when Neville plays Everton are a better side. He will no doubt continue to be an influential figure for the next two years and who is to say not even longer his fitness levels are so good.
Admittedly his rallying cries to the local media throughout the season can be a little grating, particularly as they seem to have a habit of back-firing spectacularly, but everything that comes from Neville in relation to Everton Football Club is positive and you cannot blame him for that.
Upon signing his contract extension Neville told Radio Merseyside that he wants to be remembered as an Everton legend, like Brian Labone, and in order to do so he feels he must win something as skipper. However optimistic both elements of that statement can be viewed you have to admire his belief, desire, determination and commitment. Not only does he genuinely believe it, but also he wouldn’t have signed the contract if he didn’t.
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I totally concur. Good article!
You obviously don’t follow Everton that closely or if u did u would know that at the minute they’re unhappy with him for saying that they’re not ‘real fans’ for rising up against the board. Does that mean Utd fans that are against The Glazers or the Liverpool fans that were against Hicks & Gillette were also not real fans? Of course it doesn’t but Nevillie is just a puppet of Kenwrights and as such likes to repeat his rhetoric. No one person is bigger than EFC nor would they ever be – so if he can’t respect the fans and their views then he can leave with our thanks for what he has done for us in the past. COYB
I have feeling on hearing our 34yr old captain had signed a 2yr extension and believe me it ISNT delight! giving another 2yrs to a 34yr old who was crap when was 24yrs old is moyes at his worst!!
1 year contract extension not 2 years – is this the time of the year where sloppy journalists get worse and worse, next we will be linked with signing players even tho everyone know we are totally skint!!!
Why do people keep spouting this rubbish that when he plays Everton play better. It simply isn’t true!!!!! He always has been an average player and getting worse by the year.
Things might be grim at present, but I’m made up he’s signed, he’s a great captain and a great leader. As for slagging Kenwright off, he’s got no money, has he ever had any? it’s not his fault the worlds gone into global recession and no one wants to buy into a club that needs 200 mill for a new stadium to make it viable. Moyes is the man who needs to do what his job title entails and manage. Sell some assets, rebuild, change tactics. 4-5-1 against QPR was shameful.
I wasn’t happy to see him sign a new contract – he is full of rubbish quote, every time he is on the official site he is pulling out circa 1984 Ron Atkinson quotes, very boring… At best his footballing talents are average now he has lost his pace, but he really is excellent at organising the other 9 outfield players and this is his value and this does help us win. That is why Moyes plays him.
crap footballer, can’t pass. worst everton captain i have seen. a joke and his rally cries. oh neville please just fuck off
We had the chance of a new stadium and kenwrong fucked that up,The world has not been in recession for 10years,this is how long it has taken him to find a buyer(if he really wants one)The club is run by people with money but who provide no investment,we can’t afford players on free transfers,If this is not Kenwright’s fault than who’s is it?
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