Pepe Reina weakly palmed the ball in to the back of the net, the strength from Rio Ferdinand’s header too much to keep out. The Stretford End behind went mental.
We’d done it! In a match where Liverpool arguably did more with the ball, United snatched the three points at the death.
Like every other red, I couldn’t wait to see Match of the Day that evening to relive the great moment. It was only when I was settled in my lounge, watching BBC 1 with a beer, that the true greatness of the day was revealed.
Gary Neville had charged to the away corner, grabbing his badge and shouting at them. It was magic. God only know how they were reacting, but he didn’t give a fuck. Banging his fists on his thighs, the emotion of beating the dippers in injury time turned him almost tribal.
This behaviour is exactly what sets us apart from our rivals. We have players in our side who have supported the team since they were lads, who live and breath United just like us. Our rivals have players who claim to feel the same way, as dedicated and loyal servants to the club.
Liverpool have Steven Gerrard, who claims to love the club… but has handed in two transfer requests and thinks playing for England is bigger than playing for his club. Chelsea have Frank Lampard, who claims to love the club… but has stalled on a contract for nearly two years and will probably sign for Inter Milan this summer. Arsenal have… Arsenal have… Cesc Fabregas? He seems fairly committed for the time being, but will be at Barca by the time he’s 25-years-old.
Fergie has hinted that Gary Neville’s days at United might be over, which could have disastrous effects on United…
“I am hopeful Gary Neville can come back,” said Ferguson. “I am sure he can. At 33, it is always difficult if you have been out of the game for a year. But Neville is such a determined character. You would not bet against him coming back. He’s not bitter about having to fight for his place. He is a low-key type of lad who neither gets up nor down. But he has a great determination and that gives him a chance to return. He is club captain so that is another incentive.”
Gary Neville’s appointment as captain has coincided was a resurgence from Manchester United, after the period the media named “Manchester United’s decline.”
Of course, there are several factors influencing this, but it’s not a complete coincidence. Neville is a leader, he’s passionate about United, and won’t ever settle for defeat. For him, United will always come first, with our success always being the priority.
If we compare this to Arsenal’s captain, William Gallas, who behaved disgracefully at times, there is no wonder Arsenal fell away so rapidly last season. The incident against Birmingham was one of the most humiliating sights I’ve ever seen on a football pitch.
He refused to defend the last minute penalty, angrily pacing in his own half of the field. Had the player he was supposed to be marking scored from the rebound, I can only imagine the Arsenal fans and manager wouldn’t have jumped to his defence in the way that they did. Highly immature and self-obsessed.
Whilst his team mates ran off the field at the final whistle to check on their team mate who’d broken his leg, Gallas sat in the centre circle crying. He is a complete drama queen who cares far more about his own press and his own success than he ever will do Arsenal.
I think we are right to be concerned over our future success without Neville’s influence as our captain, whether on the pitch or from the dressing room during his period of injury. The fact that Gary Neville was fined £5000 for celebrating that goal against Liverpool shows just how much football is changing.
The loyalty to clubs is going, fewer and fewer local lads play for the teams at the top, and contract are starting to mean nothing. In this day and age, to have a player like Gary Neville (Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Wes Brown…) gives us an advantage over our rivals, who are lacking in this respect. However, if Neville has played his last game for United, it’s not all doom and gloom.
He’ll stay
When Neville stops playing, that will not mean we see the back of him. Just like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Bryan Robson and Sir Bobby Charlton, I have every faith Neville will continue to work for the club, in some role or another.
Rio Ferdinand
Three years ago, I would have laughed at the suggestion that Ferdinand replacing Neville as captain would be something I supported. This, after all, is the man who stalled on his contract after missing eight months of football. However, the change we have seen in Ferdinand, particularly over the last year, is remarkable.
Ferdinand is highly competitive and is similar to Keane in his regards for love of winning and hatred of losing. Watch footage back of Hargreaves' freekick over Arsenal or Tevez’s late goal against Blackburn and look for Ferdinand’s reaction.
He loves winning, and now it seems, he loves winning for United exclusively, signing a 5-year contract in April of this year. What we’ll lose in complete passion for United in Neville, we’ll see replaced in complete passion for winning in Ferdinand.
2007/2008
United have just completed the second most successful season in the club’s history, claiming the league title and European Cup double. Whilst Neville was still a presence in the dressing room and training ground, we spent the whole season without his presence on the field.
"Neville Gives Us What Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal Don't Have" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.
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3 months ago
Fantastic article and I couldn't agree with you more. Wes Brown did a stellar job at right back last season but Neville's presence is almost irreplaceable. I have long considered him the most under-rated player in England. You only notice the great work he does up and down the right flank when he is missing- for example with England. I really hope Gary can give us one more season next year. He would be one of the first names on an all time United XI for me.
and that celebration against Liverpool was brilliant. they must have been going crazy haha!
3 months ago
what a bunch of bull! Gary Neville is a complete wanker and has no place in a Manchester United side. The only reason Gary Neville hasn't asked for a transfer is because no one wants him!
And to say that Manchester United players have more passion than Liverpools'? who is letting you write these articles? Just because they win and have a been a better side for a better part of the decade doesnt mean they have more passion. The club just has more money to spend.
(*Obscene Language Deleted — Ed.)
3 months ago
it would seem that loyalty is the only thing that wanker neville gives you, eh? he's so shite he cant manage to play more than two games a season. and when he isnt injured he puts in the same contribution as he does when he's injured, which is: nothing
3 months ago
If this makes you sleep better at night pal! Is this some sort of comfort to the wound that Ronaldo is leaving on you? Manchester United gives us what Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal don't have...ROFLMAO!!! Turst me boy....sadly,loyalty is a thing of the past!
But in these days, I guess i would be happy too if the only loyal player I had was a man who warms my bench!!!!
3 months ago
Where are you getting this rubbish from?! When did Gerrard claim that he would rather play for England than Liverpool???!!! And even if he did (which he doesn't) that would still leave Jamie Carragher, who is far more passionate about Liverpool than Neville is about ManUre, he bloody QUIT the England team.
"We have players in our side who have supported the team since they were lads, who live and breath United just like us" yeah, coz none of the Liverpool players have done that have they. Even our fringe players are more passionate than that. At Jermaine Pennant's first press conference for Arsenal they asked him where he hoped his career would take him and he immediately answered "I want to play for Liverpool."
You've got nothing compared to that.
3 months ago
Thats impressive from Pennant. His career did take him to Liverpool albeit via a boy racer stunt in a car park in Aylesbury driving A Cole's car and a stint in prison.
Perhaps Neville gives United trophies... sorry Premier League trophies, which is what your beloved Gerrard (who may not rather play for england, but would probably rather play for Chelsea) or Carragher. As for Arsenal, if they even had any english players let alone local players then maybe they would be able to see what is really missing from their squad.
As i said before Gary Neville is the most under-rated player in England- but people won't recognise that as he winds everyone up by being passionate about the club everybody loves to hate.
However, what neville really gives united is that he is perfectly in tune with SAF's mentality, just like Keane before him, Terry was under Mourinho and Vieira with Wenger. That kind of relationship between manager and captain is a strong recipe for success and it is missing from all the other top sides in england at the moment.
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