The first headline I read this morning accompanied - as usual - a very well written piece by Martin Samuel in The Mail. It reads 'Now Gary is no longer the smartest man in the room'. I've got news for you Martin - he never was.
It's obviously a piece about Neville's time in Spain, trying his hand at coaching with Valencia. Neville's time as a head coach unceremoniously ended after four short months on Wednesday. For some, not before time. For me, disappointingly.
I'm not one of those that was hoping Neville would fail. I genuinely hoped he would prove a success as he tried his hand at coaching for the first time. Never mind that he puts his boots on again when England play - he's very well protected by Roy Hodgson on those occasions. Valencia was Neville in the raw - succeeding or failing on his own. Sadly, it was the latter.
That view might surprise a few of you. Yes, I've been critical of Neville previously. Do I think it's possible to work on tv and 'in' football. Absolutely not. Thierry Henry found that out recently when he was embarrassed himself with his views on Arsene Wenger. Neville did the same when he turned on David de Gea on one infamous occasion. How silly his observations look now. He didn't apply the same harsh judgements on Joe Hart when the England 'keeper was throwing a few in a couple of weeks later. You can't be honest with two paymasters.
When he went after de Gea I was told that Fergie was behind the criticism. I can tell you that he was tiring of his 'keeper at that time and had identified Hart as a replacement! A big name was going to City as part of the proposed deal. It didn't happen when Mancini got sacked. Neville was controlled by remote in exactly the same way as he once suggested David Luiz was - remember? A play-station defender! I have often wondered and Neville and his former playing colleagues would've reacted to criticism they now hand out when they played. No, scrub they - I know and so does he!
In his first spell at Sky Neville shot from the hip. His style wasn't necessarily one that I would've encouraged but it suited a brand of new tv execs that wanted to 'hit hard'. That wanted to 'make headlines'. I've never understood that way of thinking. I'd rather talk about 'football' in an educational way as Andy still does. Headlines are easy to make.
What you can't argue is that Neville did a terrific job following my mate. He worked with many of the same Producers that Andy brought up and made quite a reputation for himself.
Is he tarnished by his experience in Spain? Absolutely not. I'd have him back this Monday night if I were in charge of Sky.
Neville will have learned a lot. I don't think he'll ever knee jerk into opinions again. He'll be better equipped to understand the pressures of the job he's just left. And surely he'll have learned that there's always more than one opinion - just his?
I had this argument with Andy Melvin, my guv'nor at Sky, many times. I remember one occasion in particular. Ray Wilkins had just lost his job at Fulham and I wanted to get him back involved. Melvin's argument was that we couldn't do that because 'he'd failed at Craven Cottage'. That he was returning to us as 'soiled goods'. What utter nonsense. I pointed out that Graeme Souness, Ruud Gullit, Glenn Hoddle and a whole raft of our 'experts' had all been sacked at one time or another in their careers. If we applied the 'Wilkins Law' then we wouldn't have anyone left to work with!
I've said many times - my favourite guests are the guys that can talk about football from a position of 'strength'. In other words, those that have 'been there' and had a go. I can't tell you how much admiration I have for Neville because he's now one of that group.
I don't know him well, but Phil is a really good mate and I loved the company of their Dad Neville Neville, who's sadly no longer with us.
Gary can now say 'I've tried that'. Good luck to him. I just wish one or two more modern day 'experts' would follow his example and have a go. Is GNev damaged? Not all all. Can he return to Sky with his head up? Absolutely. But - I hope he chooses a different route. I hope he takes time out and considers giving management/coaching another go. Good on you Gaz.
