dholliday
deconstructed rep
Only being a blue for a bit but Neville always got on my tits (starting following around 2009).
Osman a fair bit but phil Neville soars miles and miles clear.
Despised him, horrible little lickspittle
You're far from alone, regardless that some round here believe you're only saying that to appear cool.
I really never hated or despised him, I find those words just too harsh. But I remember when it was confirmed we first signed him. Both Neville brothers were already passed their best, and Gary was always the superior player. Yet we end up with the inferior one the season after finishing 4th. I wasn't pleased, and a year or so later he was made captain.
We never troubled top 4 again.
One school of thought has it that one of your strongest players should be captain, as it riles the troops in matching their performances to their leader. When one of your worst players is captain, it encourages mediocrity.
Moyes seemingly picked him as captain as he was more of an ally to him rather than a force on the pitch. Moyes himself used to be very optimistic and positive about his plans for us, but he began his descent into negativity soon after making Neville the leader of our team.
There's a lesson in that somewhere...