NEVILLE’S LEGACY CEMENTED WITH PREMIER LEAGUE HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. The former right-back, who won 8 titles in 400 appearances, was presented with his medal by hero Bryan Robson at Old Trafford.
Man United legend Gary Neville has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame - Photo Credit: Getty Images
The 25th person to be admitted into the Premier League Hall of Fame is Gary Neville, a legend of Manchester United.
From 1992 to 2011, Neville, now 50, played his entire career at Old Trafford, making 602 matches, 400 of which were in the Premier League.
The former right-back, who also earned 85 caps for England, resigned at a relatively young age of 35, but he has since enjoyed a prosperous career as a businessman and pundit.
Following the announcement of 15 nominees last month, Neville will be the first person inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025.
Sol Campbell, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, Patrice Evra, Cesc Fabregas, Les Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Eden Hazard, Gary Neville, Michael Owen, Teddy Sheringham, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Edwin van der Sar, and Nemanja Vidic were among the other possible choices in addition to the 50-year-old.
Neville was picked by the current 24 Hall of Famers after a public vote; the names of the other inductees will be revealed shortly.
The Premier League Hall of Fame has inducted Gary Neville, a legend of Manchester United.
Neville participated in 400 top-flight games and won the championship eight times.
On November 4, a special event will be held in London to celebrate the two recruits.
To commemorate the occasion, United icon Bryan Robson gave Neville, who won the Premier League eight times throughout his career, a Hall of Fame medallion at Old Trafford before the Red Devils' match against Brighton.
"It is a very wonderful occasion and made more special by the fact that my hero growing up, Bryan Robson, who was the pinnacle of everything I wanted to be as a kid, delivered it to me," Neville said shortly after being inducted into Sky Sports Football.
Additionally, the 24 past winners have voted for it. However, I did play with some outstanding football players under a fantastic manager in front of these supporters at Old Trafford.
"Therefore, the quality around me made my job much easier every week."
Understandably, United is already heavily represented among the 24 members of the Hall of Fame, which consists of 22 players and two coaches.
Neville will join Rio Ferdinand, Andy Cole, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Eric Cantona, and the renowned manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honour and commemorate those who have achieved remarkable achievements and made a major impact on the Premier League since its founding in 1992.
Neville will join Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary manager of the Red Devils, and eight other superstars.
After 2021, new members have been inducted annually after the announcement in 2020.
The first to join were David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Dennis Bergkamp, Steven Gerrard, and Alan Shearer in 2021.
Legends including Didier Drogba, Vincent Kompany, Paul Scholes, Ian Wright, Wayne Rooney, Patrick Vieira, Sergio Aguero, and Peter Schmeichel were admitted the next year.
Rio Ferdinand, Petr Cech, and Tony Adams were all given the gong, and Sir Alex Ferguson and his erstwhile rival Arsene Wenger became the first managers to be inducted in 2023.
Last year, Andrew Cole, John Terry, and Ashley Cole were added.
GUARDIOLA TIPS HAT TO DYCHE: ‘HE’S AMONG THE VERY BEST’
Pep Guardiola hails new Forest boss Sean Dyche as "the best" at set-pieces, noting the trend isn't new. He also revealed that Man City has struggled with dead-ball situations this season compared to rivals like Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola shaking hands with Sean Dyche - COURTESY/PHOTO
According to Pep Guardiola, Nottingham Forest has one of the best representatives of the new fascination in football at their disposal.
Although Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, and their ability to score goals from set pieces are admired by the football community, Guardiola has reminded everyone that the idea is not particularly new.
As demonstrated during his tenure as Burnley's manager from 2012 to 2012, he did, in fact, hail incoming Forest manager Sean Dyche as "one of the greatest."
The 54-year-old guided the Clarets into the Premier League and kept them there for six seasons before exiting Turf Moor.
Forest, who have only won one league game so far and are now in third place, can now access that knowledge.
Man City boss Guardiola said, “It’s true that people utilise every throw-in like a corner and put 10 players there in the box.
"Every move (Michael) Kayode made in the box caused us to suffer when we played at Brentford or watched Brentford play Liverpool in our hotel. Additionally, Kayode was the match's man.
“Today, set pieces are a menace. I recall being in Burnley a long time ago with Sean Dyche. Burnley posed a serious threat in the second and long balls.
"Dyche is by far the finest at these kinds of things. He has already done it; therefore, it is not fresh.
Or Sam Allardyce. Or I recall Stoke City when I was not here. Do you recall the throws made by Stoke City?
Maybe Stoke was the anomaly back then, but more and more teams are doing that now.
"I recall that Arsene Wenger mentioned playing at Stoke City while I was at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but these days it happens frequently.
It may have happened (only) at Burnley or not at all when I got there, but it is a fact now. You must also pay attention. I still want to play, though.
This season, Arsenal has already scored nine league goals from set pieces, five from open play, and two from penalties.
With eight (plus eight from open play and one penalty), Chelsea is not far behind.
On the other end of the scale, though, are Forest and Man City. While City has scored 12 goals from open play, three more on the counterattack, and two own goals, they have yet to score from a set piece. The Reds have scored two of their five goals from restarts.
"Every manager does what they think," Guardiola stated. I am not ignorant of the fact that I want to score from corners and free kicks. I desire it. However, I dedicate my time to what we need to do to improve our play, attack, and generate opportunities. to score goals.
I pay attention, of course, but I am aware that I am not the manager to try to; I have done that my entire career. When things became rough at Burnley, I recall that we gave up maybe one corner, if any, as the second balls were under our control. That is the most effective method of defending these games.
However, you need to be strong in many areas for that, and we are working on it. I will keep working mostly on our game till the very end. And occasionally, as necessary, adjust.
At Brentford, we performed quite well. James, the French set-piece coach, did a fantastic job of enticing our guys into defending these kinds of acts. The same was true at Arsenal: it was amazing. We did not control the game against Arsenal; therefore, we gave up a lot of corners.
NAPOLI TAKE THREE-POINT LEAD AFTER CLOSE WIN AGAINST LECCE
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's header secured a 1-0 win for Napoli over Lecce, moving them top of Serie A. The victory was sealed after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved a Francesco Camarda penalty.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa celebrates scoring - Photo Credit: Getty Images
Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa scored another goal to give Napoli a narrow victory over Lecce, although Vanja Milinkovic-Savic also saved a penalty kick from Francesco Camarda.
The thrilling 3-1 victory against Inter put the Partenopei back atop the league, but it came at a price: Kevin De Bruyne will miss several months of action due to a significant thigh strain. Rasmus Hojlund and Amir Rrahmani returned to the bench, but Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, and Romelu Lukaku remained on the treatment table. Leonardo Spinazzola and Scott McTominay were rested, and the 4-3-3 formation was reinstated. Following the 3-2 loss to Udinese, Lecce was without Gaby Jean, Filip Marchwinski, Matias Perez, and Riccardo Sottil.
Billy Gilmour's attempt was deflected wide as Napoli wore their special edition Halloween uniform, but Lorenzo Lucca unintentionally charged down a Matteo Politano strike that was on target.
On the Matias Olivera pull-back, Politano turned over from six yards out, while Medon Berisha also threatened by drilling wide from the area's edge.
Olivera had been put clear by a clever Gilmour first-touch lay-off, but Wladimiro Falcone made a fantastic stop with his legs at the near post.
On the cusp of halftime, Francesco Camarda's chest and half-volley was inches wide, yet it would not have been considered handball.
Moments after the restart, Noa Lang added to the growing list of Napoli players out after hobbling off with a hit to the thigh just above the left knee.
Lucca sprinted onto a long ball that Falcone hurried out to nod clear, and Politano's follow-up was charged down with the goalie off his line, creating a double chance to open the score.
After a VAR review, the Lecce penalty was given because Kialonda Gaspar's header on a corner seemed to hit Juan Jesus' hand, which bent back on impact. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who has saved five of the past nine Serie A penalties faced, demonstrated his expertise by parrying the spot-kick when Camarda stepped up.
Hojlund made his comeback from injury, with McTominay and Leonardo Spinazzola reinforcing the team off the bench for the final half-hour.
It paid off, as a free kick from David Neres was glanced into the far top corner off the head of Anguissa from six yards out, giving Napoli the lead.
Nikola Stulic was too slow to capitalise on a Danilo Veiga pull-back, Elmas shot wide, and Hojlund missed the Neres assist in stoppages.