Red Nev.The people's pundit...

Gary Neville has long divided opinion among non Manchester United supporters.Many hate him and some really hate him.   But his new career as a Sky pundit is now begining to confuse those haters as they're being forced to admit that he's quickly making a name for himself as the best analyst on the box by a long long way...

When he retired from the game last season there were rumours that he'd been signed by Sky, social media outlets and football websites nearly exploded with the outrage from fans who knew nothing about his opinions on the game---I had already read a fair bit about his thoughts on the game and knew he'd be good---Now many of those same folk are coming out with praise for Red Nev.Albeit grudgingly.

Neville had a remarkable career with Mancheter United at right back.602 games,scoring 7 goals.In that time he won many trophies with his club.He also played 85 times for England,and in truth the national team have yet to find an adequate replacement.He was also a talented Cricketer and could have played for Lancs.

Although many fans hated him i bet nearly every one of them would've loved him to be in their team,not only for his undoubted skill as a defender but as a voice in the dressing room.Once Peter Schmiciel alluded to this when he called Neville a "Busy little c**t" Believe me it was'nt a compliment.But it showed he cared and as Captain he was also the conduit between the players and Fergie.

Red Nev shows his appreciation of the Scouse nation...

He's never been fashionable with his pencil moustache and Amish style haircut,i presume he took some stick from his contemporaries at Man Utd,especially Beckham & Giggs.Indeed amongst my friends he's known as Dot Cotton...

                                           Becks,Butt & Neville caught in a rare informal moment

He looks very uncomfortable in a suit,like a Manc delinquent in court receiving his first ASBO,the flat Manc delivery only highlights the image.However when he talks about the game all that pales into nothing because he talks more sense than any other pundit on the box.

On the Monday night Sky game he has the chance to play with the gadgets and talk us through the weekends goals & major incidents.This is where he comes into his own and often i have learned new things about the game watching his explanations of how incidents came about.He also does a fine line in self deprecation.

However one thought does occure to me.He's making such a good fist of the job that he'll never go into coaching.You don't work for over twenty years with one of the great managers without picking up some expert knowledge of the game.Football's loss i fear...

Many football fans who previously perceived Neville as The Devil incarnate are now revising their opinion of Red Nev the pundit,even some Liverpool fans are coming round to him...

Take a bow Gary...or better still come and manage Wolves...