David Moyes and Harry Redknapp were unified in their praise for Phil Neville after the veteran Everton captain stopped man-of-the-moment Gareth Bale in his tracks in Saturday's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Tottenham.
Bale has been on fire this season, hitting new heights on Wednesday night with a hat-trick in Spurs' Champions League defeat at Inter Milan and running Maicon - the man many consider to be the world's best right-back - ragged. But he was largely nullified by 33-year-old Neville, who used all of his 15 years' top-flight experience to keep the 21-year-old quiet.
"I don't know if it's a dying breed but he's a great leader," Moyes enthused. "The team seems to function much better with him in the team."
He added: "He might get to the stage where he might not be the best player but, certainly, the team needs his leadership qualities.
"You should hear him in the dressing room; you should see him before the game.
"He's a top man, he really is. He prepares himself right.
"That's why he's had 50-60 England caps and that's why he's got longevity in his career.
"He's a terrific leader, motivating, cajoling and he'll always be the first one to put his hand up if he thinks he's not been right on it."
Opposite number Redknapp was equally effusive about a player whose ability has often been called into question.
"Gareth's been murdering everybody," Redknapp said. "But I knew that he (Neville) wouldn't be easy because he knows what he's doing. I think he's an under-rated player. He's a good pro and he knows how to play and I felt he did a decent job with Gareth, really - as good as anybody's done with him for a long time."
Source: PA
