Source: Team_Talk
Armband days are over for Neville
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Gary Neville will no longer wear the captain's armband at Manchester United.[LNB] The veteran defender replaced Roy Keane as skipper when the combative Irishman left Old Trafford in 2005.[LNB]However, for the last three seasons, Neville's career has been badly hampered by injury.[LNB]Under normal circumstances, Ryan Giggs would step into the breach but it has been noticeable this season that the honour has gone to Nemanja Vidic.[LNB]The Serbian defender did the job at Everton on Saturday even when Neville was in the team.[LNB]And, while the 35-year-old remains club captain, Ferguson felt it was important to have some continuity with who did the job on the pitch.[LNB]"Gary is still club captain but I have been looking for someone who is going to be playing consistently every week," said Ferguson.[LNB]"Over the last two or three years we have had to pass the baton along the line a few times.[LNB]"We have not had a consistent captain because Gary's injuries have prevented him playing all the time.[LNB]"If he was available all the time he would be the captain. He would have been on Saturday. But I have to look at the overall picture.[LNB]"With all due respect to Gary's time at United, he knows and I know, we don't play him every week and I am looking for someone who does (play)."[LNB]As a lifelong fan, the decision cannot have been an easy one for Neville to accept.[LNB]Yet, ahead of tomorrow's Champions League encounter with Rangers, the former England star understands the logic.[LNB]"It is a great honour but it has never been the major priority for me," Neville said.[LNB]"I wasn't captain for most of my career not as captain. It is not unusual."[LNB]The question for Ferguson now concerns who the job goes to tomorrow night.[LNB]Vidic has been one of the better United players this season despite the problems Ferguson's side have experienced conceding late goals at Fulham and Everton, and has only just signed a four-year contract extension.[LNB]Yet Rio Ferdinand, who is expected to return from a knee injury tomorrow night, has regularly captained United in the past when Neville and Giggs have been absent.[LNB]Ferdinand is also the current England skipper, even if his own injuries have restricted him to just two appearances since inheriting the armband from central defensive colleague John Terry.[LNB]Ferguson may take into account Ferdinand's fitness when reaching his conclusion, although for now, he is giving nothing away.[LNB]"Do you complicate things on purpose?" he laughed, when asked whether Ferdinand or Vidic was going to get the job.[LNB]"No comment. I haven't even discussed it."[LNB]
