Source: Daily_Mail
Graham Poll: Gary Neville was a pain in the a***!
Gary Neville was one of the most consistent players in Premier League history. He was also one of the biggest pains in the a***! [LNB]When you refereed Manchester United - I did it 57 times - you expected to come into conflict with their right back a few times. Yet, Neville tested me most in an off-the-field meeting at Carrington, United's training ground. [LNB] Taking it's Poll: Neville announced this week he would be retiring from football with immediate effect [LNB]I had been invited to speak to the Manchester United first team squad by Sir Alex Ferguson after he sensed they were struggling with attitudes towards referees. [LNB]After suggesting that their players should welcome referees and be nice as they would naturally respond as human beings, Neville said this was cheating.[LNB] More from Graham Poll... Graham Poll: Nolan and Diaby should have seen red but penalty was baffling06/02/11 Graham Poll: Martinez and Pulis were wrong... Fabregas and Dempsey are no cheats24/01/11 Graham Poll: Outdated Sky duo Keys and Gray are a smug and sorry mess23/01/11 Graham Poll: Rooney should have gone off with Rafael at Tottenham17/01/11 Graham Poll: My assessment of Attwell as the he returns to Premier League17/01/11 Graham Poll: Liverpool star Maxi Rodriguez 'clever' to win vital penalty17/01/11 GRAHAM POLL: Theo Walcott's dive exposes our flaws with the laws10/01/11 Graham Poll: Webb was right to send off Gerrard but wrong to award penalty09/01/11 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Refs,like robots, should not be affected by attitudes. Conversely, hecouldn't see that when players appealed when they knew they had playedthe ball out last, they were cheating. [LNB]I'dlike to say that we agreed to disagree but that wasn't true. That storysums Neville's attitude up and it was why, strangely, I admired him asa player. [LNB]I knewwhere I stood and expected nothing more from him than 100 per centcommitment to United's cause. Every time I gave the opponents a goalkick at Old Trafford, my natural position would mean I was standingnext to him waiting for the kick to be taken. [LNB] Usually he would query the decision, more often than not he would plant the seed that the opponents were time wasting.[LNB] 'You owe us one there, Pollie' or 'Come on, hurry him up and make sure you add that time on' were standard comments. [LNB]Hewas always working for his team's cause and could only ever see throughhis red-tinted spectacles. He never thanked me for a decision whichwent his way, just expected - no, demanded - each one. [LNB]He knew that United scored late goals and tried to ensure they'd get the time they required. [LNB]Sportsmengenerally fall into two categories: those who want to play on foreverand those who want to retire when at the very top. Think of AlanShearer or Zinedine Zidane as examples of those who could easily havecontinued but wanted to go out on a high. [LNB] End of the road: Neville has been a bit part player at United this term[LNB]Nevillehas been wise to announce an end to his fabulous Manchester Unitedcareer. He was slowing down and had been lucky to escape red cardstwice this season. [LNB]Hisreputation and perhaps that of his team saved him on both occasions,which is disappointing. He knew that would not continue and has donethe right thing announcing his retirement with immediate affect. [LNB]Refs will miss him as he kept them on their toes! [LNB] Goodweek for ... Michael Oliver[LNB]Any referee who can oversee a ManUnited defeat and draw no criticism is one to watch.[LNB] It is not thefirst time Oliver has impressed me this season and I don't think itwill be the last. [LNB] Badweek for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal[LNB]At 4-0 up after 26 minutes, noPremier League team should fail to take three points. The turning pointwas Abou Diaby's senseless red card. Wenger can blame who likespublicly but any neutral can see that referee Phil Dowd was right.[LNB] Graham Poll: Nolan and Diaby should have seen red but penalty was bafflingVideo: The seven best Premier League games (before Saturday at St James'!)Screen Test: A safe pair of hands but less passion after Gray and Keys' exit[LNB][LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Gary Neville, Zinedine Zidane
