Gary and Phil Neville = Valencia Managers

What a journey these brothers have made. Once, part of Ferguson's iconic Man United team, and now they have both ended up in the coaching business in Valencia of all places...a complete polar opposite to the rainy streets of Manchester.

It's actually no real surprise that both ended up in the management game. When you watch football, you just know those players who will end up falling out of the game, others releasing fragrances and these two cats who have football in their blood and will always be in some way shape or form be in it. With Gary, it was heading off to Valencia, which I will always find odd because it's such a huge leap from Everton. Then Phil entered the world of punditry, and at first I found him a bit dry but after watching more and more of his analysis, I have to say he has some skill in it. So him leaving Sky Sports for Spain is a big loss on their part because he had a nice chemistry with Carragher.






So it's the Valencia job for the two, after Nuno resigned. Once he announced his retirement, I presumed they were in the relegation zone or just hovering above it. These guys are ninth. It's much lower than they were last season where they did really well, but it's not the kind of disaster that Chelsea are facing. Nevertheless, he's gone and Valencia have decided to bring in some English knowledge for their team. This is where I am really doubtful as to just how well they can do, and just how risky this appointment is.

When you think that names of the like of Ancelotti and Rijkaard were mentioned for this job, and it falls to two rookies, one of which has never coached a team in his life; this is a very bold move from Valencia. They need to start picking points La Liga, and bringing in a new manager in December is not the best way to do that. The Liga, if you're not Barcelona or Madrid, is a very tough league. The very fact that Valencia performed really well last season, and have fallen down the pecking order, shows the kind of competition. For two rookies, you just wouldn't want to bet any cash on them winning a long string of games.

There's also the Champions League. Valencia are only one point behind Gent with one game to go, so it again just riddles the mind as to why Nuno left. Are the Nevilles really prepared to put out a team to play the right way in the most difficult club competition? This isn't Sunday league or a Premiership game away at Norwich. It's big boy stuff and they are getting thrown into the deep end.

Oh and before their game against Lyon, they will at least have an easy game to prepare with as they face those Catalan dudes that play in the Nou Camp.

I hope they do well. They have both been students in the game and shown great dedication, and I grew up knowing them, so it's just a bit surreal to see how their story has ended up here. If they manage to be successful, it could be a stepping stone for an England management team to take over Hodgson, who has somehow kept onto a job he doesn't deserve.




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 HH