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Oct. 24th 2000
Gary and Hannah's Love Split
From The Sun Online
they had been together for 3 years and pals expected them to marry soon. The reason for Gary's split is unknown. A club source said last night: " We don't know why they have broken up, or who finished with who. Gary is very private sort of person. They have been together for a long time and everyone thought he would be the next Man Untd star to walk down the aisle. But they 're gone their separate ways and it is all a bit sad ". The source said " Gary had tried to console himself by having "one or two parties" at his home"
Gary and Hannah were pictured together at baby Brooklyn Beckham's first birthsday party. But last week Gary looked glum as he turned up without his partner at the premiere of a new film about Man Untd.
The club source added :" It was only last year that his brother Phil got married - and we were convinced Gary would follow suit. It is not going to be the same now that he and Hannah have split."
Oct. 17th 2000
Gary Ready For Glory
From manutd.com
Three weeks ago, Manchester United were in the middle of their early-season blip, which saw them go for four matches without a win.
PSV Eindhoven were one of the sides who took advantage of the slump in form, and showed their immense delight after claiming the 3-1 win in the Philips Stadium. Now, according to Gary Neville, it's payback time!
"It's a massive game for us," he admitted. "They were very happy that they beat us three weeks ago and they made one or two comments after the game about us thinking we could beat them with a weakened side. That wasn't the case - we had a couple of injuries and needed to rest a couple of players. We'll be up for it though.
"They definitely had a cockiness in their performance over there, and they could have won by more. We didn't perform well over there. But it's crunch time now and we need to win the game."
Gary, who missed a match for the first time this season against Leicester, acknowledges that the Dutch will be hard to beat. But when has that ever stopped the Reds claiming all three points?
"I'd played every game this season until Saturday, and didn't want to lose that record. But I had a problem with my foot and thought it would be better not to play," he said.
"I don't know what I did. It was against Germany, and it improved a couple of days afterwards, but then went worse again. I've had a bit of rest, and then had physio with the usual machines they put on you. It's a bit boring, to be honest! Not the best place to be.
"They're a very good side. They're young, good football players and they work very hard. They're good on the counter-attack with three quick players upfront and they're solid at the back. It will be a different game to the one in Eindhoven. We're at home and we've got to take the game to them," he said.
Gary went on to say that a key factor in tomorrow night's match will be Old Trafford. On a good night, the crowd can be worth a goal headstart, but if the away team take an early lead, the effects can be disastrous.
"The increased capacity has definitely improved things. By twenty or thirty percent, even. A couple of the games have been on open sale, which creates a better atmosphere," he reckoned.
"But we can't afford to get sucked into their mind games, saying they don't expect to win. We need to be prepared for them to defend deep then break. We need to make sure they don't score and silence the crowd as that's the worst feeling in the world.
"We've experienced that with Fenerbahce, Borussia Dortmund and Monaco. We've got to give them no encouragement," he concluded.
Oct. 4th 2000
GARY HOPES TO BE MIDDLE CLASS
From manutd.com
It's often said that defenders are frustrated strikers, but that's not true of Gary Neville. He's a frustrated defender!
The 25-year-old full-back has admitted that he longs to play at centre-back, after filling the position in the last six matches while Jaap Stam has been injured. With Stam out for the next six weeks at least, it looks like he'll be given a long run at the central role.
"I have enjoyed playing at centre half for the last four weeks and in a dream world that is where I would like to be forever," he told the Manchester Evening News while on England duty.
"In every season I have had to play at least five or ten games at centre back at some point in the campaign. The year we won the treble I played fifteen games at centre half. It is something which sharpens my mind up defensively and during the season I do like to have a few games at centre back. You are more involved. It is a greater responsibility and it is something I have enjoyed.
"It helps me when I get to right back. It sharpens your thinking because as a centre half you are playing totally as a defender and nothing else. At right back for United you find yourself going forward more times than you actually defend."
David Beckham joked last week that he knows that Gary keeps making overlap runs, but would only give up the ball "if it were another full-back, but not Gary!"
Whether that is still the case when the pair link up down the right for England on Saturday remains to be seen, but Gary is under no illusions as to where he'll be picked for the Wembley World Cup qualifier.
"From an England point of view we have Keown, Adams, Southgate and Campbell normally. We have quality centre backs who I would imagine are very difficult to remove.
"If I was asked to play against the Germans there I would but I am sure Keown and Adams would have something to say about it! I think they are pretty much set in stone for Saturday," Gary admitted.
Gary witnessed that imperious partnership at Highbury on Sunday, when the United attack found it difficult to get past the Arsenal back-four brick wall. Bould and Winterburn may have gone, with Dixon seemingly not far behind them, but one man remains a rock for the Gunners.
"The Highbury match was frustrating for me as a United player but it is good for England. Any defence with Tony Adams in it is a lot stronger. There is no doubt he has probably been the best English centre half in this country, probably with Gary Pallister, for a number of years now.
"In terms of organisational ability he is irreplaceable for England. There is nobody like him," he enthused.
Adams, at six feet three, is a commanding figure at the heart of any defence, but Gary, five feet eleven in his stocking feet, disagrees with the common misconception that lack of stature has held him back from his favourite position.
"Four or five years ago, I would have gone along with my lack of height being a problem as a centre back," Gary argued.
"I become more convinced by the year and by the game that there is no doubt my height would not be a problem in 99 per cent of the games I play anymore. The way the game is going more teams are passing the ball, more teams are playing with quicker forwards. The game is based on pace now rather than on pure strength.
"Maybe there is still the odd game where height could be a factor. But I think you are only talking about one in a season. Even the so-called weaker teams are playing football and not going for pure power and strength these days."
"I'd like to think I could play regularly at centre back. In a dream world I would say that I would play there all the time. But I am not closing my mind to the fact that I have made 95 per cent of my appearances for United as a full back and I could easily be reverted back there at any time. But any position is acceptable when you are playing for Manchester United," he concluded.
Sept. 12th 2000:
Gary Neville Slates Euro Format
From manutd.com
Gary Neville is a Red and he hates the thought of playing easy games in Europe.
The United defender told Shoot magazine he disapproves of the Champions League format, which, in the first of two group stages, starts with 32 clubs.
"No disrespect to some of the clubs in the first group stage, but there's no point in them being there," said Gary.
"Although you do get the odd upset here and there, it should be just the champions of each country, and, maybe, the runners-up."
Of course, when United won the Champions League in 1998/99, they had entered it as England's runners-up. Last season, when third-placed teams could enter, one of them - Valencia of Spain - reached the final.
"Now that it's getting to the third and fourth team it's simply getting ridiculous," Gary complained.
"We have to make sure the competition is not overexposed."
At least tomorrow night's tie versus Anderlecht is a genuine European Cup tie - pitting the best team in Belgium against the best in England. But there's still a concern that some matches will fail to rouse the men in red.
"Last year we were cruising and not playing as well as we could in both groups," said Gary, perhaps thinking of the games against Sturm Graz and NK Croatia.
"We probably thought we were going to cruise through to the final again and it didn't happen.
"We needed that reminder last year of how hard it had been to win it the year before, and I think certainly this year we will bear that in mind."
Sept. 7th 2000:
Homeboy Phil
From manutd.com
Forget Wembley, the Maracana and the San Siro. Phil Neville simply cannot get enough of the Old Trafford atmosphere.
"It was amazing," Phil told MUTV, when appraising the vocal support the Reds received this Tuesday night.
"There's 68,000 fans in there and it makes you proud to play for United. The atmosphere against Bradford was fantastic.
"Walking out at Wembley used to be the pinnacle of a player's career, but nowadays, for me, it's Old Trafford. The more United fans in there the better," he claimed.
The 6-0 win was achieved in the absence of some key players including Dwight Yorke, whose late return from Trinidad reportedly angered the manager. True or not, Phil supports Dwight's decision to represent his nation.
"It's part and parcel of signing players from that part of the world," said the defender. "He's dedicated himself to playing for Trinidad and getting to the World Cup. "Fair dos to him, it's every player's dream to play for the World Cup. We'll probably be missing him quite a lot in the next few months. "They usually play on Sunday, so we won't see him until the day of the game if we're playing midweek, if you think about all the travelling as well."
Yorkie will be available for Saturday's match, but Fergie may decide to rest him, only calling his record signing from the bench in the event of an emergency. Against Peter Reid's fighters, that's more than a possibility.
"They gave us a tough game at the Stadium of Light last season, and although we won the Old Trafford game 4-0, the scoreline didn't really tell the whole story," recalls Phil Neville.
"It was a very tight game, and Peter Reid's sides always have a go. We know all about their front two of Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips.
"It will be a very difficult game, but if we play anything like the way we played against Bradford, we should come away with all three points."
Sunderland haven't yet shown the early season quality they showed last term, but, seeing as though they couldn't carry it into the New Year, maybe that's no bad thing.
"They finished in a healthy position last year, and if they'd shown the form after Christmas that they had showed before, they would be in Europe now.
"Injuries and suspensions probably affected them, and a little bit of tiredness," reckoned Phil.
"I would think Peter Reid would settle for a top half finish again, but if they want to progress they have to get into Europe. They've got a stadium with 46,000 people in, and they need European football to go forward."
Sept. 6th 2000:
Neville Neville Resigned Bury FC
By: Terry Robinson, Bury FC Chairman
Club Announcement regarding Neville Neville:
Neville has resigned his executive roles at Bury Football Club. He is leaving to take up a position with a Sports Management Company whilst still retaining links with the club on special events projects.
Neville, who will remain as a Director during the ongoing transitional period, has served the club as Commercial Executive over the past 15 years. He has brought to the club a wealth of experience and knowledge on the commercial side and his ongoing involvement on our new Internet Site will benefit the club in the future.
Neville took up his role at Bury after a period of employment with Burnley Football Club and much experience gained working on various fund raising events for a number of Lancashire Cricketers. His enthusiasm for his various tasks at Bury Football Club have been beneficial in out long term relationship with many well known sponsors. His commitment to the club has been an example for all who follow and counsel, innovative thinking and wise guidance will be sorely missed.
I as Chairman will miss the help and support he has given myself but look forward to his involvement in special events projects which we hope will be more beneficial to the club with the opportunity he will have of building up a wider contact base.
Neville is a caring family man and our wish is that both in his new role and personal life he finds success and happiness he deserves. We thank him for his service.
Terry Robinson
ChairmanBury Football Club
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