ONLY ONE WINNER IN FEUD WITH NEVILLE

Flawed

Two thoughts spring to mind. Firstly, Neville has got his facts correct. It’s Redknapp who is in the wrong because Neville had a higher win percentage at the Mestalla than three of his predecessors.

Secondly, Redknapp is missing the point because pundits like Neville are supposed to be opinionated and go ‘over the top’.

Neville is paid handsomely to be opinionated and is very good at it. So is Graeme Souness.

Thierry Henry, on the other hand, might have been a world class footballer but his skills passing comment on the game in front of the cameras are not even Sunday league standard.

Redknapp is using the argument that Neville wasn’t a good manager so he can’t be a great pundit. It’s a flawed attempt to disprove what Neville is saying – and about as desperate as going on a game show to remain relevant.

It’s a bit like a manager or player taking issue with a journalist with those immortal words, “You didn’t play the game to a high level, so you’re not qualified to comment”.

There is no logic to this argument whatsoever, because you don’t have to have played a sport to understand it, just like Neville doesn’t have to have a degree in media studies to speak and write well about football.

Neville knows his time as Valencia boss didn’t work out and would remain mud for people like Redknapp to throw at him.

But Redknapp has picked a fight with the wrong man because the spat has shown him to be nothing more than a relic of the game who is out of touch with modern principles, arguments and beliefs.

It feels uncomfortable praising Neville because some people don’t find it difficult to dislike him.

He used to have that strut with his chest puffed out that smacked of arrogance and during his time with England as Roy Hodgson’s assistant, he made no secret of his disliking of the media.

Neville bit the hand that is now feeding him, but the honest truth is that the poacher turned gamekeeper deserves our ultimate respect for his unrivalled knowledge of the game, what he did – and still does – for football and for having an attitude of wanting to be progressive.

Neville was up at the crack of dawn preparing the statistics for his now infamous tweet. He was armed and ready, should Redknapp come back at him again, but decided he couldn’t wait and posted it without prompting.

He’s that sort of bloke. One who probably thinks he could be Prime Minister, Mayor of London and Governor of the Bank of England all at the same time.

It’s difficult not to have admiration for someone like that. Someone prepared and well-researched who will be defined by his success and not his failure.

The standard of punditry has never been higher and this, in part, is down to younger ones like Neville and Jamie Carragher.

It’s a jungle out there Harry mate – and you need to raise your game or get out of there.