Neill Interview
Submitted by
BillyIdle on Fri, 09/18/2009 at 1:00pm.
New signing Lucas Neill turned down a number of offers before opting for Everton on a "gut feeling". "My gut feeling was strong about this one and I'm delighted about it. The manager didn't have to sell the club to me, it was all about the opportunities I would have in the squad and what he wanted me to do as a player. A one-year deal for the 31-year-old was completed on Thursday night and the Australia international said: "It was tough but it was about making the right decision. It was really worth the wait." The former Blackburn defender was out of contract after leaving West Ham in the summer but despite interest from several clubs, most overseas, he was prepared to bide his time.
A one-year deal for the 31-year-old was completed on Thursday night and the Australia international said: "It was tough (waiting) but it was about making the right decision. It was really worth the wait." "It was all about being at a club where I knew I was going to get an opportunity to play and make an impact and further myself as a player. "I was prepared to wait as long as it took to get that feeling.
Would I like to have signed for Everton two months ago? Of course, but these things don't always work out when you want them to. "There was a lot of waiting for phone calls and meetings, and offers and talking it over with my family. Now here we are.
"For a long time I was thinking 'Do I want a new challenge, new lifestyle and learn a new language?'. "I was really turned on by doing that and for the first month of the off-season that was all I was thinking about. As the offers were coming in I got the feeling 'Do I want to change everything coming up to a World Cup or do I stick to what I know?'."
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