Gary Neville is a huge loss for Sky Sports and they face a challenge to replace him… what exactly do we get for our cash now?

Gary Neville has left his role as a Sky Sports pundit to join Valencia
Sky now have a tough job on their hands to replace their main man
Neville and Jamie Carragher’s partnership produced insightful analysis
Former Manchester United defender Neville wasn’t scared to be critical

Published:
22:30 GMT, 2 December 2015

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Updated:
01:44 GMT, 3 December 2015

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When discussing the crisis surrounding FIFA, Monday Night Football host Ed Chamberlin asked Jamie Carragher who should be the new President. After brief consideration Carragher smiled and pointed across the desk at Gary Neville, smiling: ‘Him, he does everything else!’

Carragher’s not far wrong now, but his departure is a serious loss to Sky.

Neville and Carragher aren’t just enjoyable to watch because of the jokes — their successful partnership is based on clear and illuminating analysis.

Gary Neville (right) formed a great partnership with Jamie Carragher (centre) on Sky’s Monday Night Football

Neville was not afraid to be critical of players and managers, and he will be hard to replace at Sky Sports

The game may kick-off at 8pm but I am sure I’m not alone in tuning in from 7pm to see the duo get stuck into the weekend’s action.

Still reeling from our teams’ loss at the weekend, we tune in to have the pair explain exactly what went wrong — decisions and tactics are both praised and condemned.

Neville is never afraid of being highly critical of players and managers. Rather than turn us against him, the viewer appreciates his honesty.

He is opinionated but his analysis is easily accessible. Who could forget his critique of Phil Jones’s diving-header tackle against Arsenal: ‘He’s doing breast stroke, front crawl — the lot! He’s headbutted the floor!’

He’s also the master of the MNF touch screen. Few work it like he does which isn’t surprising given he had one installed at home to practice ahead of his Sky debut in 2011.

Back then few would have imagined him becoming such an important part of how we watch the game. Sky face a huge challenge to replace him.