'It's a funny old ...' said Green.
'World,' said Stirling.
'Game,' said Green.
There was a lull. Pinot Grigio was drunk, curries consumed, side-dishes wiped clean.
'How many Nevilles?' asked White, mid-bhaji.
'Sorry,' said Pink.
'Gary and Phil? Gary not Phil? Phil not Gary? Neither Phil nor Gary?' said White.
Jesus, thought Stirling, not the Neville debate. This could take hours. There was no more complex subject in the modern game than the conundrum posed by the two sons of Neville Neville. Any top football writer could talk at length about the inherent contradictions and logical implausibilities of accommodating both Nevilles in a back four. Over the years the debate had been waged, that much was now common ground. Everything else was up for grabs. The discussion might last beyond Christmas.