Keith, don’t you know that you can’t praise Hibbert? It doesn’t work here, even though Moyes and our captain of the moment are signing his praises, he is obviously the weak link in our team etc etc

He IS the ultimate Marmite player and me, I love the stuff.

Short version if your prowling Russian or Sheik came up with his sack of cash and said, this is the fabled offer that you will not turn down, I want any one from Coleman, Fellaini, Hibbert or Rodwell, you pick, well I would say Sorry Jack, Money talks, hit the road.

A couple of months ago, I read a reserve match report by a fella named Tom Owen where we lost 1-0 to Man Utd. In his report Tom praised Seamus Coleman and I asked Tom if Seamus is (should have put "could be)" better than Hibbert? What a can of worms this question opened between Dick Anderson and Jamie Sweet of this parish...

So Dick, as a discussion for tonight; how did Seamus do?

Is this a joke?

"...positioning, reading the game and getting there to snuff out the danger."

Hibbert?

Crouch spun away from him to collect a through ball - only to drag his left-footed shot wide with only Howard to beat; Defoe drifted effortlessly away from him (to be fed by Krancjar) only to also drag it narrowly across goal. Both these were clear chances.

Hibbert is a re-actor. He does not read the game well until it is already half-passed him. I like his honesty, his work-rate, and his bravery - but I cannot be one to praise his reading of the game. And Lee Carsley he certainly ain’t.

I have been critical of Hibbert in the past but he was a real hero today in my opinion in very difficult circumstances. The knock on him is that he is a yard dog but I thought his interventions were brilliant. I really don’t think the penalty award was fair. It was a 50/50 ball and he was entitled to go for it. The ref knew that too. If he really thought it was a deliberate body check which caused a serious inujury, Hibbert would have been off. He is weak coming forward, but he was brick wall today.

There were many positives from the game today but Hibbert was not one! It was a makeshift defense so you can’t be too harsh but Hibbert did not play well!
Stonewall Penalty. I wonder how many people would be praising him if howard had not saved it.

Countless times Spurs players were one on one with Howard! I hope i never have to see that central pairing again!

YCNMIU!!!

Laughable, really is.

The lad is all heart,nobody could deny that, he is an awful player in every way though. "He’s a good defender though" they say! Really? Ask Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Robbie Blake...basically any player who can do more than knock the ball out of their feet and run what they think, I fancy they quite relish facing old Tone!

Today of course he tried his best but he was garbage. We let 2 in and it could have been 7 given all the chances they wasted. He got left for dead for the first, gave away a penalty and got turned and left for dead by Defoe all day long!

I’m sure this is a well intentioned post but honestly, if you think Hibbert had a good game today you are eaither speaking from sentiment alone or are watching the wrong sport.

Seamus Coleman played well today, in the circumstances of the game, team and from previous performances e.g. Benfica away I wasn’t confident when I seen he was coming onto the pitch. He showed good positioning, composure and an deceiving element of pace when getting forward.

For me though, it is Everton’s formation that needs to change. I don’t feel we have any width or pace in midfield and I have watched how successful Chelsea’s ’diamond’ midfield has been this season. I believe we have the players to make this system work.

I will not carry on the droan of the dis-advantages when playing 4-5-1 at home. I think a new system will freshen things up and get the best out of such players as Piennar, Biliyaletdinov and Fellaini.

I have not been to the match that much this season so I will understand if anyone thinks I am not talking sense.

Against Chelsea next week, I would love to see us play the formation with the diamond midfield of Rodwell- Fellaini Bilyaletdinov- Piennar with Yakubu partnering Saha upfront and any of Hibbert, Coleman, Heitinga, Distin, Yobo, Neill joining Baines in defence depending on who’s fit.

We played with no centre backs today....literally. Hibbert and Neill both played full back all game, the defending was laughable, no one had a clue, what about when Crouch just waltzed in in the second half and put it wide? I know we have injuries but it was embarrassing. Hasn’t Fellaini played there for Belgium? And Rodwell is a natural centre back, surely they could do better. By the way Fellaini looks quality playing his natural position....please leave him there from now on.

Just got back from the match. Very drunk...

Not thinking about Hibbo because..

COLEMAN’S FUCKING AMAZING!!!


(Sorry for the swear, but it’s true!)

I dont think it matters what Hibbo does he’ll always be a scape goat for a lot of fans! Would love to see him score that 20-yard winner against the RS!!! Imagine his celebration?! So come give the lad some credit were credit's due a boys!

I'm amazed how everyone is thinking Hibbo had a great game.

Fact:
1) he gave away the first goal
2) he gave away a silly penalty kick.

In what world is making two major mistakes like this deemed a good game.

Having said that, he was playing out of position so he deserves a little credit... but facts are facts.

On the upside... Coleman was great (I thought he looked decent even against Benfica) and will hopefully claim a place in the starting line-up now.

And Saha was world class at times. (Don't laugh... but when he did that over head kick he was begining to remind me a bit of Pele!)

Just thinking how ironic it is how Spurs nicked two promising fullbacks off us from Sheffield United and one is still at Sheffield while the other is at Spurs but can’t get a look in. Today he drags his leftback off at half-time while his replacement gets ripped apart by no other than our 6th choice (after Hibbert, Heitinga, Neville, Neill and Gosling, if all fit). I doubt if Coleman will play this way all the time but he’ll be getting more chances after this.

We may have saved ourself a few bob but it also makes my think that moyes mustn’t of felt that Coleman had what it takes for him to offer £5 million for another up and coming rightback. No one rearly knows a lot about Coleman's all round game but he certainly doesn’t lack confidence and loves to run with the ball keep his head up and pick out a team mate. Let's hope he gets a run, unless ‘Arry can have him for £? Million. Kyle Naughton could have been a regular in the prem league at Everton but at least he got his big contract.

FFS can we not just hand out a little credit sometimes ?

Hibbert was terrific so was his partner Lucas Neiil.
Ok they both had a momentary lapse of concentration and were very severely punished, but they were playing out of position, against the Prems most potent strike force

The irony is, on the day the guy who is likely to make them both redundant showed us what he can do
Hibbert and Neiil were true heros

....and, by the way, haven’t we missed that other anti-hero Leon Osman? You only know a player’s worth when he’s missing!

I generally respect other people’s opinions but the author, I suspect, is either drunk or deliberately re-stoking the Hibbert debate again because he knows he will get a reaction.

If I ever bumped into Hibbert, he’d be one of the first guys I’d offer to buy a pint because the guy is obviously a Blue through and through. Wholehearted, enthusiastic and devoted to the cause, he obviously is but that is does not hide his deficiencies.

Playing out of position yesterday, he again did his level best - you would expect nothing else! But to suggest that the lad has become a more all-round footballer of a sudden is quite frankly ludicrous.

He was frequently tumed, out-jumped and NOT reading the play (have a look at the first goal). Again, no a criticism of his effort - the lad would indeed die for the cause. And as for playing centre back in future, well even if he had the attributes to do so, how on earth can a 5’ 8" player seriously compete against six foot plus centre forwards? What ever next 5’ 8" goalkeepers?

Yes, pay tribute to Hibbert the man but as a player, Coleman showed me in one match what I expect from a decent fullback. It remains to be seen whether he can keep that level of form up going forward but that’s the subject of a separate debate.

For anyone who is happy with Everton flirting with relegation every year, Tony Hibbert is the ideal player - commited to the club, full of last ditch tackles, obviously a blue through and through. If, however, you want us to be challenging for trophies and CL football, then alas poor Tony should not feature. He was definitely at fault for the first goal, as was Baines for not closing down the cross, and could have easily spoilt a great comeback by giving away a penalty that could be classed as naiive defending to be kind.

I agree with Ray that he is obviously blue, but so were about 30000 others in the ground yesterday.

On a side note, the TV pundits always go on about oor ’Route one’ tactics and Spurs’ brilliant football - did they get the shirts mixed up yesterday?.....

Have not had my morning coffee yet so had to re-read some of the comments. Hibbert is the same breath as Carsley? Amazing?? FFS!!! The only time he crossed the half way line as a full back was to shake hands with the oppostion. What does he do in training? He cannot cross a ball, cannot pass, slow to react, ball watches, out jumped..... Yes what an all rounder. If Howard did not save that peno this would be the title of the debate.

’Crouch spun away from him to collect a through ball - only to drag his left-footed shot wide with only Howard to beat; Defoe drifted effortlessly away from him (to be fed by Krancjar) only to also drag it narrowly across goal. Both these were clear chances’
---------------------

Bollocks. Hibbert put Crouch off and he scuffed his shot...on the second one he moved to cover the near post...and Lucas ’Useless’ Neill stood looking at Defoe..

As for the penalty..more momentum than anything else.

Hibbert was superb yesterday.

Hibbert is the same breath as Carsley? Amazing??
--------------------------

Carsley - committed but limited player.

Hibbert - committed but limited player.

Hmmmmmmm.

Ciaran , dont often disagree with you. I would say that he was good first half, but poor second. Lucas Neill was just shite all the way through.

In my opinion, only 2 players were superb for all their time on the pitch - Saha and Coleman. Fellaini was excellent for the first half hour and the last half hour, but he went missing for the other one.

The real enigma for me yesterday was Bilyaletdinov. Was he lazy or was it just me?

How anyone dare come on here and have a go at Tony Hibbert at the moment is astonishing. The guy is the absolute epitomy of Everton. His work ethic, bravery, heart on his sleeve attitude is something everyone could learn from, and not just in a footballing sense. He gives every ounce, every game for every minute and should recieve nothing but praise in my opinion.

He may not be the greatest full-back in the World, but his atittude alone makes up for any physical shortcomings.

Playing centre-half is not easy, and especially when you’re his size. He was outstanding again yesterday, as they all were barring Lucas Neill.

Seamus Coleman was nothing short of miraculous with his tackling, reading of the game and forward running. He’s clearly the modern day full-back we’ve been craving, and lets just hope he continues to progress as the kid has clearly got a very bright future.

Yesterday was an excellent performance against a flying Spurs team, that will do very well this year.

I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a draw as much ever and have no reason at all to doubt that we’ll be OK this season.

We’ve shown since the derby that we can play some good stuff, get stuck in when we need to and have more than enough about us as a squad to compete.

Great game yesterday; pure theatre for the last 15 minutes, and well worth the admission fee alone. Great game.

Up the blues!

Can I just add to that - Bilyaletdinov was also awful. He looked knackered, and struggled badly with the pace of the game. I suspect the guy's worn out, after a full season in Russia, a (failed) qualifying campaign with the national team, and now a Premier League season. He clearly needs a rest.

"For anyone who is happy with Everton flirting with relegation every year, Tony Hibbert is the ideal player"

Eh? Is this the same Tony Hibbert that has been pretty much a full time team member in the side that has been in Europe pretty much for the last 5 years? Flirting with relegation?????

James

I was just about to post my anti Hibbert scrawl, you know, can’t pass, poor marking etc. Then I read your comments concerning heart, bravery and how Hibbo is blue to the bone and would die for the cause.

Hibbo definately has the qualities you mentioned by the truck load, but on another day Defoe would have scored three or four. As a matter of fac,t any striker from the top 6 teams would have had a field day.

Love is a wonderful thing but I have a feeling this will just end in tears.

James, in the second half he came over to the touchline to get some treatment on his right calf, he may have been playing with a knock. I won’t be surprised if Pienaar is missing for the Chavski game, the amount of times he was cynically kicked.

Adam,

I not saying Hibbert didn’t make a couple of mistakes - but for a player who’s not used to that central position..he was brilliant..some of his tackles were truly class...

Personally I thought Hibbert did really well - yes Spurs broke through a couple of times, but with that inexperienced back 4 that was inevitable. He look composed, and actually passed the ball out of defence - becoming the foundation of what was some really nice football from us.

And I started to think, he may not be the best in the world, but what about England? Obviously the first choice RB is settled, but as a back-up, and a versatile one who can cover CB as well, wouln’t Hibbert have a chance of making the World Cup squad. I mean, I actually think he’s better than Wes Brown in both positions! Who else is there?

’Can I just add to that - Bilyatidinov (sp?) was also awful. He looked knackered, and struggled badly with the pace of the game.’

--------------------

I think he was just freaked out by the pace and physical side of the game...a learning curve for Mr Billayaaedinmontherdff..whatever.

Hibbert - 5 foot 7 inches tall..plays against crouch - and does a good job.

First goal - bit of mis communication between two right backs playing at centre half. It was bound to happen.

Penalty was unlucky - he committed to the header and Palacios got there first. Simple as that - just a late challenge. Howard saved his blushes.

All that aside, Defoe - a striker who banged in 5 only a fortnight ago, wasn’t given time or room for the majority of the game. Crouch was frustrated having to go to the half way line to collect the ball...

Hibbert, Neill and Coleman had great games given the circumstances - and I remember one tackle early on in the first half that Hibbert made that stopped what would have been a goal...

I don't think he can pass a ball but yesterday he was brilliant — Coleman was Man of the Match, but Hibbert was a close second. That's my opinion.

Can’t say I remember Neill doing anything of any (positive) consequence in teh entire match.. He was only interested in fouling players....For me, he was very poor.

Get off Hibbert’s back! I don’t see you slate Yobo for his mistake in the derby and he was playing centre back! Hibbert was playing out of position against one of the most in-form strikers in the league! Yes, he should have reacted better for the first goal and could have cost us the game at the end, but he also made some very important challenges and blocks which you rarely see from other defenders who play there like Yobo.

Neill and Hibbert had a very difficult job because Crouch won virtually every header and so they always had to react to the second ball. Saying this Hibbert is not a centre back and I for one hope Moyes uses common sense against Chelsea by playing Heitinga centre back instead.

The end of the match made it all worthwhile, regardless of individual performances. There's an argument to say that, with the team we had out, especially the defence, we did really well. Let's not forget, it was only 10 days ago they stuck 9 past Wigan (I know Wigan are cannon fodder).

Lucas Neill struggled and was at fault for the goal — follow the ball Lucas, not the bloody player!!

As for Hibbo at centre-half, we all know it won't last forever because he’s a right-back but he’s doing everything that's asked of him, and surely that's something to be applauded.

Where are 6" when you need them most?

Not the reflections of a sad wife, as you might think, but all it would take to make Anthony Hibbert first choice centre back.

Yobo has been a liability for at least 2 years. And I’ve also believed that Yobo can actually do a better job as a midfield destroyer/driver than as a centre back. he doesn’t have the concentration or positional sense that is needed, but he does have pace & power that could be better deployed elsewhere.

Hibbert reads the game superbly. Too many times he finds himself covering for Yobo, or Distin, and either saving the day or almost doing so. Some idiots on here have actually blamed him for not sorting out the mess of others, that’s poor show.

But there’s another slant to this that hasn’t been explored. I think Baines has been poor all season. Not ALL his fault, but much of it is. I got a sense (from elsewhere) that he was mates with Lescott and was one of those most irritated by Moyes’s crass punishment for Lescott. Whether true or not, it’s unfortunate that he has no pressure on him.

Given the rave reviews of young Seamus yesterday, I wondered if it would help or hinder the team if one of our right backs played left back for a bit. I just think LB is off the pace and needs to re-calibrate himself. A few weeks on the bench never did anyone any harm.

Anybody less than satisfied with a draw against the North London pretenders, in our current plight, is slightly deluded. However the final result should not in my view detract from Moyes’s irrepressible resolve to send us out on the back foot. If Saha and Yak really aren’t able to do a full shift then OK, point taken. But it’s almost a weekly ritual now. Everton start 4-5-1. Go behind and eventually (often VERY late) Moyes sends on 2 forwards and we are partially transformed.

I still believe that Moyes’s tactics are way off the standard required to get the best from what we have. I’ve no doubt we’ll improve when all the injured boys return. But there is a distinct lack of vision and innovation in our tactics that borders on the arse-numbingly tedious.

Last word for Jo. He hasn’t ripped up trees this term in particular. But anyone who’s seen anything of what he did in Russia, against quality opposition, can see that he has it. His performances in the last 2 games, in my opinion, show that the boy has the ability and the class to contribute. His "goal" against Liverpool was incredibly unlucky and brilliantly taken. He did a great shift on the Athens cow patch and was good yesterday. Credit where it’s due.

Stephen Foster - sorry, just seen your observations on Hibbert yesterday. Are you mad sir?

Yeah Jo has looked better in the last few games, and I for one hope he comes good.

If you cant find any joy in yesterdays game, why do you watch football? Over criticising is just pointless - see the pleasure in getting a well earned draw from a game that was lost way before it was over..

Ranting & raving about bad performances is very easy to do whilst sitting at home/work behind a PC. Running around, kicking a football isn’t as easy as it looks........especially if you’re Tony Hibbert!

I don’t think you can question Hibbert’s commitment to Everton. He’s the sort of player who always gives 100%.

Unfotunately he’s not the best player in terms of ability and that’s where he gets exposed at times.

Its always the same you have guys who are full of hard work and passion but limited technically (Hibbert, Neville) then you have players who are techically brilliantly but look as though they cant be bothered (AVDM for example).

If you could get AVDM’s natural ability and combine it with Hibbert’s work ethic you would have a great player.

Credit to Hibbo for doing a good job in the circumstances but Alan Kirwin’s "Hibbert reads the game superbly". I’ve read it all now!
Best laugh I’ve had for ages! We obviously watch a different game, Alan.

Strange game to have a go at Baines..Thought he was superb yesterday.

Oh, and I don’t know where you get the impression that Jo was good yesterday...Maybe you’re high on the general euphoria of the comeback..

He was poor...and he was average against the RS....lets call a spade a spade eh!

Got to agree with Steven Foster. The first goal Tony was ball watching and then he gave the penalty away. To be fair he had no option but to go for the ball. But errrr..... he missed and got the man.
Not his best game at Centre Back but I don’t know anyone who was fit who could have done any better. Neill was shite.
Up the other end Jo was shite. Again.

Ciaran - I think the point about Jo of late, is more that he’s started to look more dangerous, which is a vast improvement on the old nag we’ve seen the rest of the season.

At least now he looks like he’s trying!

Look more dangerous?

He looks about as dangerous as Quentin crisp.

Ciaran you’ve gone and spoilt it now, there I was thinking you were makinga contribution I could agree with for a change and then you have to start slating Jo again (who by anybodys impression has looked more like it in the last few games - givine his low confidence and lack of playing time its not surprising).

As for Tony Hibbert, well I don’t know why some people bother watching the game, just look up the result in the paper the next morning and decide Hibbert was crap again.

As a 5ft-8in right back playing against Crouch and Defoe yesterday he was as good as anybody has been against them all season. He was let down on a few occasions by poor decision making and ball watching by Lucas Neil, but for the most part was excellent. Even the penalty was a challenge he was committed to after Neill got caught ball watching and stuck in no-man's land.

As for the guy who still wants to have a go at us for playing 4-5-1 again, well when Saha can last more than about 30 minutes and Yakubu is anything aproaching full fitness we might change but at the moment we have 1 striker that can play anything approaching a full game. (Oh and it's no surprise that in the last few games 1 up front has allowed Cahill to become more like the player he can be when played in his ideal position.

Certainly nobody could watch most of yesterdays game and say we wer ebeing negative, but for a slow start to the 2nd half, we were positive throughout most of the game.

Full marks to Tony Hibbert yesterday - even when you consider the pen, yes he made an almighty error of judgement but what would we be saying if he’d let him through unchallenged and he’d somehow gone on to score? Tony’d be getting destroyed. Spurs are dirty little so and so’s when they want to be and they’d have taken one of ours out no questions - the difference being they’d be confident that the decision at home in injury time wouldn’t go against them.

While we’re at it....

Coleman - one of those performances to remind us of everything that is good about football - £150k youngster makes home debut and puts the multi- million pound fancy dan opposition to shame. By getting the ball, running at them every single time and delivering. Its not rocket science is it. Pure uncynical joy to watch.

Jo - HORRENDOUS AGAIN. £18m? I’d want change out of 18p. Everytime he got the ball he passed it to a white shirt. I understand why we cant play Saha (awesome yesterday) and Yak from the start so why not play Cahill and Fellaini upfront for an hour like we did last season?

Fellaini - I despair. What is it with that lad and his hands (and elbows)! And then he does something brilliant. Aaarggh.....

Pienaar - love him, thank God he’s back.

Bily - crusining? Must do better.... Rowdell - some amazing moments of 1st time passing but didn’t really grab the game I didnt think. Baines - brill, Neill did well all things considered and Tim Howard? What a legend. As is Cahill - hes been pretty gash all year and all he has to do is that and he’s back in the Hall of Fame.

Quality yesterday, took me 2 hours to calm down yesterday! Tin hats on for next weekend now...

COYB!

Tin Hats indeed Mike, and let me put the tin lid on this one.

I’m glad that many sensible things, as praise and criticism, were said about Hibbo in this thread, and I won’t attempt to summarise them.

The main point I was making in my post, which some were too blind, or pissed, or possibly blind pissed to see was that Tony has done a great job in responding to new challenges (and thanks to those who spotted this too). Which was got me thinking about him stepping up into midfield, not as an Arteta or Pienaar, but as a maturing player to become a ball-winning disrupter a job Lee Carsley did so well for us. And Tony Hibbert is still an improving player.

Yesterday Seamus Coleman showed what Tony lacks as a full back in today’s game. But there are still slots in a good footballing team that Hibbo can fill.To call him a good squad player damns him a little, but I’d much rather we had him than lose him.

Hibbert is the typical Everton player of the past few seasons, a break up the play player and if the play cant be broken up, break up the player!

Too right Keith - if Phil Neville and Lee Carlsey can make that role theirs then I reckon Tony can. Lets face it Tommy Graveson was hardly Juninho either was he? I assume DM has tried him out in training and its just not worked.

The thing with Tony Hibbert is he clearly gives a fuck and though he might not be the best, he always does his best, which is good enough for me.

How funny, there’s me thinking my own view, endorsed by two match going mates and a number of pundits had some value. Clearly not in spade world.

And Baines, as I say, has been poor almost ALL SEASON. Took advantage of the thread about Hibbert & best positions.

Hope that clears things up oh venerable grasshopper.

Anthony - almost the first thing a Spurs player did yesterday was to kick Pienaar in the knee. A training ground move? Without doubt. Spoken about, sorry, whispered about for days, because you never coach a foul do you. Ho bloody ho. Moyes doesn’t, and people call him ’defensive’. Appy Arry took Ekotto off at half-time because he should already have been sent off. Everton players don’t do it that way.

Hey Mike - let’s look forward to Hibbo’s first goal, winning a huge game for us. Thirty yard belter or tap-in I don’t care (but might prefer the former).

Ciaran, be helpful if you returned the courtesy of other contributors & used people’s names to help readability & reference. Especially when your emphatic know-it-all snippets are some way apart from the comments they are designed to undermine.

There’s a good chap.

Keith

Hibbert Scores - We Riot.

(In the nicest possible way)

Mike - that’s an interesting thought. The idea of different things being tried out on the training ground. Ex-pros I have known have given me no impression that it happens like that.

Players are pigeon-holed from early in life (starting in school teams) and are less likely to break out than stay in the role they were given. I think Moyes said of Rodwell when he had knocked a couple in from distance, ’We didn’t know he could do that’.

Back to Hibbo - the crisis has let him out of the box, his pigeon-hole, and he looks like a decent footballer. Perhaps not a PL centre half where height and brawn are important (although he could earn his crust on the continent in that position), but in that ’front sweeper’ job, giving Tim Howard an easy day.

Thanks to you all,

I’ve just checked through the thread to see if there was any outstanding business of mine. And something popped out -

thank you Ray Robinson: not because you suggested I might be pissed or being deliberately controversial, but for referring to me as the "author" of the piece. I’ll take that.

I’m off up the postbag to the Bily thing now. See, or read you all up there..

ps - and don’t just hate people who do this - Hibbo broke his ribs. Worth a bonus I reckon.

pps - according to Arry - let’s mentally note when Palacios turns out for them.

Why are so many posters blaming Hibbo for the first goal? Lennon has become one of the best crosses of the ball in the Prem and is currently on fire. In the first half he dinks in some tasty crosses. A minute into the 2nd half he receives a 30yrd ball in acres of space and Billy & Bains who had more tham enough time to react just stood and watched Lennon put a cross in.

With that amount of time and space, I could’ve put a great cross in, that’s where the defensive mistake was, because even if we would’ve had Jags, or Vidic or anyone you can think of, they would’ve struggled with the quality of the cross.

Wow! What a game on Sunday, enjoyed every single minute of the game, plus we got another chance to see young Coleman again, who didn't disappoint.

Coleman is a young guy, I don't think he deserves the hype he is getting from fans, players, the manager and the media, it adds more pressure on the boy and that's not fair! He changed the game on Sunday, but you have to remember he got a tonne of space down the wing thanks to Kranjcar being lazy, and was up agaist the worst left back I've seen in Bale, not to mention a top 4 manager would've spotted Coleman as the danger man after the first goal, and switch Lennon to protect Bale more.

I'm not being negative, I love the boys passion drive and attacking flair, but let's not jump on the bandwagon of the next Cafu!! Let him progress slowly without the hype or the pressure, Ashley Cole could well take the lad down peg or two.... let's hope not. COYB

’How funny, there’s me thinking my own view, endorsed by two match going mates and a number of pundits had some value. Clearly not in spade world.’
------------------------

Stop going to the match with Stevie Wonder and Helen Keller...oh and stop listening to Garth Crooks..

There’s a good boy...

Oh, this is for Alan Kirwin, if it’s not abundantly clear!

’then you have to start slating Jo again (who by anybodys impression has looked more like it in the last few games - givine his low confidence and lack of playing time its not surprising).’
----------
Sorry Chris,

Anybodies impression? I don;t think so...A quick glance down this thread will tell you otherwise..and if he was so good in the last couple of games 1) why has Moyes substittued him...and 2) why do you feel the need to makes excuses? boring, trite and irrelevant excuses at that!

Ciaran - I really dont want to get into any sort of slanging match with you, but your posts are quite inflammatory in nature.

Jo has been better of late, that's plain for everyone to see — he may not be setting the World alight, but he’s improved.

The reason he gets taken off is mainly due to tiredness and a need for fresh legs, not because he’s playing badly. To give a player confidence, he has to both play and be encouraged — encouragement is clearly alien to you, but maybe if you gave it a try you might find that being positive has, well, a positive effect don’t you think?

You’re a bright guy (putting on best condescending tone) but you’d get a lot further with your views if they were a little less know-it-all and a little more balanced.

I’m not an oracle on this or anything else, but simply laying into people's opinions all the time just gets peoples backs up and makes you look a bit daft to be honest.

Feel free to pick out the bits from this you disagree with, and comment accordingly.

James - It’s not plain to see that JO has been better of late...You might see it, but your opinion hardly represents a consensus..So don’t purport it to be so!

I do not have to pick out any BIT of your post that I disagree with, because frankly I think your entire post is a piece of piss...

Jo was taken off cos he was tired? BOLLOCKS!

Is that confrontational enough for you? (in my best patronising voice)

By the way James..

Answer this one if you dare... How many shots on target has Jo had this season?