The Mail Bag
Hats off to Hibbo
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I know it's April 1st but you can put that joke back in the box ? Tony Hibbert's real and perceived shortcomings have been well documented over the years but he always puts in a shift when selected and in these days of transfer-wrangling and press-leaking there's a lot to be said for an honest pro.
We want players to love the club; maybe we'd pick Messi and Xavi but it's not up to us. Here instead is Tony Hibbert, let's lay off the predictable scoffing and thank him for his ten years of service.
Sam Morrison, Posted 01/04/2011 at 11:02:17
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10 years of service with no so much as a grumble, strange when he is apparently the biggest moaner in the team (according to James Beattie).
Best "defender" that we have on the books and has been for years.
If Baines or the hoofer that goes by the name of Jags make mistakes, nothing is said.
IMO, there is not many better in the Prem than Hibbert when it comes to defending.
He is a top defender and always gives 100%.
If I was in the trenches, I'd want him next to me.
Well done Hibbo ? please score soon, I want to see us riot ? and I can't wait to see how you celebrate it, lad!
Hibbert needs to score, just once! It will be one of the most remembered goals of the decade for Evertonians. I will be telling my grandkids "I was there when Tony Hibbert scored the only goal of his senior career in his 312th league appearance, against Liverpool, who subsequently went bust and disappeared from football forever. Oh aye, that was the second year running that Everton won the treble...." or something similar I'm sure.
He has been a fantastic servant and yes, a good "defender" but let's not get carried away. His best days are behind him now and he doesn't defend as well as he used to.
'Best "defender" that we have on the books and has been for years'... 'there is not many better in the Prem than Hibbert when it comes to defending'.
I don't really rate him or Jags, to be honest, as they are "defenders" not "footballers" but I think Jags is a much better defender than Hibbert.
Best in the Prem?!? He can't head a ball and his positioning is awful; two fundamentals off defending.
No-one would want to buy him anymore so he will be here til he's released. I used to rate him as a defender but not this season ? he has been atrocious whenever called on.
The best thing for me is the fact that, when Hibbo goes down, you know he's hurt, unlike most...
But come on, I am not thanking him for distinctively average performances when he gets paid THOUSANDS of pounds a WEEK for playing football.
I think he is a very average defender, good sliding tackler, but average defender due to his lack of positional sense. I have nothing against him, I hope he scores a goal for us and gets to win something with us.
The reason he never "rocks the boat" is because it is almost certain that, if we sold him, he would end up in the Championship. In my humble opinion anyway.
Not, and never will be a Goodison favourite but, to be honest, he has done well since he got his place back from Nev and, barring injury, he will probably play the remaining games this season.
His "touch" will never be brilliant and will never dribble past two men to get to the dead-ball line before whipping in a cross. His crosses all come from back passes from Coleman, but they have not been that bad and I feel he is unlucky not to have a few "assists".
There are many more talented players than Tony down the years, he has always had to work flat out just to get his place, fair play to him I say.
I`d love to see us 2-0 up against Villa with a minute to go and we get a penalty in the St End and Tony got his chance.
I take it you dont go the games then, James? Just jump on the anti-hibbert bandwagon? When called upon this season (and the previous NINE) he has been more than reliable. Get past his shortcomings (crossing) and what you see is what you get. A solid defender.
Please don't try a tell us he's great though, it saddens me to think of how excited we have become with the mediocre.
I feel that Hibbert is a good defender. It's just that his lack of attacking instinct makes him somewhat limited. Having said that, he is paid to defend, to protect his goal and if he contributes to clean sheets I won't mind him not scoring for us.
So, Michael, I take it you've never been to a match then? Worst right back ever? Hottiger, Thomas, McDonald, Holmes, Pointon.... Christ, we've had some dross over the years, but Hibbert's better than that lot any day of the week. And twice on Sundays.
Get a grip man. And stop being outrageous just to get a reaction!
He's been left out to dry on too many occasions when he's had non wingers stuck in front of him, the worst example being the FA Cup Final against Chelski where Osman disappeared and Malouda tore him a new one. I'd love to see him score before he leaves but doubt it will happen.
Another player lacking in technique, who is that scared of having the ball at his feet, he even lets it go out for a throw-in deep in his own half rather than taking possession and using it. It's no surprise he's never scored, or even come close.
Well done Tony, but can we have a better right back now, please?
Good tackler maybe, but what else does he fuckin do? Oh yes, he's a local so that must count for something. What a load of shit. As long as he's on our books we'll be treading water.
I didn't just write to cause a reaction. Like I said, we are mediocre because players like him have had ten years playing for us. It's the sort of thing that obviously an apathetic fan like yourself is willing to accept; he's a local lad after all. I suppose to you Bill Kenwright is a hero as well?
Steven Pendleton (29), Hibbert was playing with an injury in the Cup Final (blame Moyes) and was left completely exposed (blame Osman and Moyes). If you're judging ten years on one game, it's hardly fair to pick that one out.
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1 Posted 01/04/2011 at 15:41:15
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