ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Hibbert

Having just read Paul Traill's account of the game on Saturday I have to say I was very impressed with the article right up until the ratings. Hibbert 6/10? Thought apart from Lescott he had a great shout for man of the match, I have not seen him play that well in a long time (ever?), and it reminded me of when he first came into the side and was touted as a future England right back.

On another note, the Man City away fans must be the most boring in the prem! No wonder their team struggle so much away from home, they sang two songs all game! When I am at away games with Everton it is the spirit and togetherness of the few thousand of us geting behind the team which I enjoy the most. I really believe we our fans are a credit to the club.
Steve Smith, Hertfordshire Posted 14/01/2008 at 14:28:43

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Seamus Murphy
1 Posted 14/01/2008 at 16:43:18

I agree Steve. I too was a bit miffed by Paul only seeing fit to give Hibbo a 6/10. Now i?m no Hibbert fan in any way, i feel he is one of our weker links (too mistake prone) but against City he was excellent. I thought it was between him, Carsley and Lescott for MOTM but on reflection would have given it to Hibbo. Petrov never really threatened us at all despite City continuosly attacking down his wing. He even got forward on numerous occasions and Neville (another one i never really fancied who has in fairness been playing very well lately also) covered back for him.
Credit where credit is due i think - when he plays badly he gets castigated so we should also praise a good performance and this weekend was top notch.

Dan McKie
2 Posted 14/01/2008 at 16:46:09

I agree Steve that the 6/10 was harsh, especially as he goes on to say "sound defensivley", what do we expect from our right back in a game that wasnt the best specticle of attacking football from any player, let alone Hibbert! He kept Petrov quiet all game and made some great tackles and blocks, deserved an 8/10 like the rest of the defence in my opinion.

Connor Rohrer
3 Posted 14/01/2008 at 16:48:12

People criticize Hibbert even when he plays well nowadays. He’s supposedly woeful even when he hardly gives the ball away like yesterday.

He’s a boo boy and people just have to get used to it. I think its unfair considering he tries his best, he’s a local lad, he came through the academy yet still people dont appreciate him.

For me he’s not the best player in the world and he never will be but he’s a good player to have in the squad.

Martin Cutler
4 Posted 14/01/2008 at 16:49:09

I agree re: Hibbert. I thought he was outstanding on Saturday.
A funny aside.....the game was shown at 4.30 local time (9.30pm UK time) so I had to wait until then before I could watch it (which meant I couldn’t really log on to the internet in case I saw the scoreline first) and then come gametime The Mrs was watching some sloppy-assed movie so I had to wait another hour (what do you expect from a Manyoo supporter?).....but it was well worth the wait.....very tense towards the end (the Everton of old would have lost that match!!!).
I was very impressed with our performance considering the number of (talented) players missing.
Getting back to Hibbert.........he didn’t put a foot wrong and it’s not like he had nothing to do, he was very busy but overall I thought he was superb and if pushed I would say Man of the Match.

Mark Pendleton
5 Posted 14/01/2008 at 17:09:15

I went to the game on Saturday too and bearing in mind Petrov is one of City’s most dangerous players Hibbo shackled him for virtually the entire game. We all know that normally his distribution is poor but he’s excellent in the tackle. Neville however is less adept at tackling but is normally much more of a threat going forward and providing good crosses. While i’m at it, the usually superb Valente in terms of passing and crossing was woeful at these, it just wasn’t happening for him.

Terry Maddock
6 Posted 14/01/2008 at 17:10:44

I am not, by any means, A Tony Hibbert Fan, apart from when he is running around in an Everton shirt..!!!!

In the last two seasons the lad has, at times, been woeful. And has recieved from most quarters , critisism to reflect this.

But from some..(and I wont even include the shit from Tony Marsh) the abusse borders on the criminal..

He is a young footballer who looked a real prospect when he 1st broke into the team..and was steadily making good progress,,
He then suffered a debillitating illness similar to Markus Babel.(career over) and was out or playing injured for a long period of time...

This season , he gradually seems to be regaining the form we know he can be capable of with greaty performances against, Chelsea, Man utd, Man city, Boro....
But even now..when his name is read out.some morons Boo him..!!
This is one of our team..who always tries his heart out..being booed, before a ball is kicked..

I would love to know how this helps..or even the point of it..
Im not saying he is a world beater..I dont think he is any better than a decent squad member...but the only time I have Booed..is after a game, letting the team know that what you have just watched is shite....But before, during the warm up..
Thats not support..its the opposite..

Anyway..all you Hibbert haters...the good news is.as long as he keeps playing like he is..he will be picked..so try and save your booing for after the game...you might actually find you dont boo at all.

Richard Grisdale
7 Posted 14/01/2008 at 17:33:44

Got to say that was Hibbert’s best game for a while. Many tend to take the micky out of him (eg, "Jesus, don’t pass it to him!") where I sit. But today’s game he must have answered those critics. Another point is that Hibbert always plays much better when he has Arteta in front of him. He trusts Arteta with the ball and tries to find him instead of launching it forward. Credit lads today, some good football at times and solid at the back... COYB

Keith Glazzard
8 Posted 14/01/2008 at 17:19:36

Every Evertonian must be really pleased that Hibbert played up to his potential on Saturday.

What comes to my mind is that this is just typical of our club now. Moyes and his closest will work for every minute they’ve got to improve how well the team plays. I wouldn’t dream of telling Mikel Arteta to be a better player, but the coaching staff will do this week in week out. And DM’s kept faith with Tony H. Just as Cars has become a player of stature, Hibbert isn’t the finished article yet. Maybe his best is to come.

Tony Williams
9 Posted 14/01/2008 at 17:39:02

Terry, you say you only boo after the game...........even this, to me, is unacceptable.

I would never boo my team, no matter if they played crap. It’s just a think I wouldn’t do

Terry Maddock
10 Posted 14/01/2008 at 17:43:46

Thats fair comment Tony,
But over the years there have been some horror shows...a lot down to lack of effort /commitment...I dont tend to rant, but will make my displeasure known on occasion.

Rob Hollis
11 Posted 14/01/2008 at 18:16:49

Recently I thought Hibbert was the only really weak link we had left, then from Arsenal onwards he has suddenly changed his game. He could always tackle but his choice of pass (hoof) was usually awful.

Now he seems to make the right choices, short or long and I don’t think we need a right back anymore. To be honest, other than cover I don’t think we need anything.

Roll on Wembley, City and Fourth!

James Arnold
12 Posted 14/01/2008 at 18:23:54

I have never been a great Hibbo fan but I feel the last few weeks his passing has improved a lot. I am looking forward to Fernandes coming back because for me the four-man midfield doesn?t work with the players we have available and Cahill never plays well in this system because he doesn?t cover back.

Paul Traill
13 Posted 14/01/2008 at 20:02:32

Apologies to have caused a bit of a stir with my Hibbert rating. Just for the record though (as I wouldn’t want to be seen as a "boo boy"), I’ve NEVER booed our own players individually and actually stick up for Hibbert and (yes I know I gave him a 4/10) McFadden more than most. I’ve always liked the lad as, like many of you point out, defensively he’s excellent and he’s never let us down.

Hope this "clears my name"!

Neil Pearse
14 Posted 14/01/2008 at 20:47:44

Good point above about Hibbo playing better going forward when he can pass to Arteta. Hibbo, Neville and Cars are all the same basically - they can’t find a long pass, so they need the likes of Arteta, Osman, Pienaar and now Manny to be available for them. Neville seems to be learning this now, hence the ball to Arteta for the goal on Saturday rather than some aimless punt into the box.

Of course, it would be better if we had defenders and midfielders who could also make penetrating offensive passes and runs!

By the way, I think Hibbo has always been pretty sound defensively, especially in the tackle agains tricky wingers (he even had a pretty good game against Ronaldo). If he had better distribution he would be in the England team.

Keith Glazzard
15 Posted 14/01/2008 at 22:16:43

And of course, lest we forget (I joke), he was sent off in the Clattenberg derby for what? Getting back to force the Lucozade kid away from goal. Penalty? My arse. Red card? Somewhere between Clattenberg and Gerrard’s arses if you ask me.