ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

Tony Williams
1 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:07:21

Yeah he is shite, he was so shite the last two games it was unreal, a man of the match peformance against Citteh, where I guess he complained of a bad back afterwards, what with Petrov being in his arse pocket all game and Wigan trying to get down the left against Valente, as nothing was getting pass HIbbert. I mean what is Moyes thinking of, keeping hold of one of our best tacklers.

I knew it wouldn’t take long for someone to post something like this

Andy Callaghan
2 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:14:28

I’m not one of Hibbert’s biggest fans (or fans at all, for that matter) but his recent performances have been pretty flawless. Even his distribution has looked decent of late. I think when there is a pass on he genuinely tries to play it. He just seems so gormless though..

Dan Walker
3 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:21:51

Let’s give Hibbo some backing for a change. Like Tony says, he’s done well the last couple of games and we should be encouraging him to keep that up.

He’s a local lad, he’s blue through and through and he’s shown glimpses of what he can do in the past, when only a couple of years ago he was an impressive player for us (eg. during the Champs League qualification season) and many people on here were touting him for an England call-up.

He’s never gonna be a world beater at right back, but he is solid and hard-working and good to have in and around the squad. He definitely seems to be a "confidence player" and it doesn’t help anyone by slagging him off.

If a player’s having a shocker, then it’s normal for the crowd to get on his back. But credit where credit’s due, let’s praise him when he does play well.

Obviously this team is going places though and we can’t afford to carry under-performers. So I hope Hibbo can string together some consistency before the end of the season.

Mark Stone
4 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:18:29

Great news; I?m delighted that Osman and Hibbo have both signed new long term deals. Hibbo is a good defender, a grafter and a loyal blue ? his tackling and positional play are fantastic. Judging by recent performances, he?s also improving his attacking play and distribution. Great stuff.

James Elworthy
5 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:20:59

Contracts are worth the paper they are written on. That is not a cast iron certainy he will remain with us.
If a player is out of contract or near the end of his contract you get nothing for him ala Bosman ruling.
Therefore it is in your interests to get your players on a long a deal as possible depending on their age so if you are to sell them on at a better price, ie McFadden.

Why dont people get off Hibberts back a fullbacks primary job is to defend not attack and Hibbert can defend as good as any fullback and the way he shackled Petrov should get people like you off his back. If your going to have a go at a fullback pick on Valente he cant pass cant tackle cant run cant get back cant overlap cant cross cant do anything.

Mike Hughes
6 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:23:48

I am pleased Hibbert has signed an extension to his contract. As a season ticket holder I witness first hand his distribution problems but he is improving in this respect. As a defender he is pretty good. To me, he is the opposite of Valente who is generally better on the ball than Hibbert but not as good in the tackle. He is at least a squad player and if he can improve passing and near-post defending at corners then he is definitely first team potential. I didn’t like the way he was derided when sent off in the Merseyside Derby. Even though he could have defended better .v. Gerrard, I though Gerrard made the most of it and got him sent off via a kiss and a promise with his friend Clattenburg. I’m saving my hatred for the R.S. not the Mighty Blues. Let’s stay united and let the R.S. tear themselves and their owners apart because I’m really enjoying that situation as it unfolds.

Brian Noble
7 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:34:16

Greatly underrated and a far better defender than Neville-even in the distribution department-and that’s saying something!

Dave Lynch
8 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:32:04

Hibbert may be a fine tackler, but to say his distribution has been good of late is taking it too far.
He aimlesly belts high balls from our half into theirs for most part.
That said though, i do feel he has a lot to offer and am quite pleased he has a new contract.
If the lad could work on his crossing and overlapping ala G Neville. I honestly think he would be international class.
Not bad in the air either by the way.

Ron Leith
9 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:37:24

Hibbert is the one that gets the crowd's bile when we are doing badly. I remember David Weir getting the same stick, Neil Pointon was always getting stick. If you look at a match week-in week-out the mistakes are 99% made at the other end, the glaring misses that could turn a nervy 1-0 into a comfortable 3-0.

Hibbert is one of the best tacklers and you would notice if he was not available. As for crosses it is not just Hibbert that can?t cross a ball again 99% of Premier League players can?t cross a ball.

I want home grown players given a chance and it does no good to boo players whi are pretty damm good at what they are in the team to do.

Keith Glazzard
10 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:36:20

Good and welcome news today, not least because nurturing - and keeping - talent is how a club should be run.

There’s been a lot said about Hibbo in the post bag recently, and many of us have gone along with wise old coaching idea of playing to your strengths and working on your weaknesses in his case. He is a strong player, and his main weakness - distribution - is improving. Having class midfielders nearby for a short pass helps a lot.

Speaking of which, Leon Osman has to be a great success story for our club. That takes the two of them to the age of 30, I think. A good move in my book.

Neil Styles
11 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:40:00

Ah come on Dave and all the doubters on here; I watched Tony give 110% for our cause yesterday afternoon but this is by no means unusual considering Hibbo ALWAYS gives his heart and soul to the team. Now as a realist I am fully aware that merely putting in a decent shift is not necessarily enough when playing for EFC but Hibbo-in my eyes at least-typically performs to a very solid standard. Some incidents that he may have been at fault for are debatable (Stevie G pen for example) and have been maginfied and highlighted unreasonably. Lets face it, at one point or another every one of our boys has made an error.

Delighted to have him stay with us. He has been a wonderful servant thus far.

Anthony Osullivan
12 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:53:03

i am happy he has stayed he has been at Everton all his carrer and has never caused any problems. He has no agent messing looking for extra cash as his agent is his dad they get offered a deal and sign it he barely reads it even. Thats the kind of player we should be proud of in this day of money grabbing pop-players.

He is our best right back so untill we get some one better im happy to have him.

Jack Johnson
13 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:51:51

There’s no better source of motivation than competition lads. That’s why Hibbo’s been signed up for another 4 years. Good work Moyesey.

Graham Nolan
14 Posted 21/01/2008 at 15:55:34

I think it is fair to say that Tony Hibbert is a very limited footballer. He offers little or no creativity and very little going forward.
He is, however, brilliant at defending. All David Moyes is asking Hibbert to do is defend and that is what he does and does well.

Andrew Humphrey
15 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:01:08

Hibbo may not be world class, but with him and Neville competing for the place we have a bit of strength and depth, I mean, who else realistically would we buy to play there?

Stephen Jacobsen
16 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:10:57

For those who doubt Hibbert’s ability, what would you rather have..........Hibbert who you can always rely on to provide excellent defensive cover when played at RB or.............Chimbonda, Belleti, Finnan etc who are all good wing backs in their own right and create many goals, but when it comes to what they are really therefore, thier defending lets them down. Hibbert cost us nothing, he gives his all every game regardless of his technical ability plus he’s never going to be the type to disrupt a squad by banging on the managers door if he is dropped for a couple of games. I know who i would rather have in our squad...........

I think Hibbert is yet another of Everton’s ’unsung heroes’........

Lynn Thorne
17 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:21:56

I am happy both of them have signed ? for all of the reasons stated above.
I often think back to the press conference when Rooney signed his contract. All the spotlight was on him ? but sat at the other end of the table, also having signed was Hibbert. Little mention of him ? but who has done his best for us?

Micky Norman
18 Posted 21/01/2008 at 16:27:26

Rather have Hibbo there than one of the mercenary brigade which most teams have in his position any day. As for his distribution, well yes, when asked to play 50 yard passes into the channel for AJ to chase it could be a lot better, but when a simple ball to Mikky or Cars is on to build an attack he rarely fails to do the job. And for cutting out crosses he is as good as he needs to be. Hibbo can still improve but he’s definitely one we should keep.

Dominic Duerden
19 Posted 21/01/2008 at 17:26:59

Hibbert is a hopeless player.
Such a shame that we have the best right midfielder in the country playing with the worst right back in the premier league.
Hopefully McCleish will pay £5 million for Hibbo as well.

Steve Pugh
20 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:01:52

Dominic

If you really think Hibbo is the worst right back in the premier league then you need to start watching some football. Just ask Ronaldo and Petrov, they’ll soon tell you he is one of the best.

Mike Prendergast
21 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:33:39

Hibbert is only regaining his full strength after being seriously ill pre-season.
Like him or not he is staying.
So lets hope he improves going forward as he is sound in defense.
If we get past Chelsea then he will be as proud as any of us fans so give the lad support, or we might see him flourish at another club, ie Dunne, Ball etc...

Lue Glover
22 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:44:14

@ Chris Masey - I agree there’s a lot of negativity around but not EVERYONE is such a miz gob. Read some of my comments and you will see that I’ve been having a go at a few of those who seem to take delight at picking faults with everything Blue at the minute.
And to the original post - Hibbert is not the best full back in the world but I’m pleased he’s signed a new contract. Someone else said it’s normal to get on someone’s back when they play badly. WHY? Shouldnt we be giving someone support rather than ridicule? If someone is lacking in confidence because they’ve dropped a clanger, does it make sense to make them terrified of touching the ball again? Hell NO!
Support our lads and support those who may well need the most backing to build their confidence.
And why, oh why picking on Valente. ’he can’t do anything’ - oh really? He goes about his job quietly and competently. He’s good on the overlap and can read the game perfectly well - he’s got bags of experience and talent. His best days are behind him but to say he is crap is just plain daft.
Come on people - we’ve got one of the biggest games for ten years coming up. Let’s get behind OUR team, Hibbo, Nuno, Jags, THE WHOLE TEAM.

If you don’t like a player fair enough, no one has to love them all but I just can’t see the point in coming out with the ’he’s shite’ comments. Come on you Blues!

Rob Paterson
23 Posted 21/01/2008 at 18:40:45

The great thing is that everybody is signing new contracts all the time ! Remember the sinking feeling when you picked up the newspaper to read that Jeffers, Barmby Hutchinson, Rooney ,Ball, Rooney etc. had not signed a new contract ... Now everybody wants to stay with us and nobody thinks they are bigger than the club. The atmosphere at this club from boardroom to dressing room is second to none at the moment. Just beein speaking to a Kopite whose only interest in tonight’s game is to give abuse to our American friends. There’s a message in that and it’s one we need to ram down the throats of Chelski and every other fashionable new money outfit who come our way. Sing your hearts out blues. The signing of these fresh contracts is yet another example of why it’s a grand old team to support.

Steve Pugh
24 Posted 21/01/2008 at 19:00:40

Why do we expect loyalty from our players when we slag them off at the’first mistake? If we want them to stand by us then is it not right that we should stand by them when times are tough?

Lue hits the nail on the head, we should support our players and help to rebuild their confidence. Not destroy them completely. I wonder if Dunne and Ball would have developed as well if they had stayed at Everton and been Boo-ed week in and week out for something they had done in a previous match.

Steve Pugh
25 Posted 21/01/2008 at 19:08:26

By the way. good news about Ossie signing too.

Ray Robinson
26 Posted 21/01/2008 at 19:12:00

I’ve been watching the Blues for 47 years now and have seen some real duff right backs believe me. Hibbert, on his game is a tolerable defender - he’s a bit like Titus Bramble in that his game deteriorates the more time he has to think about something. Great at defending when it’s backs to the wall (i.e. against Petrov).

If you want to be hanging on for narrow victories, he’s one of the lads to have in the team. If you aspire to silkier football with a wingback comfortable on the ball and excellent ball control and distribution - forget it.

I think the lad is blue through and through, deserves our utmost respect and support for dedication and wholehearted effort, but in all seriousness, if we are to move to the next level (whatever that may be), he would be one of the first players that I would be looking to replace. No room for sentiment in he modern game. You have to evolve constantly and Hibbo hasn’t really improved his game one iota over the last 5 years.

Jeremy Benson
27 Posted 21/01/2008 at 20:09:51

I think the doubters need to look at it pragmatically.

Hibbert is essentially, "free". He can do a job at right back for us. Lets say he is on 20k a week - we’ve signed for 4 years - thats 4 million over 4 years in wages.

To replace hibbert with someone of equal ability is going to cost us about £4 million in transfer fee alone. Thats without the wages.

Suddenly looks better, doesnt it?

Lue Glover
28 Posted 21/01/2008 at 20:32:43

Go watch Hibbo’s interview on Everton Tv. He’s one true Blue if ever there was one.

Ed Fitzgerald
29 Posted 21/01/2008 at 21:42:22

Ray

An accurate assesment of Hibberts ability at last. I was starting to wonder whether I had dreamt all those performances he has put in over the years!

Stuart Downey
30 Posted 21/01/2008 at 22:07:36

Hibbert is a defending defender. He?s there to defend, first and foremost, and at right back, defensively, there aren?t many better in the world. Getting the ball off other players, he?s brilliant, I don?t really remember him, in all the time I?ve been watching him, getting done by anyone, which, in the Premier League, is impressive. He can tackle, he?s quick, and he is improving with time.

Unfortunately, when he gets the ball, that's what really needs improving. But yeah, more importantly, I?d rather have him, than spend £10 million replacing him for someone nominally better, or probably not better, and risking that money which can be better spent on a winger.

Robert Carney
31 Posted 21/01/2008 at 22:16:21

I cannot believe some of the comments aimed at Hibbert. This lad is blue through and through. A lot of fans looking for success these days believe money is the only way. Therefore local boys get all the stick when instant success does not come. These same fans were having a go early last season on Osman. Strange that people were saying at that time Hibbert could make an England call up. Get off his back, support and give him confidence, we will soon have him back at his tackling best.

Roy Coyne
32 Posted 21/01/2008 at 23:35:25

Ok, Hibbo is not a great player he is a competent full back who has committed the crime of coming through the ranks ? why do fans feel the need to attack players that didn?t cost a fortune? You can guarantee that the Hibberts, Faddys etc are always on the boo boys list. Could some one tell me who has improved with the crowd on his back? Let's just support everyone that wears the shirt.

Michael Tracey
33 Posted 22/01/2008 at 02:42:33

Hibbert is shit! Gives the ball away almost 90 percent of the time. Commits stupid fouls all the time which means constantly getting yellow cards. Can’t cross. So what if he is a Evertonian through and through! Bill Kenright is an Evertonian as well and look how he is trying to fuck up our great club. Hibbert is the mediocrity which unfortunantly so many Everton fans except, from players to new stadiums. A reserve player at best.

Jason Lam
34 Posted 22/01/2008 at 03:12:46

Oh dear that’s really being harsh on Hibbert. A defender’s job first and foremost is to defend, which Hibs is brilliant at. He’s sensible, his head’s screwed on properly, and just goes about to his work. When I see him hoofing the ball down the line I think he’s just playing to his defensive instints - belt the ball as far away from goal and the middle of the park as possible, and away from my shit footwork! I blame the midfielders not running in space to collect the simple pass. How many times has he saves us on the goalline? It’s essential nowadays to have players like Hibs and Cars to do the dirty work in defending, as the ’ladies’ strut their fancy footwork. And when the chips are down, poor weather, you want your ugly bastards to defend the fcuking goal at all costs. Sometimes he’s too sensible for his own good, a ’better’ defender would hack down that Stevie G before he entered the penalty box. Red card? So what? I stopped a clear goal opportunity and was the last man. Look at Marcel Desailly at the World Cup Final 1998. Took the red card like a man and defended as a professional.

He’s never going to be Gary Stevens.

Victor Yu
35 Posted 22/01/2008 at 04:01:04

Could Hibbert be switched to the defensive midfielder role when Carsley moves on?

I always think Hibbert can excel in that role.

Steve Carter
36 Posted 22/01/2008 at 04:56:56

I don’t think Hibbert’s vision, pass and overall skill is good enough for that role, Victor. That said, as I’ve submitted elsewhere on this site umptyump times and as the majority have said above, Tony competently does - indeed, I would say more than competently does - what he is principally paid to do: defend against dangerous, quality EPL - even world class - marauders coming down the left flank: e.g. of recent times, Petrov, Giggs, Ronaldo et. al. Not one of any of the goals that Man U, Arsenal or Chelsea have put past us this year have come from Hibbert being waltzed past or otherwise done down the left, and as Neil suggests, you surely can’t blame him for Gerrard’s penalty (my one blue eyes says Gerrard fouled Hibbo first in any event).

Dominic Duerden
37 Posted 22/01/2008 at 08:58:18

I can’t understand all this about Hibbert being a great defender. Yes I know he played really well against Petrov , but one game doesn’t warrent a new contract.
Opposition teams target him becuase he is so poor in the air and his positional sense is crap. He isn’t good enough , why try and say he is ? I watch every home game and odd away games. I just can’t see why people try to defend him. Phil Neville is an england right back. Moyes , play Phil right back ! it is simple .....

Mike Blackburn
38 Posted 22/01/2008 at 10:31:44

I’m not his biggest fan, but I’d rather have him than not. His tackling is snappy, he seldom gets put on his arse, his distribution could be better...we all know this. I think DM having a core of british players at the back ie Lescott, Baines, Jags, Neville Hibbert is a rare thing in todays game, well done EFC. COYB

Mike_B
39 Posted 22/01/2008 at 11:04:43

Forgot to say, the message this sends out to the other young lads in the acadamy...try this hard like Hibbert and Ossie and you will get the rewards is surely a plus for the feel good vibe the club has at the mo.

Nick Farr
40 Posted 22/01/2008 at 12:26:51

I have to agree with Dominic.

Sure Hibbo works hard for the team and is a strong defender but he is not good on the ball. If we are going to improve as a team we need a right back who is comfortable going forward and overlapping with Arteta. I feel we play a much better brand of football when Phil Neville is at right back.
Any side looking to qualify for the Champions League needs to ask a little more of their full backs than to just defend well. We?ve all seen Lescott causing teams problems by charging down the left flank ...and when Baines has been fit he has shown that he can offer the same. I think we should be looking for something similar on the right.
Having said that, I would still offer him a new contract, he just wouldn?t be my first choice right back.

Rob Hollis
41 Posted 22/01/2008 at 12:49:52

I could not wait for us to sell Hibbert and then we played Arsenal at home. He was superb. I could not believe it was the same player. Since then his game has been good and distribution getting better.

Maybe Moyes has seen on the training ground what we are starting to see on the pitch. I hope he continues to improve. I no longer have that sinking feeling when his name is announced.

Jimmy Hoffa
42 Posted 22/01/2008 at 12:51:54

I think Hibbert sucks when our midfield sucks. Period.

A defender with the ball at his feet has only these options:

a. Pass back to goalie
b. Pass to a midfielder
c. Hack the ball to kingdom come
d. Provide long passes and crosses to forwards

Granted Hibbert is so-so with d. and his only decent option would be b.

But, at times, our midfielders suck so what can Hibbert do?

Tony Williams
43 Posted 22/01/2008 at 13:14:08

I would love to know where all this rubbish about him losing possession 90% of the time comes from Michael. Have you been watching the games this season?

Since we have started to actually play football, Hibbert’s skill has improved. His control is good and his is constantly looking for Arteta to show to give him the ball back.

The only time he hoofs the ball, usually out of play is when he is under pressure and noone is showing for him, exactly the same as what Yobo does nearly every time but I don’t see anyone slagging of Yobo’s distribution or even Lescott’s for that matter.

Ant Hill
44 Posted 22/01/2008 at 13:44:35

You should get off his back he does a much better job defending at right back than phil neville does and atleast when he does get forward he works his nuts off to get back, unlike neville who strolls back while the other team counter attack. Hibbert was our right back when we finished fourth last time and he can be again. Ok. Right back is the weakest part of our defence, but Moyes will probably bring someone in over the next couple of seasons with more quality going forward, but Hibbert is not a bad player to have as a second choice for the future if we are going to push on.

Dave Edwards
45 Posted 22/01/2008 at 14:17:52

As the original poster I’ve been pleased with the debate and the varying degrees of comment on both sides. The odd ’colourful’ comment, but actually quite classy compared to some Toffeeweb threads of late (such as the new stadium debate!)

I did write it in a slightly ’tough-in-cheek’ way, because I’m more surprised by the contract extension than angry or bitter. My considered view of Hibbert matches many of the views expressed. Firstly, he’s a blue, through and through, so get will always get extra respect just for that! He’s been a good enough servant to the club in the years gone by when things have not always gone well, and I also like the youth team continuity and the message that sends out.

However, as a player I do feel he has limited abilities. I think he is a solid defender, and he can shore up a gap very well at times. However, as an attacking defender (something which the modern game demands) he is less confortable and his distribution both along the line and into the box is often weak (to be fair even Neville and Arteta can improve at times in this respect).

In actual fact I’m not that upset by the new contract. I think he’s an able squad player who is an option from the bench (especially when closing up games) and as squad cover when injuries start to leave gaps in our defence. However, as regular or even a semi-regular in the current first team, I will still have doubts about whether the standard of his game is now matching that expected by our improving club and the players around him.

I also think he’s put some better games together of late, and if Moyes is including him tomorrow to put a block on any attacking wing incursions from Chelski, then fair enough. I just think it means it limits our own attacking potential down that flank and so limits our potential to turn over these so-called bigger clubs.

As a long-suffering Evertonian, I’m always anxious when a player starts to do ’Neville-like’ soundbites to goud the opposition, and I hope for once it doesn’t come back to haunt him or us.

Hibbert’s no Titus Bramble, and he remains a competent squad defender, but I think we need to think long-term (even beyond Neville at full back) and look at alternatives in the next few years if we are to maintain the progress we are seeing current.

However...I will not be sad if Hibbert can prove some of us doubters in the next few games (if Carsley can regain his form, as he certainly has this season, then anything is possible).

George Brooks
46 Posted 22/01/2008 at 20:17:33

Great response from a lot of people. i myself have a lot of conflicting views about Hibbert; one game he?s brilliant one game he?s not... and yes, he alway?s puts 100% into his game. But, if you were David Moyes, looking to push on, you would look for a right back a bit more consistent. And yes, before you say it, I know, compared to many other rightbacks in the Premier League, he?s actually not that bad. But as some of you have rightly pointed out, we are going forward. Ok, if we don?t use Hibbert who do we replace him with?

I sincerely hope like you he shoves these thoughts right down my throat!