ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Tony Hibbert

I've changed my mind about Tony Hibbert.

Whenever Moyes used to pick him above Pip at RB I used wince and think in horror about Hibbo's late miss-timed challenges and his route-one style of playing football.

On evidence of the last few games, it finally looks like the penny has dropped, Hibbert is starting to think more about his game. He is passing the ball to feet and linking-up with his wide mid-fielder, going on over-lapping runs. His tackling also has been more selective and less reckless.

Watching him play on Sunday, you could almost hear him thinking when he had the ball, making a big effort not to just hump the ball aimlessly up the field, but to find a team mate with a well directed pass.

Well played Tony, keep it up!
Brian Baker, Aldershot Posted 06/05/2008 at 15:11:11

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Comments

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Mike Allison
1 Posted 06/05/2008 at 20:29:52

Having been massively critical of him in the past I think its only fair to accept when he’s done well, which he has done at times this season. I still only see him as a back up though, and look forward to signing enough quality midfielders in the summer that Neville doesn’t have to be used there and can establish some form at right back.

Ray Robinson
2 Posted 06/05/2008 at 20:31:48

Brian, I agree that Hibbo is a genuine bloke who has really has played well recently by his standards but I’m not convinced by a couple of reasonable perfomances. If you look back at when he came into the team 6 years ago, he hasn’t really improved one iota in my opinion.

Keith Glazzard
3 Posted 06/05/2008 at 20:24:28

When Moyes extended his contract, I wondered if he thought that he had an improving player to work with. No doubt about Tony Hibbert as a squad member, but more than that?

Team news on Sunday said a lot. For me, Hibbo’s pace and tackle against the ’young’ Arse made sense. But that only comes at the expense of Neville going up into midfield. And he might have been horribly exposed by the like of Walcott at fullback anyway.

So where are we? Phil Neville has many admirable qualities which belong in the first team squad. As does Hibbo - and he might be getting better as Moyes & Co work with him.

The point has to be that these good lads support the larger, high quality squad we need to pursue position and eventually success in England and Europe.

Jay Campbell
4 Posted 06/05/2008 at 22:06:42

You’ll be getting sectioned with post’s like that mate.

Utter sh*te!!!!

Kevin Mitchell
5 Posted 06/05/2008 at 22:59:00

Can’t understand what your looking at Brian, Hibbert made a couple of decent tackles but his all round game was the same as usual, crap.
We’ve been watching him for the last 5/6 seasons now and it dosn’t get any better.
At best he may do a decent job in the championship or league one. You really need to up your expectations.

Mike Coates
6 Posted 07/05/2008 at 03:03:49

I was impressed with Hibbert, actually he’s been doing well in his recent games (I never doubted his sliding tackle) but just when I was thinking he was doing great, changing his playing style, running up front, I got an awful feeling of dread on the counter attack that cost us the game, as I believe Hibbert had just run forward and had to rush back and no one was there to avert the final pass that created Arsenals goal :(

Eric Myles
7 Posted 07/05/2008 at 06:41:04

Mike Coates, I remember that happening in another game too, where Carsley failed to make the Hibbert tackle and the opposition scored.
And what happened? Hibbert got slated on here for being out of position.
Seems he’s damned if he does and damned if he don’t.

Ben Howard
8 Posted 07/05/2008 at 10:44:15

I noticed a concerted effort from Tony on Sunday not to hoof the ball and I thought he had a great game. In fact I think Davie may have had a word with the whole back 4 finally. Howard wasn’t lumping the ball forward at every opportunity either. Jags was making himself available every time for Howard to throw to and then Manny was making himself available for Jags. How silly that I was applauding that in my head.