ToffeeWeb - Season 2009-10

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Call-up for Hibbo!

OK, not from Fabio... it's only Virginmedia's 'team of the week', but the "marauding" Tony gets a bit of recognition for his storming game on Sunday. So it's not just a few TWebbers who made that judgment.

Also, there among the North Londonners is our Bily, stunning goal and all — and I know some would say 'and that's all', but I like the lad and expect very good things next season.

So, if you haven't seen it any other way, the clip (from 3 angles) is on:-

http://www.football.virginmedia.com/page/Football/PremierLeague/VideoIndex/0,,12555,00.html?vid=84041656001&pid=72589572001

... as well as some sparkling stuff from Hibbo. I'm fairly sure the site is open to all — enjoy!
Keith Glazzard, Fallowfield Posted 13/05/2010 at 20:35:30

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Thomas Christensen
1 Posted 14/05/2010 at 13:16:34

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I'd like to see much much more from the Tony Hibbert we saw against Pompey next season. With him darting into the box running with the call causing panic, if him and Baines can maintain this it is potentially a great weapon.

Something only the top 3 really exploit effectively. Capello will also be using this tactic in the summer — fingers crossed.

Task list for Moyes:-
Pace on the wing;
Goals from the strikers;
More forward play from full-backs.

Peter Warren
2 Posted 14/05/2010 at 13:50:57

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Thomas, what are you on? Tony Hibbert — he is not potentially a great weapon. I just don't see this MotM performance from him against Portsmouth that people are going on about. He was not a threat, I never expect him to score or create and the team in general were garbage.

Let's pretend for one minute he was dangerous, we were playing Portsmouth who rested players for Cup Final and finished bottom. Give me a break.

More creativity is required, as too is a striker.

Thomas Christensen
3 Posted 14/05/2010 at 14:36:20

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Hahahah - Peter, I had to think very carefully before I wrote that. If Tony plays next season like he did against Pompey and Stoke (I understand he had a similar performance there also MotM as well) he will be a hero — like a new signing.

Tony was a changed man —he was all action. I reckon he'd been on the Red Bull before.

Dan McKie
4 Posted 14/05/2010 at 14:36:12

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I certainly noticed Tony Hibbert's performance on Sunday, but I'm one of the fans who think those kind of performances from him are not so rare.

Attacking wise, I have always thought it's a mixture of both poor final ball (ie, goes off for a throw), or a great ball just begging for a forward to be in there to throw themselves at it (which Everton have often lacked for as long as I can remember).

As for Bily, he has contributed in some important games whilst not having a season to remember, but this time last year we were all saying exactly the same about Fellaini.

Gordon Blair
5 Posted 14/05/2010 at 14:38:03

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Hibbo's ace - I agree with you there Thomas, but I have a sneaking suspicion that when he started running into the box with the ball, he caused more panic in himself than the opposition.

Seamus, on the other hand... the good work he's been doing in Blackpool's promotion push hints that he may be able to do the marauding job you're after.

On another note, should we be unfortunate enoughto lose Pienaar after the WC, the blow could be mitigated by using the money to pull in N'Zogbia and Donovan for either flank, they should give us a bit of pace, balance and width for a moderate outlay.

Jamie Morgan
6 Posted 14/05/2010 at 15:01:53

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Well it's Friday and that made me laugh.

He is a decent squad player, cover at right back at the very best. We have Neville and Coleman next year so I see him fringe at best.

On Sunday we were garbage... luckily Portsmouth were worse!

Gavin Ramejkis
7 Posted 14/05/2010 at 16:31:27

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Jamie, unless you haven't watched the last few games, Neville has been consistently shite in the RB role and the team's weak link, in the few chances Hibbert has played there he has put in a better shift. He may not be great going forward, and on Sunday he had as many good crosses as shite ones, I personally think he's a better defender than Neville.

Aidy Dews
8 Posted 14/05/2010 at 16:43:04

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Gavin, you're right mate, Neville as been shite at times at RB this season and although Hibbert attacking-wise isn't the best and his crossing more than not lets him down, I do think he's better at getting forward than Neville.

In the second part of the season, Neville didn't really offer us much of an outlet on the right like Baines does down the left and defensively he's shit too. Hibbert defensively is one of the best at the club and I think he's better at getting forward and giving an outlet attacking-wise than Captain Nev, IMO.

Ray Robinson
9 Posted 14/05/2010 at 19:19:46

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So, Tony is developing that side of his game finally — after 8 years or so? Give me a break, please! We need a new right back — Coleman may or may not be the answer... Neville certainly isn't.

Joe Grundy
10 Posted 14/05/2010 at 23:24:49

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I think Tony deserves some praise for the obvious improvements to the attacking side of his game. No-one can deny that he can defend well but his attacking has always let him down... but hopefully next season he can carry on the way he has finished this season and also score his first goal.

Jip Foster
11 Posted 15/05/2010 at 09:08:22

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I think he's spent his time out of the team on Toffeeweb reading what the fans think about him and he's tried to improve his game accordingly. Let's see what next season brings. Although I wouldn't pass up the chance of a new RB.

Jim Hourigan
12 Posted 15/05/2010 at 09:29:10

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Can't pass, can't head, no peripheral vision, poor first touch often leads to a rushed second one, crosses rarely hit their target, never threatens the opposition goal and contributes little or nothing going forward... hold on — he's enthusiastic, willing and a good runner — but so's my dog.

Get real, he has one decent game and people think he's a Premier League player — he's a poor excuse for a right back but because he's a local lad, people want to support him. If he was a Johnny Foreigner, he'd have been lynched by now.

Ste Lewis
13 Posted 15/05/2010 at 09:31:04

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Watching Coleman in pressure games in the two play-off semi-finals, it was a treat knowing that he's ours. A really good prospect if ever there was one.

If Blackpool go up, it might not be a bad idea to let him stay for a season in the Prem. He'll play every game, will certainly be made to do some defending, and will be Prem hardened for us the following season.

He has something no right back on our books has: real comfort on the ball and a natural attacking instinct. Look at his run across the box and reverse pass in the build up to Blackpool's first leg equaliser — great. Actually scrap that, if I was Moyes, I would be tempted to send him marauding down the flanks for us next season in a few select games.

A limited Hibbert showed what panic a forward thinking right back can cause driving into the box. Oh I don't know. A nice dilemma to have I suppose.

Tony J Williams
14 Posted 15/05/2010 at 11:04:43

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Jim, my mate is exactly the same as you and I had a bet with him last Sunday against Pompey, I said that he would deliver more successful ones than unsuccessful ones because what he does when he controls the ball, unsually first time, unless somewhat twats it at him waist height, is to look for the pass to either the wing or inside to Arteta because he knows he can't take on players.

I won the bet very comfortably. He is our best "defender" and is now beginning to get better at going forward, let's not forget his penalty when he dived in the box against Burnley, which Saha went on to miss!

A lot of people cannot see past the way he used to play and are now blind to his obvious improvement. Go Tony, give us a goal so we can riot!

Martin Mason
15 Posted 15/05/2010 at 12:03:27

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I rate Tony Hibbert very highly and over the years he's been a great asset for the club. A very good defender with poor distribution skills. Hibbert gets slagged for it, Jags get excused for it.

He's had a bad spell and Evertonians, as they do, have immediately got on his back but remember we have a problem in RM that makes it harder for him. Maybe every week he does exactly as he's told to by the coaches and on Sunday he was told to be more adventurous? He's twice the defender Cap'n Phil is.

Hibbert is the least of our problems. Today's Times reeported that both United and Chelsea are bidding for Rodwell and that Chelsea had a £15 million bid turned down flat last year.

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