Moyes looking to take the next step

Really? Well why persist with the same old right back from Walter's team? That's not what I call ambition

Because he's a good right back.

Who's a good right back?

Me and my cousin were talking about this at the Newcastle game, who's the last good right back we've had?

For me it was Steve Watson but my cousin didn't even rate him and had to go as far back as Snodin.

Hibbert is a good squad man and has started the season well. He had a good game the other night...
I will be really interested to see tomorrow's team sheet,because I have detected a slight change in Davey's approach this season. He made attacking subs prior to us losing at WBA. Also, we didn't sit back to protect 1-0 having taken the lead against Newcastle. Plus the signings of Mirallas and Naismith - I think he is being a bit more ambitious with his tactics.
That said,he may well revert to type tomorrow,and pack the midfield with Heitinga,Neville and Coleman. But if he picks the same team that played against Newcastle (apart from Jelavic), then that will be a statement of intent that he has confidence in the team to go there & win.
By the way, I never thought I'd say this,but I hope he plays Anichebe in place of Jelavic. The lad deserves it, not just based on last Monday but for quite a few of his goal scoring cameos last year.

Well, maybe with David Moyes, if he learnt how to read a game properly and understand how to change things round when the gameplan fails, or how to say NO to his favourites, he might learn HIS fundamental tactics are a mistake!

Moyes has to face up to these dilemmas, once and for all. A large number us fans have identified these failings constantly.

Hibbert is a very good defender and whilst he's not the best going forward he's not as bad as some on her make out. There aren't many left wingers who get the better of him.
I'd certainly pick him for my team before England's current right back glen Johnson!!

Hibbo should be in the team ahead of "the untouchables" Jags, Distin & Neville on current form.
Can't believe the stick he takes on this site.

Hibbo is one of the best defensive right backs in the Premier League but his forward play isn't up to Bainsey's on the left side (but then whose is?). The only player I have seen in the Premier League that could bring the same defensive and attacking qualities of our left side to our right side is Micah Richards. Along with Mirallas, he would really make a difference and help us challenge for the top.

Hibbert is absolute rubbish going forward. He lets our team down when attacking. The vast majority of our good attacking play comes down the left with Baines and Pienaar. Football nowadays requires a full back to be both good and confident in defense and also when attacking and that is something that we lack. The last match against Newcastle was a glaring example of this. We on the whole have a better team than last year, we look more potent when attacking but we need to sort out some issues like why are Hibbert, Osman and Neville still in our first 11 - sometimes it feels like we are playing with 8 men. This is something Moyes has failed to address and something he must take the blame for.

In an ideal world Graham, we could merge Hibbo with Baines.

Right, firstly Hibbert is fucking gash. Absolute garbage - he's unimaginative and he has no place in a team claiming to be attacking the very top end of the Premier League. Sorry to those who think disagree but there we go.

Secondly, I actually think we're in a new phase of Moyes' leadership - we're buying better players, and we're playing bold football (though same frailties persist as per Newcastle) in a different style. Look at the first half an hour against Newcastle, the best moments against Villa and Utd, we're fluid and attacking... Modern even.

Should add to that we're still lacking about four new faces though. Osman in particular shouldn't get near the first team - I cannot believe that some people want him to get the England call. He's so far off playing for England he's about level with me on that score.

Brian are you serious. Look at Leighton, now that is a proper fullback. It is not hard. I don't blame Tony he plays when he is picked. Neville is a better player in this position.

Paul are you serious? You're comparing Hibbert to a man who could probably lay claim to being not only one of the best Left Backs in Everton's history but one of the best in world football at the moment. Look at the top teams in the prem, Evra, Clichy/Kolarov, Gibbs, Naughton/BAE. Baines is superior to all of these, he's probably only on a par with Alba and Maicon in Spain. He absolutely destroyed Newcastle and is a once in a generation attacking fullback. Like I've just pointed out, there's not even enough players of his quality to go around all the top clubs with unlimited budgets. You're not just going to stumble across a rightsided version within an affordable price range. Glen Johnson can't defend and he cost 17.5 million. We may as well put in a bid for Dani Alves if you want someone of equal ability to Baines to be bombing down the right. We've been short of mney over the years and everyone has been crying out for attacking players, Moyes has spent his money on these quite happy with the quality he has available at the back. This includes Hibbert who is defensively near perfect and has worked hard on his getting forward to the point where I saw a stat that he actually had more assists last year than Baines (2 of them at Old Trafford). Not every player in our team can be one of the world's best in his position. Criticism of Hibbert, Neville and Osman is baffling, yes they have bad games (like Fellaini and Baines do), but to they are not premier league standard is laughable. Three of them have been in the league for over a decade, Neville has a ton of medals, they all have a load of European caps, they've been ever presents in teams that have finished consistently in the top 6. Must have been some miracle that we achieved all those finishes always playing with 8 men all the time. Redknapp even wanted to buy Neville, must be because he's not premier league standard, of course all three have ntohing to do with the initial good form we've been showing this season or the continued run of form the team showed last season, nothing to do with them at all.

Hibbo hasn't put a foot wrong this season. The lad has been an absolute class act for Everton and the game in general if you ask me – a magnificent servant for our great club.

Yes, his distribution is questionable at times but I defy anyone on here to name a club over the last 10 years that have had a right back who's been as consistent as Tony. I can't understand the grief he gets on here at times...

Mark my word: when he's gone, we will miss him. Many have tried to dislodge him over the years but not one has succeeded. I personally think it's because he's a local lad he's an easy target; well, not in my eyes – he's a gem and does what it says on the tin.

James I actually like Phil Neville, I think his experience has been vital. I also think he was superb, almost without fault against Man Utd in central midfield.

Osman, while he doesn't deserve the vitriol perhaps, is useless. While there are those who think he's treated badly, there also those like myself, who think he's bizarrely over-rated and too fondly thought of.

Hibbert is a rare old bloody case - an extremely limited player who has seemingly hung around like a bad smell for ten years.

Real shame that Kyle Naugton never worked out or Hibbert would now be at Leeds or somewhere doing a solid but rather unspectacular job.

Kyle Naughton couldn't lace Hibbo's boots.

One thing that frustrates me when I watch us play is that, as good a combination as Baines & Pienaar are down the left & a real joy to watch, everytime we get the ball we look to go left. Sometimes we have the ball on the right & have to work the ball across midfield to get it to one of the lads.

The frustrating thing is that we could have a similar attacking threat on the right with Coleman at right back & Mirallas in front of him. Just think sometimes, when we go down the right, it's not happening for us, so we look to switch the ball to the left, taking about four or five passes across the middle in the process & giving the opposition a chance to get back behind the ball.

Actually liked Matt Jackson but Royle loved Barrett who made Hubberf look like Cafu going forward

You're right Mark, Hibbert is a rare old bloody case, a defender who can defend. He's probably the best tackler in the Prem, the amount of times he's got Jags or Ossie out of the shit with a perfectly timed tackle is unbelievable. Yes, he's no Baines going forward, but with a better player infront of him I bet his attacking will improve no end. Mirallas could be the answer I hope, if he's given a run of consecutive games to get an understanding with Hibbo.

Is this the same hibbert who had ronaldo in his pocket every year when cristiano was in his pomp at utd? Or the one who has got the better of most left wingers over the past 10 ?
He's an easy target on here while others (ie fellani) are treated as a demi god who can do no wrong??

Brian @110, Brian@136, The best left back we ever had was Ray Wilson. In one World Cup he was awarded a trophy as the most acomplished player in any department.
Evertonians never needed to worry when the ball was played down his wing. With a minimum of fuss Ray would deal with the situation and usually set us off on the attack.
Hibbert is a good defensive player but I wish he would stay a few yards closer to his man.

"Hibbert is absolute rubbish going forward. He lets our team down when attacking."

That was true a few years ago, not any more. He's clearly not as good as Baines, but then neither is any other full back in the league (barring possibly Ashley Cole, who's generally touted as the best left back in the world and has a nice shiny Champions League medal at home). If you need evidence, watch Man United 4-4 Everton from last season. His crossing has improved hugely, and he has learnt to cope with his technical shortcomings much better than he used to.

http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/features/120921/being-liverpool-documentary-trailer-they-didnt-want-you-see-181457

Graham #122, the vast majority of our attacking play comes from the left not because Hibbert is rubbish going forward but because we don't have someone like Pienaar playing in front of him on the right.

The times Coleman has played there Hibbert has always had to bail him out of the blind alleys he gets himself into. Osman is useless there but when Donovan plays there though it's a different story.

Hibbert is in my opinion one of the best RBs in the country. He doesn't have the best skills going forward but he's a phenomenal defender. A league above Watson for me.

Tommy Wright was a dream RB, Stephens was also not bad, Tony's not in their league but he's a good honest player who's been a grreat servant for the club.

Hibbert is a good RB but all too often he is left exposed by a weak the Right Wing of the Everton team. Put a player of the likes of Pienaar in front of him and watch how good he really is.

Bit amazed that an OP about kicking on to the next level ends up as a debate about Hibbo.

Anyway, for what it's worth, Hibbo is one of the most reliable and solid defenders we have had. His obvious limitations going forward are more than made up for by his solid defending, robust tackling as well as his uncomplaining and loyal nature. Proper pro – as opposed to a lot of the prima donnas who think they are better than they are.

Can one of you perennial Hibbert bashers tell me what he's done wrong this season?

One of our more consistent players... with hardly any duff crosses.

Tiny Hibbert, best tackler in the modern game, end of.

Kevin, I think John Terry might disagree with you there.

Hibbo is not the best right back in England but he is the best right back at Everton so we will have to make do untill we get a better one. Hibbert needs a good right winger in front off him to help him out, he is always left exposed and then gets blamed for it because he has to do two players' jobs... so lay off him — he gives his best every time he plays. As I said, he is not the best... but he is the best we have.

Baines maybe the best attacking left-back in Europe, but the defensive side of his game isen't the greatest. Give him Hibbert's defensive qualities and you would have the ultimate full back.