New two-year deal for Hibbert

It’s not helping Roberto being in Brazil, working for ESPN — he should be back home overseeing new signings.

By the way, I donÂ’t think Barry should have a three-year deal. I canÂ’t see anyone else giving him one.

He will likely take his coaching badges over the next couple of years and then stick around at Finch Farm long-term as part of Roberto's backroom staff.

Tony was very much the burning oil type of footballer during Moyes's tenure: limited abilities but wholehearted and always gives 100%.

That said, I would love it if he ever did manage to score... Wouldn't we all just riot!!?!?

With our wage budget, thereÂ’s no room for loyalty contracts; we have enough aging players as it is. We should have used this opportunity to wish Hibbo All the Best, then let him move on.

Again, sorry, Tony, as you have been a great servant... but we have no money so we shouldnÂ’t give away free loyalty contracts.

As such, we need some wise old heads like Osman and Hibbert to guide the youngsters. Plus, would you rather have Barkley and Co being guided by one-club true blues or by journeymen mercenaries?

RM has gone down in the judgement stakes for me after this one.

I have faith in Martinez but IÂ’m not sure if he is going to be able to pull another rabbit out of the hat with signings like Barry, Lukaku and Deulofeu on the last day of the transfer window again. We need a top striker and a central midfielder as a priority. IÂ’d rather some of our kids had a go than bringing in some journeymen but we are reaching the 11th hour again.

Last year, we had to put up with Jelavic as our striker for the first few games; against WBA at home he gave away three fouls and four offsides in the first 70 minutes before being replaced, thatÂ’s a free kick every 10 minutes to the opposition.

Arguably the tepid draws in our first few games cost us a Champions League spot. Signing Hibbo is a no-brainer with the extra games in Europe, but I donÂ’t enjoy transfer windows.

I predict a harder season. Man Utd will be better, so will all the other top 4 teams.

Personally, I don't give a monkey's what the lot across the park do, but it does irk that we are yet to sign anyone and seem to leave it till the last possible moment when it's virtually impossible to fully integrate new players into the squad. It would be good to get new bods signed and in the door.

Chuffed for Hibbo. Why should we begrudge him his right to another 㾶k-a-week contract? We need numbers for Thursday nights.

I know he said a few weeks back that most of our business would be towards the end of the transfer window. Now is that to save paying players for July when they don't exactly start playing till mid-August? Or is it because our manager will still be working for ESPN till nearly the end of July?

He will be used for the Europa League games and cup matches probably and if, God forbid, anything happens to Coleman, who is going to stand in? An untried youngster? Or Stones, who looked shite when played there?

Good bit of business in my eyes.

A two-year contract, for someone who has played seven Premier League games in the last two seasons, is absurd. We could have got a top Championship defender, or lesser Prem defender (Simpson or Ridgewell? – wasn't he on a free?) for next to nothing, who could have been a better stand-in at a younger age.

I liked Hibbert, but he is 33 now, is limited, and has barely featured of late. He should have been given a one-year deal, or we should have let him go.

I think the lack of transfers in a World Cup year is usual, but Martinez's job for ESPN is a little frustrating despite the World Cup context. His interactions with the Dutch squad suggest he is doing some World Cup scouting at least (or was).

I'm personally hanging on to an optimistic theory: We are waiting for Belgium to get eliminated so we can work out a deal for Lukaku, or at the very least, waiting to see if he will be available once the World Cup has finished.

If we do not spend 㿊-40mil this summer, it will go down for me as one of the biggest BK letdowns. We will receive around 㿊mil extra in TV money, have made a massive profit on transfer dealings, and have cut wages and trimmed the squad admirably. BK has been poor for us of late but, even with our financial issues, we can afford a good outlay this summer, and deserve it as well.

We needed to shake his hand and lead him to the door.

Imagine a Europa League fixture against average opposition with a defensive line consisting of Garbutt on the left, Browning and Stones in the middle, and a seasoned Hibbo on the right. Looking forward to it!

And to those criticising Roberto's presence at the World Cup, do you really think he would sacrifice the possibility of future success at Everton for few weeks of work/holiday in Brazil? I don't see any problem at all with his engagement. He will still be able to work, and scout, for us while he's there.

We have a case in the PL where a club's manager is not only at the World Cup, but in fact managing one of the teams. And they still make signings. Martinez could do the same if he wanted to. A bigger obstacle is that lots of players and agents are holding out until after the competition, hoping for a boost to transfer value and wages.

So, over the next 2 years, weÂ’ll pay out ٠-3M for a 3rd choice RB whoÂ’ll hardly play – not too impressed with that at all. Surely a one-year deal with an option for one more would have been better.

If he was actually going to play regularly then it wouldnÂ’t be an issue. WeÂ’re far too soft when it comes to old players, the likes of Weir, Stubbs, Cahill, Saha etc all kept on well past their sell-by dates.

(Before people go on about extra games in the Europa League, there are only 6 extra games to play until the end of February – hardly a massive extra load.)

Only thing we don't know about is the non-playing influence he has at the club, for example during training. If he genuinely adds value to our young players, then I'd say its worth it. Otherwise, I think a poor decision.

It should be a riot of a season!

All due respect mate.

If Hibbert is not in the mould RM is looking for,who do you think made the decision to give him the 2 year contract?

I suspect he'll be with us for one more season due to the volume of games (hopefully) ahead this season.

Surely some wisdom there to be handed down to the youngsters, and I'm pretty sure Seamus would be first to celebrate his influence. For that alone, long may he be around.

Sign Gareth Barry too.