Coleman hails Hibbert hails Osman

Lyndon Lloyd , 24 November, 10comments | Jump to most recent

Much admiration is being directed at two of Everton's veteran players after their efforts in more unfamiliar roles helped the Blues to a 2-1 win over West Ham on Saturday.

Seamus Coleman lauded Tony Hibbert for stepping into the void left by Leighton Baines' hamstring injury to play at left back as Roberto Martinez's men ground out an important win against difficult opponents.

“Tony ... was fantastic," Coleman said on evertonfc.com. "He stepped in at left-back and once again he didn't let Everton down."

The Irishman explained that his rival for the first-choice right-back slot at Goodison has been a mentor for him since arriving as an unknown from Sligo Rovers in 2009.

“I can't say enough about Tony. We are in the same position but he has been brilliant with me since I stepped into the Club. He's there for advice and someone I look up to massively in the way he goes about his work. All the fans here really appreciate him.”

Hibbert, meanwhile, was full of praise for Leon Osman who was deployed in a more defensive midfield role in the absence of Gareth Barry and yet still managed to score the winning goal, tearing forward on the counter-attack to slide home Samuel Eto'o's low cross 17 minutes from time.

“He was brilliant — that's Ossie all over," Hibbert effused. "He scores so many important goals for us and to get 400 appearances was a credit to him and his family.

"He's a great lad and he deserves everything that has been said about him over the last few weeks since his testimonial dinner.

“For me he's up there with the best players I've seen at the club over the years. You can class him as a legend. Everything about him is different class; on the pitch and on the training ground."

Reader Comments (10)

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Tony Sullivan
1 Posted 24/11/2014 at 22:18:54

It is interesting the way fellow professionals view their colleagues.

No doubt many on here will dispute the praise given here, but it is a change to get a view from the Â’insideÂ’.

Kev Johnson
4 Posted 24/11/2014 at 23:13:32

Compare and contrast to the interview with Distin on Everton TV...

Link

SylvainÂ’s not quite playing the game, is he?

Ernie Baywood
5 Posted 25/11/2014 at 07:13:11

Leon Osman: Legend?

Would make an interesting discussion thread.

Jimmy-Ã…ge Sørheim
6 Posted 25/11/2014 at 09:37:18

Osman seems to have blossomed after getting that new contract. But as I seem to recall he has done very well in that central position before.

Barkley and Naismith are not wingers and Martinez NEEDS to get that! He is destroying their confidence by playing them out of position.

Also, Martinez still can not find his best eleven and stick to it.After Mirallas was injured Martinez has been all over the place.

I would tell him to recall Matt Kennedy and use him and Atsu instead.

I see a pattern of Martinez bringing players back from injury too early and he has paid the price for it with recurring injuries on key players. I think Martinez has loads to learn before he can be considered a top class manager.

Harold Matthews
7 Posted 25/11/2014 at 10:23:32

Osman's link-up play with Eto'o was magical.

Dennis Stevens
8 Posted 25/11/2014 at 10:15:21

I think that playing a game is exactly what Distin's doing, Kev.

Tony J Williams
9 Posted 25/11/2014 at 12:24:22

What does he know, hey?

Mike Childs
10 Posted 25/11/2014 at 17:47:45

Harold you're not stealing phrases from Ray Hudson now are you? Just kidding. Ole Ray does go on sometimes.

But I do agree it was magical to see a Blue shirt tearing into the box. Something I wish Romu would do more. He seems to always want it where he wants instead of just going to the net and let the others find him.

Geoff Evans
11 Posted 26/11/2014 at 12:11:20

Osman and Hibbert are top pros. We’re lucky to have them. Pros who love the club like we do and behave accordingly. I’ve seen them both play poorly but I’ve never seen either of them hide or give less than their best.

Dan Parker
12 Posted 26/11/2014 at 15:23:58

Well said, Geoff. Players like Ossie and Hibbo are the backbone of the club, an Evertonian core of the squad that you can rely on to pull you out of trouble when it's really needed. Might not put on dazzling displays week in week out but they'll sit on the bench without complaint and stand up when counted.

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