Wednesday 2 December 2009, 19:26
by Matthew Gamble @efc_mattgamble
David Moyes said he was proud of Everton's players after their win in Athens.
And he reserved special praise for Tony Hibbert, who was operating out of position at centre half because of the absence of Joseph Yobo on the night he equalled a Club record for appearances in European competition.
The Toffees triumphed 1-0 in Greece thanks to a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov goal and qualified for the Europa League knockout phase with a game to spare.
But they had to fight for it, losing two players through injury in the first half and then seeing Jo limp off after the break.
Moyes told evertonTV: "I am always proud of the players but it was a good result and it gets us through.
"He (Hibbert) has done great in Europe, he's a 'small' centre-back but he's quick and sharp and knows where to be. Tony Hibbert has been a great player for Everton."
The Everton boss was also pleased with the way youngsters Shane Duffy, Seamus Coleman and Jose Baxter performed, but admitted he would rather introduce them to senior football more gradually.
"I am pleased with how the young boys who came on and did," added Moyes.
"It's great experience for them; one or two are maybe stepping up a bit soon but it's needs must at the moment."
- Latest News
- Most Popular
Wigan
Everton
Stoke
Your Comments
Please login to post a comment.
The views below are submitted by registered users of evertonfc.com and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton Football Club.
brennan finnegan
From the WORST jrun of form in recent years to one of the BEST performances considering all the injury problems. Credit to all the young lads and the rest of the team. One minus was the fact that Yak may never raise to previous heights. Special mention to Bily for that confident strike remembering his miss v Red Robbins. COYBs v TOTTERS
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 19:06
Agree with brennan?
robert hill
great result in greece, sooooooooooooo glad to see hibbo at his best, but please save the best till last! take note: no heitinga, distin (for most of match) no jo, no neil and we win!! hibbo played like he should. a good old fashioned defender. if he does well at the spurs match he may go back up in my ratings!! keep it up hibbo!! COYB.................!
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 18:55
Agree with robert?
francis donnarumma
Hibbert is fantastic! one of the best tacklers in the prem!! I think jo did well too. not as clinical as Yak but makes nore chances and chases constantly! I think injurys are past bad luck now. its 2 players every game it seems. soon we wont manage to put out 11 players!! COYB
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 18:28
Agree with francis?
Neil Maver
Well done the whole team!
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 17:10
Agree with Neil?
Mick Egan
So glad to read all the great comments about Hibbo, who I think has had a raw deal of late. We all know he is no international, but so what, he is blue thru and thru and you can't knock his commitment to the cause when he's on that pitch!!! WELL DONE HIBBO another solid performance and again out of position! Take note boo boys, he never moans like others have, he just gets on with it!!! COYB!!!!!
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 15:17
Agree with Mick?
Di Wu
It‘s a good lesson for the young players. Hibbert is a good teacher for them. Mental is more important than physical sometimes.
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 15:15
Agree with Di?
Bryony Parsons
I think everyone knows how much I love Tony Hibbert (as is apparent from my facebook group!) and this is yet again another example of him being proffessional, just getting on with it. He doesn't moan when he's dropped, or sulk when he's asked to play in a different position. As others have said, always gives 110% and is the scapegoat for Evertonians far too much. Give the lad some credit!
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 14:56
Agree with Bryony?
steve barkwill
glad to see so my good comments on hibbo, he seems to be singled out with a mistake here n there.. but look at distin against spurs, yobo against liverpool, n even jags with the mistake against villa last year, but we've gotta get behind him like we do the rest!! if he left we'd be gagging for him, especially with our current squad crisis! maybe he should play centre back?!?!?!?...... we'done hibbs!!!
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 13:56
Agree with steve?
steve carroll
proud to be blue! hibbo excellent at centre back last night, congrats on equalling brian labone & colin harveys euro appearances & still more to come. peanut you were everything that epitomises the everton spirit, non stop workrate and midfield quality with a never say die spirit, what an example to the young lads (seamus, shane & jose) who came in and did us proud. felli great in the holding role, timmy back to nearer his best, great shift from jo, tim did what was needed in goal and billy made the net bulge! please yak take note of the workrate of your teamates, i know you are not fully fit but that does not mean you dont give 100%, goals dont come if you dont put the effort in, remember nil satis nisi optimum!!
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 13:25
Agree with steve?
Daniel mitchell
I always thought hibbos time had passed but he defyed that last night and proved hes a top quality player and deserves to be a rergular in the squad and its great to be in the knock out stages. COYB!!!!!
Report comment
Thursday 3rd Dec 2009 12:31
Agree with Daniel?