Seasons » 2013-14 » Rumour Mill
Irvine looks to tempt Hibbert to WBA
New West Bromwich Albion boss, Alan Irvine, sees a role a for veteran defender Tony Hibbert at the Hawthorns according to the Daily Mail, while the Daily Star claim the former Blues' Academy Director is also after Jack Rodwell.Hibbert's contract at Everton is up this summer but Roberto Martinez sees him as an important member of the squad and possibly envisages a coaching role of him.
Hibbert is expected to be offered a new deal by the Blues but Irvine could offer a new challenge to the one-club man as he takes over the WBA hot-seat following the departure of Pepe Mel.
He has already brought in former Blue Joleon Lescott on a free transfer from Manchester City and is eyeing more experienced personnel if this report is correct.
Original Source: Daily Mail

Reader Comments
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374 Posted 22/06/2014 at 01:15:26
If he’s recovered from his injury, he’ll get some game time next season.
375 Posted 22/06/2014 at 01:40:10
384 Posted 22/06/2014 at 07:08:07
If he decides to go then I’ll wish him all the best. One of the true quiet men of the game, and with his Carp Farm investment in France, has already planned for a life away from the game – no punditry or coaching licenses for him.
Quick question: my earliest memory of Hibbo was at a game at the Boleyn. He started, and I’d never heard of him. A colleague (actually a Hammer) took a spare ticket off me, and mentioned he looked in his early 30s in the warm up! I think he was "tackled" by Stuart Pearce, resulting in a red card for Pearce, a penalty for us scored by Unsworth (??) and an eventual 2-0 win. Anyone confirm this??
Oh and he’s still a dead ringer for Vladimir Putin.
385 Posted 22/06/2014 at 07:14:30
387 Posted 22/06/2014 at 07:55:57
389 Posted 22/06/2014 at 08:31:20
If he wants to play week-in & week-out, then I wouldn’t begrudge him a move. It’s just one more player we’d have to replace though.
392 Posted 22/06/2014 at 09:00:11
I can’t see there being anything in this Hibbert talk but I can see Hibbo being offered a player/coach role and then he’ll just go into coaching as he’s been struggling for fitness this past season.
I wonder if Hibbert will get put forward for the U-21s role with Stubbsy & Unsworth going north of the border?!
404 Posted 22/06/2014 at 10:17:30
407 Posted 22/06/2014 at 10:22:49
I would be happy whatever he decides to do. Great club man and deserves the best for himself. Useful squad member still but we need to be blooding the likes of Browning this season.
As Paul Ferry says above, it would be typical if he left and then scored against us. I suspect that would raise the biggest cheer of the day, regardless.
Good luck, Tony!
413 Posted 22/06/2014 at 11:05:50
415 Posted 22/06/2014 at 11:14:00
416 Posted 22/06/2014 at 11:14:19
424 Posted 22/06/2014 at 11:53:53
426 Posted 22/06/2014 at 11:57:22
Even more so if it was against us!
Realistically though, he got very little game time last season, although he was well acquainted with the bench on several occasions. I can’t see that changing this coming season, but also can’t really see him uprooting to the Baggies at this stage of his career either.
434 Posted 22/06/2014 at 14:01:56
Maybe Hibbert could replace Unsworth as assistant coach (while continuing to play for one further season) of the reserves with a more experienced man taking over from Stubbs as the main coach.
A David Weir/Tony Hibbert dream team maybe?
Editorial Team
445 Posted 22/06/2014 at 15:50:24
That West Ham game was indeed his debut, back in 2001.
And our Match Report includes this:
The breakthrough, however, came on the stroke of half-time, thanks to a moment of madness from veteran defender Stuart Pearce who was booked for a foul Ferguson before scything down Hibbert in the area barely a minute later, handing Everton a penalty and earning him a red card from referee Andy D’Urso.
Great memory!
454 Posted 22/06/2014 at 16:55:34
Very charitable, Peter.
As always, the player can only give his best, 100% every time he plays. Which Tony does every time.
459 Posted 22/06/2014 at 18:28:09
Manchester United's former manager began this soul-selling and now he is joined by evil Irvine pouncing not on someone who doesn't matter like Jag-hoof-howler but fisherman and England under-21 international Anthony James Hibbert.
What next? Alan - 'hey wayne sorted... hey LB got a minute' - Stubbs swooping from his Easter Road perch to grab poor unsuspecting Shane Duffy? Where will it all end: Hibs for Hibbo or Hibbo for Hibs?
461 Posted 22/06/2014 at 18:43:41
His weakness is the offensive play. He runs and dependes on his crossing only.And of course lacking an eye for goal.
He's been a good and lojal payer for Everton. Wish him all the best if he leaves.
476 Posted 22/06/2014 at 21:37:25
585 Posted 23/06/2014 at 17:11:46
True.
I had a good time watching Gerrard's face on the pitch when he realized the team he's captaining is out of the contest in Brazil. Never liked the guy.
Sorry for you guys following your national team, though, and for Baines, Jagielka and Barkley. But the most important for me is Everton. Don't care much about my Norwegian national team, as they play badly and just aren't good enough for a competition like the World Cup.
722 Posted 24/06/2014 at 18:08:19
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371 Posted 22/06/2014 at 01:16:32
Seriously, I’d hate to see him go but would cheer on this good man and loyal servant! I think he should go and play if that’s what he wants. If not, I’m happy to keep him on as a player/coach.