Tony Hibbert believes it was an inspired decision to let Thierno Barry take Everton’s penalty at Stuttgart as he warned that the Blues need to keep hold of Iliman Ndiaye.
Despite being a stalwart at home city club Everton, Hibbert made the most appearances of any outfield player in the Blues’ history without finding the net (328). After taking 17 matches, 737 minutes and 19 shots to break his duck in English football last year, Barry – who had a goal disallowed for a debatable-looking offside in the goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers – is now up and running this pre-season after winning and converting the spot-kick in the 3-1 defeat at the MHPArena on Saturday.
Hibbert on Barry’s penalty
Speaking on EvertonTV, Hibbert said: “Barry does toe-poke it. I think it would have still probably have been given [with VAR].
“He steps up and takes it as well. I think it was a good decision letting him get on the scoresheet, I think that will give him confidence and he took the penalty well.
“Dewsbury-Hall, you can see the class when he comes on. Those little final balls where he is trying to get the centre-forward in, that’s the difference between a top, top player in that position and a player who is doing alright for us, you can just see those final balls being good.
“It’s confidence. Strikers need confidence and he stepped up to take the penalty so obviously he’s confident to do that and will have more confidence having scored that as you want your strikers to be confident in the Premier League.”
Ndiaye’s future
Iliman Ndiaye converted both penalties that Everton were awarded in the Premier League last season – at home to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth – and was on the pitch in Germany when the Blues were awarded their spot-kick.
But after the Senegal international made his first appearance following his post-World Cup break in a summer in which his future has been the subject of intense speculation after it was revealed he has rejected several new contract offers this year and he spoke of his desire to play Champions League football, Hibbert stressed that he believes it is imperative that Hill Dickinson Stadium chiefs hold on to their magic man.
He said: “It [the ball] sticks to him. You can see the quality he has.
“He gets fouled a lot but the ball when he has it under control, with his low centre of gravity, twisting and turning, you can see he’s a top, top player. We need to keep hold of him.
“If we want to move places, then we need to keep building the way we are. We need to keep him.
“It will be hard, all clubs come after top players. You’ve seen the class, obviously he’s a class player.”
