Season › 2012-13 › News

Hitzlsperger plays in U21s win

Lyndon Lloyd , 8 October, 40comments  |  Jump to most recent
Trialist Thomas Hitzlsperger pressed his case for a contract at Everton after playing for the U21s side in their 2-0 win at Norwich this evening.

The German played the full 90 minutes as he continues to build fitness following injury and his release from Wolfsburg this summer.

David Moyes has given the 30-year-old an extended trial but he stressed before the Southampton game that there will be no quick decision on whether to bring the free agent into his side as cover in central midfield:

It is going to be a while before we are able to make a decision on him as he is not really fit.

He is enjoying doing the football work and we can maybe look at stepping his work up next week. There will be no quick news or signing on this.

Second-half goals by Conor Grant and Apostolos Vellios gave the Blues victory over the Canaries.  

Reader Comments (40)

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Ian Bennett
1 Posted 08/10/2012 at 22:17:32
I thought he was German?
Lyndon Lloyd
Editorial Team
2 Posted 08/10/2012 at 22:32:45
Aye, he was and is. My mistake, since corrected.
Sam Hoare
3 Posted 08/10/2012 at 22:36:19
Good result from the lads. And a clean sheet. Maybe time for Duffy in the first team?
James Martin
4 Posted 08/10/2012 at 23:01:40
Duffy's even slower than Heitinga, he's a Mertesacker type who's good in the air and has a massive clearance on him. He wouldn't of fared any better against Kone.
Russell Buckley
5 Posted 09/10/2012 at 04:05:47
Happy to have Hitzlsperger around the squad and no problem if he signs. That is on the condition he comes with low wages.
Jon Edwards
6 Posted 09/10/2012 at 06:11:52
Would be a great addition with plenty of experience! Great passer of the ball and I can remember a few of his thunderous volleys!
Peter Thistle
7 Posted 09/10/2012 at 06:36:52
I assume Moyes is gonna sign him up. We've taken tons of players on trial in the last few years and all of them ended sooner than Hitz's. He must be showing some kinda quality if he's still at Finch Farm after 2+ weeks. Hopefully he can add to what we have and give us an extra option.
Christopher Kelly
8 Posted 09/10/2012 at 06:44:01
Hitzlsperger is better than Neville and fills a similar role (When Neville is playing Mid). I don't see the problem in bringing him on board if he's on low wages which I'm sure he will be if he's a free agent. It's just too bad we didn't get Vadis earlier.
David Mason
9 Posted 09/10/2012 at 07:59:28
Hitzlsberger reminds me very much of Gibson (no bad thing). Steady central midfield man who recycles play well with a stinging shot. "Das Hammer" I believe was his nickname at times. I would imagine that if he did sign, that'd be the end of our imediate interest in Vadis. And Peter @742 makes a very valid point.
Mike Gwyer
10 Posted 09/10/2012 at 08:07:26

The fact that Hitzlsperger has played means something has been signed. I am sure most people can see where we are lacking on the pitch, I mean Wigan opened us up with almost every ball that went through the middle during the first half of Saturday's game. So if we can see it, most EPL teams can also see it, we have to take it for granted that Moyes has spotted it as well. Neville's days in the middle of the park are surely numbered.

Bob Willis
11 Posted 09/10/2012 at 08:13:14
How come he plays for U21's at age 30+ ???
Ernie Baywood
12 Posted 09/10/2012 at 08:34:57
Allowed a certain number of over 21s, I believe.
Steve Sweeney
13 Posted 09/10/2012 at 08:59:52
Gibson has been out for more than 3 weeks now,
anyone have any info on when he will be fit
to even get on the bench
Sam Hoare
14 Posted 09/10/2012 at 08:59:19
James Martin, not sure Duffy is slower than heitinga. Is anyone? He is definitely more physical. Not sure that you can say he would have fared the same against kone. You might be right and I'm not necessarily advocating a knee jerk reaction but he looked pretty decent in his first team run last year and doesn't have to do a huge amount to match the current standard at CB.
Andy Whittingham
15 Posted 09/10/2012 at 09:39:31
Duffy was given a run out pre-season by Moyes, and seem to recall he had a couple of poor games where he made several mistakes.. Moyes won't play him ahead of our other CBs.
James Martin
16 Posted 09/10/2012 at 09:46:41
Any centreback is going to struggle to play well in our teamon that left hand side. Once Baines goes bombing down the flank (pretty much all the time), then the CB needs to cover any balls down that line (tactically exploited by Martinez). Distin can just about do this because of his ridiculous pace but he's normally all over the shop in the middle because of this. You couldn't of asked that much more of Heitinga, he was getting done for pace but like a good defender stayed goalside and held him up. Not his fault that Baines didn't come back or that a holding mid didn't track Di Santo.
Dave Williams
17 Posted 09/10/2012 at 09:41:04
Moyes is pretty good at knowing when to blood a young player.A lot of us wanted Gueye to play last season but he still doesn't look ready and possibly never will be!Duffy looks decent and we could do with an imposing CB with Jags covering him as Distin can't go on for ever,but let's remember Moyes sees these guys every day and is best placed to judge- it is not just a case of a first team player not performing well,but the youngster must be ready to cope with the premiership otherwise his career could fail before he has been ready to start it.Hitz would be an ideal squad player whilst Ross and Junior develop.That said,the sooner Gibbo is back the better as we cannot go into the derby game with two 30 plus guys in centre midfield- I would drop Felli into that slot if Gibbo isn't fit.
Jamie Barlow
18 Posted 09/10/2012 at 09:55:51
James, Baines is fast but he's not that fast.

Sam Hoare
19 Posted 09/10/2012 at 09:54:15
James, I agree about whoever plays on baines side having to cover his forward runs. That the downside to having one of the best attacking left backs in the world. However heitinga did not do his job on Saturday he allowed Kone to get into the area, look up and get a cross in. True that di santo should have been tracked but if heitinga had been doing his job well he would have stopped the ball coming in.
James Martin
20 Posted 09/10/2012 at 10:12:49
come on he didn't cross it across the face of the goal, or even in the penalty box, he has to pull it out wight to the edge of the box. Heitinga owuld expect that someone would either track back or close that down or that the keeper would save it from there. None of these things happened. I'm not saying Heitinga performed well, I just think Martinez had our number with that tactical ploy and it could be something other teams try. As good as Baines is he may have to just not go forward on every attack. I think Duffy looks good when we're under the cosh defending high balls and he can hold his position. I don't think he'd look so assured doing the job that Distin had to do second half of playing two positions at once.
Sam Hoare
21 Posted 09/10/2012 at 10:35:11
James, I think you'd be unpopular here if you start advocating baines to stay back in order to make us better defensively. Peter Barry might even accuse you of being dour and defensive.

Of course I agree with the observation that we can be exposed in the hole baines has left but I think that heitinga has not being doing a great job( plus his contract is running out) and as distin is not getting any younger we may need to either buy a new CB or think about what other options we have, the best of which would appear to be Duffy. It may transpire that he's not up to it but I'm not sure it's fair to write him off yet, especially as he did well in his first team run last year.

James Morgan
22 Posted 09/10/2012 at 10:57:29
Defo could do with Hitz. People neglected to point out that Neville was ball watching and didn't look over his shoulder when Di Santo ghosted in to score.
One of the worst midfielders I've ever clapped eyes on, first touch as if his feet are backwards, sooner he is replaced the better.
Jamie Barlow
23 Posted 09/10/2012 at 11:08:18
I didn't see or hear it myself but apparently Baines said after the game that he prefers to play with Distin as he can cover when he does go forward.
Tony J Williams
24 Posted 09/10/2012 at 10:45:27
James, when Distin is playing, he always covers Baines well.
The problem with Jags and Heitinga, is that thye are both right footers and Jags is the one playing in his correct position.
We have known for years that Heitinga has no pace, so a high line with him is a recipe for disaster.

Either Jags and Distin, which hasn't worked well or Distin and Heitinga, which was the better combination last year. Heitinga and Jags doesn't work.

The "tactic" that is our down fall this season so far, it the almighty boot upfield, the same on Saturday, twat it up the right wing for Kone to chase. Heitinga has to take a large proportion of the blame, a feeble toe poke in and then assuming the ball would go out, the rest of the blame goes on Di Santo's marker or lack thereof.

Adam McCulloch
25 Posted 09/10/2012 at 11:20:34
Think this all points to the conclusion that without Gibson to tidy up and pick a pass, and with Captain Fantastic in his place, we have looked less steady. I know at the Southampton game Neville was a passenger. Against teams who have a go getting forward, as Wigan did, then he will be exposed. Hitzlsperger would not be a bad option for the rest of the season. Heard it said before but Baines for captain.
GJ Butler
26 Posted 09/10/2012 at 11:40:51
The flow from Hitzlsperger to the Distin-Heitinga conundrum was effortless. I reckon we should put the Evertonian 6 degrees of seperation theory to the test - in which we take any Everton related matter, and in 6 moves, finish with a rant on Hibbert.
Jamie Barlow
27 Posted 09/10/2012 at 11:54:57
Baines doesn't need the captains armband.

Just let him do what he does best.

Tony J Williams
28 Posted 09/10/2012 at 12:04:50
Agreed Jamie, no need for any extra pressure on him at all.
Lee Smith
29 Posted 09/10/2012 at 12:46:25
I was at Carrow Road for the game. Hitzlsperger was anonamous, you couyldn't tell that he was an experienced Premier League player at all. Was a pretty dire game all round really, very disjointed, though our second was a well worked goal. Distin played with Duffy at the back for the first half, and as should be expected the guy was head and shoulders (metaphorically and literally) above the other 19 outfield players on the pitch.
Thomas Windsor
30 Posted 09/10/2012 at 13:13:00
Give him a chance on a low contract I don't like Neville in midfield full back yes but not midfield
Dave Southon
31 Posted 09/10/2012 at 13:19:43
@ Bob #747

A trialist can play in the U21 league regardless of age.

Sam Hoare
33 Posted 09/10/2012 at 15:04:40
Interesting to see all the plaudits that Adam Forshaw and particularly James Wallace (two player we let go this summer) have been earning. Would not be surprised to see them back in the Premiership one day. 2 young up and coming central midfielders too...probably not as good as Junior and Barkley are hopefully going to be though.
Mike Oates
34 Posted 09/10/2012 at 15:09:45
Hitzberger at Aston Villa was more of a cultured left footer ( a 3/4 of Pinnear) rather than a defensive midfield player. So I suspect he wouldn't have picked up Di Santo last Saturday for the 2nd goal either. His distribution and forward play would be so much better than Neville but I doubt whether he would even go near the tackles Neville put in on Ronaldo, Cole etc over the last few years.
So not sure Hitzberger the answer to Gibson missing.
Jim Harrison
35 Posted 09/10/2012 at 15:23:23
I don't think he would be signed as direct cover for any particular player, but simply to put a tad more depth to the squad
Jay Harris
36 Posted 09/10/2012 at 15:33:38
Dont know why we don't try Oviedo as holding MF.

He is defensive and has a good left foot.

Pienaar should also track back more as should Mirallas on the other side.

Wigan play a 3-4-3 so wuld always be dangerous going forward.

We looked to score more than them which referee permitting we should have done.

Edward Simpson
37 Posted 09/10/2012 at 16:42:38
Jay- I wouldn't think that Oviedo would be a good holding MF, especially in CM. We need someone who is strong and has a good pass on him in that position i.e another Gibson would be preferable. Neville has got quite sloppy in his passing recently which is unfortunate.
Trevor Lynes
38 Posted 09/10/2012 at 17:47:35
I reckon Baines could do the Bale job if he had a decent full back BEHIND him but Distin was welcomed at half time by Baines so that says a lot I think !

The Baines/Pienaar combo is a treat to watch and must be a nightmare to defend against, perhaps when Gibson is fit he might be able to provide some insurance cover when Bainesy bombs forward.

Incidently, what about Oviedo ? Surely he would be more mobile than JH and may well be able to slot into the left side of midfield if needed.

He is supposed to be left sided.
Mark Tanton
39 Posted 09/10/2012 at 18:22:08
I don't think it would be long before Oviedo got fed up with being stuck out in central midfield; a position he is seemingly unfamiliar with.
Ian Bennett
40 Posted 09/10/2012 at 20:19:24
Here's a couple of cheap midfield options? Holden Bolton, Henry wolves?
Paul Johnson
41 Posted 10/10/2012 at 09:47:54
I like the Holden call, Ian, a cracking little player who loves to put a tackle in. Henry gives away to many needles free kicks for me.

Although not a Neville fan, in the midfield role he has been steady; I do blame him as much as Heitinga for the second goal on Saturday but, that said, if it wasn't for poor officiating we would be second in the league so things could be worse.

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