The Rumour Mill, Season 2011-12

Heitinga set for new Everton deal

29/03/2012 |

Comments (20)

John Heitinga is in line for talks over a new contract. The Holland defender and World Cup Finalist will be invited to open discussions over another deal, as a reward for his outstanding form.

The 28-year-old has established himself as a key member of David Moyes's squad but is now in the final 18 months of the agreement he signed after arriving from Atletico Madrid in August 2009.

Original Source: Daily Mail

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Bob Willis
555 Posted 29/03/2012 at 14:56:04

Tie him up for 3 years and give him a nice big pay-rise - if only for his display of gratitude to the fans after each and every home game.
Good on yer lad!

Andrew Clare
557 Posted 29/03/2012 at 15:09:21

Great news.A top class defender and one of our best players.Extremely delighted to hear this news.

Chris Morris
559 Posted 29/03/2012 at 15:11:25

I'm thrilled........... now. I'd have happily sold him last year and before when all he seemed to do was self promote for a move away and when he did play he looked like he couldn't be bothered and went round punching the air; a la Gravesen.

Now though he's looking like a captain

James Stewart
560 Posted 29/03/2012 at 15:14:19

Class defender. Defender being the keyword.
Sign him up!

Dan McKie
561 Posted 29/03/2012 at 15:12:18

I think it will be difficult to get him to sign. Reports of 70k a week when he signed, so a payrise would be beyond Evertons reach if thats true. Also, I think he is one of the players who wont put up with no signings in the summer, and seemingly no ambition beyond reaching 40 points each season. He will certainly have interest in him with recent form.

Lee Preston
562 Posted 29/03/2012 at 15:14:46

Now the feel good factor seems to be back at Goodison, we need to tie up our best players, and he certainly falls in to that category right now.

Totally agree with the future captain comment there, commitment, drive and hard work in abundance this season, a pleasure to watch.

James Royston
575 Posted 29/03/2012 at 16:48:09

Good player ,good lad, never frightened to get stuck-in when needed and appears to appreciate the fans. Think his bad times followed his time at the world cup with Holland...

Daniel Cross
579 Posted 29/03/2012 at 17:03:45

Excellent to see the outcome of playing him regularly in his best position! A new contract would be the least he deserves and a player of the year medal at the end of the season to go with it. Great player, great attitude, and seems to understand what it means to the fans to play for our club. OHHHH JOHNNY JOHNNYYY.....

Eugene Ruane
580 Posted 29/03/2012 at 17:00:06

Hope he signs, I'm a fan of JH.

Unspectacular in the right way, has a brain, understands that possession is all (so only gives it the welly when it's the ONLY option).

I think at his age now, in his position (CH!), the next three years will be his peak (ie: reading the game, calming the mad stuff down etc).

Hopefully, we'll be the ones to benefit.

John Daley
585 Posted 29/03/2012 at 17:19:45

My attitude towards Heitinga changed during the brief period both Distin and Jagielka were missing. Prior to that I'd always looked upon him as a slightly deluded egotist, more interested in playing up to the crowd and his image than playing for the team. We all knew he'd appeared in a World Cup final (because he kept fucking reminding us) but i never really rated him. If i had the choice i would have always plumped for Jagielka over Johnny.

Admittedly, all the stories about him seemingly
spreading his legs and waiting for 'bigger' clubs to take a sniff had hardened my stance against him. The fact he was regularly deployed in midfield didn't do him any favours either as it's clearly not his favoured position and he was often left just running around like a loon.

However, when he was partnered with Duffy he seemed to relish the responsibility and really stepped up to the plate. He was constantly cajoling and talking to the youngster, helping him through the games. His composure played a big part in Duffy looking so comfortable making the step up. That earnt Heitinga a lot of respect in my eyes and since then he's never looked back.

He's struck up a great understanding with Distin and the back four just seems much more settled, and less prone to panic, with him in there.

Mike Gaynes
598 Posted 29/03/2012 at 18:17:27

Agreed, John Daley. I never thought he'd be more than cover for Jags and Distin, but he has proven me wrong. And I too really liked the way he guided Duffy.

Nick Entwistle
602 Posted 29/03/2012 at 18:28:55

He'll leave or play it right up to transfer deadline day 2013 I'm sure.
I would if I thought Everton would need to sell in the transfer windows before then and who of us is confident that our best players won't be sold in the Summer?

Matthew Johnson
606 Posted 29/03/2012 at 18:43:00

Fantastic player, although he's always looked more of a skipper than a captain to me?

Lee Courtliff
609 Posted 29/03/2012 at 18:43:11

I hate saying this but if I was Johnny I wouldn't sign. He is more than good enough to play Champions League football and it doesn't look like we will qualify anytime soon. If ever again. I hate saying that. He is 28 and coming to his peak. Surely he must be thinking bigger than getting into the Thursday Night Cup? I hope I'm wrong.

Paul Ellam
653 Posted 29/03/2012 at 21:29:04

Like a lot of folk on here i wasn't convinced by him last year and thought his future lay elsewhere but now i am converted! He has been outstanding in his "proper" position and even made the absence of jagielka bareable. Get him tied down to a long contract ASAP!!!!

John Audsley
656 Posted 29/03/2012 at 21:40:17

I would love him to stay as i really rate his football and leadership skills

but

I doubt he will sign a new deal, he is at the peak of his career and could play for a number of teams with higher ambitions than ourselves

Sad but true

Dennis Stevens
659 Posted 29/03/2012 at 22:02:29

I'll be pleasantly surprised if we can retain his services. One sad aspect of his time at the club is how under-utilised he's been, having spent so much time either on the bench or out of position - a criminal waste of a quality player.

Shaun Sparke
665 Posted 29/03/2012 at 21:59:37

Lee, I know what you are saying but if we somehow manage to show a bit of ambition and find that elusive buyer/investor then I am convinced that we could push for a top four place. It's not that we have to be fantastic or anything like that, its more like that apart from the 2 Manchester clubs the rest of the league is quite ordinary. I include Spurs in that assessment. Granted they had an excellent first half of the season but they seem to be lacking in something.

I think if Heitinger sees signs of investment then he will definitely want to stay. If we have another summer of empty pockets and promises then we wont see his heels or his bike wheels for dust.

Lee Courtliff
684 Posted 30/03/2012 at 00:09:47

I hope you're right Shaun. I would hate to lose him. Our best centre half in my eyes.

James Stewart
686 Posted 30/03/2012 at 00:45:27

Have to agree with Lee @609 he could really aim higher and could quite easily play for a CL club. I cannot see why Arsenal spunked 10m on mertesacker and not someone like Heitinga who is superior in every way.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.