Heitinga happy at Goodison

Lyndon Lloyd , 23 August, 28comments | Jump to most recent

John Heitinga insists that he is settled at Everton and will fight for his place at the club amid thus-far unfounded speculation that he is a target of Tottenham Hotspur.

The Dutchman was Everton supporters' Player of the Year last season but has been linked in the press with moves to Internazionale, Besiktas, Fenerbahçe and now Spurs this summer.

Having already dismissed the stories suggesting he is moving away at the end of last month when he shared commentating duties on evertontv for one of Everton's pre-season friendles, the defender reiterated his desire to stay this afternoon in a Q&A session on Twitter.

"I will fight for my position and stay at Everton," Heitinga Tweeted.

"Everton is a big club. A club where I feel really well."

He has expressed a desire to return to Ajax Amsterdam one day but stressed that he has plenty of time.

"Ajax and Everton are my clubs. The time isn't there yet to come to Amsterdam."

After a disappointing Euro2012 with Holland and an extended summer break after the tournament, Heitinga started on the bench for the season opener against Manchester United on Monday and that, combined with Tottenham's decision to sell Michael Dawson to QPR, has stirred the latest transfer talk.

Quotes or other material sourced from Twitter via Sky Sports

Reader Comments (28)

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Jon Cox
1 Posted 23/08/2012 at 19:22:53

Class footballer, glad we've still got him. That Adam geezer, rubbish.

Gerry Quinn
2 Posted 23/08/2012 at 19:22:23

"I will fight for my position and stay at Everton," - great and positive response Johnny. For once I agree with using that "Tweetie" thingummy. To ease all of our minds, maybe we should line up all of the playing squad and get them to repeat after John....

Steve Taylor
3 Posted 23/08/2012 at 19:22:53

I'm glad to hear that Johnny wants to stay. It sounds to me that he feels part of the Everton family and I'm sure he'll get plenty of games this season.

A club like ours needs top internationals in their ranks and it's good to know he doesn't throw his toys out the pram when left on the bench.

COYB!

Keith Glazzard
4 Posted 23/08/2012 at 19:24:41

Money moves people in football, always has.

Heitinga and Moyes are a marriage made in heaven. Davey doesn't want to offload him, and Johnny doesn't want to move, so a silly money offer is the only danger as far as I can see.

Richard Farrington
5 Posted 23/08/2012 at 20:20:15

I must admit I was a little worried about Johnnie at the end of the match on Monday. From my seat in the Top Balc I clearly saw him throw his jersey into the Family Enclosure and he appeared to be pissed off. Obviously, he feels a bit part doesn't warrant his usual applause to the fans but he did seem to me very frustrated and very angry. Only an injury will get him back in if Jagielka and Distin keep performing like they did the other night.

I hope he stays as we will need every senior squad member this season if we are to fulfil our hopes. COYB - onward to Vile Park.

Phil Sammon
6 Posted 23/08/2012 at 21:14:33

He'll play in the Cup against Orient. He's a good player and his attitude is spot on. A bit surprising actually because I thought he was a bit of an arrogant sod when he joined us. Happy to be proved wrong. Keep training hard Jonny!

Peter Warren
7 Posted 23/08/2012 at 21:49:53

Jags will miss games as will Distan. Last season he was first pick but Moyes made right choice on Mon - how good was Jags??????? Amazing 3 world class centre backs Heitnga sure to play 30 games for us

Niall Hussey
8 Posted 23/08/2012 at 22:01:15

He's off to Ajax on a Bosman, from the sounds of it. Is his contract up at the end of this season or next?

Phil Sammon
9 Posted 23/08/2012 at 22:47:45

He didn't say anything like that, Niall

Brendan McLaughlin
10 Posted 23/08/2012 at 22:51:48

Niall #710
"Glass half-empty"...doesn't even begin to come close.

Matt Traynor
11 Posted 23/08/2012 at 23:12:52

Brendan #712, wait till Mike Hughes gets on here to tell us how much a half empty glass costs these days...

Paul Mackie
12 Posted 23/08/2012 at 23:18:33

I wouldn't be surprised if he starts some games partnered with Jags this season against some of the less route one teams. Distin is no spring chicken after all.

Brendan McLaughlin
13 Posted 23/08/2012 at 23:18:14

Matt #714
Don't know how you can make jokes amidst all this gloom surrounding Heitinga's departure but absolute cracker!

Jamie Sweet
14 Posted 23/08/2012 at 23:29:53

If he is truely happy here, and Moyes has no intention of selling him this year, then I think a contract extension should be put on the table pretty damn quick.

Otherwise we're only 12 months away from a Pienaar / Van Persie type situation where you can almost guarantee we'll get dry bummed by someone!

Sondre Haga
15 Posted 23/08/2012 at 23:10:05

I will fight for my position and stay at Everton
Everton is a big club
Everton is a club where I feel really well
Ajax and Everton are my clubs

He says exactly the right things. Yes, I'm cheap!

Oh Johnny Johnny - Johnny Johnny Johnny Johnny Heitinga

James Flynn
16 Posted 23/08/2012 at 23:12:59

Nice hearing.

Johnny knows better than us he's a top-flight backliner on a team with others just as good. Different technical qualities, but just as good. At a team where backline quality is held at a premium. He's well-established himself in Moyes' mind and he'll get his games. Over the season, Jags and Distin gonna have to sit and watch too.

With the attack elements Moyes' brought in over the last 7 months, something special could happen for us this season (And by "something special" I don't mean fucking 6th place). With respect to their hard-earned and deserved fame, our first game victory wasn't about ManU losing. It was EFC's warning shot across every other club's bow.

Tony Doran
17 Posted 24/08/2012 at 00:43:01

Please play him in front of Distin and Jags as the holding midfielder. If not there then right back. But if at the end of the day he spits his dummy out then bye bye.

Brian Cleveland
18 Posted 24/08/2012 at 06:50:14

James #733... I've been thinking the same.... but too scared to say it.

Got a nice positive feeling going into this season... (before the United game, honest!)... maybe we can surprise a few people...

Don't want to say more and tempt fate!

Steve Smith
19 Posted 24/08/2012 at 11:06:56

Good to hear that he's happy with us, for me, he would get in the team ahead of Jags on every occasion.

I think he's far and away a better player than Jags, just as much ability defensively and 10 times more ability as a football player, Jags was fantastic last Monday but I still couldn't understand him getting in the side ahead of Heitinga.

John Audsley
20 Posted 24/08/2012 at 11:20:52

I think Johnny is a class footballer, a real leader on the pitch.

Distin looked fucked after Monday and I wouldn't be surprised if JH plays against Villa. He can read the game, is a very good passer and has an arrogance about his play that no-one else in the squad has.

Phil Sammon
21 Posted 24/08/2012 at 11:43:03

I think Jags is a better 'last ditch' defender and certainly better in the air. He's quicker as well. I'd be happy to see Heitinga re-installed against Villa when we will be more likely to pass it about a bit.

James Morgan
22 Posted 24/08/2012 at 12:36:19

Different topic, Johnson in talks with Sunderland. What a waste.

Mark Stone
23 Posted 24/08/2012 at 12:35:25

Richard #675 someone asked him about that on twitter the other day. He said he didn't - that he was actually giving his shirt to a kid in the stands and that he was happy with the win. I think he'll start tomorrow with Jagielka if Distin hasn't recovered and remind DM why he was player of the year, last season.

David Chait
24 Posted 24/08/2012 at 12:40:12

I'm hoping do Mark... they are my first choice... Jags showed the form of pre Heitinga days against Man U .. but how he deserved to start I don't know... well he did ... but I do feel for Johnny...

Richard Farrington
25 Posted 24/08/2012 at 16:38:11

Mark, the way threw the jersey was almost one of 'bollocks to this - I'm off'. It happened very quickly and that was my impression - probably just frustration. Distin is a doubt for tomorrow, so he may play.

Chris Clarke
26 Posted 25/08/2012 at 14:49:56

Part of the deal to bring Johnny to Eveton involves a payment after x amount of starts for us. Johnny will not start many games as we can’t pay this part of the deal. ;-)

Andy Corrie
27 Posted 25/08/2012 at 16:57:13

Sell Coleman, he's fucking shit

Ryan Holroyd
28 Posted 25/08/2012 at 17:13:50

Coleman looked very lively when he came on. Looks sharper this season.

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