Heitinga: De Boer is a perfect match for Everton

, 13 May, 27comments | Jump to most recent

Former Everton defender John Heitinga has added his voice to those saying that departing Ajax boss Frank de Boer would do well at Goodison Park.

The ex-Dutch international defender, signed by David Moyes in 2009 from Atletico Madrid, returned to Ajax to play under De Boer by way of Fulham and Hertha Berlin after leaving Everton two years ago and he retains enormous affection for the Blues.

"The questions that keep pouring in from Everton fans," he posted on his website, "I therefore always have the same answer: De Boer and Everton are, in my opinion, a perfect match."

"Between 2009 and 2014 I spent five years at that fantastic club and in 2012 I was Player of the Year, so I hope that my opinion matters.

"I can see him at the club, the brilliant Goodison Park and the players. I hope that he can shake off the misery of De Graafschap vs Ajax."

Reader Comments (27)

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Andy Mack
1 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:42:48

Bloody Hell! Johnny H! Good to hear from him, Everton does touch players in a special way. I'm warming to giving De Boer a go too.

Steve Bingham
2 Posted 13/05/2016 at 22:59:38

Sorry all its still Mourhino for me .. Until its confirmed that he doesn't want the job

Robin Cannon
3 Posted 14/05/2016 at 00:02:57

I think we'll probably have to wait until at least after the FA Cup final before we get any movement on Mourinho. If Man United want him and have a vacancy then it's clear he's keen on that. But if they overtake City on Sunday and finish fourth, and win the FA Cup, very difficult for them to justify letting Van Gaal go when he's got them into the Champions' League and a trophy.

Bob Cumiskey
4 Posted 14/05/2016 at 00:22:59

Either way it's good to hear Heitinga speaking so fondly about the club.

I'm with him and believe that FDB may be a good fit for us.

Looking forward to welcoming our new manager to the club sooner rather than later, whoever that may be.

Kieran Kinsella
5 Posted 14/05/2016 at 00:35:43

Not exactly a great start to get a guy who's smarting from a recent failure.

David Barks
6 Posted 14/05/2016 at 00:39:24

Kieran,

You mean the first time he hasn't won the league after 4 consecutive championships?

Kieran Kinsella
7 Posted 14/05/2016 at 00:49:22

I mean the fact his team choked at De Graafschaap. Is that even a real team? I remember when we got Mike Walker and Wim Van Hanegam publicly threw his hat into the ring. He'd won the Dutch league with Feyernoord and people on this very forum were only too happy to snap him up. A former Dutch international, league winner and someone eager to come here. We didn't get him and within a year he was managing in the Middle East on his way to failure and obscurity. We don't have to jump on the first man to throw his hat in the ring. If De Boer is all that, then clubs should be chasing him not the other way around.

Anthony Dwyer
8 Posted 14/05/2016 at 03:59:22

Steve 2

Your in a dream land..... I hope to join you .

Please give Jose the job.

Steve Bingham
9 Posted 14/05/2016 at 05:59:58

There's no denying that FDB is an attractive proposition but what makes it so for me is ONLYi if his back room team come to us also .. Just can't see it really . It would be nice to be wrong though !

Christopher Dover
10 Posted 14/05/2016 at 06:58:07

If Jose did come ( do not like him one bit) then please just a two year contract that is not extended until the end of the contract as that seems to be his staying power before upsetting the team and becoming unbearable.

If he then wants away or Everton want him off then no extra cost.

Alan J Thompson
11 Posted 14/05/2016 at 11:02:46

De Graafeschap; roughly translated that's "The Quare Fellow" isn't it?

Mark Gardiner
12 Posted 14/05/2016 at 11:43:16

Mourinho would be a disaster for us. What we need more than anything is a manager who can develop our fantastic crop of young players. Mourinho has never liked to develop young players.

We can't afford to have a manager who doesn't put faith in youth. What is the point of putting all that money and time into our youth system if we then go for a manager who ignores young players?

Ernie Baywood
13 Posted 14/05/2016 at 11:47:15

How's the logic?

We should only go for managers who have so many options there's no chance they would join us.

Damian Wilde
14 Posted 14/05/2016 at 13:10:55

What about FDB gaving a similar style to Martinez?

Jose - NO way.

Dan Aspinall
15 Posted 14/05/2016 at 13:17:46

If Mourinho came in and won the league wihout using this amazing young crop of players, would you really complain?

Terry Hughes
16 Posted 14/05/2016 at 13:56:45

Whoever comes in, I'd like them to bring Garbutt back ASAP as it pains me to say it but I think Bainesy's days are numbered. Oviedo, Stones and Barkley to go as well.

Milo Gould
17 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:51:02

De Boer not for me, he has a very similar football philosophy to Martinez ie play from the back by keeping possession and attack is more important than defence.

I also think these days the Dutch league is pretty poor and not much above the Scottish league, Ajax allways performed poorly under De Boer.

For me Lucien Favre who performed miracles at Hertha Berlin and Gladbach and plays 4 4 2, this assuming we cannot get Koeman.

Peter McHugh
18 Posted 14/05/2016 at 14:54:15

Chelsea under Mourinho first time were amazing. What a team and he totally below Man U and Arsenal out of the water. He is an unbelievable manager can't believe people don't want him. He even winds the RS up no end.

Mike Allison
21 Posted 14/05/2016 at 23:14:47

This whole thing about Frank de Boer having a similar style to Martinez is confusing me. Are we now saying we never liked the idea of passing football? I thought we did. I spent many a year on here whilst Moyes was the manager when it seemed all we wanted was passing football.

We can't possibly rule out any manager who likes his team to pass the ball and maintain possession surely? Martinez didn't fail because he believed his team should pass the ball, most managers believe that, especially nowadays. Martinez failed because he didn't value defending or coach his team how to play off the ball. He ignored set pieces, allowed his team to be unfit (in comparison to opponents) and most of all didn't have the capacity to adapt to different opponents and different situations, to the point of not making substitutions in games we were losing and being outplayed in. He also, in part, failed because he talked bollocks that everyone eventually was able to see through very easily. He failed because he was confused about some very simple concepts, one being that risks should be taken in football, but only in pursuit of goal scoring opportunities. He seemed to coach his defenders to take risks on the ball but not the midfielders or forwards.

None of this is true of Frank de Boer as far as we know, he just believes in a passing style of play. Like everybody else. So whilst nothing we chat about on here is going to matter all that much, can be please be clear that we're not now over-reacting and claiming that all passing football is somehow anathema. I want Everton to be an excellent passing team next season, I just want us to pass it forwards more, defend well and be a threat at set pieces as well. Martinez seemed to believe you could ignore lots of important bits of football as long as you were really good at one of them. That doesn't mean the one that he liked (passing) is now some kind of problem for us to avoid.

Barry Earley
22 Posted 15/05/2016 at 07:47:29

Mike Allison 21,

Perfect.

Vijay Nair
23 Posted 15/05/2016 at 08:40:56

Spot on Mike

Frank Thomas
24 Posted 16/05/2016 at 17:23:02

I am astounded that some people are dismissing Frank De Boer as our next manager based on his achievements.
If you look at Koemans and Pochettino's achievements before they came to the EPL neither won as much as FDB and they have not won anything since they have been here.

On FDB we are told by Dutch based fans and ex players employs 4-3-3 formation which changes to 4-5-1 on defence. We employed 4--3-3 against Norwich quite successfully this weekend. I would not expect FDB to get us higher than 5th place in 2016/17 season. However like Koeman he will be very frugal in buying high quality players. As Heating says a perfect fit.

Mike (21) he seems to have a passing style but thats were the similarity ends.

Dave Rinehart
25 Posted 18/05/2016 at 17:49:38

Mike Allison, great freaking analysis. That clinched it for me, love to see FDB at Goodison.

Dan Aspinall
26 Posted 18/05/2016 at 18:05:44

FdB likes a passing game. He played for Ajax and Barca but knows the value of defending. A centre back and Holland's most capped outfield player should suggest that anyway.

Then Gazza was pretty good but would you let him coach our midfield?

Len Hawkins
27 Posted 19/05/2016 at 14:45:26

The Everton hierarchy must read these posts and think, "Who the hell are we going to get? Every name that is mentioned is ripped up for arse paper by someone."

How about someone who knows sod all about football is clueless about setting his team up and – oh, hang on... one of them has just been sacked.

I know! Duncan Norvelle – at least he'd get them fit chasing him around Finch Farm.

Peter Gorman
28 Posted 19/05/2016 at 14:56:05

No Mike, 21

This 'passing style', where is it taking place? If it is at the back between our centre-halves, full-backs and the odd holding midfielder then you can keep it. I've had enough of that; it doesn't entertain and it doesn't win enough matches. It also doesn't butter parsnips. Whatever that means.

If Fdb doesn't mind his team pissing about at the back, inviting pressure then he is not for me really.

And to be so dismissive of Moyes btw, makes no sense. All teams are 'passing' teams ffs, the key is the direction you are passing it.

John Hughes
29 Posted 19/05/2016 at 15:04:54

I'm with Mike Allison (21) on this he is a name instantly recognised in Germany, Spain obviously in the Netherlands etc, so he could attract very good players, not like OPM who anybody who was any good had never heard of him. So it's Frank the Farmer for me.

Also, the waterfront for me, the A1 at Lloyds will do fine (if it is still there).

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