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Post by Avinalaff on Apr 6, 2013 14:40:36 GMT
Everton FC John Heitinga’s slump in form might have broken some players but now he’s back, says David Moyes
DAVID Moyes admits that most players would have been broken by the run of disastrous form which gripped John Heitinga earlier this season.
The Netherlands international defender has been responsible for costing Everton more than his fair share of goals, and at one point his post-match Twitter apologies to fans almost became standard.
But the 29-year-old maintained his self-belief in the face of intense scrutiny and has responded with two top-drawer performances as the Blues kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time in this unusually defensively fragile season.
“If it was anyone else it would have broken them,” admits Moyes as he prepares his men for Sunday’s crunch visit to White Hart Lane.
“John has that Dutch mentality, that’s got him through it. He’s been at the top level at different clubs, and so he always had the self confidence that he would be back and put it right.
“John is mentally very strong. Also really experienced which sometimes goes unnoticed.
“He’s played World Cup finals against all the top players and takes it all in stride, whatever level he is asked to play.
“That mental single mindedness about himself has brought him through because he was in bad periods at different times in the season.”
Moyes revealed how a painful knee condition combined with a difficulty to accept being out of the team on occasions caused Heitinga’s form to unravel.
“He always wants to play but when he wasn’t doing so well he recognised he didn’t have a great case to say he should be in.
“After coming back in a way he had to do it again, prove himself again and he did well against City and again last week. He’s back on an even keel again.
“He has to keep himself in a level of condition working with his knee and doing the right training.
“He’s worked in a way which has helped more than maybe in that period. He just has to make sure the way he plays he maximises his talent to best of his ability.”
Moyes accepts he has been disappointed with his side’s inability to maintain their usually high defensive standards this term, with only six cleans sheets recorded in the league so far - the same amount as QPR, and less than Norwich and Sunderland.
Source: Echo
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Post by jimmy on Apr 8, 2013 3:00:39 GMT
Does that mean "Let's tell the world how good he is so we can get more for him in the summer"  |
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