After having a very bad game in the recent 3-3 draw with Aston Villa, there has been a lot of criticism of the Dutch defender John Heitinga. However, the defender Phil Jagielka has come to the defence of his teammate by saying that players sometimes have bad games.
Due to the numerous injury problems currently plaguing the club, the manager David Moyes elected to field the defender Heitinga in the right back position. The Dutch defender is usually played at the centre back or defensive midfield position, and it certainly was a new experience to him. The afternoon did not go well for the 29-year-old after he had a torrid time.
Many Everton fans have said that this is the worst display by the player since arriving at the club from Atletico Madrid back in 2009. Heitinga has not been a first-team regular for Everton this season. However, he has been one of the first-team regulars in the previous seasons, which have led to speculation that he will depart the club in the summer. The strong central defensive partnership at Everton has also proved a tough nut to crack for Heitinga. Jagielka has recalled the fact that Heitinga was named as the player of the year for Everton last season.
“He’s bound to be down. We have all had one of those games when nothing seems to go right. In the end I think he’ll be thankful, like the rest of us, that we at least got a point. It’s difficult. He got player of the season last year and had a really strong second half of the season – especially with the cup run which meant he rightly got that award. It’s just the way football goes. I’m sure Johnny is frustrated that he is not getting the amount of games he would have liked,” said Jagielka.