Heitinga praised for his mental strength

One thing he cannot improve is his pace and in a one-to-one he is often not close enough to make a tackle or even a good block. I certainly would not pick him in my best starting eleven.

The man has been a bloody embarrassment all season.

{My missus is wrong I am fookin' hilarious}

...failed to mention that John also got sent-off in said final!

(I know... puff-piece, etc...)

But yeah he's still too slow, and I am still scared whenever somebody quick goes one on one against him.

Basically, he has obvious strengths and weaknesses, not a very well rounded player.

Jimmy's spot on though. He was player of the season last season, in the form of his life, then suddenly into the next, Distin and Jags play. That is a strange one.

I'm at a loss about your praise of his passing ability... I don't remember him making decent passes in any game I've watched. He is not in the same league defensively as Jags and Distin.

Distin for his age has been an absolute revelation. He out paces Heitinga, is better in the air, stronger than Heitinga and a far better tackler... and he is years older than him!!

Jags too is future captain material and much better than JH. If Duffy is not better than JH at this stage of his career, then he is in the wrong job.

You know the name of the game for defenders nowadays is distrubution and Heitinga is clearly the best at it. They don't have to be hollywood passes all of the time, but he's more composed on the ball. Think how many times he gives the ball away? A lot less than Jags and Distin.

But yeah, I agree with you, although a bit harsh, Distin and Jags are better defenders. But I think Heitinga has to get a little credit seeing he's played in clean sheets in the last 2 games. Im not saying a lot, just a little.

I think JH did well against Stoke - but he still shouldn't play. Two CB's on the pitch is enough for any team - and he's third choice.

In fact I remember the season turn around last year coinciding with him getting into the starting eleven. I don't remember him getting hammered like this when he was player of the season.

Jelavic has been complete gash all season, but never a word of criticism from the 'experts' on Toffeeweb for him.

I think Moyes is right for giving credit where credit is due. Heitinga could have sulked like many players do, but it appears he has knuckled down and has lifted his game. I agree with the lack of pace which is his main weakness, but when I think of my list of top centre halves, none of them had pace as an attribute. Pace most often comes into play when you have positionally made a mistake and have to recover.

One of the centre halves at the top of my list was a lad called Kevin Ratcliffe, he was a bit nippy.

One of the centre halves at the top of my list was a lad called Kevin Ratcliffe, he was a bit nippy.

One of the centre halves at the top of my list was a lad called Kevin Ratcliffe, he was a bit nippy.