Was “Heitinga” / Slot the Secret? It’s definitely not the players, but seems the system, coaching and tactics. As no one can say the Liverpool FC (LFC) squad has not improved from last year, Hugo and Isak for Nunez / Diaz (Who wanted to leave) says the players are not the problem, Guehi would only of enhanced it and Leoni also would have had his chance by now for a ‘CON-ate’ replacement.
Was it John Heitinga who first converted Gravenberch as a number 6, as John has Premier League playing experience – Arne does not, which he may have showed straight away in the very first game by hooking Quansah and not Arne as John knows this is a bullys league, and also that’s how he played his football, who cannot forget his kung fu kick on Xabi for a red card.
It’s very strange that Heitinga got the manager’s job at Ajax and has never managed any side in his career? What did Ajax know that we didn’t?
Ajax are currently unbeaten in 8 games? They have played the current second in the table, PSV away and earned a draw with a goal in the 88th minute, typical of our season so far and similarities last season also! They have been tanked in Europe but John is playing young weakened teams, which suggests he knows the Ajax squad is not yet good enough, why waste energy and chance injuries -suggests good management?
Hato was nailed on to join LFC last year, that died a death as surprisingly when John got the Ajax job. In his pre-season, he must of seen first hand that Hato was not good enough for LFC, borne out by the fact Chelsea had two fringe centre backs preferred to a circa £35 million transfer last Saturday, he may have pulled the rug on that deal not Arne.
Both John and GVB have played Premier League football. GVB in two of his managers job at Besiktas and Rangers has been sacked for dire football and both farmers leagues. GVB has been a coach at ‘Man cheaty’ under Guardiola, leaving though as Arteta was head first team coach, to manage a Chinese league team, definitely a farmers league.
But to counter the above at Feyenoord as manager, he won the Eredivisie in 2016-17, and Dutch cups, so he’s definitely not a mug.
Of course the Slot / Heitinga and Slot / GVB has one common factor? Arne is in both equations! It has to come from the horse’s mouth who was actually responsible for most of the above past decisions and the present season, compounded by the fact that our 3 losses last week. No one can deny we have been a much improved side after half time team talks, Why?
There are so many for and against arguments for both coaches and Arne, is it and has been a collective management style. There are circa 90 points still to play for. The next few months will decide if we are still a “Jekyll and Hide” side, as this season so far suggests.
If Heitinga was the secret, perish the thought of who will replace Moyes when his career finishes?