ARNE SLOT // Modern Day Coaching

With the new Head Coach firmly in place, we are glued to the Inside Training Series to see what clues we can get for what is coming this season. One thing that impresses is the fact Slot is extremely hands on. Involved in pretty much every drill..

Health & Fitness

Tasked with keeping the whole squad fit and free of injury as best he can for the season. What might that suggest.. Rotation.. On a scale I suspect we haven't seen before. A new modern approach where player fitness will override selection in the starting line up.

Which makes perfect sense when you think of 5 subs available on the bench and how several key players out for weeks and months can seriously effect your season.

We are going to play 3 games a week relentlessly after the 1st international break till who knows when. Especially with the expansion of the Champions League this season, even more games and probably no mid season break for the teams involved.

Slot from what we have seen is bringing a fresh new approach to proceedings. He looks to analyse anything, everything and anyone.

With this in mind he looks the type to do away with traditional starting line ups, preferring to rotate his players to keep them all fit.

Man-management through a possible 60+ games and (including them awful international breaks) tending not to rely on the individual but trusting in the collective. You can see him starting with several different line-ups all coached in the same system with no drop off in performance no matter his selection. 

The Complete Squad

Utopia it may not be.. Yet it makes sense in this modern era. 60 mins on a weekend, 30 in the week & 45 if necessary the following weekend for fitness sake could be the mind set. A system that keeps everyone fresh and one that can vary in game if and when it is necessary.

A newish concept that is really effective. Pep's been doin it to some extent the whole time.. But old heads take time to change where a fresh breed of coach will see this as a step forward in the over all strategy. This seriously congested schedule is only going to get worse.

Squad Not Team Management

With this new concept we can expect to see an array of stars to emerge. Fans will have to get used to their favourites starting on the bench or being subbed off more regularly than they are used to. While this will once again open the door to the Academy players. Which is exciting for us and them.

So rather than seeing players for for 5 weeks and then out for 10 we could see them regularly all season. Which again excites us and will bring relief to them. You can never account for serious injury of course but those little niggles that hinder players through wear and tear could well become a thing of the past.

Up the Reds!  YNWA!