Forget 4-6-0, forget Cathro ..Levein’s now showing how good a gaffer he actually is
Kidd is delighted to see his former Jambos team-mate silence critics
HEARTS fans were split when Craig Levein decided to clear up the mess he created by appointing Ian Cathro after making a shock return to the dugout last year. But Jambos legend Walter Kidd insists his former team-mate has silenced his doubters after a stunning start to the season. Levein has transformed the Gorgie outfit and with six league wins out of seven they are the early pacesetters as they lead the Premiership table by five points from Edinburgh rivals Hibs and surprise package Livingston. And they face a huge game on Sunday with a trip to Ibrox where victory over Steven Gerrard’s Rangers would move them a staggering 11 points ahead of the Light Blues. That is the first of a tough five-game spell that will see them face last season’s runners-up Aberdeen, fierce foes Hibs and champions Celtic twice – once in the Betfred Cup semi-final. Kidd shared a Tynecastle dressing room with Levein for nine of his 15 years in maroon and is delighted to see the 53-year-old doing so well in his second stint in charge. The former defender knows there were plenty who were unsure of his decision to pick up the pieces of the disastrous Cathro stint after appointing the rookie to the hotseat in his role as director of football. Levein’s reign as Scotland gaffer and the infamous 4-6-0 formation away to the Czech Republic was also a factor but Kidd reckons he has proved his credentials as a top boss. Kidd, who had two playing spells at Hearts, said: “I’m delighted Craig is back in charge of the club and doing so well.
“All the people who doubted him are suddenly very quiet.
“When he first returned to the dugout, a lot of folk were saying Levein this and Levein that but every manager deserves a chance to see how they do.
“They might not quite be holding their hands up and admitting they were wrong but they aren’t saying much.
“The reason some fans doubted him was probably down to what happened when he left first time around and particularly the whole Scotland thing and not playing a striker in Prague.
“I heard a lot of people moaning and he has had quite a bad press over the years but he has been tremendous and I’m delighted for him.
“When he first came in he shored it up at the back and we didn’t lose goals for a while and reached the top six.
“But this season is the one you really had to judge him on and after signing a lot of players they’ve hit the ground running. Hearts have gone from strength to strength and I don’t think anybody – even Craig – could have predicted it would have gone so well.
“I’m surprised at just how well it has gone because with the amount of players Craig brought in you would expect it to take a while for them to gel but long may it continue.
“I’ve met Craig a few times recently at various club events and we get on well. We had a good dressing room when we were team-mates.”
Kidd was part of the Hearts side that famously blew the Double in 1986, losing the title on the final day.
A couple of seasons earlier they also made a flying start to the top flight after winning promotion when Hearts won five on the spin only to end the season in fifth place.
But Kidd is adamant the Jambos faithful, growing in numbers home and away with each positive result, should enjoy this moment as they prepare to face Gers who are undefeated at Ibrox this season.
He said: “The players will be looking forward to the trip to Rangers because they’ve been doing well and enjoying their football.
“But this next run of games is going to be the big test against all the top sides. It’s going to be difficult and we will drop points but that’s inevitable and there’s a long way to go in the season.
“It’s a long season and Rangers and Celtic will be there or thereabouts along with Aberdeen and Hibs.
“The players won’t be thinking about the prospect of going 11 points clear of Rangers – they will just be thinking about trying to win or even just getting a draw at Ibrox.
“Gerrard has done well and improved Rangers from last season.
“They’re going well at home so it’s going to be a tough one.
“But there is a real buzz. The crowds at home have been great and the travelling support is getting bigger but Hearts fans over the years have been let down on a number of occasions.
“They’ll know they can’t look too far ahead. I don’t want to think back to 1985-86 but if I do then I have to say I didn’t know who we were playing the following week until full-time on a Saturday. That’s football.
“I know it’s a boring cliche but you have to take it one game at a time.”