FORMER Manager Watch: Nuno Espírito Santo

[shelfboy68]

I think Nuno deserves criticism & I was underwhelmed when he got appointed but for me this is mostly Paratici fault. He knew what kind of manager Nuno is, Nuno has his philosophy and he sticks to it, as pretty much every manager does. He’s a pragmatic manager. But Paratici lied to Levy and us fans that he would play attacking football when he full well knew he wouldn’t. And Paratici thought it was a smart idea to not buy a creative midfielder and not replace Bale & Carlos Vinicius

But was paratici allowed to after all he isn't the organ grinder.

 

[Saoirse]

But he doesn’t help himself picking a midfield three like he did against Palace.

What would make anyone think that was going to work?

A professional football manager with years of coaching cannot see how bad a midfield three that would be.

Hojberg played the more advanced midfield role to stunning effect at the Euros. And we saw last season Skipp can be much more than just a pure holding midfielder too. We all know it didn't work out, but it's nowhere near as ludicrous as some would suggest given the other options available - and I wouldn't be surprised to see Hojberg work out in that role for us in the future. Ultimately it was an away game with a significantly weakened squad available, which turned on a red card which itself could easily have gone the other way. It happens. He's won the other three games. Cut him some slack! If you want a manager who wins all the time and never loses after making a decision you disagree with, you'll be waiting a very, very long time.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

I think Nuno deserves criticism & I was underwhelmed when he got appointed but for me this is mostly Paratici fault. He knew what kind of manager Nuno is, Nuno has his philosophy and he sticks to it, as pretty much every manager does. He’s a pragmatic manager. But Paratici lied to Levy and us fans that he would play attacking football when he full well knew he wouldn’t. And Paratici thought it was a smart idea to not buy a creative midfielder and not replace Bale & Carlos Vinicius

Levy is at fault too, make no mistake about it, he still controls the final decisions

 

[Albertbarich]

The clubs problems quite clearly rub far deeper than the manager

The way he got appointed should tell you that.

I think he got screwed in the window and bad luck has decided to deprive him of players in the area he got screwed in - attack.

And that could cost him his job. He could be approaching Sundays game with only kane and gil as our fit attacking players . It's a game we likely wouldn't win anyway but it really makes it hard for him.

Then we go away to wolves who are getting better and better. We sneaked one earlier but to do that twice? And then the scum. If he approaches that game like he did palace the match thread tonight will look positively delirious in comparison.

I'm really surprised at what's happened. He is clearly a good coach but he has changed his system in the hope of attacking and we look so so defensive and the players look like they're losing more and more faith.

 

[punkisback]

Pretty disappointed that he put on Hojbjerg after Bergwijn's injury - such a defensive substitution again. He then did the same by putting on Emerson at RW (?) instead of Markanday, an actual RW who is on fire for the U23s and is stalling on a new contract.

Might not seem like the biggest deal but it's so indicative of how regressive/cautious Nuno's entire approach to management is.

Yeah that Emerson sub disappointed me. So so negative. This is why our youth flair players leave. Then we say they had an “attitude” of course you would if you’re not getting chances.

 

[DJS]

Hojberg played the more advanced midfield role to stunning effect at the Euros. And we saw last season Skipp can be much more than just a pure holding midfielder too. We all know it didn't work out, but it's nowhere near as ludicrous as some would suggest given the other options available - and I wouldn't be surprised to see Hojberg work out in that role for us in the future. Ultimately it was an away game with a significantly weakened squad available, which turned on a red card which itself could easily have gone the other way. It happens. He's won the other three games. Cut him some slack! If you want a manager who wins all the time and never loses after making a decision you disagree with, you'll be waiting a very, very long time.

But picking Winks to play alongside PEH and Skipp, lol…

 

[JCRD]

The thing is you cant get rid of him - the managers we would go for are the same ones who either rejected us or we rejected them or basically are shite.

So not exactly spoilt for choice. Lets be honest, we arent that attractive

 

[mrlilywhite]

Working under Levy's constraints and expectations is not a 'dream job'

That's a fair point tbh

 

[ajspurs]

Okay, this isn't really just directed at you because I'm seeing lots of this. But what on earth made anybody think a new manager would fix Mourinho's team in seven games? This isn't Football Manager, you don't just change mentality to Very Attacking, select Press Much Higher, and watch us go back to being a Pochettino side. It's going to take 6 to 18 months to reverse that spell of little training, relentless negativity and virtually no attacking coaching, even if we're getting things right in terms of the squad and manager. It's going to be a fairly long road, so we may as well enjoy the good bits (9 points so far, Ndombele looking great today, beating City, a couple of big games to look forward to) rather than just bemoan the fact that we're not back to our best yet.

It's fine. I actually agree but it's not really about fixing what Jose did and certainly not about being back to out best, it's about doing or at least looking like doing the right things to try and reverse that and I think that's at the very least questionable at this stage but I understand this stage is an early stage too.

The reality is that whoever the manager is, without enough or any signs of progression, they often don't get 18 months to put things right or reverse previous damage and I'm not calling for Nuno's head this early at all, but those signs in our play will need to come sooner rather than later. I just think there needs to be a lot more positive selections from now and he may do enough to keep him in the job because it's only going to end one way with Dele, Hojbjerg and Skipp in the middle.

 

[Monkey boy]

First off I think the reaction in here is way OTT. That Rennes team are no mugs, roared on by a rampant crowd and the biggest homer of a ref that you’re ever likely to see so on the face of it a draw isn’t the worst result. I actually lost a tenner as I bet that we’d lose when it was 1-1.

However those wanting, demanding or expecting us to play free flowing attacking football need to realise that this is never going to happen. Nuno doesn’t play that way, never has and likely never will. You’d also question the wisdom of hiring a manager and then getting him to change his whole philosophy (god I hate that phrase).

Let’s face it, he and we have been done up like a kipper, like one of those couples thrown together on Married at First Sight who all the viewers can see aren’t in any way a match for one and other yet the so called “experts” insist on marrying off the poor sods.

To think that Ten Haag wanted to come here and despite as supposedly messing him around three times was still willing to make the move leaves a really bitter taste in my mouth.

I’m fed up of making every team we play against look like world beaters.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

OK, so....I have no idea if he's a good manger. I am totally sure the squad is all over the place. I am not saying I will get on his back. I've gone beyond caring.

But seriously, this guy won't last five minutes.

It's the most disillusioned the fan base has been for as long as I can remember. Our best player is playing like cr*p. Every single unit of the side looks poor. There's no money. And the style of football he seemingly wants us to play is dry.

He's actually probably quite a good manager, but I don't think the fans will give him a chance.

He's going to be the latest one gone before you know it, and I doubt Para will last much longer - either of his own volition, or ours.

God this is bad.

 

[journeyman]

I was very angry with Nuno after Saturday but I don’t feel that way tonight at all. It was a good attacking side he picked, we tried to play football (unlike against Palace), we had bad luck again with injuries, but still picked up a decent result in what will be the hardest group game. And Tanguy performance a real bonus.

 

[parj]

Okay, this isn't really just directed at you because I'm seeing lots of this. But what on earth made anybody think a new manager would fix Mourinho's team in seven games? This isn't Football Manager, you don't just change mentality to Very Attacking, select Press Much Higher, and watch us go back to being a Pochettino side. It's going to take 6 to 18 months to reverse that spell of little training, relentless negativity and virtually no attacking coaching, even if we're getting things right in terms of the squad and manager. It's going to be a fairly long road, so we may as well enjoy the good bits (9 points so far, Ndombele looking great today, beating City, a couple of big games to look forward to) rather than just bemoan the fact that we're not back to our best yet.

Look at how Viera had palace play us off the park after 4 games. We keep making excuses but the manager has to show attacking intent. He is playing coward football at the moment and he needs to get the players actually keeping the ball and wanting to move forward with it.

Edit: and Viera is trying to fix a Hodgson team

 

[spurs mental]

Let’s pray & hope for the best then because as it stands, he’s got a big job on his hands getting the creative side of our game to work, the way we’ve been playing / creating chances.

He does. But it was never going to click quickly. The bulk of the squad has been in regression since late 2019. Its going to take, probably, another 12-18 months to get this club back to where it was. And that's with everything going well for us.

 

[rossdapep]

I find it remarklable we didn't signed a back up striker or a RWF, at least one or the other. We signed neither.

Absolutely ridiculous.

If you were told a team would reach the CL final, having previously been fighting for titles with some of Europe's best performers, open a multi-million making stadium, as well as other business ventures, to then end up with the squad we have now and be unable to have attracted/not been prepared to get a top coach to match then you would have been in disbelief.

It's absurd and negligence of the highest order. I can't understand how anyone can defend what has happened to this club.

 

[Johnny J]

If you were told a team would reach the CL final, having previously been fighting for titles with some of Europe's best performers, open a multi-million making stadium, as well as other business ventures, to then end up with the squad we have now and be unable to have attracted/not been prepared to get a top coach to match then you would have been in disbelief.

It's absurd and negligence of the highest order. I can't understand how anyone can defend what has happened to this club.

Absolutely nailed it. Nailed it.

 

[rossdapep]

Okay, this isn't really just directed at you because I'm seeing lots of this. But what on earth made anybody think a new manager would fix Mourinho's team in seven games? This isn't Football Manager, you don't just change mentality to Very Attacking, select Press Much Higher, and watch us go back to being a Pochettino side. It's going to take 6 to 18 months to reverse that spell of little training, relentless negativity and virtually no attacking coaching, even if we're getting things right in terms of the squad and manager. It's going to be a fairly long road, so we may as well enjoy the good bits (9 points so far, Ndombele looking great today, beating City, a couple of big games to look forward to) rather than just bemoan the fact that we're not back to our best yet.

I want Nuno to be given time and he definitely should be given time and we can't use a handful of games as proof. But if we aren't seeing any positive aspects of play by 5 months, let alone 6 then he won't make it.

I have noted previously that Poch's football was very dull for his opening months but he gave us a handful of games that could at least be used as a benchmark. Off the top of my head the draw versus Arsenal was energetic if not free-flowing, the last minute wins Villa and Hull showed spirit and the Chelsea win showed what Poch can really achieve. It certainly wasn't perfect after those games either but each one bought him more time.

If Nuno doesn't give us some solid energetic performances amongst the dour ones then he will be out the door.

 

[rossdapep]

That's a fair point tbh

I know what you meant though.

It should be a dream job.

Location, salary, facilities, stadium, fanbase (even if we have some idiots), potential to attract the right player.

 

[JCRD]

Levy is at fault too, make no mistake about it, he still controls the final decisions

He does but we cant say that Levy needs to stay out of footballing decisions and when he does we have a go at him when the DoF, who was lauded as a 'Don' by many, appointed him to begin with. Havign said that, if Levy didnt fuck up the managerial search and piss off so many then we may have had someone mor ein keeping with us as a club and style

 

[BigVic]

Fuck Levy. To think there were people who actually didnt want Potter. We now have Mourinho mk2