FORMER Manager Watch: Nuno Espírito Santo

[Danny1]

I think the good thing is, people definitely aren’t overreacting:

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He is simply just writing that to get a response to stay relevant. If he genuinely thinks it then he can fuck off and support Man City or Chelsea where success comes instantly.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

One thing which was annoying today was a moment in the first half which basically showed just how superior we are on an individual level to the likes of Palace, and yet we didn’t capitalise on.

There was a short moment when we were playing out of defence and PEH, Winks, Skipp and Reggie played a series of one-touch passes amongst themselves which lasted for several seconds. They formed classic triangles, played around the Palace players who were pressing like maniacs, and opened up the whole pitch with a series of hyper-accurate, fast-paced one-touch passes.

In the end they went back to defence but just for a moment you saw what the individuals of the squad were capable of when they play to their real ability. Even with all the injuries and suspensions, our players should be, and are, a level above the Palace players. I just don’t think they actually believe that they are.

That was a superb passage of play until it ticked itself out to a whimper. That’s what I’ve missed over the last year or so

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

I think ethos more than personnel is the starting point.

The line-up today might not have been that inspiring, we all know that, but it is what you are trying to do as a football team for me. As I said in the match thread, how about having some bollocks about us and stepping up the pitch 20 yards, pressing high, and trying to impose ourselves? Even with what we started with we could have had a front three, three centre mids who, like Liverpool, might not bring creativity but could run and press, and get the fullbacks camped in their half.

Yeah we might have then faced problems creating against a team stuck in their own half, but maybe sheer weight of pressure would eventually tell. Maybe not. But fucking hell lets establish dominance, get the game played in their half, and worry about that later.

I feared Nuno would bring yet more mid-low block counter football, and haven't really seen anything to allay these fears yet. Yes it's early days but managers by and large stamp their ethos and ideas straightaway, not waiting for the "right moment" to come along, and when our main target seemed to be Traore that indicates to me what the idea is....... I was hoping for more like how we played in the European game and maybe with a few creative options back/bought in we might eventually get there, but I have my doubts.

For me the team out there doesn’t have the athleticism to press high up the pitch and be be able cover the spaces behind when its beaten. Plodders everywhere, hojbjerg, Skipp, Winks, Dele, Kane, either on the ball, off it or both. I don’t see us having the attributes in the squad for a high pressing team. Today there’s a chance it might have worked as Palace aren’t particularly great playing out from the back through midfield, they just would of just started turning us around, going longer and killing us on the break. We are a very slow team now. We have got a couple of midfielders who can keep the ball under pressure and actually try and do something progressive with it, they just never play. Oh well.

 

[VancouverSpur]

One thing which was annoying today was a moment in the first half which basically showed just how superior we are on an individual level to the likes of Palace, and yet we didn’t capitalise on.

There was a short moment when we were playing out of defence and PEH, Winks, Skipp and Reggie played a series of one-touch passes amongst themselves which lasted for several seconds. They formed classic triangles, played around the Palace players who were pressing like maniacs, and opened up the whole pitch with a series of hyper-accurate, fast-paced one-touch passes.

In the end they went back to defence but just for a moment you saw what the individuals of the squad were capable of when they play to their real ability. Even with all the injuries and suspensions, our players should be, and are, a level above the Palace players. I just don’t think they actually believe that they are.

There was also a moment when Winks broke forward with the ball and I thought to myself “fuck me he is actually going to run forwards with the ball” only for him to stop dead in his tracks and pass it backwards. ?

 

[Thesoccershrink]

I just heard that Levy is considering a release term in Nuno's contract after today. But it's fake news. There is no Santo clause!

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

There was also a moment when Winks broke forward with the ball and I thought to myself “fuck me he is actually going to run forwards with the ball” only for him to stop dead in his tracks and pass it backwards. ?

Biggest fraud in premier league football.

 

[DiVaio]

I think the good thing is, people definitely aren’t overreacting:

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Haha we went from top10 to relegation fight during this game according to Gards

 

[nedley]

I know its only 4 games in the league, but boy, today we were against Palace and Nuno started like we were against Barca, where the only similarity was their jersey.

Starting with zero creativity across the midfield was suicidal.

Not reacting to the poor first half where we had no shots was suicidal.

Starting Winks where an unift Tanguy could even be better was suicidal. Nuno was literally doing a Mason again. He would be dumb and deserved no sympathy for not to have gone through last season matches.

TBH, would really to have seen him more passionate at the touch line today. He looked out of the league even against the ex scum Veira and totally out of ideas, consigned to defeat - its actually scary to watch when this was only Palace. We still have matches against the bigger team ffs Nuno. Man up.

Levy will be made to look stupid if Nuno is going to get sacked before the end of this season. He's spending so much extra money on compensation yet again when he could have gotten Conte right from the start and ceded to his demands. He will be so perfect because I know he will be the first to shoot Winks and murder him on today alone and we will see the last of Winks ever. I don't care if anyone thinks he's mad or temperamental. This squad is devoid of spirits, guts and balls. And only coaches like Conte, Simeone are crazy enough to whip the fuck up of these softies.

But well, I really want Nuno to succeed first and foremost. He better fucking understand the concept of To Dare is To Do though. I think I am speaking for alot of people as well to want to get entertained with attacking football than to win anything if I'm honest now. So tired of hovering between the choices. Just keep me away from the bore fest with lame defensive tactics or low blocks. Win, lose or draw, having single digits, or worse, not even registering a shot in the first half is an insult to the club.

Master of false economy.

 

[nedley]

I think the good thing is, people definitely aren’t overreacting:

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The fact is the majority of us didn't want him in the first place.

Can I ask if you were against him coming in?

 

[dbspurs]

I think it's important to realise that we are in the beginning of a massive rebuild. The next 2-3 seasons are not always going to be pleasant viewing while the pieces are being put in place.

We are nowhere near a top 4 side and if we make 5th or 6th I'll say we've had a good season. Now I know that's not what most Spurs fans want to hear but that is unfortunately where we are.

I'm still not sure where I stand on Nuno. He most definitely isn't a free flowing attacking coach but I think he's less pragmatic than Jose and can set his teams up to play decent football. That said he screwed up pretty badly today with his line up especially as it seems everyone bar Nuno could see the problems that were going to occur.

I just dont see him here long term hence the 2 year contract and maybe Levy and Paratici are thinking get the rebuild in place over the next 2 years and then hire a top coach to utilise the revamped squad.

 

[DiamondLites]

I’m not hugely worried about today, it’s annoying Tanganga got sent off because I’d actually like to see what Nuno might have done. It’s was just at the moment you’d hope he’d change it. Clearly the initial midfield was ridiculous negative. Even playing 2 of them is borderline. But if you put a creative type with Hojbjerg & Skipp and pace in Bergwijn or Son in front 3 we’d instantly be better. I’ll give Nuno a pass today I think he over complicated it, hopefully he will learn how utterly useless Harry Winks is.

What do you expect he would of done? We were 2nd best long before Tanganga went off, yet he sat there and did nothing. 0-1 down with 10 mins to go, he sat there and did nothing while Gil and Ndombele sat in the bench with their thumbs up their arse

Yes we were missing players, but instead of replacing one of the missing front 3 with an attacker or creative player, he shoehorned another defensively minded midfielder and move Dele out of the position he has performed moderately well in into one he is utterly unsuited too

 

[Erm33]

Do people genuinely think Nuno is the right man for this rebuild?

 

[rossdapep]

One thing which was annoying today was a moment in the first half which basically showed just how superior we are on an individual level to the likes of Palace, and yet we didn’t capitalise on.

There was a short moment when we were playing out of defence and PEH, Winks, Skipp and Reggie played a series of one-touch passes amongst themselves which lasted for several seconds. They formed classic triangles, played around the Palace players who were pressing like maniacs, and opened up the whole pitch with a series of hyper-accurate, fast-paced one-touch passes.

In the end they went back to defence but just for a moment you saw what the individuals of the squad were capable of when they play to their real ability. Even with all the injuries and suspensions, our players should be, and are, a level above the Palace players. I just don’t think they actually believe that they are.

Yeah I recall that.

But this is the problem and the big difference between being a good player and elite.

Good players will be able to do this occasionally because their belief limits them.

Elite players will do it plentiful because their drive, belief and focus level is elite. They don't need to second guess things or worry about the opposition, they just do.

The likes of Winks, Hojbjerg, Dier and co will be pinging it about in training, looking elite.

But when match day comes they lose that extra belief as they come up against an unknown quantity and it stifles them.

They still wouldn't be prime Iniesta or Xavi, but they'd look more capable if they had that level of drive, confidence and focus.

The likes of Reguilon/Lo Celso have shown they are very capable when at Sevilla/Betis. Problem is, they have lost their groove and are part of a group of players low on confidence and without a real defined way of playing.

I really really hope the club tell Lo Celso and Romero that they cannot go off to travel whilst quarantine is in place.

We need players to get accustomed to each other and build rhythm. We'll end up waiting until December for them to hit any kind of stride at this rate.

I'm sorry but a foot needs putting down.

Tottenham comes first.

 

[rossdapep]

What do you expect he would of done? We were 2nd best long before Tanganga went off, yet he sat there and did nothing. 0-1 down with 10 mins to go, he sat there and did nothing while Gil and Ndombele sat in the bench with their thumbs up their arse

Yes we were missing players, but instead of replacing one of the missing front 3 with an attacker or creative player, he shoehorned another defensively minded midfielder and move Dele out of the position he has performed moderately well in into one he is utterly unsuited too

I don't know how many times it needs saying.

He WAS going to make a change before the red.

Once the red card happened. The game changed because now we really needed to try and stay compact especially as our CBs were now Davies and Rodon and were now going to be under immense pressure.

Gil wouldn't have worked defensively. And who knows what kind of Ndombele we would have got.

The one capable of looking world class or the one who can't be arsed to show for the ball and ends up putting us under more pressure.

Remember, we lost more games with Ndombele on the team last year compared to when he played.

 

[mill]

I don't know how many times it needs saying.

He WAS going to make a change before the red.

Once the red card happened. The game changed because now we really needed to try and stay compact especially as our CBs were now Davies and Rodon and were now going to be under immense pressure.

Gil wouldn't have worked defensively. And who knows what kind of Ndombele we would have got.

The one capable of looking world class or the one who can't be arsed to show for the ball and ends up putting us under more pressure.

Remember, we lost more games with Ndombele on the team last year compared to when he played.

A lot of them times we lost them after he was subbed off

 

[DiamondLites]

I don't know how many times it needs saying.

He WAS going to make a change before the red.

Once the red card happened. The game changed because now we really needed to try and stay compact especially as our CBs were now Davies and Rodon and were now going to be under immense pressure.

Gil wouldn't have worked defensively. And who knows what kind of Ndombele we would have got.

The one capable of looking world class or the one who can't be arsed to show for the ball and ends up putting us under more pressure.

Remember, we lost more games with Ndombele on the team last year compared to when he played.

Even if that’s the case, that’s way too long to wait to change things when it was clearly not working. If the mentality is to be happy at not conceding but not even look like scoring against Palace then that is just as damning an indictment on Nuno as not seeing the problem. And would we have been any weaker defensively with Dele in the Winks role and Gil where Dele was? The only good work Dele did was defensively which would of been an upgrade on the human traffic cone Winks but we would of had someone other than Lucas who could beat a man and make something happen

 

[ShelfWatcher]

Really disappointed with Nuno, picked the wrong formation. Should have gone three at the back
Didn't need Winks in there and clearly Skipp wasn't 100 per cent
We needed a five of Emerson Hojberg Dele Gil/Ndom Reggie
Obviously Dier injury and Tanganga red, but sliding doors and all that, he picks the right team and formation none of that happens
It was unfortunate that it all went but Nuno by picking that dumb team, led to the nonsense that followed
Now he has a mountain to climb, hope he does it of course. But have no confidence whatsoever
I'm off to vote for us to finish 7 to 11th

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Do people genuinely think Nuno is the right man for this rebuild?

I don’t think even Levy does hence his short contract. As I mentioned before, I think he was hired because he was the cheapest option, knows the league and the Mendes link. There is nobody who can convince me Nuno was hired because he was seen as someone who can rebuild the team or get us back into the top 4 and challenging.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I think the good thing is, people definitely aren’t overreacting:

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A lot of us never thought Nuno should’ve been considered in the first place and by all accounts he was about our 7/8th choice!

Huge red flags with our lack of creativity and performances so far and it’s not just down to players it’s down to the system and tactics and lack of possession and pressing etc etc. Wolves and Crystal Palace have looked like fucking Barcelona against us this season.

We’ve played 4, scored 3, only one goal has been from open play. Today we had 0 shots by half time and 2 by the end of the match, sorry but we can already see that the football Nuno is serving us is exactly like we thought it would be, defensive, low possession, lack of creativity, pragmatic solid football.

Could he get some ok results and get us to finish around 6th? Perhaps…although having 2 shots a game and no idea or intent to attacking it’ll be more like 7-10th place finish

Will most games bore the pants off us yet again just like we thought and as Wolves fans warned us…? yes.

Nuno is a nice guy but he never was the right choice for our club, Levy said we’d hire a manager with Spurs DNA going back to our roots of attacking free flowing football and we end up with Nuno basically a nicer version of Mouriniho.

 

[jurgen]

I think it's important to realise that we are in the beginning of a massive rebuild. The next 2-3 seasons are not always going to be pleasant viewing while the pieces are being put in place.

We are nowhere near a top 4 side and if we make 5th or 6th I'll say we've had a good season. Now I know that's not what most Spurs fans want to hear but that is unfortunately where we are.

I'm still not sure where I stand on Nuno. He most definitely isn't a free flowing attacking coach but I think he's less pragmatic than Jose and can set his teams up to play decent football. That said he screwed up pretty badly today with his line up especially as it seems everyone bar Nuno could see the problems that were going to occur.

I just dont see him here long term hence the 2 year contract and maybe Levy and Paratici are thinking get the rebuild in place over the next 2 years and then hire a top coach to utilise the revamped squad.

Why would you rebuild with a manager who seemingly doesn’t align with the much spouted ‘DNA’ the club wants moving forward.. doesn’t make too much sense?