FORMER Manager Watch: Nuno Espírito Santo

[Worthy]

I think we’ll see movement today to be honest. With the real chance of United getting walloped by City at the weekend and that job becoming available Levy will want everything sewn up before then surely. Even with the absolute shambles we are at the moment, if Nuno goes today we’re the biggest job available. That could change in a week. Ten Hag would still be my first choice but after the summer, who knows if he’s even answer his phone this time. What a mess. The only guarantee is, there’s not much chance of me getting any work done today again

 

[samspurs92]

Pitt Brooke sticks the knife in.

We all knew how Nuno and Tottenham was going to end - the only question was when

Discussions about the head coach's future on Sunday undermined whatever authority Nuno had left and he was sacked on Monday morning

theathletic.com

Spoiler: Article

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Tottenham Hotspur tenure is hanging by a thread.

Chairman Daniel Levy and managing director Fabio Paratici spent Sunday locked in talks focused on one key question: whether to sack Nuno now or to leave him in place for a bit longer.

At the time of writing, Nuno was still in his job. In theory, he will still take training on Monday, preparing his players for Thursday night’s Europa Conference League home game with Vitesse Arnhem.

In another sense, though, it barely matters whether the official statement comes now or next week or next month, because the very fact of this news emerging on Sunday has surely removed whatever remained of Nuno’s authority as Tottenham head coach. At some point, more likely to be sooner than later, he will be sacked.

This is the inevitable follow-up from Saturday evening, an occasion which the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had never seen before. The fact that Spurs played appallingly badly, falling to their third 3-0 defeat of the league season and failing to register a single shot on target all game, is only part of the story.

It was the sense of open revolt from the stands, the booing of Nuno’s decision to take off Lucas Moura, the calling for his head — as well as that of Levy — that brought about Sunday’s crisis talks. Even during the worst days of the Jose Mourinho era, the fact that there were no fans at the games spared the manager — and Levy — their scorn. Maybe if there had been supporters in stadiums, Levy would have been forced to sack Mourinho before he eventually did but there is no escaping the fury of the fans anymore.

Tottenham have another home game this Thursday against Vitesse and Levy will be determined that it is not marred by similar scenes. And certainly for their next home league game, against Leeds United on November 21, the club will want a more supportive atmosphere.

But if it was the scenes in the stands on Saturday which triggered Sunday’s discussions, it was the events on the pitch which explain why Nuno was bound to get sacked at some point this season.

Because the simple fact is that Tottenham have played underwhelming and ineffective football for most of the Nuno era so far. The five league games they have won have been by one-goal margins. They have looked good on the break in patches — against Manchester City in August, and then last month, in the second half against Aston Villa and in the first half at Newcastle United. But the bad performances far outweigh the good. The defeats by Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Manchester United have been as bad as Spurs have played in the league in recent years.

People at Tottenham are keenly aware of just how bad the team are right now at creating chances. Rank all 20 Premier League teams this season by shots and Tottenham are joint bottom with Norwich on 103, just over half of Liverpool’s leading total of 199. Rank all 20 teams by expected goals (xG, excluding penalties) and Spurs are second-bottom with 9.26, ahead of Norwich on 7.25. Liverpool are top with 24.19. Rank the teams by goals scored and again it is only Norwich City (with three) below Tottenham with nine.

These numbers just prove what Spurs fans can see with their eyes: that the team is playing an ugly, turgid style of football, and not even playing it especially well. There is frustration from all sides that Spurs are not playing any better football now than they were under Mourinho, who was sacked six months ago.

There was also hope when Nuno arrived that he would be able to provide the team with a clear footballing identity, especially a plan to build up play and create chances. But to watch Spurs this season has been to watch a team with almost no creativity on the ball. Their best moments have largely been down to the individual excellence of Son Heung-min rather than any coordinated team play.

The fact they did not have one single shot on target against Manchester United should not be too much of a surprise. They also failed to register a shot on target in the second half at Crystal Palace, in the second half at Newcastle (although they were 3-1 up at half-time, it should be said), or in the second half at West Ham United, when they were chasing the game.

There was also a hope that Nuno would be able to improve the team in terms of their fitness, which had got significantly worse during Mourinho’s 17-month tenure. But there is little sign of that so far and Spurs’ distance covered per game is now the lowest in the league.

Put all of this together and there is a feeling among the players that Nuno has not made much of an impression during his four months in the job. There is not a revolt against him and he is not as unpopular as Mourinho was at the end of his tenure.

There is some respect for his integrity and the way that he goes about his work but at the same time, the players have not especially enjoyed his training sessions or his approach to the game, and there is a sense among the players that Nuno is not the sort of charismatic dominant figure, overseeing all aspects of the football club, that, in their individual ways, both Pochettino and Mourinho managed to be.

Ultimately, this all comes down to authority. Nuno arrived at Tottenham with very little, having been given the job after a 72-day search to find Mourinho’s replacement, and only after Spurs had failed to land plenty of other stronger candidates. The fact that he was given a two-year contract only further underlined that he was not a long-term option for the club. From day one, that made his job of convincing the players to buy into his ideas and methods harder than it should have been.

But whatever authority Nuno had left as Spurs boss has been destroyed by the turning of the fans on him on Saturday, and the open discussions about his future on Sunday.

We all know how this story is going to end now. The only question is when.

FFS why is he still there? The whole world know he’s going to be sacked.

The people running our club get more incompetent by the day

 

[freeeki]

FFS why is he still there? The whole world know he’s going to be sacked.

The people running our club get more incompetent by the day

He isn’t

 

[Albertbarich]

FFS why is he still there? The whole world know he’s going to be sacked.

The people running our club get more incompetent by the day

I wouldn't be surprised if he had been sacked but they're just tying up someone to take over.

 

[samspurs92]

He isn’t

I hope you’re right, the whole situation is already shit without dragging it on.

 

[Guntz]

Should hear some news on Nuno soon.

Doesn’t training start at 9?

 

[samspurs92]

I wouldn't be surprised if he had been sacked but they're just tying up someone to take over.

Yeah I agree but I was referring to the point in JPB’s article that said he was taking training today.

 

[Karol]

FFS why is he still there? The whole world know he’s going to be sacked.

The people running our club get more incompetent by the day

I have zero time for levy or enic and agree they're incompetent but what difference does it make if Nono was fired yesterday and the announcement is delayed until today?

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Yeah I agree but I was referring to the point in JPB’s article that said he was taking training today.

Well, until he's actually sacked, he is taking training today.

 

[samspurs92]

I have zero time for levy or enic and agree they're incompetent but what difference does it make if Nono was fired yesterday and the announcement is delayed until today?

That article says he’s taking training today.

 

[Karol]

That article says he’s taking training today.

Maybe the Athletic are wrong

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I know we’re a banter club. But after yesterday and all the furore, imagine Nuno actually taking training this morning.

 

[Wsussexspur]

A few journalists are now somewhat backtracking on Nuno’s impending doom.

Personally I can’t see how he survives after yesterday’s media frenzy. He has zero authority anymore.

Does not surprise me one single bit. As we already know the board are completely out of touch with reality and the fans feelings. So Would not be the biggest surprise if we are told that he has had the vote of confidence to stay in the job!

Personally think his position is untenable now.

But I wouldn’t put it past the club to leak some stories saying that there was no emergency meetings yesterday . Levy and Paratici were just having there weekly Sunday brunch catch up. The club dosent comment on speculation hence the silence around the media reports Of Nunos impending sacking. Also that Nuno has the full backing and confidence of the board moving forward and they are very happy with progress we are making under him. Let’s be fully honest we wouldn’t be surprised if something like that came out from the club today.

 

[Gassin's finest]

FFS why is he still there? The whole world know he’s going to be sacked.

The people running our club get more incompetent by the day

Nuno or Pitt Brooke? The latter really grinds my gears for some reason.

 

[Gilzeanking]

I find it surprising how much store is set by fan reaction . Same with Gattuso . Not complaining that fans have this power , just not quite used to it yet .

 

[Matthew]

WE HAVE LIFT OFF GENTS

ALL ABOARD THE CONTE TRAIN CHOOOO CHOOOO

whats the english version of this?

 

[archiewasking]

Does not surprise me one single bit. As we already know the board are completely out of touch with reality and the fans feelings. So Would not be the biggest surprise if we are told that he has had the vote of confidence to stay in the job!

Personally think his position is untenable now.

But I wouldn’t put it past the club to leak some stories saying that there was no emergency meetings yesterday . Levy and Paratici were just having there weekly Sunday brunch catch up. The club dosent comment on speculation hence the silence around the media reports Of Nunos impending sacking. Also that Nuno has the full backing and confidence of the board moving forward and they are very happy with progress we are making under him. Let’s be fully honest we wouldn’t be surprised if something like that came out from the club today.

Wasn't there ITK that Paratici was still fighting Nuno's corner? If that's true, surely they should both go???

 

[spids]

Can he retake the reins of the Spurs board for 10 mins on Monday morning to read the riot act to Levy explaining what a clusterf*ck of moves he's made of appointments and matters on the pitch before saying to the bald one, you're fired , and as you close the door on the way out take the other bald one who may have been a nice guy but he was the wrong hire and everyone but him and Paratici knew it ! I'd pay good money to see that.

Would be a good idea if Sugar hadn’t been the worst chairman in our history and the reason we went from being a top club regularly winning trophies to a club finishing 11th every year in the 90s/00s.

 

[Hercules]

Di Marzio has close contacts with Paratici.

YES HE DEFINITELY DOES!

 

[Matthew]

????‍

time to change your avatar bud...