David Ornstein for The Athletic is clearly a journalist with some pedigree – a comment I make based upon the impeccable way that he has conducted himself – in a space frequently awash with, shall we say, disappointing individuals. When the claim was made, a few days ago, it was immediately an explosive story.
The notion that Nuno Espírito Santo, a coach whose previous club had declined to continue with him, had then become the last man that from the speculation outside the club which might take the post, appeared to be a reasonable tale.
Despite what any surviving apologists for ENIC might tell you, the damage caused by the inability to provide José Mourinho with a functional toolbox with which to repair Tottenham was catastrophic. For all Daniel Levy’s in-house video, where the beleaguered CEO scoffed at the wild variety of names that had been linked with the role, the cold reality of the situation was that it took the club’s board over 70-days to get anyone to agree to sign up.
It was suggested by Jamie Redknapp that a big factor in sacking The Special One was the money that could be saved if the trigger were to be pulled sooner rather than later.
So when Nuno was eventually revealed, I started to think of the opening lyrics to Alice Cooper’s song ‘No Man’s Land’…
I got a job in Atlanta in a mall playing Santa
Not because of any talent but because I was the
only one the suit would fit
Everybody shopping, little sticky kids were hopping
on my lap with their fingers in my beard
I guess they thought that I was really it
The truth was, that Spurs were not in a position to lose any more money, nor could they risk the existing squad to be less than respected by the next guy.
So we get Nuno on a thin deal, sans parachute, picking Dele Alli relentlessly.
My question is straightforward; what else did anyone reasonably expect? And, therefore, I take a view that Nuno doesn’t need time, the poor man needs a miracle.
A Tottenham spokesperson has denied the story, of course, which only serves to add fuel to the fire, especially given that Ornstein stands by his information.
Will Peri-Peri Pulis still be in post by Christmas, in a mall playing Santa?