Potential managers: the circus continues
By Don Scully
Potential managers come, potential managers go, but the funfair continues rolling along at Spurs. We have now another one who has come into the spotlight, Nuno Espirito Santo, former Wolves manager; he is now the leading contender to become our new manager. But Harry Potter, the magician with the wand at Brighton, is still in the running according to the ones in the know. Oh, we mustn’t forget the Ajax manager as well, who is another possibility, and the circus continues going around and around in circles.
It has been over 3 months since they sacked Jose Mourinho on 19 April. So, why so quick then and slow coaches now? Mainly the sacking of Pochettino was a long and well thought out while sacking Mourinho was a knee jerk reaction. When they sacked Pochettino, the bed was still warm when they brought in Mourinho.
But one of the reasons that it is taking so long is that the money is tight at Tottenham and Levy wants the new manager to tap into the academy (which would give a cheap supply of players), however, the ones that have been interviewed have different ideas, and their priority is winning trophies and glory, which is unacceptable to Levy unless it is done on the cheap.
Talks with Paulo Fonseca ended last week, and Gennaro Gattuso also went out of the window amid protests from fans and the media. As for Nuno, he has been linked with the vacant managerial jobs at Everton and Crystal Palace this summer. Nuno left Wolves in May after four years. He had won them the Championship title in his first season, then when he was in the Premier League, Wolves finished seventh the following two seasons before finishing 13th last season. In September, he signed a three-year contract extension at Molineux to 2023.
How did the circus start?
After Mourinho went, Ryan Mason took over until the end of the season. He was cheap and available at such short notice (as Levy likes them). Seven days later, they tried Julian Nagelsmann, who had been linked with taking over at our club; it was then announced that he will be the new Bayern Munich boss for next season. Then on 30 April, there was speculation that the Ajax man Erik ten Hag was the one, but he was quickly signed to a new extended contract.
Like all circuses, the fun always continues; on the 23 May, Brendan Rogers was approached, but thumbs down from him. He wasn’t that stupid. On 27 May, Levy made contact with, you guessed it, the Paris St-Germain boss, our sacked and trophyless failure friend, Mauricio Pochettino, about the possibility of him returning to manage us again, so that he could fail for a second time and be sacked all over again… Pochettino thought, “once bitten, twice shy.” No!
May turned into June, and Antonio Conte became the clear front runner after leaving Inter Milan. Then on the 15 June Levy was close to appointing former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca as our new manager. Then out of the blue, Levy was linked to Gennaro Gattuso, and all looked rosy, obviously not for Fonseca, as he felt he was stitched up.
Then Klinsmann threw his hat into the ring, but that was too easy for Levy, and he turned his nose up at him. The search continues. Then Sevilla’s president says an offer from Levy for Julen Lopetegui has been turned down. Again, we move to Nuno Espirito Santo, who is the latest numpty to be considered.
Do you know what I reckon? We’ll end up settling for the Brighton boss Harry Potter and his magic square circle or whatever you call them.
Like all good circuses, you pay your money, and you get your entertainment, and we/ you have certainly been entertained.
By Don Scully
I have been following Spurs since the sixties and work in London. My current job is as a professional writer (working in the media), and I have work connections to the club and had previously worked for them. Including working at the old White Hart Lane stadium.
I also have my own blog and have written for the SpursWeb app & its website.