Could Nuno Espirito Santo lose control of the dressing room?
I don’t think so, not on his first foray into the Spurs dressing room, however, Shaka Hislop has asserted that Nuno Espirito Santo could jeopardise losing the dressing room in his very first game if he starts Harry Kane against Manchester City.
After a rest, Harry is expected to start training on Thursday (today; 12th), and according to Nuno, he will be available for selection on Sunday. However, the noises coming out of City are that they are confident of getting Kane before the Transfer window closes.
On the other side, it was reported and now denied that Kane refused to train and that Spurs were going to find him, also now denied. All a bit higgledy-piggledy, but we will know more nearer the time.
Nevertheless, Hislop has maintained that if Kane starts against City this Sunday, that will send a message that he (Kane), not Nuno, is the leader.
Shaka Hislop, the former West Ham player, told ESPN: “If this is the backdrop and there is any truth to Spurs’ stance about Harry Kane and his return. I don’t see how Nuno includes in his starting XI. I just feel that sends absolutely the wrong message. It says that Harry Kane is in charge. It says Nuno has to do what Harry Kane dictates. Then spin over to that is the message to the rest of the dressing room and who is in charge. That, for me, is something that, even with a new manager coming never really gets back. If that’s his first salvo – you can’t afford to lose authority in the dressing room in your first official game in charge.”
Thoughts
It seems every player is coming out of the woodwork to give their two pennies worth. This keeps them in the limelight, even though they don’t know what they are talking about. They can talk about their experiences, but they can’t project that experience onto other situations. I am sure Nuno is his own man and will do what is best for the club and not for one temperamental player (if he is temperamental).
Whatever Kane wants or doesn’t want, he is still being paid by his masters (Spurs), and until things change, he will do as he is told, just like any other professional.
I expect Nuno to start Kane on Sunday unless there are medical or fitness problems. I imagine the front four to be Kane, Lucas, Dele or Bergwijn and Son. If Kane doesn’t play then, it could be Dele, Son, Bergwijn and Lucas.
Whether he plays or not, the trouble is that Nuno will give the press plenty of headlines for the next day. In other words, Nuno isn’t going to win this war of words or pantomime charades.
Be safe, Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
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I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
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