Discussing all things Tottenham Hotspur on the latest episode of The View From The Lane podcast, journalist Charlie Eccleshare provided insight on Nuno Espirito Santo’s European team selection.
Ahead of Tottenham’s London derby against West Ham United, the Portuguese boss rested all 11 of the players who started in the league win against Newcastle United for the trip to Vitesse.
Is it too early to sack Nuno?
Yes
No
However, the Lilywhites suffered defeat in both the game against the Dutch outfit in the Europa Conference League and at the London Stadium against the Hammers.
In Tottenham’s previous European clash, against NS Mura, a number of the ‘rested XI’ started the game and both Harry Kane and Heung-min Son were forced to come on from the bench.
And Eccleshare believes the dramatic change to the matchday squad did not go down well with the players at Hotspur Way who questioned Espirito Santo’s decision.
(24:30) “Yeah, but I don’t think he’s [Winks] the only one. I don’t think he’s the only one who feels that. I think even some of those who were left behind, I don’t think thought that was the smartest decision.
“And then again, it’s not been wise after the event. I tweeted when it happened saying this is quite a big call because it is pretty demotivating both for those players, but also for everyone else knowing ‘well I’m pretty much definitely starting on the weekend’.”
TIF Thoughts on Espirito Santo’s decision…
We can understand Eccleshare’s comments on some of the player’s taking this decision as a hit to their motivation, and that is the case on both sides of the squad.
The issue is the decision to leave the starting XI at home for the clash tells the players who travelled that the manager does not view them as being up to the level of starting in the Premier League.
On top of this, from a tactical point of view, it also gives the opposition [West Ham] a much stronger idea of what the starting XI they can expect from Tottenham as they prepare their players for the clash.
However, we do question whether Spurs sealed the victory in Arnhem would this have even been a topic of discussion?
In other news: ‘I still remember’ – Romano reveals Spurs were offered ‘one of the best centre backs in Europe’