Simon Jordan wonders if Tottenham Hotspur should have made a move for Unai Emery with the now-Aston Villa boss making a triumphant return to the Premier League.
If the 2022/23 season had begun when Emery took over from Steven Gerrard at Villa Park – his Midlands reign kick-started by a chest-thumping 3-1 victory over Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United – Villa would be fourth in the table.
Only Arsenal, Manchester City and United have picked up more points than their 36 since matchday 14. That is six more than Tottenham have accumulated over the same period.
In fact, in the last nine rounds of fixtures, Aston Villa have snaffled almost twice as many points as a Spurs side who took the unusual – and rather desperate – step of replacing an interim coach with, yes, another interim coach following Sunday’s 6-1 humiliation at St James’ Park.
Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery thriving at Aston Villa
Suddenly, things are looking up for an Aston Villa side well-placed to secure European qualification for the first time in over a decade. Tottenham, meanwhile, are now scouring the market for a fourth different permanent head coach since firing the iconic Mauricio Pochettino less than four years ago.
And Jordan, the former Crystal Palace owner, wonders if Tottenham should possibly have considered a man who spent 16 months down the road at Arsenal. Even if Emery’s Emirates connections would have made the prospect of his arrival at Spurs a rather unpopular one among some supporters.
“Maybe Tottenham should have been looking at Unai Emery,” Jordan wonders, via talkSPORT (24 April, 10am).
“But then it’s difficult to employ Unai Emery because who did he work for last in England?”
The already-unpopular Daniel Levy has come in for an avalanche of criticism following that Tyneside capitulation; Ryan Mason now taking charge after the ill-fated Cristian Stellini blew up in the chairman’s face.
Jordan believes that Levy deserves credit for turning Tottenham into one of English football’s most deep-pocketed clubs. But ask Spurs supporters what they would prefer? An FA Cup or even a Premier League title at a crumbling White Hart Lane? Or a Beyonce gig at the space-age Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?
‘Daniel Levy could do better’
“Daniel could do better than should do better,” Jordan adds. “After 22 years, the only thing you can point to is the economic success of the football club. You’re going to fall foul of certain sections of the fanbase who want to see things won.
“You can’t decry (their financial success). Because when Daniel took over, that football club was in financial trouble. In a situation where they had no economic viability. Now, they’ve got that but no (trophies). What you want is both.
“So he goes after ‘trophy managers’. He goes after (Jose) Mourinho at the wrong time in Mourinho’s career.”
Tottenham’s most recent piece of silverware came all the way back in 2008; the League Cup final victory over Chelsea.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
