Danny Murphy believes Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the wrong man to replace Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur, telling talkSPORT (10 May, 12.40pm) Graham Potter would be a better choice.
Nuno and Mourinho certainly have a few things in common – and we don’t just mean their Portuguese heritage, Porto past and relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes.
Like the recently departed Tottenham boss, Nuno is a coach who has built his success on a solid defensive foundation.
It would be harsh – and plain wrong – to label the Wolves boss a joy-sucking pragmatist but it’s fair to say, even during a terrific 2019/20 season, his old gold army was more cautious and considered than thrilling and gung-ho.
In April, The Express reported Tottenham had identified Nuno as a potential successor to Mourinho.
But Murphy feels Spurs would be better served choosing a purist over a pragmatist, someone like a Roberto Martinez, Gareth Southgate or Graham Potter.
“Too pragmatic, too defensive,” the former Tottenham midfielder said when asked about Nuno’s suitability for the job.
“That’s the only way he got success, making (his teams) hard to beat.
“(I would prefer) Martinez, Potter, Southgate.”
Last week, Murphy pointed out the similarities between Brighton boss Potter and another stylish young coach who arrived at Tottenham after making a name for himself on the South Coast – a certain Mauricio Pochettino.
Potter’s impressive brand of controlled yet cultured attacking football should, in theory, get the best out of Tottenham’s collection of talented yet underperforming attacking midfielders, including Dele Alli, Gio Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele.
“You’re talking about being successful within your means, with the tools you’ve got,” Murphy said when pressed on what has impressed him about the former Swansea and Ostersunds coach.
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