IT’S GLEE LIONS AT THE LANE
Good news for Kane, Winks and Alli
TOTTENHAM’S England stars could have a new lease of life now that Nuno Santo has gone.
The Portugeezer was sacked after just 17 games in charge of Spurs.
The 47-year-old won nine and lost seven of his matches with five of the defeats coming in the Premier League.
The final straw was a pathetic home display against Manchester United at the weekend.
Home fans turned on the gaffer, shouting “you don’t know what you’re doing” when he made his substitutions.
More importantly, the crowd also gave chief executive Daniel Levy lots of stick which may have been the final straw.
Now it looks as though Antonio Conte will be given the transfer budget he demanded when turning down the job last summer. The Italian was close to taking over from Jose Mourinho but walked away after he wasn’t given a major war chest.
But it could be a trio of England players who are already at the new White Hart Lane who may benefit most from the manager changing.
Dele Alli and Harry Winks were very much out in the cold under Nuno Santo who didn’t even pick them for his Carabao Cup squad.
And Harry Kane has looked a real shadow of his former self thanks in no small part to the negative tactics employed by the ex-Wolves boss.
New gaffer Conte is more than likely to give Winks and Alli a chance, while the England skipper clearly needs a change of approach from the dugout.
That will surely come as the new manager knows attacking football will get the fans on his side despite his defensive reputation.
Alli looked as though he was part of Nuno’s plans in the early days. He was frozen out by Mourinho who questioned his work ethic.
His successor played him in the opening games of the season as a conventional midfielder.
Nightmare
But his run of games came to a halt with the north London derby defeat against Arsenal in September.
Winks has endured a nightmare since Mauricio Pochettino left the club in 2019.
He was a regular for Spurs and England under the Argie gaffer but was quickly bombed out by the Special One.
It seems that Nuno agreed with his countryman as he hasn’t been in the squad for weeks. As for Kane, he’s probably on a downer because his move to Man City in the summer was blocked by Levy.
Tottenham’s main striker has scored just once in the Premier League this season.
It’s not just sulking about City that has been the problem. Nuno’s tactics didn’t suit Kane who needs service and space around goal.
With Tottenham sitting back, those chances were hard to come by.
You would imagine the new boss will build the side around Kane and fellow hitman Son Heung-min.
Now Conte has been appointed, it will take time to turn the sinking ship around.
That’s the view of Jamie Carragher who thinks the problems at Spurs go deeper than just the manager.
The Liverpool legend said: “I would love Conte back in the Premier League.
“I think he was a revelation first
time around, he is a brilliant character, his personality, I would love to see him back in the Premier League so I hope it does get done.”
The new Spurs boss only has 18 months on their initial contract but there is an option to extend if both parties agree.
Carragher is doubtful that Conte could make a big enough impact in less than two seasons.
Success
The former England international thinks it’s more of a long-term job than Spurs believe.
Carragher added: “I think a manager is going to need more than 18 months to turn Tottenham around.
“Even though I am a huge admirer of Antonio Conte and how quickly he achieved the success he had with Chelsea and every club he’s been to.
“I think it would be very difficult to replicate that success in 18 months. He could need another 18 months on top of that to maybe get Tottenham back, maybe up there challenging.
When I say “get Tottenham back”, maybe back to where they were under Mauricio Pochettino, where they felt they had a chance of winning trophies and pushing people for the title, Champions League year in, year out.
“I think there is a lot of work to be done so, do I think Conte can turn that around in 18 months?
“I think it will be difficult for a man of his calibre.
“I think this squad is capable of challenging for the Champions League positions and they are not a million miles away from that right now.
“Tottenham as a club should always aspire to be in that sort of position.”