Nuno arrived, and leaves, to a shrug of the shoulders

Everyone knew wasn’t the first, second or even third or fourth choice. He never had a chance

The most damning element of Nuno Espirito Santo's demise is that it came as no real surprise. 

That’s entertainment. It can be hard to remember that sometimes. What most fans want is a decent day out, some emotional sustenance, the sense that their team has given it a good go. That’s been missing for some time now at Spurs, and whoever is in place as the new manager — assuming the club manages to close a deal — by the time you read this has a big job on their hands. Because the problems at the club go right to the top.

Success in football is cyclical — despite the best efforts of some clubs to ensure otherwise. So by definition you can’t always improve on what went before. But it is undeniable that Spurs have gone backwards since they appeared in a Champions League final just two years ago. Whether those in charge of the club recognise this and are therefore able to address the problems and resolve them will determine whether the new man has any success. But the worry is that they don’t recognise this or, worse, are incapable of doing so.