Ryan Mason getting the Tottenham job is like a new driver being given a Formula 1 car according to former midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
The ex-Spurs star and talkSPORT host was bemused by another defeat for his old side, losing 2-1 to Aston Villa in a critical blow to the club’s hopes of European football.
Tottenham are now five points from the Europa League and nine from the Champions League, with even the Conference League looking in doubt as Villa joined them on 57 points.
It’s been a turbulent season for the north London side who are on their third manager of the campaign having sacked permanent head coach Antonio Conte in March.
The Italian went on a sensational rant at his players and employers following a draw with Southampton, and was replaced by assistant Cristian Stellini.
In bizarre scenes, Stellini was then also sacked and replaced by his assistant Ryan Mason, who is taking over the side on a caretaker basis for the second time.
And O’Hara had the perfect analogy to sum up the decision making at his old side.
He said: “I really like Ryan Mason as a person as a man, what he represents for the club, but you are giving the keys to a Formula 1 car to someone who’s only just passed his driving test.
“You can’t do that, it’s Tottenham Hotspur, one of the biggest football clubs in the country.
“It’s a massive club, huge following, loads of money spent, and you’ve got a rookie manager in charge when you’re trying to get Champions League football!
“Nowhere near good enough, we didn’t have one shot on or off target in the first half, that’s unacceptable, I don’t care what team you’re playing against.
“Fair play to Villa, Unai Emery has done an amazing job, you watch them now and they’re so organised, but Tottenham were all over the place as usual, absolutely rubbish, I’m bored of even talking about them, this season’s been a disaster.”
O’Hara then took aim at the club’s decision makers, who, the day before the defeat, dropped out of the running for highly-rated former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann.
“They don’t even know what they’re doing,” he continued. “Look at Nagelsmann, just give the man what he wants, he’s a top manager!
“Daniel Levy hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing when it comes to recruitment and the football side of it, so let Nagelsmann, who knows what he’s doing, bring someone in.
“Levy brought in a sporting director who’s banned now! How embarrassing is that!”
His fellow talkSPORT host, Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor, was also keen to focus on the playing staff, and one struggling forward in particular.
“Look at Richarlison, how many more chances is he going to have?” Agbonlahor said. “For me he’s the flop of the season.
“He’s cost Spurs £60million and has three goals in 33 games in all competitions, a goal every 10 games, one goal in 25 Premier League games, one goal since September.
“Substituted again today and Spurs were a better team when he came off! Flop of the season.”