Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[spids]

Kane on 5 goals

Thanks. Annoyingly I did have 5 goals originally but checked the BBC list and they obviously had not updated it. I forgot the goal against Chelsea (how could I?). 5 goals in 6 games is probably his best start to a season I think.

 

[Tonio]

The Haarland transfer was a complete anomaly. The most exciting young player in the World goes to the richest club in the World (who he supports) on a low fee, to fill the most obvious hole in their already hyper successful squad. It was so obviously going to happen, even if they'd have got Kane off us. Their pulling power is immense and we're not in that league.

The Haaland transfer stinks to high heaven.

 

[spids]

I think Conte will stay as longs as (a) he enjoys a good relationship with Levy and Paratici, and (b) we sign the players he wants (which is what we have done so far).

Conte clearly wanted Bastoni and Zaniolo but understood we could not do deals for them this summer. I am keen to see what happens in January with those players if they have not signed new contracts, especially after the FFP fine Inter just got. Although Conte may even feel that we no longer need Bastoni (if Lenglet is impressing him - he was very good yesterday).

I think in the next two windows we will be looking to sign:

• A long term replacement for Lloris who is very good in possession / ball at feet - not urgent.
• A world class, experienced, RWB (to replace Emerson / Doherty).
• Another CB who can compete with, and cover for, both Romero and Dier (to replace Sanchez - a ball playing, experienced defender).
• Back up competition for Kulusevski at RWF (to replace Moura - i.e. Zaniolo)

 

[spids]

The Haarland transfer was a complete anomaly. The most exciting young player in the World goes to the richest club in the World (who he supports) on a low fee, to fill the most obvious hole in their already hyper successful squad. It was so obviously going to happen, even if they'd have got Kane off us. Their pulling power is immense and we're not in that league.

Haaland's transfer fee may have been relatively low (~£50M), but the agent fees were astronomical (40M euros for his agent plus 30M euros for his dad), as well as a salary of up to 40M euros per season for five years. The fact they made a net profit in the transfer market from a FFP perspective stinks.

 

[Japhet]

Haaland's transfer fee may have been relatively low (~£50M), but the agent fees were astronomical (40M euros for his agent plus 30M euros for his dad), as well as a salary of up to 40M euros per season for five years. The fact they made a net profit in the transfer market from a FFP perspective stinks.

That's very true, but he was never going anywhere else.

 

[TOLBINY]

The Haaland transfer stinks to high heaven.

He had a buy out clause that City exercised.

 

[Timberwolf]

Also worth noting Haaland's current contract has a buy out clause that kicks in after 2 seasons so he has a way out if Pep leaves and/or he fancies a new challenge. He's been clever to ensure he's not trapped at City if he doesn't want to be.

Admittedly it's worth 150m, but if a club like Madrid wants to replace Benzema you could absolutely see them paying it to bring in a 24 year old peak Haaland.

We've basically got to pray that he fancies a move after a couple of years and there's another club in a position to buy him.

 

[Tezza1978]

Also worth noting Haaland's current contract has a buy out clause that kicks in after 2 seasons so he has a way out if Pep leaves and/or he fancies a new challenge. He's been clever to ensure he's not trapped at City if he doesn't want to be.

Admittedly it's worth 150m, but if a club like Madrid wants to replace Benzema you could absolutely see them paying it to bring in a 24 year old peak Haaland.

We've basically got to pray that he fancies a move after a couple of years and there's another club in a position to buy him.

Who knows, if we have won the Prem or the CL by then maybe we can get Daniel to pay the release clause? Perfect Kane replacement lol

 

[Jamturk]

I think that an element of the pessimism is due to our steady, if unremarkable start to the season. We've seen other teams around us seeing off their opponents with a flourish whilst we've laboured to our results for the most part. We definitely all want to see improvement there.

It's a marathon not a sprint.

 

[rossdapep]

He’s not leaving this PL for La Liga at the moment. The PL is the hardest league in the world and seemingly getting harder every season. To duck away from that challenge is pretty weak minded and Conte isn’t that. I think the only way he leaves us is when the players have enough of his ways and down tools and get him the sack. It’s pretty obvious he loves his job here with us.

I don't think so either. And you're right he's always up for a challenge, as long as the club continue to make supportive decisions.

I could see him at Atletico though rather than Madrid. For the same reasons.

 

[bubble07]

I think Conte will stay as longs as (a) he enjoys a good relationship with Levy and Paratici, and (b) we sign the players he wants (which is what we have done so far).

Conte clearly wanted Bastoni and Zaniolo but understood we could not do deals for them this summer. I am keen to see what happens in January with those players if they have not signed new contracts, especially after the FFP fine Inter just got. Although Conte may even feel that we no longer need Bastoni (if Lenglet is impressing him - he was very good yesterday).

I think in the next two windows we will be looking to sign:

• A long term replacement for Lloris who is very good in possession / ball at feet - not urgent.
• A world class, experienced, RWB (to replace Emerson / Doherty).
• Another CB who can compete with, and cover for, both Romero and Dier (to replace Sanchez - a ball playing, experienced defender).
• Back up competition for Kulusevski at RWF (to replace Moura - i.e. Zaniolo)

Hakimi
Skrinier
Zaniolo

 

[djhotspur]

Hakimi
Skrinier
Zaniolo

Title

 

[danielneeds]

Hakimi
Skrinier
Zaniolo

PSG are not gonna sell Hakimi. Why do people think one of the richest couple of clubs in the world will sell us their world class RWB?

 

[Adam456]

Quick disclaimer: I am not 100% happy about our football and our inability to keep the ball but I am more than happy for us to give Conté the time he needs + signings

But my actual post -
the other point about whether Conté would walk is our finances.

This will be our first full season in the new stadium with a 'full' Champions League campaign (obvs if we don't make it through the group stages at least then it will struggle to match our run to the final in 2019). Including all of the events money, in the accounts up to June next year we are probably going to show another big step up in revenue. We are going to be knocking on the door of the top 6-7 clubs in Europe over the next 2-3 years if we do no more than qualify for the CL and get through the group. We'll probably overtake Juventus and Chelsea and be close to Liverpool if we have some good runs

I am sure that this will have not escaped his attention and given that he has already been backed in 2 windows he should be able to see the direction of travel

So the pool of clubs that constitute a better option really is small and decreasing

 

[The Scarecrow]

I think we're in a pretty good position. If Conte stays, that's great. If he goes, we go and get Potter and that's great too. As long as Chelsea don't sack Tuchel, but that would be a weird move after all the money they've spent.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I think we're in a pretty good position. If Conte stays, that's great. If he goes, we go and get Potter and that's great too. As long as Chelsea don't sack Tuchel, but that would be a weird move after all the money they've spent.

Totally agree with all this. What's important is that we're back in the CL, and we've used that carrot to attract some really good players. The squad is looking healthy, and I'm sure there are some interesting the right manager (tough though that is to find) with a different set of ideas could do. Potter would seem like the right choice IF that came to pass.

For now, even though there are occasional gripes with his 'process' (our approach to WHam and Chelsea was slightly odd at time), Conte seems to be moving us in the right direction and you have to say he's been a massive success thus far

 

[spids]

PSG are not gonna sell Hakimi. Why do people think one of the richest couple of clubs in the world will sell us their world class RWB?

Never say never. He is reportedly unhappy there, has not set the world alight, they do not play with WBs, and PSG just got hit with a £56M FFP fine. An unlikely transfer for sure, but who knows what will happen next summer without a crystal ball?

EDIT - OK , they do play with WBs.

 

[mil1lion]

Great performance Saturday, a lot more like it. Conte did well with the changes and it was no surprise the quality on the ball improved with Romero, Lenglet and Bentancur starting. If we can get these type of performances when rotating the squad it bodes well for the season. Now we can have the likes of Kulusevski and Perisic come in and prove themselves. We need to rotate Hojbjerg a bit so it will be interesting to see of he starts Wednesday. We need to get Skipp some minutes and Bissouma needs to work his way into the system. I would rest Hojbjerg ready for City and start Bissouma alongside Bentancur.

A lot was made about not getting all positions filled in the window but the ones we got will make a big difference. The 2 we got in January made a big difference so 7 should really help.

 

[Danny1]

Just watched the Conte Cam and his enthusiasm is incredible. I would run through walls for that man if I was part of that team. He demands hard work but he leads by example. What a brilliant manager.

 

[Spurslove]

I think Conte will stay as longs as (a) he enjoys a good relationship with Levy and Paratici, and (b) we sign the players he wants (which is what we have done so far).

Conte clearly wanted Bastoni and Zaniolo but understood we could not do deals for them this summer. I am keen to see what happens in January with those players if they have not signed new contracts, especially after the FFP fine Inter just got. Although Conte may even feel that we no longer need Bastoni (if Lenglet is impressing him - he was very good yesterday).

I think in the next two windows we will be looking to sign:

• A long term replacement for Lloris who is very good in possession / ball at feet - not urgent.
• A world class, experienced, RWB (to replace Emerson / Doherty).
• Another CB who can compete with, and cover for, both Romero and Dier (to replace Sanchez - a ball playing, experienced defender).
• Back up competition for Kulusevski at RWF (to replace Moura - i.e. Zaniolo)

I came across this interesting article about Conte's effect on the way we play, and some fascinating observations about the improvements he's made to the way we're playing (long read, but fascinating...) by

James Gheerbrant Sports Writer

​ ​ Since Antonio Conte took over ten months ago, Tottenham Hotspur’s defence has been elite: they’ve only conceded 29 goals in 34 Premier League matches, comfortably the third-best figure in that period and in the same realm as Liverpool (24) and Manchester City (26). But unlike Liverpool and City, their figure for shots faced in that time, 432, is rather middle-of-the-pack, between Crystal Palace and Southampton (City and Liverpool are both under 250). Conte’s teams have never had the stranglehold on possession that Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp have trained their teams to exert: since the Italian took over from Nuno Espírito Santo, Spurs have had 51.6 per cent of the ball, compared to 64.8 per cent for Liverpool and 70.2 per cent for City. Given the balance of their matches, realistically Tottenham aren’t going to be able to minimise the amount of chances against them in the same way as those teams. So rather than clamp down on the quantity of shots they face, Conte’s team have put a remarkable squeeze on shot quality. Since Conte’s appointment, the average chance conceded by Tottenham has had an xG value of 0.07: in other words, only a 7 per cent scoring chance; in other other words, on an average finishing and goalkeeping day, you’d only expect about one in every 14 shots against Spurs to be scored. That’s right at the low end of the spectrum. This season, the foundation of Tottenham’s defence – prevent good shots, force bad shots – continues to hold strong. The average distance of the shots they’ve faced, 17.9m from goal, is the second longest in the Premier League, behind Brentford. And through 540 minutes of football, they have only allowed four shots from inside their six-yard box. How are Tottenham doing this? Voodoo? Force field? The more prosaic answer is that the structure of Conte’s team, with a back three behind a double pivot, is the ideal defensive shape for preventing good shots. On a very simple level, they get a lot of bodies in between the shooter and the goal, and they often have a spare defender who can go out and close the shot down. In the ten months since Conte’s arrival, Tottenham rank third for blocks, behind only West Ham United and Burnley. Here’s a good example from Tottenham’s match against Fulham. When Aleksandar Mitrovic receives a pass from Tom Cairney, Cristian Romero knows that he has the license to track him aggressively, with Eric Dier and Clément Lenglet holding conventional centre-back positions in the front-post and back-post channels. Rather than dropping off, as a centre back in a two would probably have to here, Romero can stay tight to Mitrovic and eventually makes a block (note how many bodies Spurs have between the ball and the goal when the ball is struck). The extra man isn’t only useful for blocking shots. In this passage from their match against Nottingham Forest, Spurs are caught out by an excellent through ball to Morgan Gibbs-White. But Eric Dier has the luxury of being able to immediately follow Gibbs-White, knowing that Davinson Sánchez and Ben Davies can cover the six-yard box. Without that pressure on the ball, Gibbs-White could easily cut the ball across the face of goal first time: instead, Dier makes him turn and loft a much less dangerous cross to the back post. When Spurs are in a stable defensive phase, they generally keep the ball in front of them, and the defenders aren’t in positions where they need to suddenly drop or turn. Conte likes his team to be extremely vertically compact, ideally with no more than 30 to 35 metres separating the deepest defender from Harry Kane. Here he is illustrating the basic idea using Subbuteo counters. This is a great example from the Forest game: ordinarily, this could be a dangerous situation, with Forest having cleverly worked their way inside the wing back. But Spurs are just so compact, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur almost on top of the back five, and Gibbs-White has no space to receive in between the lines. Instead, he’s forced backwards, and ends up having to pass the ball back behind the D. The spare man in the back line also allows Spurs to narrow the horizontal gaps between their defenders. One way you’ll see teams create those big, six-yard box chances is by pulling apart the centre back and full back and getting a man in that space to deliver a cut-back. But Tottenham make it so difficult to prise open that channel. Look how narrow the gap between Emerson Royal and Sánchez is in these two examples. The example from the West Ham game also shows how Tottenham’s defensive shape is set up to spring into the counter. As soon as they win the ball, Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min know they can break into the half-spaces they’re protecting, and Dier looks to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.