Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[doctor stefan Freud]

I know people are expecting him to have a big impact, and I expect he is too, but I have my doubts whether he can really make any improvement to our league position of last year without significant change of playing personnel. I don't think the players are up to the standard he requires, and the teams above us are much more complete and settled. I just hope that the fans understand this, and also Conte himself understands how slow change is going to be, and doesn't flounce off when we finish the season seventh. I don't think we should put too much faith in much happening in the transfer window either. Long term, at least next season, is where I think we'll see improvement, if he sticks it out and levy backs him.

Absolutely. In some ways, this is his preseason. At least until January, when he can get a few more players in. I think he’ll fine tune the system over the next few months, hopefully get rid of some of the dross and replace with much better quality.

I’d happily say goodbye to:
Dele
Winks
Reggie
Lo Celso
Moura
Bergwijn (though we’ve never seen him in a settled squad)
One of Dier or Sanchez
Doherty

That’s at least two windows of activity.

We desperately need a decent LWB, quality CB, technically sound CM and a direct Forward.

I’m happy to be patient as long as the club backs him

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Thanks, also can’t imagine that we are the only 2 fans that think the same.

It’s just nice to be able to watch todays game, not be overly impressed, but still feel confident for the future. Conte will sort this lot out, and hopefully we can get rid of an awful lot of average players that currently reside in our squad!

100% it’s the hope we now have that means can watch games and whatever the performance or result it’s ok right now as full trust in conte.

We know it’ll take time for the players to adapt tactically and mentally to Conte’s demands, we also know we realistically need a good 3-4 top signings between now and start of next season to be right back up there.

Also Conte’s interviews are so refreshing compared to Nuno, very interesting insights and love his general character and passion.

Happy days

 

[spursfan77]

We need more attackers and another striker or this season could turn out to be an embarrassment. Finishing below both West Ham and the scum is unthinkable.

 

[spursfan77]

I think the reporters had asked Nuno for some weeks about the problem of creativity, and Nuno basically said we did not have such a problem.

Now Conte has a really refreshing answer to the same question:

View attachment 99464

Every word Antonio Conte said on Everton draw, penalty call and why he's happy

Here is what Antonio Conte had to say following Tottenham's Premier League clash at Everton

www.football.london

He seems genuinely happy with those words. I’ll have to watch the interview to see if that was the case but I think after Thursday he seemed fairly relieved by our performance and it game him some hope.

 

[synththfc]

He seems genuinely happy with those words. I’ll have to watch the interview to see if that was the case but I think after Thursday he seemed fairly relieved by our performance and it game him some hope.

I mean, as far as negative results go, a scoreless draw away at Goodison where we created plenty of opportunities (only to be let down by the final pass) and never really looked like conceding (apart from a 10 min period after the penalty incident) is as good as they come

 

[HNIM]

Even with the number of players who will be away, this is the first time since I really became club-focused that I’ve looked forward to an international break, being confident (or at least somewhat rationally hopeful) that in a couple of weeks, at least some players will start looking significantly improved.

 

[ShelfWatcher]

Yep, we can be more expansive v Leeds and Mura, but we lack quality for sure. Can we get in two players at least in January to make a big difference, hope so.

 

[spursfan77]

I mean, as far as negative results go, a scoreless draw away at Goodison where we created plenty of opportunities (only to be let down by the final pass) and never really looked like conceding (apart from a 10 min period after the penalty incident) is as good as they come

Yeah I said earlier in the match thread that we also can’t just focus on ourselves today, we also need to look at Everton. They and Benitez were under huge pressure to get a win today and I think that showed in their performance. They weren’t that bad and gave us a good game.

I’m really concerned about the attack though. With all the players away on international duty there’s no time at all to practice. He better be sending them off with videos to watch as homework while travelling.

 

[TheTanguy]

 

[DiVaio]

The players were abysmal under Poch at the end and Mourinho. This Manager scapegoating is just letting Levy off the hook. They are shit.

Most of the players that were abysmal under Poch either left Spurs or aren't currently playing, how is this still an argument? We saw it here, we see it now at Roma - Mourinho isn't good manager anymore and he was the problem, not our squad.

 

[slartibartfast]

Doesnt want a crazy team. You and me both Antonio lol.

 

[spursfan77]

He likes a chat does Antonio.

It might go under the radar but I liked the way he said, and repeated, it was a good result to close the gap with at least the fourth team. (Although mathematically wrong).

 

[sundanceyid10]

I love all the optimism that the appointment seems to have brought to the fans, but we are honestly not going anywhere with Levy stinking the place out. I give him credit for the stadium but he is way way way past his sale by date. It gives me no pleasure saying it and wish I could get more excited, but I’m not going to excited about any transfers while he is still hanging around, he won’t be able to resist sticking his fingers in the pie and f****** it all up.

 

[isaac94]

impressed by his subs so far, 2 games his made subs and its changed the flow of the game

 

[Delboy75]

I’m hoping after our next 4 games against 14th 15th 18th 20th ( 3 at home ) the table will look very different. But I’m completely chilled and have absolutely zero doubt he will improve us. In the last 10 seasons the only slight blemish on his CV was coming 5th with Chelsea and he still won FA cup. Literally every other season has been A+. If this doesn’t work out something very very odd has gone on.

 

[Giovanni]

I think some are going a little over the top with the slating of some players. There are 1 or 2 obvious areas we need first 11 quality replacements for but on the whole i think conte will be reletively pleased overall.
We do seem to have taken to his shape and style rather well considering ge had only been here a few days. Granted there is a way to go in terms of overall quality and putting it all together for a full 90.

He has quite clearly decided to focus on putting round pegs in round holes to start with and whilst it does not function like a well oiled machine it is still a machine you need to beat to which everton could not.
Going forwards i think he and paratici will look to improve the areas in order of concern and slowly look to complete his machine through to completion in time for pre season.
The cm3 balance is not quite right, and lucas as good as he can be is NOT the right piece in that part of the puzzle. Conte will want somebody there that will service kane and son.

 

[ajspurs]

I still feel like the bare minimum at the moment has to be one of Lo Celso or Ndombele in a central role and anything else is likely to be somewhat ugly.

I agree that the final pass is a problem but even with the acknowledgement of that I don't think we're naturally creating chances as we should be. For instance in today's game, even if we took one or two of those chances, Kane, Lucas and Son as a trio just wasn't functioning.

I think upgrading on Hojbjerg/Skipp is so vital and there needs to be someone in there who's trusted to do enough hard work and do more with the ball. I think if there's not someone who can pass forward in there at least have someone who can drive forward with the ball and we don't have either.

 

[thelak]

Most of the players that were abysmal under Poch either left Spurs or aren't currently playing, how is this still an argument? We saw it here, we see it now at Roma - Mourinho isn't good manager anymore and he was the problem, not our squad.

I see it as the best players we had under Poch are no longer here

The players left are not that good or have peaked

and the replacements haven’t worked

Jose was only part of the problem of a string of multiple failures across the whole structure of the club across the last few years with Poch not blameless either

Conte feels like the first good decision made in a long long time

 

[tiger666]

I see it as the best players we had under Poch are no longer here

The players left are not that good or have peaked

and the replacements haven’t worked

Jose was only part of the problem of a string of multiple failures across the whole structure of the club across the last few years with Poch not blameless either

Conte feels like the first good decision made in a long long time

Paratici was a good decision before that

 

[thelak]

Yeah but maybe he can coach that into him. Dele is a far bigger danger than Skipp or PEH, and if he can get his defensive game up a bit, I could easily imagine him replacing one of them.

I don’t see what Dele has ever shown in his game to suggest he could be an elite level central midfielder on a regular basis

I suspect he will be one of the first names Conte tries to move on if we can get a decent fee