Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[Erm33]

He looks so angry in every picture, probably realised how crap some of our players are.

Good. That's how I look and feel every game when I watch our players play.

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

Love these from today ... he's all in 100% giving it all, just bloody love it ...

 

[kmk]

 

[jbstarr14]

Any international manager, specially one as uncooperative as southgate, will tear up any request for extra training, just as conte would dismiss any request from them.
These managers will set the content, duration and intensity of training to maximise performance in these international matches, and will have no interest in the longer term performance of the players.

So unless this extra training is something they can secretly do in their hotel room, then it seems very unlikely it will happen. Conte must know this.

Consider my chips royally pissed on. ?

 

[fridgemagnet]

How does the media get hold of all these recent training grounds changes etc, is someone still off blabber mouthing?

 

[stevespurs]

How does the media get hold of all these recent training grounds changes etc, is someone still off blabber mouthing?

Haha maybe Winks is moaning cos Conte has taken away his ketchup.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

View attachment 99647

I think this is an interesting comment. Conte told Terry that he won't be suitable in his back 3 formation, and eventually dropped him as a bench player. Yet Terry seems to be very positive about what Conte had done in Chelsea from an inside perspective.

 

[Gb160]

How does the media get hold of all these recent training grounds changes etc, is someone still off blabber mouthing?

Could be be a journo being fed directly from the club, could be an agent/friend/family member of a player, could be almost anyone at the club.

 

[allatsea]

Could be be a journo being fed directly from the club, could be an agent/friend/family member of a player, could be almost anyone at the club.

Or more likely they are just making it up as they go along.

 

[easley91]

Or more likely they are just making it up as they go along.

They're probably guessing from ex players' comments after working with Conte.

 

[Tottenham_God]

Can I just say, I have an almost worrying man crush on Conte.

It's not just that he's sexy, it's the vitality and smoldering eyes, the way he speaks about the club and therefore me. It's mesmerising and throb worthy.

 

[robin09]

Something that I find quite baffling, is how we keep going through cycles of a manager leaving, and a new manager suggesting that the players aren't fit enough/overweight etc.

I can't understand how any top level, experienced pro manager, earning millions with a team of specialists ever allows his playing squad to to slip below peak fitness. We're talking about one of the best 6 football sides in the entire country.

I mean, these are the margins that can win or lose you titles. Being able to run and run should be a prerequisite for any professional athlete. If you need to be able to maintain a high level of cardio for 90 minutes, then set the standard at 120 minutes! Never let fitness be the deciding factor. It's so fundamental.

I know it's not necessarily as simple as I'm making out, but the idea that one manager leaves and another comes in and bans ketchup or mayonnaise etc. Why were those things available? If it's considered even SLIGHTLY beneficial to avoid certain foods, then it should be club policy, not at the whim of one manager to the next. Likewise simple things like all eating together. That should be club policy from the academy up.

It really surprises me how differently some managers focus on fitness. I can't think of a good reason to not have your entire squad able to outrun the opposition, or at the very least be able to make sure they match them as a basic standard.

 

[guiltyparty]

They're probably guessing from ex players' comments after working with Conte.

They're not. Respected journalists, which The Athletic are, have sources in the club. Sometimes if it's positive it can be coming from club reps (see recent Newcastle pieces which seem to be briefed by the new regime), when it's negative it's typically agents of players and the like mouthing off. Most whispers to the press are strategic, and should be taken with a pinch of salt, but the good journos, which are easy to spot, are rarely making it up off nothing.

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

Any international manager, specially one as uncooperative as southgate, will tear up any request for extra training, just as conte would dismiss any request from them.
These managers will set the content, duration and intensity of training to maximise performance in these international matches, and will have no interest in the longer term performance of the players.

So unless this extra training is something they can secretly do in their hotel room, then it seems very unlikely it will happen. Conte must know this.

What's Southgate going to do? Forcibly stop individual players from training if they wish?

 

[hellava_tough]

Something that I find quite baffling, is how we keep going through cycles of a manager leaving, and a new manager suggesting that the players aren't fit enough/overweight etc.

I can't understand how any top level, experienced pro manager, earning millions with a team of specialists ever allows his playing squad to to slip below peak fitness. We're talking about one of the best 6 football sides in the entire country.

I mean, these are the margins that can win or lose you titles. Being able to run and run should be a prerequisite for any professional athlete. If you need to be able to maintain a high level of cardio for 90 minutes, then set the standard at 120 minutes! Never let fitness be the deciding factor. It's so fundamental.

I know it's not necessarily as simple as I'm making out, but the idea that one manager leaves and another comes in and bans ketchup or mayonnaise etc. Why were those things available? If it's considered even SLIGHTLY beneficial to avoid certain foods, then it should be club policy, not at the whim of one manager to the next. Likewise simple things like all eating together. That should be club policy from the academy up.

It really surprises me how differently some managers focus on fitness. I can't think of a good reason to not have your entire squad able to outrun the opposition, or at the very least be able to make sure they match them as a basic standard.

Good post, I agree!

Playing devil's advocate though, perhaps there's a trade-off with high fitness levels.

Perhaps you don't have time for extra tactics or video sessions (or whatever), if there's a lot of time spent on conditioning.

Perhaps there's an increased likelihood that a player will get worn out or injured.

Perhaps some players will never get to an 'elite' level of fitness, so the coaching staff goes easy on them...which might mean that they have to go easy on everyone, to keep the peace in the squad.

I don't know, but some ideas to ponder.

That said, it's probably the fact that managers tend to be very single minded; you kind of have to be at this level. So if they don't move with the times and developments within the game, they might stubbornly stick to methods that worked previously, which don't necessarily work now.

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

Love these from today ... he's all in 100% giving it all, just bloody love it ...

View attachment 99642 View attachment 99643 View attachment 99646

Those are all pictures of someone playing with their dog. Note how we don't actually see any players.

 

[VegasII]

Conte’s released the hounds on Winks and Dier. That’ll make ‘em run about a bit.

 

[Tucker]

Love these from today ... he's all in 100% giving it all, just bloody love it ...

View attachment 99642 View attachment 99643 View attachment 99646

This is just him telling them where he wants the cones.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Those are all pictures of someone playing with their dog. Note how we don't actually see any players.

This is just him telling them where he wants the cones.

Ha. Jokes on you ****s when mad man Conte leads the boys out for the Leeds match & they all line up in front of the South Stand and smash this bad boy..

 

[neogenisis]

Ha. Jokes on you ****s when mad man Conte leads the boys out for the Leeds match & they all line up in front of the South Stand and smash this bad boy..

I think the joke would deffo be on them...... ha