Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[piedpiper]

His embargoed comments are provocative and unecessary but it is true about the fans’ patience being gone. The atmosphere has been terrible all season, every time we are not winning at half time there is a chorus of boos meeting the whistle. Also I know this is kind of random but I was stunned by how quickly everyone in the stadium turned on Nuno. My guess if it wasn’t for covid it might have been the same with Mourinho. Makes me fear for the next manager because even if we appoint someone I’d like like Postecoglou or De Zerbi I doubt they’d be afforded the time necessary as they are not big names. It’s why Enrique might be a best of both worlds - a big name with a progressive style. Ultimately if we get the next managerial appointment wrong and things don’t improve I can only see the situation worsening so it’s a huge decision.

I don't think it's not winning at half time which is bringing on the Boos....... it's the absolutely boring football on display which is the primary reason for the booing. I sit there in my couch and ask myself what's the fucking point really.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

God help us if we go behind to Forest. The stadium will reach a new level of toxic

at least it’ll be more interesting that way

 

[piedpiper]

I’m one person, I don’t represent the fanbase. I always thought the Paratici hire was a mistake. I don’t think he’s the right man for the job, and I never did.

Yeah sure.... however there's a common thread from fans annoyed/ perplexed as to why he doesn't act now. On Paratici when we started doing our recruiting primarily in the Italian it's is then that I got a bit concerned.

I thought him coming in we would overhaul everything from youth setup to scouting networks. I honestly don't mind if he and Conte leave together.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

God help us if we go behind to Forest. The stadium will reach a new level of toxic

Tomorrow’s game feels like Pochettino’s final game when we drew 1-1 with Sheffield United. I think anything other than a win and it’ll be lights out for Conte.

 

[piedpiper]

He's trying to get sacked now.

I'm trying not to get offended as this is a man who is not well, tired and is clearly getting an angle to go home but...

I'm sick of them all. The fans haven't done anything wrong at all. We have moaners and some people sign unhelpful songs. Every fanbase has that. What we also have is packed houses with ticket prices that his precious Serie A could only dream of charging, we have the best away support or one of in the country and we have a fanbase who has watched the most un-entertaining football in the countries top entertainment venue and has lumped it so this "winner" can bring us trophies.

Except he's miles off, can't beat lower league teams , can't win a champions league knock out tie and is fracturing his squad quick time but I suppose that's our fault too.

Just bore off with this bollocks. You want patience? How about you commit, how about you admit fault , how about you learn how to coach more than a game a week

If he wants to leave now then do it. He already has more money than most of us could ever dream of. We don't deserve this and if you think we do then have a look at yourself because I for one won't let pricks like this belittle us and make us think we can't possibly ask him to do his job.

I don't want him to commit after this season I don't want more of it.... I want him GONE...... like on Thursday morning GONE.... sacked or whatever.

 

[piedpiper]

Tomorrow’s game feels like Pochettino’s final game when we drew 1-1 with Sheffield United. I think anything other than a win and it’ll be lights out for Conte.

From your fingertips to Levy’s ears we pray...amen.

 

[whitesocks]

His embargoed comments are provocative and unecessary but it is true about the fans’ patience being gone. The atmosphere has been terrible all season, every time we are not winning at half time there is a chorus of boos meeting the whistle. ...

He is right that our patience is exhausted, but if he gets a run of wins, especially at home, and we are having a go, then patience will build again. We are fickle like that!

Top 4 is a trophy and we'll have knocked out liverpool, newcastle and chelsea to win it. Like it or not, that is success and it will enable us to strengthen again.
Conte did it last year against the odds and maybe this is why Levy is not acting, He certainly wont care if fans are focussing on conte rather than him.

The problem is it doesn't seem very likely we'll turn the corner at the moment. The players will be tired from the midweek stress, and they will be agitated with all the uncertainty - players are easily spooked, like horses.
It will not be a comfortable win by any means. It could easily be very grim.

The additional worry is nottingham were not mentioned once in the prematch conferences. OK, he can only answer the questions he is given, but he didn't really answer any of them anyway. He could have at least mentioned them in passing.
Because if he is not fully focused on the next game, the players wont be either.

 

[spurs-r-us]

Detestable man. Puts himself above the club and everyone involved. Not a shred of humility. No wonder the players can't stand him.

 

[SpursSince1980]

I will say a couple of minor things in his defense, especially with regards to the players.
Son’s loss of form is hard to overcome. Going from world class to poo is not something you can account for.
Perisic has been a stunning disappointment. Felt like he would make a huge difference. He’s been average.
Lloris is not a world class keeper anymore.
Dier slipping back to being mistake prone after growing so much last season makes no sense.
Royal has taken a few months to get going.
Kulu and Richy being on and off injured has hurt a lot. As it has meant too much game time for Son and Kane. Both of them are struggling to find form.
Losing your best midfielder and his backup for the season is hard to plan around.
Seeing Sess yet again succumb to injuries and not push on is also not easy to plan around.
Romero has been erratic all season and had injuries.

Add all that to also losing close friends and a gallbladder, you have an unhappy camper.
All of the above is understandable.

Not so understandable is the obdurate tactics. The benal style of play. The games with his contract. And now taking a dump on the fans? That is a line, once crossed, you dont come back from.

Regardless of the result against Forest, he should be let go on Monday.

This season has been a debacle and bad optics for everyone at the club;
Coach for being a drama queen.
Players getting their fourth manager sacked in four years.
Levy looking like the most clueless ‘football’ chairman in the world.
DOF, screwing the club by not being transparent about his situation at Juve.
And whomever the schmuck is that’s responsible for naming rights, etc… Great work. You’ve pissed off all of South Africa and built a go kart track. Wohoo.

All should be held to account.

Once the summer comes, Levy must stand down. Hopefully because ENIC will sell up. Their reign of footballing mediocrity needs to be put to an end.

 

[Misfit]

The usual with Conte is happening with us is all. Well, except the winning something bit but then that's usual with us so call it even and let's both regroup.

 

[Syn_13]

He's saying the fans are impatient, but we're not asking for trophies right now. Sure, we would all love a trophy, we're absolutely begging for one, but what we really want right now is something to be optimistic about. I'm not in the "bring back Poch" camp because I don't know if it'll be a good idea, but what I can say is that I remember how it felt when Poch took us over and it really felt like we were building something special whislt playing some good pressing football using young, hungry, emerging talent. It was exciting.

I've also never been in the "Conte out" camp either until the last few weeks. He's a good manager despite his flaws. However, I do think this isn't the right club for him. He's a manager that wants to walk into a strong team with money to spend on big players that will suit his style of play. We're not that club, and the players he's inherited don't play to his strengths, whilst at the same time he can't seem to manage to their strengths because of his style that rigidly clings on to. I watched his Juve team game in and game out. They didn't play a boring style at all at were quick aggressive, but they had the funds and players to do it. Bonucci, Barzagli and Chiellini were a brick wall in defence, with the wing backs pressing high up the pitch, whilst a midfield 3 of Pirlo, Vidal and Pogba (sometimes Marchisio) dominated the centre of the pitch. The balance was fantastic and the players suited the system perfectly.

I don't think 3 at the back works for us (or in this league particularly well) but I really don't understand why he abandoned 3-5-2 for a 3-4-3 where you're always going to lose the midfield war. Two wide forwards playing in front of two wing backs? That makes no sense to me. It's an odd shape and I have no clue why he insists on it.

Anyway, Conte's approach to building a successful team doesn't work here. I wonder if he thought some of our players were better than they actually were when he took over. Maybe he thought the big names in the squad could carry us. I think he's possibly realising that we need quite a significant upheaval and he isn't going to get the money to do that.

 

[olliec]

Dejavu all over again. Levy will come out of this winning again. Another manager bites the dust, turns the place toxic (although Antonio didn’t help himself with some of his words) however the place was already toxic before he said that, so let’s call it icing on the cake. Levy will bring in another manager, and not continue to fully back them. Will end up with secondary targets again most likely. Might pull a lucky top 4, but doubt that as Kane will most likely want out this time. 18 months same thing happens again, and make the next manager look like the bad guy. 15 years of this and nobody can see a pattern?

 

[Styopa]

Dejavu all over again. Levy will come out of this winning again. Another manager bites the dust, turns the place toxic (although Antonio didn’t help himself with some of his words) however the place was already toxic before he said that, so let’s call it icing on the cake. Levy will bring in another manager, and not continue to fully back them. Will end up with secondary targets again most likely. Might pull a lucky top 4, but doubt that as Kane will most likely want out this time. 18 months same thing happens again, and make the next manager look like the bad guy. 15 years of this and nobody can see a pattern?

Except we haven’t had fifteen years of this. We had some very good times under Jol, Redknapp and Pochettino. Cumulatively that was probably ten years of enjoyable, exciting football during which we progressed as a club. True, we didn’t win a trophy, but we broke new ground under all of those managers and overall it was fun to be a Spurs fan. They all worked under similar or worse circumstances as Conte has at Spurs.

No one is arguing that Levy isn’t a massive problem. But that doesn’t mean Conte wasn’t a poor appointment. The two things are not mutually exclusive. Hiring Conte was just the latest in a long line of poor footballing decisions Levy has made at the club.

 

[nedley]

Exactly. The way our fanbase latch onto something and from then on nothing that person says or does is right in anyway is fucking idiotic. Zero critical thinking or balance involved. Just moan moan moan, whinge whinge whinge. It's been happening to Levy for a while but now it's Conte.

It's just confirms to me that a lot of fans default position on being a supporter is to moan and whinge. Because there is literally no point in crying about Conte's comments. He's leaving the football club at the end of the season, if not before. He's tried his best and it hasn't worked. He's not trying to purposely antagonise anyone. You'll probably even find he's more pissed off with himself than anyone that hasn't worked out.

You've had a nightmare here buddy.

An absolute nightmare.

Fans have a right to ge aggrieved.

 

[Marantz]

Conte did well last season and i had high hopes that we would do well this year after a good but not great summer window. He has been living at a hotel far away from his family. Lost three dear friends in a few months and had an operation. Due to this i believe this man should not be coaching. He has been affected by this like any man would. I can’t help feel sorry for his losses. With only a few months left of his contract and no indication from both sides that this partnership is being extended. Why continue? If we we are not able to hire our preferred target right away let Stellini finish the season off or anyone else for that matter. We know how this end so lets just get it off.

 

[nedley]

Ah yes so patient we boo passes, players and half time scores. He keeps telling us the players aren't good enough, something many on here and social media constantly like to bring up themselves. Our oh so patient fanbase writes off players after one game or a sub appearance. Yeah we're not as patient as you think.

Maybe he could say it better, but he isn't necessarily wrong with what he is saying. He said from day one it would take multiple windows and time.

He should go in my mind, but these comments aren't something to get upset over.

Not get upset about?

That's fine if you want to remain 'impartial'.

But to say fans shouldn't get upset is insulting. I've seen a few posters insinuate this.

I am angry as he's deflecting from his own deficiencies and laying blame at the fans door.

That isn't right.

I wish him no harm but I want him out of my club now.

 

[knowlespurs]

Not just Conte but I hate the self preservation in managers, the clubs history is the reason we couldn't create a chance against forest and Sheffield United reserves and lose against a poor Milan team, never takes any responsibility and then talks about club signings . Nothing is his fault

 

[olliec]

Except we haven’t had fifteen years of this. We had some very good times under Jol, Redknapp and Pochettino. Cumulatively that was probably ten years of enjoyable, exciting football during which we progressed as a club. True, we didn’t win a trophy, but we broke new ground under all of those managers and overall it was fun to be a Spurs fan. They all worked under similar or worse circumstances as Conte has at Spurs.

No one is arguing that Levy isn’t a massive problem. But that doesn’t mean Conte wasn’t a poor appointment. The two things are not mutually exclusive. Hiring Conte was just the latest in a long line of poor footballing decisions Levy has made at the club.

But Conte did really well last season, playing some lovely stuff towards the end of the season as well, we been hampered by injuries and the World Cup this year so this isn’t solely on Conte but more bad luck. I think if we had no World Cup to deal with, and less injuries to key players we would be doing a lot better than where we currently are.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

But Conte did really well last season, playing some lovely stuff towards the end of the season as well, we been hampered by injuries and the World Cup this year so this isn’t solely on Conte but more bad luck. I think if we had no World Cup to deal with, and less injuries to key players we would be doing a lot better than where we currently are.

We’ve been rubbish since the first ball of pre season was kicked. That’s got nothing to do with injuries and the World Cup.

 

[parj]

I’m not interested in what he’s said in the press conference - as others have pointed out he’s now interested in one thing, and one thing only: self-preservation. He is hoping for the sack, but will absolutely not quit before the end of his lucrative contract. He has a right to do that - no comment on the morality of that from me

The depressing situation we now find ourselves in - a rudderless ship with a manager who couldn’t make it more obvious that he doesn’t want to be here - is entirely on Levy. He needs to take ownership of this situation. He’s already missed the obvious opportunity to do that. To borrow a Peep Show-ism, ‘daddy’s hat’ well and truly fell off in the summer of 2021 during the cataclysmic and baffling managerial search. The aforementioned hat is still AWOL. Levy has been maddeningly frustrating at times, over the years. But I’d argue it’s only since 2021 that he’s made decisions that are obviously completely wrong. I also have zero faith in Paratici making good strategic decisions, and I’m concerned that he holds too much sway with Levy and the club.

Levy's problem is he has started bringing in more high profile managers or people. Those people are strong personalities that want everything their way. He needs people from smaller clubs or clubs where they work together and understand top to bottom development, not "elites" that want ready made players or won't adapt their strategy to the club they are at. That's aimed at every appointment since Poch including Fabio. We need to go back to club first mentality.