Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[fishhhandaricecake]

Just said again that he will “stay for now but this season it will be very difficult to fight for something important and that we have to improve”

I actually think what he means by this is that he is here, he made the decision to be here but he wants to win stuff asap and until we make serious player upgrades most likely this summer, then we won’t be as consistent as he wants and needs us to be to be challenging for e.g. the PL and other cups etc.

Don’t think it’s some much a threat/warning but more just a statement to the media and fans that he’s getting all he can out of this bunch but ultimately the quality is lacking in the squad right now which will be frustrating someone like him who is such a ‘winner’.

I think there could be a few changes in Jan but for sure a LOT of changes this summer.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

His team selections and subs are baffling at times.

If you think so then that’s possibly one of the reasons why he’s one of the best 5 managers in the world and you are not ;-)

 

[daveduvet]

I agree. I don’t think it’s necessarily fair to criticise Levy or anyone else for not getting Conte in the summer without knowing the full story. But, appointing Nuno remains an exercise on tomfuckery

Lovely use of the word ‘tomfuckery’. Very mark Twain ?

 

[Yiddo100]

His team selections and subs are baffling at times.

the only thing I feel he’s got wrong since arriving is putting dele RW today

 

[Danny1]

Today will have just further highlighted to Conte the weaknesses in our squad.

As Conte said we are at the start of a process with him so there will be ups and downs.

We clearly lack a top class creative CM but also our lack of depth in a few areas is surely pretty clear to Conte now:
•RWB - Doherty is Sunday league, sign someone who can play RWB & LWB and who will compete with Emerson

•CM - need an upgrade creative CM. If Ndombele & Lo Celso aren’t in favour then sell them and use that money to upgrade on Winks, PEH etc.

•AM!! - Dele surely needs to go, so often offers nothing, Bergwijn is ok but not that reliable, Gil is so raw. Need to sign a top draw AM to compete with Son & Lucas, ideally an upgrade on Lucas even

•ST - goes without saying we need at least 1 more

Conte first manager in our history to be unbeaten in first 7 league games.

Just relax, enjoy the ups and downs of the process with Conte and Paratici.

COYS

Totally agree. I think some of the reactions to an away draw at Southampton where we had 3 goals disallowed and numerous potential chances if the final touch would have been better, are a bit over the top.

We must not forget that Conte is having to juggle a huge amount of games in a short period with, ultimately, some bang average footballers that were total dross before he arrived.

The likes of Alli, Winks, Ndombele, Bergwijn etc etc just aren’t good enough and need to be moved on so that we can bring in fresh faces and players that want to play in a team like Contes.

CB, RWB, CM, AM, RW and ST all needed.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

So you get rid of two creative midfielders for two hard working ones?
Alli and winks need to go, people have forgotten them for some reason.

Was going to say the same thing, would be an awful swap. I have a big concern that we aren’t actually looking at any creative players, it’s so clearly lacking from our team. Bringing Kessie into our midfield really wouldn’t do much for our creativity.

 

[spursfan77]

And yet we're still unbeaten in the league since he's been here.

Yep. Anyone would think we were the first team not to beat a side down to ten men looking at the match thread. Sometimes it happens. It happens even more regularly when you’re playing your second game in 48 hours and only 2/3 weeks ago lots of the players had covid. However mild it is still going to effect a person. I didn’t think we looked tired but it would be easy to be 10/20% off it in the circumstances

 

[daveduvet]

Just said again that he will “stay for now but this season it will be very difficult to fight for something important and that we have to improve”

I actually think what he means by this is that he is here, he made the decision to be here but he wants to win stuff asap and until we make serious player upgrades most likely this summer, then we won’t be as consistent as he wants and needs us to be to be challenging for e.g. the PL and other cups etc.

Don’t think it’s some much a threat/warning but more just a statement to the media and fans that he’s getting all he can out of this bunch but ultimately the quality is lacking in the squad right now which will be frustrating someone like him who is such a ‘winner’.

I think there could be a few changes in Jan but for sure a LOT of changes this summer.

I hope - naturally - he stays until the end of 22/23 season. I think he’s got a lot to teach Levy in relation to what’s needed for a winning football formula… we’re very fortunate to have landed him. Carragher said the other night we’ve not had an elite manger since Bill Nic; I’d differ somewhat; but get his evaluation. Nothing bad will come from Conte being here. Lovely to be able to look forward to games again

 

[THE SPURSBOY]

And yet we're still unbeaten in the league since he's been here.

Remember who we have played at home nearly every game. Only decent team we have played is pool and they were missing their midfield.

 

[easley91]

Today was the first time he got several things wrong. I won't disagree too much with the XI that started as due to two games in 48 hours and after covid you can't do much to it.

His subs on in Bryan and Doherty were questionable. At least where he decided to have them in the system. Both on their unnatural sides. Was baffling to me to be honest. Reguilon coming off at HT and Lucas for Dele I agreed with however.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Odd comment from him saying he’s “ I will stay for now….” I’m assuming it’s a little bit lost in translation and also making sure Levy puts his hands deep in his pockets next month but ether way, it’s not the most encouraging thing to hear tho. He looked really upset and rightly so.

 

[Tonio]

Yep. Anyone would think we were the first team not to beat a side down to ten men looking at the match thread. Sometimes it happens. It happens even more regularly when you’re playing your second game in 48 hours and only 2/3 weeks ago lots of the players had covid. However mild it is still going to effect a person. I didn’t think we looked tired but it would be easy to be 10/20% off it in the circumstances

Exactly. Im satisfied with a point in our first away match in yonks. There's things to work on and players that need shipping out but this will all take time. 4th is well and truly on still. It hurts not to get the win especially with them down to 10 but it is what it is.
A win vs Watford and all will be forgotten. Arsenal fans all giddy until they get bitchslapped by Man City, Man Utd just drew against Newcastle. Today ain't the end of the world imo.

 

[Japhet]

Bad day at the office today for Conte. At the start of the game we were getting schooled by a pretty average side. Then after the sending off we started to dominate but couldn't cut them apart. The game was crying out for Ndombele but he persisted with Hojbjerg and Winks. We created a lot but not many gilt edged chances. Doherty at LWB was just bizarre, and even moreso when Gil came on and played at RWB. A real golden opportunity to lay down a marker and we couldn't do it. Maybe it's a ploy to get Levy to splash some cash next week.

 

[Wadec]

A lot to take in from that game. We were miles off it for the majority of the game. Poor touch and over and under hit passes.

Thought the change to make was Tanguy for Dele. We needed quick movement of the ball and someone to thread the ball through their banks of four.

Got to say we were unlucky, playing against ten men can be tough as they will literally just sit in and show no ambition. When they did push up Winks found Kane with a great ball which was called offside. That put an end to them pushing up at all. Doherty's being ruled out (harshly IMO) also gave them a wake up call to close us down to prevent crosses.

Overall we were poor and certain players had stinkers. But I feel Conte will benefit from seeing these situations when making decisions on how to shape the squad.

The reaction at Watford will be key, Conte will analyse the game and I expect to see much better there.

 

[Tonio]

Remember who we have played at home nearly every game. Only decent team we have played is pool and they were missing their midfield.

Come on..

 

[mil1lion]

I didn't see any issue with the formation. The only problem was Alli in the Moura position. He looked completely lost out there. I think that will be another minus against Alli as he hasn't shown to be flexible enough. Other than that we should be winning the game today. The wing backs became wingers against 10 men, along with 3 forwards and Winks was able to play nearer to the box. That's plenty of attacking players that should be capable of breaking them down. The quality just wasn't there but also we have to respect the fact that players were also tired so soon after Palace.

 

[Beni]

Remember who we have played at home nearly every game. Only decent team we have played is pool and they were missing their midfield.

What’s your point? Should he be doing better than what he has done in the space of time here

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Odd comment from him saying he’s “ I will stay for now….” I’m assuming it’s a little bit lost in translation and also making sure Levy puts his hands deep in his pockets next month but ether way, it’s not the most encouraging thing to hear tho. He looked really upset and rightly so.

He said the same thing after the ECL defeat.

It’s been going well so far so I have to assume it’s purely to put Levy under pressure. We know he’s a flight risk but surely he won’t be off between now and the summer…

 

[spursfan77]

He has said bergwijn and Lo celso injured again. We can’t rely on these players and they need to be moved on. Time and again they let us down with their fitness.

 

[THE SPURSBOY]

If he said I’ll stay for now, that is worrying he’s only been here three months lol