Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[Rout-Ledge]

Again no one has suggested anyone to replace him?

He's not the issue. .

I haven’t seen anyone on here state they want him sacked. Have you?

I don’t think he’s ‘the’ issue, but he’s one of the best paid coaches in the league and managed to get us playing good, winning football last season. He’s since been backed in the transfer market and yet we’ve gotten worse. We’ve brought in 8 players since he joined us. Some of whom are clearly very good. So that naturally leads to probing questions about how he will get us going again (it is, after all, his ‘one job’). If it’s beyond the manager to get this team playing football well why are we paying him £15m a year?

 

[Trix]

I haven’t seen anyone on here state they want him sacked. Have you?

I don’t think he’s ‘the’ issue, but he’s one of the best paid coaches in the league and managed to get us playing good, winning football last season. He’s since been backed in the transfer market and yet we’ve gotten worse. So that naturally leads to probing questions about how he will get us going again (it is, after all, his ‘one job’). If it’s beyond the manager to get this team playing football well why are we paying him £15m a year?

Yeah, there have been a few saying he needs replacing. They aren't the regular posters with big post counts, but they are here waiting to pounce

 

[djhotspur]

Yeah, there have been a few saying he needs replacing.

Even more after yesterday.

Find me any manager that can win games win zero fit forwards.

 

[leetotty]

With conte at the helm…so far:
I think we need to change our slogan. Where is the dare?
I am so bored with hearing we need to invest In January. Does that mean the fans should turn up from February?
I am so bored of hearing our players are tired and the implications of the world cup schedule, as if its new news.

Just get on with it and deal with the problem. Its the same for everyone. There is no club ever that wouldn’t like to have upgraded their team; have more rest; play less games. It is what it is.

But please remember football is meant to be entertaining.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Yeah, there have been a few saying he needs replacing. They aren't the regular posters with big post counts, but they are here waiting to pounce

Sacking him now would be an insane act of self sabotage. He 100% needs to be backed but that doesn’t mean I have to think he’s currently performing to expectations, because I don’t.

 

[Led Revolver]

The people comparing last season to this season are comparing apples with oranges. Our run in to CL qualification we were playing 1 game a week, whereas sometimes we’ve been playing 3. This also relates to performances.

The squad has been improved from last season, but there’s still significant work to be done.

Win on Saturday and we’re 1 point off 2 points per game (CL qualification form) and in the last 16 of this years CL.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

Firstly you don't hire Conte and then ask him to change his style of football. You also don't hire Conte and complain that after 12 months he hasn't fully implemented his style across the entire squad of players.

The managers tactics are not to be passive, that's such a poor understanding of what he wants from his team. His teams play high intensity football, he's not suddenly changed all that and decided to play passive football.

As we've all been saying for a few weeks now, the problem is a combination of: Too many fixtures, too many injuries and players having one eye on the WC. What just happened to Son is clearly in the backs of players minds - an injury like that at this point could very well end your WC aspirations. Son has been very lucky - this will likely be his last WC and he would have been devastated not to have made it. I can guarantee there's other players in the squad right now who are looking more at the WC than the games for Spurs.

Football daily had a good bit about this the other day with the Chillwell injury - normally something like that you would recover from in 3-4 weeks and be ready to compete within 1-2 weeks of that. Normally that means even if you get the injury on the last of the season in May, you'd be ready to compete in the summer WC.

do you really think that this team of his plays high intensity football or anything like it this season !! Its the exact opposite of that the football is turgid and you get away that until the results match the performances as they are now - the system isn't working he hasn''t got the players for it his inflexibility and loyalty to some players is causing problems and the results over the last month have matched the level of performances - I don't see the longevity in him as a coach at Tottenham

 

[EastUpperDK82]

Again... it seems many people are forgetting what Conte is doing behind the scenes as well... he is the first manager in many years who has been able to put pressure on the club for a clear transfer strategy... and the club has tried to follow up. In one small window and one big window... that's it... and Conte is able to work together with Paratici as well. What they have done already with Kulusevski, Bentancur, Richarlison, Udogie (great talent) etc... is world class... and they want to work with Conte. It's not only because of Tottenham. It's because they want to work with Conte. ... people really should keep that in mind when they judge Conte on the last couple of months.... (and it's only the last couple of months that have been shaky for different reasons)...

I don't want to go back to managers who can't attract top names. Because Tottenham alone won't be enough... I don't want to go back to the days were Levy took ages to get players who didn't fit in...

The coaching team he has been trying to put in place (Ventrone RIP, Vio and so on) ... is done with a clear view on improving in specific areas. And we have many of areas we can be better in.

I want to look forward and support the Conte/Paratici-set up... I truly believe it's a phase we have to go through and then come out on top.

Then we will see the real Conte team from the first part of 2022. Because that was awesome !!
And we will see new quality players come in 2023. Because Conte/Paratici know exactly what they want and can do.

 

[rossdapep]

I do think up until maybe the Arsenal or United game, the defensive performances and some metrics such as 'distance covered', 'shots faced' told us that whilst werent thrilling with the ball, we were at least stable and had a good platform.

My biggest frustration at that point is that the attack wasn't clicking. But that could be explained by the following.
-Son's poor form.
- Perisic and Son adapting to each other.
- Richarlison finding his place.
- Zero threat down the right due to RWB and Kulu injury.

Bissouma also not being ready hasn't helped and pushed the load onto the other 2.

Since then Romero got injured and it was clear he was carrying a knock as he wasn't his normal aggressive self.

We've changed the midfield from a 2 to a 3 and i think the defence has been adjusting to this.

Players like Kane, Bentancur and Hojbjerg are having to overdo it. 3 influential players who drag the team along.

All of this is putting strain on the foundations of the team. Arguably a key aspect of Conte's teams. Conte is very much a build from the back guy and when we have key injuries and others fatigued, the structute is going to suffer.

Back end of last season we had similar metrics but we didn't have these issues which meant the foundations were fine and not under too much pressure.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

Yeah, there have been a few saying he needs replacing. They aren't the regular posters with big post counts, but they are here waiting to pounce

if we lose on Saturday and the performance is typical of recent weeks I feel we are not far away from some open dissent

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

I wouldn't suggest a replacement because I don't think he should be sacked.

But saying 'he's not the issue' is completely absolving him of his role in what has been a very tedious team to watch and a team that is getting worse in terms of both performances and now results.

Of course there are other factors on top of Conte but I genuinely don't understand why some people are so quick to relieve him of any responsibility.

Exactly. If we can only see the best of Conte once he's had 4 or 5 windows to get all the players he wants, has them all injury-free, they never make mistakes, there isn't a World Cup and we only play once a week....then is he really the manager we believe he is?

I ask this as someone who thinks he's one of the best 4 or 5 managers in world football, and still believes he can do a great job here. For the avoidance of any doubt, I'm definitely not in any Conte Out camp...but this staunch defending of him from some is absolutely insane to me. Has he done a lot of amazing things since he arrived here? Undoubtedly. Is he doing a great job right now or so far this season? No, he really isn't. Are there justifiable reasons for our current form? Are some players clearly not good enough? Of course, but a manager of his ability should still be able to get better performances and results out of this team regardless. He is as much to blame as the players are, if not more so at the moment, and it's ok to admit that and still want him to continue.

 

[EastUpperDK82]

if we lose on Saturday and the performance is typical of recent weeks I feel we are not far away from some open dissent

And that would be absolutely insane and typical Tottenham... just saying.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

I do think up until maybe the Arsenal or United game, the defensive performances and some metrics such as 'distance covered', 'shots faced' told us that whilst werent thrilling with the ball, we were at least stable and had a good platform.

My biggest frustration at that point is that the attack wasn't clicking. But that could be explained by the following.
-Son's poor form.
- Perisic and Son adapting to each other.
- Richarlison finding his place.
- Zero threat down the right due to RWB and Kulu injury.

Also:

- very little creativity in the centre of our midfield

 

[spurs-r-us]

Precisely. This "it's the same players Poch couldn't get a tune out of" defence continues to baffle me as it's so obviously and demonstrably untrue.

Given two of them are our best players, the other our captain and first choice keeper, and two others are subs we barely use. That pretty much leaves Dier and Davies. Two good club servants who, yes, shouldn't be our first choice CB options, but can't be blamed for everything.

 

[Trix]

if we lose on Saturday and the performance is typical of recent weeks I feel we are not far away from some open dissent

I think that's already been noticeable to be honest. I can understand the frustration at some of the performances, but I don't understand how genuine knowledgeable football fans can't see this is not going to improve just by replacing the coach. We've had 4 managers in a row that are getting similar performances out of us despite 2 of them being amongst the most decorated in the game. How many more managers do we need to go through before they realise it must be something other than the coaching?

As for replacing him remember what happened prior to us bringing him in. That Summer we went through potential candidates like nobody's business. Half of them the board didn't like, the other half didn't like the board. I have zero confidence that we could replace him with anyone half decent, especially when they see Jose and Conte both binned off in recent years.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

And that would be absolutely insane and typical Tottenham... just saying.

It would actually be insane if there wasn't anyone complaining. I don't know on what planet an entire fanbase would be expected to just uncritically accept a run of poor form and performances without voicing frustration, but it definitely isn't this one

 

[EastUpperDK82]

It would actually be insane if there wasn't anyone complaining. I don't know on what planet an entire fanbase would be expected to just uncritically accept a run of poor form and performances without voicing frustration, but it definitely isn't this one

I understand the complaining... and criticism... that's all fair and good. But calling for Conte's head and changes to our set-up would be insane. And THAT would be typical Tottenham.

It's typical that we are now talking about a for- and against Conte-camp... Shocking... but hardly a surprise with this club.

 

[Trees]

I think that's already been noticeable to be honest. I can understand the frustration at some of the performances, but I don't understand how genuine knowledgeable football fans can't see this is not going to improve just by replacing the coach. We've had 4 managers in a row that are getting similar performances out of us despite 2 of them being amongst the most decorated in the game. How many more managers do we need to go through before they realise it must be something other than the coaching?

As for replacing him remember what happened prior to us bringing him in. That Summer we went through potential candidates like nobody's business. Half of them the board didn't like, the other half didn't like the board. I have zero confidence that we could replace him with anyone half decent, especially when they see Jose and Conte both binned off in recent years.

I think that's already been noticeable to be honest. I can understand the frustration at some of the performances, but I don't understand how genuine knowledgeable football fans can't see this is not going to improve just by replacing the coach. We've had 4 managers in a row that are getting similar performances out of us despite 2 of them being amongst the most decorated in the game. How many more managers do we need to go through before they realise it must be something other than the coaching?

As for replacing him remember what happened prior to us bringing him in. That Summer we went through potential candidates like nobody's business. Half of them the board didn't like, the other half didn't like the board. I have zero confidence that we could replace him with anyone half decent, especially when they see Jose and Conte both binned off in recent years.

Trix - you know far more than me about the inner workings of Spurs. But to me it is an open secret that Poch will be our next manager.

 

[EastUpperDK82]

Trix - you know far more than me about the inner workings of Spurs. But to me it is an open secret that Poch will be our next manager.

Poch and Levy working together on transfers again... wooohoooo ?‍???

Poch/Levy vs Paratici/Conte

 

[robin09]

I'm happy with Conte. 4th place from where he took over was an unbelievable turn around. This season, so far top 4 after the World Cup and last 16 of the CL, is as good as we probably could have wished for.

Yes, as always, there's issues. This weird 'conserving energy' thing we seem to be doing in 1st halves, his obsession with playing Emerson, refusing to give the youngsters any meaningful minutes etc.

But I think a lot of those issues go away if we recruit well in the next 2 windows. I don't think he leaves, as long as we continue to improve the squad incrementally. A lot of the vagueness when constantly asked, is to keep Levy on his toes. Which should be seen as a positive if you're a fan. The one thing we've never done, is have a manager who's able to use his contract as a bargaining chip to raise our ambitions.

Fans on twitter who call for Conte to leave, or keep posting photos of Poch, after a loss....I don't get it. As much as some of the performances have been poor recently, the results speak for themselves, and the acid test will be the 2nd half of the season when we don't have distracted players as an excuse.