Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[Crowedem]

Very similar now at 54.something %, although Pochettino ruined a lot of his in the final year of his stay

It’s true that they are similiar you’re right, but this overlooks one being 18 months and another being 5 years. It doesn’t count that some of Conte’s percentage he wasn’t even in the country for or the fact that Poch’s reign included a move to Wembley and transfer restrictions.

You are right though the win percentages are a lot closer than the football on the pitch makes it look and feel.

 

[Typical Spurs]

I'm tired, Robbie.

Of all the knobs on there, I always liked Claude.

(Assume that's what you're referencing)

 

[C-oops]

Of all the knobs on there, I always liked Claude.

(Assume that's what you're referencing)

It's the blind lad

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

My only concern with all this Conte-bashing, is that the heat is off Levy. He bears more responsibility for this shit show than Conte, we must not lose sight of that.

Our current situation has been 3-4 years in the making, it just happens that Conte has successfully taken the turgid baton from Mourhino and Nuno. I don't blame Conte for accepting the job, the fault is on Levy for appointing him and the other two in the first place. It just stinks of incompetence

 

[olliec]

Yeah, he did well last season. But that's starting to look like a bit of a blip in an otherwise mediocre reign. It's almost like last season was an extended new-manager bounce, and the longer he has been in charge, the worse we have been getting.

The football has mainly been dire this season, both before and after the World Cup.

We deteriorated after he was given a pre-season and several new squad additions, some of whom must have been signed off by him or his pal Paratici.

There have been injuries to key players, but Conte has been reluctant to use the squad. That's much of Richarlison's frustration, and I imagine others behind the scenes.

He was brought in with the remit of making us winners, yet we've limped out of the cup competitions to multiple teams with squads and budgets far inferior to ours.

Despite all this, I think fans would be more understanding if Conte took some responsibility for the team's failings and committed to the club. Instead, he goes on about needing patience and working miracles. But talk of patience makes no sense whilst he refuses to commit. I mean, patient for what? And what miracles? No one is asking for miracles. He is the only one talking about miracles.

Hypothetically speaking if Conte signed a new contract would we back him or would the majority be disappointed?

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Hypothetically speaking if Conte signed a new contract would we back him or would the majority be disappointed?

It is like re-electing Liz Truss

 

[Styopa]

I actually think Conte is spot on with his embargoed comments. The fanbase is ridiculously impatient. He has consistently called for time and patient to build a squad that compete for 'important' things. But because he is Antonio Conte most fans thought he would be challenging for trophies immediately.

The problem is that the fan's impatience and general toxicity stems from:

Arsenal being in a title challenge
Him constantly calling out the board
The football being pragmatic
His contract situation
Him not showing any real affection for the club
General negativity towards Levy/ENIC

The contract situation is a weird one as it's unclear whether Conte has refused to commit or that the club hasn't offered an extension. Although if he had signed for 3 years I still think the impatience would be there because of the other factors.

I really find it hard to see how he turns it around from here. Home matches are going to be toxic and the players' confidence on the floor. Without a doubt if he loses today he is gone.

I don't think the fanbase is 'ridiculously' impatient. Tens of thousands turn up every week to watch us and pay some of the most expensive ticket prices in the whole world. Millions more tune in every week to watch the team on TV. Most of us here have supported Spurs for decades and seen us win two or three relatively minor trophies.

Meanwhile, our traditional rivals, Arsenal, have won multiple league titles and domestic cups while playing incredible football. We have seen Liverpool, a club we regularly finished above for years, overtake us to win the league and Champions League while playing outstanding football. We've even seen the likes of Wigan win an FA cup, and Leicester win the Premier League since we last won anything. Of course, that's not even considering the rise of mega-rich clubs like Chelsea or Man C.

Arsenal fans were unhappy with Wenger. Liverpool fans were unhappy with Rogers. Man, U fans were unhappy with virtually everyone who has followed Ferguson. Let's not even start with Chelsea fans. If we are ridiculously impatient, what can we say about the fans of those teams who have experienced infinitely more success than us during the same period?

 

[arthurgrimsdell]

Our current situation has been 3-4 years in the making, it just happens that Conte has successfully taken the turgid baton from Mourhino and Nuno. I don't blame Conte for accepting the job, the fault is on Levy for appointing him and the other two in the first place. It just stinks of incompetence

It stinks of acting like a fan.

 

[Dougal]

Hypothetically speaking if Conte signed a new contract would we back him or would the majority be disappointed?

It would take a lot more to change than a signature on a bit of paper.

 

[Scot-Spur]

I actually think Conte is spot on with his embargoed comments. The fanbase is ridiculously impatient. He has consistently called for time and patient to build a squad that compete for 'important' things. But because he is Antonio Conte most fans thought he would be challenging for trophies immediately.

The problem is that the fan's impatience and general toxicity stems from:

Arsenal being in a title challenge
Him constantly calling out the board
The football being pragmatic
His contract situation
Him not showing any real affection for the club
General negativity towards Levy/ENIC

The contract situation is a weird one as it's unclear whether Conte has refused to commit or that the club hasn't offered an extension. Although if he had signed for 3 years I still think the impatience would be there because of the other factors.

I really find it hard to see how he turns it around from here. Home matches are going to be toxic and the players' confidence on the floor. Without a doubt if he loses today he is gone.

I agree with most of this and I have defended him but he has gone past pragmatic in the football. It’s painful to watch, no creativity, slow and genuinely negative. Whether this is all down to him or more likely the players and him. It just isn’t working, as someone mentioned in a previous post we need an upbeat manager. Someone who will bring a positive attitude as this club and the fan base are currently in a bad place.

 

[Timberwolf]

Hypothetically speaking if Conte signed a new contract would we back him or would the majority be disappointed?

I think the time to do it was last summer or, at the absolute latest, January. With a 2 or 3 year deal maaaybe the players buy in more and Conte stops being so vague and non-comittal in press conferences. Perhaps we're more willing to invest in "Conte" players in Jan too...although that's doubtful.

Whether it's down to failure from the club, reluctance from Conte, or both, we've now left it far too late and signing a new deal at this stage would be farcical and very disappointing. Obviously never going to happen, though.

 

[Styopa]

Hypothetically speaking if Conte signed a new contract would we back him or would the majority be disappointed?

The problem is he's already burnt many bridges. But that's on him. He could have turned it around if he wanted to, but I don't think he's bothered about the relationship with the fans now.

Getting fans on board is not rocket science. For example, many fans were gutted to see Big Martin Jol be sacked, even if they thought we could do better with Ramos. Conte's record is much better than BMJ's, but he doesn't have anything like the same connection with the fans.

 

[ultimateloner]

Arsenal fans waited 2 seasons for Arteta to come good this season.
Arsenal was worse than us the last few seasons, not including this one.
There was no 'glimmer of hope' in their performances either; their defence sucked and their football was slow; it's what you get when possession football doesn't work. Most of their fans expected this season to be rubbish.

In light of that, Conte's claim that we are impatient has merit. He has only been here for 18 months. He has secured CL for us, and might do so again this season; at least we are still on track. If we are judging results alone, he isn't wrong. Domestic cup trophies and CL progress would have been nice; but those are insignificant compared to PL standing.

I think his main problem is his hypocrysy. You can't both ask for patience and not commit at the same time. He wants us to have faith, and yet his actions don't inspire trust from the fans. It would have been ok if results were going our way, but when it doesn't then here we are.

Either way I think we as fans should just try to 'enjoy' this shennigan. I can't see Conte extending his contract and it isn't obvious that a new manager would give us better odds of CL football next season.

 

[bubble07]

You can't deny finishing 4th and currently 4th deserves big credit but we are all fed up with how we are playing so for that reason I'm conte out

 

[JCRD]

I actually think Conte is spot on with his embargoed comments. The fanbase is ridiculously impatient. He has consistently called for time and patient to build a squad that compete for 'important' things. But because he is Antonio Conte most fans thought he would be challenging for trophies immediately.

The problem is that the fan's impatience and general toxicity stems from:

Arsenal being in a title challenge
Him constantly calling out the board
The football being pragmatic
His contract situation
Him not showing any real affection for the club
General negativity towards Levy/ENIC

The contract situation is a weird one as it's unclear whether Conte has refused to commit or that the club hasn't offered an extension. Although if he had signed for 3 years I still think the impatience would be there because of the other factors.

I really find it hard to see how he turns it around from here. Home matches are going to be toxic and the players' confidence on the floor. Without a doubt if he loses today he is gone.

We lost our patience when we tried to defend a 1-0 aggregate loss against Milan, or last week against Sheff Utd where we barely had a shot on target.

Patience is fine as long as there is progress. No one is demanding we win the league this season, but we want to see progress in terms of identity, how the team is playing, the approach to our season.

How can someone who isn't committing to the club can also ask for patience? I do not get the patience bit.

This term toxicity seems to be the buzz word of the day. It isnt toxic it is a deflated fan base and the last week, Conte and the management team, as well as players, havent helped themselves. Imagine had we been at least in the FA Cup and beaten Wolves? it wouldnt be 'toxic'.

 

[chrisd2k]

I actually think Conte is spot on with his embargoed comments. The fanbase is ridiculously impatient. He has consistently called for time and patient to build a squad that compete for 'important' things. But because he is Antonio Conte most fans thought he would be challenging for trophies immediately.

The problem is that the fan's impatience and general toxicity stems from:

Arsenal being in a title challenge
Him constantly calling out the board
The football being pragmatic
His contract situation
Him not showing any real affection for the club
General negativity towards Levy/ENIC

The contract situation is a weird one as it's unclear whether Conte has refused to commit or that the club hasn't offered an extension. Although if he had signed for 3 years I still think the impatience would be there because of the other factors.

I really find it hard to see how he turns it around from here. Home matches are going to be toxic and the players' confidence on the floor. Without a doubt if he loses today he is gone.

I think most Spurs fans have been very patient. We've all just had enough.

 

[chrisd2k]

Can't believe what I'm reading in here this morning. It's our fault. I'd better stop there as something is festering inside me

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I don't think the fanbase is 'ridiculously' impatient. Tens of thousands turn up every week to watch us and pay some of the most expensive ticket prices in the whole world. Millions more tune in every week to watch the team on TV. Most of us here have supported Spurs for decades and seen us win two or three relatively minor trophies.

Meanwhile, our traditional rivals, Arsenal, have won multiple league titles and domestic cups while playing incredible football. We have seen Liverpool, a club we regularly finished above for years, overtake us to win the league and Champions League while playing outstanding football. We've even seen the likes of Wigan win an FA cup, and Leicester win the Premier League since we last won anything. Of course, that's not even considering the rise of mega-rich clubs like Chelsea or Man C.

Arsenal fans were unhappy with Wenger. Liverpool fans were unhappy with Rogers. Man, U fans were unhappy with virtually everyone who has followed Ferguson. Let's not even start with Chelsea fans. If we are ridiculously impatient, what can we say about the fans of those teams who have experienced infinitely more success than us during the same period?

We have no divine right to win trophies though. Especially in a league where there is a recent history of widespread financial doping.

The point about Liverpool is pertinent. They didn't overtake us immediately. They gave Klopp time and believed in his project. Eventually his vision bore fruit. He certainly wasn't under the same amount of pressure that Conte is under 18 months into his reign.

And this is what I mean about impatience. Paratici has been at the club for 18 months, Conte around the same period. We are in a post-lockdown world where many clubs around Europe, including ours, are still feeling the financial impact of football without fans for an extended period. Conte started with a europa conference squad and performed miracles to get us into the Champions league.

Paratici has totally revamped the recruitment structure in that time, and our signings have largely been an improvement on what came before. And we have been one of the biggest spenders in Europe.

Despite all this these changes, ultimately time and patience is required to build further.

This season each and every loss the fanbase is in crisis mode. If a new signing doesn't set the world alight after a couple of sub appearances he is written off. If we're not winning by half time playing peak 2010 Barcelonesque football there are a chorus of boos. If Conte, in his second language, says anything that can be easily misinterpreted or twisted to fit an anti-levy agenda the fanbase goes into a rage.

It's just absolutely mental environment to try and build a positive team spirit and unified club mentality in. As i said, Conte is clearly not blameless in any of this. But the whole mix just adds to the toxicity around the club at the moment.

 

[DiVaio]

Klopp joined Liverpool in October 2015 - 26 games into his first full season they were 5th having lost 3, drawn one and won one of their last 5 Prem Games.

Conte joined us in November 2021 and 26 games into his first full season we are 4th (maybe 5th come kick off today) having won 3 and lost two of our last 5 Prem games.

Time and patience.

Klopp spent 7 years at Dortmund before that. And another 7 years at Mainz before Dortmund.

 

[chrisd2k]

We have no divine right to win trophies though. Especially in a league where there is a recent history of widespread financial doping.

The point about Liverpool is pertinent. They didn't overtake us immediately. They gave Klopp time and believed in his project. Eventually his vision bore fruit. He certainly wasn't under the same amount of pressure that Conte is under 18 months into his reign.

And this is what I mean about impatience. Paratici has been at the club for 18 months, Conte around the same period. We are in a post-lockdown world where many clubs around Europe, including ours, are still feeling the financial impact of football without fans for an extended period. Conte started with a europa conference squad and performed miracles to get us into the Champions league.

Paratici has totally revamped the recruitment structure in that time, and our signings have largely been an improvement on what came before. And we have been one of the biggest spenders in Europe.

Despite all this these changes, ultimately time and patience is required to build further.

This season each and every loss the fanbase is in crisis mode. If a new signing doesn't set the world alight after a couple of sub appearances he is written off. If we're not winning by half time playing peak 2010 Barcelonesque football there are a chorus of boos. If Conte, in his second language, says anything that can be easily misinterpreted or twisted to fit an anti-levy agenda the fanbase goes into a rage.

It's just absolutely mental environment to try and build a positive team spirit and unified club mentality in. As i said, Conte is clearly not blameless in any of this. But the whole mix just adds to the toxicity around the club at the moment.

How are you supposed to

Wow. So it's our fault we can't beat Sheffield United reserves? It's our fault we set a new record of conceding first? It's our fault we haven't scored in the first half in 20 games out of 25?

When Conte came in everyone was behind him. Unfortunately what has been served up is just an utter shambles with people outside this toxic fanbase also criticising us with numerous articles, vlogs, jokes and pundit analysis. Not to mention the constant degrading of the club in what seems like every presser by Conte.

No you're right, it's the spurs fans who must spend a disproportionate amount of their income on watching their team every week.