Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[Trent Crimm]

Encouraging subordinates to communicate transparently without management interference is USUALLY an effective approach to team building.

You have to have a spattering of people willing to step-up and get the ball rolling for it to work.

Our lot probably sat there waiting for Hugo or Harry to say something.

This where the great sides have a Keane, Viera, Maldini, Gattuso, to carry it through.

Exactly. It’s meant to galvanize and promote internal discussion AND take ownership of your faults / issues.

couldn’t even be trusted to do that. Weak mindset.

 

[Rosco1984]

Looks like Eric Diers memory recall is as iffy as his defending

strangely Winks isnt here anymore and the press are still getting info.

 

[Trix]

strangely Winks isnt here anymore and the press are still getting info.

This Conte stuff is not coming from the players mate, I have no doubt that it's being deliberately put out there by the club.

 

[wrd]

Just seen another report

Towards the end of December, Antonio Conte gathered his #thfc players to tell them there'd be no Christmas this year. Despite this, the players valiantly continued their Christmas cheer and one source quoted Conte as saying "look at them all through the darkness I'm bringing, they're not sad at all, they're actually singing." He then made them run 40k at half-time on New Years day. [@SamiMokbel81_DM]

 

[GMI]

It's not about being seen as a rollover, more about having a mediocrity complex here, if we don't win anything it's ok, and if we make top 4 that's a win. I understand that there are other teams that have, and have spent more money, but if the managers target at the start of the season is only to make top 4 then don't be surprised if that's all we ever achieve.

On a related point your post reminds me of the few days immediately prior to the Champions League final.

Liverpool were clearly there to win it whereas it felt like we had already achieved our goal by getting to the final and anything else was a bonus. Certainly, when looking at the media and interviews at the time, it felt like it was a nice day out for the club.

 

[Nebby]

Hearing Martin Jol on TalkSport the other day; blimey, is that guy's enthusiasm infectious. He clearly didn't think much of Conte's formation and tactical approach to games; particularly the way in which we lined up in midfield.

 

[rabbikeane]

Hearing Martin Jol on TalkSport the other day; blimey, is that guy's enthusiasm infectious. He clearly didn't think much of Conte's formation and tactical approach to games; particularly the way in which we lined up in midfield.

Wouldn't be totally against a Jol return as a Technical Director supporting Arne Slot (same agency). A football man who knows what we want and would give the manager what he needs. Obviously would be a bit different role to how Paratici does his, maybe more David Pleat like.

 

[mil1lion]

We've invested a lot of money in young talent now though. Romero, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Bissouma, Emerson, Porro, Udogie, Richarlison, Spence. We got the ball rolling with Ndombele, LoCelso and Reguillon too. Overall, I think the hit/miss ratio on those has been fairly good in the overall scheme of things. I genuinely think we're on a 2 or 3 signings away from a very impressive squad, but then again it's hard to think of any top clubs who don't need anything else. Right now I think the right DoF is actually more important than the right manager because we need someone other than Levy to oversee the next few years.

Yes it's certainly a lot better now. Although it's not really geared towards a particular system or brand of football. There's enough for a new manager to work with at least.

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

Wouldn't be totally against a Jol return as a Technical Director supporting Arne Slot (same agency). A football man who knows what we want and would give the manager what he needs. Obviously would be a bit different role to how Paratici does his, maybe more David Pleat like.

Agreed, I fucking loved BMJ. Would love him back at the club in some capacity. Even just so he could say 'chances' in an interview once or twice a season.

 

[Harrier]

Actual source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CqTMGUZMuPQ/?hl=en

Did any of the players react to his Instagram post?

 

[lifeof...]

I remember doing a coaching course years ago and the old boy that was running it had a youth coaching CV that was off the charts Utd, Ajax, Celtic etc etc. He told us never tell the kids it was bad luck because luck doesn't come into it. If your shot hits the cross bar or the post it wasn't unlucky it was off target. If the ball deflected in off you r tackle it wasn't bad luck and you should have put a better block in. Obviously this has to be done in an encouraging way, "you were so close and with a little more practice you'll get that one in future". He said when kids believe it's all down to luck they won't feel the need to work that little bit harder. From whistle to whistle luck doesn't come into it, only preparation, practice, and performance. That has stuck with me for over a decade.

There is a famous golfer (can't remember his name) To paraphrase the story. After shooting an incredible below par performance for the 18 holes, a journo asked how lucky he felt after such a performance, the golfers reply was, its funny, the more I practice the luckier I get. "Luck" is something you create with your 3 P's

 

[wrd]

There is a famous golfer (can't remember his name) To paraphrase the story. After shooting an incredible below par performance for the 18 holes, a journo asked how lucky he felt after such a performance, the golfers reply was, its funny, the more I practice the luckier I get. "Luck" is something you create with your 3 P's

There's also the man city approach, where they go all in with their budget at the roulette table, lose, go to the atm and double down, repeat 5 times, finally win and then brag about what a good gambler they are.

 

[Japhet]

There is a famous golfer (can't remember his name) To paraphrase the story. After shooting an incredible below par performance for the 18 holes, a journo asked how lucky he felt after such a performance, the golfers reply was, its funny, the more I practice the luckier I get. "Luck" is something you create with your 3 P's

Gary Player.

 

[TOMSPURS]

There is a famous golfer (can't remember his name) To paraphrase the story. After shooting an incredible below par performance for the 18 holes, a journo asked how lucky he felt after such a performance, the golfers reply was, its funny, the more I practice the luckier I get. "Luck" is something you create with your 3 P's

Great quote from the great Gary Player.

When Mancini took over from Mark Hughes at City, Stephen Ireland was city's player of the year. Mancini had him out the club within 3 months. Nothing to do with his ability or talent, because he wasn't prepared to sacrifice & suffer to win. City players at the time have said it didn't really bother them if they lost to Pool or Chelsea...they weren't expected to win titles, so they'd happily go for a few drinks after defeat & enjoy the trappings of being a very well paid footballer.

Mancini, together with players like Silva & Kompany changed the mind set. Every player was pushed to be the best they could be, completely dedicated to improving. Every training session was important, every point critical because now the goal was to win the title. The players who didn't buy in, were let go.

Changing the mindset at a club can happen, but it needs full buy in from the chairman, board, management & players. As many have said previously, I think too many at Spurs are just happy enjoying being involved in professional football, living the good life in London, making the required sacrifices to succeed isn't on their priority list.

 

[Bing]

This Conte stuff is not coming from the players mate, I have no doubt that it's being deliberately put out there by the club.

Will be interesting to see if the payers come out to deny the claims being made......or to defend Conte....to my knowledge, so far, not one player has....or wished him best of luck/thanked him for that matter.

 

[Trix]

Will be interesting to see if the payers come out to deny the claims being made......or to defend Conte....to my knowledge, so far, not one player has....or wished him best of luck/thanked him for that matter.

I'm not saying it won't be in at least part true. Just that I believe this will be the club putting this out there and not the players. They have far more to gain from this leaking after the fact, than any player does.

 

[spurs mental]

 

[Styopa]

Great quote from the great Gary Player.

When Mancini took over from Mark Hughes at City, Stephen Ireland was city's player of the year. Mancini had him out the club within 3 months. Nothing to do with his ability or talent, because he wasn't prepared to sacrifice & suffer to win. City players at the time have said it didn't really bother them if they lost to Pool or Chelsea...they weren't expected to win titles, so they'd happily go for a few drinks after defeat & enjoy the trappings of being a very well paid footballer.

Mancini, together with players like Silva & Kompany changed the mind set. Every player was pushed to be the best they could be, completely dedicated to improving. Every training session was important, every point critical because now the goal was to win the title. The players who didn't buy in, were let go.

Changing the mindset at a club can happen, but it needs full buy in from the chairman, board, management & players. As many have said previously, I think too many at Spurs are just happy enjoying being involved in professional football, living the good life in London, making the required sacrifices to succeed isn't on their priority list.

I'm not sure what this proves. Man City bought better players than Stephen Ireland? That's hardly a shock, given they are/were the wealthiest club in the world. The summer following Mancini joining, they spent about 185 million Euros on new players. That's 185 million 13 years ago!

For context, we, Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal, spent 173m Euros that summer- combined!

(in the summer of 2010: we spent about 26 million Euros; Chelsea spent about 113m; Liverpool spent about 95m; Man U spent about 29.5m; Arsenal spent about 23m.)

 

[spursfan77]

Hearing Martin Jol on TalkSport the other day; blimey, is that guy's enthusiasm infectious. He clearly didn't think much of Conte's formation and tactical approach to games; particularly the way in which we lined up in midfield.

What's he up to now? Could have got him in as caretaker!

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

What's he up to now? Could have got him in as caretaker!

Although he was in Holland that day I think he said he is living in Colchester. It was definitely in the south of England.