Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[SaiboT]

Arteta and Pep yes, however Arteta before this season wasn't popular with Arsenal fans they wanted him out for 3 years. He's been backed to the hilt to get where they are today.

Klopp took 18-24 months to get where he needed to be. Potter has been the same at Brighton, they were lovely to watch but couldn't put the ball in the net, and Chelsea have the same issue.

And as you say, if you get players you want you'll do well. We've only seen a small amount of players Conte wants here so far under him.

Yeah but Klopp had never managed in the PL when he joined pool so ofcource he needs time. Poch needed some time to, Conte also. But both Jurgen and Poch atleast played football that pleased the fans in that period . Conte had had like 15 months and its not getting any better, its getting worse.

 

[Trix]

I think Arteta and pep does perfectly fine in their clubs, they dont need to change anything. Potter is at a new club with tons of new players, not easy. Liverpool is just in a bad form.

And those teams were all winning things before he came to them. And when u get every player u want it will be a lot easier to win things.

Arteta was heavily criticised for over 2 years straight by Arsenal fans, I mean there were protests ffs. It's literally only this season they've completely changed their tune. It's amazing how certain systems and formations only spring into life when you have a full compliment of players able to implement it. It's also exactly the same with Klopp now. He doesn't have the midfielders to play his 4-3-3 Gegen press yet he's sticking to it and it's cost them an awful lot of points.

Why do they stick with it? Because they know that once they get every piece in place it works, and by this point everyone else in the team is well drilled to get the best out of that system.

 

[spurs mental]

Yeah but Klopp had never managed in the PL when he joined pool so ofcource he needs time. Poch needed some time to, Conte also. But both Jurgen and Poch atleast played football that pleased the fans in that period . Conte had had like 15 months and its not getting any better, its getting worse.

I guess you didn't enjoy our performances from February to May last season then when we were only behind Liverpool and City in points won and goals scored. We have shown signs under Conte.

There's so many reasons why we haven't hit a stride this season but people are ignoring them.

Injuries; yeah a part of football, but at one point we only had Kane as a fit attacker this season while Kulu, Son, Richy, Lucas were all injured. We've had on paper our best XI on the pitch starting a game I believe 7 or 8 times this season as Romero, Bentancur, Son, Kulu have all been missing for portions of the season. When they've been on the pitch together we've done alright but it's impossible to get into any rhythm at all without a good run of fitness for them. Bentancur is now done for the season too. He's basically our best player outside of Kane.

Ventrone passed away. He was clearly a popular man with all of the players but also a very close friend of Conte. That WILL be still effecting everyone. They are human beings.

Players are out of form, whether they hit a ceiling last season, or over performed, I don't know. But they are doing things they didn't last season. They are doing things they didn't do last week. For reasons we don't know.
Some of them, I believe, haven't been good enough for us to progress for a while. I was sure Davies and Dier for example had turned a corner last season after being part of the reason Poch and Jose were both removed from the club. But they are part of the reason Conte is likely to be gone this summer. And they will likely be here under the next manager too. 5 years of not being good enough, save for good form for 6-8 months says it all.

If all you want is good football and the odd title charge or cup run without anything at the end, then fair play to you, but I'm prepared to be patient with a manager who might deliver even if the journey might not be the most enjoyable to watch.

 

[Albertbarich]

Conte is clearly an elite elite manager , if you don't think he is you're blinded by wanting change.

The question for me is , right now is he mentally coping after everything he is going through and if as is more than likely he is off in the summer how long do we give him to get back to himself.

We have seen the formation can work even with these awful defenders , the proof is there so no need to try and dissect his proven tactics.

 

[chas vs dave]

Arteta was heavily criticised for over 2 years straight by Arsenal fans, I mean there were protests ffs. It's literally only this season they've completely changed their tune. It's amazing how certain systems and formations only spring into life when you have a full compliment of players able to implement it. It's also exactly the same with Klopp now. He doesn't have the midfielders to play his 4-3-3 Gegen press yet he's sticking to it and it's cost them an awful lot of points.

Why do they stick with it? Because they know that once they get every piece in place it works, and by this point everyone else in the team is well drilled to get the best out of that system.

Every piece in the right place? I'm not sure Ben White at rb was a deliberate decision.

 

[SaiboT]

Arteta was heavily criticised for over 2 years straight by Arsenal fans, I mean there were protests ffs. It's literally only this season they've completely changed their tune. It's amazing how certain systems and formations only spring into life when you have a full compliment of players able to implement it. It's also exactly the same with Klopp now. He doesn't have the midfielders to play his 4-3-3 Gegen press yet he's sticking to it and it's cost them an awful lot of points.

Why do they stick with it? Because they know that once they get every piece in place it works, and by this point everyone else in the team is well drilled to get the best out of that system.

But you cant really compare Conte with Arteta imo. Arsenal was Artetas first big job and conte is a ”winner”.
I mean you have to get better with time and we aren’t doing that.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Conte is clearly an elite elite manager , if you don't think he is you're blinded by wanting change.

The question for me is , right now is he mentally coping after everything he is going through and if as is more than likely he is off in the summer how long do we give him to get back to himself.

We have seen the formation can work even with these awful defenders , the proof is there so no need to try and dissect his proven tactics.

But his formation is not working irrespective of personnel.

 

[allatsea]

Conte is clearly an elite elite manager , if you don't think he is you're blinded by wanting change.

The question for me is , right now is he mentally coping after everything he is going through and if as is more than likely he is off in the summer how long do we give him to get back to himself.

We have seen the formation can work even with these awful defenders , the proof is there so no need to try and dissect his proven tactics.

Great post

 

[SaiboT]

I guess you didn't enjoy our performances from February to May last season then when we were only behind Liverpool and City in points won and goals scored. We have shown signs under Conte.

There's so many reasons why we haven't hit a stride this season but people are ignoring them.

Injuries; yeah a part of football, but at one point we only had Kane as a fit attacker this season while Kulu, Son, Richy, Lucas were all injured. We've had on paper our best XI on the pitch starting a game I believe 7 or 8 times this season as Romero, Bentancur, Son, Kulu have all been missing for portions of the season. When they've been on the pitch together we've done alright but it's impossible to get into any rhythm at all without a good run of fitness for them. Bentancur is now done for the season too. He's basically our best player outside of Kane.

Ventrone passed away. He was clearly a popular man with all of the players but also a very close friend of Conte. That WILL be still effecting everyone. They are human beings.

Players are out of form, whether they hit a ceiling last season, or over performed, I don't know. But they are doing things they didn't last season. They are doing things they didn't do last week. For reasons we don't know.
Some of them, I believe, haven't been good enough for us to progress for a while. I was sure Davies and Dier for example had turned a corner last season after being part of the reason Poch and Jose were both removed from the club. But they are part of the reason Conte is likely to be gone this summer. And they will likely be here under the next manager too. 5 years of not being good enough, save for good form for 6-8 months says it all.

If all you want is good football and the odd title charge or cup run without anything at the end, then fair play to you, but I'm prepared to be patient with a manager who might deliver even if the journey might not be the most enjoyable to watch.

As i said we are not getting any better than last season. We did get top 4 and that was great but we did also get a lot of help from other teams. The football we played then was better then now. Thats not how it supose to be.

 

[Scot-Spur]

Arteta was heavily criticised for over 2 years straight by Arsenal fans, I mean there were protests ffs. It's literally only this season they've completely changed their tune. It's amazing how certain systems and formations only spring into life when you have a full compliment of players able to implement it. It's also exactly the same with Klopp now. He doesn't have the midfielders to play his 4-3-3 Gegen press yet he's sticking to it and it's cost them an awful lot of points.

Why do they stick with it? Because they know that once they get every piece in place it works, and by this point everyone else in the team is well drilled to get the best out of that system.

I don’t understand how people don’t see this exact thing.

 

[spurs mental]

As i said we are not getting any better than last season. We did get top 4 and that was great but we did also get a lot of help from other teams. The football we played then was better then now. Thats not how it supose to be.

I've listed mitigating factors as to why though, or do you not believe any of them have had an effect?

 

[Albertbarich]

But his formation is not working irrespective of personnel.

Were in a bad patch but that's coincided with him losing three people , getting Ill and there being loads of rumours because he won't sign a new deal that he is leaving in the summer.

If the camp is in a bad place mentally, if the manager (understandably) has taken his eye off the ball, if the players have an excuse to hide then it doesn't matter if it's 343 , 442 or 4231 those problems will still exist.

 

[DanielJohnCosta]

Conte is clearly an elite elite manager , if you don't think he is you're blinded by wanting change.

The question for me is , right now is he mentally coping after everything he is going through and if as is more than likely he is off in the summer how long do we give him to get back to himself.

We have seen the formation can work even with these awful defenders , the proof is there so no need to try and dissect his proven tactics.

yet to see it at the club tbh so it's fair call that we are questioning this.

 

[spurs mental]

yet to see it at the club tbh so it's fair call that we are questioning this.

Does our form from February, performances and top 4 finish after being miles off it and not given a chance not give you even a small suggestion as to what he can do?

 

[mr ashley]

Were in a bad patch but that's coincided with him losing three people , getting Ill and there being loads of rumours because he won't sign a new deal that he is leaving in the summer.

If the camp is in a bad place mentally, if the manager (understandably) has taken his eye off the ball, if the players have an excuse to hide then it doesn't matter if it's 343 , 442 or 4231 those problems will still exist.

This is the issue.
Compared to last season, the entire squad plus coaching staff appear to be down 10-15%
Theres a number of valid reasons why.
Sadly it’s just hit us at the wrong time.

 

[mr ashley]

yet to see it at the club tbh so it's fair call that we are questioning this.

That’s just blinkered.
The points record since he took over last season proves that.
This season has been different but they way we played under him last season can’t be questioned

 

[Trix]

Every piece in the right place? I'm not sure Ben White at rb was a deliberate decision.

Maybe not, but then neither was Victor Moses or Perisic for Conte. The point is the key areas were addressed with what they badly needed at both clubs. We've needed CB's since Toby and Jan left. Arsenal didn't kick on until Saliba came back in to form a solid partnership, Liverpool didn't kick on until they bought VVD. There is a reason the saying "you build from the back" exists. It's the base for everything else you do.

Goalkeeper


Right Centre back left Centre Back


Centre Mid


Centre Forward


These should always be the first positions you make sure are right before you strengthen anywhere else, because these players stop you losing games.

 

[Rosco1984]

Says our players can't handle playing under pressure, continues to use a formation and style that invites constant pressure. I get that his style and everything can work and we have seen it work here at times but we just don't have the CB's for it. Only Romero can play in this formation to a truely high level. Seriously just change it the rest of the season then try again with hopefully two new CBs next year if he even wants to stay. The current team selections are the definition of madness.

 

[Albertbarich]

This is the issue.
Compared to last season, the entire squad plus coaching staff appear to be down 10-15%
Theres a number of valid reasons why.
Sadly it’s just hit us at the wrong time.

Yeah it's been hit after hit this season and we weren't playing brilliantly in the first place.

The board will be observing closely I'd imagine as if this isnt long-term it maybe worth trying to get the new manager bounce now.

Hopefully he will be back to himself soon but I feel ridiculous even typing that after everything he has been through.

 

[SaiboT]

I've listed mitigating factors as to why though, or do you not believe any of them have had an effect?

I do absolutely. I feel for conte in that way he lost his friends.
injuries is part of football and surely we were limited at times especially when kulu and richy both were out. But we still could have done better without those players. Bentancur injury i agree is terrible news and also bissouma. Now we have skipp and sarr as cm’s and they will not work in a 3-4-3 so it will be interesting how we will line up against milan.