Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[Ghost Hardware]

Really tho I don’t particularly find the quotes that inflammatory. We all know we need more quality players, we all know the January transfer window was only a drop in the ocean and we all know there needs to be a serious change to type of players we purchase. I’m sure Conte is as frustrated as any of us by the incredibly shambolic displays of his team recently and just wants to make it crystals clear to all, including the board, that we have to get summer right.

 

[dudu]

This is what Conte does, we all knew it, when he’s not happy he lets it known. Personally I have no problem with it. Has he been promised money from Levy in the summer? Time will tell, but personally I believe it’s just Levy kicking the can further down the road, il be surprised if Conte is here this time next year.

Not sure what that means exactly?

Paratici is in charge of transfers no? Did we lose out on Dias and Traore because Levy didn't sanction the purchases or because they wanted to go somewhere else?

 

[mil1lion]

On the subject of signing young players. I do think this is the core of what we do as a club. We have to sign players before they explode and their value shoots up. However there's also no reason not to get a couple of experienced players too. There's a fair few out or running out their contracts now. This is essentially what we do, either sign someone with world class potential or sign someone who was world class at the back of their career. I think in the summer we need to get a few more experienced heads into the spine of the club. Then have younger players around them. I think centre back is the perfect example of that. We have Dier and Davies then the rest are young. A combination of for example a de Vrij and a Torres in the summer would greatly improve our defence (another kind of Dier and Romero combination of experience and youth)

I can understand the frustration of Conte and I would even say its similar to Kane. They want to succeed now, not build to success in 3-5 years. To do that you need players in their prime. The problem is that we don't have enough top players in their prime now. We really just have Kane and Son as our world class in their prime players. We previously had in prime Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld and Dembele. We still had young Kane, Son, Alli, Eriksen. We just don't have the balance right yet. Bentancur has plenty of match experience but he's similar to how Eriksen was in that regard. Mid twenties with experience but not yet in their prime. He'll probably hit his prime in a couple of years.

This is where we are now. Are we back to building a squad of young players who can develop and all hit their prime at the same time. We did that already and still won nothing though. Not to say I didn't enjoy that spell, it was still my favourite time as a Spurs fan. However now we have the best stadium and I feel we should have a different approach. We need to cough up for some prime players in addition to those with potential. That's how you make use of Conte and get success here and now. When he leaves you'll have success to build on and still enough young players to develop under the next manager.

 

[Duke of Northumberland]

I think this was a scheduled interview with Sky Italia as part of their PL TV rights, so at least he didn't go out of his way to give these quotes.

It's weird that he spoke in English and not Italian.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Really tho I don’t particularly find the quotes that inflammatory. We all know we need more quality players, we all know the January transfer window was only a drop in the ocean and we all know there needs to be a serious change to type of players we purchase. I’m sure Conte is as frustrated as any of us by the incredibly shambolic displays of his team recently and just wants to make it crystals clear to all, including the board, that we have to get summer right.

Pretty much exactly this. ?

 

[kaz Hirai]

Really tho I don’t particularly find the quotes that inflammatory. We all know we need more quality players, we all know the January transfer window was only a drop in the ocean and we all know there needs to be a serious change to type of players we purchase. I’m sure Conte is as frustrated as any of us by the incredibly shambolic displays of his team recently and just wants to make it crystals clear to all, including the board, that we have to get summer right.

i dont find the bit about the squad being weakened too bad, it's a shot at recruitment for sure but it's not too bad. it's the other bits that are more eyebrow raising, " I’ve always said that I have to feel only one per cent the possibility to win the league,’ he said. ‘Here it is strange because maybe I feel the one per cent possibility to finish fourth." -true but i dont know a bit of a cheap shot

"
Bentancur and Kulusevski are ideal prospects for Tottenham, because Tottenham are seeking young players they can develop and grow, not players who are ready.

'That is the issue. I have realized now that this is the vision of the club."

-realized now?? what half truths was his spun.was he not told that we prefer to bring in young players with potential, his only been here a minute and already its seems like he is conflict with the club's status and vision

 

[arthurgrimsdell]

It'll be someone with a history of bringing through youth, who plays attractive football, but who hasn't been successful in the Premier League yet.

Ryan? Is that you? What have you been told?

 

[Donki]

Not sure what that means exactly?

Paratici is in charge of transfers no? Did we lose out on Dias and Traore because Levy didn't sanction the purchases or because they wanted to go somewhere else?

I mean, and call me paranoid or completely delusional but Levy appointing Conte to appease the fans, Levy appointing Paratici as a patsy to hide behind. The Dias deal is just like the other deals we could of potentially had, Hazard, Willian and the messing about over Bruno, I can understand players wanting to go to other clubs but it seems to becoming a regular thing, if we have a target go in get it done and sealed instead of fannying around with your thumb up ur bum.

 

[Duke of Northumberland]

Wasn’t that always going to be the case. I would think it’s fairly clear that he’s not here for a project, it’s not his MO. If he isn’t given the tools he wants come summer of course he will walk. I think the summer window was probably a key part of the negotiations when he first signed for us so if we mess about or try and go for inadequate players he’ll be gone with the wind.

But he's also made noises about building and how Pep didn't have everything he wanted the first couple of years, which suggests he was up for it. Likewise 2 weeks ago he said he was happy with the club's work in the window. And who's idea was it to loan the "important" players? Daniel Levy? No. It was he.

He's known for these erratic statements so whatever. Get on the training ground Antonio.

(It also occurs that maybe he's realising he's not as able as he thought he was to improve this level of squad in this competitive league, so deflecting)

 

[jbstarr14]

Non-story.

 

[$hoguN]

Non story. English isn’t his native language ffs.

He says that the squad is more balanced. Understands the clubs vision, etc. what more do you want.

People moaning about his formation are missing the point every ITK is stating. We are building, next season is the aim, we need to get the players who will be a part of that used to the system to maximise our chances of hitting the ground running even if it costs us slightly this season.

Home truths are needed in the squad too

 

[wadewill]

People “wetting their pants” at “pant wetters” ??

 

[talkshowhost86]

I don't think these quotes are some sort of epic strop from Conte, but they do underline that we've got one transfer window in the summer to sort a lot out, otherwise he's very likely off before Christmas.

 

[gavspur]

I’ve noticed A LOT of Simon Jordan-isms in this place recently. I guess a fair chunk of you listen to Talksport!

‘kicking the can down the road’
‘Cut our cloth accordingly’ etc etc ?

 

[shelfboy68]

But he must have known how difficult it is to get in quality signings at this time, unless you pay over the top of course !

Then don't let people go if you can't get anyone to replace surely?

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

On the subject of signing young players. I do think this is the core of what we do as a club. We have to sign players before they explode and their value shoots up.

When is the last time wee took advantage of that?

It has not been recently...

 

[spursfan77]

These quotes are from Ally Gold and are great to hear if Levy acts on them. It is what has bubbled along in the background from the start. Back him or what is the point?

What is becoming apparent to those outside and inside the club is that Conte is having no issue with making it very clear that the Tottenham he believes he has found is one competing with the others in mid-table rather than those competing for the top four any more.

Behind the scenes Conte has not been shy in handing out some home truths to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy about exactly what level his club is at, with some inside the club saying the Italian has been candid with the Tottenham supremo in a way few others have.

Full Conte quotes are not as bad but problems may still lie ahead for Levy

A selection of the Italian's latest comments about Tottenham emerged this week and immediately provoked strong reactions from the fanbase

www.football.london

 

[spoon]

As is fucking usual, these media outlets twist words for their benefit.

Conte saying I feel the 1% possibility of getting top four, if you watch the clip he's saying there's the possibility of getting top four but it's tough because the league is so tough. As oppose to zero possibility which I might imagine is not acceptable to him. But then some media monkey spins it as literally we have no chance of finishing top four. He also literally makes the point that in the past even if he was challenging for league titles he also felt that 1% possibility of winning the league.

 

[dimiSpur]

Conte, a serial winner, has come into a club which is in a dire situation. The magnitude of the job at hand, has shocked him I think. Moreover, I reckon he's genuinely shocked at how he can't get through to certain/most players. They must have a horrid mentality.

As such, and in order to safeguard his own reputation, he's making this clear in this and/or other interviews. He's basically saying "this Club wants to nurture youth, they're not in a hurry to win anything so don't come knocking at my door when I don't win the league with Davies & Reguilon". And that's very fair.

I've no doubt anymore that this venture will end in (our) tears. What I don't understand is why Levy brought him in. Did he not know that Conte would demand a lot more than previous managers? Did he not know that in the event that this goes tits up, the fans will hound Danny boy out? Because I'm sure that the second Conte quits, Levy will see a fan reaction on a near criminal-damage level scale. I've no doubt that it will be the end of him.

The only thing that makes sense in my mind, is that Levy probably fobbed Conte off and promised to "try" and sign top players (e.g. offering 1 pound for Neymar or some shit like that) and in the background, is trying to exploit the intention to become a top club by securing commercial deals (i.e. naming rights) or even sell the Club. Nothing else makes sense. Why would you bring in someone you know will walk if you don't back him properly and then fart arse around? Unless he's that stupid, which he's not.

 

[Trix]

I don't think these quotes are some sort of epic strop from Conte, but they do underline that we've got one transfer window in the summer to sort a lot out, otherwise he's very likely off before Christmas.

Which was always the case mate. Everyone including Conte was well aware of how things were going to happen. As everyone is saying(including myself) if it doesn't happen there is only one person culpable. Fact is though there is a plan in place that everyone agreed to, and until that doesn't happen we all need to hold fire, and that includes AC.