Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[Hotspur33]

This was the kind of improvement I was expecting from Antonio Conte when we somehow appointed him (albeit maybe not quite as many goals!). It's obviously taken a bit longer to kick in with so many games over the winter period and inherited issues such as fitness and mentality.

Now the club very much feels like it is finally building again. I really hope we haven't left it too late for CL.

Regardless of where we finish I really hope the club bet big on Conte and Paratici (and Kane) this summer. It'd be mad not to.

Hopefully Levy's idea of bet big matches Antonio's idea of betting big.

 

[Delboy75]

Another mad thing is the most essential part to Conte system is the wing backs. And our current wing back options are probably the weakest part of our team. Which means there’s still massive room for more improvement.

 

[$hoguN]

Another mad thing is the most essential part to Conte system is the wing backs. And our current wing back options are probably the weakest part of our team. Which means there’s still massive room for more improvement.

This is really harsh on the lads tbh. We have scored and created plenty of goals from the WBs lately. The only 1 of the 4 who looks alien in that role is Royal.

There aren’t a huge queue of players that can improve us in those areas imo.

 

[mr ashley]

Southampton, Wolves and Burnley - turn those defeats into wins and we would look like a side truly challenging the top guns.

Guess which player was involved in all of those games- but hasn’t really featured since?

 

[Japhet]

The improvement in so many of our players under Conte is quite remarkable. Dier looked pretty much finished after his ilness and injury issues and was all over the place a lot of the time. Now he's pretty much first name on the team sheet. Doherty was similarly getting pelters every time he played. Ben Davies was on many people's 'get rid' list. Bentancur and Kulusevski were shoved out of the door at Juve. That's half of our outfield first XI which is pretty phenominal really. He must be giving them all a whole lot of confidence and self belief.

 

[Joshua shepherd]

This is really harsh on the lads tbh. We have scored and created plenty of goals from the WBs lately. The only 1 of the 4 who looks alien in that role is Royal.

There aren’t a huge queue of players that can improve us in those areas imo.

What is the weakest part of our team if not the wingbacks?

 

[mr ashley]

What is the weakest part of our team if not the wingbacks?

The bench

 

[Joshua shepherd]

The bench

Team implies first 11 though doesn't it, I'd have said squad otherwise, which of course would be improved by improving the first 11.

 

[Rosco1984]

The bench

I agree with this and this has to be Conte's next Job. There are a few positions where an injury could destroy the balance of the side completely because the back ups have such a detrimental affect on the team. If any of that back 3 go down we have bigger problems than if Kane does in my opinion.

 

[mr ashley]

Team implies first 11 though doesn't it, I'd have said squad otherwise.

Point still remains. Before we worry about upgrading Doherty or Reguilon I think we should be looking to upgrade on Sanchez/ winks/ Rodon.

Our first 11 is proving that they are competitive with the best.
it’s only when these guys are unavailable that we struggle.

 

[Joshua shepherd]

Point still remains. Before we worry about upgrading Doherty or Reguilon I think we should be looking to upgrade on Sanchez/ winks/ Rodon.

Our first 11 is proving that they are competitive with the best.
it’s only when these guys are unavailable that we struggle.

I don't think its about upgrading Sanchez/Winks/Rodon. It's about moving the likes of Sanchez/Winks/Rodon on altogether, and improving the likes of Davies/Hojbjerg/Doherty. That way you ensure that the bench can be relied upon rather than simply improving the weakest players with slightly better ones.

 

[thehipster]

I reckon Conte is really enjoying this challenge.
It’s unlike anything he’s done before.
He’s had to manage his own expectations around available investment and incoming signings.
And instead of having a load of top class players at his disposal, he’s having his coaching skills really challenged by improving players he would normally discard. Which, I imagine, gives him a buzz after a result like yesterday’s.

But the bit I think he’s enjoying most, is that there are few over-inflated egos in the squad. Harry is the biggest name…and the hardest working in training, never taking liberties or cutting corners.

In all the major squads there are quite a few big egos bouncing around…and I think that must be the most unfulfilling and exhausting part of the whole coaching job. Having to treat certain individuals differently to the rest of the other players in the squad.

I think Antonio is beginning to evolve his own identity.and style…and if backed well in the summer, I can see him enjoying himself at Hotspur Way to stick around for a while.

 

[smallsnc]

Guess which player was involved in all of those games- but hasn’t really featured since?

Verse Southampton and Wolves, Sanchez and Winks were involved (neither started against Burnley as we had a 1st choice lineup). I would say the first 2 were losses as much because Dier was not in the team as because Winks was, but I am sure that does not fit your agenda.

 

[mr ashley]

Verse Southampton and Wolves, Sanchez and Winks were involved (neither started against Burnley as we had a 1st choice lineup). I would say the first 2 were losses as much because Dier was not in the team as because Winks was, but I am sure that does not fit your agenda.

I can promise you it’s not an agenda.
but it is absolutely the case that when winks plays, we are a totally different beast.

we know it
Conte knows it

Hell I’d suggest most of the premier league managers know it (based on the way they press us when he’s in the side)

Biggest challenge we have in the summer is finding a buyer.

 

[Tucker]

This is really harsh on the lads tbh. We have scored and created plenty of goals from the WBs lately. The only 1 of the 4 who looks alien in that role is Royal.

There aren’t a huge queue of players that can improve us in those areas imo.

You’re getting a lot of disagrees for this, but I think you’re right. It is harsh, but I don’t think it’s entirely incorrect to say that it’s the weakest area of our team. Doherty, Reguilon and to an extent Sessegnon have all looked good in the role being asked of them, but I think Reguilon is capable of much better. Sess remains an unknown quantity, and Royal doesn’t quite look at the races.

The range of players available in these areas that will 100% improve us is small. People underestimate how good wing backs need to be, and we’ve seen with the signings of Aurier, Emerson, Doherty, and to an extent Trippier, just how hard it can be to replace a top quality player like Walker. Finding top quality wing backs will be a tough task for Paratici to solve.

 

[Joshua shepherd]

Verse Southampton and Wolves, Sanchez and Winks were involved (neither started against Burnley as we had a 1st choice lineup). I would say the first 2 were losses as much because Dier was not in the team as because Winks was, but I am sure that does not fit your agenda.

We were 0-0 at half time when Bentancur went off injured and Winks came on though. Not so much an agenda as the fact we're massively weakened if Winks plays over Bentancur.

Having Sanchez in instead of Dier wouldn't have helped either, but in games where we are expected to control and dictate the play, a missing midfielder is more of a loss than a missing CB.

 

[spursfan77]

Lets be honest, nobody is going to sign anything until they see the club put their money where their mouth is.

We can exercise that option for another year though cant we?

Rumour is it was one sided on the club's side and not the managers. So he would just have to accept it.

 

[Rosco1984]

You’re getting a lot of disagrees for this, but I think you’re right. It is harsh, but I don’t think it’s entirely incorrect to say that it’s the weakest area of our team. Doherty, Reguilon and to an extent Sessegnon have all looked good in the role being asked of them, but I think Reguilon is capable of much better. Sess remains an unknown quantity, and Royal doesn’t quite look at the races.

The range of players available in these areas that will 100% improve us is small. People underestimate how good wing backs need to be, and we’ve seen with the signings of Aurier, Emerson, Doherty, and to an extent Trippier, just how hard it can be to replace a top quality player like Walker. Finding top quality wing backs will be a tough task for Paratici to solve.

Ironically, Aurier and Trippier would have been fantastic in this system but they played most of their football for us in a back 4 exposing the defensive side of their game.

 

[Trix]

We can exercise that option for another year though cant we?

Rumour is it was one sided on the club's side and not the managers. So he would just have to accept it.

Of course, but it's Conte so not sure it makes all that much difference.

 

[mr ashley]

I don't think its about upgrading Sanchez/Winks/Rodon. It's about moving the likes of Sanchez/Winks/Rodon on altogether, and improving the likes of Davies/Hojbjerg/Doherty. That way you ensure that the bench can be relied upon rather than simply improving the weakest players with slightly better ones.

Surely that’s exactly what I’m suggesting??