Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[spurs mental]

Well two wins without our manager doesn't entirely convince me that the manager is doing the right thing when he is here!

I've said elsewhere that the City game was probably our best performance of the season.

But one good performance...and it really hasn't been much more than that at all this season...shouldn't save a manager.

I also agree that results are what matters. And 9 losses out of 26 in the league whilst also meekly dropping out of each cup isn't good enough.

So because we win when he's not here its not down to him, but when we lose when he's not here it is down to him? Point in hand whimpering out the cup midweek he wasn't there.

Which is it? It can't be both.

 

[T-Bone]

I'm picking Michael Caine = Italian Job = Milan game.

actually this makes more sense, ignore me!!!

 

[spurs mental]

If true then thats an absurd way to run this club

Didn't we sack Poch because Kane went to DL?

 

[Nebby]

There is a cultish anti-Conte movement. They are literally incapable of rational thought where Conte is concerned, just overly obsessed with how "shit" our football is and wanting a "progressive project manager" in.

Its been a mixed season imo. Some utterly turgid and horrendous football mixed in with good results (Man City, Chelsea). Some great young players being showcased (Sarr and Skipp) and some garbage experienced players too (Perisic, Sanchez.)

I have been particularly unimpressed by Conte's in-game management this season, especially the lack of subs (same as I was under Poch tbf) and his stubbornness around formation and some of his selections have driven me crazy. However, it would be churlish to say he "hasn't improved any players"......Dier was fantastic at the end of last season, Kulu and Bentancur were a revelation, Sarr, Skipp and much maligned Emerson have been brilliant at times this season. As I say, overall a mixed bag.

I don't think a slavish, cultish obsession to any manager is healthy or indeed necessary.

Seems pretty clear that the fanbase is divided right now. Some are happy with Conte and the football we're playing and believe we will kick on if he's given the right players. Others are not and find the football boring to watch and doubt that his pragmatic approach will change even with a squad containing better players.

 

[kursaal]

So are we speculating that if we don't get past Milan, Conte is dismissed and Poch will be back in charge for the weekend visit of Forest?

 

[mattstev2000]

Didn't we sack Poch because Kane went to DL?

If we did, then that just reinforces the point. It's an absurd way to run the club.

 

[TPdYID]

So are we speculating that if we don't get past Milan, Conte is dismissed and Poch will be back in charge for the weekend visit of Forest?

F**k me, a billion-quid organisation has resorted to "winner stays on".

 

[talkshowhost86]

So because we win when he's not here its not down to him, but when we lose when he's not here it is down to him? Point in hand whimpering out the cup midweek he wasn't there.

Which is it? It can't be both.

That's a fair point

It's obvious he's making the calls tactically etc so I'm not sure him not being here is making a huge difference

Its not as if he changes things during games either way

 

[Rout-Ledge]

F**k me, a billion-quid organisation has resorted to "winner stays on".

Pure speculation.

 

[chas vs dave]

This is one of the most boring Spurs teams I’ve ever seen and I’ve been watching since the 1970s. This has nothing to do with Levy and everything to do with Conte. You could fill the squad with whoever you like, but if this is Conte’s way I hate it. Dull, unimaginative and risk averse.

No, it really isn't. People really like to over exaggerate.

People bang on about poch, but he had lots of dull games, as did redknapp, and jol.

Avb was terrible. It was essentially rely on bale to score a long range screamer.

I won't even start on the 90's and 2000's.

Yes, the football isn't great, but it's not as bad as people make out.

 

[dimiSpur]

The debate, Conte or some mythical new manager who will introduce an exciting style of football, is completely pointless.

We are seemingly coming to the inescapable close of yet another manager's tenure at Spurs and it's all the same. I honestly won't be excited if Conte stays or goes. There's no solution as the problem isn't the manager, it's the people running the Club.

Formula 1 go-karting and priority for Beyonce concerts are not what we want from Levy. We want a competitive football team. And even though we have spent some money over the summer and January, something is clearly wrong. And I don't trust him anymore to make the right footballing decisions as to who should carry it all on, as this is all a problem of Levy's own creation.

He's been creating problems and failing to solve them for decades.

We will either appoint Poch and have a honeymoon reminiscing period of 1 month before we start hearing that we're shit but need patience to rebuild the "furniture" all over again. The likes of Porro (45m) will perhaps be surplus to requirements in a 4-2-3-1 and more money will have been wasted.

Or we'll appoint another proven winner, and break them too.

Or we'll appoint another Nuno type manager, a relative unknown, hoping we will do a Brighton and unearth some hidden gem of a manager, and we'll all be up in arms in the summer moaning that we're on the cusp of another 3 or 4 year project.

So either way, the only thing that would appease me, would be the departure of Levy and co. And I'm not happy about feeling that way as I genuinely think that his motives are good. He does love the club. He's just made one too many mistakes.

That's why the Conte in or out debate, is completely pointless to me.

 

[Rout-Ledge]

That's a fair point

It's obvious he's making the calls tactically etc so I'm not sure him not being here is making a huge difference

Its not as if he changes things during games either way

It’s been a very mixed bag since he’s been gone. Some really good wins but also a couple of pathetic defeats. I’d inclined to give him a mini clean slate now, and see how he gets on over the next few games. If our form picks up then it makes sense to let the season play out. If we stumble to a couple more pathetic defeats then it makes sense to part ways early and start the post Conte era.

 

[Styopa]

However, it would be churlish to say he "hasn't improved any players"......Dier was fantastic at the end of last season, Kulu and Bentancur were a revelation, Sarr, Skipp and much maligned Emerson have been brilliant at times this season. As I say, overall a mixed bag.

I think of those you could make a good case for Emerson. But if you are going to make a case for a manager improving players it has to be sustained improvement of players for at least a season or two. Otherwise, we're just talking about players having a few good games here and there.

Dier for instance has been up and down his whole career. At one point he was highly rated enough to be seriously linked to Mourinho's United. But this season he's been public enemy number one among large contingents in here. I am not sure we can really talk about Conte improving him on the basis that he was 'fantastic' at the end of last season.

Kulu and Bentancur were fantastic signings, who seem to have regressed this season. Particularly Kulu. I am not saying that it is all down to Conte, but it's a stretch to say they had improved when they are worse now than when we first bought them.

 

[talkshowhost86]

It’s been a very mixed bag since he’s been gone. Some really good wins but also a couple of pathetic defeats. I’d inclined to give him a mini clean slate now, and see how he gets on over the next few games. If our form picks up then it makes sense to let the season play out. If we stumble to a couple more pathetic defeats then it makes sense to part ways early and start the post Conte era.

I think if there was any sense that he had any plans to stay then I'd give him more of a chance

But it seems fairly clear he doesn't want it so even if things picked up I suspect he's off

I just don't see any positives in keeping him at the moment

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

So are we speculating that if we don't get past Milan, Conte is dismissed and Poch will be back in charge for the weekend visit of Forest?

I hope not, I'd rather keep Conte until a decent coach becomes available. Plus, it seems a bit rubbish to sack a guy when he's on sick leave (I know we sacked Jol while an actual match was happening, but still...).

 

[Rout-Ledge]

I think if there was any sense that he had any plans to stay then I'd give him more of a chance

But it seems fairly clear he doesn't want it so even if things picked up I suspect he's off

I just don't see any positives in keeping him at the moment

I agree that he won’t be staying. I don’t think it makes sense for either party at this point. Equally, it’s clear that he’s not being sacked before Milan. If we beat Milan and win our next couple of PL games it would make no sense to terminate early. So for me it all rests on the next 2-4 matches (as far as Conte staying this season is concerned).

If he comes back with a moody attitude and a distinct lack of belly fire and we put in half arsed performances then he needs to go within the week.

 

[The Doc]

Probably means, What does Kane want in order to stay happy with Spurs. Conte gone and Poch or another manager In or pursue with Conte.

If that was the interpretation, he would say as much imo. Kane’s situ is hardly sensitive or confidential. Means Weds night (The Italian Job) as someone else has already posted. Again imo.

 

[Nebby]

No, it really isn't. People really like to over exaggerate.

People bang on about poch, but he had lots of dull games, as did redknapp, and jol.

Avb was terrible. It was essentially rely on bale to score a long range screamer.

I won't even start on the 90's and 2000's.

Yes, the football isn't great, but it's not as bad as people make out.

I understand people have different opinions, and if someone's watching right now and is happy with they are seeing, fair play. Personally, I prefer football when it's a bit more cut and thrust, where we go after teams and show more ambition in an attacking sense. I find Conte's style and tactics incredibly boring.

 

[spurs mental]

I think if there was any sense that he had any plans to stay then I'd give him more of a chance

But it seems fairly clear he doesn't want it so even if things picked up I suspect he's off

I just don't see any positives in keeping him at the moment

Well for one, it would be nice to not have to go through ANOTHER new manager search, and not have the possibility of us watching the likes of Sanchez play for us again or Winks and Ndombele return with a clean slate under whoever that manager might be.

But this has been discussed ad infinitum already anyway.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

I hope not, I'd rather keep Conte until a decent coach becomes available. Plus, it seems a bit rubbish to sack a guy when he's on sick leave (I know we sacked Jol while an actual match was happening, but still...).

Holy shit finally something we agree on.

Love you xoxo