Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[dimiSpur]

Whilst Levy or indeed this group of players have hardly covered themselves in glory, Conte needs to assume his responsibility in this dreadful season. He's been meandering around in a depressed state since October (albeit for valid personal reasons/losses), attacking the players, the board and everyone in sight. The fact of the matter is when the team plays with the energy we saw towards the end of last season, we do well. And we saw that in recent performances prior to the Leicester game. That means he's perhaps failing to motivate them and that's no shock when he looks like he'd rather be somewhere else (and indeed has chosen to be somewhere else for some time now).

So whilst I agree we need a strong atmosphere tomorrow night, I don't want to hear any more undertones of blame to fans, players or anyone else. Shut up and show up.

 

[YB123]

I don't get the centre back argument. If he wanted a centre back that fucking much he could have easily forsaken Richarlison or a Bissouma if it was all about funds.

He wanted Bastoni and he didn't want to come. Does anyone with a brain cell who is not blinded by some of the drivel that gets posted on this board, believes for one moment that Lenglet was not chosen by Conte before an Ndicka or Hincappie?

Just look at the make up of the players especially in regards to Conte's one big wish "Experience"

And here lies the massive issue of Tottenham Hotspur PLC (After getting UCL football aswell which makes it even more ridiculous)

 

[hero]

I don't get the centre back argument. If he wanted a centre back that fucking much he could have easily forsaken Richarlison or a Bissouma if it was all about funds.

He wanted Bastoni and he didn't want to come. Does anyone with a brain cell who is not blinded by some of the drivel that gets posted on this board, believes for one moment that Lenglet was not chosen by Conte before an Ndicka or Hincappie?

Just look at the make up of the players especially in regards to Conte's one big wish "Experience"

Based on ITKs on this forum, it is not true. They just did not want to pay for him. That is why 50 mil. was not used.

 

[Jamturk]

It's just the truth. Lets be honest here...The board have failed to back the manager as to what he needs. The manager has failed to get the best out of what he has(but that isn't what kind of manager he is), and the players have failed to turn up on too many occasions.

Now whether or not you are in the camp that Conte is expecting too much financially is irrelevant. We as fans all knew exactly what he'd expect and demand prior to him coming in, and so should the board so once again this entire mess is all on them and on Levy.

If we're going to back a manager to the extent you are suggesting (How long is a piece of string) because in my opinion Conte has been backed why don't we back a manager that plays football the way most Spurs supporters would like the game played with this indeterminate amount Conte needs?

Because I have to confess when these takeover rumours emerged one of my first thought's was that I wouldn't want Conte in charge with any major investment into the team.

 

[Rosco1984]

It's just the truth. Lets be honest here...The board have failed to back the manager as to what he needs. The manager has failed to get the best out of what he has(but that isn't what kind of manager he is), and the players have failed to turn up on too many occasions.

Now whether or not you are in the camp that Conte is expecting too much financially is irrelevant. We as fans all knew exactly what he'd expect and demand prior to him coming in, and so should the board so once again this entire mess is all on them and on Levy.

This only holds up though if he was forced to play a weakened team in the fa cup or was totally uninvolved in the decision. Regardless of investment there was only city and united left from the big boys. We know strange things happen when we play city and united just conceded 7 so it was winnable investment or not if he just prioritized the only realistic chance to win something.

 

[carpediem991]

Based on ITKs on this forum, it is not true. They just did not want to pay for him. That is why 50 mil. was not used.

Maybe because he was highly overpriced and Inter, like always before, moved the goalposts every meeting that existed.

And the way Bastoni is playing this season, I am not entirely sure he would be the necessary answer....
And I refused to believe that Frenkie de Jong was the only one that could improve our CM when Poch wanted him and also refuse to believe there arent CBs out there within our budget who actually want to come and fit the necessary profile.

 

[Trix]

If we're going to back a manager to the extent you are suggesting (How long is a piece of string) because in my opinion Conte has been backed why don't we back a manager that plays football the way most Spurs supporters would like the game played with this indeterminate amount Conte needs?

Because I have to confess when these takeover rumours emerged one of my first thought's wass that I wouldn't want Conte in charge with any major investment into the team.

Again isn't that what the board are supposed to work out prior to appointing a manager. Like I said we all knew what he'd require, why didn't they? Why has he been asking for another CB for 2 windows and why did we release a statement saying we'd drawn down £150mil to get him these signings and then put £50mil back in the bank? That right there buys us a quality left sided CB, and regardless of whether Conte stays or goes we have needed one since Jan left. Mourinho wanted a CB he got Rodon, Conte wanted a CB he got Lenglet on loan. He wanted a RWB Levy decided it was going to be Spence. He wanted a RWF he got a LWF on loan. That is not backing a manager. You can't just look at the net spend it has to be players that both fit the need and the manager can use.

 

[Dov67]

Levy sets the objectives and goals t the start of the season, though that’s not to say they are always rigid and can’t be changed as the season progresses

that said, i would expect his primary objective is top 4 money, with the FA or Carabau cup very much a secondary objective, hence his team selection at bramall lane with the wolves game being the priority

i do wish he had told Levy to go screw himself and gone for the fa cup, but had we made the final Levy may have fired him a couple of days before to save the potential win bonus ~ can’t be too careful you know

 

[carpediem991]

Again isn't that what the board are supposed to work out prior to appointing a manager. Like I said we all knew what he'd require, why didn't they? Why has he been asking for another CB for 2 windows and why did we release a statement saying we'd drawn down £150 to get him these signings and then put £50mil back in the bank? That right there buys us a quality left sided CB, and regardless of whether Conte stays or goes we have needed one since Jan left. Mourinho wanted a CB he got Rodon, Conte wanted a CB he got Lenglet on loan. He wanted a RWB Levy decided it was going to be Spence. He wanted a RWF he got a LWF on loan. That is not backing a manager. You can't just look at the net spend it has to be players that both fit the need and the manager can use.

That implies Levy and "his" team are picking the targets? Have Paratici and Conte worked out targets that are attainable and fit his style? I thought Paratici is leading the scouting and purchasing of players? Levy is there to sanction stuff and sort out a budget. What he actually has done if you look at the millions we invested. And also he worked on getting these 150m available.

Of course you don't splash the cash on a very specific (injury prone) RWF if your manager is not comitting long term to the cause.

It's just confusing why now suddenly Levy seems to be fully responsible for the whole transfer business...

 

[carpediem991]

That implies Levy and "his" team are picking the targets? Have Paratici and Conte worked out targets that are attainable and fit his style? I thought Paratici is leading the scouting and purchasing of players? Levy is there to sanction stuff and sort out a budget. What he actually has done if you look at the millions we invested. And also he worked on getting these 150m available.

Of course you don't splash the cash on a very specific (injury prone) RWF if your manager is not comitting to the cause.

It's just confusing why now suddenly Levy seems to be fully responsible for the whole transfer business...

And just for the record I really blame Levy to not have set a club strategy in place that makes us not so dependable on special wishes by managers who are used to different environments. So there is no need to think I am defending DL of all blame...

 

[Styopa]

That implies Levy and "his" team are picking the targets? Have Paratici and Conte worked out targets that are attainable and fit his style? I thought Paratici is leading the scouting and purchasing of players? Levy is there to sanction stuff and sort out a budget. What he actually has done if you look at the millions we invested. And also he worked on getting these 150m available.

Of course you don't splash the cash on a very specific (injury prone) RWF if your manager is not comitting to the cause.

It's just confusing why now suddenly Levy seems to be fully responsible for the whole transfer business...

This is what I am really confused about too.

From the outside, it looks like we have Paratici and Conte who have a good working relationship.

It also looks like the money has been available for a CB because we have spent it in other areas e.g. Richarlison, Bissouma.

So what has gone on? If CB really was a priority for Conte (which surely it must have been) why did we spend so much of our budget on Richarlison and Bissouma who are not even first-choice starters in their respective positions?

 

[ILS]

Based on ITKs on this forum, it is not true. They just did not want to pay for him. That is why 50 mil. was not used.

Pinch of salt...

 

[ILS]

This is what I am really confused about too.

From the outside, it looks like we have Paratici and Conte who have a good working relationship.

It also looks like the money has been available for a CB because we have spent it in other areas e.g. Richarlison, Bissouma.

So what has gone on? If CB really was a priority for Conte (which surely it must have been) why did we spend so much of our budget on Richarlison and Bissouma who are not even first-choice starters in their respective positions?

It makes no sense if Centre back is that crucial.

 

[Jamturk]

This is what I am really confused about too.

From the outside, it looks like we have Paratici and Conte who have a good working relationship.

It also looks like the money has been available for a CB because we have spent it in other areas e.g. Richarlison, Bissouma.

So what has gone on? If CB really was a priority for Conte (which surely it must have been) why did we spend so much of our budget on Richarlison and Bissouma who are not even first-choice starters in their respective positions?

£100m

 

[Spurzinho]

You would imagine that you can achieve more success with funds around 200/300m plus available cash for a suitable CB that was apparently available (but not the target).
So we blame the board now that we spend loads of cash on players of Paraticis and Contes choice that Conte has not been able to integrate really?

I think its highly unlikely that we outright lied to him. Conte is not and never has been a man to tolerate that sort of nonsense. If Levy made cast iron guarantees that he subsequently weaselled out of then I think things would be a whole lot more acrimonious than they are. It seems to me that Conte came here having a pretty decent idea of what he was getting himself into. Maybe he expected a bit more but then, every manager does. I think its just the case that Conte works well in very specific circumstances. One game a week, Quick assembly of strong and experlienced squad and relatively winnable league for any of the top six sides. In England there are a ton of games, its hard for us to compete in a hugely overheated player market and the league is generally won by one of three clubs every year (Liverpool, Chelsea, City) with another three clubs trying to break into that monopoly (Goons, Us & Man Utd) and having to spend unsustainable amounts of money in the process.

If we're not going to spend like drunken sailors and we're not about to get bought out by a bunch of drunken sailors then we're simply going to have get smart. We need a manager who understands that and can work within that. Other European clubs work under these conditions. Ajax don't get to keep hold of anyone. Every player has a price. Their domestic league doesn't count for sh*t so winning that means nothing. They're all in for the Champions League and compete whilst not being able to sign elite players. They have an operational model that every coach has to sign up to. They sign potential, they develop it, they play excellent football to highlight their talent in the best way and they try to get the max out of the players while they have got them. Now, we're not under as much pressure to sell our players but we could still use that mode. We've done it before. We can do it again. We just need better player and manager recruitment. Fix that and we're back on track.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

Don't say it doesn't make sense lads, this is THFC, has ANYTHING EVER MADE SENSE????

 

[Trix]

They must have lied to him as well then because he wouldn't have come without reassurances. And I'd say that's 50/50 on him and Levy because who would believe that levy would suddenly change his entire M O ...

Well I'll just repeat again, they made a public statement saying they had made £150mil available through a shares issue, and then put £50mil of that back in the bank without making a big public statement about it. You can all make your own minds up about why but the fact is the money was there for a CB and we just chose not to spend it. It's not even a case that it's because we are waiting for a specific target that is available in the next window so we've kept our powder dry. That money is now gone as far as spending it on players is concerned!

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Conte;

"Every season I want to be competitive to win something. If this doesn't happen then it's not a positive for me"

Veiled attack at the players, board or both?

Why is he managing us then. He needs to realize that his ship has sailed some time ago.. He’s had a face on like a slapped arse for months.

 

[IamSpurtacus]

we have needed one since Jan left

In 10 windows since Poch asked for de Light we've bought Cuti, Rodon and loaned Lenglet

Says it all

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Just seen some of his quotes from today.
He chats so much it’s unreal
Always repeats the same things, without changing