Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[PeeEyeEmPee]

It’s not as simple as that because it doesn’t mention the players Enic have failed to land for Conte - Bastoni, Skriniar and Gvardiol being very obvious ones.

People use the car analogy and running a Ferrari on Lemonade - but with Spurs it’s more like running a Ferrari with a tire missing - Enic always leave us fundamentally short each and every faaacking window.

By all accounts, Bastoni had no interest in coming. Is that ENIC's fault? I don't know what the situation was/is with the other two, but we brought in Lenglet instead when it became clear we either couldn't or wouldn't get them. Is that the difference between what we've seen so far this season and what we've wanted to see?

Also, what's the guarantee any of these players would've worked out? And why is it they're the only ones that Conte would've been able to get a tune out of? Every player we don't get is always the one that got away, and then the ones we do bring in and don't work out are always another example of the board getting it hopelessly wrong.

 

[olliec]

By all accounts, Bastoni had no interest in coming. Is that ENIC's fault? I don't know what the situation was/is with the other two, but we brought in Lenglet instead when it became clear we either couldn't or wouldn't get them. Is that the difference between what we've seen so far this season and what we've wanted to see?

Also, what's the guarantee any of these players would've worked out? And why is it they're the only ones that Conte would've been able to get a tune out of? Every player we don't get is always the one that got away, and then the ones we do bring in and don't work out are always another example of the board getting it hopelessly wrong.

I’m not even that worried about the defence right now. What concerns me more is the middle and that we have nobody who can pull strings unless Harry drops deep. Without bentancur it’s miserable to watch.

 

[chrisd2k]

Conte created loads of energy - he got us top 4 with a squad that was in relegation form under Nuno.

It helps if you match your managers energy by spending 200M on players like Botman, Guimaraes, Trippier and Isak, who instantly improve their team

And that's the critical thing - spending money to IMPROVE the team and squad.

Spence may have potential, and "may be better" than similar-aged Emerson, but does he actually dramatically improve the squad or team?

Will he hit the ground running and slot straight into the PL as an automatic starter? Absolutely not. Not like any of the players the toon signed, not like the players the gooners, or chelsea or City or United have been buying.

That's the point Conte is making.

We keep spending money on players who help us tread water, and occasionally can be coached to outperform.

But in a market where high class talent like Mudryk costs 50M+, you have to face market reality. Instead we operate like buying 2 or 3 10 - 20M players will be fine because 1 in 3 "works out", even if they don't dramatically improve the team.

We can't expect to win trophies if that continues to be our approach. We can't expect to keep a coach of the caliber of Conte.

We should expect to have a coach like Nuno, or a gamble like Poch, who may or may not work out, but won't ever be backed if he does.

No thanks. Not any more.

So what are Romero, Bentancur, Deki, Richarlison and Perisic? Their team still has the likes of Longstaff in the engine room. Isaak has been injured for nearly all his time there too. Eddie Howe is doing a great job with a lot of average players. Some of those signings were the likes of Dan Burn and Chris Wood, imagine what it would look like if we were even linked with them?

Now Ive said repeatedly we should have had a massive window in the summer and we didn't do enough as we all know more than half of our players just aren't good enough, some needed just releasing tbh as we won't get any real money for them, but that all said Conte should be doing better.

You keep saying energy, but Howe has created it himself by getting the players on his side, and them completely trusting his tactics, tactics you can visibly see watching on T.V, whereas watching us recently I see nothing. I know how Conte wants to play, his usual tactics and what we saw last season but it isn't evident now.

In summary, Levy hasn't done enough again imo, but Conte also isn't doing enough. I don't even care if he's lost the changing room as most of them shouldn't be in there and know he wants them gone, but I don't see them playing for him now so unless we get rid of those not good enough really quickly and get the level of replacements in that we need, our results are just going to continue like this.

 

[St José Dominguez]

And this is the problem. You adapt to the challenge at hand. We're not Juventus, Inter or Chelsea. If your preferred approach only works with the best players in the league, then you either don't take on a job with the 4th-6th best set of players, or you modify your approach.

Why should he? Why should he abandon his career built philosophy that has been proven successful because his current owners haven’t given him the tools he needs. Klopp didn’t , his owners bought him what he needed. Pep didn’t. Arteta hasn’t. Potter won’t. Ten Haag won’t. What elite managers change their entire philosophy based on what a fan base want or what their owners are limiting them to.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

I’m not even that worried about the defence right now. What concerns me more is the middle and that we have nobody who can pull strings unless Harry drops deep. Without bentancur it’s miserable to watch.

I've been saying this for months in here. The problem is definitely further forward.

 

[the lad]

By all accounts, Bastoni had no interest in coming. Is that ENIC's fault? I don't know what the situation was/is with the other two, but we brought in Lenglet instead when it became clear we either couldn't or wouldn't get them. Is that the difference between what we've seen so far this season and what we've wanted to see?

Also, what's the guarantee any of these players would've worked out? And why is it they're the only ones that Conte would've been able to get a tune out of? Every player we don't get is always the one that got away, and then the ones we do bring in and don't work out are always another example of the board getting it hopelessly wrong.

Defeatist

 

[gibbospurs]

And Levy is only going back to Poch for two reasons.

1. He thinks it'll please the fan base and bring some good football back.

2. He knows, with Poch having his eyes opened at PSG, that he'll be able to pull the wool over his eyes and give him young potential, knowing that Poch won't walk.

Or maybe he realises he should have backed Poch? And conte football is utterly boring and not working?? Doubtful I know ?

 

[djee]

Before you go there, my wife is a cancer survivor. Lost a brother through cancer. Why get so literal. Just why? Please do not respond.

You don't get to decide whether I respond or not. I have experienced cancer at very close quarters and lost a few relatives close to me. I will not apologise for taking offense to it or believing it was utterly unnecessary.

Do better.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

A section of our fans will lap it up and give all their money to Enic - finishing 6th, selling our best players and losing cup semis will all be forgiven for 4/5 years because “we are building something” then as soon as Poch asks for the board to be brave and complete a rebuild they will - they will rehire Nuno and rebuild his schitt brand of football for 3 months so we can go through the whole cycle again.

I for one can’t wait

be a dam site better than watching the drivel Conte is turning out week after week - we have never felt further away from success over the last ten years than what we have at the moment

 

[chrisd2k]

How about players like Richarlison, Bissouma, Perisic, Lenglet, Bentancur and Kulusevski?

Are we just going to pretend now that Newcastle’s was great business while ours was crap, and totally ignore how both sets of players have been utilised by their respective managers?

Yep. All that

 

[Yiddo100]

It’s not as simple as that because it doesn’t mention the players Enic have failed to land for Conte - Bastoni, Skriniar and Gvardiol being very obvious ones.

People use the car analogy and running a Ferrari on Lemonade - but with Spurs it’s more like running a Ferrari with a tire missing - Enic always leave us fundamentally short each and every faaacking window.

They may have been his targets but it’s hard to sign them when they don’t want to come.

 

[mil1lion]

"When you talk about Spurs, everyone says you have an amazing house but you need to put in the furniture.

If you want to have a lovely house you need better furniture. It depends if you are going to spend money."

Think this was 3 years ago. Same as it ever was.

It's like we have a nice living room but a shit kitchen where you have to wash your clothes in the sink

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

Why should he? Why should he abandon his career built philosophy that has been proven successful because his current owners haven’t given him the tools he needs. Klopp didn’t , his owners bought him what he needed. Pep didn’t. Arteta hasn’t. Potter won’t. Ten Haag won’t. What elite managers change their entire philosophy based on what a fan base want or what their owners are limiting them to.

If his philosophy is dependent on having better players than everyone else, then it isn't going to work at Tottenham Hotspur. We're never going to have the best squad in the league. And while we're clearly looking to improve the team, as evidenced by the last two windows, it's a work in progress. If we don't have the exact personnel to execute a very precise and inflexible way of playing, then let's have a plan B until we do. It seems daft in the extreme to just keep insisting on a style of play almost no-one is suited to, and completely refusing to consider any other.

 

[Clockspur]

A “world class manager” (and I’m not saying he isn’t), must surely be able to get a better tune out of these players in the past 10 games.

If he can’t adapt his coaching to get the best from a system / player, 12 months after working with them I’d argue he’s not as good as people claim.

The other option is that he is not a tracksuit manager and is instead a cheque book manager.

When Jose was winning everything at Chelsea, he didn’t bother try turning Salomon Kalou into a world class talent - he just bought a better player and let Kalou play when he was absolutely desperate.

Thats is the type of manager Conte is - I thought everyone knew that prior to his arrival.

Every now and then he can see something others have missed in a player - Moses for example. But what he does is design incredible footballing systems, get the right players for the system and then tinker with the tactics accordingly - this leads to winning multiple titles.

All Poch has won despite his brilliant coaching is trophies in the most one sided league in world football with the 2 best players on the planet - neither of which he had to coach at all

 

[Clockspur]

By all accounts, Bastoni had no interest in coming. Is that ENIC's fault? I don't know what the situation was/is with the other two, but we brought in Lenglet instead when it became clear we either couldn't or wouldn't get them. Is that the difference between what we've seen so far this season and what we've wanted to see?

Also, what's the guarantee any of these players would've worked out? And why is it they're the only ones that Conte would've been able to get a tune out of? Every player we don't get is always the one that got away, and then the ones we do bring in and don't work out are always another example of the board getting it hopelessly wrong.

It’s simple, we clearly didn’t land any of our defensive targets because all we bought in was Lenglet on loan - so no commitment from any party there. Djed Spence - who Conte said from day dot is a club signing and Udogie who had to be loaned back for a season - but of a step down from Skriniar, Bastoni, Gvardiol, De Vrij, Pau Torres, Dumfries, N’dicka etc.

Its like starting a new job in sales after being promised a load of hot leads only to turn up on your first day and be handed the phone book and being told to start on that once you’ve tapped up all your old mates.

 

[St José Dominguez]

If his philosophy is dependent on having better players than everyone else, then it isn't going to work at Tottenham Hotspur. We're never going to have the best squad in the league. And while we're clearly looking to improve the team, as evidenced by the last two windows, it's a work in progress. If we don't have the exact personnel to execute a very precise and inflexible way of playing, then let's have a plan B until we do. It seems daft in the extreme to just keep insisting on a style of play almost no-one is suited to, and completely refusing to consider any other.

Why exaggerate. No one is suggesting he needs the best squad ever known to man or perfection in every single position. Right now, aside from Romero none of those CBs are good enough. Perisic is more aged than people should have realised but none of those wing backs are good enough. GKs aren’t good enough. So that’s so far in a 343 5 x first teamers he’s short of. That’s not even mentioning the amount of games Kulu has missed when we have not a single suitable backup in the squad for him. The football is awful right now but this idea that another manager would come in and without any signings we’d be suddenly top 4 playing incredible football is bizarre to me. Maybe we’d be more attacking but we ain’t going to get anywhere without massive investment in this squad.

 

[Clockspur]

Why should he? Why should he abandon his career built philosophy that has been proven successful because his current owners haven’t given him the tools he needs. Klopp didn’t , his owners bought him what he needed. Pep didn’t. Arteta hasn’t. Potter won’t. Ten Haag won’t. What elite managers change their entire philosophy based on what a fan base want or what their owners are limiting them to.

Why would any manager adapt a style that’s brought nothing but success.

can people not see that Conte has been sold an absolute dud here at Spurs - it’s not difficult to imagine he was promised money for the “right” player, then every time he asks for said money the others in the transfer committee don’t think the player is “right” - most likely because they don’t want to spend that much

 

[Clockspur]

I’m not even that worried about the defence right now. What concerns me more is the middle and that we have nobody who can pull strings unless Harry drops deep. Without bentancur it’s miserable to watch.

I’d hate to see us try and play more open and expansive at the moment - our defence can’t cope with full on backs to the wall defending, imagine if they have to push up a bit - poor Ben Davies would shat himself

 

[Duke of Northumberland]

Where are these juicy quotes then?

“We are talking about players like Spent.”

“When you lose it means the players don’t have your idea of football. Or for sure there must be alignment of the vision of the club”

“Eric Dier can be the best in his position in the world. For sure injuries affect the emotionality of the team.”

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

Why exaggerate. No one is suggesting he needs the best squad ever known to man or perfection in every single position. Right now, aside from Romero none of those CBs are good enough. Perisic is more aged than people should have realised but none of those wing backs are good enough. GKs aren’t good enough. So that’s so far in a 343 5 x first teamers he’s short of. That’s not even mentioning the amount of games Kulu has missed when we have not a single suitable backup in the squad for him. The football is awful right now but this idea that another manager would come in and without any signings we’d be suddenly top 4 playing incredible football is bizarre to me. Maybe we’d be more attacking but we ain’t going to get anywhere without massive investment in this squad.

It's not an exaggeration. He has won the league at Juve, Chelsea and Inter by having the best squads in the league. That isn't going to be the case here, so can that philosophy still work? It clearly isn't working now, so why not try something different until you have some closer to an ideal squad?