Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[spurs mental]

No they haven’t. Lack of guts has not been the issue this season. The issue is that we haven’t had a working tactical system all year and can only play decent football consistently when we can counter attack.

The issue runs deeper than just a working tactical system this season. It worked last season when we had everyone fit and got into a rhythm, and gained momentum. We've had none of that this season for countless reasons.

We should be doing better, players and manager, it would be nice if we had more flexibility on the pitch but these players just aren't capable or not willing of doing any more on the pitch than what we're seeing. Alot of them proven that over the course of the last 5 or 6 years.

 

[Stamford]

What Conte thought of our “selfish” players who “don’t want to play under pressure” 39 days ago when they were winning games just fine without him.

Does he need to put a big neon sign above his head saying “this is all about my reputation” to make it more obvious?

Why would his reputation be harmed though. Genuine question. He's won titles with different clubs and he'll walk into another big club. Surely we should be more worried about the clubs reputation and keeping Harry

 

[parj]

Which of today's Elite managers don't have a specific way of playing that are winning trophies?

I'll wait.

You didn't have to wait long.....Pep has literally won the PL playing a number 9 and another PL title with a false 9.

Ancelotti prefers 442 but plays with 433 of his squad suits that better.

 

[Styopa]

Ten players in yesterday's squad have been at the club for two seasons or fewer. In other words, they have been here roughly the same time as Conte. Yet it appears we're back to where we were under Mourinho. I think that's unacceptable.

It's worth underlying that this is not the same squad that Mourinho had. For example, Mourinho didn't have Romero, Porro, Richarlison, Kulusevski or Perisic to work with. That's a big difference.

 

[Timberwolf]

I'm going to be honest I don't think there is a right fit for her. Not to actually win things. We won't push on until this ownership is gone and I'm with conte on that 100 percent

Yeah I'm not sure there's really a good fit for us while Levy is in charge tbh.

We don't have the requisite quality for the "proven winner" type managers, while our expectations are too high for the upcoming "project" managers. I think the latter type of manager suits us a lot better, though - we just need to choose them wisely and be patient.

If Arteta had performed identically at Spurs to how he did at Arsenal he would've been sacked by Levy 2 or 3 times (although I suspect many fans would've backed the decisions).

Our best bet would be a manager on a similar trajectory to Poch in 2014/15: someone good at improving players and developing a project over time. Now the stadium is built we are actually loosening the purse strings somewhat and, while Levy will always stir the pot and the signings won't be perfect, we're much more likely to back a manager in the market now than we were 7 years ago.

Still a good chance Levy will sack them at the first sign of trouble, though.

 

[spurs mental]

What Conte thought of our “selfish” players who “don’t want to play under pressure” 39 days ago when they were winning games just fine without him.

Does he need to put a big neon sign above his head saying “this is all about my reputation” to make it more obvious?

Can't take anything you say seriously any longer, your bias is shining bright now.

 

[Thenewcat]

Would love to see a single player other than Harry Kane stand up to him and say “I don’t think you are being fair with those comments boss”

Conte “ oh really, please elaborate”

player “errr, um Ahhh, we won the Walter Tull trophy in the summer”

Lets not forget, Poch had to dig these lot out back in 2016 after they first wilted against an already relegated Newcastle - these players have form

These lot? Precisely 4 players from yesterday were even in the squad in 2016, one of whom is Harry Kane, so either you’re putting an awful lot of blame on Son, Davies and Dier for the attitude of an entire squad or this is more excuses for Conte. Instilling a winning mentality is supposed to be conte’s job

 

[spurs mental]

Ten players in yesterday's squad have been at the club for two seasons or fewer. In other words, they have been here roughly the same time as Conte. Yet it appears we're back to where we were under Mourinho. I think that's unacceptable.

It's worth underlying that this is not the same squad that Mourinho had. For example, Mourinho didn't have Romero, Porro, Richarlison, Kulusevski or Perisic to work with. That's a big difference.

Absolutely should be doing better.

Could probably count on one hand how many times Romero, Kulu, Richy and Perisic have played together this season though. We've had horrific injury luck this season, no momentum or rhythm built up. The back ups injured at the same time as the starters in attack, and players just simply regressing or out of form.

They're all to blame.

 

[Styopa]

These lot? Precisely 4 players from yesterday were even in the squad in 2016, one of whom is Harry Kane, so either you’re putting an awful lot of blame on Son, Davies and Dier for the attitude of an entire squad or this is more excuses for Conte. Instilling a winning mentality is supposed to be conte’s job

And it's been totally on Conte to continue playing Son this year. It's not like he hasn't had other options.

The whole it's the same players argument, now basically amounts to Dier and Davies.

 

[Spursfan1414]

Can't take anything you say seriously any longer, your bias is shining bright now.

No worries mate, I never took you seriously.

 

[spurs mental]

These lot? Precisely 4 players from yesterday were even in the squad in 2016, one of whom is Harry Kane, so either you’re putting an awful lot of blame on Son, Davies and Dier for the attitude of an entire squad or this is more excuses for Conte. Instilling a winning mentality is supposed to be conte’s job

Well I think we've seen that mentality earlier in the season with the come from behind wins and rescuing games late on. But according to some its the players that deserve praise for that, yet when they lose or draw like yesterday its Conte.

It's getting boring now but it simply can't be both of those things.

 

[Thenewcat]

Where did I say that? Are you for real? I literally said he has his own share of the blame. Fucking hell mate, we're annoying enough as it is, don't wind me up even more.

Calm down a little, it’s just a discussion about football…. You said the goals yesterday were down to nothing other than bullshit attitudes etc. I disagree, they were also down to the fact that our defensive structure is an absolute shambles, and hearing the man responsible for that shambles blame everyone but himself is what gets my goat

 

[spurs mental]

No worries mate, I never took you seriously.

Try be a bit objective in your thought process and it might help you consider other people's point of view.

 

[Greybeard]

I'm concerned that his rant won't have the effect of giving the players a kick up the backside, but demoralise them and even turn them against him. Romero's Insta post does seem like veiled dig at Conte. Personally I dread watching negative football for the rest of the season.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

Maybe we should try giving our players a treat every time they do something good, maybe then we’ll finally win a trophy. Positive reinforcement and all that.

 

[Trent Crimm]

I'm concerned that his rant won't have the effect of giving the players a kick up the backside, but demoralise them and even turn them against him. Romero's Insta post does seem like veiled dig at Conte. Personally I dread watching negative football for the rest of the season.

In general.

modern players are shit at taking criticism. Not used to having things go against them. It’s as true as it is pathetic.

 

[Thenewcat]

Well I think we've seen that mentality earlier in the season with the come from behind wins and rescuing games late on. But according to some its the players that deserve praise for that, yet when they lose or draw like yesterday its Conte.

It's getting boring now but it simply can't be both of those things.

That’s a total straw man to the debate being had. My point is Conte is taking zero responsibility or anything, I don’t care what some people said about wins earlier this season. Conte moans about mentality but as other people have pointed out most of the squad from yesterday have been here 2 years or less. If their collective mentality is weak, that’s on Conte.

 

[Hans Moleman]

Well you can ignore those people, because with goal post shifting like that they’d find a way to call our players gutless regardless of what happened on the pitch.

What Conte should really do is figure out who’s been repeatedly picking the same XI “of gutless and selfish” players, while never rotating or giving hungry youth players/squad players a chance, he should be really angry at whoever is responsible for that.

Ok so which youth/squad players are going to come in and instantly take us up a level? To be honest I just don’t see the quality there. All good blaming Conte for picking X, Y and Z but if there’s no better alternative then what’s he meant to do?

 

[Thenewcat]

Maybe we should try giving our players a treat every time they do something good, maybe then we’ll finally win a trophy. Positive reinforcement and all that.

Genuine question - do you think a football club has institutional memory? Because 10 of yesterday’s players have been here 2 years or less, so I’d suggest if their mentality is weak that’s primarily on their manager

 

[Spursfan1414]

Try be a bit objective in your thought process and it might help you consider other people's point of view.

Thanks, telling me you don’t take anything I say seriously has really made me consider your views in a new light