Ex-Manager watch: Antonio Conte

[spursfan77]

#FreeDanjuma

Someone shouted that towards the end in the south stand. Got a few laughs.

 

[Albertbarich]

Does anyone have Athletic access? Ornstein saying we start contract talks with Conte in April but I can't read the full thing for context.

 

[parklane yid]

I expect talks to take place during international break. I think we need Contes future clarified as soon as possible.
Personally I prefer a more attacking manager but I am not completely against Conte staying.
The biggest issue I have is lack of clarity behind his future and conte as for time and patience yet his contract ticking down.
If he signed a minimum 3 years deal then I’ll be behind him.

 

[Styopa]

But I think a lot of the pundits actually expected us to do a lot better than we have shown this season (based on how we finished last season, coupled with the early transfer business)

Not only the pundits. You only need to look at the early pages of this thread to see how high expectations were when Conte first joined, and most people were super confident after we secured the top four last season. People were seriously talking about title challenges or at least an FA Cup.

This season has in no way lived up to that excitement. We went out of the cup competitions with less than a whimper. And we are now talking about celebrating a level of achievement that a previous manager has been denigrated for.

Viewed from our present situation, finishing in the top four is salvaging something from the season. But I don't think it's what fans were excited about last summer.

 

[Reece_Spurs]

Does anyone have Athletic access? Ornstein saying we start contract talks with Conte in April but I can't read the full thing for context.

ITK have already said there's a contract already on the table for Conte to sign.

Obviously he's had a shit year personally, health wise and has also lost a few friends, that alone would make anyone think long and hard about a longer commitment.

I'd imagine the main reason for waiting until the end of the season is mainly where we end up and whether he feels he'll get the players he wants in the summer.

Not getting into debates about whether he's been backed, because he hasn't properly. He want's at least 1 quality centre back, probably 2. Bastoni mainly, new goalkeeper, a Brozovic/Barella type midfielder, he also wanted Zaniolo who was readily available but got Danjuma as a budget stop gap. Porro is probably the only one since Richarlison I think Conte would have been pleased with.

We added good players in the summer but still havn't addressed massively important positions, especially for Conte's system.

Tbh if I were Conte and got 4th i'd call it a day personally, trying to get anything you actually want from Levy seems like trying to get blood from a stone.

 

[Styopa]

I expect talks to take place during international break. I think we need Contes future clarified as soon as possible.
Personally I prefer a more attacking manager but I am not completely against Conte staying.
The biggest issue I have is lack of clarity behind his future and conte as for time and patience yet his contract ticking down.
If he signed a minimum 3 years deal then I’ll be behind him.

It feels like his position at the club has almost become untenable.

However, if he did commit to the club for the next two or three years, that would show he is determined to make things work here, and, provided we started seeing some progress, I could get behind him.

 

[sidford]

Does anyone have Athletic access? Ornstein saying we start contract talks with Conte in April but I can't read the full thing for context.

No talks over Conte’s future yet — and Spurs focussed on keeping Kane
Tottenham Hotspur recovered from a damaging run of results with victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, which was also timely for Antonio Conte as uncertainty mounts regarding his future.

The Italian’s contract as head coach expires this summer and even though it includes an option to extend by an additional 12 months, there is a good chance that he leaves after a difficult campaign.

It has led to increasing speculation about who Tottenham might recruit as Conte’s replacement — if he goes — and The Athletic reported last week that a shortlist of candidates has been compiled.

However, no potential successors have been talked to so far and the intention is for that to remain the case until the club reach a decision in conjunction with Conte on whether or not he will depart.

Despite both parties knowing the 53-year-old’s deal is coming to an end, various on and off-field factors mean the situation has yet to be brought to a head internally. As well as a packed fixture schedule, this season has been heavily disrupted for Conte by bereavements and illness.

But from early April it is expected that decisive conversations will be held between Tottenham and Conte to determine his position.

Should it be resolved that he is to leave, discussions with prospective successors can begin and Spurs will hope to run a smoother process than that which eventually led them to hire Conte in 2021.

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s talismanic striker Harry Kane is nearing the final 12 months of his terms and the hierarchy in north London are determined to secure an agreement to keep him for longer.


The 29-year-old is among the main options under consideration at Manchester United but as things stand Tottenham are not even contemplating a sale. Their total focus is on renewing the England captain’s deal and they are prepared to continue those efforts into 2023-24 if necessary.

Spurs have entered initial dialogue with Kane, although at present the matter is not advanced.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I think to sign a manager because they play wing backs would be foolish. Perisic and Sess are probably players we will be looking to move on for different reasons. Meaning we would only have Porro as a wing back. But I think players are adaptable. I don’t see it being a problem if Porro plays as a RB or even further forward.
also I agree, IF!!! we finish in the top 4 I’d say he has done a fair job. But I think a lot of the pundits actually expected us to do a lot better than we have shown this season (based on how we finished last season, coupled with the early transfer business)

I think it would be foolish to recruit a manager who isn't at least tactically flexible enough to play with wing backs. Part of our problem as a football club is that we flop from one style to another meaning there is no continuity or sense that we are following a plan.

Having spent the best part of 18 months building a team to play wing backs it would be foolish to totally rip that up and move in another direction. Meaning another period where the squad is in transition. Where we are struggling to really back the new manager because it's a difficult market to sell players, restricting our ability to sign new players.

I would be much more in favour of appointing a manager like Enrique or Amorim knowing they are adaptable enough to play wing backs. Less churn in the squad will mean a smoother transition and hopefully more chance of progress.

 

[Albertbarich]

I think it would be foolish to recruit a manager who isn't at least tactically flexible enough to play with wing backs. Part of our problem as a football club is that we flop from one style to another meaning there is no continuity or sense that we are following a plan.

Having spent the best part of 18 months building a team to play wing backs it would be foolish to totally rip that up and move in another direction. Meaning another period where the squad is in transition. Where we are struggling to really back the new manager because it's a difficult market to sell players, restricting our ability to sign new players.

I would be much more in favour of appointing a manager like Enrique or Amorim knowing they are adaptable enough to play wing backs. Less churn in the squad will mean a smoother transition and hopefully more chance of progress.

I agree with this

With the constant argument about who is choosing players , for example the treatment of Danjuma and Spence with Conte making it clear he didn't really want either I think it makes sense to get a coach who is flexible and happy to work with what he has and is given.

I don't see that situation changing so we probably should look to someone who will work within those parameters and chooses a system to fit the squad as opposed to demanding a squad to fit his system.

 

[Jamturk]

I think it would be foolish to recruit a manager who isn't at least tactically flexible enough to play with wing backs. Part of our problem as a football club is that we flop from one style to another meaning there is no continuity or sense that we are following a plan.

Having spent the best part of 18 months building a team to play wing backs it would be foolish to totally rip that up and move in another direction. Meaning another period where the squad is in transition. Where we are struggling to really back the new manager because it's a difficult market to sell players, restricting our ability to sign new players.

I would be much more in favour of appointing a manager like Enrique or Amorim knowing they are adaptable enough to play wing backs. Less churn in the squad will mean a smoother transition and hopefully more chance of progress.

This is the point of having a DOF.

 

[olliec]

If Conte gets top 4 I want him to stay and continue his build. A good chance for Harry to stay if Conte stays. Poro is looking like the RWB we need and next season we got Udoghi. It’s all starting to come together. Will just need 1 or 2 cbs a keeper and a creative outlet.

 

[Styopa]

A good chance for Harry to stay if Conte stays.

Why though? We don't look anywhere closer to winning something under Conte than any other manager we've had since Kane broke through. Arguably we are as far away from winning something as we've ever been in the last ten years, barring maybe a few months under Nuno.

 

[Ginola+Tonic]

It does appear the narrative has changed from last week.
Quite a few suggestions Conte could stay beyond this summer

Not for me personally but some clarity would help everyone.

 

[Hotspur33]

If Conte gets top 4 I want him to stay and continue his build. A good chance for Harry to stay if Conte stays. Poro is looking like the RWB we need and next season we got Udoghi. It’s all starting to come together. Will just need 1 or 2 cbs a keeper and a creative outlet.

If Conte stays, it’s surely because he wants to stay and because he is confident in both the Clubs ability to sign players and his ability to win something.
I maintain that, if we are winning games and have an element of control in games, then the style of football won’t matter.
I just think everyone is so convinced he’s going to leave in the summer, that I don’t see him staying.

 

[mil1lion]

If we had more exciting games of football this season I think it would be better received if he stayed. Its just been too long playing poor slow tempo passive football this season. I think if he stays people are not going to give it long next season if the football doesn't improve. I mean we would need to have a great window signing first team players (not squad players like last summer) and then to come out the blocks fast to turn the fans around.

 

[Hotspur33]

Why though? We don't look anywhere closer to winning something under Conte than any other manager we've had since Kane broke through. Arguably we are as far away from winning something as we've ever been in the last ten years, barring maybe a few months under Nuno.

He clearly struggled with the schedule. Obviously this season it is worse because of the World Cup. Our best chance of winning a trophy is one of the domestic cups, but they are never prioritised.
I firmly believe the main reason we didn’t win anything under Poch was because the squad was too small to compete on all 4 fronts. Conte has a squad, but refuses to use it, which will result in the same problem.

 

[Ribble]

I wonder if it's delayed until April to see what develops with Paratici and the Juve case, isn't there supposed to be a deadline at the end of March relating to more charges or did I imagine that?

 

[longtimespur]

Why though? We don't look anywhere closer to winning something under Conte than any other manager we've had since Kane broke through. Arguably we are as far away from winning something as we've ever been in the last ten years, barring maybe a few months under Nuno.

Sorry but the shitshow against Sheff Utd and Milan were exactly that.
Conte has had us playing winning football at times but he doesn't seem able to carry on doing so in 2 games a week schedule.
My personal opinion is he hasn't got a strong enough squad to play twice a week. Our first eleven is weak let alone our squad. The defence being the worst part of the squad.
Trouble stems from Levy!!!!!!!! Doesn't buy players Conte/manager wants just buys cheap options who may become good enough for Premier league and European games.

 

[chas vs dave]

It does appear the narrative has changed from last week.
Quite a few suggestions Conte could stay beyond this summer

Not for me personally but some clarity would help everyone.

I've always thought it was a wait and see situation. That both parties would review at the end of the season.

I think that speculation changes, dependent on results. He deserves to see the season out, imo.

 

[Japhet]

It feels like his position at the club has almost become untenable.

However, if he did commit to the club for the next two or three years, that would show he is determined to make things work here, and, provided we started seeing some progress, I could get behind him.

I don't see us making progress if we're wedded to this bloody awful 343 system. Yes, we could improve the back line, but Bentancur and Hojbjerg are exceptional players and are still regularly swamped in midfield.