Can he? He can...
If Anyone Can, Conte Can…
All things considered; Tottenham Hotspur have recovered quite well after a frustrating start to the season. After five defeats in ten games, Nuno Espirito Santo and his coaching staff were fired, as Daniel Levy pulled the trigger and quickly hired Antonio Conte as his replacement. Thus far, the Italian has delivered results and raised expectations.
Conte may not be to everyone’s taste, often making team selections and tactical decisions that can raise the eyebrows of Spurs fans, yet his driven personality and single-minded approach has restored the confidence of this team. Indeed, he has breathed life back into a campaign that began as nothing short of a disaster.
Top Four Target
Having reached the midway point of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign, Manchester City appear to be practically untouchable, winning eleven games in a row since their last league defeat against Crystal Palace in October. The race for the title is as good as over according to most bookies, as Pep Guardiola’s team prepare to be crowned champions for the fourth time in five seasons.
Nevertheless, insofar as the outright odds are concerned, the chase to finish inside the top four presents a much more interesting proposition. To save time comparing bookmakers, Arabian Betting has compiled a detailed guide covering the best football betting sites, providing an overview of bonuses and betting markets alongside key site features.
While the bookies all agree that Liverpool and Chelsea will complete the top three, the chase to claim fourth spot is wide open. Several teams are genuinely in the mix, including Arsenal, West Ham and Manchester United, although Spurs also find themselves firmly in the hunt. Thanks to Conte, this team now boasts the most consistent results beyond those of Man City, unbeaten in the Premier League since he took the helm at the start of November.
Five wins and three draws have propelled Spurs back into the chase for the top four. Despite the disruption of match postponements, along with the absence of key players when games could go ahead, Conte has overcome all the obstacles and odds. Once again, there are hopes and expectations this team could actually achieve something, although he will also need some additional backing from the suits upstairs.
January Transfer Trading
Interestingly, when Conte accepted the offer to manager Spurs, his decision took some pundits by surprise. There were those who had believed he was waiting for a “bigger” job elsewhere, amidst widespread speculation the 52-year-old would replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United. But it also seems that Conte ultimately dodged a bullet by agreeing to the proposal from North London, according to one Italian journalist.
While there was uncertainty and indecision at Old Trafford, the Tottenham hierarchy moved swiftly. Via the Boot Room website, journalist Roberto Gotta says that Conte was indeed waiting for the Red Devils to make their approach, although he was ultimately swayed by the offer from Spurs. Instead of immediate pressure at Manchester United, he would have more time to lay down foundations for success with Tottenham.
Fortunately for Spurs fans, Conte has managed to bring immediate results following his appointment, which is credit to the Tottenham hierarchy for their swiftness in securing his appointment. The big picture may have originally been one of playing the longer game, looking for initial stability and planning ahead for next summer, Conte has opened the door to the chance of bringing instant success. This is no time for Levy or ENIC to be frugal.
As conte prepares for his first transfer window at Spurs, albeit acknowledging he may need to sell players in order to balance the books, this is a unique opportunity and one that cannot be wasted. Numerous targets are already being linked with the club, yet what matters more than any rumoured interest is certainty. The same kind of certainty which brought Conte to Tottenham in the first place.
Proven Track Record
Nobody can argue with the achievements of Conte at his former clubs. He won the Serie A three times in a row at Juventus, then led Chelsea to Premier League and FA Cup titles over two seasons. Conte also turned Inter Milan back into a dominant force in Italian football, leading them to a first Serie A title in ten years last season. This is a demanding manager with an insatiable appetite for success.
With the right backing and support in the transfer window, Spurs can advance their ambitions ahead of next season, possibly making the 2021-22 campaign one that concludes with silverware. Tottenham fans won’t mind if it’s the EFL Cup or the FA Cup nestling in the trophy cabinet, as this could be the first step towards a much brighter future. One that could even include genuinely challenging for the Premier League, next season and beyond.
All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.
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