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Manager Antonio Conte

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That's all very well and good but he just won't publicly commit to that himself.
On some level I suspect that he intentionally has leading his clubs on as a negotiation tactic.
It's just backfiring right now because Levy is perfectly willing to play Russian Roullette. And then the personal tragedies around Conte have clearly thrown him off kilter as well.
 
Given where the squad is we would really have to buy well to get to the top in two or three years .There are of course no guarantees but unless we could get peak top end players its unlikely to happen with our recruitment policy to date .
 
Given where the squad is we would really have to buy well to get to the top in two or three years .There are of course no guarantees but unless we could get peak top end players its unlikely to happen with our recruitment policy to date .
I'm not sure if this is a discussion for the Conte thread. Or the transfer/ENIC thread.

But I suspect that we are in for, and need, a full on generational shift. A proper rebuild instead of what we have had.

Kane is likely moving on in the summer. Which will be to the benefit of the rebuild. I love him but as long as he is here Levy will keep being desperate to win something with Harry and will keep playing fastball with strategies and appointments. Better to move on at this point and truly start fresh.

Move on Hugo and some other veterans like Dier and Son as well if possible in the summer. Start building around Dejan, Rodrigo, Romero and the other youngsters. And let the new manager and Paratici decide what type of football we will play and what type of players that we are going for.
 
I read the article on the emotional impact on Conte after the loss of 3 friends. Plus being apart from his family.
I also recently found out that Lee Evans the comedian decided to retire in 2014 aged 50. He wanted to spend time with his wife and daughter after becoming financially secure and the death of his manager at 53.

Whilst it irritates me that the clubs progress is in jeopardy due to the instability Conte may be causing.....I think I understand.
 
I read the article on the emotional impact on Conte after the loss of 3 friends. Plus being apart from his family.
I also recently found out that Lee Evans the comedian decided to retire in 2014 aged 50. He wanted to spend time with his wife and daughter after becoming financially secure and the death of his manager at 53.

Whilst it irritates me that the clubs progress is in jeopardy due to the instability Conte may be causing.....I think I understand.

I think most people do understand how he feels. I get the feeling that Ventrone’s death was the sliding doors moment of this season, and possibly of Conte’s tenure. He’s just not been the same since, and I don’t think you can downplay the influence that Ventrone had the team, they all respected him and wanted to work for him.

I just feel that if his heart isn’t in it anymore, that it would be best for him to walk away now, rather than the summer, another few more months could make things worse
 
I feel for the guy and in pure footballing sense I would rather him be here and be fully backed, but it’s quite obvious he’s not going to be around past the summer so a decision has to be made.

If he’s going to leave and we’re going to bring in Poch in the summer just do it now. This whole situation is a mess, this club never learn. They had an unprecedented months break from
November to sort out his contract situation and assess January transfer options. If he was unhappy with the plan going into January and not going to sign a deal then the club should of got rid and come out and explained to the fans why the visions were no longer aligning.

If the reason is he’s having doubts due to personal matters this also should of been sorted before January, we say to him you have to commit before the transfer window so we can make a plan for the future, if you’re homesick and don’t think you can commit just yet then sorry you have to go. Now we’re in limbo with a manager everyone from the players to the fans know won’t be here past the summer and unsure of what players to bring in as they will not only have to fit what Conte wants right now but also what our future manager will want.
If he has decided he wants to go back to Italy for personal reasons then he should already have said that to the club. Full respect for his decision, if that is what it is, but he shouldn't say that for the first time in May.
 
If he has decided he wants to go back to Italy for personal reasons then he should already have said that to the club. Full respect for his decision, if that is what it is, but he shouldn't say that for the first time in May.
Agreed.

Like, I'm sure that the club would put him on gardening leave for the rest of the season if he just made it clear to them that his head and heart isn't in it because of the circumstances with all the deaths around him recently.

They probably wouldn't be happy to. But they would understand. With how little is left of the season it isn't even a matter of that much money in football terms. It's what, 7,5 mil?
 
Agreed.

Like, I'm sure that the club would put him on gardening leave for the rest of the season if he just made it clear to them that his head and heart isn't in it because of the circumstances with all the deaths around him recently.

They probably wouldn't be happy to. But they would understand. With how little is left of the season it isn't even a matter of that much money in football terms. It's what, 7,5 mil?

a) Ridiculous, but true. Fucking state of this game.
b) I'd have full sympathy for his reasons (if not his timing), but if he wants to walk, then he should show a bit of class and forego the money...... It's not like he needs it. He'd be working again in Italy within the year.
 
a) Ridiculous, but true. Fucking state of this game.
b) I'd have full sympathy for his reasons (if not his timing), but if he wants to walk, then he should show a bit of class and forego the money...... It's not like he needs it. He'd be working again in Italy within the year.

I agree, if he can't operate any longer he should resign and forego a pay off. He doesn't need the money. He might just need time out and come back to football probably best in Italy.

I went through a tough period in the 90s, far worse than what Conte is experiencing and dealt with it by throwing myself into my work, I didn't have time to ponder and was too tired by the end of each day to get down.
Everyone is different and Conte may decide to see it through or seek comfort with his family.
 
So who is the sort of up and coming manager people think would best fit a rebuild similar to the one Arteta has overseen with Woolwich?
The hot names would obviously be someone like De Zerbi, or even Potter in spite of his current form at Chelsea. But both of those are obviously in jobs right now.

Another name that is in a job that I would like if we get a temp in until the summer or Conte hangs on until the summer, is Arne Slot at Feyenoord. He was brought in to rebuild Feyenoord after Dick Advocaat retired in 2021 and was told to build on youth and establish a fun playing style. And he has delivered. Got to the ECL final last season and won manager of the year in the Netherlands. And he is currently top of the Dutch league.

Poch would be the safe bet out of the managers without a job. Especially since he knows the club. But the question is if he will accept becoming a rebuild manager again or if he still sees himself as a compete now for trophies manager. For the sake of his career I hope that he actually takes a rebuild job, either here or somewhere else. Because I do think that his big strengths as a manager is not in contorlling superstar egos at top top clubs, but in player development and in building teams from the ground up like he did here and at Saints.

And he would probably be the least popular choice here. But I do think that Tuchel can do it if asked. His football at Chelsea was very dire. But we do know that he can build young teams and play attractive football. His runs at Mainz and Dortmund prove that. He is not wedded to 5 at the back defensive football as people think, but does know how to use it.

But on a tier list, it's probably something like

Slot (unlikely right now)
De Zerbi (unlikely right now)
Potter (lol imagine)
Poch
Tuchel

For me at least.
 
Poch would be the safe bet out of the managers without a job. Especially since he knows the club. But the question is if he will accept becoming a rebuild manager again or if he still sees himself as a compete now for trophies manager. For the sake of his career I hope that he actually takes a rebuild job, either here or somewhere else. Because I do think that his big strengths as a manager is not in contorlling superstar egos at top top clubs, but in player development and in building teams from the ground up like he did here and at Saints.

I think he would. After all, he was the one calling for a “painful rebuild” 4 years ago.

The question really should be whether the board now accepts that we need to rebuild
 
Levy has to know that Conte wants to manage tottenham forr the medium term. Conte refuses to sign then tells the guardian how much he misses his family who remain in Italy. Read the room here he wants to go home
Listen to the questions he's been asked in the interview...he's merely responding to them in a presser and being honest. He's reflecting.

And maybe come end of season he'll feel the same way but a lot can happen between now and then.

Conte refuses to sign what exactly? Why was he only offered an 18 month contract to begin with?

Levy is responsible for the current situation and he's got little to be unhappy about considering how bad things were under Jose and Nuno - top 4 a distant memory, conference league, Kane wanting out (who could blame him), attendances dropping, God knows the potential impact on revenues, sponsorship etc.

It was a shit show and Conte came in, pushed for better players (and fuck knows we need and needed them) and got us top 4 when we were miles off both in form and players. It was a brilliant achievement considering.

We need a squad overhaul, even now we're still at least 4/5 players short. Conte isn't asking for Pep like investment, but he needs better players in order to compete with the best. He's made that clear from the off, he wouldn't have signed without it. So why is Levy now fucking around? Why is Conte on a short contract in the first place?

We sack Conte now and it's back to square one and after 14 months and a top 4 finish, sitting in 5th and still in the CL and FA Cup. Levy has to keep backing him, we've got a better squad since he's come in and let's continue with that rebuild - we can still get top 4 and even if if leaves, we'll be in a much better place than he found us.

Every time people turn on the managers when the common denominator is Levy. And he finally pulls a top drawer manager out of his arse only to contrive to fuck it all up - yes Conte is demanding, yes he's pushing for improvements but Levy knew this from the off. This time the buck can only stop with him.
 
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