Manager Antonio Conte

[Airfixx]

I’m hard work .

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Yes.... Yes, you have been in this instance.

You have insisted I answer an obvious question and you seem to get your knickers in a twist because I disagreed with the team and formation you said we should have be playing from the start of the season.
Everyone has their own ideas and formations just because i disagreed with yours you shouldn’t take it so personally.

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I have no problem with someone disagreeing and no; no knickers twisted and nothing personal taken either.

However, you sparked a debate (one which I'm perfectly happy to have), yet your discourse for the most part hasn't been compatible with the debate at hand (and up until the last 2 posts swas solely propped up with false rhetoric about 3DMs and a back 5)....... Much like your next line:

Just because you show the full backs higher up on the pitch doesn’t mean they will necessarily play there

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This comment makes it clear you're struggling to grasp the basis upon which any of these comments have been made.... Everything you've typed is through a prism of Conte playing 343.

Changing the formation would have no effect? ...............You honestly think WBs would have no more chance of maintaining a higher position if there was an extra person in MF? The CBs wouldn't be under less pressure from the oppo's press with 3 MFs?

Like I asked in a prior post...... What's your solution? You don't appear to be keen on answering that.

I think we should agree to disagree because this is becoming tedious now

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Sure; if you'd prefer......

 

[Crockett]

We domindated possession with Poch for most of his reign, yet the first and last season were fucking dismal really.
We lost plenty of games with 60-70-80% of the ball and not even managing a shot worth a look.
Possession is good in the sense you're less likely to concede goals if you have the ball. But it's no guarantee you'll score and, unless you have players creative enough to use the ball, is no guarantee you'll make much use of it at all.
Our squad is so full of players who have no first touch and no vision with the ball, we'd be just as boring with the ball as we are without it.

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We had possession and did something with it in the past because we had guys like Dembele and defenders like Vertonghen who were safe on the ball.

We have lots of possession now, but it is because we pass the ball sideways 15 times to move 10 yards out of our own box. We do that because the players aren't trusted to play a more adventurous pass forward, and whenever they do try it you can see it is probably right not to trust them.

 

[Matt1882]

We had possession and did something with it in the past because we had guys like Dembele and defenders like Vertonghen who were safe on the ball.

We have lots of possession now, but it is because we pass the ball sideways 15 times to move 10 yards out of our own box. We do that because the players aren't trusted to play a more adventurous pass forward, and whenever they do try it you can see it is probably right not to trust them.

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I don't think some of them are capable of playing those passes. And tbh, I think a lot of them aren't capable of the finesse required to control those passes and keep the ball.

 

[dondo]

Yes.... Yes, you have been in this instance.



I have no problem with someone disagreeing and no; no knickers twisted and nothing personal taken either.

However, you sparked a debate (one which I'm perfectly happy to have), yet your discourse for the most part hasn't been compatible with the debate at hand (and up until the last 2 posts swas solely propped up with false rhetoric about 3DMs and a back 5)....... Much like your next line:



This comment makes it clear you're struggling to grasp the basis upon which any of these comments have been made.... Everything you've typed is through a prism of Conte playing 343.

Changing the formation would have no effect? ...............You honestly think WBs would have no more chance of maintaining a higher position if there was an extra person in MF? The CBs wouldn't be under less pressure from the oppo's press with 3 MFs?

Like I asked in a prior post...... What's your solution? You don't appear to be keen on answering that.



Sure; if you'd prefer......

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My solution would be 4231
Lloris
Emerson/porro Dier Romero Davies
Bissouma/Skipp Bentancur
Richy. Klu. Son
Kane

 

[Stateside Spur]

I've listened to Conte's rant many times over and my opinion largely has not changed since originally hearing it. He is 100% right. These players have been given a free pass for far too long. There has been a lot of extrapolating of his quotes and misunderstanding his greater point to focus on the minute details.

I am sure that he does not mean that every single player signed to a contract at Tottenham is lazy and an excuse maker, but he has had it with the group that are. One thing I know is that it's human nature to blend into the pack. If you are at work and the co-workers around you fuck around most of the day, skip steps to get things done faster (not correctly) and jet out as soon as the shift ends, you will inevitably fall into that routine. The converse of that is also true.

I suspect the likes of Kane, Kulusevski, etc are working their asses off and aren't a part of Conte's main gripe. They are the exception to the rule, it seems.

I would imagine that there is a large section of the squad who come in, train hard enough, and are through the exit as soon as the last whistle blows and Conte has had enough of seeing it. This rant feels like the type that has been festering inside him for weeks now and he finally had the volcano erupt.

 

[Bazali]

Exactly, like speaking out against your employers, you are literally just proving my point

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He is but has Levy got the bottle after Conte successfully sued the Chavs?

 

[Bazali]

I've listened to Conte's rant many times over and my opinion largely has not changed since originally hearing it. He is 100% right. These players have been given a free pass for far too long. There has been a lot of extrapolating of his quotes and misunderstanding his greater point to focus on the minute details.

I am sure that he does not mean that every single player signed to a contract at Tottenham is lazy and an excuse maker, but he has had it with the group that are. One thing I know is that it's human nature to blend into the pack. If you are at work and the co-workers around you fuck around most of the day, skip steps to get things done faster (not correctly) and jet out as soon as the shift ends, you will inevitably fall into that routine. The converse of that is also true.

I suspect the likes of Kane, Kulusevski, etc are working their asses off and aren't a part of Conte's main gripe. They are the exception to the rule, it seems.

I would imagine that there is a large section of the squad who come in, train hard enough, and are through the exit as soon as the last whistle blows and Conte has had enough of seeing it. This rant feels like the type that has been festering inside him for weeks now and he finally had the volcano erupt.

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Agree with all that but he should have had the rant in Levy’s office, cleared the air, signed a contract extension and then went public with it!

Any player not responding get rid of them

By going public so early and getting so upset in public he’s jumped the gun and burned his bridges imv

 

[Matt1882]

I've listened to Conte's rant many times over and my opinion largely has not changed since originally hearing it. He is 100% right. These players have been given a free pass for far too long. There has been a lot of extrapolating of his quotes and misunderstanding his greater point to focus on the minute details.

I am sure that he does not mean that every single player signed to a contract at Tottenham is lazy and an excuse maker, but he has had it with the group that are. One thing I know is that it's human nature to blend into the pack. If you are at work and the co-workers around you fuck around most of the day, skip steps to get things done faster (not correctly) and jet out as soon as the shift ends, you will inevitably fall into that routine. The converse of that is also true.

I suspect the likes of Kane, Kulusevski, etc are working their asses off and aren't a part of Conte's main gripe. They are the exception to the rule, it seems.

I would imagine that there is a large section of the squad who come in, train hard enough, and are through the exit as soon as the last whistle blows and Conte has had enough of seeing it. This rant feels like the type that has been festering inside him for weeks now and he finally had the volcano erupt.

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He's not 100% right because he didn't acknowledge all the mistakes he's made this season, of which there are plenty.

 

[Bazali]

He's not 100% right because he didn't acknowledge all the mistakes he's made this season, of which there are plenty.

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Fair enough but he might say that he’s had to try everything to get a tune out of our shower

Problem with that argument is that he repeated the same mistakes and some of substitutions defied logic

 

[Stateside Spur]

Agree with all that but he should have had the rant in Levy’s office, cleared the air, signed a contract extension and then went public with it!

Any player not responding get rid of them

By going public so early and getting so upset in public he’s jumped the gun and burned his bridges imv

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I agree he's burned all of the bridges and he probably wanted to. That is the Conte way. He knows he can get a gig anywhere in Italy immediately and that's probably what he wants.

I say good, let him go. His football is something only a blind person can enjoy and to me, it's felt off since the very beginning. He has never felt like Tottenham's manager like even Jose did.

But even saying that, I recognise that his words ring true to me.

 

[Bazali]

I agree he's burned all of the bridges and he probably wanted to. That is the Conte way. He knows he can get a gig anywhere in Italy immediately and that's probably what he wants.

I say good, let him go. His football is something only a blind person can enjoy and to me, it's felt off since the very beginning. He has never felt like Tottenham's manager like even Jose did.

But even saying that, I recognise that his words ring true to me.

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And I still thoroughly enjoyed the Scum’s meltdown at the end of last season and us overtaking them

Pity we couldn’t have sustained it

 

[Airfixx]

Agree with all that but he should have had the rant in Levy’s office, cleared the air, signed a contract extension and then went public with it!

Any player not responding get rid of them

By going public so early and getting so upset in public he’s jumped the gun and burned his bridges imv

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Said numerous times, but I have little problem with what he did say.... Shower the delicate little millionaires with a few home truths; fine.......

1. It's why he said it that I have no time for.... It's not a call to 'revolution'; just a 'burn it all to the ground' tantrum.
2. I have a problem with his own lack of accoutability and by virtue of that take far greater issue with his string of weak-ass comments and buck passing following Sheff/Wolves/Milan than I do after S'ton (even though he wimped out on the accountability front then too).

 

[Bazali]

Said numerous times, but I have little problem with what he did say.... Shower the delicate little millionaires with a few home truths; fine.......

1. It's why he said it that I have no time for.... It's not a call to 'revolution'; just a 'burn it all to the ground' tantrum.
2. I have a problem with his own lack of accoutability and by virtue of that take far greater issue with his string of weak-ass comments and buck passing following Sheff/Wolves/Milan than I do after S'ton (even though he wimped out on the accountability front then too).

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Yes he’s certainly done himself no favours and I’m still upset how this has turned out especially having a Gooner married to my cousin and they’re coming for a meal next week
Trying to get out of it!!!

 

[bus-conductor]

I also think he was quite clear (and he explicitly said it) that he was talking not about technical or tactical but about desire and mentality etc. I know it gets over looked cos it's not as tangible as tactics, but we've all seen players half arse it, not have the determination or desire to really win the 50/50s or stop a cross or shot. We did it against Sheffield United 2nd half just as one example. I don't think that's coached, nor is the retreat so you're all standing on top of each other shit we saw Saturday - it's a psychological response to protecting a lead with time running out. We've seen it since time began at this level in teams of every standard.

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I found this comment from Conte the most ironic and ludicrous of all.

It’s really hard to improve individual technique and intelligence (though some coaches do), the one thing you can do as a coach is improve collective attitude, aggression, intensity, energy, responsibility and collective cohesion.

Conte has been watching people like Son, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Kilusevski, Kane, Dier plod around showing mental frailty and no intensity at all for 18 months, refusing to drop them, incapable seemingly of coaching them, and then complains when he sees them doing it for the 50th time.

He sent Gil away, who’s a little terrier. Picks an insipid Son over the harder working Richarlison every week, Hojbjerg and Bentancur over Bissouma, Sarr and Skip every week. We don’t have anyone to link midfield and attack and he refused to talk to Lo Celso, who was both more aggressive and creative.

His rant was typical. Not without truth, but ignoring his major influence on that truth.

 

[Stateside Spur]

He's not 100% right because he didn't acknowledge all the mistakes he's made this season, of which there are plenty.

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He specifically mentions he is talking about mentality, not tactics at the beginning of his rant. When you look at it from what he is specifically talking about, I believe he is 100% right.

He also talks about how the club pays him and the players a lot of money and "for me, it's unacceptable." He's holding himself and the players accountable based on how I viewed his comments there. He's tired of taking questions from the media about only his downfalls when quite a few of these players have been through 4 managers recently and even more have been through 3 managers in 3 years.

To me, there is a common denominator there.

 

[Matt1882]

He specifically mentions he is talking about mentality, not tactics at the beginning of his rant. When you look at it from what he is specifically talking about, I believe he is 100% right.

He also talks about how the club pays him and the players a lot of money and "for me, it's unacceptable." He's holding himself and the players accountable based on how I viewed his comments there. He's tired of taking questions from the media about only his downfalls when quite a few of these players have been through 4 managers recently and even more have been through 3 managers in 3 years.

To me, there is a common denominator there.

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Don't get me wrong - I agree with everything he said in his rant.
In my line of work, I would say he's 100% of 70%
The remaining 30% is elsewhere and he is that 30%
That looks mind boggling if you don't know what I'm on about, whereas if you've been doing it for 25 years you'll get it.
Someone here will know what it means and it'll probably turn out we know each other

 

[Airfixx]

He specifically mentions he is talking about mentality, not tactics at the beginning of his rant.

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Conveniently segregating his rant from a number of things that fall into HIS jurisdiction.... Even if motivation is still his responsibility.

When you look at it from what he is specifically talking about, I believe he is 100% right.

He also talks about how the club pays him and the players a lot of money and "for me, it's unacceptable." He's holding himself and the players accountable based on how I viewed his comments there.

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LOL... He's not......... It implies that he's doing the job he's paid for, but the players aren't doing theirs; that the players behavior is "unacceptable"

He's tired of taking questions from the media about only his downfalls

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I can't recall him being criticised in his pressers...... Asked questions about the team performance; yes... But it's his team and his job to face the press on behalf of that team.

So many things could have been asked of him that weren't..... He's got off lightly in that respect.

when quite a few of these players have been through 4 managers recently and even more have been through 3 managers in 3 years.

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Emerson, Romero, Richy, Perisic, Lenglet, Sarr, Porro, Bentacur, Biss, Kulu, Danjuma, Spence, Forster and Skipp don't fit that description at all though.

.............That's 14/26 senior players.

Now look at who he's pretty much deemed to be un-droppable:

Hugo, Kane, Son, PEH, Dier, Davies (the latter who I think Conte should have ZERO complaints about)

That leaves Sanchez (bit part player), Lucas (ditto), Tanganga (ditto), Sess (always injured), Gil (shipped him out) Matt Doherty (ditto)

The whole 3/4 years of getting managers sacked stuff doesn't really stack up..... Especially once you accept that Kane and Son have been our talismen through that period.

 

[Stateside Spur]

Don't get me wrong - I agree with everything he said in his rant.
In my line of work, I would say he's 100% of 70%
The remaining 30% is elsewhere and he is that 30%
That looks mind boggling if you don't know what I'm on about, whereas if you've been doing it for 25 years you'll get it.
Someone here will know what it means and it'll probably turn out we know each other

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I'm 100% certain I understand 30% of what you're saying and 30% certain I get 70%.

 

[Stateside Spur]

LOL... He's not......... It implies that he's doing the job he's paid for, but the players aren't doing theirs; that the players behavior is "unacceptable"

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I can accept that. There is a language barrier and I probably misunderstood his point here but I posted how I viewed it.

Emerson, Romero, Richy, Perisic, Lenglet, Sarr, Porro, Bentacur, Biss, Kulu, Danjuma, Spence, Forster and Skipp don't fit that description at all though.

.............That's 14/26 senior players.

Now look at who he's pretty much deemed to be un-droppable:

Hugo, Kane, Son, PEH, Dier, Davies (the latter who I think Conte should have ZERO complaints about)

That leaves Sanchez (bit part player), Lucas (ditto), Tanganga (ditto), Sess (always injured), Gil (shipped him out) Matt Doherty (ditto)

The whole 3/4 years of getting managers sacked stuff doesn't really stack up..... Especially once you accept that Kane and Son have been our talismen through that period.

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I think this is where I differ with a lot of others on here. I don't see this problem as something on gameday or in terms of selecting the XI each weekend. The problem that I think Conte erupted about is much more nuanced than that. You left out the part where I touched on this but again, when you go to work and see folks doing the bare minimum and getting rewarded for it, most people will follow suit.

It doesn't matter if you are a bit part player or not. They train everyday and new kids on the block pick up on what the more tenured players' routines are. The issue has festered beyond Conte's time here, it just gets passed down to the next crop of players IMV. Why should they work significantly more if the bare minimum gets rewarded with a 4-5 year deal on 150-200k a week?

We all saw Jose specifically pulled Dele aside and explain that his work ethic was not good enough and it didn't change a thing. A lot of players just view this as a job and nothing more, and that's fine if you don't want to win anything but it should not be okay for Tottenham Hotspur.

 

[The Dealer]

I finished deep diving the Southampton match today by watching the second half.

I noticed a lot of passive and safe passing in our half. Sideways and backwards. Why is this ? Have they no target to pass to up the pitch, no runs being made ? Are they scared of losing possession? There are players doing this that have such a pass in their locker even though derided by some on here. So much game time wasted with the ball in the safety zone and not pressuring the opponent.
Is it a formation problem, a movement up top problem, the lack of an AM issue to receive and distribute from the CBs and DMs ?
Any threat seemed to come from out wide eventually.