I think the lack of effort from the players is exactly the reason we need a Conte type (although I'm all for Potter). The worry being that any nice guy manager will just get sold down the river by those below and above him.
I'd rather get Conte/Gattuso and have them call it out for what it is when the brick hits the fan, then get Potter and watch him get walked over. I've seen Conte go ballistic over a player not taking a throw in quick enough. No way he'd put up with what we serve. People argue he'd want x amount of money, but based on what I'm seeing he wouldn't be wrong. Aside from Royal, Romero, Skipp, Hojberg and Son, who else is fighting for the shirt. When Ndombele is putting in more of a brick than others then there are obvious problems.