Antonio Conte - officially NOT the coach of THFC

[Lilbaz]

We don't need massive outlays to massively improve this team - because tons of relatively young players will have six months on their contracts come January, thanks to a general trend for players to let their contracts run down that started in 2020-ish and has only intensified since. I posted a list in another thread a while back.

And clubs will prefer to get money for them to losing them for nothing, precisely *because* of Omicron and lockdowns - they'll need all the income they can get.

This is exactly the time to go out and strengthen. Romagnoli (Milan, CB), Kessie (Milan, CDM), Zakaria (Gladbach, CDM), Ginter (Gladbach, CB), Boubacar Kamara (Marseille, CDM), Brozovic (Inter, CDM), Azmoun (Zenit ST), Mazraoui (Ajax RB), and more besides.

Get three of those in in Jan, and with the rest we're getting now and time for Conte to prep the team, we'll be absolutely flying come the second half of the season. This is, in effect, a pre-season for us - an invaluable opportunity that plays into our hands, a second summer.

Get January right, and top four is very much in our hands.

Hope so.

 

[braineclipse]

Tremendous work from him. Just top class.

Team looking transformed despite all the problems both before and after he took over.

Trying not to get too excited about the near term future under him, finding that really difficult.

 

[braineclipse]

Said repeatedly under Nuno that he would sink or swim based on his ability to instill a more positive and effective pattern and style of play on the ball. Our buildup play both when opponents pressed high and sat deeper was so poor.

Was told repeatedly that it would take time, a messy preseason and a couple of months wasn't enough time. I pretty much agreed, but grew increasingly impatient.

Not looking to rehash that particular disagreement. My point is more to highlight the immense work done by Conte. What seemed like a long term possibility under Nuno has already started to look a reality after such a short time under Conte. While improving other aspects of our game too.

A top class manager, and what a difference it makes.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Said repeatedly under Nuno that he would sink or swim based on his ability to instill a more positive and effective pattern and style of play on the ball. Our buildup play both when opponents pressed high and sat deeper was so poor.

Was told repeatedly that it would take time, a messy preseason and a couple of months wasn't enough time. I pretty much agreed, but grew increasingly impatient.

Not looking to rehash that particular disagreement. My point is more to highlight the immense work done by Conte. What seemed like a long term possibility under Nuno has already started to look a reality after such a short time under Conte. While improving other aspects of our game too.

A top class manager, and what a difference it makes.

A big difference is between given a potentially good coach and manager time or just getting the fix of a manager who is one of the worlds very best. I mean conte is elite as proven by his titles and Nuno isn’t

the key though is as you say…. No time but fixing issues, and fixing them quickly which again differentiates between the very best managers (saw it with tuchel although IMO conte is better than him)

 

[harr1984]

Everything Conte says suggests he could be here longer term. Get him tied down and give him the keys to Spurs Levy…..

 

[tommysvr]

I just love that it's fun to watch Tottenham again. That's all I ever want (yes a trophy or two would be nice.)

 

[DeanoAustin]

Thought he set us up very well yesterday. We lost the ball 35-40 yards out too much for my liking but we reorganised ourselves very well to defend that. What we did really well is we absolutely nailed them on the counter. It's a massive weakness of Liverpools that they push so high with so many men and Conte exploited that brilliantly. We could have had 5 or 6.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Convert

This is the first time I've been positive about our direction since Poch left. We're making steady but really noticeable strides. He's also a lot more endearing a personality than I expected. All good!

 

[AdamB]

going to be interesting to see whether yesterday changes any view on the transfer window. Dele and Winks played well yesterday, but not sure that this changes my view that we need some new blood in there

 

[Gutter Boy]

going to be interesting to see whether yesterday changes any view on the transfer window. Dele and Winks played well yesterday, but not sure that this changes my view that we need some new blood in there

I think the way Conte's stabalised the defence (even without Romero) and helped the midfield remember how to pass, we might just concentrate on a back-up CF and a back-up RB this time round.

 

[Lemonade Money]

Convert

This is the first time I've been positive about our direction since Poch left. We're making steady but really noticeable strides. He's also a lot more endearing a personality than I expected. All good!

Break it to Sheffield United gently.

 

[ricky2tricky4city]

going to be interesting to see whether yesterday changes any view on the transfer window. Dele and Winks played well yesterday, but not sure that this changes my view that we need some new blood in there

I think they staked a claim, which is an improvement on previous chances given.

Although playing against an old man and a kid probably helped.

 

[lurker of old]

What's not to like about Conte? I bet he hates it when Klopp pats him on the head when they meet! In some ways Wednesday may be tougher, because there won't be a high line for us to exploit. But if he can get keep our midfield playing progressively with intensity, we should get a result. The crowd will be well up for it, I can't wait!

 

[Diamond Lights]

We lost the ball 35-40 yards out too much for my liking but we reorganised ourselves very well to defend that.

I just mentioned this in the OMT, thought Ndombele was VERY guilty in this area. Against lower opposition he can pull off the fancy stuff cleary, but yesterday against Liverpool whenever he received the ball in our half to turn and take them on or use his skills, several times he was caught, hounded and lost possession in very dangerous areas.

 

[Dicko]

I still think he will pluck 1 or 2 defenders he wants from Italy in Jan. I think the only way we don't make a few signings this window is if he is convinced he needs certain players which are not available until the summer.

Either way, out of the ECL now, had a bit more time on the training ground etc. Things seem to be on the up again*

*Until Antonio scores one off his arse in a couple of days!

 

[DeanoAustin]

I just mentioned this in the OMT, thought Ndombele was VERY guilty in this area. Against lower opposition he can pull off the fancy stuff cleary, but yesterday against Liverpool whenever he received the ball in our half to turn and take them on or use his skills, several times he was caught, hounded and lost possession in very dangerous areas.

Agreed. I’ve seen a lot of fans on here and elsewhere say they thought Ndombele did okay. I thought he was very poor yesterday. Along with Royal, he was the only one of our lads who didn’t perform well. Running out of chances.

 

[harr1984]

Agreed. I’ve seen a lot of fans on here and elsewhere say they thought Ndombele did okay. I thought he was very poor yesterday. Along with Royal, he was the only one of our lads who didn’t perform well. Running out of chances.

A lot talk up NDombele because they know how skilful he is and live in hope that he all of a sudden turns into this midfield beast. The facts are yesterday he produced a great assist with the pass. For the rest of the hour he was on he worked hard and appeared to cover plenty of ground. He lost the ball in dangerous areas a couple of times. He was anonymous for the rest of the game with the ball. Had it been Winks who had an identical game, he wouldn’t have got such reviews. For 60m we need more from a CM than just one or two highlights a game, the fact he is running more is the bare minimum….

 

[P.D.]

Thought he set us up very well yesterday. We lost the ball 35-40 yards out too much for my liking but we reorganised ourselves very well to defend that. What we did really well is we absolutely nailed them on the counter. It's a massive weakness of Liverpools that they push so high with so many men and Conte exploited that brilliantly. We could have had 5 or 6.

Yeah that was smart, encourages their full backs out then hit hard on the counter. Better finishing and we'd of been 2 or 3 up at half time.

Still looked poor at the back but yesterday was just a really good game to watch.

 

[parklane1]

He has already got into the heads of players and has got them responding to what he wants from them, still work to do but its going in the right direction.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Yeah that was smart, encourages their full backs out then hit hard on the counter. Better finishing and we'd of been 2 or 3 up at half time.

Still looked poor at the back but yesterday was just a really good game to watch.

I didn’t think we looked poor at the back. Liverpool had very few good chances despite lots of possession (prior to it going 11 v 10 which skewed the overall stats).