When manager Antonio Conte decided to walk away from Inter Milan, following the Italian club’s decision to cut back on their spending and sell off vital players from their squad that won the Scudetto last season.
During Conte’s unemployment, some pundits hoped the Italian manager would be a prime candidate for Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjær had been on the hot seat before, but instead of firing their manager, they decided to stay with him.
In his column for the Daily Mail, Martin Samuel stated that Manchester United missed the boat on hiring Conte when they had the chance.
“United made a mistake. Not long term, perhaps, because that would pre-judge Ten Hag’s capabilities. Yet we do not have to speculate about what Conte can do. He’s already doing it, and we can see it on the field,” Samuel said. “Since the start of 2022, only Liverpool have picked up more points than Tottenham, and points per game this season have gone up from 1.5 before Conte to 2 after him.”
“Might Harry Maguire have benefitted from time with the man who has made Tottenham’s defense function effectively again? Might Marcus Rashford have been reinvigorated by the coach who is getting some of the best football of his career from Kane?”
Tottenham got the hiring right when the appointed Conte in November following the sacking of Nuno Espírito Santo. Since his arrival, the 52-year-old has steered the ship and now has Spurs in a top-four position, three points above their north London rival, Arsenal.
If Conte takes Spurs to new heights and Manchester United flounders with no trophies and struggles to reach the Champions League, then the criticism not to pursue the Italian manager will be even more criticized.
Not just back him but do it early in the window so Conte has time to work them in.
Could NEVER see Antonio Conte joining Manchester United & being ordered he has to play someone who is phobic of pressing & who refuses to be a ‘team player’ in Christiano Ronaldo, the Glazer’s commercial cash cow.
Or, if he had been appointed in the summer, THFC would’ve had the pre-season Antonio wished & then been a bit stronger ALL season & not have capitulated 4x to Chelsea?
Perhaps?
An average of 2 points per game guarantees Ch Lg football. I agree, we would have been third. Just a shame we capitulated 4 times we played Chelsea this season. That shows the gulf between us and Conte’s next challenge.
It was muted that Conte and Utd were not a good fit, which seems bizarre because Conte would easily have sorted them out in the short term. Within 2 seasons he’d have had them challenging for the title because they can spend £200m per season without breaking sweat. From what I have read Utd wanted a long term prospect and follow in City’s and Klopp’s footsteps because Conte is a bit ‘flighty’, but then again I cannot work out the reasoning behind Solksjaer.
OGS was brought in to alter the doom surrounding Mourinho, but the moment Utd sacked Jose the atmosphere changed for the better. It was Pogba they needed to get rid of. As soon as the players knew Pogba was being backed Jose lost the dressing room and his job! I am looking at the dysfunctional PSG being interested in Pogba with utter bemusement. Why would anyone sign him. He is just a leaner and better Ndom.
What Utd should have done was look at Chelsea. As long as you have a strong squad, different managers can change formations every season if needed. Not that he does his, but Klopp could easily use his FBs as wing backs. Conte would have found a way to put 5 at the back and if he can use Doherty and Emerson as wing backs he could easily have done this with Shaw, Bissaka and Telles.
Anyhow, Conte is ours and Levy has to do all he can to keep him and supply him with players who will make us better. If only I had trust and not utter contempt for our chairman!
The 3-0 home defeat to Utd was actually a win for us in reality; it got rid of the bearded burbler and bought Conte in instead. It also temporarily saved The Hobbit as Utd manager and gave us a free run to appoint Conte.
Now back him.
Antonio
not a word of dissent since you joined us , please stay forever . Man , you are loved !!!!!!!!!
That points per game return…I always thought, even with our less than perfect squad, if Conte had been appointed in the summer we’d have an extra 5-10 pts now and would be battling for third with Chelsea