Home » ‘I have to replace this player…’ – Has Antonio Conte sent an indirect message to the Spurs’ hierarchy? – opinion

‘I have to replace this player…’ – Has Antonio Conte sent an indirect message to the Spurs’ hierarchy? – opinion

By Mehdi Gokal -

Spurs’ have had a fairly busy transfer window with 7 players signed most of them in the early part of the window.

Despite signing the likes of Bissouma, Richarlison, Perisic, Spence, and Lenglet, Tottenham fans still feel that the window has been underwhelming considering that they still haven’t addressed the key areas that need attention i.e, an attacking midfielder and a top-class centre-back.

While there are a number of reports linking the club with various players, some reports suggest that Spurs will not be making any more signings with the main focus now shifted towards offloading the unwanted players.

But Conte, in his press conference today seems to have made it clear to the board that he will be expecting replacements for the players that are sold.

When asked if there will be more incomings, he said (via Football London):

We’re okay. But if someone goes away, for sure another player has to come. Especially if some players want to go to play regularly. It’s difficult to keep them here.

But at the same time, it has to be very clear that if a player wants to go play, I have to replace this player. This is very important. We need to have a squad capable to face a lot of games until November. This is very important for me

This is very important. We need to have a squad capable to face a lot of games until November. This is very important for me.

It seems as if Conte is sending out an indirect message to the Spurs’ hierarchy that if a player is sold, he’ll need apt replacements in order to have a squad that is ‘capable to face a lot of games’ until November.

With the high-intensity football that Conte expects from his players, you can see why it is ‘important’ for him to have a big squad that is fit enough to compete for silverware and the top 4.

Tags Antonio Conte NewsNow Tottenham Hotspur
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Steve 'Killer Cushion' Williams
Steve 'Killer Cushion' Williams
1 year ago

Now we have Bissouma I would say he’s the best all rounder centre mid now.

Tony Tucker's Toupee
Tony Tucker's Toupee
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

“I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make.”

The point I was trying to make is that, in my opinion, Bentancur is the best all round central midfield player at the club.

Just for clarification; Bentancur is the best.

Loving Bentancur. Best at what he does since Carrick.

Archibald&Crooks (SC)
Archibald&Crooks (SC)
1 year ago
Reply to  Cabspur

No I think you are right.Something about just moving in to a new house and now they are off to France so she is a tad upset.

Dexter
Dexter
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

Decent enough in a back 4. But installed as a wing-back, he developed a permanent facial expression of utter confusion, like when I was in maths exams trying to figure out quadratic equations. The fella’s found himself drowning in waist deep water.

Dexter
Dexter
1 year ago

I wondered that. We’re all just a Power on/off button now. I liked the pink and purple blocky things. I feel stripped of my identity. Violated almost. Help, Help! I’m being repressed!!

Dexter
Dexter
1 year ago
Reply to  Billy Tonsils

🤣👊

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

He said Bentancur is the best all-round, not the best.

He didn’t mention the others being average either, why build a strawman?

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

I replied to the original comment, which said we needed 22 top players, so speak to them.

You have hijacked it and gone on to another point.

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

It is a myth because it isn’t true. You won’t find me one time anyone has had it

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

Tell me, do even one of PEH, Bentancur, Royal, Sessingnon or PEH walk into any other top four midfield and wingback four? No they don’t, possibly not even top six.

PEH and Bentancur, either walk in to Arsenal’s midfield. Both start for United too. Bentancur would get in the other squads I feel.

PEH is not a one-off starter for me though, Bissouma is. He’d 100% start for both Arsenal and United, I think he’d be in with a shout at Chelsea, and would not look out of place at the other two. He is brilliant, we’ll see that.

Perisic I think gets in as a wingback at Chelsea, they were after him. The others don’t play wingbacks so hard to gauge, but the qaulity is there.

The RWBs are a different story.

Ultimately though, the players last season WERE a top 4 squad.

Also, you can pick holes in others. Who are Chelsea’s other wingback options? Who is their CB depth? Where is the good finisher?

East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago
Reply to  Park Lane

It’s where you’re strong and how competitive you are. Not having ‘two top players’ for every position. Our midfield needs significant improvement, theirs doesn’t, for example…

East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago
Reply to  Park Lane

It’s a ‘myth’ of your own imagination. Of course you have a stronger first 11. Their squad of ‘22’ is still better staffed than ours, that’s the long and short of it. What myth? So I’m not sure point are you trying to make? I’m confused too.

Last edited 1 year ago by Easty
East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago

Bentancur is the best all round central midfield player currently at the club’

If the others are average that makes him the best of an average bunch, I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make.

East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago
Reply to  Park Lane

I’m Not asking to have 22 top quality players. I’m talking about hate Pugh quality in our first 11 and on the bench to compete, whatever that is for us.

Their first choice midfield is superior in quality to ours, so is their cover. When playing two central midfielders and two wingbacks, the quality of those four players is crucial. Regardless of how good your front three are.

Tell me, do even one of PEH, Bentancur, Royal, Sessingnon or PEH walk into any other top four midfield and wingback four? No they don’t, possibly not even top six.

Our main issue is that our quality is mainly in the forward areas, not in midfield and not in the defence. This is why Kane wanted out, he wants to play in a team that possesses a similar level of quality to himself, throughout the team. That’s because he knows the best teams have quality through the whole side.

Most of us know where our weaknesses lie, Unless those weaknesses are addressed by our transfer activity then how can we claim it to be a ‘great’ window? We needed a major rebuild more than 18 months before Pochettino left, that process is not complete.we need about three quality signings, one in midfield, one central defender and a right wingback, all ready to improve us.

Spence isn’t the wingback we need in the present to displace Royal, Bissouma looks a decent buy but he will replace PEH. Skipp will be rotated. Not enough improvement in midfield, nowhere near enough…

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago

Bentancur and Bissouma is a very tasty looking midfield. The latter looked after Kane with ease in our defeat to Brighton, a class act and very comfortable on the ball too. Games we are outnumbered in midfield like Sunday he can be a difference-maker

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago
Reply to  The Boy

No, it is just dispelling a myth we ‘need’ 22 top players.

City literally only have 19 bona fide first team players as it stands.

Of those 19, people would be sniffy if we signed Ake. Or the 11m left back nobody has heard of.

Liverpool are also light in certain places. Great first XI, but then you are looking at Tsimikas, Gomez, Phillips, Milner, and kids such as Elliott and the lad from Fulham

Tony Tucker's Toupee
Tony Tucker's Toupee
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

Bentancur is the best all round central midfield player currently at the club. He can pass, tackle, reads the game, makes interceptions and competes physically. He’s a winner.

Winks was a chicken dinner.

The Boy
1 year ago
Reply to  Park Lane

You have just effortlessly debased the current champions. Bravo.

Does this analysis mean they lucked their successes, or they bought them, because now I’m genuinely confused 😐

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

Like I said, no side has 22 quality players.

Our first XI was pretty good at the end of last season. Of course you can improve that, I can think of at least three positions – LWB, RWB, LCB, CM – all of which we have signed players in.

Take City for example. They have:
*No 2nd keeper of note.

*Quality fullbacks in Walker and Cancelo, but no 2nd RB and a 11m punt (like Spence) at LB.

*2x quality CBs in Laporte and Dias, 1x hot and cold one in Stones, and an average in Ake.

*2x quality DMs in Phillips and Rodri

*Only 3x players for the other two midfield positions in Gundogan, Silva, KDB.

* Only 5x forwards for three positions, one a punt in Alvarez. Haaland, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish.

That 19 players, not 22

Of of those 19, two of them are punts, one is average, and one is patchy

Cabspur
Cabspur
1 year ago
Reply to  Dexter

Very true.

Lilywhite without a CAM
Lilywhite without a CAM
1 year ago

Pleased we have done business early but we need a lot more from Mein Fuhrer after Sundays outings!!

Lilywhite without a CAM
Lilywhite without a CAM
1 year ago

What’s with these gender neutral avatars ?

Billy Tonsils
Billy Tonsils
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

Is Winky on 90G a week..?

Billy Tonsils
Billy Tonsils
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

Were Reg’s defensive frailties covered by Davies , I don’t know tbh ..but he looked like he could cover one task but not both..

Last edited 1 year ago by Billy Tonsils
East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago
Reply to  Park Lane

We still need more quality in the first 11 and on the bench. Our midfield needs more ability to play football, retain possession and press effectively. The jury is still out on Bentancur for me, and we already know PEH’s limitations. Our defensive numbers are also left wanting.

If people are choosing to hype this transfer window up, then they need to acknowledge what it hasn’t remedied so far…

Last edited 1 year ago by Easty
East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago
Reply to  at large

He only listening to the number crunching software…

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago
Reply to  at large

There’s probably not a side in Europe that has 22 quality players.

It is what you aim for, sure, but not even City or Liverpool have that.

East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago
Reply to  at large

Yep.

East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago
Reply to  CowSpurs

Reggie was great when he arrived, all very strange…

Billy Tonsils
Billy Tonsils
1 year ago
Reply to  Dexter

I think once you dance round the centre circle in a UEFA Cup tie laughing with one one of the other Levy Tubbies, Dele Tubby and the world watches because Jose is your coach, you fakin card is fakin marked…Winks :::Opthalmic for C=nt.

Last edited 1 year ago by Billy Tonsils
Billy Tonsils
Billy Tonsils
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

Doesn’t WinkyTubby live in Denial’s garage ..that might be holding things up ..he wants Uncle to come with .
Zagreb ..Traitor..

Marbella Spur
Marbella Spur
1 year ago

I don’t believe a word of the Atalanta player Ruslan Malinovsky coming to Spurs whatever his wife has said on Instagram. Mike Dean in his role as the VAR official during the Chelsea game has admitted he was wrong on the hair pull by Romero. I thought it was pretty obvious it was a foul but what do I know. Zaniolo and Maddison are starting to look cheap if Forest have paid £42.5 million for Gibbs-White, including add-ons. Incredible price.

Dexter
Dexter
1 year ago
Reply to  CowSpurs

To think not so long ago a lot of us were ‘worried’ about Madrid coming back in with their buy-back clause. Two seasons later with him in the shop window we can’t muster an single offer. It’s a funny ol’ game.

at large
at large
1 year ago
Reply to  Cabspur

I doubt anyone here knows Ruslan as well as his wife but you never know?

at large
at large
1 year ago
Reply to  Park Lane

Whatever, Conte needs 2 teams of 11 quality players. We’re about 5-6 short of that mark as currently stands.

CowSpurs
CowSpurs
1 year ago
Reply to  East Stand.

I thought there would be takers for Reggie. Someone in La Liga would take him surely. Winks is our Tom Cleverley. A Championship yo-yo club player. I think Winks reckons he is better than that so will be reluctant to go to somewhere like West Brom.

Steve 'Killer Cushion' Williams
Steve 'Killer Cushion' Williams
1 year ago

He’s just answering the journo’s question… All the ground rules over transfers with the Spurs hierarchy would have been made on that meeting they had on the Wednesday after we qualified for Champions League. Conte was banging on about needing a large squad before we even qualified.

East Stand.
East Stand.
1 year ago

Reguillon, Winks, Gil on loan along with Gio and Wobblybelly. I’m not sure why Reggie and Winks haven’t gone yet…

Park Lane
Park Lane
1 year ago
Reply to  at large

They were already out in January, we have signed Bentancur and Bissouma since they last played for us.

This will probably be in relation to Gil and Tanganga i’d guess. Maybe Moura if the links are true.

at large
at large
1 year ago

So, Gio and Tanguy out, who is in?
Are you listening Daniel?

Cabspur
Cabspur
1 year ago
Reply to  Cabspur

Just saw the other post now😂

Cabspur
Cabspur
1 year ago

The wife of the Ukrainian midfielder we are interested in has put out on her instagram page that she is currently packing boxes as she is moving soon and is gutted but has to support her husband.
Probably pish but we will see , anyone know what he is like?

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