Tottenham Hotspur didn’t put much of a fight against Chelsea over the two legs in their EFL Cup semi-final matchup. The Blues won 3-0 on aggregate, but it did help shine a light for manager Antonio Conte and what he needs to address on the squad.
Following the lopsided loss, the BBC’s Phil McNulty wrote a column stating that Chelsea helped expose the flaws and Conte can only do so much tactically and, as a result, needs financial investments to strengthen the team and put them at a level with the top clubs in England.
“If they were in any doubt as to what Conte’s Spurs need before they can even think about working a way back into the Premier League elite, the manner in which they were brushed aside by Chelsea over two legs should act as the manager’s Exhibit A,” McNulty wrote.
“What is clear is that Conte’s current Spurs are simply not good enough for what he expects and to match his previous record of success. The manager’s comments this week suggest he has made this brutally clear to those in power at Spurs.”
The January transfer window is open, and Tottenham has yet to make any move yet whether it’s adding or subtracting from their squad. However, the majority of the heavy work will come this upcoming summer.
Spurs will need to invest heavily during the summer months to bring the squad up to the standards Conte requires from the teams he’s managing. Furthermore, he isn’t afraid to walk away as he did with Inter Milan.
Some fair points.. The facts are now clear though. In big matches Kane gets schooled by winning defenders who turn up. Whether its Van Djk, Rudiger, Bonucci, Chiellini, they bullied him… To be further critical of Kanes game he needs to improve his heading, he’s poor at heading. He also needs to stay off free kicks, he can’t take them which i find astonishing with his striking ability. He’s definitely the best Spurs and English striker in my lifetime, but his inability to turn up in finals means he has it all to prove to be as great as the late Greavesy….. Neil Sulliven was never as good as Hugo mate.. I was admiring your post until I came to Neil.. Lol.
Excellent post
Conte isnt money mad..
I cant see someone of his ilk lasting too much longer without backing…. he spends, he wins..
Hes not there to finish 6th every year…
Wolves have a 21 year old, left footed, midfield / full back called Ryan Giles. If Wolves are interested in taking Doherty back Spurs should try and get this kid as part of the deal.
He’s been on loan at Cardiff this season and Wolves have just recalled him. He got nine assists for Cardiff in the first half of this season. Some were from open play but the majority were from free kicks and corners. He’s better than anything Spurs have on their books.
I suppose that would be too simplistic for all of our ‘experts’ working with / under the genius Hitchen. He hates January and I suppose it would be too much of a bother for him.
I literally turned the TV off and left my house after that Winks “pass”
Perhaps Spurs TV should interview him and ask him if he meant it?
Levy and ENIC used a waiting list to increase ticket prices at the old WHL and the reduced capacity to bully ST holders into paying well over the odds for their seats for best part of 20 years. Their initial review of the state of the club in 2001 identified a minimum capacity of 44,000 was needed as soon as possible.
It was more lucrative for these people to exploit supporter loyalty than satisfy the demand for matchday tickets. All this was done in plain sight while The Supporters Trust was set up. Their leadership continually looked the other way as this and other crimes against the supporters were carried out. Cup matches were taken away from ST holders, prices were hiked for food and drinks at the ground and supporters were prevented from bringing any food or drinks into the ground.
There was the introduction of a loyalty scheme that didn’t reward supporters who attended away matches and ST holders had their 10% merchandise discount cancelled while club members who picked and chose what home games they attended retained their discount. The pettiness and penny pinching nature of it all was truly sickening.
I think Daniel Wynne now has a cosy number on Spurs TV. Martin Cloake gets lots of books published and access to ex players. It’s a free ride to the seaside. A chumocracy. I’m sure all those involved would deny this but it is obvious if you pay attention.
I can actually see a bit of justice in the club’s current predicament. Levy is now facing the prospect of having too many seats and not enough supporters who are willing to sit in them; for the price he is asking. King Solomon’s wisdom could not have passed a more appropriate judgement. His projected profits might take a hit if he doesn’t sort this out soon.
He’s playing for Conte but he clearly has lost respect for Levy and the club. Haven’t we all?
Sessegnon and Reguillon are the answer to that. Conte doesn’t like either of them I reckon.
I absolutely agree. If Conte isn’t given the funds that he needs he will go sooner or later. ENIC should have invested much more into the team years ago. We have only a few world class players and they will soon get fed up and ask for a transfer. Conte is a brilliant manager and will not stay with Spurs. Sadly, Man U are waiting until the end of the season at the latest. I really hope that I am wrong.
There’s always some team challenging the status quo. Its easy to get left behind, just ask Arsenal.
Where is our capital injection coming from?
Its a con.
I think Harry is saving himself for the World Cup shop window. He is keeping his eye in, keeping fit and staying clear of injury.
He’s been taught a very hard lesson by a master, look after yourself chum because no one else cares.
I’m buzzin…ecstatic…oh my days I’m in meltdown..
It’s called ManU..
Let’s hope the fans stop going then..
Not sure you blame Steve Hitchenaride..all he does is polish Levy’s shoes. He polishes Levy’s shoes so well it’s is Levy’s reflection he sees in them even while the shining duster does it’s work..its witchcraft it’s witchcraft.
He has probably negotiated an escape clause into it, I would.
I would add Villa to the list.
I don’t get why he plays Gil centrally when he is an out and out left-winger, nothing else.
I literally turned the TV off and left my house after that Winks “pass” that most U14 kids could complete.
IDK about the Conte contract. I think if he really didn’t care about the game last night he would’ve rested Harry and Lucas for Sunday from the jump.
I still can’t comprehend at any level why he plays Doherty on the left for even one second when he is utterly useless there.
Last paragraph says it all in a nutshell. Could not agree more !!!
They understand money and want £3 billion by all accounts for the club. Whilst it crushes us all to see the slide over the last 3 year, the daily demise of the footballing side reduces the value equally. Given ENIC’s apparent love for the £, I just hope it crushes them even more. Levy is Levy but where is the faceless Lewis in all of this…Cnuts!
The only thing Harry Kane deserves criticism for, from anyone connected with Spurs, is the Gary Neville interview. The fella is above criticism regarding his ability to score goals for Spurs and his all round contribution to the team.
One of the best players Spurs have ever had. Best striker I have seen play for Spurs since 1977.
Hugo is the third best Spurs goalkeeper I have seen behind Pat Jennings and Neil Sullivan. Brad Friedel runs him close for third tbf.
Here’s my epiphany from last night’s events.
Conte’s team selection indicates very strongly that his 18 month deal is stacked with huge bonus payments for Champions League and / or Europa League qualification on a pro rata scale. In other words Conte’s on a percentage of the TV money / prize money secured through the highest league finish possible and the quality of any European competition Spurs qualify for. Conte is clearly prioritising a top four finish; which is good from my own personal perspective.
However; it isn’t good for anyone who has paid to watch Spurs play in any cup competitions this season or places value on Spurs winning any of the (now meaningless) domestic cups.
Hands up all those who still love Winks?
How hard was it to pass that through ball he fcuked up last night?
Put him in the pants draw and close it forever.
What I don’t get is why anyone (not the good folks here) is surprised by these developments? Under ENIC, Spurs have an incredible knack of bringing everyone they bring in down to their level, sometimes sooner than later. Everyone comes here thinking “this time it’s different” but it never is. In only a few months Conte is already exasperated clear as day. Of course nothing changes until ENIC out, and the only way to get them out is force a sale so maybe someone here knows some bankers at GS, HSBC and BAML and can get them to put the wood to ENIC when the term loan comes due in a few months. Otherwise there really is no hope.
I don’t think so. Any club can go from nothing to CL very quickly with significant capital injection. Ex: City, Chelsea, pretty much every fossil fuel club. I’ve said it a thousand times. ENIC are asset managers, mostly property managers and Spurs are just another entry in the balance sheet.
No one mentioning the beloved Kane anywhere online… Two more matches against Chelsea. Two more games where Kane doesn’t turn up.. If the words ‘final’ are involved he’s non existent… He wants to play in the big games yet he never turns up when he gets the chance.. The biggest game he ever played in was the Champions league final, which he was injured for the months leading up to it, so he had the rest of the team to thank for being there.. A wonderful player and the best we have alongside Lloris, but he definitely isn’t a big match player…. Unlike the savage Rudiger. Born winner that guy.
You know Levy is so deluded he probably won’t back Conte then have the nerve to sack him for not getting top 4!
If Conte walks, either in February or after the summer window, Levy is finished – with every single fan (aside from a few that are braindead), around the world. That won’t be pleasant for him.
I admire your optimism but I think we will invest little in the squad in the summer as well. We keep seeing the same thing while Levy is chairman. It won’t change!
Spot on!
Don’t forget he’s on a very lucrative contract. Personally I would see it through and then scarper. Depends though on how painful it is working with Levy.
In 21 years the club has moved on in size of business, Levy hasn’t kept up with that change and seems to run it the same as 21 years ago. He is now the blockage for the football side.
“Levy masturbater” would be more relevant now.
Levy enjoys being difficult. He doesn’t care about anything other than being a good servant to uncle Joe and enic. The football is just a sideline of the business and an inconsequence. His only thought for the fans revolves around them being cash cows on a grandiose scale. The man is stubborn in the extreme, his Napoleon Syndrome makes him belligerent against his critics and he will always remain “out of step” for the sake of it. He will never change, it’s not in his DNA to listen to advise. He can’t help himself from being a control freak despite his ignorance of football.
Having said that Steve Hitchen must also shoulder a large proportion of the blame. He has overpaid for so many players it’s criminal; Clarke, Sess, N’Dombele, Lo Celso, Sanchez plus all the flops that were gone pretty quickly like N’Koudoo. How is this clown still in a job?
Paratici has nor started well either. Aside from Romero it looks like his other purchases are bang average at best, and not the types of player a team allegedly chasing top 4 need.
What an utter shambles we are.
Conte is a winner and despises losing, so a percentage of his attitude will be this. I think he’s accepted that not much will happen in January and summer will be key.
There is noise of players having issues at clubs so there should be opportunities for deals like Icardi or Arthur who would improve the side this season so we can sideline the deadwood at least for the second half of the season.
ENIC are sticking to their guns and refusing to invest in the squad with immediate effect, the players we’re now being linked with are 2nd, 3rd, nth choices. We’re doing business with Europa Conference quality players and that’s the best we deserve from this season…the opportunity to play another season in that joke of a competition.
This Traore deal is now being floated as a loan with option to buy in the summer. Get your chequebook out Lewis you greedy can’t!
Conte won’t stick around, it’s all been said before today, we all know what the problem is and how to solve it.
Boycott the club, don’t go to matches, don’t pay them a penny until they invest their ill-gotten bonuses/dividends/salaries back into the football team. ENIC out
If Conte isn’t backed he’ll walk away, it’s as simple as that. We have a multimillionaire owner and billionaire chairman they could easily make funds available.
We are in real danger of being locked out of the top four and Champions League permanently.
Sooner or later Man United and Newcastle and others will get their act together and then its game over. ENIC have a very slim window to take decisive action.
The next four months are the most important in the ENIC regimes history. They’re playing with fire and the chance that the club can achieve success long term.
18 months? He wont last 6 more, probably gone in 3 weeks
Conté will already know what he’s been allocated (or more accurately, not allocated) for this window, and it shows in his demeanour. He’ll find himself in the same boat come the summer. The long and short of it is, clubs need to sell before they can spend big, and Levy year in and year out won’t sell because the dross that he’s got have nowhere near the market value that he paid for them. So we stagnate, and here we are with yet another world class manager who wishes he’d let the phone ring off.
“On my knees” = Do not read.
I read comments from Ashley Cole about last night’s game and he said Conte is looking frustrated already in interviews. The Levy effect is getting ever more powerful.
Oh God, I hate those articles. I only see the titles but it’s enough to make my blood boil.
Yep, I hold a similar view. We might need to go through a more pain to finally get rid of him. He’s a cancer at the club.
McNulty knows his onions, there seems to be some confusion over the selection of Gollini over Lloris and I notice the questions are getting more difficult to answer for Conte during interviews.
The concern now must be what the club are willing to do to provide this temperamental character with tools he can work with, the dysfunctional nature within the dressing room and above must be close to breaking point, with little hope for a satisfactory conclusion as things are.
I noticed that too. There’s a distinct lack of “many fans react” with “on my knees” and “Levy masterclass” headlines.
Part of me wants him to leave to end up at Man Utd where he is backed and wins something with them while we continue to be mediocre just so that the Levy apologists and the fans that still finance him by going to matches can finally wake up
I’d be stunned if Conte stayed beyond his 18 month contract. It’s inevitable that Levy will not back him financially to the level he requires. Then we shall see how hostile the supporters will be towards baldy. Hopefully most of the Levy apologists will have woken up by then.
Seems most transfer gossip on NewsNow has moved to who we’re buying in the summer now – even the clickbait merchants are losing enthusiasm for this window