So here go again. Elite coaches and elite players are where the action is, where – essentially – all the credibility is. Anything else is bupkis. Nothing in football is so complicated that you and I cannot understand it.
Sky Sports Italia says that Tottenham are in advanced talks with Antonio Conte. That this is the man to replace the void left after José Mourinho was binned.
Let me be clear, I welcome anyone with half a CV, but frankly, I take a view that this all academic unless Daniel Levy decides to trust a coach.
Conte plus maybe this Director Of Football guy Fabio, are appointments that do not vaguely thrill me. Why ought they? Based upon the experience of EVERY other manager at Tottenham, they will have a negligible role in the acquisition of players.
Remember, Pochettino warned of a ‘painful rebuild’ – so if Antonio were appointed – where is the money for that ‘project’?
My heart is heavy, bruised but not beaten. This next chapter needs at least to be more entertaining than the last 3 years.
And that is the ultimate truth. Nothing we can do or say will make any difference to him.
Well, if you’ve got £4 billion lying around then I am fully behind you otherwise there is literally nothing we can do other than throw away all season tickets, not renew, not attend the game, or buy merchandise, except we know none of that will happen.
We can express our views all we like but nothing is going to change until our clown of a chairman changes his modus operandi which also will not happen.
You are pursuing (not trolling then?) me about the same subject, one I am requested to steer clear of. Are you all there?
I like possession football, generally speaking yes. We have yet to see how we play under Conte and how much of the ball we have. He isn’t even the manager yet…
The main point is if his methods are effective, why would anyone not want an effective manager, regardless of the style of play?
It usually is little more than window dressing with Levy, any of it…
There’s free speech, and then there is waffling the same nonsense for months and years like a stuck record
You weren’t being trolled it was an obvious question… You hate the low block. You’re main reason for hating Maureen was his style of play.. Yet Conte plays the same way… You were crying to be entertained with high press and possession based the apparent ‘Spurs way’…. So it’s not the style of play really? Its your feelings about the persons? Nonsensical.
Conte plays with a low block and counter yes. Same as Maureen.. Most Italian coaches are defensive minded but they don’t all play on the counter, many are possession based. Our players would have one third of the ball regardless of manager and tactics… Only the idiots have been banging on about Botch the last week (Alasdair Gold), you’ve been banging on about him years.. It was obvious he wouldn’t leave PSG. And I fully expect him to win ligue 1. Psg had won their league 7 out of 8 previously. Its a one horse league.. Mbappe Neymar and they lost to Lille. You couldn’t name more than one player from Lille before last week.. I am no troll.. And I like Botch.. Ideally I would have Conte as manager, his matey director also in, and Botchy as a coach.. Great coach but his manager skills has left much to be desired.
Conte humble? … Remember Chelsea smashing Manure 5 nil and Conte celebrating as if he won the world cup? Maureen told him to calm down and show some humility.
It is obvious that Conte would want Kane, something I have pointed out previously.
Without doubt, but some form of constructive ideas on top of the moan helps ….maybe !
I agree. However, in order to recognise dysfunction there needs to be acknowledgement of the issue and Levy will never blame himself or his actions for the situation that we are in football-wise.
As for Conte, he’s of the calibre we need, but if Levy is going to continue to do what he has done and not invest in the right players of the quality we need then it’s all window dressing.
I have not listened to Redknapp junior or his opinions on anything tbh.
Yup!!
I didn’t suggest Eriksen, I was trying to diplomatically shoot down someone else’s suggestion.
I wasn’t trying to get anyone specially booked more a general opinion.
Wow. People seem to approve of medical tyranny and bullying?! Good to know.
Maybe Levy is more on the back foot but I want proof in the summer on the transfer front.
Somebody has said that the Mourinho appointment was kept secret and Levy is very secretive but this is taking place in public with Conte on holiday.
I hope this isn’t leading us up the garden path. Conte supposedly demanding Kane must stay before he takes the job.
I think Jose was in a slightly different position in that he had been out of work for a while and his reputation a little tainted. Conte’s stock is at an all time high right now – he will be able to call the shots a bit more IMHO.
This is exactly what was said when Mourinho took the job, it’s wishful thinking by fans, I’ll believe Levy when I see multiple quality players in the summer and the dead beats removed.
I think it’s compulsive behaviour he can’t help himself.
On that basis we may as well give the job to Ryan Mason and save a ton in wages.
FWIW I can’t see a top manager like Conte coming to Tottenham unless he has certain assurances precisely because of his recent experience at Inter and because of Levy’s reputation. A ‘lesser’ manager might just be thankful of a high profile job and take it without such assurances.
If levy could just stop the interference in the football side and treat the football playing side as a subsidiary of the bigger club which he is chairman of, it could make a huge difference.
Funds for players have been the same, sell to spend, its the way it’s been and they way it’s likley to be.
A bigger impact would be is to move on players when the manager wants, like the 7 Pochettino wanted gone after the Champions league final or mourinho wanted last summer.
If a coach is aware of that, I think they’re okay with that.
Yeah, one flat track bully and his six useless accomplices!
That’s an interesting insight, DD.
Yes, the point I have just made a few minutes ago, if not so colourfully! (sh*tshow, it undoubtedly is)
Listen, he only scored against pub sides – and on my side of the argument are Zinedine Zidane and José Mourinho, on yours is you and Jamie Redknapp.
I genuinely think you’re great – I published one of your comments last week! The Mourinho stuff is just nuts!
We can’t do the Klopp approach, however, because we spent all our money on a stadium, don’t you know?
I think we all are in relation to Levy.
Unless, of course, he has seen the errors of his ways. Unlikely.
I’m sorry your heart is heavy, Harry. But, alas, you’re correct that nothing changes until Levy trusts a manager and lets him get on with things without interference from him; on team matters, his input should simply be a yes or no as to whether we can afford a player, which, alas, if he’s any good, we probably can’t ! Personally, like others, I think this planned return of a DOF is just an attempt by Levy to deflect blame from where it really lies…..with him!
While Conte is, on the face of it, an exciting choice, I’m afraid I don’t really see how it can work (or with any other manager) under the bald one; hasn’t Conte left Inter Milan because he isn’t getting the necessary funds, so it seems less than entirely logical that he’s going to be happy with our parsimonious CEO.
We all know what the solution is, the issue is that the problem doesn’t see that he’s the problem.
That’s your job Easty.
I actually that the pennies tell Levy he needs CL football. The penny has dropped so to speak.
And guarenteed when they don’t go ahead with “freedom day” it’ll be the unvaxed who will be to blame.
Off topic, the ramping up of medical apartheid is full on. I saw morning tv actually had a section on “should we ditch unvaxed friends?” and other utter shash in papers. Its lucky Levys demolished WHL cos it looks like I’ll never get in even if I wanted too. Dispicable, evil stuff.
And it doesn’t even stop transmission according to the government. Absolute twonks.
So last week sky were telling everyone Poch was in advanced talks with ENIC….this week they’re telling us Contes in advanced talks with ENIC??….you got Jim White shilling for Levy….”oooooo, wow?! What a statement!?” I’m sure he said that about Jose….
What’s the point? Conte will go the same way as the rest even if he does come, he’ll be fed up in 8 to 12 months and Levy will have to pay off another big contract, and if he does back him, why the @##@ didn’t he back Jose, Poch or Redknapp??
Ridiculous nonsense farce.
I am keen for Conte, although I’d suspect it would be more Mourinho than Poch.
Sin binning for persistent negativity would be good, I am truly grateful for this platform so I have the opportunity to vent but I do prefer a suggested solution with a moan. Although this probably would not be a Tottenham blog if that was the case 😂.
I’d be happy to have Conte. a proven (recent) winner, attacking football (and lots of chances). It kind of combines the best of Poch and Mourinho. True… Conte will probably fall-out with Levy by year 2.. and success is not certain unless Levy gives rope to others in transfer dealings. But… I’m cautiously optimistic if we get Conte.
We need hungry players, no to Eriksen.
And Conte had real problems fitting Eriksen into his 352, so double no.
No, he’s on more money at Inter and when Conte went to Chelsea he didn’t take any players from Italy with him, so forget about Skriniar and Lukaku.
HH. “You are awful, but I like you”
One for the teenagers…
I like Eriksen but he doesn’t fix our problems.
Yet you have continually spread drivel about Gareth Bale, with no concrete evidence to prove his guilt of anything other than wanting to play when fit to do so. He may not have reached the heights some on here expected, but he still managed to contribute to the season, despite his undeniable fitness issues and dealing with a manager with personal problems.
I have always said that Levy is the reason why it didn’t work or go the full term with Jose. The problem is that ENIC/Levy are fully ensconced at Spurs so as fans our only hope is something that can work as best as possible within that dysfunctional environment. That wasn’t Jose, it wasn’t Poch (trophy wise) and I’m doubtful it will be Conte either. Conte has something about him that seems to be part of the current footballing zeitgeist though, will that be enough? Probably not…
Maybe Eriksen will though?
Came
Jose is one of the greatest managers in history, his list of honours is indisputable and I have never denied that. I just didn’t feel he was right for Spurs at the particular juncture at which he was appointed (for several reasons). Despite the manner in which my posts may have been perceived, I only care about the club and what’s good for it. Which is why I’m not a Levy apologist, I also for that reason cake to the conclusion that Jose and Levy was unlikely to work. The club comes first…
Agree, anybody thinking Conte will convince Kane to stay is missing the point, this only works if Kane goes and Conte gets the funds to spend.
When he’s won as much as much as he has, Mourinho can call himself whatever he wants as he’s backed it up. It’s typically Spursy that we’re the only club since he starting his winning spree at Porto that have failed to win anything under his tenure. I wonder why🤔🤔🤔🤔
👍🏻
No.
People are ‘free’ to post what they want — however, a constant drip-drip of inaccurate twaddle is not agreeable.
Additionally, 15 years of doing this have taught me that if you let people post any old toffee on a regular basis, it encourages others of a like mind.
Mourinho’s CV is bulletproof and I am understandably bored with this endless niggling over it which has no basis in reality.
I have tried everything with Easty, the ‘we get you don’t like him’ etc etc button no avail.
Tappa is on gardening leave for a month because he was incapable posting nonsense which just served to rile others, he too was asked politely, many times.
Yet I’m a monster.
Let’s make this a place for rational, intelligent and hopefully funny debate.
You do not achieve that with ‘free speech’ – maybe you, Tappa and East Stand should set up you our place and see how that pans out?
You’re familiar with the concept of hell freezing over, I trust??
Skipp an attacking midfielder?
🤣
Although Conte not know for his patience
This is H’s blog and he can choose who he wants on it. You know what to do if you don’t like it.
😉
352 and the Kane money.
I assume you meant Luiz and he could probably be bought fairly cheap considering City’s buy back clause and could be included in a deal for one of our own.
What is the difference between the Jose appointment and this? The Club needs a root and branch strategy of change when it comes to football. If this is the start I will applaud it, but the cynic in me tells me not to hold my breath.
Blimey, so much for free speech. Thought this was a blog. So generous of you to let him have one more attempt to agree with you.
Better make that 4 windows then!
I agree, I just hope he quickly realises we don’t currently have the players to implement his style( not just the dead wood).
Yeah Mourinho but with 352 😂
It would be an even bigger overhaul as we do not have the type of midfielders and attackers his system uses, on top of the defensive players we already desperately need.
I am wondering when Levy/Lewis will realise that a winning team is worth more in sponsorship, stadium naming rights and sell on value…? All nice to have a big stadium….but we need to be winning and in the CL. i am hoping this is the season and Levy has found some money (which i doubt).
It would be great if that happened but my fear is that they simply aren’t up to the grade required
One thing about being a Spurs fan it’s never boring. My heads spinning with all these comings and goings.
Nice piece David, a force of nature Conte by the sound of it.
……. are there actually images of him with his mouth closed? Down here (Oz) he’d soon fill up with flies with that gaping gob!
If he comes on board, I will not be particularly excited and he’ll have to earn any warmth from me. But as I’ve said before, the real job is not managing a squad/team, its managing Levy.
Ive been referred to as Poch’s ‘lover’ many times which is obviously ridiculous. Therefore there would be no reason that I would suggest that you or anyone else was Jose’s. He certainly divides opinion but as you say, his record speaks for itself. I have never disputed that.
Agree with your point HH, we will only improve if Levy & Co allow the manager to have more than a negligible role in the acquisition of players. If you believe what was said in the Amazon doc, the manager provides a profile of the player he wants and Hitchen comes back with a list of those who fit the profile that he thinks he can get. I much prefer the “I want VVD” route that Klopp took at Liverpool, and he was prepared to wait to get his man.
A genuine question that I have struggled with is what happens when the manager says I want player A, but for whatever reason he is not available / willing to come to Spurs and the manager doesn’t like any of the alternatives offered up? This, according to some ITK I have seen is what happened with Poch.
Poch is gone, Jose has also gone. I was asked a question about why I rate Conte and I responded. Was being trolled and poked for a reaction to ‘why’ I like Conte v Jose. Let’s see how he does in Levy Land. It will probably all end in tears as it has done for the last 22 years anyway…
Humble, that’s what I like about him. Takes no prisoners but I doubt he’d ever call himself ‘special’…
Good salary?
‘deadwood/clique’
Mason’s mates, the ones who contributed to the demise of Maureen.
‘The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over, and then expecting different results,’ Einstein famously proclaimed.
This applies to Levy who like politicians seem to be accountable to no-one but themselves.
You indulge Poch endlessly yet make it your primary concern to denigrate Mourinho at every turn. I correct you and suddenly I’m his lover.
This is how this works for you?
Get this into your head, it is not Mourinho’s fault that he has won silverware everywhere he went bar Tottenham.
It is not Mourinho’s fault that if he died tomorrow, Pochettino still couldn’t equal his records.
6 years since Mourinho won a league title. So that means it doesn’t count?
And for future reference, in my campaign against disinformation all future imaginary nonsense such as “We’ll let Poch win Ligue 1 next season to add to the French Cup and have another crack at the Champions League and people like you can continue to be in denial about the fact he’s won stuff. If it makes you happy…” will be deleted on sight.
You’ve been peddling this narrative for months, in light of which, I’ll be generous and say you have one strike left, and then you’re gone for good.
Set up your own blog churn out stuff that isn’t just disrespectful but wholly inaccurate – but at least then I won’t have to read it
nor will my readers that I work bloody hard to bring here for sanity.
Is it true that he left Inter, as the club has implemented a strategy of selling some big ticket players; promoting youth; and knocking 20% of their wage bill? If so, why the fluck would he want to sign up to our sh*tshow?
Maybe he will come management what he was and make winners out of them. A manager that player possesion base football is a first step. Not mu first choice, but like Jose, he gets my vote till Christmas all bets off.
Does Levy either understand what he says about football or even read it?
Not sure all the squad are shirkers, I think most realise how Levy operates and they eventually lose interest. It took Eriksen over half a year to get his career back on track. Even Foyth has come good.
Except Levy is definite for regular CL football. He will spend to achieve that, that is his metric of success.
If Conte comes in it will be imperative that the deadwood/clique that undermined Jose need to be shifted. No ifs, buts or maybes. Get them out!
Conte has a reputation for ruffling feathers and we have too many candy bar pansies on the books. Conte will demand that his players are men, not boys. Men who will graft and fight for every ball and leave everything on the pitch.
He will come in with his own ethos and everyone will need to jump on board with it.
It’s going to take a minimum of 2 windows before we start to see a new squad that reflects what out squad will ultimately be. Unfortunately we will need to be patient (again) and give the club time to sell on the trash and slowly bring in CONTES choices.
These past few weeks have been horrible for the club but if they’ve served any benefit is that everyone has clarity now. For the first time I’m seeing spurs fans all agree on the big problems. Levy has hidden behind his fanboys over the years but now he really has nowhere to go.
Here’s to hoping that he does the right thing.
Ivano Della Morte, Juve’s youth team coach when Conte was manager
Conte’s like a tsunami, he drags everybody with him’
“I had a very good relationship with Antonio, he was very friendly and always available for a chat or to listen to any suggestions.
“I was lucky because the training camp of the first team was close to where I trained the youth team. Watching him training is one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life.
“It was obvious he would become one of the best in the world, not only because of his ideas but because he was able to let his players understand that if they followed him, they win.
“When he arrived at Juventus the team had finished seventh two seasons in a row, but from the first day he said: ‘I am here to win and we will win.’
“That would be crazy for anyone else, but it’s normal for Antonio. He’s very convinced about his work. He’s like a tsunami, he drags the club, staff, team, players, everybody with him.
“I remember once a defeat he showed us (other Juve coaches) the errors made by the players. The match was played one week before but he still was angry. He was saying: ‘It’s not possible, it’s unbelievable.’
“I think that this way of considering each defeat like a death is his secret.
“I am not surprised he won the title, maybe he did it quicker than expected, but I consider him the best trainer in the world, nobody is like him.
“And by the way he’s the most humble person I’ve ever known in my life”.
By Sergio Stanco [19/05/17]
That’s Levy…….. always up for a two-for-one deal!
Left a club because they are selling their best players to one that has a history of it. Clearly Conte follows the lira.
Marbella Spur mentioned on another blog that this will all end in tears, yet another false dawn. It’s Bale sold and Baldini in to spend that money all over again with Kane sold and a DOF to spend the money. Another magnificent seven eh?
It’s ok, Jose’s shoulders are as broad as he likes to portray them…
Oh dear. Heartbreak for Dele 😢
Conte plays on the counter (most Italian coaches do) but he doesn’t let the opposition have the ball for two thirds of the games a we did half then time under Jose, often to no good effect.
Secondly Conte has won major honours recently, it’s been SIX years years since Maureen won a league title. He won the League Cup and the Dopey FOUR years ago at Utd, which was small fry for them to be fair.
When have I been ‘banging on about’ Poch? You mean referring to Levy approaching him. the only thing anyone else has been talking about over the last week or so?
We’ll let Poch win Ligue 1 next season to add to the French Cup and have another crack at the the Champions League and people like you can continue to be in denial about the fact he’s won stuff. If it makes you happy…
Why do you rate Conte? He plays with a low block, and counter attack, his teams often sit deep. He is moodier than Maureen.. Not the ‘entertaining’ spurs way.. He is in a similar mould to Maureen.. I can’t believe you’re still banging on about Botch above man, obsessed with him.
LOL
Conte and a new director is exactly what we need.. Levy has to support them which begs to be seen.. Huge fan of Conte here.. First choice for me for weeks now, I didn’t think he would give us the time of day.
True.
Footballs a funny old game, there is little long or even medium term planning on the park wise like in a normal business,because you churm players in a squad to some extent every year.
Just think how unforgiving fans were with Jose (even begrudgingly giving praise after the city wins) even though he said it would be a number of transfer windows to get this squad in a place to challenge.