The Conte Thread

[manpe 10,855]

12 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

Very close to a new deal apparently.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/10794543/antonio-conte-close-to-agreeing-new-chelsea-contract

So we extend his contract some half a year in and a few months later scrap that whole thing and offer a new contract? I don't understand it, what was the point of extending then?

[Unionjack 7,531]

13 hours ago, manpe said:

So we extend his contract some half a year in and a few months later scrap that whole thing and offer a new contract? I don't understand it, what was the point of extending then?

Not just extending tho. he's getting more dosh

 

Found this interesting report from a few weels back

The Inside Track: Explaining Antonio Conte’s Post-Game Behaviours

http://www.umaxit.com/index.php/columns/the-inside-track-explaining-antonio-contes-post-game-behaviours

[Cosmin 2,484]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/08/antonio-conte-chelsea-new-contract

Antonio Conte and Chelsea set to agree new contract beyond 2019

[Unionjack 7,531]

Press confrence 1;30

http://origin-www.chelseafc.com/videos/chelseatvlive.html

[Tautvix 1,321]

I am just afraid that Conte may rest some players which would be a huge mistake to do. Just play our best team.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,773]

47 minutes ago, Tautvix said:

I am just afraid that Conte may rest some players which would be a huge mistake to do. Just play our best team.

Nothing can be told from that comment. It's what he says in almost every press conference. The exceptions have been when he intends to put out a squad team. On those occasions he has trailed that fact at the presser. No trail this time and I'm betting no rotation either. From the moment the draw was made there has been no doubt in my mind that he would go strong for this game.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Ibra banned for 3 matches, that means he wont play us on monday?

[Unionjack 7,531]

I understand reporters,media guys are paid for getting and putting different spins on the same old shite 99% of others in their place are doing but Conte (and all other managers) must get royaslly pissed off by the same questions week after week. They know by now Conte wouuld never comment about another players future or try to comment about how that players thoughts are. He also wont comment on future tactics,formations or players in future teams. Yet they continue to ask them, wording said questions in different ways.

And to try to ask him what he thinks about how vinegar tits has been treated or about mind games with Mou well you know they wont get answers they are hoping for.

It must be like getting blood out of a stone.

[Unionjack 7,531]

2 minutes ago, BlueLyon said:

Ibra banned for 3 matches, that means he wont play us on monday?

On one hand I like playing teams at both sides full strengths as it gives the other manager no excuses (unless its Mou of course and he will find one somehow)

But as this cunt is their most dangerous (in more ways than one) player then its big time in our favour. Be like playing Spuds without the king spud Kane.IMHO.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,773]

On 10/03/2017 at 3:26 PM, BlueLyon said:

Ibra banned for 3 matches, that means he wont play us on monday?

Yep definitely out.

[Jase 43,479]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/mar/11/jose-mourinho-antonio-conte-chelsea-manchester-united-fa-cup?CMP=share_btn_tw

Good piece that.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,773]

1 hour ago, Jason said:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/mar/11/jose-mourinho-antonio-conte-chelsea-manchester-united-fa-cup?CMP=share_btn_tw

Good piece that.

What he said about Barca's comeback is spot on.

[The Skipper 20,593]

We have an amazing opportunity to grow into a true European elite for the next 5 years if we get our signings right this summer. Conte has been a magnificent appointment, and I genuinely can't wait to see what he can do when he has better players in the side. It's truly incredible how he's managed to guide the team 10 points clear. Absolute winner. He's managed to do so whilst sort of integrating some of the academy guys as squad players as well. At managerial level we're truly set with one of the best. Now it's time to give him the right players.

In my opinion, we need to upgrade on 4 positions next summer. CM, LWB, RWB, RF. So essentially an upgrade on Matic/Fabregas, Alonso, Moses and Pedro. We do this successfully and we're set.

Realistically, there are a few options for us this summer. There seems to be a mix of top players and up and coming superstars available next summer from particular leagues and teams that I feel we should raid. Specifically the French league which is bursting full of talent right now.

At CM, I would look into getting Kante a partner that is a lot more complete defensively and offensively. I would rather them be more inclined towards the latter though due to Kante's defensive ability in midfield. The players I have in mind that are possibly attainable are Tolisso, Naby Keita and maybe Bakayoko. Maybe a cheeky bid for Renato Sanches who hasn't settled at Bayern at all? The pipe dream would be Verratti though.

At WB, Alonso and Moses have done very well this season as a couple but they aren't good enough if we want to be a top European side. Of course, they stay and provide crucial squad depth (which we severely lack in the position). I would look at getting in Semedo from Benfica the most, he is a top top full back. Maybe look at other options like Aurier? Cancelo? On the left, again there aren't that many exciting players available but I heard we're interested in Lemar, who plays LM at Monaco. Maybe could be converted into a LWB, would be a very interesting option. We can also possibly take a plunge on one of the best young English talents to come through recently, Ryan Sessegnon, who at 16 would need a few years to bed in but he is doing very well at Fulham at the moment and starts regularly now. Maybe Grimaldo from Benfica is an option too.

RF is where it gets fun. We have loads of options here, there are many young talents or even superstars available that we could get. Pedro is doing a magnificent job this season, close to being CPOTY for me. However, he is 31 later this year and we need to invest into that position for the future. If we could manage to steal Alexis, that would be fantastic. Bernardo Silva would be excellent too. Then you have someone like Mbappe which would be a ridiculous statement. Maybe make a huge offer for Ousmane Dembele. The sort of player we need to have there needs to have the 'Pedro profile' if anything in my opinion. You can even look at possibly getting in strikers like Lacazette or Aubameyang who could perform really well in that Pedro role, Anelka style. So someone with a goal scorers mentality when in the box and good off the ball movement.

That potentially gives us a team of:

Courtois

Azpi Luiz Christensen

Semedo Kante Tolisso Grimaldo

Mbappe Costa Hazard

That above is a truly exciting side, and should be pretty achievable next season in my opinion. Hopefully we can make even bigger signings though, you never know. The squad depth would be ridiculous as well with guys like Fabregas, Pedro, Willian, Moses, Ake etc. to call on.

Good times ahead hopefully, as long as the board and Conte don't mess up the summer transfer window. We need to spend big, because our competitors will. City and United, and Arsenal and Liverpool potentially too. The PL is going to be exciting next season. This is highly optimistic and idealistic but don't see why we can't be. We'll be champions with a lot of cash to spend.

[Spike 12,049]

That's a lot of transfers.

[The Skipper 20,593]

2 minutes ago, Spike said:

That's a lot of transfers.

Only 4?

[OhForAGreavsie 5,773]

Completely agree that an ambitious summer needs to be attempted, and attempted in exactly the positions @The Skipper suggests. Four top signings in one extremely competitive, and extremely expensive, window will take some doing however.

[Henrique 9,133]

On 10/03/2017 at 11:00 AM, Tautvix said:

I am just afraid that Conte may rest some players which would be a huge mistake to do. Just play our best team.

I don't think that will be a mistake, actually that will the right thing to do.

[Henrique 9,133]

5 hours ago, The Skipper said:

Only 4?

I'm glad you are not the one behind transfer market, because the team you created isn't any better than the current starting XI. lol

In my books Azpi should not be playing as a CB next season. He is doing great this season, but he is not a CB. Alonso is miles better than Moses, and I can see he becoming a better player in the future, while game after game I get more convinced that Moses is ultra limited.

I do agree we need someone else in attack and in the mid, but for CL football we should be looking more to an Arturo Vidal or Xabi Alonso kind of signing than getting a bunch of u23 from League 1. The current squad lacks European experience and is more likely to produce a PSG horror show than emulate the heroics of 11/12 season.

The core of this squad were part of the past 4 mediocre UCL seasons, and even Hazard is yet to produce a great performance in a big game in Europe, and the reason for that, imo, is the transfer policy after 2012, when it seems the club is only interest in getting u23 players.