The Conte Thread

[Jype 6,398]

Conte: 'Matic is an important player for me, a very important player. In my idea of football he is an important player and he knows this. N’Golo, Nemanja, Cesc, Oscar, Chalobah and Mikel who is in the Olympics, it is not easy to choose. I want to have this problem.'

Couple of things I noticed in that comment. First of all no mention of RLC there and considering the position he's played so far in pre-season, does Conte really not see him as a central midfielder? And second, it's starting to look increasingly likely that Chalobah is staying with the first team squad this season, which would be really fantastic if you ask me. 

[Jase 43,479]

11 minutes ago, Jype said:

Conte: 'Matic is an important player for me, a very important player. In my idea of football he is an important player and he knows this. N’Golo, Nemanja, Cesc, Oscar, Chalobah and Mikel who is in the Olympics, it is not easy to choose. I want to have this problem.'

Couple of things I noticed in that comment. First of all no mention of RLC there and considering the position he's played so far in pre-season, does Conte really not see him as a central midfielder? And second, it's starting to look increasingly likely that Chalobah is staying with the first team squad this season, which would be really fantastic if you ask me. 

I think it's high-time we build a statue for Mikel. He's going to outlast everyone at the club.

[Diego 433]

29 minutes ago, Jype said:

Conte: 'Matic is an important player for me, a very important player. In my idea of football he is an important player and he knows this. N’Golo, Nemanja, Cesc, Oscar, Chalobah and Mikel who is in the Olympics, it is not easy to choose. I want to have this problem.'

Couple of things I noticed in that comment. First of all no mention of RLC there and considering the position he's played so far in pre-season, does Conte really not see him as a central midfielder? And second, it's starting to look increasingly likely that Chalobah is staying with the first team squad this season, which would be really fantastic if you ask me. 

I wouldn't over analyse to be honest.

[Pizy 18,891]

Looks like confirmation as well that he wants Oscar to be a midfielder in the center of the pitch rather than in an advanced position. What I've been crying out to see for a couple of years.

[Tomo 21,751]

1 hour ago, Jype said:

Conte: 'Matic is an important player for me, a very important player. In my idea of football he is an important player and he knows this. N’Golo, Nemanja, Cesc, Oscar, Chalobah and Mikel who is in the Olympics, it is not easy to choose. I want to have this problem.'

Couple of things I noticed in that comment. First of all no mention of RLC there and considering the position he's played so far in pre-season, does Conte really not see him as a central midfielder? And second, it's starting to look increasingly likely that Chalobah is staying with the first team squad this season, which would be really fantastic if you ask me. 

Our English quota is on its last legs, Terry will probably be gone next summer and Cahill is hopefully a squad player from here on in, i think that is almost forcing Conte's hand to use the academy, not that I'm complaining per se, just as long as the players promoted have potential to be Chelsea level.

56 minutes ago, Jason said:

I think it's high-time we build a statue for Mikel. He's going to outlast everyone at the club.

I don't think Conte actually likes Mikel as a player, id be surprised if he gets a new deal and will probably be subjected to the role Kalou got under AVB, ie as few minutes as possible.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,071]

21 hours ago, Jype said:

...it's starting to look increasingly likely that Chalobah is staying with the first team squad this season, which would be really fantastic if you ask me. 

I have to admit that it's been a very long time since I felt Nate had Chelsea chances. In fact, I have been suggesting it would be best if he was allowed to leave.To be fair to the lad however,  his preseason form has not come out of the blue; he was good in Austria, but he was brilliant in Toulon. Fingers crossed that this is an indication of where his game is now and not just a misleading patch of form.

[Special Juan 28,141]

The problem being is in the past some of the so called fringe players have done well in pre-season but the 'old favorites' outlook always seem to come in. I'm a massive believer in taking a chance on someone if they show real worth, and if this is the case with Nate then fucking do it.

I'm also seeing and hearing things from Conte that indicates to me that we are a million miles away from what Mourinho wanted and who he wanted 'around'

[Tautvix 1,321]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3709645/Antonio-Conte-expresses-concern-crazy-transfer-market-believes-important-maintain-passion.html

I agree with Conte that market has gone crazy but I don't think we can win the league with this team anyway. We still must spend something especially on defenders.

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

9 minutes ago, Tautvix said:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3709645/Antonio-Conte-expresses-concern-crazy-transfer-market-believes-important-maintain-passion.html

I agree with Conte that market has gone crazy but I don't think we can win the league with this team anyway. We still must spend something especially on defenders.

I hope a top/very good center-back joins us. If we don't sign any CB and Conte somehow manages to win the league with this shambolic defence, he deserves a statue right beside Ossie.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,071]

1 minute ago, Hybrid Angel said:

I hope a top/very good center-back joins us. If we don't sign any CB and Conte somehow manages to win the league with this shambolic defence, he deserves a statue right beside Ossie.

Presumeably after Jose's has been completed?

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

1 minute ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Presumeably after Jose's has been completed?

Lets not kid ourselves here, Ivanovic then was nowhere near as bad as he is now. Cahill you could argue is still the same, but Terry has regressed massively since our title-winning campaign. Not to mention that in the second half of the season Jose very often set up the team very deeply which really suited Cahill and Terry. I don't think they will get the same privileges in Conte's high pressing system.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,071]

disagree about Brana & JT Even with no further signings this squad is superior to the one with which Jose won the league. As for sitting deep, it's to the credit of good manager that he uses a shape which gives his team the best chance to win.

[Persona 29]

2 hours ago, Tautvix said:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3709645/Antonio-Conte-expresses-concern-crazy-transfer-market-believes-important-maintain-passion.html

I agree with Conte that market has gone crazy but I don't think we can win the league with this team anyway. We still must spend something especially on defenders.

Did anyone else read his quotes in his voice or was it just me?

[Fernando 6,585]

This is what he said and left me thinking:

"Also, Kante was a target for Chelsea, my target, Chelsea's target. It's important that we close these operations.

 

My target? He didn't said the same thing about Bats.....

[The Chels 2,502]

At 1:13 Conte says he has two ideas for our system of play (formation). I wonder if he's referring to 4-2-4 and 4-4-2 or whether he's hinting at something different like 4-3-3.