The Conte Thread

[It's too big 625]

You know the one thing that always bugs me a little is when people say he did poorly with that Juventus team he had. Okay, so I didn't follow them in the CL during his tenure, however, how good was that Juve side and should he have done better? At the end of the day, the CL is a tough competition to win and it's all about fortune in the draws too. Can someone enlighten me on this? Obviously winning the CL (once we get back into it, of course) would be a big aim for us while Conte is in charge at the club, so I just want to be assured that we will be able to challenge on all fronts under him. 

[bababoom 4,478]

14 hours ago, Jason said:

The only time we appeared to have a genuine plan when changing formation to chase the win was in that home win against PSG 2 years ago.

And even then the tactics were to just lump the ball in the box and hope something materialises, Allardyce and Pulis would have been proud.

[Jase 43,479]

3 minutes ago, James said:

And even then the tactics were to just lump the ball in the box and hope something materialises, Allardyce and Pulis would have been proud.

You could say the same when Conte changed to a 4-4-2 on Monday. The approach might have been extremely basic but the key thing was we didn't panic and were calm enough to execute the plan.

[Tomo 21,733]

1 hour ago, It's too big said:

You know the one thing that always bugs me a little is when people say he did poorly with that Juventus team he had. Okay, so I didn't follow them in the CL during his tenure, however, how good was that Juve side and should he have done better? At the end of the day, the CL is a tough competition to win and it's all about fortune in the draws too. Can someone enlighten me on this? Obviously winning the CL (once we get back into it, of course) would be a big aim for us while Conte is in charge at the club, so I just want to be assured that we will be able to challenge on all fronts under him. 

He had two CL campaigns, his second one he got knocked out of the group stage so should have done better but his first one he can't have any blame attached, he went to the quarter final and lost to Bayern Munich, no one was beating that Bayern team and the next round they smashed Barca 7-0. 

It's worth remembering Fergie was awful in cups until the mid 00's but then picked it up, i'm not saying Conte is going to be here 26 years or be as good but he at Juve seemed a bit similar mould, the league's the bread and butter, sort that out and the cup's will take care of themselves, which is what i like, i hate it when managers like Rafa (at Liverpool) and Carlo see the league as secondary to the CL, you could be steaking the success of you're season on one game, one moment even.

[Unionjack 7,531]

You can bet yer sweet bippy that conversation has already been n gone with Roman. He wants more than anything to get that bit of silver again and I bet its something Conte would kill for.

It wouldnt take us much IMHO to be in a position where we could go up against anyone and have a good chance but its getting those few players we desperately need. I dont think Roman would turn round and say Oh fuck that we dont need to replace such n such. Hes got to trust Conte to deliver and I think he does.

But my glass is always half full. I'll have a Guinness ta!

[bababoom 4,478]

58 minutes ago, Jason said:

You could say the same when Conte changed to a 4-4-2 on Monday. The approach might have been extremely basic but the key thing was we didn't panic and were calm enough to execute the plan.

Not really, yes the goal came from a long ball to Batshuayi but that was really the only time we really went direct. Straight away when we changed to the 4-2-4 the wingers hugged the touchline to stretch the game and get crosses into the box, it just happens that Kante and Matic were struggling to play the ball out hence the reason we went direct for the goal. 

[Jase 43,479]

12 hours ago, James said:

Not really, yes the goal came from a long ball to Batshuayi but that was really the only time we really went direct. Straight away when we changed to the 4-2-4 the wingers hugged the touchline to stretch the game and get crosses into the box, it just happens that Kante and Matic were struggling to play the ball out hence the reason we went direct for the goal. 

But the overall plan was still basic and direct - go direct from back to front quickly or get the ball wide and put crosses into the box. We didn't really do that before we changed to 4-4-2.

In any case, it's good that we actually have a Plan B, a different approach to when things aren't working well, basic or not, and that we don't actually panic in executing the plan, unlike what we have seen in the past.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

And neither is Koulibaly expected to be #Chelsea’s final big signing, with the club still in the market for another striker. [Telegraph]

[Gilvorak 3,734]

I truly hope we fail in our pursuit for a 3rd striker because no top team is playing with 2 9's. I know Conte favours workrate over technique first and foremost but he seriously doesn't believe we have enough creativity in our side right? If Hazard gets injured we are well & truly done for.

 

We've been linked with CB's & strikers all summer but not fullbacks, AM hybrids or wingers. Looks like we'll be the same exact team we've been for the last 3 seasons, a workmanlike side utterly reliant on one player.

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

 

the more strikers you have on the pitch, the more chances of scoring more goals if the other striker or strikers are struggling to score/scoring or having a bad day.

 

but I like these 2 formations ( 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 ) , but I don't know if it will suit the Chelsea players we have.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

1 hour ago, Gilvorak said:

I truly hope we fail in our pursuit for a 3rd striker because no top team is playing with 2 9's. I know Conte favours workrate over technique first and foremost but he seriously doesn't believe we have enough creativity in our side right? If Hazard gets injured we are well & truly done for.

 

We've been linked with CB's & strikers all summer but not fullbacks, AM hybrids or wingers. Looks like we'll be the same exact team we've been for the last 3 seasons, a workmanlike side utterly reliant on one player.

The second striker in Conte formation was creative player - either Vucinic, whose passing was excellent, or Tevez. I just cannot sensibly understand what is with these links with Lukaku.

You still think that James is not for Conte liking ? We basically defend with strict 7 players so the 4 left should be of highest attacking skills. We won't cut it with 1-2 players.

 

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I realy hope he bonds the team together. We have been playing like bunch of individuals with little connection between for a while now. If Conte can somehow unite the team, it would be all I want in his first season. Build pillars then bring in the missing pieces.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

1 hour ago, Gilvorak said:

We've been linked with CB's & strikers all summer but not fullbacks, AM hybrids or wingers.

Yeah, I'm resigned to the fact it's going to Oscar, Matic and Willian as our midfield mainstays because we're not linked to anyone else in that area of the pitch. Cuadrado wants to go back, so I guess Pedro and MOSES is staying.The only way I see us signing someone there is if Fabregas leaves, which I don't think will happen because I'm sure he's earning good wages with us lol. 

Ivanovic, it seems, we'll continue to be our predominant right-back at the ever increasing age of 32. One sort of thinks Conte will be blooding in Aina, which I guess we can live with because hey the kid could come through and become an actual first team graduate - stranger things have happened.

A lot of people expect by January or after, Zouma and Koulibaly (should we sign him) will replace Terry & Cahill in defence. Don't think it's happening to be honest, but I hope to be surprised! 

[Gilvorak 3,734]

51 minutes ago, Blue Colored Sky said:

The second striker in Conte formation was creative player - either Vucinic, whose passing was excellent, or Tevez. I just cannot sensibly understand what is with these links with Lukaku.

You still think that James is not for Conte liking ? We basically defend with strict 7 players so the 4 left should be of highest attacking skills. We won't cut it with 1-2 players.

 

I think like the Mahrez rumours the James links aren't actually serious. Seems like our two major targets are Koulibaly & Lukaku. Conte seems content with the rest of the team.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

23 minutes ago, LDN Blue said:

Yeah, I'm resigned to the fact it's going to Oscar, Matic and Willian as our midfield mainstays because we're not linked to anyone else in that area of the pitch. Cuadrado wants to go back, so I guess Pedro and MOSES is staying.The only way I see us signing someone there is if Fabregas leaves, which I don't think will happen because I'm sure he's earning good wages with us lol. 

Ivanovic, it seems, we'll continue to be our predominant right-back at the ever increasing age of 32. One sort of thinks Conte will be blooding in Aina, which I guess we can live with because hey the kid could come through and become an actual first team graduate - stranger things have happened.

A lot of people expect by January or after, Zouma and Koulibaly (should we sign him) will replace Terry & Cahill in defence. Don't think it's happening to be honest, but I hope to be surprised! 

 

6 years ago we could put out a lineup of

 

Malouda Drogba Anelka

Lampard Ballack Essien

Cole Terry Carvalho Ivanovic

Cech

 

How many of the current bunch would get into that team?

[LDN Blue 7,903]

21 minutes ago, Gilvorak said:

How many of the current bunch would get into that team?

That's true, but then you get into the whole what our team should look like had we kept the players Mourinho sold off subsequently.

It's this point you've made which is why I'm nervous about this season, we've only got domestic competition to really occupy us so in that sense the potential for things going wrong reduces (i.e. I'd rather lose to bloody West Brom than see us get dumped out the CL for playing this embarrassment). 

Should make things a bit easier for Hazard too, one would think. But since we're adamant on not providing him any support I wouldn't be surprised if he starts well and gradually burns out. 

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

 

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Is a player like Hazard bulking up a good idea though? You wouldn't want him to lose his agility & speed.