The Conte Thread

[Kostas 1,468]

Do we have a function to view the most "liked" posts in a thread? I've unfortunately not been able to watch a single 90 this season and have yet to form my mind one way or the other about him. Alternatively, could anyone describe the main pro and contra camps (it's never too early for those to form)?

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

4 hours ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

There's no evidence Pep actually "said" that. You can't take what the media says as face value fact. What Pep actually said about our side (and the only thing I've heard him say about Chelsea so far) is that together with Liverpool, we're up there with his team challenging for the title. He said that AFTER Liverpool outclassed us at the Bridge and obviously before the formation and personnel changes. He obviously saw the potential in our squad.

He also said Conte was an underrated signing for us in his introductory press conference as City manager. Bottom line is he never said we need 10 players. If anything, he's been complementary.

Right, I picked that up from around these parts, actually.  I suppose that's what I get.

Cheers.

[Cosmin 2,484]

2 hours ago, Kostas said:

I've unfortunately not been able to watch a single 90 this season and have yet to form my mind one way or the other about him.

Highlights:

1. first six games - a little shaky, we lost against Liverpool and Arsenal, a few people were already moaning - 2. Antonio implements the 3-4-3 system, drops Oscar, Fabregas, Ivanovic, gives Pedro and Moses chances, Alonso and Luiz become starters, Diego Costa turns into an angelito - 3. Five consecutive wins, 16 goals scored, 0 conceded, battered Hull, the champions Leicester, Mourinho's United, the undefeated at home since February Soton and 6th in the league Everton. Now, everybody loves him. 

And dude, really, if you haven't been able to watch these games, I am very sorry for you. My advice would be to do the impossible if necessarry, in order to watch the next game  

____________

Someone was saying that we still need reinforcements and I agree with him. I'd also like to add that, if we keep playing and winning like this, it will be much easier to attract players. They will beg their clubs to be allowed to sign for us. Who wouldn't want to play for such a strong and beautiful team with such a fantastic manager? 

[quickpassnmove 924]

13 hours ago, Blue-in-me-Veins said:

I'll just leave this here. 

Must be voting for Trump. Alternate reality nihilist

[TheIceMan 596]

6 hours ago, Blue-in-me-Veins said:

Thanks for the new Avi. 👌

Had it long before You! 

[Polo7 3,496]

David Luiz was in Evertons box at some point yesterday and all you could hear was Conte shouting "David, David, David", Luiz then runs back to our own box lol. 

[Unionjack 7,531]

I would dearly love to see a vid of Roman thru the last fre games. Hes a real football fan as well as loving the club he owns. I saw that small bit of him in during the game and that grin was as big as mine.

He also deserves a clap and a song after what he has done for us. Roman and the Don seem to have a good relationship and thats good for us.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

We have sold the bus and bought a train

[Rekin 835]

I have followed Chelsea for a really long time, and yet I am not sure I have ever seen the club this consistently dominant. Sure, I have seen many great performances, where we have either attacked with great ferocity, or where we have avoided putting a foot wrong in the defence, but to utterly nullify the other team to a point where you forget there are two halves on the pitch while combining beautifully in the attack? Mourinhos first season is probably the closest thing, or Ancelottis first season at times. Of course, those two managed that over a season more or less, our current run is 5 games which is not enough yet to draw too many conclusions. I feel we are very vulnerable to injuries, which is why I think January will be crucial for a title challenge. 

 

Lukaku is one of the best strikers in the league, and Barkley is very talented. Ibra and Pogba are some of the best players in the world. Soton away is never an easy game, and Leicester are the current champions. These are not easy teams, they are all top8 teams that are more than capable of stealing points away from any other team. Not only have we beaten them, but we have utterly dominated them. Their strikers have basically not seen any screen time since they are always out of frame. How much of the ball did Lukaku see yesterday?

I am truly impressed. We are combining attacking fury with a defence of steel. We benefit from individual efforts, but also from excellent team-play. Players who have been out of form are suddenly on fire. Conte has been exactly what we needed.

 

It is important to not get carried away though. Our streak will end, at some points we will let in some goals, and lose some games. It is important that the team is capable of bouncing back, and not thinking themselves invincible. I simply cannot see our form continue as we are so dominant, it always stops at some point. For now I am just going to enjoy it. 
Other team supporters say we will be found out, but I do not think our strength lies in some intricate team strategy. The players are simply working extremely hard, understand their tactical roles, while the formation is adapted to the strength of the players. This might be one of the few times over the last 10+ years where I do not see an obvious hole in the squad. I think Matic, Pedro and Cahill are the most obvious candidates for upgrades, but even then it is not because they are bad, but because they are not concistent in high performances (although they have been excellent lately). 

 

 

[DYC. 7,542]

Conte is 'inspiring' football with the 3-4-3. Already been copied a few times this season. Now Spurs.

Wheter it's food, fashion, cars, art, architecture or football, Italians don't know how to not set trends.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

10 minutes ago, DYC. said:

Conte is 'inspiring' football with the 3-4-3. Already been copied a few times this season. Now Spurs.

Wheter it's food, fashion, cars, art, architecture or football, Italians don't know how to not set trends.

Doesn't make sense.  They've got the top defence (statistically) in the league.  Why change?

Some of our attacking moves were a little disjointed in the first few weeks after the switch.  It's obviously quite difficult to pick it up straight away. 

[manpe 10,861]

6 minutes ago, Sideshow Luiz said:

Doesn't make sense.  They've got the top defence (statistically) in the league.  Why change?

Some of our attacking moves were a little disjointed in the first few weeks after the switch.  It's obviously quite difficult to pick it up straight away. 

Because they want to be us, but can't be us 

[DYC. 7,542]

4 minutes ago, Sideshow Luiz said:

Doesn't make sense.  They've got the top defence (statistically) in the league.  Why change?

Some of our attacking moves were a little disjointed in the first few weeks after the switch.  It's obviously quite difficult to pick it up straight away. 

No Alli, Lamela and Sissoko so sacrifice one attacking player for a defensive player, which gives the fullbacks license to get forward and provide width? I don't know.

That's the thing with tactical changes. When it works, you're brilliant. When it doesn't, you're foolish.

Losing at the Emirates is always a strong possibility to be fair, regardless of your system.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

2 minutes ago, manpe said:

Because they want to be us, but can't be us 

Keep the "switch to 343 is magic" articles coming.  It's worked out well for us, but it's really the hard work that the players are putting in on the training pitch that's making it work.  In the first couple of weeks the signs were there, but you could see some players getting in each other's way in attacking moves, not quite knowing exactly what to do.  We're looking more fluid every week.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

1 minute ago, DYC. said:

No Alli, Lamela and Sissoko so sacrifice one attacking player for a defensive player, which gives the fullbacks license to get forward and provide width? I don't know.

That's the thing with tactical changes. When it works, you're brilliant. When it doesn't, you're foolish.

Losing at the Emirates is always a strong possibility to be fair, regardless of your system.

That's kind of the thing though.  It seems to be very difficult to pick up for an odd match here and there.  It needs to be drilled on the training pitch.  You'd be better off keeping it the same and filling in for missing players.  When you've only conceded 5 goals in the league, just keep it the same.  Now, need Spurs to score, draw is the best result for us.