The Conte Thread

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

4 minutes ago, Ledgi said:

If anyone else remembers in one of his first pressers (maybe his second if I'm nor mistaken) as Chelsea manager he talked about how the team is fitted for the 3-4-3.

I'm just curious why he didn't start the season with it. He just didn't want to make this change from the beginning? 

And tbh I don't think we tried during our pre-season games. 

Think it is because his preferred formation was always 4-2-4. This is how he started when he first got into the managerial role. Lots of people consider the three at the back formation to be somehow of a Conte trademark, but the truth is that he's changed to 3-5-2 at Juventus only because of the lack of quality wingers and the fact that he had three very good centre backs that he wanted to use all at the same time. It payed off in the end at Juventus and it pays off once again at Chelsea because this 3-4-3 seems to be tailor made for our team.

[Fernando 6,586]

1 hour ago, Blue-in-me-Veins said:

I tried to tell you fam. Conte coaches passing patterns, and always tries to position players so they have 2/3 passing options. Conte wants to exert his will over the opposition, by holding the ball and if having lost it, win the ball back quickly through actualy coordinated pressing movements. 

If Conte was given £150M like Pep and JM, or atleast just got Nainngolan & Koulibaly. We'd be in a much better space. But with The likes of Pedro, Matic, Cahill, Oscar Alonso, and even Moses who luckily for us has been balling so far (thank God), it's always going to be an uphill battle. 

Atleast the team are slowly mirroring Conte on the pitch, and taking well to his instructions.

yeah he fucked up big vs Arsenal/Liverpool but that was bound to happen as he tries to understand the League and our players strengths/weaknesses. But the calls to sack him or deem him unfit for the position were uncalled for, and baseless.

Long may the 3-4-3 lead to happy matchdays. 

I wish we go back for Nainngolan but I think that train has passed. The guy don't want to leave Roma. 

Koulibaly on the other hand yes, but it will cost too much money right now. Don't know if we will go back for him, but we shall see. 

One thing is for sure, if we keep it up and make top 4, which as of today we are, we will have much easier recruiting done next summer. Winning the PL of course will make it more easy but one step at a time. Finishing top 4 was the goal and so far we are there. 

[BoyBlue96 990]

The next objective for him is to keep the players down on earth. This 4-0 win on United is delicious but the lads need to stay focused. Qualification for the Champions League is priority number one imo. Stay in that Top 4. 

Next WHU for the EFL cup. They're on a poor run but still, that can change anytime. Play Bats, Chalobah etc. Terry and give Luiz/Dave/Cahill rest. Fabregas instead of N'Golo or Matic. 

 

Main focus is Southampton. Away game and Southampton is a very unpredictable opponent BUT the opponents you really need to beat if you want that Top 4 position. COME ON CHELSEA FORZA CONTE !

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I think the results dont even deserve such attention 

What I realy like is that after things went south, he actualy changed formation and the players. Its been so long the manager changed traditional lineups and experiment.

He adressed both issues we had. On and off the ball. When off the ball, we now press effectively and when on the ball, new formation confuses opponents how to press us. We have more players open to pass, more runs, quicker play. We had it in first two games too, then it collapsed. I hope this time, we manage to be more consistent.

Initially I was getting bit upset with Conte as he was keeping Iva in squad and those late subs, but he then changed to 3 CBs, moved Kante to b2b, benched Iva. To play Moses was brave decision too. 

Shows he learns from mistakes and thats realy promising. 

Perhaps pool and arsenal defeats hit us at perfect time to change things, we certainly learned the lession then. Its long season, but things are promising so far. 

Just one point from top, if we keep playing like this, we will definately put others to test. 

[BoyBlue96 990]

This is the Conte thread but I still wanted to share my reflections on José as I think (and hope) the 4-0 win on him finally puts the Mourinho-era to a well deserved end. 

I'm happy we've got rid of José for Conte as I think Mourinho is a finished manager. Don't get me wrong I always love José as he made us who we are today but his tactics, his mindgames, the way he behaves with his players...the whole José-ism is getting outdated.
And no I'm not saying this because we happen to have won the game against him with 4-0, as I was already saying this to a mate of mine 2 weeks ago. 

I mean come on the sole reason the Mancs took him is because he IS José Mourinho and he has some impressive stats and trophies behind his name. If he was José Mourinho who got sacked by Chelsea when he was standing 16th, van Gaal was still at Old Trafford in his last contract year. They genuinely believed they can achieve quick succes with him, and they still can but I don't see that happen. Hopefully. The Manchester United fans were screaming for José a year ago a few weeks after he was SACKED at Chelsea. Why do you want a manager who just got sacked for nearly having Chelsea in the relegation area?! 

If he doesn't get Top 4 he's a goner and this time for real. He won't be back in the PL for quite some time then. He's only at United because he is still living off past success. He has his name, nothing more. 

 

Oh and the whole thing in him telling Conte that Conte humiliated him for all the cheering is bullshit. That's Mourinho creating a smoke screen for the media to cover up the problems at Manchester United. 

[Azpinator 2,325]

Win at Southampton and he'll be the October Manager of the Month.

[Jase 43,479]

2 hours ago, petre.ispirescu said:

Think it is because his preferred formation was always 4-2-4. This is how he started when he first got into the managerial role. Lots of people consider the three at the back formation to be somehow of a Conte trademark, but the truth is that he's changed to 3-5-2 at Juventus only because of the lack of quality wingers and the fact that he had three very good centre backs that he wanted to use all at the same time. It payed off in the end at Juventus and it pays off once again at Chelsea because this 3-4-3 seems to be tailor made for our team.

I don't think the 4-2-4 is ever going to work, even if we get the players for it. Otherwise, we'll just get dominated and outplayed, especially in midfield. The players will have to work super hard, be tactically competent and extremely focused for 90 minutes in every game ala Atletico Madrid.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

He needs to be backed in the next 2 windows.  He's done a good job relying on his national team experience and making do with what he's got and finding a way to get them to work.  We need a couple of upgrades and we need depth.  Willian or Pedro can probably cover for Moses, but then we need another body up front.  Only Alonso at LWB.  Another defender too.  Matic has been pretty good the past couple of matches, but his lack of offensive ability is on display.

I hope they back him with whatever he needs.

[Special Juan 28,166]

Still waiting to see this Pogba justifying his price tag.

[Reddish-Blue 2,513]

25 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

Still waiting to see this Pogba justifying his price tag.

He already justified his price tag with the 'wonderful' performance against Fenerbahce

[Antonio8 736]

taking manolas caceres brozovic at january market session chelsea will fight for the PL this year..

[BoyBlue96 990]

1 hour ago, Antonio8 said:

taking manolas caceres brozovic at january market session chelsea will fight for the PL this year..

Reports saying Roma only want to sell Rüdiger to us which us fine only if his knee injury doesn't stay to haunt him...

[Milan 17,959]

Quote

Italian media claim Mourinho said: "You don't celebrate like that at 4-0. You can do it at 1-0, otherwise it's humiliating for us."

But Conte insists he was simply trying to motivate a flat home crowd at Stamford Bridge that was quieter than the away support despite the scoreline.

"I was a football player, so I know how to behave on the pitch. I have great respect for everyone," Conte said.

Even though Antonio certainly didn't mean it, there is a wonderful dig at Mourinho, one could argue

[kellzfresh 7,229]

You have to give props to Conte for making our football enjoyable to watch again. We've scored one goal less than the Einstein's almighty attacking Liverpool and Mancity. 

[Antonio8 736]

1 hour ago, BoyBlue96 said:

Reports saying Roma only want to sell Rüdiger to us which us fine only if his knee injury doesn't stay to haunt him...

rudiger sucks..

manolas for 30-35 mil is more than possible..

in any case, with the great work of conte, cahill terry zouma luiz azpi ivanovic will have the best season of their life..you can bet on it.. 

[BoyBlue96 990]

1 hour ago, Antonio8 said:

rudiger sucks..

manolas for 30-35 mil is more than possible..

in any case, with the great work of conte, cahill terry zouma luiz azpi ivanovic will have the best season of their life..you can bet on it.. 

I see Rüdiger doesn't even play atm. Still injured? I don't follow Roma so but I know Rüdiger a bit but yes, Manolas would be the better option but I really doubt they would sell him in januari as Roma is currently standing second in the Serie A. They might have title hopes so I doubt they'll sell one of their best players.

I just saw the League table. If we only won the damned Swansea-A game if that referee wasn't f#cking blind we would've been top of the league now. But that's football right...

[Fernando 6,586]

3 hours ago, Antonio8 said:

taking manolas caceres brozovic at january market session chelsea will fight for the PL this year..

Caceres is a free one if I'm not mistaken?

The guy I rememberd promised so much after his time in La Liga but never lived up to be the real deal. 

Manolas is not bad but I would love Radja from Roma but that seems like an impossible mission. 

I'm still trying to recover from that fail saga of Koulibaly....

[Antonio8 736]

2 hours ago, BoyBlue96 said:

I see Rüdiger doesn't even play atm. Still injured? I don't follow Roma so but I know Rüdiger a bit but yes, Manolas would be the better option but I really doubt they would sell him in januari as Roma is currently standing second in the Serie A. They might have title hopes so I doubt they'll sell one of their best players.

I just saw the League table. If we only won the damned Swansea-A game if that referee wasn't f#cking blind we would've been top of the league now. But that's football right...

i don't think that they can refuse 35 mil for a CB..even if he is one of their best players..

referees don't change a whole PL, chelsea players must continue to listen to conte, every single indication they will follow will take chelsea near to the first position..

1 hour ago, Fernando said:

Caceres is a free one if I'm not mistaken?

The guy I rememberd promised so much after his time in La Liga but never lived up to be the real deal. 

Manolas is not bad but I would love Radja from Roma but that seems like an impossible mission. 

I'm still trying to recover from that fail saga of Koulibaly....

yes caceres is a free one..but he is still recovering from a bad injury..for january he could be an important addition..

radja is fans' benjamin, that's impossible to me too..

KK made a lot of mistakes in the last matches, as i said he made a very good season last year, but he is not a potential champion imho..conversely manolas 

under conte' teaching could become a very important player..

 

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

14 hours ago, Sideshow Luiz said:

He needs to be backed in the next 2 windows.  He's done a good job relying on his national team experience and making do with what he's got and finding a way to get them to work.  We need a couple of upgrades and we need depth.  Willian or Pedro can probably cover for Moses, but then we need another body up front.  Only Alonso at LWB.  Another defender too.  Matic has been pretty good the past couple of matches, but his lack of offensive ability is on display.

I hope they back him with whatever he needs.

 

Moses or even Azpi (if you want to go more defensive) can be the RWB. Willian and Pedro are too small for RWB imo. Like yesterday, Moses had to rely on his physicality a lot, especially with Azpi being a small CB as well on the right side. I'd play Azpi as RWB if you want to go more defensive, with Zouma as RCB. No new players needed here.

For LWB, I'm confident Baba is good enough to help out next season onwards. No new players needed here.

I would like to get a more clinical RF to compete with Pedro and Willian. Griezmann would be a godsend there. James Rodriguez would be nice too. But regardless, we should try to find a left footer. Traore can also be used there when he's back from Ajax.

CM, we def need a B2B player to compete with Matic and Kante, this should be a priority along with another CB next summer window.

[-Kaplan- 410]

James isn't what we need; he doesn't ever track back. He's not a team player; he would be perfect for ManU.