The Conte Thread

[Jase 43,479]

7 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Honestly think it’s about time he starts throwing players under the bus because some of them could sure as hell do with it. He’s obviously not gonna stay come the summer and if the club want to sack him or not, he’ll probably walk anyways so to get some results and to get some players to have a long look at themselves (particularly the ones who have been offered new deals or talks of getting new deals but not showing anything to warrant such a reward), I think he should have a go at them behind closed doors at least. Yes if you haven’t guessed the players I’m talking about are Courtois, Hazard - clubs going to “reward” them with new deals and pay rises if they want to sign them - , Cesc and Moses in particular.

He might not have done it like Mourinho but Conte has definitely been throwing players under the bus of sorts, by constantly playing down their quality and even last season's title success. And why would he have a go at the board or players behind closed doors at this point? Doubt that would have any effect when doing so publicly hasn't done him or the team much good. It's clear he cannot give a crap anymore and is waiting for the end of the season and that big pay off. He has completely checked out since the start of 2018.

[Tomo 21,733]

26 minutes ago, Strike said:

This. Chelsea is no longer an attractive option for players. Selling Costa and Matic without signing replacements beforehand shows that the club is too proud to accept that they are no longer an attractive option. They thought they could identify and bring in the players they wanted in the summer but Lukaku preferred United, Danilo preferred City, deals for several others did not happen. Hope it has learnt its lesson

I think what swung Lukaku's deal in United's favour was Jose guaranteed him unconditional playtime, something Conte wouldn't.

[Tomo 21,733]

18 minutes ago, Jason said:

He might not have done it like Mourinho but Conte has definitely been throwing players under the bus of sorts, by constantly playing down their quality and even last season's title success. And why would he have a go at the board or players behind closed doors at this point? Doubt that would have any effect when doing so publicly hasn't done him or the team much good. It's clear he cannot give a crap anymore and is waiting for the end of the season and that big pay off. He has completely checked out since the start of 2018.

The part don't get is, if he is so intent on leaving and it's decided, why is he even doing this? If he left us in the summer with us in a solid top 4 place his stock would arguably be even higher cause of the not so great circumstances. He has proven he can get great performances out of flawed squads, so if he's going, why is he not focusing ALL his energy on going out in a blaze of glory? If he is that desperate to stick two middle fingers up to Roman and the hierarchy, what better way to do so than walking away with a CL medal round his neck? 

And the hardest thing to take from all of this is we were in a strong position in January, we were comfortably in top 4 and it looked very likely we would finish 2nd (United were flaking and Spurs/Liverpool were at arms length), but Conte had another episode and now we look certain to be playing Thursday nights next season. If Conte left in December i would have been devastated, if he leaves now i'd happily offer to clear his desk myself. 

Literally feels like we have had two different managers since Conte took over, one was every bit as good as Jose the first time (if not better) and the other's worse than Scolari.

[Alabama 1,992]

1 hour ago, Strike said:

This. Chelsea is no longer an attractive option for players. Selling Costa and Matic without signing replacements beforehand shows that the club is too proud to accept that they are no longer an attractive option. They thought they could identify and bring in the players they wanted in the summer but Lukaku preferred United, Danilo preferred City, deals for several others did not happen. Hope it has learnt its lesson

Danilo didn't prefer city...we only failed to pay up the amount Madrid wants... That danilo cannot even buy a game in a makeshift city defence... 

[Alabama 1,992]

What is so frustrating is that d start of 2018 we were comfortable in 3rd position even had a shot at 2nd position due to united meandering performance till he starts to moan about the signings and transfers...accepted the board is pathetic but haha! Conte the current crops of players is enough to earn u top 4 comfortably....

[manpe 10,861]

3 hours ago, Tomo said:

The part don't get is, if he is so intent on leaving and it's decided, why is he even doing this? If he left us in the summer with us in a solid top 4 place his stock would arguably be even higher cause of the not so great circumstances. He has proven he can get great performances out of flawed squads, so if he's going, why is he not focusing ALL his energy on going out in a blaze of glory? If he is that desperate to stick two middle fingers up to Roman and the hierarchy, what better way to do so than walking away with a CL medal round his neck? 

And the hardest thing to take from all of this is we were in a strong position in January, we were comfortably in top 4 and it looked very likely we would finish 2nd (United were flaking and Spurs/Liverpool were at arms length), but Conte had another episode and now we look certain to be playing Thursday nights next season. If Conte left in December i would have been devastated, if he leaves now i'd happily offer to clear his desk myself. 

Literally feels like we have had two different managers since Conte took over, one was every bit as good as Jose the first time (if not better) and the other's worse than Scolari.

He did it again after yesterday's game, saying that he got the maximum out of the players (instead of saying the players gave their best or whatever). We lost, so he's basically calling them losers.. again, while washing himself of all blame. This same team won against that same Spurs away, so I bet such words aren't much appreciated by the players (who still need to look into mirrors, but to call that display the maximum they can offer is a dumb lie). He's basically trying to deflect blame by making it look like he's doing a fantastic job while the players suck (the same champion players he praised to high heavens last season).

[Superblue 6,370]

4 hours ago, Tomo said:

The part don't get is, if he is so intent on leaving and it's decided, why is he even doing this? If he left us in the summer with us in a solid top 4 place his stock would arguably be even higher cause of the not so great circumstances. He has proven he can get great performances out of flawed squads, so if he's going, why is he not focusing ALL his energy on going out in a blaze of glory? If he is that desperate to stick two middle fingers up to Roman and the hierarchy, what better way to do so than walking away with a CL medal round his neck? 

And the hardest thing to take from all of this is we were in a strong position in January, we were comfortably in top 4 and it looked very likely we would finish 2nd (United were flaking and Spurs/Liverpool were at arms length), but Conte had another episode and now we look certain to be playing Thursday nights next season. If Conte left in December i would have been devastated, if he leaves now i'd happily offer to clear his desk myself. 

Literally feels like we have had two different managers since Conte took over, one was every bit as good as Jose the first time (if not better) and the other's worse than Scolari.

Agree, I think there is a huge element of sympathy for Conte with what happened in the summer. We made a complete dog's dinner of the transfer market and spent a lot of money on a lack of quality.

I actually felt that our January signings weren't too bad given the circumstances and we didn't exactly pay silly money for any of them. Emerson and Barkley certainly were an eye towards the future and Giroud was a necessary short term purchase which we didn't get fleeced for.

The fact is though that in 2018 we've taken 11 points from a possible 30. That is barely bottom six quality, and that has to be placed at Conte's door. He has failed to arrest the alarming form, pick the players up, change up tactics/personnel, etc. 

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

'Antonio Conte cannot wait to leave Chelsea... he can't stand that they don't consult him on transfers,' claims former boss Gianluca Vialli

By JORDAN SEWARD FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 19:24 AEST, 2 April 2018 | UPDATED: 21:01 AEST, 2 April 2018

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5569235/Antonio-Conte-wait-leave-Chelsea-claims-former-team-mate-Gianluca-Vialli.html

 

Antonio Conte 'cannot wait to leave Chelsea,' according to former team-mate and ex-Blues boss Gianluca Vialli.

The Italian's future at Stamford Bridge looked uncertain even before their heavy defeat by London rivals Tottenham on Sunday with the Chelsea boss admitting for the first time he 'does not know' if he will still be at the club next season.

But the slip-up saw Chelsea lose further ground on the race to finish in the top four, something that is likely to have caused more anxiety upstairs and could prove to be decisive when he sits down to discuss his future later this month.

 

[Laylabelle 9,351]

Well he isn't the first to have said that... It does seem to be a recurring issue that the next manager will have to deal with.. And one after that... And so fortb

[communicate 2,703]

9 hours ago, Tomo said:

I think what swung Lukaku's deal in United's favour was Jose guaranteed him unconditional playtime, something Conte wouldn't.

Nah it is more the fact that Lukaku cost 30 mmore than Morata. I think Morata with addon is around 60 where Lukaku is 60+30

[Jase 43,479]

9 hours ago, Tomo said:

The part don't get is, if he is so intent on leaving and it's decided, why is he even doing this? If he left us in the summer with us in a solid top 4 place his stock would arguably be even higher cause of the not so great circumstances. He has proven he can get great performances out of flawed squads, so if he's going, why is he not focusing ALL his energy on going out in a blaze of glory? If he is that desperate to stick two middle fingers up to Roman and the hierarchy, what better way to do so than walking away with a CL medal round his neck? 

And the hardest thing to take from all of this is we were in a strong position in January, we were comfortably in top 4 and it looked very likely we would finish 2nd (United were flaking and Spurs/Liverpool were at arms length), but Conte had another episode and now we look certain to be playing Thursday nights next season. If Conte left in December i would have been devastated, if he leaves now i'd happily offer to clear his desk myself. 

Literally feels like we have had two different managers since Conte took over, one was every bit as good as Jose the first time (if not better) and the other's worse than Scolari.

Made a similar point some time ago. We're led to believe that he's a winner, one who's obsessed with winning at all cost and will suffer emotionally if we don't. But from what we've seen this season, especially in 2018, he's nothing like that. Has had the look of a man who doesn't give a shit anymore and one who can't be bothered to find solutions when things go wrong. A stark contrast to last season when he was constantly finding solutions to problems. I still remember his post-match presser after that debacle at Arsenal - he was hurt, angry, didn't offer any excuses and was focused on turning things around. Compare that to now? It's just excuses after excuses and he's always shifting the blame to others. No doubt he'll continue to put his second season failure on the lack of backing from the board, that he has a flawed squad and people will buy into those excuses.

[The Mak 4,459]

When I look at some player's performances yesterday compared to Barcelona (e.g. Willian), I can't help but feel sorry for him. OK, at times it does feel like Conte doesn't care as much but that is also on the players. It's a two-way street. Who started feeling that way first is an irrelevant chicken-egg debate. 

We're in a place now where we're running out of top managers to choose from. My first thoughts are that he should stay and be backed in the summer - I think we will do well next year if we've fewer competitions to think about. But I also don't want this year-over-year yo-yo season shit to continue. I also don't think there is a better manager out there to choose from. If the air can be cleared during the summer, I'd like him to stay.

Regardless, the fact remains that we need more investment if we want to challenge on all fronts. The board will not change though. The likes of City will continue to spend big (despite their very inflated/imaginary 'revenue streams') and we will scrape around in the bargain bins. 

Hey, at least we go big or go home in recent years (win the league or be shit). Which means next year....

[Tomo 21,733]

1 hour ago, The Mak said:

When I look at some player's performances yesterday compared to Barcelona (e.g. Willian), I can't help but feel sorry for him. OK, at times it does feel like Conte doesn't care as much but that is also on the players. It's a two-way street. Who started feeling that way first is an irrelevant chicken-egg debate. 

We're in a place now where we're running out of top managers to choose from. My first thoughts are that he should stay and be backed in the summer - I think we will do well next year if we've fewer competitions to think about. But I also don't want this year-over-year yo-yo season shit to continue. I also don't think there is a better manager out there to choose from. If the air can be cleared during the summer, I'd like him to stay.

Regardless, the fact remains that we need more investment if we want to challenge on all fronts. The board will not change though. The likes of City will continue to spend big (despite their very inflated/imaginary 'revenue streams') and we will scrape around in the bargain bins. 

Hey, at least we go big or go home in recent years (win the league or be shit). Which means next year....

We are only running out of manager's if having a multi trophy track record is the only requirement we are going for, furthermore most of that breed are past it anyway (Jose, Wenger, Carlo). Also the money thing doesn't really wash anymore, if we were 2nd behind City fair enough, but going by the logic of Conte himself we shouldn't in a million years be behind Liverpool and especially not Spurs.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

2 hours ago, The Mak said:

When I look at some player's performances yesterday compared to Barcelona (e.g. Willian), I can't help but feel sorry for him. OK, at times it does feel like Conte doesn't care as much but that is also on the players. It's a two-way street. Who started feeling that way first is an irrelevant chicken-egg debate. 
 

Why should anyone feel sorry for a manager who simply has an inferior coaching philosophy to the rival manager while actually getting paid way more in salary. We get outplayed every time we face Spurs the same way we get outplayed every time we face City and most times we face Liverpool. It's logical that after a while this luck will run out and the opposing team gets what they deserve. 

[Laylabelle 9,351]

1 hour ago, Tomo said:

We are only running out of manager's if having a multi trophy track record is the only requirement we are going for, furthermore most of that breed are past it anyway (Jose, Wenger, Carlo). Also the money thing doesn't really wash anymore, if we were 2nd behind City fair enough, but going by the logic of Conte himself we shouldn't in a million years be behind Liverpool and especially not Spurs.

Long as any manager we approach has a short term vision and doesn't expect more then a 2 year stay. Its bound to be seen as a sort of pit stop if carry on like this. Know it didn't turn out well for Brendan anyway and no loss but for him to say he wouldn't take the Chelsea job if offered and he didn't want to damage his career.. Is telling 

It was always going to happen that's what's so frustrating. Last year teams strengthened and we brought crap. He's lost whatever he had last season and for some reason is so hesitant with subs.. Changing line up. 

Like said before though if I knew I was off in summer wouldn't give a crap what happened. So much speculation so early on

[Fulham Broadway 16,838]

He's confided in Vialli that the transfers aren't his choices and he's off at the end of the season. He's keeping schtum, just as Jose and others did because otherwise they lose a few million pounds.

The disconnect between manager and owner/board we've seen so many times, and this short termism has brought copious amounts of silverware, that can not be denied.

However it could be better, by investing in a long term plan that Citeh, Liverpool, and Sp*rs seem to be doing. It's just embarrassing that this is carried out every other season, and the fans turn on the manager. His body language is totally different this season, and it infects the players. This could be remedied by a long term plan by the board, and would avoid petulant 'just going through the motions' like bringing on substitutes in the 80th minute. Conte, to my mind though, is not above criticism beyond the disconnect with the board. eg the Costa debacle, and not remedying the Luiz saga.

[ChelseaFanUK 1,014]

If it wasn't for the £9m payoff, he'd have been gone at latest following the Watford loss. 

Board are to blame failing to build on a title win AGAIN, but also Conte's whinging and complaining in the media is tiresome.  Players take notice, they get affected and it leads to a divide between them and the manager.

Some of that squad are not fond of Conte, of that I am sure. And the reason is his constant subtle digs in the media

And no, there is literally no scenario where he stays.  So the 'Conte In' crowd of which i was very much part of, brace yourselves for disappointment

I'd get rid of Marina for a start, bring in a proper DoF.  Campos at Monaco, Leonardo ex-PSG.  DoF's who dont piss about with targets

[Tomo 21,733]

1 hour ago, Laylabelle said:

Long as any manager we approach has a short term vision and doesn't expect more then a 2 year stay. Its bound to be seen as a sort of pit stop if carry on like this. Know it didn't turn out well for Brendan anyway and no loss but for him to say he wouldn't take the Chelsea job if offered and he didn't want to damage his career.. Is telling 

It was always going to happen that's what's so frustrating. Last year teams strengthened and we brought crap. He's lost whatever he had last season and for some reason is so hesitant with subs.. Changing line up. 

Like said before though if I knew I was off in summer wouldn't give a crap what happened. So much speculation so early on

It's quite funny he said that because ultimately he probably ruined his reputation at Liverpool more than he would have with us.