...are you saying certain clubs buy items from *THE TOP SHELF?
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'Back Conte now, or regret it' - Jenas analysis - BBC Sport
MOTD2 pundit Jermaine Jenas says Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has to back manager Antonio Conte in the transfer market.
www.bbc.com
Divisive comment?
I have been subjected to anything from casual xenophobia to outright abuse for criticising ENIC. Just yesterday in the ENIC thread critics were told to f*ck off and support other clubs.
The crux in that comment was supporting the football club. Which is an entirely differenct prospect to supporting the owners (and their hapless fumbling about for 21 freaking years)
Two wrongs don’t make a right. But if you’ve had abuse that’s wrong too.
You disagree over the vision for the club. You want more money spent on the playing squad as that’s the path you see to success and you want it yesterday. That doesn’t make you a terrible person.
The other side also support the football club and want the team to do well. They are probably more likely to observe the gradual but consistent progress made by the club over 20 years. Everything is in place now to succeed. Just add signings. But the anger isn’t pent up.
What never helps is saying other people aren’t real fans or don’t want what’s best for the club. Everyone here does.
Xoxo
The team just isnt good enough. Theres a huge difference in talent and squad depth between top 3 and the rest of the clubs in the top half of the league. Conte played for the draw but we were just completely dominated in every area.
Imagine having a squad where the majority of your midfield (Dele, Lo Celso, Winks, Ndombele) are completely useless and redundant and yet still in with a shout of top 4.
Imagine having a squad where the majority of your midfield (Dele, Lo Celso, Winks, Ndombele) are completely useless and redundant and yet still in with a shout of top 4.
How on earth did Brighton comprehensively outplay Chelsea then, TWICE? Or how did Wolves or Everton manage to get a point? All achieved within the last month! I absolutely guarantee you wouldn't take more than one player from their midfield over ours (Bissouma, Neves are the only shouts from me, and Bissouma only played in ONE of their games against them).
I am very, very much pro-Conte (he's so far exceeded my expectations on what I was expecting he could he change in his first 2.5 months, he's done a fantastic job) and my expectations weren't for us to win yesterday.
I did expect better of Conte tactically though. We lost as a direct result of Conte going to a back 4 and opting to sit off them and frustrate them and hope to nick something on the counter. Whilst Ziyech's goal was brilliant, they were able to completely control the game via Mount, Ziyech & Azpilicueta making 3rd man underlapping runs down our left. They attacked predominantly down this flank throughout the entire game and almost exclusively in the first half.
Our plan when to frustrate them and try to nick a goal on the counter (our counter-attacks are becoming very good under Conte) was fucked the moment we concede, from that instant it's game over/gameplan over.
But even with that said why not just go:
Lloris
Sanchez - Dier - Davies
Doherty ------------------ Sess
Winks - Hojbjerg
Bergjwin --- Kane --- Gil
A mostly familiar team with a pretty settled defence and midfield.Sanchez - Dier - Davies
Doherty ------------------ Sess
Winks - Hojbjerg
Bergjwin --- Kane --- Gil
Not a horrible 442 with Sess and Doc as wingers. Conte shit the bed on this one.
But even with that said why not just go:
Lloris
Sanchez - Dier - Davies
Doherty ------------------ Sess
Winks - Hojbjerg
Bergjwin --- Kane --- Gil
A mostly familiar team with a pretty settled defence and midfield.Sanchez - Dier - Davies
Doherty ------------------ Sess
Winks - Hojbjerg
Bergjwin --- Kane --- Gil
Not a horrible 442 with Sess and Doc as wingers. Conte shit the bed on this one.
Conte was handed Nuno’s team (which was an incomplete tweaking of Mourinho’s team) mid-season and has yet to be given any chance to adjust the squad.
I think it’s also been his remit to give his entire squad a chance, there isn’t a single senior player who hasn’t started at least twice under Conte, and I believe all bar Lo Celso, Gollini and Rodon have started in the Premier League.
I also believe he’s fucking with Levy on some level and sending a message about the weakness and thinness of the squad.
But as for yesterday specifically, it all comes down to the veracity of the purported knocks, which we can’t know for certain. Of course we are a better team with Skipp and Lucas in, Reguilon as well. Those are our normal starters, I don’t think there’s any doubt of that.
Going to back 4 was weird, but with the makeshift team we had in there I think we did about the best we could. I’d have liked the changes earlier but what were the time limitations on our subs?
Yesterday's game plan.
“It’s a big opportunity for us,” our number 10 said. “Obviously, we are on a good run with a few late goals coming for us in the last couple of games in the Premier League, but we’re coming up against a very good side. It’s going to be a real test today. They knocked us out of the cup in the last couple of weeks, so we’ll try to put that right today."
“We lost those games in the first half really, conceded sloppy goals and then struggled to get back into the game. So, being compact, being focussed, especially in the first half, trying to stay stable and we feel like, with our physical condition, we can take the game deep and see if we can win the game in the second half."
‘A big opportunity for us’ – Kane on Chelsea clash
www.tottenhamhotspur.com
“It’s a big opportunity for us,” our number 10 said. “Obviously, we are on a good run with a few late goals coming for us in the last couple of games in the Premier League, but we’re coming up against a very good side. It’s going to be a real test today. They knocked us out of the cup in the last couple of weeks, so we’ll try to put that right today."
“We lost those games in the first half really, conceded sloppy goals and then struggled to get back into the game. So, being compact, being focussed, especially in the first half, trying to stay stable and we feel like, with our physical condition, we can take the game deep and see if we can win the game in the second half."
I'd go so far as to say that Leicester has more quality in their squad than we do. We have the better top end three players by a long shot (Kane Son Hugo) but they have quality and depth, especially in midfield.
Look at how we've done. Conté is a magician but even David Copperfield can't get Tanganga to suddenly transform into a competent right back against one of the league's most technical sides.
Look at how we've done. Conté is a magician but even David Copperfield can't get Tanganga to suddenly transform into a competent right back against one of the league's most technical sides.
That's what they keep saying. They said that since Redknapp joined. I have no doubts they will say that just as many years going forward. All while the FC is going nowhere.
The funny part is that *I* do observe the gradual progress. But ENIC doesn't sell "gradual progress". They sell "ambition", titles and cups, and price accordingly. I keep politely referring to judging ENIC by ENICs own ambitions. But somehow that small detail is always ignored in this discussions.
Media desperate for him to leave us already
Coulda woulda shoulda. Why arent everton or brighton above spurs in the league if they get it so right but conte got it so wrong? I would assume everton and brighton are far more versed in parking the bus than spurs. A counter and lucky goal was our best chance and we nearly pulled it off had we go in at half time 1-0 up.
Chelsea have our number. It didnt work out. Move on. I wouldnt take too mych away about tactics at the moment. So much is wrong at spurs but Conte has revived a bit of life back into the club. Our focus should be looking at the rest of the games and making sure we dont drop point in our expected winnable games. We have games in hand on our side. Make it to summer with CL football and levy must back Conte and strengthen.
Because Conte has been brilliant for us since joining us.
He has been just really, really shit against Chelsea and has gotten it completely wrong on every occasion we have played them. And that's what I'm calling out.
He's not a God, he will make mistakes and yesterday he made mistakes, which as a direct result cost us the ability to at least get a point from the game. If you think one of the reasons we lost (didn't get a point or even compete better than we did) was because he had us play in a system we don't offend play, then that too is on his head and a possible mistake by him.
"move on"??? There's nothing to move on from. I'm making a post-match comment on a game as I tend to do most games win, lose or draw.
I'm a huge fan of his but that shouldn't detract me or anyone else questioning what he did, or why he did it.
Surely a far more healthy approach is to judge Enic’s strategy by their actions? Why not take the most sympathetic view possible?
Build revenue streams, build a strong foundation, get the right manager in. We can tick all of those things off. That’s what ENIC have actually delivered.
Now we need to get the recruitment right. And there are question marks over that.
Of course everyone would love trophies but it’s a process and there’s no magic bullet.
But 10 years ago it was never feasible for us to be competing with the best clubs in the country. That’s fantasy. And ten years ago if we were told what would happen over the coming ten years we’d have been happy enough except perhaps for wanting a trophy. But those are fine margins and when you reach a CL final or many other finals and semi finals then it comes down to players.
Because the FC is the end. ENIC is just a means to the end. That you write as you do, confirms to me, that not all people see it that way. For all too many people, the purpose of ENIC has been identified to the club itself.
But oddly I do judge ENIC by their actions. Their actions compared to their words.
Which is what led my to my conclusion.
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Fair enough. I’m not here to argue it really.
People have different perspectives and I guess we should all be able to share them in a happy place. Maybe I’m too idealistic !
Totally agree why completely change the formation and personnel on top. The 532 seems to have produced our best football recently (pool and Leicester) so don’t understand why change it. Could have still played a back 4 with Doh at rb and sess/ dier on the other side and then bolstered midfield or played Gil. I just don’t get playing sess and Doh as wingers!