Judging by Conte 's team selections he doesn't appear to rate our summer transfer activity too highly .I really thought we would hit the ground running this year in terms of performance level that would show we would have a good season . I know when you look at the table things look good but I am in the camp of results catching up with performances and for me our improvement is small if any . Hopefully I am way off the mark and we up things in a big way .
Most managers say it can take a year for players to adopt to a new team after transfer.
Its also true that 50% of transfers (like acquisitions of companies in the business world) never live up to the expectations prior to purchase
So frankly its too soon to be certain about the impact of new players, but lets do a little preview :
Hit the ground running :
Perisic - based on a decent number of appearances
Richarlison - 2 goals and an assist in a few matches. The regular starting striker looks like an excellent alternative forward who Spurs have wanted for years.
Lenglet ? - One match looking very good in terms of passing forward, a couple of matches looking more of an average. So if the objective was to get a rotation option for Davies, its a good success. More game time required to see if he's ''top class''
Others :
Forster - a 2nd GK is not expected to play much. His reputation remains he played in half the PL matches for his previous club including MOTM against Woolwich and helping us clinch CL football this season
Spence - At 21, Conte has decided he needs more time to adopt to his season, preferring to use Royal in his place. A few fans would prefer Spence to have more game tim.e to show whether he can deliver last seasons form against Woolwich and Leicester in cups, but Conte picks the team not the fans.
Bissouma - Had covid mid pre-season and in his one start so far this season he looked off the pace, maybe still (long) covid affected ? Conte will bring him in when he's ready and hopefully bring his form of last season when pretty much everyone agreed he was best CM outside top 4 sides. Meanwhile Bentancur and Hojbjerg (with Skipp to come in) generally look good so little pressure to bring Bissoums in
Udogie - On loan as planned. Knocking in goals from LWB, looking excellent for next season
So given our side finished 4th last season, Conte's been selective in bringing in new players. No surprise surely.
I'd say his use of players totally predictable - although I'd like to see him use some players more (as is most fans prerogative).
Only in a computer game would you be expecting much more - but that's not real life.
Our squad is a lot stronger than 12 months ago - I'd prefer our manager's use of some players to change and his tactics to also change.
But our transfer window went well - much better for example than Chelsea or Liverpool whose squads are weaker than last season.