When we signed Conte there was an underwhelming response compared to when Pep, Jose and Klopp turned up at City, United and Liverpool respectively, even our own fans were (on average) so desperate for Simeone that Conte went under the radar.
The general attitude towards Conte last summer (before the Euro's) was he is good but Pep, Jose and Klopp are better (to say Conte has proven more than a match for all 3 is putting is mildly). Even after the Euro's and Conte showing the world he was all about the predictions were still the same, the title was between Pep and Jose with Klopp as a potential dark horse, Conte? Well even LVG was good at a major international tournament, Scolari also, he will be lucky to get 4th ahead of the North London duo.
After 3-0 vs Arsenal that general prediction wasn't looking too shabby, but after that he changed to a 3-4-3 formation and we won the following 5 games with ease. Despite that the opposition were convinced that formation would be found out after a couple of months, fast forward a few months and numerous other manager's are trying to match our formation in the hope of catching up with Conte.
So now the close season prediction and the formation getting found out have both been proven wrong, the next straw clutching notion is out, he will struggle when he has European football (after prediction's he would struggle without it last summer).
So what beg's the question,if this time next year we are in the title race and the quarter final of the CL, what will be the next excuse ?
Keep underestimating him
posted on 23/3/17
Strange how under appreciated his efforts at Juve were prior to him coming, more than a few ignorant comments that he was just the manager of the best team in a one team league. I also think he wasn't that well rated because his Juve team didn't perform THAT well in Europe, for me just shows that people put too much emphasis on cup performances. Winning the CL is great but there's a whole lot of luck involved too
posted on 23/3/17
Take Hazard out for 3 months and you win nothing whoever is in charge. The best player in the league with the ball in attacking positions by a distance,unstoppable when he is at his best.
Conte is top quality proven winning coach with great motivational methods and the players have responded.
posted on 23/3/17
I massively underestimated him before he came. I was encouraged by practically every source of information about him via previous players and the Italian press, but deep down I still felt like we'd made a mistake sacking Mourinho. I haven't been so wrong by something football related in quite a long time.
To an extent I'm still underestimating him because I do feel as if he has a serious point to prove in Europe. His Juventus team just didn't cut it in the CL in part due to him being tactically exposed. I greatly looking forward to being proven wrong again
posted on 23/3/17
Strange how under appreciated his efforts at Juve were prior to him coming, more than a few ignorant comments that he was just the manager of the best team in a one team league. I also think he wasn't that well rated because his Juve team didn't perform THAT well in Europe, for me just shows that people put too much emphasis on cup performances. Winning the CL is great but there's a whole lot of luck involved too
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It's definitely a stigma attached to the league. Funny thing is even after Conte's seamless transition from Italy to England - many people, most recently Jens Lehmann, chronically underestimate Max Allegri as well.
Part of the reason I had doubts about Conte was how much they actually improved under Allegri particularly in Europe. He'll be making waves in the PL within a few years too.
posted on 23/3/17
Just remember, he's won nothing yet
And if he fooks it up now will he still be as good as some of you say he is...
Food for thought
posted on 23/3/17
The only thing Conte has surprised me with is the quick and seamless transition to 3 at the back. I honestly felt we didnt have the players to do it and it would take a season.
I knew we were gonna be there or there abouts, ok not top by 10 points, but certainly not languishing around 4th or 5th where a lot of our fans thought we would be, as thats an improvement on 10th right?
posted on 24/3/17
comment by King of the Bridge (U1319)
posted 13 hours, 50 minutes ago
Of all I would of rather kept Mourinho. Especially when Jose sold KDB Lukaku and Mata. He must of had a plan for the team.
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For me...we kept him two months too long..& then left ourselves too far into the season to rescue it...hence 10th & players not interested
Very happy to see him at Utd now....thought he'd be so much happier there & better...he isn't though
posted on 24/3/17
comment by The Noble Lord Flash (U8334)
posted 14 hours, 12 minutes ago
Didn't want Pep (can prove)
Accepted Conte was going to be the man, but i'm honest enough to say i wanted Koeman.
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Didn't want pep either...see my 'Pep over rated' thread
posted on 24/3/17
comment by bertrand small (U19359)
posted 11 hours, 53 minutes ago
Take Hazard out for 3 months and you win nothing whoever is in charge. The best player in the league with the ball in attacking positions by a distance,unstoppable when he is at his best.
Conte is top quality proven winning coach with great motivational methods and the players have responded.
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wrong...IMO
We have plenty of ball players to cover Haz...Willian Pedro etc...even Chalobah to a degree, although we've not seen a lot of him yet...that said...Haz is unstoppable when on top form & I love that we have him, - but he can go slightly missing in some games, & has been hooked.
posted on 24/3/17
That's like saying..........."If your Goalkeeper didn't have hands................."