As much as many of us still see Conte as a world class coach, I have to wonder if his tactics are out of date in the Premier League, even compared with five years ago when he won the league with Chelsea.
Liverpool and Man City led the way with the possession press style of football and lower level clubs like Brighton, Southampton and (until recently) Leeds have also had success with this style of football. Chelsea under Tuchel play a similar style. This style of football of course varies from club to club but the tactics where the system is everything, players work extremely hard and press high up the pitch to put your opponent under pressure seems to be becoming the dominant style of football in the Premier League at least.
Ironically Spurs have had quite a lot of success countering this style of football and sometimes it plays into our hands. However there are also all the games where we have drawn or lost because Conte's style doesn't work against teams that sit back and don't come onto us and leave space in behind the defenders.
Jose and Nuno both played the defensive counter attacking style of football that Conte favours and it seems to me that he is just a better manager using more or less the same tactics. Or maybe even just with better players at his disposal.
It's interesting that this kind of football worked for Jose for a while and then teams learned how to play against us and beat us. Even teams we would reasonably expect to get a win against.
I'm not going to make this article about whether we should sack Conte or try to get Poch back. However I certainly miss the days where we would turn up against a team in the lower half of the PL and dominate, keep the ball for long periods and throw everything at them.
Are Conte's methods out of date?
posted on 27/4/22
comment by Genius of Nielsen (U9059)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
Outdated? He won Serie A last season….
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Fit for Seria A but out of touch with the Prem
posted on 27/4/22
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 27/4/22
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 14 hours, 43 minutes ago
I don't think you can lean on those losses being isolated. They happened a fair few times. That's an issue, not something to be brushed aside. This is why xG is so important as it speaks so much about how right things are going even if you're not winning. Our xG over all those games we lost was poor, and our xG agaisnt was worryingly high. Even the 0-4 Villa win had them at a higher xG than us. We have the very best up front to put the chances away and more often than not, our shots on target aren't too far ahead of our actual goals. That to me means that we're not creating enough but when we do, we tend to put them away. That's down to Kane and Son. They're both covering over the cracks for me.
This is why what Graham Potter is doing at Brighton is nothing short of remarkable. If he had a better forward line than Maupay and Welbeck (when he's even fit), they would comfortably be fighting for Europe. They're xG has been off the charts for several seasons now and that's entirely down to Potter's methods, which, for me, are far more progressive than anything Conte has ever done. This is the first time, aside from Bari, Atalanta and Siena way before he was established, that he's managed a side without the very best players in his league. It shows. As much as people don't want to hear that he's similar to Jose in that regard, it's true. Yes he's won things but he's won things with the best squads in the leagues he's been at.
If Pochettino or Potter had the squads he's had, I've no doubt they'd have the same 'winning' reputation too.
I don't think his methods are necessarily outdated, it's just that they're clearly flawed when you don't have the best players. You could also argue that he's only got one method and even if the squad doesn't necessarily suit that system he plays it anyway. That's where it's an issue. The system relies on truly athletic, creative wingbacks and it's the weakest part of our squad, on both sides. What does that tell you? Wouldn't you look at finding another way? Maybe tweak it? When you're facing Brentford away in a game you realistically need to win, what on earth are we gaining from bringing Sanchez on when we need a goal. He moved Ben Davies to LWB and the obsession with the flanks continued with no success.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
Albert Einstein
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We have the 3rd highest xG in the league since Conte arrived. If you're going to use stats to suit your argument, at least know what you're talking about
posted on 27/4/22
comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Genius of Nielsen (U9059)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
Outdated? He won Serie A last season….
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Fit for Seria A but out of touch with the Prem
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Nah, he had the players he wanted in Serie A, not with Spurs at the moment. When you have Davies, Royal, Sess, PEH and to a less extent Dier playing week in and week out with not many other options, you can only do so much.
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When you have decent players like Moura and Bergwijn on the bench and can't utilise them with Kane, Kulu and Son to have a few shots on goal like in the last two games it is not good enough.
He doesn't have to play 3 at the back. Not many teams do now adays.
posted on 27/4/22
I've said this before on here, the whole team is based around Dier who has the easiest of jobs.
He constantly talks and directs Davies and Romero. He very rarely gets mud on his shirt.
The one time in recent weeks when he had to do something was provide cover for Romero when Trossard dropped his shoulder and he failed miserably.
As a person he is rat basket. Doherty and Davies called him teachers pet in an interview last week. He doesn't get picked on ability but because he is a lick aaarse.
The fact that Conte has fallen for his charm is his own downfall. But he is not the only one. Their are many on here who actually rate him as a footballer.
His long balls have been awful. Another great tactic by Big Sam, I mean Conte.
posted on 27/4/22
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 5 minutes ago
I've said this before on here, the whole team is based around Dier who has the easiest of jobs.
He constantly talks and directs Davies and Romero. He very rarely gets mud on his shirt.
The one time in recent weeks when he had to do something was provide cover for Romero when Trossard dropped his shoulder and he failed miserably.
As a person he is rat basket. Doherty and Davies called him teachers pet in an interview last week. He doesn't get picked on ability but because he is a lick aaarse.
The fact that Conte has fallen for his charm is his own downfall. But he is not the only one. Their are many on here who actually rate him as a footballer.
His long balls have been awful. Another great tactic by Big Sam, I mean Conte.
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You don't like Dier then?
posted on 27/4/22
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 1 hour, 30 minutes ago
comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Genius of Nielsen (U9059)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
Outdated? He won Serie A last season….
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fit for Seria A but out of touch with the Prem
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah, he had the players he wanted in Serie A, not with Spurs at the moment. When you have Davies, Royal, Sess, PEH and to a less extent Dier playing week in and week out with not many other options, you can only do so much.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When you have decent players like Moura and Bergwijn on the bench and can't utilise them with Kane, Kulu and Son to have a few shots on goal like in the last two games it is not good enough.
He doesn't have to play 3 at the back. Not many teams do now adays.
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DO you watch Spurs?
We may defend with those numbers but Romero and Davies step out of defence, the wing backs push up like wingers and the wide attackers come inside. We dont just sit there with 3 CBs making no one when we attack/have possession.
For me the issue is the ability of some of these players. Davies' passing is limited, on his outside Sess & Reggie have been poor offensively and seem to lack the knowledge of the position that Doherty has, and the technical ability to work the space. Emerson is just sheeite. PEHs vision and passing ability is limited.
If you put Chilwell, prime Dembele & Vertonghen and a fit again Doherty in those positions, we are looking a much better outfit, despite the formation.
posted on 27/4/22
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
I've said this before on here, the whole team is based around Dier
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I stopped reading at this point
posted on 27/4/22
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 42 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
I've said this before on here, the whole team is based around Dier
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I stopped reading at this point
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Of course you did because the truth hurts and you are a Dier diciple 👍🏻
posted on 27/4/22
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 1 hour, 30 minutes ago
comment by GTWI4T- some people deserve to get trolled (U6008)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Genius of Nielsen (U9059)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
Outdated? He won Serie A last season….
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fit for Seria A but out of touch with the Prem
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nah, he had the players he wanted in Serie A, not with Spurs at the moment. When you have Davies, Royal, Sess, PEH and to a less extent Dier playing week in and week out with not many other options, you can only do so much.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When you have decent players like Moura and Bergwijn on the bench and can't utilise them with Kane, Kulu and Son to have a few shots on goal like in the last two games it is not good enough.
He doesn't have to play 3 at the back. Not many teams do now adays.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
DO you watch Spurs?
We may defend with those numbers but Romero and Davies step out of defence, the wing backs push up like wingers and the wide attackers come inside. We dont just sit there with 3 CBs making no one when we attack/have possession.
For me the issue is the ability of some of these players. Davies' passing is limited, on his outside Sess & Reggie have been poor offensively and seem to lack the knowledge of the position that Doherty has, and the technical ability to work the space. Emerson is just sheeite. PEHs vision and passing ability is limited.
If you put Chilwell, prime Dembele & Vertonghen and a fit again Doherty in those positions, we are looking a much better outfit, despite the formation.
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When are not in possession we have 5 players in a line in a low block. Dier is usually there for show only whilst the two CMs along with Son and Kulu try to protect them in them a four. The two CMs are usually over worked and once the oppo overload on either wing they are able to cross the ball at will or attack the back five.
Romero and Davies do not step out as much as you would like us believe and the three CB's are usually in line when we are in possession.
We defo watch the game differently. You with rose tinted glasses 🤓