Now before I start, this isn't a Conte bashing. It's more of a comment on something I've noticed both here and on other Spurs forums in the wake of the potential purchase of Zaniolo over the seemingly available Maddison and Eriksen (at the time).
There seems to be a narrative of "Conte wants him, that's good enough for me" for every signing we consider to be questionable. In fact, as is the case on Spurs community, those that do even dare to question, are shut down as non-believers by Conte's ever-growing army of disciples. That's admirable faith, but is it foolish?
It's a question worth asking because his record on transfers seems to be pretty sketchy, particularly in his time at Chelsea, and he also seems to have a flip-flop attitude when it comes to belief in certain players. Eriksen, at the start of his Inter reign was dismissed as merely a squad player used to wind down the clock as an injury time substitute until the tactics clicked and he became a vital part of Conte's run to the title that year. With that in mind, I find it odd that Eriksen was reportedly dismissed as an option just as Maddison has been now. If it clicked with Eriksen at Inter, why not Maddison at Spurs?
Now I get that Conte might want certain players. I get that and he should be supported, but never questioned? Come on!!!!
He signed Morata, Bakayoko, Drinkwater, Zappacosta, Emerson and Ross Barkley at Chelsea. Not one has been a success, neither at Chelsea or subsequently. Now I get that he might have been hamstrung by the tightening of club finances and that lead to his dour demeanour in his final year but, as would be the case with us, he'd have signed off all of these deals personally.
I'm not saying every manager has to get every single transfer right. No one has a perfect record on that front but what I am saying is that given there's quite a significant margin for error here, we, as fans, have the right to question those deals.
So can we please stop with this shutting down of opinions that might question transfer decisions as, in short, he's not always right, the club's not always right and Paratici (as is the case with Royal, Gollini and Gil) is not always right. If their judgement is sometimes wrong, we, as fans, are sometimes right.
As I said, this is not a Conte bashing by any means. I'm happy with the guy but just as we had with successful managers before him, there should always be room for criticism for certain decisions made. No one is perfect.
Blind faith in Conte
posted on 2/8/22
comment by BelfastSpur (U15068)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS I like it, I like it, I like it! (U22178)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 8 minutes ago
People questioned our January signings.
Thankfully we seem to be getting our transfers more right that wrong under the new regime. Let's hope it stays that way!
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Let's see. I'm less convinced of that. Romero and Kulu are the only two major success stories for me. Either way, if we have doubts, we should be able to air them but there's an increased narrative that it makes you a dissenter. The no tolerance attitude makes it sound like they're defending Mussolini, not Conte.
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If you don't rate Bentancur as a success then I have to question your opinion.
Say what you want about Conte. Everyone knows he is not perfect.
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Exactly, Bentancur should definitely be on that list. He'll be key this season. I still think Gil will come good, if he gets to play.
I'm not sure where you're getting the narrative from that you're a dissenter if you have an opinion? There's an awful lot of unjustified moaning on here but when's it been any different.
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Gill is nothing more than a Spanish, lightweight version of Jack Clarke.. Zero chance of a future at Spurs while Conte is in charge
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Have to disagree. Granted he is very raw. I definitely believe long term he will come good, just whether we invest enough chances and minutes in him for it to be at Tottenham. The guile and movement the lad has can’t be taught.
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Its all about the here and now mate. Transfer/ investment focus has shifted following Conte's arrival.. This summer tells you everything you need to know
posted on 2/8/22
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by BelfastSpur (U15068)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS I like it, I like it, I like it! (U22178)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 8 minutes ago
People questioned our January signings.
Thankfully we seem to be getting our transfers more right that wrong under the new regime. Let's hope it stays that way!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's see. I'm less convinced of that. Romero and Kulu are the only two major success stories for me. Either way, if we have doubts, we should be able to air them but there's an increased narrative that it makes you a dissenter. The no tolerance attitude makes it sound like they're defending Mussolini, not Conte.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you don't rate Bentancur as a success then I have to question your opinion.
Say what you want about Conte. Everyone knows he is not perfect.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly, Bentancur should definitely be on that list. He'll be key this season. I still think Gil will come good, if he gets to play.
I'm not sure where you're getting the narrative from that you're a dissenter if you have an opinion? There's an awful lot of unjustified moaning on here but when's it been any different.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gill is nothing more than a Spanish, lightweight version of Jack Clarke.. Zero chance of a future at Spurs while Conte is in charge
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Have to disagree. Granted he is very raw. I definitely believe long term he will come good, just whether we invest enough chances and minutes in him for it to be at Tottenham. The guile and movement the lad has can’t be taught.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Its all about the here and now mate. Transfer/ investment focus has shifted following Conte's arrival.. This summer tells you everything you need to know
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah but can’t it be both? Buying for the here and now and succession planning also as a club. For all we know he could turn into the next David Silva. Look at Chelsea from yesteryear, their fans and the club were too quick to rule out the potential of De Bruyne and Salah. Player at least deserves a few games before they can be written off imo.
posted on 2/8/22
comment by BelfastSpur (U15068)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by BelfastSpur (U15068)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS I like it, I like it, I like it! (U22178)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 8 minutes ago
People questioned our January signings.
Thankfully we seem to be getting our transfers more right that wrong under the new regime. Let's hope it stays that way!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's see. I'm less convinced of that. Romero and Kulu are the only two major success stories for me. Either way, if we have doubts, we should be able to air them but there's an increased narrative that it makes you a dissenter. The no tolerance attitude makes it sound like they're defending Mussolini, not Conte.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you don't rate Bentancur as a success then I have to question your opinion.
Say what you want about Conte. Everyone knows he is not perfect.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly, Bentancur should definitely be on that list. He'll be key this season. I still think Gil will come good, if he gets to play.
I'm not sure where you're getting the narrative from that you're a dissenter if you have an opinion? There's an awful lot of unjustified moaning on here but when's it been any different.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gill is nothing more than a Spanish, lightweight version of Jack Clarke.. Zero chance of a future at Spurs while Conte is in charge
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Have to disagree. Granted he is very raw. I definitely believe long term he will come good, just whether we invest enough chances and minutes in him for it to be at Tottenham. The guile and movement the lad has can’t be taught.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Its all about the here and now mate. Transfer/ investment focus has shifted following Conte's arrival.. This summer tells you everything you need to know
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah but can’t it be both? Buying for the here and now and succession planning also as a club. For all we know he could turn into the next David Silva. Look at Chelsea from yesteryear, their fans and the club were too quick to rule out the potential of De Bruyne and Salah. Player at least deserves a few games before they can be written off imo.
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I think both Gil and Spence are clear club strategy signings. Future growth rather than just the here and now. We can't put all our eggs in the Conte basket, the club need to invest in the future too.
posted on 2/8/22
comment by BelfastSpur (U15068)
posted 34 minutes ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by BelfastSpur (U15068)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by LukaBrasi COYS I like it, I like it, I like it! (U22178)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 8 minutes ago
People questioned our January signings.
Thankfully we seem to be getting our transfers more right that wrong under the new regime. Let's hope it stays that way!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's see. I'm less convinced of that. Romero and Kulu are the only two major success stories for me. Either way, if we have doubts, we should be able to air them but there's an increased narrative that it makes you a dissenter. The no tolerance attitude makes it sound like they're defending Mussolini, not Conte.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you don't rate Bentancur as a success then I have to question your opinion.
Say what you want about Conte. Everyone knows he is not perfect.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Exactly, Bentancur should definitely be on that list. He'll be key this season. I still think Gil will come good, if he gets to play.
I'm not sure where you're getting the narrative from that you're a dissenter if you have an opinion? There's an awful lot of unjustified moaning on here but when's it been any different.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gill is nothing more than a Spanish, lightweight version of Jack Clarke.. Zero chance of a future at Spurs while Conte is in charge
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Have to disagree. Granted he is very raw. I definitely believe long term he will come good, just whether we invest enough chances and minutes in him for it to be at Tottenham. The guile and movement the lad has can’t be taught.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Its all about the here and now mate. Transfer/ investment focus has shifted following Conte's arrival.. This summer tells you everything you need to know
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah but can’t it be both? Buying for the here and now and succession planning also as a club. For all we know he could turn into the next David Silva. Look at Chelsea from yesteryear, their fans and the club were too quick to rule out the potential of De Bruyne and Salah. Player at least deserves a few games before they can be written off imo.
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Not arguing that point, just saying that while Conte is in charge and picking the team we are going after ready made, experienced, Intl pro's. The signing of Perisic says everything... a 33 year old, born winner, winners mentality with big game/ big club experience who physically and mentally can handle it.....Look at Romero, Bissouma, Richarlison, Lenglet... Add them to the likes of Hugo, Dier, PEH, Bentancur, Kane, Son. Its a team full of "men"... Solid spine that aren't gonna collapse at the first sign of trouble.
The signing of Spence said it all..... "Club signing, not a player he asked for". Look at Kulu... He essentially is a winger but he's a big physical unit that delivered quickly. Don't see that happening with Gill or Conte having the patience to wait. Only reason I think we kept Sess was because he knew Perisic was coming.
Look at Reggie & Winks... 2 other example of not having the right physical and mental attributes
posted on 2/8/22
Twitter saying Bissouma has picked up and injury too and is out for the Southampton game along with Skipp
posted on 2/8/22
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 6 hours, 28 minutes ago
People questioned our January signings.
Thankfully we seem to be getting our transfers more right that wrong under the new regime. Let's hope it stays that way!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not just people the op did.
He gave our January window a 4/10 and said we signed two players we didn’t need as we already had players the same Level as them.
posted on 2/8/22
I think Spurs will be pretty decent this year so long as there's no manager/board meltdown. Think Conte has bought reasonably well. Don't think Gil is an utter flop yet either. Could come in and deliver after his loan.
posted on 3/8/22
comment by MK (U9129)
posted 14 hours, 32 minutes ago
comment by Hawkeye78 (U22468)
posted 6 hours, 28 minutes ago
People questioned our January signings.
Thankfully we seem to be getting our transfers more right that wrong under the new regime. Let's hope it stays that way!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not just people the op did.
He gave our January window a 4/10 and said we signed two players we didn’t need as we already had players the same Level as them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have no memory of that but I'll take your word for it. The thing is that at the time we were terrible and we'd bought two complete unknowns from Juve. Some Juve fans were just grateful we'd taken them off their books. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but obviously at the time when you're at rock bottom and need a boost, the signing of two complete unknowns doesn't fill you with confidence. Don't ask me, ask Danny Rose.
That one was a hard one to judge entirely as all we could go off were the judgements of those in Italy. Fast forward to now and it's a completely different as certainly when it comes to Bissouma, Richarlison and to a lesser extent, Spence, we know what we're getting. We've seen them first hand.
I stand by what I said - only Perisic and Bissouma marginally strengthen the first 11. The rest make the bench better.
For all the cooing about our transfers so far, you wait, I wouldn't mind betting that the first 11 that starts this weekend will likely be the same as the one that finished last season. Whereas, across town you've got Chelsea who have snapped up Sterling, two top class defenders that will go straight in plus Cucurella looks like he's coming in too. They're making their first 11 better.
Arsenal too, with Jesus, who, for me is in a different league to Richarlison.
Only United look like they've barely strengthened.
I think we've gone a bit overboard with the hype. If we sell who we're projected to sell, we're likely come near to breaking even. Where's the ambition in that and where's that £150m?
posted on 3/8/22
We have signed six players and still want two more.
Is that not a sign of ambition?
Pull yourself together man.
posted on 3/8/22
Bentancur & Kulusevski definitely weren’t unknowns just players that was having a bad time.
Bentancur was Just coming of winning 3 titles and being integral to it.
Fwiw I gave the window a 7/10 and was buzzing we got those two.