Antonio Conte has been in charge for over a year but has come to make his dream of winning titles unrealistic, and his job is to “build” the club instead.
Conte’s deal at the Spurs expires at the end of the season
Arsenal has beaten Tottenham in the north London derby – isn’t it time for Antonio Conte to take off the handbrake? When the teams last met in May, the Spurs showed just how ahead their rivals were with a 3-0 win, but it wasn’t until eight months later that the roles were cancelled. Arsenal are 14 points clear of Tottenham, who face a battle to finish in the top four and little else. Conte has been in charge for over a year but has come to make his dream of winning titles unrealistic, and his job is to “build” the club instead.
The Spurs completed the permanent signings of Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Christian Romero, Ivan Perisic, Clement Lenglet, Djed Spence and Fraser Forster in the summer at a combined cost of £172m and Conte, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is also trying to create a winning culture at the club.
‘Buy Strong’
But while he believes Tottenham need to “buy strong” to keep improving, should the head coach look at how he uses the players available to him? Isn’t it time for Conte to throw his lineup at three on the back for a regular four like Arsenal, Manchester United and Thursday’s opponents Manchester City? Paul Merson, and Jamie Redknapp, give their expert opinion. Paul Merson: “Tottenham concede two goals every game. They play three from the back, two hold the midfield players and let two goals in every week. I don’t know how you can get away with it; it’s unbelievable. Bar the Palace game – which, if Palace had Harry Kane, they would have won 4-0 – you can’t keep turning it on and off like a tap.”
“The first half was embarrassing at the top level. Everything Arsenal did, you could see, was a plan, and there were formations. But Tottenham are handcuffed; they’re off the cuff. If it happens, it happens. You don’t see any plan.”
“The second goal, the goalkeeper hits the ball, like in 1989. He receives the ball and kicks it out of his hands – this happens on a Sunday morning. You can’t do this. The centre halves are sitting there waiting for the ball. “.
Tottenham are in a bit of a mess
Jamie Redknapp: “Arsenal have spent £120m since May, and Tottenham have spent £172m. We think Tottenham are a team that has progressed, but they haven’t. ‘The gulf in class and style of football’ Arsenal is what really puts it together for the Spurs fans. This is something that will really be their incense because they don’t look at a team with a lot of direction in terms of how they play, it never really changes the system, and I think that gives you a big problem. The development of the Arsenal team compared to Tottenham has been incredible. Three points from the last five home games are not good enough for any manager. The Spurs are in a bit of a mess, but they can still get into the top four because they’re still in a good position.”