Posts Tagged ‘Antonio Conte’

More Transfer Window Bits & Pieces (And The Super Cup)

Posted: August 9, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Transfers
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The European Super Cup

So the European Community Shield Super Cup was played tonight between Manchester United and Real Madrid and everyone had a jolly day, (and night), in Skopje, Macedonia. Or, as it is more romantically known, FYROM.

Other than the obvious enjoyment of even more travelling and another meaningless game coming just three days before the start of the new season, what is the point of this fixture? Even United and Real Madrid fans will be struggling to remember it a year or two from now. (more…)

These Three Will Contest The Premier League Not Because Of The Amount Of Money They Have Spent, But Because Of The Players They Have Bought

Posted: August 8, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Transfers
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There are dark horses in most competitions. They are called dark horses because you don’t see them coming. They slip into the lead or one of the first three places almost unnoticed and, occasionally, go on to win the race.

This season will not see a dark horse slipping into the top six, never mind the top three.

The top three are already nailed on and, coincidentally enough, also happen to be the three who have spent the most money. But does this actually mean anything? Is it possible to buy the Premier League title? The short answer is; No, it isn’t, but it IS possible to buy the players who will win you the Premier League title. (more…)

Manchester City And Chelsea Have Identified Weaknesses And Strengthened Them. Manchester United Have Identified Strengths And Strengthened Them, (Slightly)

Posted: July 30, 2017 in Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Transfers
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It is still too early to judge the success or otherwise of this transfer window as far as City, United and Chelsea are concerned.

Chelsea fans will argue that they have strengthened in positions where strengthening was required and Manchester City fans will say exactly the same about their club.

In Chelsea’s case, and depending upon who you choose to believe, either Diego Costa had already decided he was going to leave, or Antonio Conte had already decided Diego Costa was going to leave. Either way a striker was a pre-requisite in this window. (more…)

1. What Are The Odds That The Top Six Managers Will Still Be At The Same Club By The End Of Next Season? – Part One

Posted: July 18, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Tottenham Hotspur
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PART ONE – ANTONIO CONTE, MAURICIO POCHETTINO & PEP GUARDIOLA

Probably not as bad as you may think. In fact, of the six, only Antonio Conte is deemed to have the temperament to walk away from a club at the merest hint of disagreement.

Here is what is being said about them individually.

Antonio Conte – Chelsea

As with others on this list, he has a habit of leaving clubs when least expected to do so. The first time was with Bari in Italy. He had just got them promoted to Serie A and had also just signed a new contract when he decided not to continue in the job any longer. (more…)

All’s Fair In Love, War And The Transfer Window

Posted: July 11, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Everton, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Transfers
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Here we take a look at the transfer dealings of two London clubs, the two from Manchester and the two Merseyside teams.

CHELSEA

Chelsea have signed Antonio RĂĽdiger. He is a centre back and there was, as far as we know, no competition for his signature.

Chelsea have not signed Romelu Lukaku because they had competition from a bigger club. They may not sign Timoue Bakayoko because that same bigger club is now expressing an interest in the player. (more…)

JosĂ© Mourinho & Antonio Conte Appear To Be The Unhappiest Of Managers

Posted: July 5, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Transfers
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If we look at the top clubs, the happiness of the individual managers is easy to gauge. The teams who are signing players have happy coaches and the ones who are struggling to get deals over the line don’t, yes it’s that simple!

Here’s how it breaks down.

CHELSEA

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The only player through the door so far has been Willy Caballero. Brought in on a free transfer as a number two to Thibault Courtois, he was previously number two, (before becoming number one), to “Butterfingers” Bravo at Manchester City. This signing has not yet seen an increase in the sale of season tickets. (more…)

Which Teams Are Best Placed To Win The Champion’s League Next Season?

Posted: June 30, 2017 in Arsenal, Champions League, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion
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Here, admittedly before many transfers have been completed, we take a look at who will be among the favourites for the Champion’s League next season.

From Real Madrid through to Manchester United, managers at the top European clubs will be under pressure to deliver silverware at the highest level. They will be expected to mount a domestic title challenge and the elite few will also be expected to mount a challenge for Europe’s top prize.

They could be viewed as a European top six and we fully expect the following clubs to at least reach the quarter finals of the competition: (more…)

The Top Six Next Season Will Not Include Arsenal

Posted: June 4, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Tottenham Hotspur
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Good old Arsene. He never lets you down. Well, not very often anyway. OK, quite a few times in recent years. But give the guy a break, after all he keeps having to play teams like Bayern Munich in the Champion’s League. Quite why this appears to faze both him and his players so much is a mystery. He can come up with tactics to beat the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea in knockout tournaments, he just can’t seem to do it when it’s a foreign team, (or Manchester United in Europe). (more…)

Only JosĂ© Mourinho’s Manchester United Keep Us Waiting For Closure

Posted: May 21, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Everton, Football, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Tottenham Hotspur
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So it’s nearly all over. On Wednesday night the fat lady will sing, at least as far as any English interest in Europe is concerned. To continue the mixed metaphors from the previous article, then is the time that JosĂ© Mourinho will find out if the straws at which he has been grasping can be pulled through the silver lining he has decided the Europa League to be, or if they will get stuck in the cloud.

(more…)

Mourinho, Guardiola, Conte, Klopp, Wenger And Pochettino. Why None Of These Should Have Been Contenders For Manager Of The Season

Posted: April 9, 2017 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Liverpool, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur
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Watching “The Sunday Supplement” on, believe it or not, Sunday, we here at WSA were dismayed, if not surprised, to hear that all of the journalists on the programme were going to vote for Antonio Conte as their “manager of the season“.

Now we have never thought that football journalists were ever recognised authorities on the machinations of the modern football club or it’s manager, but to vote for Conte shows a staggering lack of knowledge and totally flies in the face of the true definition of the award. Let’s look at the contenders as they were when the season started. This, in itself, got everything off on the wrong foot as the wrong managers were being scrutinised. (more…)

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