thfcsteff
Garth Crooks
Do you think we were left with any option?
Here's my take (open, as always, to criticism/alternate view)
Conte had been dealing with inordinate, building stress since Ventrone died. I don't believe he got all he wanted in the summer window, but he said he was 'happy', so we take him at his word. The stress built further with World Cup disruption. I believe it played a huge part; he is a man who likes to control situations, and in the end, he could not. Romero was clearly scared to be hurt and miss the tournament, thus he sat a couple of weeks out (in fairness, given what Argentina did, a wise m move for him).
January again yielded none of what Conte wanted (Danjuma was another Spence for him) until the final day of the window when he got a new RWB. I'd wager that he wanted him a month earlier. Meanwhile, Paratici's BS cannot have helped matters. Add the friends deaths. Add his own medical emergency, and subsequent ludicrous attempt to come back too fast. Pressure building.
The Soton 'collapse' as such hinged oil a brick penalty decision, but straw and camels. I'd wager Conte always has a bomb in his pocket, but even he found himself emoting in a more colorful way than he expected. He crossed a few deep lines which even caught him by surprise. His reported attempts to back-track/clarify with Levy seem to give that impression. It appears, however, that a dressing room already bewildered and shoved from left to right to left in chaotic fashion for most of the season could not forgive. I get the impression it was considered an untenable bridge. I further get the impression that they tried to build that bridge for Conte, waiting until players were not on international duties to feel out the dressing room.
I think both the club and Conte thought they'd see this through to the summer, but this unexpectedly blew up in their faces.
I think the wider point I'd agree with, is we have looked hugely rudderless for at least half this season, a squad built for a single system which has run it's course and revealed it's huge weaknesses once two or three key injuries occur (and the loss of Bentancur has been massive).
It's why despite the situation (far far from ideal as it relies solely on player pride to get 4th which is going to be tough) I am at least relieved they didn't dive into a fast appointment of, say, Rodgers, only to find that falls short too.
There is no doubt they need to have a direction and philosophy from the board to the first 11 to recruitment when it comes to football. Who are we and what are we going to be about...it can't be 3-4-fudging-3 any more!!!!
