Would you take Conte at United?

Would you want Conte at United?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1,013 47.1%
  • No

    Votes: 1,140 52.9%

  • Total voters
    2,153
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Zaphod2319

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Yeah, I admit I have no clue how he’d pick from all those attacking players you have. Ronaldo really complicates it even more. Ironically, Cavani is the picture perfect Conte forward and the idea of him up top with runners like Rashford alongside him and wingbacks bursting forward would be scary.
Conte would not be shy about hurting an aging Renaldo's feelings if he didn't play the way he wants. Completely agree about Cavani.
 

mu4c_20le

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Why are we still in love with long term managers?
City laid the groundwork for Guardiola for the long term. I don't believe that term necessarily means 10-20 years, but he's been there for nearly seven and that's fecking long. Similar with Klopp.
 

Andersons Dietician

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My guess is he would play either a 433 or a diamond to start (it's fairly commonly used in Serie A, so I'm sure it's a set up he's familiar with).

With a view to switching to a back 5 after a transfer window or two. We would certainly need a couple of specialist wing backs. I wonder if there are even any quality wing backs who would be available in January, or if we'd have to wait until summer. If we had got him in the summer we might have had a chance at signing Hakimi who would be perfect...
Why? We have Telles and Dalot? I’m sure Bissaka might find life tricky but Shaw can be a LWB or easily become a LCB.
Sure Dalot would probably need replacing at some point but I don’t see much changes required than what we expect to be happening in the next few seasons. Haaland and Rice in the summer, some leave maybe a RWB unless either Bissaka or Dalot start pulling up trees.
 

Sviken

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At United he’d be walking into the best starting position (in terms of personnel) that he’s ever had. Conte with this squad + a new midfielder and a more polished attacking RWB and you’re golden soon enough. Maybe just not this season.
Couldn't care less about this season, it's already over. As long as he can establish a system and how we can play, the real go begins next season for us. We should, though, push hard for at least the CL and FA cup for at least some mediocrum of success.
 

bosnian_red

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Norwich will run over that midfield.
Eh, its a midfield that doesn't work with a back 4 formation sure but one that is probably fine with a back 3. Like all formations, it needs coaching. Whether that is moving Bruno into midfield to make it a 3 with Pogba and Fred (or put Matic in for Fred if you'd like), or putting Sancho in on the right, Rashford left and Cavani or Ronaldo central, there's enough balance there. Conte coached Pogba before, he knows how to handle him. He's the one who brought him to Juve after all. Conte would come in and coach the back line, the wing backs, the midfield and the attack how to play as a unit and what sustem he wants. Player wise, we're more than fine to have what he wants IMO, and if Pogba doesn't work in there, then Conte will have no problem replacing with who he needs.
 

JPB

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People are going to turn on him really quick. He's not the right guy. Most of you were crying about Mourinho and even LVG. Wait till you see this guy with his boring football and 5 at the back. If you want sexy football and want to see us hammering every team 4-0 we need to go for Ten Hag.
 

NZT-One

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I do agree with your suggestion of Ten Hag and him taking time to implement his system and it may well be worth it for the long term despite him not yet being proven managing a massive club like United. The problem with Ten Hag and the current squad for me is let's say Ten Hag does take 2-3 seasons to implement his style, we'll also need a good amount invested in new players as the majority of our team are ready to win now, the core of our team, Maguire (28), Varane (28), Pogba (28), Bruno (27), Fred (28) are very much in the prime of their careers now, convincing them to go through another rebuild stage will be a bit of a long shot. I'm not saying I wouldn't recruit Ten Hag but from the boards perspective you can understand why they'd have reservations considering the amount invested in these players. Now, if we could look back in retrospect it would have been better to have gone for a Ten Hag type manager after Mourinho as to completely rip up the fundamentals of the team and start from scratch. However, us going for Ten Hag and going through another rebuild/implementing a system stage will basically show our boards incompetence and the fact that we wasted 450m worth of funds and 3 years with a subpar manager.

I, personally am torn between the two. But, I'm leaning more to Conte just for the fact that I don't want the last 3 years of squad building and investment to go to complete waste.
Yeah good points, but I feel a bit of sunken cost fallacy. I mean, we overpaid for Maguire. So there is no chance whatsoever that he could somehow turn it around (never sounds too mean, make it very unlikely). Varane just joined the club, he signed and won't leave the club would the project change. Pogba is out of contract and is demanding supposedly 400k per week. Are we really wanting to pay him that? Is the question who the manager is a factor in answering that question? And since when is Fred brought up when talking about the leading figures in our squad?
So all in all, I totally get your point, I could certainly live with Conte and I think, he could achieve great things. But, like so often in the last years, it appears to me as the easiest choice. The most obvious choice. It brought us LVG, Mourinho, Pogba, Ole permanent, Maguire, AWB, Sancho, Ronaldo. All those moves seemed so easy at the time. As if the resonsible figures at the club were happy that public opinion could be used as a reason to do something. This doesn't resonate to me - for me life is balance and you have to suffer when making bad decisions and you will get rewarded for hard ones. Costly ones. And Conte seems to be too easy for us now. A new dawn, a new figure we could put at the front of the ship, leading the course. I'd like United to start some sort of Bayern approach, get stronger in the club department, increase influence of technical director and so one, introduce the coach as a vital cog within a machine, which wouldn't stop even fully if the cog gets exchanged.

I don't know, interesting times though, lets see what happens. I am definitely curious.

Let's see, compared to the other options -
  • The Ajax manager - unproven elsewhere
  • Rodgers - will play better than Ole, but he's not exactly one you go for trophies
  • Howe - same as above, arguable credentials for managing a superstar squad
  • Zidane - doesn't seem to be interested at all.
Among these options, Conte is a no brainer. He's won the PL already. With Pep at City and Klopp at Liverpool. He's won the league with 3 different clubs. Defensively solid, which is currently our main problem.

I would absolutely bet on Conte over all these options against the likes of Pep and Klopp. Newcastle are not relevant cause they won't be anywhere close to top4 in the next 2-3 seasons.
Last year, we have been relatively solid. This year we are without Varane in the worst games and we are really out of form, maybe due to trying to bed in new players. So even if I agree, we have to make sure to be way more solid than we are right now, the main problem for 5 years isn't defense. It is chance creation.
 

bosnian_red

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Yeah the thing is if we're going to play Contes 343 rather than 3142, then you need two DMs, which means no Pogba or VdB or Lingard. You also missed out Martial. We basically have 10 attacking players, and can't really play more than 3 or 4 of them at a push if Pogba/VdB can adjust to a DM role..
Didn't miss our Martial... just ignored him. No point mentioning him at this point with our options and not with Conte either. And it's not so much 2 DMs when you have a 3-4-3. You have more room for an adventurous midfielder than using a 2 in a back 4 formation. You have an extra center back who can push up and essentially make it a 3 in midfield where Pogba is a more advanced midfielder. Balance wise it'd be fine.
 

RUCK4444

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Yeah the thing is if we're going to play Contes 343 rather than 3142, then you need two DMs, which means no Pogba or VdB or Lingard. You also missed out Martial. We basically have 10 attacking players, and can't really play more than 3 or 4 of them at a push if Pogba/VdB can adjust to a DM role..
Great, I can’t wait. :( We fail to field a single DM currently.

Does his formation really need two DM’s with three at the back as well as fullbacks?
 

VanDeBank

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I think Sancho is okay because he did use Pedro as a RW/RF.

Infact it might get Sancho becoming the player we want him to be.

The player I worry most about is Bruno.

I dont see the CAM fitting.
Yep I'm seeing it more recently where one of the wingbacks is an outright a winger. Simeone does it too with Carrasco. I only see it happening once the team is well drilled though.
 

Trequarista10

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Why? We have Telles and Dalot? I’m sure Bissaka might find life tricky but Shaw can be a LWB or easily become a LCB.
Sure Dalot would probably need replacing at some point but I don’t see much changes required than what we expect to be happening in the next few seasons. Haaland and Rice in the summer, some leave maybe a RWB unless either Bissaka or Dalot start pulling up trees.
Because most of those players aren't particularly good? LWB possibly okay but Shaw has never played the role consistently and Telles hasn't shown much here yet. RWB would be a massive concern.
 

Rolaholic

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City laid the groundwork for Guardiola for the long term. I don't believe that term necessarily means 10-20 years, but he's been there for nearly seven and that's fecking long. Similar with Klopp.
So did Bayern with Nagelsmann even as they had a sextuple winning manager. Serious clubs do this sort of long term planning and the serious clubs that don't necessarily do the long term game, instead go for the best available like Chelsea to maximize potential successes.
 

JPRouve

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Yeah the thing is if we're going to play Contes 343 rather than 3142, then you need two DMs, which means no Pogba or VdB or Lingard. You also missed out Martial. We basically have 10 attacking players, and can't really play more than 3 or 4 of them at a push if Pogba/VdB can adjust to a DM role..
I would describe Barella and Brozovic as 8s more than DMs. And long term we shouldn't care much about Pogba as long as he isn't extended. Conte could easily play with a combination of Bruno, McTominay, Fred, Pogba or VDB in midfield. It's also worth mentioning that none of these players are ideal for a balanced 4231 or 433 which brings the fact that Conte has also used a 4312 which on paper is a better fit for these midfielders.

But you noticed that currently we don't have the team for a perfectly balanced starting XI, that's a point that can be made for all managers whether we are talking about a 433, 4231, 343 or 442.
 

Tomuś

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The only arguments against him are his CL record and the alleged "toxicity" surrounding his tenures.

He's a winner, PL proven, recently won a major trophy.

No brainer really.
Reading this post for the umpteenth time and I still don't understand how have you come to a 'no brainer' conclusion.
 
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Yeah the thing is if we're going to play Contes 343 rather than 3142, then you need two DMs, which means no Pogba or VdB or Lingard. You also missed out Martial. We basically have 10 attacking players, and can't really play more than 3 or 4 of them at a push if Pogba/VdB can adjust to a DM role..
Pogba played under Conte at Juve, no?
 

yumtum

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I mean pedantically speaking, Moyes and Ole were still at their respective old clubs when we decided to poach them. LVG was still the Holland NT coach too IIRC.
Ole was a weird one where I think Molde didn't extend his option s he did well for us as interim boss.

LvG, Mou and Moyes were out of contract.
 

Dancfc

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People are going to turn on him really quick. He's not the right guy. Most of you were crying about Mourinho and even LVG. Wait till you see this guy with his boring football and 5 at the back. If you want sexy football and want to see us hammering every team 4-0 we need to go for Ten Hag.
Compared to present day Mourinho he's prime Wenger style wise and prime Capello tactically.

I'd love this to be another case of us enjoying a player/manager in their prime while a competitive rival has the washed up version but unfortunately I can't see it happening this time.
 

Orc

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Bruno is also kind of an issue with Conte’s usual setup. In a pre-CR7 world I think he’d have lined up with Cavani up top, Rashford left, Sancho right, and Pogba next to a midfielder who dominates huge areas of the pitch and snuffs out danger (like Kante or Declan Rice). There’s not really an obvious spot for your two best players in a Conte team.
 

Dan_F

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I was pointing to a certain point in his post regarding Conte's way of dealing with contract renewals. I didn't talk about his relationship with Pogba.

As for the title, I actually do indeed have no doubt in my mind he'll win us the league within 2 years. I'm ready to bet whatever you want on it. :)
I know. But that’s clearly not how he reacts every time a player asks for a contract. As I said, it wasn’t aimed at you as much as every other post saying something along the lines of ‘at least he’d boot Pogba out’.

I’m not a bookies. I’m sure if you’re that confident you can get better odds than anything I can provide. People said the same thing about Jose.
 

MrSingh2002

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THREAD NEEDS A NEW TITLE.

Sky sports are reporting that Sky Sports Italy have claimed United have contacted Antonio Conte.
 

Bosnian_fan

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I watched a lot of Inter over the last 2 seasons due to all the ex-United players. They won because they had better players, but the football was never great. In the CL they got found out time after time.
So if you would be kind enough, could you please point me to the time when Conte actually orchestrated meltdowns like Mourinho and threw his players under the bus. Just once in his career, please.

He actually left every club because of lack of ambitions, which is something United surely won't be. Inter just decided to sell of two best Serie A players in their positions. Chelsea never wanted to give him a role somewhat similar to what Klopp has at Liverpool, where he would get much more say in transfers. Juventus is Juventus, they were way to cheap, back in the day and he didn't want to take it anymore.

His players go through bricks for him. And he doesn't spout shite on them when they lose. He really is the opposite of Mourinho in many things.
 
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Trequarista10

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I would describe Barella and Brozovic as 8s more than DMs. And long term we shouldn't care much about Pogba as long as he isn't extended. Conte could easily play with a combination of Bruno, McTominay, Fred, Pogba or VDB in midfield. It's also worth mentioning that none of these players are ideal for a balanced 4231 or 433 which brings the fact that Conte has also used a 4312 which on paper is a better fit for these midfielders.

But you noticed that currently we don't have the team for a perfectly balanced starting XI, that's a point that can be made for all managers whether we are talking about a 433, 4231, 343 or 442.
To the bold, yes in his 3142/532. My post specified that if he instead goes for the 343 he used at Chelsea. Either way, we're going to be leaving 6 or 7 attacking players out.

You're right, our squad is horribly unbalanced no matter what formation. 2 or 3 attacking players too many, 2 or 3 defensively capable players short.
 

sancho1983

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Not convinced he's the right man at all albeit an upgrade to Ole. I think we'd need anither squad overhaul under him which we could do without at the moment
 

Lebo

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Managing Ajax in the eredivisie is not the same as managing in the premier league. Taking over our players isn't the same as having their players play that style for years. Ten Hag is an excellent coach... but there's a lot of risk there that he just wouldn't adapt properly, or quickly, to the prem. Also strong likelihood he wouldn't want to leave mid season.

We have a squad that is built to win now, it doesn't make sense to bring in a full rebuild manager when the squad is built for success in the immediate 2-3 years.
Same thing was said about Klopp not being as experienced as Mourinho or Pep not having proved himself outside Barca a brilliant setup.

some of us when we look at both teams( inter and Ajax) wewould rather United play like Ajax.

By the way players like Sancho, VDB, Rashford, Greenwood, Mejbri, Shaw, Lindelof, Henderson, and Martial when he is bothered are built for that kind of football. The others can adapt or be shipped out. Same as they have to adapt to Contes wingback football.

The bigger and more important question is what style of football are we trying to play?
Hiring managers because of their medal collection is not a good idea and if you do, there is none better than Zidane at this stage.
 

Majima

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Great, I can’t wait. :( We fail to field a single DM currently.

Does his formation really need two DM’s with three at the back as well as fullbacks?
No it doesn't at all. His 343 he played at Chelsea doesn't even need one DM. It actually suits us.
 
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JB7

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Terrible decision if they’re looking to appoint him. Fits nothing at all to do with the club. Gross.
 

Mr Pigeon

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I think it will be a very knee jerk kind of move. He is an awesome manager, but his preferred formation being 3-5-2, the squad currently assembled will have to be dismantled, some key players sold and some key players bought. I don't think the club would invest that heavily and will end up giving him only half of what he wants and with so many big names he doesn't want. In other words, we will frustrate him and piss him off and try to force him to play a football style he doesn't like.

I think it will be as messy affair overall.
I'm sure that he'd start dismantling the team in the summer to fit his preferred tactics, but so many of his former players say that he's one of the best tacticians in the game. I'm pretty sure that he would find a way of getting these current players playing much better than what we've seen so far.

I don't know much about his supposed issues with players and clubs. Is he as bad as Mourinho or is he just a hard ass? Sir Alex wasn't exactly an angel but the players always gave everything for him.
 

Bubz27

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I'd rather not Conte but we've made this situation for ourselves when we didn't make proactive decisions when Poch and Tuchel were available. Whatever you think about Poch, after Spurs his stock was high and he seemed like a manager on the up. I'm not letting anyone's spell at PSG define them.

But what a lot of fans have to realise is they can put this idea of a manager coming in and creating a dynasty to bed. Whenever we win our next big trophy, it may well just be that, winning A trophy. It's important we celebrate and enjoy that to the max, rather than thinking it'll be the beginning of something special again.

I'd love a Ten Hag to come in and build something special, play some amazing football and win some trophies, it just feels less likely right now.
 

Teja

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So something I didn't see anyone bring up yet, but Inter were the second highest scorers in Serie A last year.

3rd across the top 5 leagues combined.

6th in xG across the top 5 leagues behind Lyon, PSG, Barcelona, Atalanta, Bayern.
 
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