Spurs' Problem Isn’t Getting Rid Of Conte, It’s Finding A Suitable Replacement

Antonio Conte will likely become the 12th managerial victim of the Levy regime at Tottenham Hotspur
15:00, 24 Mar 2023

Maybe Antonio Conte was right all along with his frenzied attack on the wishy-washy attitude at Tottenham.

For the manager to remain in his job for even 24 hours after publicly hosing down the entire ownership over their ingrained lack of ambition is an HR miracle in itself.

Conte should have been clearing his desk as soon as the team bus returned to the training ground from Southampton, where pent-up frustrations finally boiled over following a 3-3 draw against a team fighting a losing battle against relegation.

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Spurs supremo Daniel Levy should be digging out his contacts book or signing up to every recruitment agency in the world to find a replacement as soon as humanly possible.

Levy stands accused of accepting second best too easily, as long as the cash tills keep ringing at their magnificent rebuilt stadium. 

Whether true or not and whether it is in the next few days or at the end of another empty season, Tottenham’s rottweiler of a chairman needs to source a new coach.

The problem is that even the most ardent Tottenham fan knows deep down that what combustible Conte spouted at St.Mary’s is pretty much on the mark.

And that while managing Spurs is still regarded notionally as a plum job, the new man will be taking over the second best team in north London and one facing a massive identity crisis. 

One League Cup remains the only piece of silverware since Levy became the front for ENIC and distant majority shareholder Joe Lewis in 2001.

Conte is poised to take on the dubious honour of becoming the 12th victim of the Levy regime which has reigned over White Hart Lane for a largely fruitless 22 years.

And word spreads quickly on the managerial jungle drums about what you will be walking into.

The rumours of a return by Mauricio Pochettino, the man who got them closest to a big cup, are strong.

Pochettino spent more than five years in the dugout at Spurs
Pochettino spent more than five years in the dugout at Spurs

This is the Argentinian who knew his time was up when he spotted the Tottenham top brass downing champagne after LOSING the 2019 Champions League final to Liverpool.

Pochettino decided then that was enough and it was downhill from there. Has he seen any evidence since being sacked in 2019 to suggest anything has changed?

Spurs were knocked out of the FA Cup by a Championship side. They are clinging onto fourth place in the Premier League by two points from Newcastle United - who have two games in hand on them.

They followed up resounding wins over London rivals West Ham and more notably Chelsea by losing to Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Their best player Harry Kane, now England’s record goalscorer, is clearly unsettled, frustrated and odds on to leave this summer with only a year left on his contract.

If Pochettino decides it’s too risky, then there is always Marco Silva at Fulham. 

The Portuguese coach has guided London’s oldest and smallest Premier League club into the top half of the table following promotion. A marvellous feat.

He is also awaiting news on his second touchline ban of the season. 

Four bookings led to the first, a straight red for encroaching the referee’s sacred technical area for studying VAR footage in a club-wide meltdown at Manchester United in the FA Cup triggered the second.

Silva himself admits he was not exactly pleasant to ref Chris Kavanagh at the time. A two or three game banishment to the stands awaits.

Current Fulham boss Marco Silva might be a risky move for Spurs
Current Fulham boss Marco Silva might be a risky move for Spurs

Sounds very much like swapping Conte for Silva might be swapping like for like. 

Although Silva does not criticise his own club, Spurs need a period of calm from the coach - not another raving lunatic ready to implode at every decision going against them.

Levy’s problem at Tottenham is not getting rid of Conte. With only a few months left on his contract anyway the low compensation figure will be right up this astute businessman’s street.

The problem is who do they replace him with for a quiet life?

Tottenham Hotspur are 2/1 to finish in the top four with Betfred(

*18+ | BeGambleAware

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