Listen, at the end of the day, we all have to collectively take an L on Spurs last season. They had more in the locker than Arsenal when it came down to it and we have to work out a way to be better next season.
What I can’t have is all this bollocks about what a genius Antonio Conte is, it’s totally nauseating. There are two schools of thought when it comes to creating success at a football club.
You do it the hard way like Liverpool. Set a vision, hire the right people, recruit talent, grow the talent, create sustainable success over years.
You do it the fast way like Inter Milan. Your vision is ‘win at all costs’, you hire in a short term world class manager, you let him sign NOW players, you pray to all the gods he delivers, you worry about what’s next after he wins something big.
Today, I’m going to talk to you about Spurs season in general and how I see this Inter Milan approach working out for them.
Spurs had a few things that went for them this season that are very unlikely to go for them for this upcoming term.
The most impressive thing they did this season was go unbeaten in 4 games against Liverpool and City. You could call this ruthless consistency, you could call it peak-Conte, or you could just say they had a pretty lucky run.
Against City, they scored 4 goals across two games from 8 shots on target. City had almost double the attempts at their goal over the two games, that sort of luck against them doesn’t usually hold.
Similar story against Liverpool in which they drew two games. 40 shots to 20. Spurs also had Liverpool after they played a draining game in the Champions League semi-finals, how many times did Arsenal play big teams after European exploits this season? Let’s talk about that December game against Liverpool, Harry Kane goes in for a leg breaker, doesn’t get a red card from the same ref that sent off Holding for a shoulder barge, then Robertson gets a sending off later in the match. Spurs avoid a 3 game ban for Harry Kane who scores in 2 of the next 3 games.
Let’s talk about sendings off last season. Which team was bottom of the league for sendings off?
Spurs with 1. Which team was top of the league for having the most players sent off against them? Spurs. They didn’t lose a single game in which a red card was awarded to the other team… but the two games when they picked up the only red card, they lost… to Mura and Crystal Palace. They beat Vitesse when going down to 10 men because the Dutch side went down to 9. Do you think that trend holds next season?
Spurs 3rd top goalscorer last season was OWN GOAL. Only Saka and Smith Rowe scored more than OWN GOAL did for Spurs. That is a remarkable statistic that you are really going to struggle to convince me is a feature we’ll see next season.
The season’s luckiest come back, statistically calculated by Oracle, was… Spurs vs Leicester when they scored two goals in injury time. It had a 0.02% chance of happening. How many games go to 95 minutes? How many go to 97 minutes? It was madness. They are litearlly winning awards for their improbable luck.
Then let’s move onto something that Spurs do get credit for. Son and Kane. Two of the best strikers to never have won a trophy. Those two were the cheat code. They are 28 and 29, both managed to start 35 and 37 games respectively. Incredible work from their fitness team, but I’m gonna do a madness here and gamble that with Champions League next season, that pristine fitness is unlikely to happen ever again. Do you think the genius of Conte is going to manage that sort of loss well?
My bet here is that Spurs are going to be on the struggle bus next season. They will have to manage 3 games a week from September, their squad is old, and Conte is pretty notorious for being poor at managing more than a game a week… even at Spurs. I mean, he’s so bad at it, Spurs had to get themeslves disqualified from the Europa Conference League so he could do his job this season.
‘BUT THEY BORROWED MONEY’
Everyone is talking about the £150m loan like it’s purely for transfers, but I’m not so sure. Spurs have two loan players they’ve committed big money towards and Daniel Levey is the shrewdest operator in the game, he fights over every penny, I’m not sure he’s one for announcing to the world exactly how much cash his club has available with a stock issue. Spurs are £706m in debt, tehy had a pretax loss of £80m last November, they’ve just raised £100m, and there’s £50m due on Romero/Bentancur this summer. They have an option of £45m on Kululevski. That’s £90m gone already if this cash is for transfers. Where is the rest of the rebuild money coming from and do you REALLY think Antonio Conte and Paratici are the types to speculate to accumulate with young up and comers? Their first signing of the summer is Ivan Perisic, a 33-year-old Arsenal fans were arguing was too old when we were linked 4 years ago. Their second looks like it’ll be Fraser Forster, a 34 year old.
‘Those are shrewd signings’ feels like the sort of chatter we had when we signed Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sokratis, and Mikhi. It is REALLY hard to make the transition from one of the slower leagues in Europe to the most powerful at 33 years old. But, I don’t give a shit, he might be a good player, but Spurs loading up with geriatrics is exactly the sort of short-term thinking I’m all about for them. My hope is Daniel Levy lets Conte have a summer like he did after he won the league with Chelsea. He dropped a team that landed 93 points to 5th on 70 points.
Spurs have a poverty version of what happened at Chelsea. Conte has come in, taken a decent team to a better position, now the power will reside with him. When he got the power with the West London club, he signed Alvaro Morata, Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater, and Zappacosta. If he can repeat this in 2022, I will be VERY happy.
It is super odd to watch Daniel Levy roll dice like a drunk in a casino with people that have a history of leaving an expensive mess.
… but again, I’m here for it.
Liverpool vs Real Madrid in the Champions League final. I have to say, I’d much prefer Liverpool to win, but the story of Benzema feels like a powerful narrative. Should be a delicious afternoon of football. I hope you are cracking a few beers and spending it with friends. Have a great day and sign up to our Patreon if you like our content.
This blog should be renamed le bernabeu
Never got the hard on for Real Madrid on this blog.
Dissenter
“Strongest league in the world wont have a team win any of the three European trophies”
*yawn*
I’m not one for over-rating the EPL as a whole but Real Madrid have won the european trophy that counts by basically beating and seeing off the EPL to do it.
And you seriously think the Europa Conference League is an indicator of anything? What are you on?
Let alone the Europa League.
The Champions League tells all.
Not the secondary Europa League.
Not the loser Europa Conference.
RM defended deep and kept patient and stifled pool. Don Carlo out shone Klopp tonight tactically.
5 CL titles in the space of 8 years for Real Madrid.
That is ridiculous, didn’t even need Ronaldo for this one.
Yeah Carlo ancelotti is elite for to long people haven’t been respecting him enough. That he isn’t tactical just is a people manager. He is elite and better than pep.
Hazard with a CL medal too
I was more impressed with Real Madrid defending then attacking. Very well composed and drilled.
This is a middle finger to the nauseating British media with this quadruple talk that was always not as close as made out considering City were in the driving seat for the PL and Real are very experienced in the CL. Some of those Real players tonight now have five CL medals.
London Gunner
As explained last week when you said the sanme thing about Man City it is much more anti-Scouse sentiment that you are confusing for a Real love in.
Dublin is crawling with mouthy Scousers. I am delighted to not have to listen to them all summer.
Yeah Real Madrid’s name was on this cup.
And Courtois was a huge reason why they won it.
As well as that fantastic save from Salah tonight let’s remember he also pulled off an immense save against Grealish against Man City where his big boot deflected the ball that was going into the net in that match.
Real Madrid was coming out of Liverpool’s press with relative ease. That’s the real proof of their class and quality. No one can say that it’s an undeserved victory. I’m happy for them.
What about quadrant now🤣
Wenger Eagle
Liverpool fans are no more mouthy than any other fans.
Where I live in Amsterdam sick and tired of hearing all the Real Madrid supporters who are way more overbearing than any scouser I’ve ever met.
pure scum, state funded, legally manipulated all tv revenue to them and barca, in the same vein as $hitY, owned by uaE.
all you true futbol fans would not cheer for them any how or way.
would rather have a team in the championship than ever be a fan of their mechanisms.
Media over here and the UK have been showing Real very little respect in the build-up, was considered a formality that Pool would win the CL.
Glad that Pool lost, can’t stand this narrative that they are the best team in the world Bull Crap….can’t stand Carra and his entitled nature…. Pool couldn’t beat The Chavs within game time in 2 Cup Finals and got the luck of the draw with Pens…best team my arse!! Good team they are but best since slice bread is just rubbish….hope there will be a bit more humility from them next season and also from the English Pundits who never seem to give other teams any chance….especially those Pool pundits like Carra, Danny Murphy, Mickey Mouse Owen and so on..… Read more »
LG
You would be singing a different tune over in Dublin mate trust me!
Unbearable to listen to.
Pool will be back as long as they have klopp though. He has made 3 CL finals in the last 5 years. What are the odds he doesn’t make it again in the next two years, not much really.
Raptora your comment comes across like you are celebrating the plucky underdog ethical clubs victory.
Real Madrid are a greasy dirty club with greasy dirty fan base full of cunts.
There is a really strange love for Real Madrid on this blog.
They aren’t the good guys.
Real Madrid are shite.
Franco club that has always had government backing.
But fair enough if the scousers are disliked more.
Why not.
Thank goodness Madrid won.
As Loyika rightly points out, Pool were lucky to win anything this season given they were outplayed by Chelsea in both Cup Finals and won on pens.
If Real Madrid is fascista then Liverpool is as much a dreg filled commie state.
I would have much preferred villeral to win the cl to be fair
Also lol at those calling those madrid defenders Pepe and Ramos and co.
I’d give anything for Arsenal to have some nasty players everyone hates. Team and club in general is full of choir boys so goods
What are the chances we see that petulant shite with treating the Silver medals like they are infected with Covid?
WG
Benzema Will deffo win Balon now
LG,
Real was the underdog Vs PSG, City and Pool. Yes, I am celebrating their win because of that. Plus fuck our competitors in the EPL.
I am not going to be in Pools corner when we should be competing with them year in, year out.
London Gunner
“There is a really strange love for Real Madrid on this blog.
They aren’t the good guys.”
Yep not good guys. More like cvnts.
But they were the underdogs as far as the actual football match tonight was concerned when they kicked off.
Glad to see they didn’t.
Shows that they have class even in defeat.
Say what you like about Real Madrid, but Liverpool with those whinging, entitled, bratty fans who drip with arrogance, wallow in unjustified victimhood and never take the blame for anything they are involved in, are the worst of the lot. Absolutely made up that the scousers lost.
Real Madrid are shite
Lol whats that 5 champions league trophies in 7 years. I’d give anything for Arsenal to be half as shite and backed by every scum of the earth anyone can find to own us and bring some glory our way
And right on cue TAA the prat…
Weagle
Nailed it with Trent 😂😂😂
InsideRight gets it.
Dani boy got the medal but I’ll remember his play when he could have decided the game. What a guy!
Hazard winning it finally too
Arnold is becoming a very annoying twat.
And he is hugely over-rated because he’s cute going forward.
Makes plenty of errors defensively like tonight which saw Madrid score their goal.
Must be so anti-climatic for Hazard.
Played as much of a role in the win as we all did.
Agree London Gunner
Not many options against this fire brand of Liverpoool other than to soak it up in the first 45 and hope for goal which Madrid should of had. Then let them slowly wither and hit them on counter which Don Carlo executed to perfection. Could of had several in last 30.
Harsh on Klopp but they didnt take chances and paid ultimate price.
On a side note that entire stadium should take a bow to Rafa while that beautiful bird executes a perfect blow job (delete if you must Pedro).
Batistuta
I meant shite as a club in the sense already mentioned.
Franco club backed by governments.
8 UCL wins in 8 Finals since 1998 I heard. Incredible stat.
Dani Ceballos. Ansolute legend.
Deserves all the accolades he is
Going to get.
Modric, Carvahal, Benzema, Marcelo.
That’s 5 champions league medals eavh for them. Absolutely incredible
LG
Watching the game as a neutral I like the narrative of the plucky comeback kings going on to defeat more talented clubs for the title. Fucking sue me, it’s football and I watch it for the entertainment. Don’t understand why you’re policing how people should feel about a club winning something vs another just because you feel a certain way about them.
@ WE It’s a thin line…same thing happened with the “Invincibles!” truth be told we as Arsenal fans honestly realise that team disappointed in the end hence why they don’t get the credit they deserve apart from us Arsenal fans who go on the defensive with other supporters to defend them, but we know they didn’t live up to what they could have achieved that season. United got the rub of the green to win the treble…Bergy’s pen miss giving Giggs the chance to come on and be a hero, last min mayhem against Bayern and viola!! They go down… Read more »
InsideRight
It’s called experience. A shame that Arteta lacks so much of it.
I hope he understands the importance of rotating the players in your team next season.
*facepalm*
Ishola
Not sure those Madrid fans give a toss about any of that really. Football is about winning and cultivating that culture.
Everything else at least for me is just noise
Ishola
TAA is a diva. You can tell he believes in his own hype and the media being so far up his arse they are popping out the back of his neck.
No doubt he is an excellent RWB but yes he is a liablity defensively. In most games Pool are so dominant it does not matter but in a game like tonight against a world class LF in Vinicius Jr it is fatal.
Maybe Carra and Nev will pipe down on the verbal blowies now and realise he is not Dani Alves II.
True champions true character. Respect for young players old players the referees the opponents. Real deserve the win.
Liverpool luck finally ran out this season in the last 7 days
InsideRightMay 28, 2022 22:49:25
Say what you like about Real Madrid, but Liverpool with those whinging, entitled, bratty fans who drip with arrogance, wallow in unjustified victimhood and never take the blame for anything they are involved in, are the worst of the lot. Absolutely made up that the scousers lost
This deserves a re-post.
Fuck Liverpool.
Glad to see Liverpool in tears.
Wanted Pool to win it for the effort Klopp gave it to the quadruple.
No problem with anyone rooting against them in my book no matter the reasons, but the fact is they dominated the team with a 1/3 higher wage bill that walked a piss poor La Liga this season, while resting key players for weeks, and having played 7 games less than Pool.
Luteo
No offence I will police it as I should Real Madrid are a scummy club this isn’t lecister winning the title. This isn’t dortmund winning bundesliga or Porto winning the CL. This is an elite level club in fact the most elite club in the competition. Real Madrid were always the favourites. If anything Liverpool we’re more of the underdogs than RM.
So people on this forum should stop supporting the greasy madrista’s.
Weagle
“TAA is a diva. You can tell he believes in his own hype and the media being so far up his arse they are popping out the back of his neck.”
I’ve been calling this out for a long time on here.
As well as the media up his arse plenty of posters on here as well have been rummaging up there as well.
I can respect and enjoy his attacking play but as a conventional fullback with the importance of defending as well in that position he is hugely over-rated.
Poster boy.
WEagle how did Chelsea dominate the cup finals when Pool had 37 to 21 shots advantage and more of the ball?
Agree with Luteo. Most of these clubs have despicable off-field behavior and politics. Sure Real’s hierarchy are scum but that doesn’t extend to the players.
It is a fucking game and we are just celebrating a summer off from Scouse bollocks.
Tom
You’re coming across as a bit of a Pool and Klopp apologist here.
Chavs had better chances in the match, total shots does not translate to scoring opportunities.
How is winning x2 Cup Finals on a sudden death penalty kick each time not lucky?
LG
Define favourites?
Books had a Pool win at 2.00 odds and a Real win at 3.55 odds. So no, they were not the faves.
Wenger Eagle
I don’t give a single fuck what the books said I woke up in the morning knowing Real Madrid would win and that they were the favourites just as I knew they’d beat city.
In fact they were my favourites to win it before the tournament even started.
Why are people acting like Real Madrid are some humble side? Wild card team that had appeared out of nowhere it’s a hilariously bizarre take.
I wish The Arsenal could do something like this.
*dreams*
Yeah Liverpool’s odds to win the match tonight were around 2.00 – evens.
That’s not a really short price as far as favourites go.
That price reflects that they were favourites but very beatable and not a case of them just turning up to pick up the trophy.
I gives a rat’s arse about Real. I just didn’t want a competitor team to win it. If Real wins 13 or 17 makes no difference to me. In Spain, I hate Barca because of how the refs have killed us every time we’ve played them.
Just saw a replay of Reals goal, Robo was not in his zone or anywhere on what the camera was showing.
Hope that you put some money on them then London Gunner.
It’s nice to know you knew they would win but apparently most other people including the Books or media didn’t get the memo. Do not ever recall you saying they would win the CL this season.
Lol who is framing it that way? Most just appreciate Real’s remarkable record in the CL. It doesn’t extend beyond that and loving Scouser tears.
Ishola
They were 1.55 to lift the trophy.
They are fairly short odds. Shorter than Roma’s vs Feyenoord in fact.
Carlo doe.
From a nothing period at Everton, after him Everton almost got relegated.
To winning the biggest trophy in club football.
People were calling him washed and a has been. What a story.
I’m not English though and have grown up surrounded by Liverpool fans so can understand others feel differently about them.
Still seems strange you would want them to win tonight though. Would have been x3 CL titles to our 0 in modern times. Good luck giving them any banter off the back of that.
Weagle
oddsportal shows Liverpool at a general 1.99 to win the match tonight so we can basically say 2.00 as you said before.
2.00 price for a favourite is not a real solid favourite’s price.
It is a price where you are not suprised if a favourite gets turned over.
Raptora
Fair play.
What I hated with us being set up against Barca is the knowledge that Arsene was not able to tactically beat them.
By that point the finishing 4th mentality had set on in with Arsene. As much as were being billed as clubs of equal philosophy (we were and we are Superior to them!) we were never ready and took on a constant tanking (in most cases, bar our win against them at home in 2011.)
2.00 to 3.55 shows who the favorite was but who cares. Universal opinion was that this season City, Pool and PSG were the big favorites.
Think you are nitpicking Ishola.
To lift the trophy is what matters and pre-match Pool were hovering around 1.50-1.55 to Real’s 2.45-2.40.
Clear favourite. You are not going to find much shorter odds in a CL Final unless you are playing some average team and how many of those make CL Finals?
Pedro dissed Emery – he has a superb cup run beating BM
Pedro dissed Carlo – goes onto to win CL 4th effing time
Pedro dissed Conte and still dissing – secures top 4 and god knows what is he going to win next season …….
Just sayin 😊
Anything but a Liverpool win, I know too many obnoxious, arrogant Liverpool fans and it would be insufferable if they had got over the line. They are also, hopefully a direct rival in the future and have been direct rivals of us in the past.
Contrast to Madrid who obviously are not our direct rival. I also only know one Madrid fan who has a season ticket over there.
I’m never cheering on other English clubs in Euro competition.
weagle
I don’t understand this “lifting the trophy” odds talk.
The actual match tonight was priced up at kick off as Liverpool 1.99 to win and Real Marid 3.74 to win over 90 minutes.
90 minutes bettig odds is the go to odds. the king of odds as far as football matches go.
I still haven’t seen anything like that second yellow card of rvp Vs Barca. As farcical as it gets.
https://youtu.be/fWnsrTx9Y6E
leftside
“I’m never cheering on other English clubs in Euro competition.”
yeah no need to really unless you are one of those nationalistic types and that is daft in itself anyway as these “English” teams have only a handful of English players in them a lot of the time.
I know that Barca fans are fuming. Fuck them!
London Gunner
How much did you stick on Real to win UCL
Ishola
What is not to get? CL Finals often go to ET so to lift the trophy basically shortens the odds in the event of a draw.
Pool were heavy favourites going into tonight to win the CL. Inside 90 mins is irrelevant, that is not the debate here.
Raptora
I remember.
The biggest pisstake in the history of football.
How to remove your biggest threat.
Barca were so corrupt that they were afraid to play against us back then. That was just before hubris finally took over Wenger.
That youth team with Cesc in MF. The biggest what if in history.
weagle
It’s not irrelevant at all.
If Liverpool were such big favs as you imply then they would have been shorter price to win over 90 mins certainly shorter than the odds of 2.00
“You’re coming across as a bit of a Pool and Klopp apologist here.“
WEagle, does he need any?
Won both domestic cups.
Lost the league by a point to financial dopers , and outplayed European Royalty over 90 minutes losing by one goal.
24 shots to 4, and 9 on goal to 2
Yep, bad season.
That tracks all right.
Max I didn’t bet a single cent I don’t bet on any sports nor do I play poker. It’s something I’ve never done because I was out off it at a young age through bad experiences seeing what it does to people. WE We can go round in circles but it’s hardly far fetched saying Real Madrid la Liga winner and the team who have won 5 CL’s in the last 8 years with the manager who was the join most successful in the competition favourites. I’m not trying to act like some wise sage in fact the opposite it’s… Read more »
WE I also take it your a gambling man so you take your views from what the bookies say. I don’t I make my own mind up. I think all the signs were there saying RM would likely win. 1. Most successful team in CL history 2. Most successful team in recent cl history 3. 5 cl in 8 years 4. Most successful CL manager in history 5. Most in form striker in Europe 6. Won their domestic league with ease 7. Kept beating all the other big teams in the tournament despite bizarrely being doubted 8. Have in recent… Read more »
Tom
Come on mate, it was tongue in cheek.
I obviously do not believe that Pool or Klopp had a bad season. They had an incredible season, x2 games away from winning the Quadruple (the City league draw 2-2 was the killer).
But Klopp should be judged harshly in that ultimately they came up short tonight. City actually made a much better fist of Real and were much more unlucky to lose and Pep received both barrels so you have to keep that same energy as the kids say.
Liverpool fans won’t be harsh on Klopp.
They will still adore him even though they will have some disappointment.
To be involved in quadruple chances going into the last takes of the season is an excellent place to be.
This Liverpool up there with the greats like the Arsenal 1993 team.
Domestic cup double is special.
Ishola Haha Keyser would be proud of this effort. I said that coming into tonight, Liverpool were the clear favourites to win the CL. 90 mins is irrelevant as you can win in ET/pens and many Finals have gone that way. The Americans call it ML ‘Money-Line’ and it is in all their sports because Americans just cannot stand to not have a winner and a loser. Clearly doesn’t exist in football as a draw is always on the table hence the odds are longer to account for them. Pool were significant favourites tonight to win the CL was the… Read more »
Pep gets more stick because of how much more money has been poured into Man City compared to Liverpool and the fact that really he should have won it by now with what has been at his disposal over the years.
Weagle
You are not significant favs if your odds are at 2.00 to win over 90 mins.
Favs yes but not significant ones.
Madrid scoring 1 goal off two shots. Antonio Conte doing match tactics with Carlo.
London Gunner Respect for not being a gambling man. I like an occasional gamble now and again but was really degenerate for a spell a couple of years back before I learned my lesson and wised up. I get your point made here about Real although a lot of those points are overridden by the fact that going into tonight Liverpool were the better team with the better manager. Historical facts and winning La Liga at a canter (no competition this season) are irrelevant to this. I was less surprised that Real won tonight than over x2 legs vs City… Read more »
This obsession with Tottenham is sad tbh. They underperformed last season and had two dysfunctional coaches before bringing in Conte. He took over a sinking ship and got them back to the CL. Personally, I didn’t think he’d be able to do it but he proved me wrong. Would be pretty nice if we too could celebrate actual achievements instead of picking whatever lead indicators that support an improvement narrative (changes created etc) while finding creative ways to ignore the ones that disprove it (goals scored/conceded etc). Let’s not kid ourselves with the Liverpool comparison. They’re owned by Fenway –… Read more »
LoveSausage, it’s part of football culture to pop off at other clubs, especially in the Premier League. I’ve had Spurs fans messaging me all day. Beautiful stuff.
Personally quite happy RM won. Scousers such ungracious winners and we have been spared that
Watched the final in Cancun (pvt dining room with large screen telly- could get used to that ) having been in Mexico for a week
Now flying back
Ishola, absolutely spot on.
It amazes me any Arsenal fan would ignore the money aspect of football the minute their own club isn’t directly involved.
Again, rooting against Liverpool in any competition makes absolutely a lot of sense from our perspective , whether you live in a short proximity to a dickhead Pool fan or not, but ignoring the financial constraints Klopp has been working under is just weird.
Ok Ishola so favourites but not prohibitive favourites, we can agree on that? Pep rightly gets more scrutiny than Klopp but it has gone over the top imo. 4 PL titles in 5 seasons not to mention cleaning up domestic Cups and going pretty deep in Europe is pretty amazing in itself. He’s set the bar so high that he is now a victim of his own earlier success. Klopp has lost 3 of his 4 CL Finals let’s not forget. That is not a great looking stat for him and I rate him as high as anyone. Pool and… Read more »
Pedro,
I have a go at them every chance I get too but I try to focus more on things like their trophy cabinet. Conte has been a massive success for them, as measured by results as well as financial ROI. He might still mess things up (every manager does eventually) but I just don’t see the point in these narratives that are wishful thinking more than analyses.