Premier League: Conte’s Long-Term Future Unclear as Spurs Head Down the Thames

Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur

They were two moments just days apart.

The first was frustration or a cry for help – call it what you may.

The second was a reflective moment in time. One which would have not gone unnoticed by the Spurs hierarchy or indeed fans.

Talking Points

It all began with the words of Antonio Conte, supposedly a little unhappy at being left alone as the public face of the club.

Under pressure after three Premier League wins in nine, the Italian was asked whether it would help him if the owners or the chairman, Daniel Levy – who has given a handful of interviews during his 21 years in the role – would speak more openly on strategic matters.

Conte replied: “In England, there is a bad habit that there is only the coach to speak and to explain.”

That was a suggestion, to this SBOTOP observer at least, that here was a man feeling that pressure or certainly alone.

Why wouldn’t he.

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His family are back in Italy and in the last three months he has tragically lost three comrades.

And it was his next comments that were more telling as he opened up on life and all its frailties, admitting it had been a tough season for him on a personal level as he deals with grief and being away from his family.

Conte has lost three close friends recently in Spurs fitness coach Gian Piero Ventrone, former Serie A player and manager Sinisa Mihajlovic and then ex-Juventus team-mate Gianluca Vialli.

“This season is a difficult season for me as a personal aspect. For sure this season is making me have an important reflection on my future.“

Those words suggest to me that Conte and Spurs may go their separate ways this summer, earlier if form does not improve.

After all, with his contact due to expire and perhaps nothing personal to keep him in England, coupled with his perceived lack of support in the transfer market (he has often complained if he does not feel he is being backed, even when he is), could this be the time to say goodbye?

Frustration was evident in last weekend’s North London derby, a game in which they didn’t turn up (without taking anything away from Arsenal) and the result was never in doubt.

That stat is now up to three Premier League victories in 10 incidentally, after Manchester City saw them off 4-2 on Thursday night.

Now, there are many Spurs fans who crave the return of favourite Mauricio Pochettino; who believe his footballing philosophy is better suited to the club over the longer-term than the Italian whose style has garnered results but not always a warmth.

Should Spurs encounter another setback on Monday night, perhaps those calls for a former favourite will emerge.

On saying that, after a lack of silverware for 15 years, a trophy would be more warmly welcomed than anything would I suggest and Conte has a decent track record when it comes to silverware.

We wait and see but, on Monday night at Craven Cottage, the body language could be interesting as Spurs try and revive their top four hopes against a Fulham team which has been one of the sides of the season in the first half of the campaign, ever since their thrilling opening weekend draw against Liverpool at Craven Cottage.

In Marco Silva they have a figure whose leadership abilities and personality has long been admired by teammates, players and colleagues alike.

Monday night Premier League highlights down by the Thames coming our way? I think so.

History

Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 11 goals in 16 Premier League appearances — Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring Fulham’s first goal before it is disallowed after a VAR review

It was September 1903 when these two first met and played out a goalless draw in the then Southern League.

Since then, they have met in that division, along with the London League, Western League, former Division Two, FA Cup, old Division One, League Cup and, for the first time in 2001, the Premier League.

The north London giants have beaten Fulham 53 times. The boys from by the Thames have won on 18 occasions with 30 of the meetings ending level.

More recently, Fulham have only won one of their last nine clashes. That was a 2013 victory at White Hart Lane where a certain Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal.

Earlier this season, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Kane scored the goals in a 2-1 success with Aleksandar Mitrovic replying.

Spurs also edged victory the last time they met at Craven Cottage two seasons ago, courtesy of an own goal.

The last time west London triumphed over North London in this fixture was in 2008 when Simon Davies, against his old club, and Andrew Johnson scored the goals before Frazier Campbell pulled one back.