^was wondering the same, not sure but it's possible. he did start like the first four or so games i think. edit: 5 league appearances. he's good. i believe today puts him on 7.
Conte, pure class. goes through every single member of Middlesborough squad to shake hands and then goes to clap the AWAY fans with them before taking selfies with chelsea fans.
I've loved watching him in England. He can actually do things like this and it won't create a media maelstrom or trigger fan riots. Of course, if he was still managing in Italy it would probably never even occur to him to applaud the opposition fans in the first place, because 1) he knows that they almost all universally despise him, or at least they did before he managed the Azzurri, and 2) he wouldn't want to offend the more, shall we say, "radical" elements of his own fan base, especially because he still has a house in Turin.
Conte seems like he can be himself here. Coincidentally, Gullit said he loved being at Chelsea because he could enjoy himself compared to Italy.
You're Juventus - that makes sense. It'd be like Fergie doing it to a relegated team - I doubt they'd take it kindly. Especially since Conte is so connected to Juve as a player too. I do wonder at the tug and pull though between going back to Italy where his family is and.......going back to Italy where the circus is.
Yes, I've read that - although the plan was also to bring them over Christmas, which fell through. Hopefully he'll stay of course, although I hope Roman is patient - we're not clear favorites to win the league next season.
Well, that was a nice result. Almost there. I will be in NY when we can win the league. Hopefully this won't have to wait until I'm back in the Bay Area.
We're nearly there boys! Conte is so full of class compared to erm........the last fella we had in charge, its a shame about what I've just read here about Italy, 30 years ago there where a lot of problems here with fans and it took a while for the authorities to figure out how to deal with it but they got there in the end. If they want to put a stop to it in Italy (and its hooligan fans that stop a league from reaching its full potential) they have to be brave and ban the troublemakers for life (its what they did in England), for some reason though they seem reluctant to do that there. Its resulted in football in England once again becoming suitable for family viewing without fences, without police with dogs and without tear gas! Anyway thanks to Conte I have even become a bit of a Juventus fan (I hope they win the Euro anyway and usually if Chelsea aren't in a competition I couldn't care less about it). Luckily for me Friday's game will be perfect for sitting in the pub and (hopefully) watching the boys bring it on home (though I predict a score draw for this one).
1. It is a nice change of pace to see our manager show such dignity and class and not berate an employee in front of 40K+ fans. 2. I don't think he leaves this summer. I think he likes the club and as long as our execs aren't assholes and give him reasonable transfer funds, we'll be OK. 3. Alonso was triggered for this match. You could see it early. It could've gone the other way with Adama burning Alonso every chance he got, but it went the other way. Speed doesn't always win. Alosnso is extremely smart in his defending and travels up and down the pitch with amazing proficiency for a man of his gait. 4. I wonder if Costa is falling back in love with the club. Winning can do that. Trophies can do that. Whatever happens, Conte has done a masterful job managing the egos in that locker room. Even Terry - which could have gone south fast. But everything has been headache free. Give Conte what he wants.
^^ wasn't Costa waving goodbye after his goal? Think his deal is done. He just likes winning and will give his 100% which I am perfectly fine with.
Marcos Alonso has been quietly, or not so quietly, brilliant this season.. I named him as one guy we could definitely upgrade, but I'm not so sure. Very consistent and able to score the odd goal. I'll take it.