Tottenham fans should be excited about Antonio Conte
Being a Tottenham fan means a couple of things.
It means you're often geared to expect the worst from your team, even if things are looking up.
It means thinking you're not allowed nice, shiny, excellent things.
It means copping a load of flack from your friends and colleagues.
But we are allowed nice things, and you're certainly allowed to be optimistic when a good thing - a thing that seemed almost impossible and unthinkable at the start of the year - pokes up out of nowhere with a remarkable, almost unwarranted interest in taking the club forward.
This good thing is Antonio Conte.
The news of his arrival as Spurs' managerial successor for Nuno Espirito Santo has now been confirmed, with the Italian signing a deal until 2023 with the option to extend.
What's odd about Conte joining Tottenham is how he doesn't seem to fit many of the specifications typically associated with being the club's manager, especially those that were reiterated by Daniel Levy when he addressed Spurs fans at the end of last season. He's not seen as a project man - notably only lasting two seasons each with both Chelsea and Inter - while his tactical approach isn't synonymous with a free flowing style of play.
He's even been painted with that same 'winner' brush Tottenham fans were so sick of hearing about former manager Mourinho. But that would be unfair. Not because he isn't a winner - he clearly is, with five top titles to his name with Juventus, Chelsea and Inter - but he does have a clear playing identity, one which is certainly a lot more progressive than 'hoof the ball forward, hope the best players perform outrageously in front of goal and invite pressure onto your own box'.
What is extremely encouraging is how Conte has coerced some brilliant performances from players you'd think were bin fodder. Victor Moses found incredible form at right wing back during Chelsea's Premier League title win in 2016/17, while forgotten former Manchester United defenders Ashley Young and Matteo Darmian played somewhat important roles in Inter's recent triumph.
Tottenham's squad is hardly a blockbuster one, but plenty of fans have been brainwashed into thinking it's full of complete no-hopers. In reality it's good, but they've needed a clean slate for the best part of two years.
They were caught in the fire of a burned out Pochettino's final months at the club, while Mourinho didn't do enough to unite the squad. Nuno just exacted no authority, such was the club's circus of a managerial hunt in the summer.
It's a good squad, even if it still requires some surgery and goodbyes, but Conte should be able to squeeze better performances out of the defenders now at his disposal. The prospect of him moulding Cristian Romero is his own image is hugely exciting.
It's quite a stunning move, frankly. He may need funds to do business in January if possible and the following summer, but the fact he has Harry Kane available after a turbulent summer is a massive plus point. You only need to look at his work with Romelu Lukaku at Inter to see how much a similar relationship could benefit Spurs. Kane was clearly non-plussed about working with Nuno, but with one of the finest managers in the world now in charge, his motivation will be increased tenfold.
The power dynamic will be interesting to see, but there wouldn't be much point appointing Conte if the handbrake was still on. They either give him all the tools to build Tottenham in his image or it'll be another disastrous 18 months.
Spurs fans are allowed to be excited by Conte. Fresh and rested off a title win, he's a more progressive coach than most give him credit for, and there are enough players in the squad for him to get a tune out of.
Does that make you feel any more optimistic? Maybe not if you're of a Tottenham persuasion. It never seems to work out. But the signs are good and the manager is excellent, and that shouldn't get lost in the news cycle, even if the match doesn't quite seem to fit.
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