Tottenham’s most telling improvements since Antonio Conte took charge

Tottenham Hotspur's Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures on the touchline during the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 22, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's Italian head coach Antonio Conte gestures on the touchline during the English League Cup quarter-final football match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 22, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Antonio Conte, after the 1-1 draw at Southampton, became the first Tottenham manger to go undefeated in the first seven Premier League matches in charge. 

Even with the impressive accomplishment in the bag, Conte is bitterly disappointed with the missed opportunity to climb the table, a testament to the gaffer’s fiery, competitive character. While the match at Southampton didn’t go the way he envisioned, Conte has had an unmistakably positive impact on the club he took over less two months ago.

There’s always a devil’s advocate lurking in the shadows, so I’ll appease that persona right off the bat. Conte has inarguably enjoyed a comparatively easy schedule since taking over, a seven-game span including five home matches and two away. Of those seven opponents, five are securely embedded in the bottom half of the table.

But let’s not forget that Spurs were just a point from being in the bottom half themselves, reeling in 9th place, when Conte took the helm.