Aitor Herrera Back In Bilbao - Klippybo's Fm13 Final Hurrah!

[Klippybo]

PRE-SEASON

An enjoyable pre-season I suppose as I feel I have strengthened both the strength and depth of the squad. I smashed the clubs transfer record to bring in 1 player and brought in 1 more for the first team. I also signed several very promising youngsters....................

--

PLAYERS IN

Towards the end of last season one of my dream signings was interested in joining and then he went away but after I got my budget he was interested again - Cesar Azpilicueta. I gave £25m for him and he will be my RB for many seasons to come. I also paid rivals Osasuna £7m for Julio Cesar Villanueva. I agreed this deal in December so why he never came in January is beyond me!
View attachment 369159View attachment 369160

After that I spent a total of £6m on all these guys. Several look very good indeed!!!!
View attachment 369162View attachment 369163View attachment 369164View attachment 369165View attachment 369166View attachment 369167View attachment 369168View attachment 369169

Finally I signed several players for the B team but nobody worth a screenie and nobody who will feature in the first team.

--

PLAYERS OUT

Borja Ekiza was the main departure, going to Real Betis for £4m while Balenziaga left to go to Sporting Gijon for £2m. That was all apart from releasing half of the B team!!!

--

SUMMARY

Azpilicueta will obviously be my new RB and that is the only change really. The other decision to make is between De Marcos and Ruiz de Galarreta for the AMC position. Ruben Blanco has been promoted to the senior side as my backup keeper after Iago Herrerin got released.

The start of the season is going to be tough as this is my opening fixtures........

Barcelona - H
Barcelona - A Spanish Super Cup
Barcelona - H Spanish Super Cup
Real Madrid - H

........ could have won or lost the league after 2 games lol
​

 

[LovanoFM]

Good luck !

 

[Klippybo]

AUGUST

Athletic Bilbao 2 (Azpilicueta 16, Barandiaran 41)
Barcelona 1 (Marchisio 73)

In my first Bilbao save it took Azpilicueta about 400 games to score and he goes and scores on his debut here. A massive win!!!!

--

Spanish Super Cup Final 1st Leg
Barcelona 2 (Messi 34, Pique 58)
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Barandiaran 49)

They were the better side and deserved their win although the away goal that we scored could be crucial!

--

Spanish Super Cup Final 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Barandiaran 41, Iturraspe 76)
Barcelona 2 (Lewandowski 10, 19)
(Barcelona win 4-3 on aggregate)

19min in and I was livid but then Daniel Alves got sent-off a minute later and we battled back. We may have lost the trophy but we are still unbeaten at home in our new stadium.

--

Athletic Bilbao 2 (Muniain 30pen, Barandiaran 90+1)
Real Madrid 2 (Ozil 22, Alonso 90+3)

AAAGGGHHHHH!!!! Lets hope this doesnt come back to haunt us.

--

LINEUPS
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Barca
[/TD]
[TD]2-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta, Iturraspe, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Barca
[/TD]
[TD]1-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola, Ibai Gomez, Iturraspe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Barca
[/TD]
[TD]2-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Real M.
[/TD]
[TD]2-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar, Iraola
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

Hard to judge this month. We had 4 very tough games and only won 1 and lost a trophy but we beat one of our main rivals in the title race so that was good.............. you decide lol

In the Champions League we will play Sporting Lisbon, Liverpool and Sion.

As for the transfer window I loaned out Quintilla and that was it really. Elsewhere Barca signed Lewandowski (free) and Muslera (£15m) while Real Madrid signed Cabaye (£14.5m off Man Utd).

Unfortunately on deadline day Granada bid £9.5m for Illarramendi and he was signed before I could complete the deal!

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
INAKI BARANDIARAN
View attachment 369191

--

ARGENTINA

Friendly
Poland 2 (Blaszczykowski 44pen, Lewandowski 66)
Argentina 2 (Aguero 55, 79)

Lineup - Romero, Zabaleta (Ansaldi), Otamendi (Silvestre), Mascherano (Garay), Rojo, Pizarro, Yacob, Ocampos (Tevez), Pastore (Gaitan), Messi (Faurlin), Aguero*

Guido Pizarro, Alejandro Faurlin and Lucas Ocampos all made their debuts here. Disappointed not to get the win that our play deserved but hey-ho.
​

 

[stevenUK1]

Great effort on winning the league again! Good pick with Argentina. Good luck for the next season and working with Messi.

 

[Sam91]

Nice job winning the league pal. La Liga domination is becoming yours!!

 

[Klippybo]

SEPTEMBER

Deportivo La Coruna 1 (Gurpegi 68)
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Laporte 19, Azpilicueta 66)

Azpilicueta scores again!!! Dear me lol

--

UEFA Champions League Group B
Athletic Bilbao 4 (Muniain 17pen, Marc 44, 76, Villanueva 55)
FC Sion 0

A nice and easy win for my backups.

--

Mallorca 1 (Joao Victor 87)
Athletic Bilbao 2 (San Jose 16, Laporte 86)

Muniain missed 2 penalties in 2 minutes here.......... San Jose converted a rebound fortunately.

--

Valencia 1 (Peralta 9)
Athletic Bilbao 3 (Muniain 45, 49, 57pen)

An excellent victory and I am delighted that Muniain netted a hat-trick as like Herrera he needs to score more.

--

Athletic Bilbao 1 (Muniain 7)
Malaga 0

We battered them here despite having Benat sent-off early on.

--

LINEUPS
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dep
[/TD]
[TD]2-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta*
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta, Marc
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sion
[/TD]
[TD]4-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Lopez
[/TD]
[TD]Marc* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar, Martin
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mall
[/TD]
[TD]2-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat*
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]-
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Val
[/TD]
[TD]3-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain* 3
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mala
[/TD]
[TD]1-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera*
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe, Espericueta, De Marcos
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

Any month where you win all your games is a good one and this one was no exception. The highlight was the victory over Valencia where Muniain struck a hat-trick. Everything seems to be going well so there is not much to say really!

View attachment 369294

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
IKER MUNIAIN
View attachment 369293

--

surely with him on our side we will win!!!! lol

ARGENTINA

Friendlies
Republic of Ireland 1 (*** 28)
Argentina 4 (Messi 22, Higuain 50, 62, 85)

Lineup - Alvarez, Peruzzi, Otamendi (Burdisso), Silvestre, Rojo, Pizarro, Yacob, Gaitan, Pastore (Gomez), Messi, Aguero (Higuain*)

Supersub Higuain!

--

Iran 0
Argentina 3 (Higuain 3, Aguero 11, Burdisso 48)

Lineup - Romero (Carrizo), Zabaleta (Ansaldi), Otamendi (Burdisso), Mascherano (Silvestre), Rojo, Faurlin, Yacob, Messi, Pastore (Gomez), Aguero* (Tevez), Higuain
​

 

[Rootsey]

Doing really well mate. Have you decided on your formation and preferred line up for the Argies yet?

 

[bcfc1]

for some annoying reason my current game with athletic has corrupted and so im going to start a new game either later today or tomorrow. ill keep you updated on whether i can match your high standards

 

[Klippybo]

OCTOBER

UEFA Champions League Group B
Liverpool 1 (Suarez 47)
Athletic Bilbao 0

We were absolutely awful here.

--

Real Betis 3 (Viera 48pen, Toquero 64, 69)
Athletic Bilbao 4 (Barandiaran 6, 21, De Marcos 62, Monreal 71)

Ruffier missed his first match for us here. Barandiaran had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time to deny him his hat-trick.

--

Celta Vigo 0
Athletic Bilbao 5 (Barandiaran 2, Herrera 20, Benat 36, Maduro og49, Muniain 83pen)

Our first half performance was a joy to behold and we could easily have been 7 or 8 goals up.

--

UEFA Champions League Group B
Athletic Bilbao 3 (Laporte 22, 49, Benat 35)
Sporting Lisbon 1 (van Wolfswinkel 45)

Back to the top of the group we go with this fine victory as Liverpool drew with Sion somehow.

--

Athletic Bilbao 3 (De Marcos 44pen, 47, Marc 80)
Osasuna 0

We were without a few players for this derby match so to win so comfortably was pleasing. We are threatening to break away in the league - Barca shouldnt be able to catch us already!

--

Copa del Rey 4th Round 1st Leg
Yeclano 3 (Pedrito 9, Prieto 13pen, Ramon 84)
Athletic Bilbao 3 (Ramalho 7, Villanueva 25, Barasoain 57)

One of my worst results ever!!!! Yeclano dont even play in a league in the game............

--

LINEUPS[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Liv[/TD]
[TD]0-1[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta[/TD]
[TD]San Jose[/TD]
[TD]Laporte[/TD]
[TD]Monreal[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta[/TD]
[TD]Benat[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta[/TD]
[TD]Muniain[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe, De Marcos, Marc[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Betis[/TD]
[TD]4-3[/TD]
[TD]Blanco[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta[/TD]
[TD]San Jose[/TD]
[TD]Laporte[/TD]
[TD]Monreal[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos[/TD]
[TD]Herrera[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran 2[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain, Oscar[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Celta[/TD]
[TD]5-0[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal[/TD]
[TD]Herrera[/TD]
[TD]Benat[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta[/TD]
[TD]Muniain*[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Spo L.[/TD]
[TD]3-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola, Iturraspe, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Osas[/TD]
[TD]3-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Marc, Oscar, Iturraspe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Yec[/TD]
[TD]3-3
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Nieto
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez*
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain
[/TD]
[TD]Marc
[/TD]
[TD]Martin, Lopez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

This was a decent month - excellent in the league where we banged in a few goals, average in the Champions League and the least said about the Yeclano game in the Copa del Rey the better!!!

Overall though I am pretty happy with the start to the season although I dont know what has happened to RDG as he hasnt scored yet!! One season wonder maybe?

View attachment 369558

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
CESAR AZPILICUETA
View attachment 369559

--

ARGENTINA

Friendly
Finland 0
Argentina 1 (Yacob 2)

Lineup - Romero (Carrizo), Peruzzi, Otamendi (Garay), Mascherano (Burdisso), Rojo, Yacob*, Pizarro, Ocampos (Fernandez), Gaitan (Faurlin), Messi, Aguero (Tevez)
​

 

[Klippybo]

NOVEMBER

Athletic Bilbao 3 (De Marcos 4, Ruiz de Galarreta 24, San Jose 30)
Sevilla 0

I expected this game to be much closer than it was!

--

UEFA Champions League Group B
Sporting Lisbon 1 (Andre Santos 73)
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Ruiz de Galarreta 35, Laporte 83)

Another win - San Jose missed a late penalty here too.

--

Real Zaragoza 4 (Manucho 12, Martin 22, 38, Romaric 41)
Athletic Bilbao 5 (Laporte 10, Barandiaran 79, 87, Ruiz de Galarreta 90+1, Muniain 90+3pen)

WOW!!!! 4-1 down with 11min to go and we win. 4-2 down with 3min to go and we win! Young Martin who scored twice for them was the guy who was on loan with us last season. Ruffier missed another game here.

--

Rayo Vallecano 2 (Ronchi 11, Reginiussen 39)
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Ruiz de Galarreta 1, Muniain 27)

Not good enough! They had a late winner disallowed. RDG has found his scoring touch again though.

--

Athletic Bilbao 3 (Ruiz de Galarreta 23, Benat 41, De Marcos 47)
Levante 1 (Gilvan 87)

--

UEFA Champions League Group B
FC Sion 0
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Laporte 46)

Thats us qualified for the next round.

--

Athletic Bilbao 5 (Benat 13, Laporte 32, 40, Monreal 37, Jaime og79)
Real Valladolid 0

Before this game I had already selected RDG as player of the month but Laporte scored twice to take the award from him lol

--

LINEUPS
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sev
[/TD]
[TD]3-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte*
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Marc
[/TD]
[TD]Lopez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Spo L.
[/TD]
[TD]2-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte*
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta, Iturraspe, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Zara
[/TD]
[TD]5-4
[/TD]
[TD]Blanco
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran 2
[/TD]
[TD]-
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rayo
[/TD]
[TD]2-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lev
[/TD]
[TD]3-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat*
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sion
[/TD]
[TD]1-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte*, Castillo, Iturraspe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]R. Val
[/TD]
[TD]5-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez, De Marcos
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

This month was good despite drawing against Rayo but the highlight was obviously the miraculous comeback against Real Zaragoza - I have never seen a comeback like it before!!!!

The board very kindly and pointlessly decided to add £25m to my transfer kitty lol

Player wise Laporte and Ruiz de Galarreta were outstanding this month. Laporte scored 5 and got 4 MOM awards while RDG scored in 5 games in a row. Benat also deserves a special mention as he is my creator of chances mainly.

View attachment 369579
--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
AYMERIC LAPORTE

View attachment 369578

--

ARGENTINA

Friendly
Russia 2 (Berezutskiy 8, Zhirkov 57)
Argentina 2 (Messi 28, Garay 72)

Lineup - Romero, Peruzzi (Zabaleta), Otamendi, Mascherano (Garay), Monzon, Pizarro, Yacob, Ocampos, Messi, Pastore (Gaitan), Aguero
​

 

[Klippybo]

DECEMBER

Copa del Rey 4th Round 2nd Leg

Athletic Bilbao 5 (Nieto 26, 32, Aurtenetxe 29, Barasoain 56, Espericueta 77)
Yeclano 0
(Athletic Bilbao win 8-3 on aggregate)

We put the plucky non league side in their place here!

--

Granada 0
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Laporte 45)

I just noticed that Granada have Fernando Torres on loan!

--

UEFA Champions League Group B
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Laporte 30, Barandiaran 70)
Liverpool 2 (Suarez 54, 62)

I decided to risk my unbeaten home record at my new stadium by fielding an understrength side and they did ok although when i brought on Castillo he lasted 3min before getting sent-off and conceding a penalty that was missed! We finish top of the group.

--

Athletic Bilbao 2 (Marc 11, 53pen)
Getafe 1 (Barrada 90)

Getafe had a goal disallowed fortunately for us.

--

Copa del Rey 5th Round 1st Leg
Granada 3 (Torres 16, 90, Diakhate 51)
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Susaeta 45, Ruiz de Galarreta 75)

2 away goals is nice but I havent got past the 5th round yet so I am not too happy here.

--

Copa del Rey 5th Round 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Ruiz de Galarreta 42, Barandiaran 56)
Granada 1 (El Arabi 81)
(Agg: 4-4, Athletic Bilbao win on away goals)

At the 3rd attempt we get past the 5th round.

--

LINEUPS
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Yecl
[/TD]
[TD]5-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Martin
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain
[/TD]
[TD]Nieto* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Alegre, Castillo, Iturraspe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gra
[/TD]
[TD]1-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe, Iturraspe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Liv
[/TD]
[TD]2-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Lopez, Castillo, Oscar
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Get
[/TD]
[TD]2-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Martin
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain
[/TD]
[TD]Marc* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Lopez, Iturraspe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gra
[/TD]
[TD]2-3
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe, Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gra
[/TD]
[TD]2-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera*
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

The first half of the season is over and I cant really complain. Sure we lost the Spanish Super Cup but we are in charge at the top of the league, through to play Malaga in the cup quarter finals and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

My players are playing fairly well and those youngsters continue to develop!!!!

View attachment 369647
--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
AYMERIC LAPORTE
View attachment 369648
​

 

[bcfc1]

got to the youth intake of my first season and was given this guy. definitely not going to miss llorente as much as i thought i would.

View attachment 369782

 

[Klippybo]

JANUARY

Real Sociedad 1 (Xabi Prieto 90pen)
Athletic Bilbao 3 (San Jose 31, Bravo og45, Herrera 46)

In the 1st minute Griezmann got sent-off so they never had a chance after that really.

--

Copa del Rey QF 1st Leg
Athletic Bilbao 3 (Barandiaran 10, Susaeta 37, 52)
Malaga 2 (Juanmi 3, 45)

Hmmm. Will those 2 away goals come back to haunt us?

--

Sporting Gijon 1 (Sangoy 69)
Athletic Bilbao 3 (Laporte 14, 78, Susaeta 31)
Susaeta grabs his first league goal of the season at last!!! They had a player sent-off late on too.

--

Copa del Rey QF 2nd Leg
Malaga 3 (Isco 19, Recio 33, Juanmi 56)
Athletic Bilbao 4 (Ibai Gomez 19, 57, San Jose 22pen, Barandiaran 43)
(Athletic Bilbao win 7-5 on aggregate)

Nobody could ever say that our games are boring!!! They missed an early penalty too.

--

Barcelona 4 (Lewandowski 32, 59, 85, Pedro 75)
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Laporte 39, Muniain 70pen)

They had 4 shots on target and scored 4 and we missed a penalty to make it 3-3. Our undefeated start to the league season comes to an end in a very, very harsh manner.

--

Copa del Rey SF 1st Leg
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 0

We played ten times better against Barca and conceded 4 and here we keep a clean sheet! I just dont get it sometimes lol.

--

Athletic Bilbao 1 (Muniain 17pen)
Valencia 1 (Canales 48)

2 league games without a win........ but we are still 5pts clear.

--

Copa del Rey SF 2nd Leg
Real Madrid 2 (Ozil 14, Higuain 63)
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Barandiaran 44)
(Real Madrid win 2-1 on aggregate)

Meh

--

Real Madrid 2 (Cristiano Ronaldo 9, Neymar 45)
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Aurtenetxe 30)

We were without 6 first choice players so I knew a victory was never on the cards.

--

LINEUPS[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Real S.
[/TD]
[TD]3-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal*
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]-
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mala
[/TD]
[TD]3-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gijon
[/TD]
[TD]3-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mala
[/TD]
[TD]4-3
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta*
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez 2
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola, Oscar, Barasoain
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Barca
[/TD]
[TD]2-4
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe, De Marcos
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Real M.
[/TD]
[TD]0-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte*
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos, Iraola, Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Val
[/TD]
[TD]1-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Marc
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Real M.
[/TD]
[TD]1-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez, De Marcos, Iraola
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Real M.
[/TD]
[TD]1-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

This month started well but ended awfully although we did play Real Madrid 3 times, and Barcelona and Valencia once not to mention a derby against Sociedad so it was satisfactory I suppose in the end. However we end the month 2nd in the table (albeit with a game in hand to go top) so that is not good.

Oh - I did absolutely nothing in the transfer window!

View attachment 369820

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
???

Nobody really stood out to deserve it - Laporte was closest I suppose
​

 

[Klippybo]

FEBRUARY

Athletic Bilbao 2 (Insua og51, Barandiaran 70)
Atletico Madrid 1 (Falcao 22)

What an incident packed game! We had 1 player sent-off and 2 players injured (Benat for 3 months!!!!!) while they had a man sent-off, a man taken off injured, scored an OG and missed a penalty.

--

Athletic Bilbao 4 (Ruiz de Galarreta 28, Barandiaran 31, Laporte 60, 81)
Deportivo La Coruna 0

Laporte has now scored 16 goals this season!!!

--

Malaga 0
Athletic Bilbao 3 (Laporte 16, 36, 77)

This is getting stupid Laporte!!!! He missed a pen but converted the rebound for his hat-trick.

--

UEFA Champions League 1st Round 1st Leg
Borussia Dortmund 2 (Ocampos 9, Aspas 70)
Athletic Bilbao 2 (De Marcos 34, Oscar 75)

What a time for Oscar to get his first goal for the club!

--

Athletic Bilbao 3 (Villanueva 10, Ruiz de Galarreta 42, San Jose 52)
Mallorca 0

This win takes us back to the top of the league.

--

LINEUPS
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Atl M.
[/TD]
[TD]2-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Benat
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva, Oscar, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dep
[/TD]
[TD]4-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain, Iraola, Oscar
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mal
[/TD]
[TD]3-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte* 3
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez, Iraola
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]B. Dor
[/TD]
[TD]2-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mall
[/TD]
[TD]3-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva*
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

This was a key month after the poor form shown at the back end of last month and it was certainly eventful with plenty of goals, red cards, penalties, own goals and injuries!!! The highlight for us was the 2-2 away draw with Dortmund which has us in a strong position for the 2nd leg.

Next month of course is my favourite month - big games and of course the youth intake!

View attachment 369934

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
AYMERIC LAPORTE
View attachment 369933

​

 

[Masoaoki]

Laporte is beyong belief!! 19 goals, oh my god! His stats don't even suggest he;s that good haha.

Can't believe how well you've done right from the start with Bilbao this time, nice going man!

 

[VictorWanyama]

Jesus, if you saw that scoring record on a striker you'd think "Hm, not bad at all", never mind a centre back! Love the story mate, keep it up!

 

[Klippybo]

MARCH

Athletic Bilbao 3 (Barandiaran 23, Villanueva 55, 69)
Real Betis 2 (Sevilla 53, Pozuelo 90)

Laporte may be out injured but Villanueva has come in and scored a few in his absence!! Believe it or not I havent set anything up for corners etc just the takers.

--

Osasuna 2 (Sola 20, 83)
Athletic Bilbao 4 (Barandiaran 9, Espericueta 37, Muniain 53pen, Ruiz de Galarreta 68)

A very good performance in this derby match. Herrera is back but was on the bench.

--

UEFA Champions League 1st Round 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 4 (Espericueta 10, Muniain 56, Laporte 78, Barandiaran 90)
Borussia Dortmund 1 (Ocampos 90)
(Athletic Bilbao win 6-3 on aggregate)

A very impressive victory and performance - lets hope we get a kind draw!

--

Sevilla 2 (Negredo 45pen, Alberto 70)
Athletic Bilbao 0

Just one of those games............

--

LINEUPS
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Betis
[/TD]
[TD]3-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Osas
[/TD]
[TD]4-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran*
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho, De Marcos, Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]B. Dor
[/TD]
[TD]4-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Espericueta
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe, Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sev
[/TD]
[TD]0-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe, Oscar, Marc
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

A month with not many games due to the international break. We won 3 out of 4 but the Sevilla game was pretty awful. Fortunately Real Madrid slipped up in the month also.

In the Champions League we have drawn against Manchester City which will be a tough two games certainly.

In the youth intake there was only 2 players that I signed - both decent prospects.

View attachment 369952View attachment 369953

View attachment 369954

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
INAKI BARANDIARAN
View attachment 369947

--

ARGENTINA

Friendlies

Argentina 2 (Aguero 26, Higuain 89)
Egypt 2 (Mido 14, Farag 24)

Lineup - Romero (Broun), Peruzzi, Otamendi (Martinez), Mascherano, Zabaleta, Pizarro (Faurlin), Yacob, Ocampos (Rodriguez), Messi, Pastore (Di Maria), Aguero (Higuain)

Pathetic. Jorge Broun, Matias Martinez and Patricio Rodriguez made their international debuts here.

--

Argentina 4 (Aguero 2, 53, Ocampos 31, 43)
Algeria 0

Lineup - Romero, Peruzzi, Otamendi, Mascherano (Garay), Zabaleta, Pizarro (Faurlin), Yacob, Ocampos (Di Maria), Messi (Godoy), Pastore (Gaitan), Aguero*

As punishment for the previous performance I made the players who were meant to play 45min play a bit more with the Man City players playing the whole 90min lol. Godoy is a regen and the first to feature for Argentina under me.

View attachment 369946

​

 

[Sam91]

Still searching for that Aitor regen

 

[Klippybo]

APRIL

Athletic Bilbao 3 (Herrera 33, Villanueva 41, 85)
Celta Vigo 0

Simple - should have been 10-0 though. Celta sacked their manager straight after.

--

Athletic Bilbao 4 (Barandiaran 35, 44, 49, Villanueva 53)
Real Zaragoza 2 (Romaric 55, Martin 71)

Laporte was fit but due to Villanueva's scoring form I left him on the bench and he scored again!

--

UEFA Champions League QF 1st Leg
Manchester City 1 (Yanga-Mbiwa 54)
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Ibai Gomez 72)

What a result this was considering I was missing half a dozen or so players. Fantastic! As an aside Man City have signed the likes of Muller, Dede, Alaba and Badelj amongst others.

Lets hope my unbeaten record at home continues for the 2nd leg (unless its 2-2 lol)

--

Levante 2 (Calvo 26, Ruben Garcia 85)
Athletic Bilbao 2 (Laporte 13, Iturraspe 47)

I rested as much first picks as I could for our upcoming game against Man City and we dropped points but so did Real Madrid thankfully.

--

UEFA Champions League QF 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 1 (Ruiz de Galarreta 49)
Manchester City 1 (Aguero 43pen)
(Agg 2-2, AET Man City win 5-3 on penalties)

No doubt about it - if I had even 2 of my players that were missing (even subs) we would have progressed. I still maintain we are unbeaten at the new stadium though.

**** SAKE!!!

--

Athletic Bilbao 2 (Susaeta 34, De Marcos 87)
Rayo Vallecano 0

Muniain missed a pen here - he has scored 7 from 11 this season.

--

Real Valladolid 1 (Jona 69)
Athletic Bilbao 3 (Oscar 36, San Jose 63, Marc 81)

We move 5pts clear at the top now.

--

Athletic Bilbao 3 (Barandiaran 43, 65, Susaeta 45)
Granada 1 (El Arabi 19)

The charge to win the title continues with a fine comeback victory over a Granada side who should be doing better.

--

LINEUPS
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]OPP
[/TD]
[TD]RES
[/TD]
[TD]GK
[/TD]
[TD]RB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]CB
[/TD]
[TD]LB
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]CM
[/TD]
[TD]AMR
[/TD]
[TD]AML
[/TD]
[TD]AMC
[/TD]
[TD]ST
[/TD]
[TD]SUBS
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Celta
[/TD]
[TD]3-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva* 2
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Marc
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Zara
[/TD]
[TD]4-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran* 3
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez, Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Man City
[/TD]
[TD]1-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Monreal
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho, Ibai Gomez, Barasoain
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lev
[/TD]
[TD]2-2
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte*
[/TD]
[TD]Rojo
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Ibai Gomez
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain
[/TD]
[TD]Marc
[/TD]
[TD]Lopez, Orbegozo
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Man City
[/TD]
[TD]1-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Herrera
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Lopez, Orbegozo, De Marcos
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rayo
[/TD]
[TD]2-0
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Ramalho
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Rojo
[/TD]
[TD]Barasoain
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos*
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Orbegozo, Oscar, Marc
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]R. Val
[/TD]
[TD]3-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Iraola
[/TD]
[TD]San Jose
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Rojo
[/TD]
[TD]Iturraspe
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran
[/TD]
[TD]Roca, Marc, Isidro
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gra
[/TD]
[TD]3-1
[/TD]
[TD]Ruffier
[/TD]
[TD]Azpilicueta
[/TD]
[TD]Villanueva
[/TD]
[TD]Laporte
[/TD]
[TD]Aurtenetxe
[/TD]
[TD]Ruiz de Galarreta
[/TD]
[TD]Oscar
[/TD]
[TD]Susaeta
[/TD]
[TD]Muniain
[/TD]
[TD]De Marcos
[/TD]
[TD]Barandiaran* 2
[/TD]
[TD]-
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

--

SUMMARY

For all the good results and happenings this month be it moving further clear in the league, giving my youngsters extra game time or arranging some transfers of regens for the summer - the exit and the manner of it from the Champions League still sticks in my throat!

It seems as though the injuries has finally caught up with my small squad. While I do have some fantastic prospects in the youth squad a large amount of them play AMC so when I have 3 CMs missing and 2 defenders missing that doesnt really help lol

Anywho - hopefully we can avoid any slip ups and win the title for the 3rd year running.

View attachment 370009

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
JULIO CESAR VILLANUEVA
View attachment 370008

​

 

[maxeneize]

Amazing story Mate.

What's Godoy doing at Partizan?!