PRE-SEASON
I obviously had a fair idea of the squad heading into the save but on arrival I was seriously ****** off that both of my first choice full backs were out injured for a few months and not only that but one of them is refusing to sign a new contract. The injuries actually mean that I am forced to change my formation at the start of the season.
I had £20m to spend but the likes of Laporte and Griezmann were obvious no goes while all of the many Basque Real Sociedad players were not interested in coming to us so I am just hoping they have a fire sale at some point.
My aim for the season is quite simple - qualify for European football for next season. Real Madrid should be streets ahead, Atletico and even Barcelona should be ahead of us so we will be competing with Valencia, Villarreal, Sevilla and our bitterest rivals Real Sociedad for the continental places.
I made some backroom changes and extended the contracts of several players including some prospects in the system which not only committed them to the club for longer but also enlarged their buyout fee!
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PLAYERS OUT
I have sold 2 players. 33y/o left back Mikel Balenziaga left us after 8 years at the club but at his age and with a willing buyer it was a no brainer. The same went for 32y/o Oscar De Marcos who after 12 years at the club left to join Getafe for £1.1m. Alas Iker Muniain, my captain, was upset that I sold De Marcos but I have adequate cover and he wasnt needed so he had to go even though it upset a few peeps.
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PLAYERS IN
I had in mind to try and loan 16y/o Gavi from Barcelona to give him Basque nationality but alas that was a no go.
I did however spend £14.5m on a player that I have hardly heard of but astonishingly didnt realise he had Basque nationality! Hugo Guillamon was brought in from Valencia and the 21y/o can play naturally at DC, DMC and MC so he will play a key role for us in the future. He has 1 cap for Spain and I have signed him to play as a DC initially but he may end up at MC.
My other 2 signings were 2 players for the future. 16y/o winger David Mella was signed from Fabril for a ridiculously cheap £235,000 fee and his value has rocketed up. Definitely one to work on for the future. My other signing was Iker Bravo from Bayer Leverkusen for £725,000. He is labelled as the next Fernando Morientes so if he can be as good as him I will be delighted! He will be involved with the first team squad as there is a chronic lack of quality strikers at the club so having him with the first team squad should hopefully push his development forwards.
NOTE - I can sign 16y/o Spanish players as that gives them Basque nationality. Once they turn 17 I cannot bring them in.
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PROMOTED PLAYERS
Along with Bravo 2 others have been called up to train with the first team and to be involved. Nico Serrano is an 18y/o LW who I have really high hopes for so he got the call up while 21y/o Juan Artola is a versatile attacking midfielder and he will be a decent squad filler.
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SQUAD
In any Athletic save you need a top class keeper and a top class striker in your ranks. Thankfully I have both!!!
Unai Simon is a quality keeper and at 24y/o he will be my keeper for years to come and in Agirrezabala I have a quality young replacement!
At DC I have plenty of options with Inigo Martinez, Nunez, Yeray, Guillamon and Vivian and it is due to that strength and depth, coupled with the injuries to my first choice full backs that I will start the season with a back 3 in a 5-2-3 wingback formation. When Capa and Yuri return I may switch to a back 4 but it will depend on form etc as both can play as wing backs.
At MC I will go with my 2 top prospects in Vencedor and Sancet however with Guillamon, Dani Garcia, Zarraga and Vesga I have options while if I am to play an AMC that will be when the veteran Raul Garcia comes into the side.
On the wings I have the legend that is Iker Muniain on the left with Serrano, Artola or Berenguer as backup while on the right I have the Williams' brothers. Inaki is a great player but I need to play him up front so his younger brother, 19y/o Nico, will be a regular. It is a huge opportunity for him and while he may be inconsistent just getting regular football will aid his development.
Finally in the striker position I will have to play Inaki Williams as my main man. He prefers to play on the RW but with his pace and decent finishing ability he is the natural choice to lead the line. Asier Villalibre, the trumpet playing fan favourite (see top of post), is a capable player if unspectacular and while Raul Garcia can play up top the lack of strength and depth meant that Iker Bravo got the call up.
