Basque-ing in Bilbao

  • Thread starter Thread starter Klippybo
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DECEMBER

After 128 league games Bilbao are beaten
FIFA Club World Cup retained
FC Twente will meet us in Champions League knockout round
Spain get New Zealand, Mexico and Cameroon in the Confederations Cup

Noooooooooooooooooo! Finally beaten away to Barca. Ending a run of 128 undefeated games in the league. We were without a few players though as even though I rested players againt Sao Paulo we still had to rest 5 players for the Barca match.

Got a very easy draw in the Champions League - might even play my back up players against them!

UEFA Champions League Group H
Athletic Bilbao 2-2 Benfica
Sanz (pen), Izurza

FIFA Club World Cup SF
Wydad Casablanca 0-4 Athletic Bilbao
Valcarcel, Alfredo, Ordonez Lopez, Ibanez

Final
Sao Paulo 1-2 Athletic Bilbao (aet)
Ibanez, Gomez

Barcelona 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Muniain

Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Tenerife
Hondo N'Dongo, Garmendia 2, Perez Villarroya

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
ISIDRO JESUS ORDONEZ LOPEZ
View attachment 247163
(hard to pick one but he got player of the tournament in Club World Cup)

View attachment 247165
​
 

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MEET THE TEAM - part two

MIDFIELDERS

View attachment 247166

PEDRO JOSE CIDONCHA
Signed from Sevilla for £11m
Apps - 400
Goals - 24

Probably ability wise my best player in a way and definately my most under rated player in the story despite being valued £17m more than Aitor! Signed as a 16 year old for a club record equalling fee. Just does his job quietly. Would get far more assists if he took free kicks as he has high attributes but others have better!

View attachment 247167

ANDONI SANTANO
Signed from Real Zaragoza for £1m
Apps - 254
Goals - 45

Going to leave the club at the end of the season as he wants a new challenge. Fantastic midfielder who spent 2 years with the B team. Scored a hat-trick in last years European Championship finals.

View attachment 247168

IKER MUNIAIN
Apps - 608
Goals - 271

Club legend and along with San Jose he has been with me since day one. Played LW until Perez Villarroya burst onto the scene but has adapted well to RW. Got 201 assists also and still has a few years left in him I feel. The clubs record league appearance holder.

View attachment 247169

AITOR HERRERA
Apps - 522
Goals - 240

Move over Messi, Pele, God, Jesus, whoever as this man trumphs the lot! My all time favourite CM/FM player it has to be said and he is still in his twenties!!!!!!! Got 338 assists. Club legend - obviously.

View attachment 247170

GASPAR PEREZ VILLARROYA
Signed from Barcelona for £9m
Apps - 261
Goals - 55

Fantastic little player this. Although I criticise Barca for their lack of Spanish players it doesnt help when I nick Gomez, Garcia, David and this lad from them! Got 112 assists to boot.

View attachment 247172

UNAI GARMENDIA
Signed from Izarra for £1,500
Apps - 37
Goals - 4

The heir to Santano's throne? Still cant believe I got him for the fee that I did and he is developing very nicely!

View attachment 247173

PEDRO GOMEZ COMAS
Signed from Real Betis for £1.4m
Apps - 131
Goals - 38

A good player who is unfortunate that Izurza has come along to restrict his game time. Got a great goalscoring record when he starts as he has had so many substitute appearances in those 131 games.

View attachment 247174

ANDER IBANEZ
Apps - 67
Goals - 17

Been at the club for nearly 10 years but it was only last season he got given his chance. A fine player who I regret not giving much game time to earlier in his career with us. Had 4 years with the B side.

View attachment 247175

JOSE LUIS IZURZA
Apps - 55
Goals - 11

Might not reach Aitor's levels but surely will become a world class player. Scored a hat-trick as a 15 year old to break both the club and league record for youngest goalscorer.

View attachment 247176

ISIDRO JESUS ORDONEZ LOPEZ
Signed from Valencia for £1.4m
Apps - 159
Goals - 29

A great player who has been with us for ages but never made it as a first pick and probably never will with Garmendia coming through. Always played him CM rather as an a AM. Had 2 years with the B team.

​
 
For peeps that cant see the screen if you hold the Ctrl button when clicking on an image it will work!
 
Hey KLIPPY,

Still going strong I see. Quick question. Do you find your players becoming very tired due to playing with so much pressing?
 
DirtyACE said:
Hey KLIPPY,

Still going strong I see. Quick question. Do you find your players becoming very tired due to playing with so much pressing?
Click to expand...

No. Not really. Azpilicueta sometimes has to be subbed but he was born when dinosaurs were still roaming about compared to my other players so I can understand that!
 
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MEET THE TEAM - part 3

STRIKERS

View attachment 247281

FERMIN GARCIA
Signed from Barcelona for £2m
Apps - 362
Goals - 275

Burst onto the scene in the Club World Cup a few years ago and has not looked back since. He is a club legend who replaced Fernando Llorente. Under pressure from Alfredo though.

View attachment 247282

ALFREDO
Signed from Real Madrid for £7.5m
Apps - 159
Goals - 53

Similar mould of player to Llorente and Garcia so has fitted in really well and is putting Garcia under real pressure. Has asked to leave in previous years but I have always talked him round.

View attachment 247283

JOSE CARLOS SANZ
Signed from Villarreal for £2m
Apps - 341
Goals - 127

Club icon. Usually starts as an AM when Aitor is out but has featured up front. Considering selling him but I dont like to sell players who are club icons/legends.

OUT ON LOAN


View attachment 247284

JON AURTENETXE (Defender)
Apps - 441
Goals - 11

Veteran defender who has been with us since day one. Had a couple of years of being a first pick but not for 7 or 8 years.

View attachment 247285

JOSE (Midfielder)
Signed from Real Valladolid for £2.5m
Apps - 68
Goals - 3

Decent player who is on loan at Granada after a loan spell at Espanyol last season. Rejected a £12m move to Levante in the summer.

View attachment 247286

BORJA MARTINEZ CID (Midfielder)
Signed from Celta Vigo for £825,000
Apps - 15

On his 3rd loan spell away from the club. Has not developed as I hoped he would but he is a decent player. Not sure whether he will spend a few years in the B team or be sold in the long run.

View attachment 247312

ALVARO RODRIGUEZ (Midfielder/Striker)
Signed from Las Palmas for £2.3m
Apps - 48
Goals - 10

Been restricted in his appearances due to Aitor and Sanz. If I do sell Sanz in the summer this lad will get his chance for more football. Was a wonderkid not so long ago.​
 
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JANUARY

After 10 successive Copa del Rey Cup wins Bilbao are almost out of the cup
Santano to join Roma for £39.5m at end of season
Goals galore during the month
B team doing nicely - once again challenging for a pointless promotion place

Could it really happen? Knew the Barca cup draw was gonna be tough and so it proved as we were easily beaten. They are putting pressure on us in the league too so this season could end up being a nightmare! Got to win the 2nd leg by two clear goals now. Been unbeaten at home for 4 years so here's hoping!

Santano is off at the end of the season for a club record fee. Been a great servant and wouldnt rule out bringing him back on the cheap in the future!

Copa del Rey 5th Round 1st Leg
Athletic Bilbao 4-1 Tenerife
Ordonez Lopez 2, Alfredo 2

2nd Leg
Tenerife 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
Gomez Comas

Real Valladolid 1-5 Athletic Bilbao
Garcia 3, Herrera 2

Copa del Rey QF 1st Leg
Athletic Bilbao 6-1 Atletico Madrid
Herrera, Ibanez 2, Muniain, Garcia, Barandiaran

Athletic Bilbao 6-1 Ponferradina
Muniain, Converti (og), Hondo N'Dongo 2, Garcia 2

Copa del Rey QF 2nd Leg
Atletico Madrid 1-3 Athletic Bilbao
Alfredo 2, Ibanez

Sporting Gijon 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
Garcia

Copa del Rey SF 1st Leg
Barcelona 3-1 Athletic Bilbao
Santano

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
FERMIN GARCIA
View attachment 247834

View attachment 247835​
 
Looks like this could be the toughest season barcelona looking better they be your main threats in the league as all ways
 
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MEET THE TEAM - part four

U19 HOPEFULS

View attachment 247839

SERGIO AYECHU
Labelled the next Joseba Llorente
Apps - 2

Decent prospect but plays in the hardest two positions to break into the 1st team unfortunatley. Could end up in the B team for a while.


View attachment 247840

MANUEL BILBAO
Similar type of player to Fermin Garcia (apparently - news to me! lol)
Apps - 4
Goals - 2

Hmm. Always thought of him and played him as a RW but looking at his stats CF may be best for him. Shame! lol. B team for this player in the long run methinks!

View attachment 247841

DAVID CRIVILLE
Signed from Salamanca for £1.1m
Similar type of player to Muniain

Decent enough prospect but B team will come calling more than likely as he wont be good enough to shift Aitor out of the way!

View attachment 247842

DAMIA
Signed from Barcelona for £1.8m
Apps - 5

Got high hopes for this player and going to try and develop him. Not as exciting as Izurza was at his age but looks good all the same.

View attachment 247843

JAUME GUTIERREZ
Signed from Espanyol for £2.5m
Apps - 13
Goals - 3

A fantastic prospect. The coaches regularly say he should be set as a backup player and not a hot prospect but I'm the boss! lol. Probably end up being a 1st team squad member as very versatile.

View attachment 247844

JOKIN LEONARDO
Labelled the next Joseba Llorente (another one!)
Apps - 8
Goals - 1

A good prospect but another who may end up in the B team due to not being outstanding but just very good. Competing against Aitor, Garcia, Alfredo, Sanz etc etc

View attachment 247845

NOE
Signed from Barcelona for £1.8m
Labelled the next Joseba Llorente (****** nora - thats 3 now!)
Apps - 8
Goals - 1

From memory Joseba Llorente wasnt that special a player but I seem to be trying to clone him for some reason. Now if it was FERNANDO Llorente then that would be much better. Anyways I digress - decent player but B team fodder methinks.

View attachment 247846

GONTZAL RUIZ
Signed from Osasuna for £150,000
Touted as the next Rafael Gordillo (do not have a scooby doo who he is)
Apps - 2

High hopes for this defender. Added bonus is that he is versatile. With San Jose, Azpilicueta, Alonso and maybe Salazar moving on sooner or later this lad will have a big part to play in future seasons.

View attachment 247847

TONI
Signed from Sporting Gijon for £325,000

Good young player but once again could be a victim of Aitor's brilliance! B team awaits.

View attachment 247848

JUAN PEDRO VINAS
Signed from Sevilla for £5m
Could be the next David Albelda
Similar type of player to Jose Pedro Cidoncha (yippee!!!)
Apps - 5

Was in two minds to whether Vinas should be in the 1st team squad or the youths but decided to send him to the youths for 1 season only and will take Santano's squad place when he leaves. Huge prospect!

​
 
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MEET THE TEAM - part five

THE NEARLY MEN OF THE "B" TEAM

View attachment 247921

IGNACIO BARRENETXEA
Dubbed the new Sergi

Yet to feature for the 1st team. May only get a few sporadic appearances in the future.

View attachment 247923

JON BERGARA
Signed from Racing Santander for £375,000
Apps - 1

Decent left back who has a promising future but would he cut it in the 1st team?

View attachment 247925

ERIC
Signed from Barcelona for £35,000
Apps - 3

Might get a 1st team squad place in the future but will have to kick on a bit in his development.

View attachment 247926

MAIKEL
Signed from Deportivo La Coruna for £1m
Apps - 7

Possibility of progression into the 1st team squad as backup RB.

View attachment 247927

FRANCISCO MANUEL PEREZ OSTOS
Signed from Espanyol for £2.8m
Apps - 7
Goals - 2

Best player in the B team who has a continental reputation. Just been unfortunate that I have had LW's always better than him. Been with the club for a few years now.

View attachment 247928

JUAN MANUEL RUIZ CANELADA
Signed from Malaga for £3m
Dubbed the new Aritz Aduriz
Apps - 3
Goals - 1

Would like to get him to feature more in both the 1st and B teams but plays in the position that is hardest to break into. Might loan him out next year and see how he does.

-----------

THERE ARE OTHER PLAYERS WHO HAVE FEATURED IN THE 1st TEAM IN PREVIOUS YEARS OR WHO ARE DECENT BUT NEVER WILL BUT THESE ARE THE MAIN ONES REALLY.​
 
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(club legend, and now coach Andoni Iraola)

FEBRUARY

Bilbao crash out of Copa del Rey
Back up side thrash FC Twente
6 clean sheets kept out of a possible 7 during the month
Spain beat Belgium in a friendly

It was bound to happen sooner or later I suppose so will just have to take the cup semi defeat on the chin. At least we kept up our long unbeaten record at home. Went a goal up then Reaelli equalised before being sent off with 10min left. No heroic comeback this time!

Opened up an 8pt lead at the top of the league so that is reassuring and are pretty much already through in Europe although I scored all 4 goals in the last 15min.

Malaga 0-3 Athletic Bilbao
Nanouche (og), Hondo N'Dongo, Herrera

Copa del Rey SF 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Barcelona
Garcia

Athletic Bilbao 6-0 Real Zaragoza
Garcia 3, Herrera, Goienetxea (og), Ordonez Lopez

Real Betis 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
Muniain

UEFA Champions League 1st Round 1st Leg
FC Twente 0-4 Athletic Bilbao
Gomez Comas 2(1pen), Alfredo, Salazar

Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Valencia
Garcia 3

Elche 0-2 Athletic Bilbao
Garcia, Ordonez Lopez

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
DAVID
View attachment 247981
(Garcia got the goals but David did keep a load of c/s)

View attachment 247982

SPAIN

Friendly

Spain 2-1 Belgium
Perez Villarroya, Herrera
​
 
Gutting your out of the cup. Had to give someone else a go at winning it though. Still looking good everywhere else though.
 
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(Julen Guerrero - Club legend and youth team manager)

MARCH

Horrendous youth intake
Tough tie against Inter Milan in the Champions League
Bilbao drop 2pts against Real Madrid
Spain beat Poland

Result wise this month was decent but the youth intake annoyed me no end. With all the facilities etc at the max the best I got was a player whose potential was 2 stars! Grrrrrr. Still out and about I went hunting for 16 y/o players and found a few gems to compensate! lol

Espanyol 1-4 Athletic Bilbao
Perez Villarroya 3, Herrera

Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Sociedad
Garcia

Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Real Madrid

UEFA Champions League 1st Round 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 3-2 FC Twente
Alfredo 2, Leonardo

Atletico Madrid 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
Alfredo 2

Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Elche
Herrera

Almeria 1-4 Athletic Bilbao
Perez Villarroya, Muniain, Hondo N'Dongo, Izurza

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
GASPAR PEREZ VILLARROYA
View attachment 248037

View attachment 248038

SPAIN

World Cup Quals Group 9

Spain 2-0 Poland
Barandiaran, Valcarcel
​
 
Hey mate, just caught up. Hondo N'Dongo OMG. He's my favourite player, stuff Aitor with a name like that he could do **** lol. Still a fasinating story, the longevity of this is brilliant which cannot be faulted. Great discipline to stay with it as many (myself included) have the knack of slacking and then forgetting a story. (My City one is for keeps though). Great Great Great story and will always be following, even if I slack sometimes reading it.
 
Tobe said:
Hey mate, just caught up. Hondo N'Dongo OMG. He's my favourite player, stuff Aitor with a name like that he could do **** lol. Still a fasinating story, the longevity of this is brilliant which cannot be faulted. Great discipline to stay with it as many (myself included) have the knack of slacking and then forgetting a story. (My City one is for keeps though). Great Great Great story and will always be following, even if I slack sometimes reading it.
Click to expand...

Personally I think Oceano is the son of a 1980's African **** star lol
 
Tobe said:
What kind of team are you running here?
Click to expand...

A successful one apparently. Lost the love for it for a while I admit but I wont stop until at LEAST Aitor stops playing. Can see this save lasting til FM13. Gonna start a Newcastle story soon though. Might play month about!
 
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