Basque-ing in Bilbao

[Klippybo]

OCTOBER

100% record for the month
3pt lead at the top but Barca away is coming up.....
Bilbao B manager sacked and promptly retired - mustnt have liked the 2 month holiday!
2 wins out of 2 for Spain

Great month. Alfredo was on fire, scoring 9 goals in the 5 games he appeared in. 3 centre halves scored against Deportivo which is unusual to say the least!

Francisco Yeste was sacked as Bilbao B manager (was on holiday since the start of the season). I have since retired him as apart from the B team playing in the same formation it wasnt worth my while - especially with managing Spain too - 3 teams was too much.

Athletic Bilbao 5-0 Deportivo La Coruna
Gomez, Hondo N'Dongo, Alfredo, Crespo (og), Valcarcel

Sevilla 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
Alfredo 2

UEFA Champions League Group F
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 VfB Stuttgart
Perez Villarroya, Alfredo

Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Elche
Alfredo 3

Copa del Rey 4th Round 1st Leg
Recreativo 1-5 Athletic Bilbao
Gomez Comas, Rodriguez 2, Sanz 2

Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Levante
Ruiz, Alfredo 2

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
ALFREDO
View attachment 251064

View attachment 251065

SPAIN

European Championship Quals Group A

Spain 1-0 Poland
Izurza

Spain 3-0 Bosnia & Herz.
Krhan (og), Perez Villarroya, M.Ruiz

(NB - for Bilbao Ruiz is Gontzal Ruiz but will be typed as Ruiz for Spain there will be a G.Ruiz and a M.Ruiz (of Chelsea))​

 

[DirtyACE]

Still reading your updates Klippy. You're doing tremendously as always.

I'm currently in the third season in my own Athletic career. Haven't won anything yet, but also have been rather unlucky with some results and also cup draws. And of course I'm waiting for my youngsters to develop to truly begin challenging Barca and Real, probably something you yourself had to do. It seems that being patient is one of the key virtues for an Athletic manager to have

 

[Klippybo]

Still reading your updates Klippy. You're doing tremendously as always.

I'm currently in the third season in my own Athletic career. Haven't won anything yet, but also have been rather unlucky with some results and also cup draws. And of course I'm waiting for my youngsters to develop to truly begin challenging Barca and Real, probably something you yourself had to do. It seems that being patient is one of the key virtues for an Athletic manager to have

Got it in one! It took me 5 years to win the title even with a teenage Aitor in my side. If I remember rightly there was one season me and Barca were neck and neck and despite me winning my last 7 games I still lost out.

The stage I am at now I am able to put 16/17 year olds into the 1st team and get away with it hence how they are developing really well - Gontzal Ruiz is 18 and worth £12m (bought for £150k), Izurza is 19 and worth £20.5m (free), Vinas is 19 and worth £9m (£5m), Garmendia 20 and worth £22m (£1,500) and Gutierrez is 20 and worth £10m (£2.5m).

Do you have any decent regens in your save? (I wont mind if you post a screenie of them on here just as long as you make it clear that it aint part of my story)

 

[Klippybo]

NOVEMBER

Izurza destroys Real Sociedad in the derby
Bilbao beat Barca in the Nou Camp
Bilbao play a backup side against Man City and draw - keeping the unbeaten home run going!
Spain win both friendlies

A good month with 2 fantastic wins. The first battle between Redaelli and Herrera was won by the Bilbao man as he scored the opener in a fantastic away win. Redaelli had a poor game as Aitor strutted his stuff! It was the Izurza show against Real Sociedad though as he scored 4 goals from the right wing and he doesnt take free kicks or penalties! Had a poor performance and result away to Tenerife though to keep our feet on the ground.

UEFA Champions League Group F
VfB Stuttgart 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
Alfredo 2

Barcelona 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
Herrera, Izurza

Copa del Rey 4th Round 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Recreativo
Gomez, Gutierrez (pen), Valcarcel

Athletic Bilbao 5-1 Real Sociedad
Izurza 4, Sanz

UEFA Champions League Group F
Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Manchester City
Sanz

Tenerife 0-0 Athletic Bilbao

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
JOSE LUIS IZURZA
View attachment 251110

View attachment 251111

SPAIN

Friendlies

Spain 2-0 South Africa
Garcia 2

Spain 4-2 Slovenia
Garcia, Izurza, Ordonez Lopez, Gomez​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Brilliant. With the world cup won thats every major trophy in the bag!

Was thinking about it yesterday and Spain is the best league to manage in. You have the challenge of catching up/taking on and beating Barca and Real, If you have the B team you have sonewhere to send your second rate youngsters and get some cash for them or develop them as a squad player. All very appealing i say!

 

[Klippybo]

Brilliant. With the world cup won thats every major trophy in the bag!

Was thinking about it yesterday and Spain is the best league to manage in. You have the challenge of catching up/taking on and beating Barca and Real, If you have the B team you have sonewhere to send your second rate youngsters and get some cash for them or develop them as a squad player. All very appealing i say!

I have won the World Cup twice you know....... well at least I think I have. I am sure I won it in 2014

 

[Klippybo]

DECEMBER

Bilbao win the FIFA Club World Cup
Champions League draw sees Bilbao get CSKA Moscow
Struggling with injuries in central midfield area - Abel and Damia have been starting

A good month but really struggling with injuries in the midfield area. Cidoncha, Vinas, Rodriguez and Garmendia are all out! Alfredo had a nightmare start to the month - he had 2 goals disallowed against Villarreal and then got sent off against Granada!

The Club World Cup wasnt a contest even with an under strength team out.

UEFA Champions League Group F
Lech Poznan 0-3 Athletic Bilbao
Sanz, Gomez Comas, Valcarcel

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Villarreal
Ruiz, Herrera

Granada 0-2 Athletic Bilbao
Herrera, Sanz

Xerez 1-3 Athletic Bilbao
Sanz 2, Becker (og)

FIFA Club World Cup SF
Al-Hilal (KSA) 0-2 Athletic Bilbao
Gomez Comas, Gutierrez

Final
Athletic Bilbao 5-0 Velez Sarsfield
Perez Villarroya 2, Herrera, Hondo N'Dongo, Alfredo

Copa del Rey 5th Round 1st Leg
Granada 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Hondo N'Dongo

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
JOSE CARLOS SANZ
View attachment 251165

View attachment 251166
​

 

[Klippybo]

JANUARY

Aitor Herrera wins both World Player of the year awards
Fermin Garcia scores for and against Bilbao in the Atletico Madrid game
Real Sociedad dumped out of the cup in rivals clash
Athletic Bilbao tie up pre-contract deal with 18y/o Atletico Madrid defender

As usual January is a packed month fixture wise. We werent great this month but we got through it well. We had two tough derbies against Real Sociedad while against Atletico Madrid we went a goal down to our club legend Fermin Garcia and then he remembered we would be angry so he scored one for us! He then got stretchered off and is out for the rest of the season.

Copa del Rey 5th Round 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Granada
Sanz 2, Gomez Comas

Copa del Rey QF 1st Leg
Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Real Sociedad
Alfredo, Perez Villarroya

Atletico Madrid 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Garcia (og)

Copa del Rey QF 2nd Leg
Real Sociedad 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
Herrera

Hercules 0-3 Athletic Bilbao
Izurza, Sanz, Herrera

Copa del Rey SF 1st Leg
Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Betis
Herrera

Real Betis 1-2 Athletic Bilbao
Sanz 2

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
AITOR HERRERA
View attachment 251200

View attachment 251201
​

 

[DirtyACE]

Got it in one! It took me 5 years to win the title even with a teenage Aitor in my side. If I remember rightly there was one season me and Barca were neck and neck and despite me winning my last 7 games I still lost out.

The stage I am at now I am able to put 16/17 year olds into the 1st team and get away with it hence how they are developing really well - Gontzal Ruiz is 18 and worth £12m (bought for £150k), Izurza is 19 and worth £20.5m (free), Vinas is 19 and worth £9m (£5m), Garmendia 20 and worth £22m (£1,500) and Gutierrez is 20 and worth £10m (£2.5m).

Do you have any decent regens in your save? (I wont mind if you post a screenie of them on here just as long as you make it clear that it aint part of my story)

Yes, I think I have some incredibly promising regens but none appeared initially as developed as Aitor. He was essentially good enough to go straight into the first eleven at the age of 15 from what I can remember.

And since you don't mind I'd be happy to post screenshots of some of my regens.

Here we go:

View attachment 251216View attachment 251217View attachment 251218View attachment 251219View attachment 251220View attachment 251221View attachment 251222View attachment 251223View attachment 251224View attachment 251225View attachment 251226View attachment 251227

Here are 12 of my most talented regens. Five of these (Gonzalez, Arregi, Nunez, Arce, Rojo) came from my own academy.

Duran, despite being only 17, already took over at AMR from Susaeta. He got a lucky break when Susaeta (not so lucky for him though) broke his ankle in a match and was out for 3 months. I really had no one good enough to take over as both De Marcos and Ibai Gomez are extremely average, so I decided to try to expedite Duran's development instead. Since then he's become a real revelation and is certainly living up to his 4.5 star potential. He is already on course to at least match Susaeta's best season to date.

So what do you think of these regens? Are any of them good enough for regular first team action in your opinion (aside from Duran)?

 

[Klippybo]

Yes, I think I have some incredibly promising regens but none appeared initially as developed as Aitor. He was essentially good enough to go straight into the first eleven at the age of 15 from what I can remember.

And since you don't mind I'd be happy to post screenshots of some of my regens.

Here we go:

View attachment 251216View attachment 251217View attachment 251218View attachment 251219View attachment 251220View attachment 251221View attachment 251222View attachment 251223View attachment 251224View attachment 251225View attachment 251226View attachment 251227

Here are 12 of my most talented regens. Five of these (Gonzalez, Arregi, Nunez, Arce, Rojo) came from my own academy.

Duran, despite being only 17, already took over at AMR from Susaeta. He got a lucky break when Susaeta (not so lucky for him though) broke his ankle in a match and was out for 3 months. I really had no one good enough to take over as both De Marcos and Ibai Gomez are extremely average, so I decided to try to expedite Duran's development instead. Since then he's become a real revelation and is certainly living up to his 4.5 star potential. He is already on course to at least match Susaeta's best season to date.

So what do you think of these regens? Are any of them good enough for regular first team action in your opinion (aside from Duran)?

Duran looks ok (would prefer higher mental stats myself like especially creativity) but if you are giving him game time then he should be a great little player. Leon Lopez looks as though he will be class in my opinion as well as Ruben.

The most important one to keep and try to develop is the goalkeeper. If you are Bilbao always do a thorough search on 1 April a few days after the regens come in. If you have Ruffier it gives you a few years to find a gk but after that its going to be difficult to get a decent keeper.

For example in my game I have David but other than that I am relying on South Americans willing to change nationality for the national team. There is one decent goalie at Real but he doesnt get a game.

 

[Klippybo]

FEBRUARY

Bilbao through to face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final
Roberto Gomez wants to leave - again!
Finally Muniain scores this season and finally my central midfielders return from injury
Spain almost throw away a 4 goal lead in their friendly

Another month of doing well results wise but not really blowing teams away with our overall performances but with so many injuries that is to be expected. We did get a good win over Real Madrid though which is always nice!

Copa del Rey SF 2nd Leg
Real Betis 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Sanz

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Valencia
Sanz, Herrera

Espanyol 2-4 Athletic Bilbao
Garmendia, Muniain, Perez Villarroya, Rodriguez

UEFA Champions League 1st Round 1st Leg
CSKA Moscow 1-3 Athletic Bilbao
Garmendia, Alfredo, Cidoncha

Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Real Madrid
Gomez, Perez Villarroya

Athletic Bilbao 4-2 Real Valladolid
Muniain, Perez Villarroya, Alfredo, Rodriguez

Sporting Gijon 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Muniain

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
UNAI GARMENDIA
View attachment 251242

View attachment 251243

SPAIN

Friendly

Algeria 3-4 Spain
Alfredo, Gutierrez, Santano, Perez Villarroya
​

 

[Klippybo]

MARCH

After 1 goal in 17 league games - Alfredo scores 2 against Elche
Valencia appoint Sa Pinto while Mazzarri replaces him at Granada
Had enough of Man City - Man Utd up next in Europe! lol
Spain beat Latvia

A very good month with some big wins thrown in for good measure. We had a couple of decent players come in in this years youth intake but nobody like Herrera or Izurza. Found a fantastic looking gk who I am looking to bring in though. Tough draw in the Champions League - Manchester United were the last team to beat us at home 5 or 6 seasons ago!

Oh and we are still unbeaten in the league!

Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Malaga
Perez Villarroya, Herrera, Sanz, Cidoncha

Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Athletic Bilbao
Vinas (pen)

UEFA Champions League 1st Round 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 4-0 CSKA Moscow
Muniain, Vinas (pen), Sanz 2

Athletic Bilbao 4-0 Granada
Ruiz 2, Izurza 2

Elche 0-6 Athletic Bilbao
Alfredo 2, Hondo N'Dongo, Herrera 2, Garmendia

Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Sevilla
Sanz

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
GONTZAL RUIZ
View attachment 251302

View attachment 251303

SPAIN

Euro Champs Quals Group A

Latvia 0-3 Spain
Barinovs (og), Garmendia, Izurza​

 

[Sam91]

Hope I get some regens as good as yours have been!!!

 

[Klippybo]

APRIL

Bilbao were a goal and a man down with 5min left - but still beat Barcelona!
Bilbao concede 5 over two legs against Man Utd - but score 10 lol
First league defeat of the season at the hands of Villarreal
Cidoncha requests to leave again - cant talk him round this time though
Espanyol are first to be relegated

Goals galore this month averaging just shy of 4 a game! Against Barca we were down and out as Cidoncha had been sent off and Redaelli put them ahead but Izurza struck twice in the last 5min to get a great victory.

Had a thriller against Man Utd where we were 4-1 up at half time and then got pegged back before scoring the winner - we demolished them in the 2nd leg much the same against Xerez and Roma too.

Gutted that Cidoncha wants to leave - will hope to get £50m plus for him - Rodriguez will join Xerez for £5m in the summer.

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Barcelona
Izurza 2

UEFA Champions League QF 1st Leg
Manchester United 4-5 Athletic Bilbao
Herrera 2, Izurza, Alfredo, Kalas (og)

Real Sociedad 2-3 Athletic Bilbao
Alfredo, Izurza, Gutierrez

UEFA Champions League QF 2nd Leg
Athletic Bilbao 5-1 Manchester United
Perez Villarroya, Gomez, Herrera, Sanz 2

Villarreal 2-0 Athletic Bilbao

Athletic Bilbao 7-1 Xerez
Izurza, Chieruzzi (og), Garmendia, Hondo N'Dongo, Sanz, Herrera, Tobias (og)

UEFA Champions League SF 1st Leg
Athletic Bilbao 5-1 Roma
Alfredo 3, Cidoncha, Herrera

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
AITOR HERRERA
View attachment 251399

View attachment 251400​

 

[DirtyACE]

Duran looks ok (would prefer higher mental stats myself like especially creativity) but if you are giving him game time then he should be a great little player. Leon Lopez looks as though he will be class in my opinion as well as Ruben.

I can see what you're saying regarding Duran's low creativity but it doesn't seem to phase him one bit. He still gets his share on assists and scores plenty of goals. I wouldn't even think of playing Susaeta ahead of him these days, that's how good he's been for me.

The most important one to keep and try to develop is the goalkeeper. If you are Bilbao always do a thorough search on 1 April a few days after the regens come in. If you have Ruffier it gives you a few years to find a gk but after that its going to be difficult to get a decent keeper. For example in my game I have David but other than that I am relying on South Americans willing to change nationality for the national team. There is one decent goalie at Real but he doesnt get a game.

I came to the same realization regarding GKs. Luckily I've been able to grab 4 regens GKs. Two of them look like they'll be at least as good as Ruffier.

 

[Klippybo]

MAY - END OF SEASON

League, Cup and Champions League won
Bilbao come back from 2 down in Champions league final
Cesar Azpilicueta announces his retirement to join the coaching staff
Spain win both matches

Great end to the season. The title was wrapped up against Valladolid and that allowed us to rest players for the two finals. In the domestic final we scored both goals in the first 10min.

In the Champions League final we were 2-0 down after half an hour but somehow managed to go in at half time level. Izurza netted the winner - once again in a final we get all the luck.

Cesar Azpilicueta has retired and is now a first team coach (5 star defending). The club record signing made 679 appearances and scored 4 goals. He also got 104 caps for Spain and scored 3 times for them.

Real Valladolid 1-3 Athletic Bilbao
Alfredo 2, Garmendia

UEFA Champions League SF 2nd Leg
Roma 2-1 Athletic Bilbao
Gutierrez

Athletic Bilbao 3-1 Atletico Madrid
Muniain, Gutierrez, Sanz

Levante 2-3 Athletic Bilbao
Gomez 2, Albadalejo (og)

Athletic Bilbao 4-2 Hercules
Muniain, Gutierrez, Sanz 2

Copa del Rey Final
Athletic Bilbao 2-0 Real Madrid
Alfredo 2

UEFA Champions League Final
Lyon 2-3 Athletic Bilbao
Monteiro (og), Alfredo, Izurza

PLAYER OF THE SEASON
AITOR HERRERA
View attachment 251484
(special mention for Sanz who scored the same amount of goals this season as he did the previous 4 seasons-27)

View attachment 251485View attachment 251486View attachment 251487View attachment 251488

END OF SEASON AWARDS
Spanish & League Player of the Year - Aitor Herrera
Young Player of the Year - Jose Luis Sanz
Top Spanish Scorer - Alfredo

SPAIN

Euro Champs Quals Group A

Spain 5-0 San Marino
Garcia, Perez Villarroya, Izurza 2(1pen), Alfredo

Spain 4-1 Finland
Cidoncha, Perez Villarroya, Herrera 2

Fermin Garcia becomes Spains record goalscorer - on 82 ​

 

[stevenUK1]

As always another great season. No signs of Aitor getting any worse or even hanging up his boots? Does he want to stay in football after he quits?

 

[Klippybo]

As always another great season. No signs of Aitor getting any worse or even hanging up his boots? Does he want to stay in football after he quits?

Yeah - apparently he wants to coach before getting into management - same as Muniain.

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Cesar Azpilicueta retiring! thats a major milestone. Was starting to think Muniain and Aitor were going to retire first!

 

[Klippybo]

PRE SEASON - AUGUST

Cidoncha leaves for £50m to Barcelona - Azpilicueta retires
Gomez and Ordonez Lopez wish to stay - make up your minds lads!
Real Madrid beaten in the Spanish Super Cup
Benfica beaten in the European Super Cup
Bayern Munich, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sparta Prague complete Champs Lge group
Spain held to a draw by Brazil

AIMS
Hard this - what have I not achieved before? Nowt
Not have any player wanting a new challenge - there we go lol

PLAYERS IN
Signed a very promising young goalkeeper who I will leave in the u19s for a while to get games. Other than that I have signed 3 young centre backs.
View attachment 251636View attachment 251637View attachment 251638View attachment 251639
TOTAL SPENT: £3m

PLAYERS OUT
Pedro Jose Cidoncha left to join Barcelona for a club record £50m fee. He made 502 appearances and scored 32 times. Alvaro Rodriguez left for Xerez for £5m and Mikel Martin was also sold. Pedro Salazar was loaned out again and of course Azpilicueta retired.
TOTAL INCOME: £57m

SUMMARY
I have promoted Barrenetxea from the B team to replace Azpilicueta and Ayechu to replace Rodriguez. Jesus is my new backup keeper and Ordonez Lopez and Gomez wish to stay now. Ekain Barandiaran is back as he was injured all summer and I couldnt get rid!
Will go with Vinas to replace Cidoncha rather than going for the more offensive minded Ordonez Lopez.

View attachment 251643View attachment 251644

Spanish Super Cup Final 1st Leg
Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Real Madrid
Ordonez Lopez, Vreven (og), Ayechu

2nd Leg
Real Madrid 3-2 Athletic Bilbao
Sanz, Valcarcel

Athletic Bilbao 3-0 Real Zaragoza
Alfredo, Perez Villarroya, Herrera

UEFA European Super Cup Final
Benfica 1-3 Athletic Bilbao (aet)
Alfredo 3

SPAIN

Friendly

Spain 2-2 Brazil
Garcia 2

Spain have drawn Luxembourg, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Slovakia and Turkey in the qualifying group for the next World Cup​