P
PhiladelFerret
Guest
Equal with Atleticó as well! Only conceded 14 in 19 which makes me pretty **** happy.
I'm like a young Tony Pulis.
Last edited by a moderator:
Equal with Atleticó as well! Only conceded 14 in 19 which makes me pretty **** happy.
I'm like a young Tony Pulis.
P
PhiladelFerret
Guest
February 2015:
Off the back of a successful month in January we now headed into February, a month full of tough games both domestically and in Europe. With the season heading towards the latter stages, we needed to string together a few more good results.
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Spanish Cup:
We began the month with the first leg of our Spanish Cup semi-final against holders Real Madrid, with the winners likely to meet Barcelona in the final winning the cup was never going to be easy.
The 1st half of the match was a slow one, both teams playing it safe as we took it in turns to have spells of possession while the other team sat back and defended.
The break through came in the 56th minute, powerful Striker Aritz Aduriz firing past Casillas to give the hosts the advantage.
Real Madrid quickly fired back 9 minutes later, loanee Javier Hernández getting on the end of a Ronaldo cross to toe poke it past Iraizoz, 1-1.
This is ultimately how the game finished as very few chances were created following the equaliser, we now had it all to do at the Bernabeu.
View attachment 326970View attachment 326969
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Liga BBVA:
Our next fixture saw us take on FC Barcelona at the San Mamés, a huge fixture as we were looking to build a gap between us and Barcelona while knowing that a loss here would cause setbacks in our title chasing campaign.
The away side took the lead on 13 minutes, former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen leaping high to power home a header from a Xavi corner, poor marking.
We managed to get the equaliser late in the 1st half, skillful playmaker Iker Muniain latching onto a Susaeta pass to fire low to Ter Stegen's right, a fantastic finish, 1-1.
After this the game went flat, both teams failing to carve out any opportunities in the 2nd half, full time came..The result, a 1-1 draw.
View attachment 326967View attachment 326966
I was pleased with this result, not only did we avoid defeat to a strong Barcelona side but on the day we out-possessed them, which isn't an easy task!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spanish Cup:
On the back of our draw against Barcelona we once again took on Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup, this time for the 2nd leg of the Semi-Final at the Bernabeu.
However this time it wasn't to be, the Galacticos came out strong as they took the lead through an Iraola own goal in the 12th minute, poor defending as the veteran right back sliced a Ronaldo cross into his own net at the front post.
Luka Modric doubled the home sides lead on 28 minutes, a lovely curled finish from 18 yards that flew past Iraizoz into the top corner, we had it all to do now!
Youngster Marcos Llorente scored his first goal for the senior squad as the home side made it 3-0, a great clinical finish from the youngster as he took a touch to set himself, before guiding the ball into the bottom corner. It was all about damage control now!
The game did in fact finish 3-0, we were savagely beaten but at least we avoided suffering a 4-0, 5-0 loss.
View attachment 326964View attachment 326963
Our Cup run was over.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liga BBVA:
After a disappointing result against Real Madrid we next took on league side Granada who currently found themselves at the foot of the table, we couldn't afford a setback here.
Jhon Córdoba gave the home side the lead in the 15th minute, a dreadful start for us! The forward was allowed far too much space as he slotted home past Iraizoz to bag his 2nd goal of the season.
Kike Sola managed to get us the equaliser towards the end of the 1st half, a powerful header from a Susaeta cross as the Spanish forward looked to cement his place in the first team.
He bettered his chances again in injury time as he managed to squeeze the ball past the Granada keeper with a deft flick, a lovely finish as we headed into half time with a 2-1 lead.
Center Back Mikel San José bolstered our lead in the 71st minute, a powerful leap and glanced header finding its way into the back of the net, the CB has certainly found the net a lot recently!
The game finished 3-1, the opposition side showing very little resistance after going 3-1 down, a much needed result!
View attachment 326961View attachment 326960
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UEFA Champions League:
We next took on Portuguese side S.L. Benfica in what would be a huge fixture, we've already surpassed our expectations of reaching the group stage but could we go even further?
Last years Europa League finalists proved why they were such a good team early on as young playmaker Talisca found the net after 20 minutes, a mixture of great attacking play and poor defending contributing to this goal.
Things got worse as Veteran striker Lima found the net in the 37th minute, the Brazilian forward latching onto a Gaitan cross to guide the ball past Iraizoz, 2-0 to the home side.
We were handed a life-line in the 57th minute as wide-man Markel Susaeta rifled a shot past Júlio César into the bottom left hand corner, a much needed away goal!
This was how the game finished, a poor result as we slumped to a 2-1 defeat, but the away goal gave us the confidence that we could progress, all we needed was a good performance at the San Mamés.
View attachment 326958View attachment 326957
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Liga BBVA:
After returning home to Spain we took on mid-table side Rayo Vallecano at the San Mamés, hopeful of a win to cement our top 2 ambitions.
But this was far from how the game went, club captain Carlos Gurpegi saw red in the 27th minute after hacking down Rayo's striker, his 2nd red of the season, however this one proved catastrophic.
Abdoulaye gave the away side the lead at the end of the 1st half, the strong CB guiding a header past Iraizoz following a Rayo corner.
Not long into the 2nd half things got worse, Wing-Back Quini doubling the oppositions lead with a surging run down the right wing before rifling a shot low past Iraizoz.
The game went quiet until the 71st minute when Chelsea loanee Gaël Kakuta made it 3-0, the young playmaker playing a nice one-two with Quini before curling the ball low past Iraizoz.
Within a minute it was 4-0, playmaker Alberto Bruno stealing the ball off San José before taking it round Iraizoz, we were a shambles at the back!
Atleticó loanee Leó made it 5 as the young Striker latched onto Kakuta's through ball and chipped it over an oncoming Iraizoz, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
This was how the game finished, a 5-0 thumping at home! We've had a good defensive record all season so to concede 5 in one game was disgraceful, especially in front of our home supporters.
View attachment 326954View attachment 326953
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Liga BBVA:
After our disgraceful showing against Rayo we next took on league stragglers Córdoba in what I considered to be a massive fixture, we were on the back of two defeats, one of which left us in danger of exiting Europe and the other was a thumping that had damaged our confidence, we need a win to bring back the morale in the dressing room.
New signing Mikel Arteta gave us the lead on 17 minutes as the man with perfect hair rifled a free-kick past the Córdoba keeper, a beautiful goal!
Promising CB Aymeric Laporte doubled our lead in the 61st minute, a wonderful header as the defender lost his man before guiding home Susaeta's cross.
This was how the game finished, a much needed victory!
View attachment 326952View attachment 326951
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Liga BBVA:
Our last game of the month saw us take on newly promoted Eibar in what would be another huge fixture, we had to win our games against the smaller teams, there was no two ways about it..We needed the 3 points.
This game was very dull, Eibar sitting deep looking for the 0-0 (I assume) while we just passed the ball around without any real intention to score.
Veteran striker Aduriz scored the only goal of the game in the 32nd minute as he was found by Muniain before slotting the ball past the oncoming Eibar keeper.
A poor performance, but the 3 points were the main thing we needed.
View attachment 326949View attachment 326948
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Summary:
February sure was a frustrating month, we were knocked out of one competition and face an early exit in the Champions League, we also suffered our heaviest defeat of the series so far.
But it was pleasing knowing that despite some of our poor results we were still able to finish the month on a high, winning our last two league matches.
Player of the Month:
Mikel Arteta (CM)
View attachment 326945
A brilliant month from the Veteran midfielder as he bagged himself a goal and a couple of assists, not to mention a 92% pass completion. He's proved to be quite the signing!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Competition Overview:
View attachment 326944
View attachment 326943
As you can see we're still in 1st despite a troubled month, but Atleticó have a game in hand, it's going to be a very tense end to the season!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Months Fixtures:
View attachment 326942
March looks to be a very quiet month in comparison to the month we just played, will we exit the Champions League or will that away goal pay dividends? Find out in the next update!
Off the back of a successful month in January we now headed into February, a month full of tough games both domestically and in Europe. With the season heading towards the latter stages, we needed to string together a few more good results.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spanish Cup:
We began the month with the first leg of our Spanish Cup semi-final against holders Real Madrid, with the winners likely to meet Barcelona in the final winning the cup was never going to be easy.
The 1st half of the match was a slow one, both teams playing it safe as we took it in turns to have spells of possession while the other team sat back and defended.
The break through came in the 56th minute, powerful Striker Aritz Aduriz firing past Casillas to give the hosts the advantage.
Real Madrid quickly fired back 9 minutes later, loanee Javier Hernández getting on the end of a Ronaldo cross to toe poke it past Iraizoz, 1-1.
This is ultimately how the game finished as very few chances were created following the equaliser, we now had it all to do at the Bernabeu.
View attachment 326970View attachment 326969
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liga BBVA:
Our next fixture saw us take on FC Barcelona at the San Mamés, a huge fixture as we were looking to build a gap between us and Barcelona while knowing that a loss here would cause setbacks in our title chasing campaign.
The away side took the lead on 13 minutes, former Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen leaping high to power home a header from a Xavi corner, poor marking.
We managed to get the equaliser late in the 1st half, skillful playmaker Iker Muniain latching onto a Susaeta pass to fire low to Ter Stegen's right, a fantastic finish, 1-1.
After this the game went flat, both teams failing to carve out any opportunities in the 2nd half, full time came..The result, a 1-1 draw.
View attachment 326967View attachment 326966
I was pleased with this result, not only did we avoid defeat to a strong Barcelona side but on the day we out-possessed them, which isn't an easy task!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spanish Cup:
On the back of our draw against Barcelona we once again took on Real Madrid in the Spanish Cup, this time for the 2nd leg of the Semi-Final at the Bernabeu.
However this time it wasn't to be, the Galacticos came out strong as they took the lead through an Iraola own goal in the 12th minute, poor defending as the veteran right back sliced a Ronaldo cross into his own net at the front post.
Luka Modric doubled the home sides lead on 28 minutes, a lovely curled finish from 18 yards that flew past Iraizoz into the top corner, we had it all to do now!
Youngster Marcos Llorente scored his first goal for the senior squad as the home side made it 3-0, a great clinical finish from the youngster as he took a touch to set himself, before guiding the ball into the bottom corner. It was all about damage control now!
The game did in fact finish 3-0, we were savagely beaten but at least we avoided suffering a 4-0, 5-0 loss.
View attachment 326964View attachment 326963
Our Cup run was over.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liga BBVA:
After a disappointing result against Real Madrid we next took on league side Granada who currently found themselves at the foot of the table, we couldn't afford a setback here.
Jhon Córdoba gave the home side the lead in the 15th minute, a dreadful start for us! The forward was allowed far too much space as he slotted home past Iraizoz to bag his 2nd goal of the season.
Kike Sola managed to get us the equaliser towards the end of the 1st half, a powerful header from a Susaeta cross as the Spanish forward looked to cement his place in the first team.
He bettered his chances again in injury time as he managed to squeeze the ball past the Granada keeper with a deft flick, a lovely finish as we headed into half time with a 2-1 lead.
Center Back Mikel San José bolstered our lead in the 71st minute, a powerful leap and glanced header finding its way into the back of the net, the CB has certainly found the net a lot recently!
The game finished 3-1, the opposition side showing very little resistance after going 3-1 down, a much needed result!
View attachment 326961View attachment 326960
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UEFA Champions League:
We next took on Portuguese side S.L. Benfica in what would be a huge fixture, we've already surpassed our expectations of reaching the group stage but could we go even further?
Last years Europa League finalists proved why they were such a good team early on as young playmaker Talisca found the net after 20 minutes, a mixture of great attacking play and poor defending contributing to this goal.
Things got worse as Veteran striker Lima found the net in the 37th minute, the Brazilian forward latching onto a Gaitan cross to guide the ball past Iraizoz, 2-0 to the home side.
We were handed a life-line in the 57th minute as wide-man Markel Susaeta rifled a shot past Júlio César into the bottom left hand corner, a much needed away goal!
This was how the game finished, a poor result as we slumped to a 2-1 defeat, but the away goal gave us the confidence that we could progress, all we needed was a good performance at the San Mamés.
View attachment 326958View attachment 326957
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liga BBVA:
After returning home to Spain we took on mid-table side Rayo Vallecano at the San Mamés, hopeful of a win to cement our top 2 ambitions.
But this was far from how the game went, club captain Carlos Gurpegi saw red in the 27th minute after hacking down Rayo's striker, his 2nd red of the season, however this one proved catastrophic.
Abdoulaye gave the away side the lead at the end of the 1st half, the strong CB guiding a header past Iraizoz following a Rayo corner.
Not long into the 2nd half things got worse, Wing-Back Quini doubling the oppositions lead with a surging run down the right wing before rifling a shot low past Iraizoz.
The game went quiet until the 71st minute when Chelsea loanee Gaël Kakuta made it 3-0, the young playmaker playing a nice one-two with Quini before curling the ball low past Iraizoz.
Within a minute it was 4-0, playmaker Alberto Bruno stealing the ball off San José before taking it round Iraizoz, we were a shambles at the back!
Atleticó loanee Leó made it 5 as the young Striker latched onto Kakuta's through ball and chipped it over an oncoming Iraizoz, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
This was how the game finished, a 5-0 thumping at home! We've had a good defensive record all season so to concede 5 in one game was disgraceful, especially in front of our home supporters.
View attachment 326954View attachment 326953
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liga BBVA:
After our disgraceful showing against Rayo we next took on league stragglers Córdoba in what I considered to be a massive fixture, we were on the back of two defeats, one of which left us in danger of exiting Europe and the other was a thumping that had damaged our confidence, we need a win to bring back the morale in the dressing room.
New signing Mikel Arteta gave us the lead on 17 minutes as the man with perfect hair rifled a free-kick past the Córdoba keeper, a beautiful goal!
Promising CB Aymeric Laporte doubled our lead in the 61st minute, a wonderful header as the defender lost his man before guiding home Susaeta's cross.
This was how the game finished, a much needed victory!
View attachment 326952View attachment 326951
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liga BBVA:
Our last game of the month saw us take on newly promoted Eibar in what would be another huge fixture, we had to win our games against the smaller teams, there was no two ways about it..We needed the 3 points.
This game was very dull, Eibar sitting deep looking for the 0-0 (I assume) while we just passed the ball around without any real intention to score.
Veteran striker Aduriz scored the only goal of the game in the 32nd minute as he was found by Muniain before slotting the ball past the oncoming Eibar keeper.
A poor performance, but the 3 points were the main thing we needed.
View attachment 326949View attachment 326948
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary:
February sure was a frustrating month, we were knocked out of one competition and face an early exit in the Champions League, we also suffered our heaviest defeat of the series so far.
But it was pleasing knowing that despite some of our poor results we were still able to finish the month on a high, winning our last two league matches.
Player of the Month:
Mikel Arteta (CM)
View attachment 326945
A brilliant month from the Veteran midfielder as he bagged himself a goal and a couple of assists, not to mention a 92% pass completion. He's proved to be quite the signing!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Competition Overview:
View attachment 326944
View attachment 326943
As you can see we're still in 1st despite a troubled month, but Atleticó have a game in hand, it's going to be a very tense end to the season!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Months Fixtures:
View attachment 326942
March looks to be a very quiet month in comparison to the month we just played, will we exit the Champions League or will that away goal pay dividends? Find out in the next update!
P
PhiladelFerret
Guest
Breaking News
So as you may or may not know I've been playing through this entire series a couple of months ahead of the updates, but after a poor start to the 2nd season I actually got sacked by Bilbao..
I finished 4th after an end of table collapse but upon starting the 2nd year I failed to win in my UCL play-off against Wolfsburg and then found myself in 16th after 11 games, so this is the end of the series!
I'm not really sure why it wasn't working out, I can only assume the inability to sign players and the aging of my current players played a role.
I can only apologise to those who have been following the save, I wanted this to be a long term thing but I'm not going to cheat and re-load old saves trying to fix my errors.
I'll be starting a new save soon so be on the look-out!
R.I.P Bilbao save
2014-15
View attachment 326757
So as you may or may not know I've been playing through this entire series a couple of months ahead of the updates, but after a poor start to the 2nd season I actually got sacked by Bilbao..
I finished 4th after an end of table collapse but upon starting the 2nd year I failed to win in my UCL play-off against Wolfsburg and then found myself in 16th after 11 games, so this is the end of the series!
I'm not really sure why it wasn't working out, I can only assume the inability to sign players and the aging of my current players played a role.
I can only apologise to those who have been following the save, I wanted this to be a long term thing but I'm not going to cheat and re-load old saves trying to fix my errors.
I'll be starting a new save soon so be on the look-out!
R.I.P Bilbao save
2014-15
View attachment 326757