FM16 - Rise of the Basque Country

[Abe Sargent]

Is it time?

There is precisely one FM challenge left in me. One major thing I have always wanted to try out and never had the chance. Something else called.

Up until the Portuguese Dynasty I did with you here, I had never won the Champions Cup. Then I had. Then I took over a tiny little Spanish footballing club in Northern Africa, and took it to the top of the table, and won the Liga, the Spanish Cup, and the Champions Cup in the same year, and then I even won my first World Cup with Spain at the same time. It was the perfect to a career fraught with hard works.

And I did these challenges my normal route:

1) Find what my current stars are, build a tactic around them
2) Sign higher quality older free or cheap transfer players who still have a lot to give for a year or two
3) Sign and bring in young future studs, and grow them around my veterans and the folks of value I inherited. Build strong.



And that makes sense. I turned Melilla, Spain (in North Africa) into the South Korean national team with multiple youth I signed. I signed in young powerful youth in Nacional da Madeira, Crewe Alexandria, Wrexham, Slavia Prague, Kaiserslautern, and many many more.

That is who I be.

But what if I couldn’t do that? What if my options were limited?

What if I took Athletic Bilbao, star of the Basque country.

The Basque people and teams have dominated Spanish football for a long time, and their best is Athletic. Only it, Real Madrid, and Barcelona have never been relegated. Founding member. They have won La Liga eight times and the Copa del Rey 24 times, 2nd most behind Barcelona at 28.. There have been as many as five Basque teams in the league at the same time. Athletic Bilbao is one of the most successful teams in Spanish footballing history...


But, that is with the caveat. It only allows players with a Basque nationality to play for it. Unless you are from the Basque country, you are not allowed to play. Ever. Some Basque teams have made exceptions for star players. Not Athletic (not willingly, during the early Franco era when they had no choice, some people looked the other way at a few players).

Imagine that the best league in Football, the NFL, saw the Pittsburgh Steelers announce that they were only going to allow players from Central Appalachia onto their team, like WV, central and western PA, south-east OH, western VA, eastern KY, and western TN were allowed. And imagine that despite their Central Appalachia rule, the Steelers continued to be one of the better teams in the NFL, even winning some Super Bowls, for years. That’s Athletic Bilbao. No internationals (unless they are Basque). No domestic players outside of the Basque region.

That’s the challenge. Take over Athletic Bilbao, a team already in a good position, and without recruiting anyone not a Basque player, win La Liga again and win their first Champion’s Cup.

[Abe Sargent]

“The Challenge, The Bet, and the Handshake”
Excerpt from History of the Basque People, © 2029


With the new wave of populism and separatism rife in the continent of Europe for around a decade, and just after the success of Brexit vote and others, Spain has an obvious problem. Not only is the old saber rattling in Basque country for freedom, with more than 60% of the local parliament held by separatists, but the Barcelona and Catalan region is also pushing a heavy separatist movement, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are both in the middle of discussions for moving on as well.

Spain has a problem.

Last week, Mariano Rojoy, President of Spain was pushed in a national debate on the issues of independence. Previously, Spain had been vociferously against the freedom of Scotland and it staying with the EU if it won it’s freedom, because that incentive could drive the Basque Country or the Catalan one into pushing for a vote for independence as well. The Brexit vote began to change that, as a potential Scotland splitting off from the UK as punishment for their vote would be joyous as a slap across the bow of anyone else leaving. Language became more neutral toward the Scottish issue from official Spain corners.

In the debate, President Rojoy was pushed heavily by others, and was found undefended. In an attempt to laugh off scheduling a vote for independence and yet to put the idea out there that he was not, per se, against self-determination and will, President Rojoy attempted to laugh off the idea of scheduling a vote for Basque independence. “We’ll schedule it right after Athletic win La Liga again.” President Rojoy’s attempt at humor instead became seen by the critics talking with him in public as a way to ensure the vote occurred. Backed into a corner, President Rojoy shook hands with eh Basque independence opposition, but saw his potential mistake, and covered for himself by saying, “And if they win the Champion’s Cup, we’ll agree to abide by the vote, no matter what it says.”

The handshake was jokingly made and the Basque country suddenly had it’s goal.

[Abe Sargent]

Can we do it?


Active – France, Spain, going down all the way to the bottom for both nations, activating Basque players.

Start date, Spain, July 15, 2015 (sorry about the year. I don’t want to spend $50 for just this dynasty...)


New Manager:

Andoni Santxitz

Born, 12/10/1976, in Bayonne, in the Pays Basque region of France. 39 years old.
French and Spanish nationalities

Speaks Basque, French, Spanish

Favorite team? Athletic

Other favorite – hometown Aviron Bayonnais, in the French 4th level of football.

Just got Continental A License, defending coaching specialist, teaches defending at Real Sociedad for A team (has a 20 defending)


Born in Bayonne to a pair of Spanish Basque parents who came to Bayonne for work, Andoni Santxitx was raised fully in the Basque culture, language, and pride of his people. His first love was for the Basque rural games like Harri zulaketa, drilling rocks and such, but he was quickly weaned off of those and onto football. He easily adapted to it, and was recruiting by Aviron Bayonnais and walked on, and played for them and got his first team cap at 18, before being traded to Athletic Bilbao as a promising young Basque prospect in a move very common for the team. After three years of loans and a year of bench riding, but without any major development into the future prospect Athletic was hoping for, Andoni’s contract was allowed free, and he signed back with the hometown team at the age of 23, and played the rest of his career for them, starting at every midfielder and defensive position at some time or another. He developed in a player manager at 31, and took various caching courses and passed many licenses. He took over full managerial duty and in one year got the team to the playoffs for promotion, but lost, and was brought in as the Assistant Manager for Real Sociedad in the Basque country, and was one of the main reasons for their recent table success and trip to the Europa League last year.

Athletic has often been of two minds. On one hand, it holds serve on having only Basque players. On the other, it often has non-Basque staff, managers, and more.

With the new challenge in place, the Board knew they had to bring in a Basque manager, someone who knew the area, and was a good manager prospect. Assistant Manager Andoni Santxitz was deemed a fitting choice for a few reasons. He played for the club for four years. He is fully Basque. He is fully experienced in both the Spanish Basque Country and the French Pays Basque region. The club is looking to move into a stronger French presence. With the eyes of the country, and Europe, on the club and the Basque region, succeeding with recruiting more Basque players and replacing the staff, over time, with Basque-only people. And don’t forget, taking away the star Assistant Manager from your rival is not a bad play wither.

There have been some misses, recent and older Benjamín Zarandona Esono’s father was Basque, he was never approached. Roberto López Ufarte had one of his parents Basque, and moved back to the region at age 8 and grew up there for the rest of his life, and he was never approached or signed. There have been recent opportunities. And stars like Xabi Alonzo were not brought in. Ernesto Valverde, the Manager of Athletic, left five weeks ago to take the job at Barcelona.

The era of Santxitz has begun

[Abe Sargent]

Athletic Bilbao

Predicted to finish 6th
Value – 260 mill, 16.5 mill debt
Stadium – 53000+ all seater, San Memes, built in 2013
Rich
We are not allowed to sign non-Basque players

Superb youth facilities
Excellent training
Good junior coaching
Extensive youth recruitment

Qualified for Euro Cup

Rivals – Osasuna, Real Sociedad

Continental Reputation

There have been some struggles for Athletic Bilbao in the 2000s, including some serious relegation battles, barely surviving multiple times on the last match or two of the season. But the hope is that this era is behind them. They finished 4th in 2013, their best showing in a while, and first Champions appearance since the 1990s. But last season they finished 7th. It’s time for Athletic Bilbao to be relevant again.

[Abe Sargent]

I meet with the board, hand out assignments to staff, and more. I have two first team players injured for 5-6 months, AM LC Iker Munlain and DC Jonas Romalho.

I put some Basque players on my watchlist like French stud Antoine Griezman, playing for Atletico Madrid and Xabi, Javi Martinez and such. It’s not uncommon for Athletic to sell big name Basque players that want to move on after developing them, like Javi Martinez and Ander Herrara, sold to Man Utd for 44 mill Euros in 2014. Ander was the star that got team Real Zaragoza promoted to La Liga, and then kept it away from relegation the following year. Then Athletic bought out his contract for 7.5 mill Euros and played him hard.

The first Spanish National Squad featured 14 Basque players, and after Real Madrid, no team in Spain has developed and put more players on the Spanish National Squad than Athletic Bilbao.

[Abe Sargent]

Just for your info, here are some Basque teams you might have heard of (there was a time when literally half of the teams in La Liga were Basque)

Athletic Bilbao (That’s us)

Real Sociedad (Founding member of La Liga, Won La Liga twice in the 80s) Used to be Basque-only as well, abandoned that policy in 1989.

Osasuna – Just relegated, and often a team on the bubble of La Liga. No Basque-only rule in place anymore, but most of it’s players are.

Those three teams have, historically, been the big recruiters of Basque players in their three regions, but now, Athletic Bilbao has been looking to expand their recruiting efforts for the whole region.

Other Basque Teams of Note:

SD Eibar- In La Liga

Real Union – Segunda 3rd league, Founder of La Liga

Arenas Club de Getxo – Also founder of La Liga, Secunda as well right now

Deportivo Alavés – Won promotion to La Liga in 1930, and at that time, there were five Basque teams in La Liga, fully half of the 10 teams in the league. Currently in 2nd division (In real life, they won promotion to La Liga this year in the game, and remain in it after finishing 9th last year in La Liga.)


CD Vitoria – Currently in Segunda

Zamudio – Segunda

Sestao River Club – Segunda

SD Amorebieta – Segunda

Barakaldo CF – Segunda

Gernika Club – Segunda

Laudio – Segunda

Leioa – Segunda

SD Lemona – Segunda

Club Portugalete – Segunda

This does not include the roughly 20 teams in the Tercera Division, the next one down

[JonInMiddleGA]

Dumb question but ... does the game generate an adequate number of eligible players for this to work?

Or will the percentages & the active leagues chosen basically ensure that it will?

[Abe Sargent]

Some strong young players on our roster right now that I like:








21 year old DC Aymeric Laporte, looks great. Most expensive player at 21 mill too. Like a Wonderkid who just finished developing.

21 year old AM RLC, ST Inaki Williams, very fast, more of a wing man than a ST, but very good quality.




19 year old MC, AM RC Unai Lopez, looks to have a good, long game waiting soon




All three of these quality youth came through the Athletic Youth System. In real life, Inaki Williams and A. Laporte are both heavily rumored in the transfer market this summer. Inaki was heavily scouted, but just resigned with a 50 mill buyout clause until 2021. Laporte resigned with a 65 mill buyout, but it rumored for Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, and Real Madrid for teams making offers.

Unai Lopez is still growing, but he looks good.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Dumb question but ... does the game generate an adequate number of eligible players for this to work?

Or will the percentages & the active leagues chosen basically ensure that it will?

I guess it's going to have to. Good question. Here, let me use my search ability. I turn off realistic transfers as an option. I get 950 results, and given my 100% knowledge due to every staff member being Basque. Now, most of those are the typical chaff for lower leagues that will never be at the level of La Liga, let alone Athletic Bilbao.

I turned on the Basque nationality in the database when starting.

[Abe Sargent]

The best Basque players aren’t playing for Basque teams. It’s time to end that issue. We scout some youth on other rosters as well. There is a youth Basque player out in Mexico that looks good, Jonathan Espericueta. Age 20. I make an enquiry.

For example, the best Basque GK plays for AS Saint-Etienne. We have the 2nd best, although 34 years old, Gorka Iraioz. We also have the 3rd best Basque GK as a backup, and the 4th best is a 20 year old on our senior squad, but out on loan.




Now there is an unusual situation here in Athletic Bilbao. Let me show you...


Team for La Liga – Senior Squad, “Athletic Bilbao”
Team for La Liga Adelante – Reserve Squad, “Bilbao Athletic”
Team for Tercera Div Group 4 – Affiliated Feeder Club “Baskonia”
Team for U19 Youth – Athletic Youth U19

So we have four rosters to manage, not the normal three. I may lean on more signings as a result.



Con cantera y afición, no hace falta importación


The Spanish phrase and motto that built Athletic.

Read more about our Cantera System here:

Athletic Bilbao cantera - Wikipedia

As you can see, the majority of players on the senior squad came through the youth ranks here, and that is a vital part of the Athletic identity.

[Abe Sargent]

I let go our Head Physio, who is not Basque. Our scouts are all Basque. We have one coach, a fitness coach, who is not Basque and I let him go as well. I let go some other staff too.

I make an offer to a few better players, and my first signee is 4.5 star fitness coach Julen Masach, and others follow. I make an offer for a 2nd GK coach as well. I cut two U19 coaches, and make an offer to a French/Basque coach as well for that squad.


We have a transfer budget in millions of Euros, as well as a 811k/week budget, and we are at around 800k.

There is a stud Physio at Real Valladolid that I make an offer to be our Head Physio. We’d pay 150k to bring him aboard.

I scheduled a friendly with ourselves.

I come back with my initial scouting reports. Which current Basque studs might be interested in us? Only the best GK, Stephane Ruffler, French and Basque would. I don’t want to make a play for him right now though, as I have the 2nd-4th best GKs on my roster. None of the others are close. And most of my major youth targets aren’t, like this great young 18 year old from Real Sociedad, I like named Mikel Oyarzabel. But there is one who would sign with us, 19 year old Osasuna Mikel Merino. We like him, and we could pay him, but the estimated transfer cost is rough. I hold off on Merino for now.




I have my first presser and then make an enquiry for Merino, just to see what Osasuna might want. He looks like a good future player, and has the right stats for growth and development.


Alright, let’s take a detailed look at my squad. What tactics? What do I need?


Gk – Gorka, 34 years old, 1st team contract, 29k.week, 16 Reflexes, command, 15 aeriel, jumping, 13 one on ones, every mental you want to be good is at least a 13, none more than 16. Slow, has played for us for a long time, and is fine as a GK at this level. He’ll start. Vice Captain.

DC Laporte – Stud, starts. No question.

DC Xabi Exteita – First team, 27 years old, 14/16 jump, head, 16/16 tack, mark, 11/11 speed, not great here against the speedy people of La Liga,

DR Mikel Balenzinga – First Team, 27 years old, 12/11 cross, pass, 14/14 speed, 14 mark, 11 tack. Meh.

DC, DM Ander Iturraspe – First Team, 26 years old, 15 mark, pass, 14 tech, 1st touch, tackle, 11/13 speed, mentals are great.

DC, DMC, MC Mikel San José – 26 years old, 1st team, 18 head, 15 jump, 11/12 speed, 16 mark, 15 tack, 16 str, 14 pass.


DRC Jonás Ramalho – first team, injured 6 months, 22 years old

AMC, MRC, ST – Raul Garcia, key player, 29 years old, 14 pass, finish, 13 technique, every single stat or ability at least an 11. Only a few 16, nothing higher.

AM, MR – Mikel Susaeta – First team, 27 years old, 14/15 speed, 14/14 cross, pass, 15 technique, He’s okay on the outside.

MC/AMC Benat – First Team, 28 years old, 15 pass, tech, first touch, 12/11 speed.


D, M, AM RC Óscar De Marcos – First team, 13/12 cross, pass, 13/14 speed, 9 mark, 11 tack, 11 dribb


AM LC Iker Munlain, 22 years old, 1st team, injured for 6 months


AM, M LC _ Inaki Williams – 17/19 speed, 12/11 cross, pass, 12 first touch, 11 tech, 12 dribb, 12 Finishing, needs to develop a little more. 1st team deal though feels a little too soon.


ST Artiz Arzurz – 34, key player, 19 heading, 15 jump, 16 finish, not fast for this level, looks like a good target man.



Rotation deals – DC, DMC Carlos Jurpegi, who is also my captain, Dm, MC, AMC Mikel Rico, DC, DMC Gorka Elustondo, DRL Eneko Boveda, AML Ibai Gomez,

Backup deals include GK iago Herrain, D Inigo Lekue, ST/AL LC Borja Vigeura, AM LC ST Sabin, DM, ,MC Javier Eraso,


That is way too many First Team deals. I think De Marcos is clearly on the outside looking in, and rotation is a better deal.

[Abe Sargent]

What tactic starts my best 11?

4-5-1?


Aduriz in ST, with target man role. I like San Jose at DC for now, give him the chance to see what he can do. DC Xabi E is my first backup there. DC Laporte is a Ball-Playing Defender

My fullbacks are really weak. Could I do 3-6-1 or 3-5-2 instead? I don’t want to have De Marcos and Mikel Balenzinga out there sucking at the fullback spot, but how will they play? I have three good DCs, and I could start Xabi instead.

Let’s go with the 4-5-1 for now and give them a shot.

At MC I have Raul Garcia, Ander Iturraspe, and Benat. I move Garcia to AMC and as Shadow Striker. Ander has a Deep-Playing playmaker role, and Benat an Advanced Playmaker one.

At the wings I have Susaeta at MR, Winger support, and Inaki Williams, same role on the left. I really like rotational ML Ibai Gomez, and I want to see him in action soon, with his great skills.

I think Gomez may wind up with a bigger role with me. He’s my best set piece person with 17 free kicks, 16 corners, and such, has a 17 cross, 16 long shots, etc. But I want to see what Inaki can bring there on the left side of the pitch first, and I have an injured ML too later on to return, and Gomez could be the odd man out, but again, I like where he is.

[Abe Sargent]

A few days pass. Unai Lopez is named the captain of the U19 squad for Spain. I make him available for loan.


Our enquiry for Mikel Merino with Osasuna has unsettled him after they dismissed the enquiry. I make a bid of 1 mill. Valenica have made an offer to bring one of my scouts on board, and we would make all of the money I lost from the staff contracts I set free at almost 1 mill Euros.

Arsensal has made a 6 mill offer for Unai Lopez and a few others want to loan him. I accept first team loan offers but decline the transfer offer.

We sign the Head Physio and lose 150k.

I have offers up for both of the youth I am chasing. They are not cheap. But I have the cash to plash, and frankly, it’s not like there are a lot of targets out there anyway.


One of my rotation guys is injured in training for a few weeks

[Abe Sargent]

On July 16th, I sign my first target in this window:





4.75 mill transfer

Jonathan Espericueta, Hot Prospect, son of two Basque immigrants in Mexico, playing for Tigres, has been on the Athletic radar before, and they were heavily looking at him in 2011 (Here's an article in Spanish for you http://www.reforma.com/aplicacionesl...9ad1b2efe&po=1) . Now that he has developed, we are bringing him in.

20 years old
DM, M, AMC,

13/14 speed, 13 stamina, 15 passing, 12 first touch, 14 technique, very good mentals, just one at 8 (aggression) with the rest in double digits and 13 determination.



I drop our transfer kitty and up our salary a bit. One major target left, over at Osasuna

His knocks from our perspective, after getting him here are:

Good player right for Liga Adadelate, the next division down
Counts as an international player
Needs to improve his first touch

Positives?

Determined and that fits our squad
Balanced and normal personality
Potential to be key member of squad
Good pace
Versatile and can play a few positions



I think that’s a good signing. I make him available for loan. I have a plugged up Midfield and want to grow him more, but I like where he is at.

[Abe Sargent]

Did you know?

There was a period when the club had to change its name to Atlético Bilbao, as a result of a decision by Franco to outlaw non-Spanish names and languages. During the 1950s, however, the government’s severe restrictions on foreign-born players in the league greatly helped the Basque club who won several league and cup titles in this time and, in 1956, entered the then-named European Cup for the first time. The club’s successes all helped give the Basque people a sense of identity at a time when they felt very isolated in Spain. There was a famous incident in December 1975, just 15 days after the death of Franco, in which Iribar and Kortabarria, rival captains of Athletic and Real Sociedad, carried the Basque flag – illegal at the time – onto the pitch before a local derby.

[Abe Sargent]

I think that’s a good signing. I make him available for loan. I have a plugged up Midfield and want to grow him more, but I like where he is at.

Unai Lopez heads out on a year long loan to Almeria

I have a Mexican offer to loan out Johnathan, but I was hoping to keep him here. Yeah, let’s keep him closer. I reject the offer, pull him off of loan, and move him to our Bilbao Athletic.

We have a testimonial match with Arsenal on the 25th

I make an offer to extend Unai Lopez by 5 years.

[Abe Sargent]

July 22nd is here, and today I break the bank for Mikel Merino. 9 mill total in kitty and fees, leaving me around 750k in transfer money left.



DM, M, AM C – Mikel Merino, 13/13 speed, 16 jump, 12 str, 8 fitness, 9 stamina; 13 pass, tack, 1st touch, 12 finish, long shots, technique, 11 marking, Mentals are okay, with a 9 work rate.





Now this is a risky move for a few reasons. First, the cash is heavy for him. Secondly, he can get a little hot, and his sportsmanship is rated as a weakness by our scouts, and now coaches. Third, lower work rate than I would like for a 19 year old kid who needs to grow.

Negatives -

Low fitness
Needs to work on physical regimen
Low Sportsmanship


Positives –

Well suited to Liga play
Professional
Good in Air
Versatile



In real life, this year Mikel Merino would feature heavily in getting Osasuna into promotion playoffs, and then star in winning promotion with three goals in the playoffs, and then Dortmund sweeps in and picks him up for a five year deal and 4 mill Euros, or about half of what we paid, but a year later. But again, I have limited opportunities to target these folks, and I have money. If I don’t, then what am I doing?

Because he is left-footed, I have Mikel Merino begin working on learning the left side of the pitch in an ML role.

[Abe Sargent]

Mikel Merino is not even the best youth named Mikel in the Basque area, but he is an 18 year old future star for Real Sociedad, and not coming anywhere here right now. I like Merino more as a defensive playmaker at the DMC role than anything else, given his defensive minded stats

I make him active for Bilbao B as well.

Today’s testimonial is for Captain and 34 year old Carlos Gurpegi

I obviously play Gurpegi. We tie Arsenal 3-3, and my 34 year old solitary Striker had two goals and an assist and was MOM. So there you are.


Unai Lopez extends his deal to a five year extension

[Abe Sargent]

On the 30th we’ll have our first EURO match vs Odd


We came in 2nd in the Copa Del Rey last year to Barcelona. They won the Liga too, so we are going up against them in the Spanish Super Cup on August 14th. I would love to begin my era in Bilbao with a Super Cup win over Barcelona.


For today’s EURO match, I am starting backup GK Iago Herrein, Mikel Rico for Benat at MC, at ML Ibai Gomez for Inaki Williams, at DL a backup as well. We are at home for today’s matchup. In the 0:20 mark, Suseata crosses to Aduriz for a score. I tell them to do some light tackling and move to control. They have a great flowing move and shot on goal in the 33rd, but Herrein shuts it down. By the half, they have three yellows, and San Jose for us one. There is room for improvement, DON’T GET COMPLACENT! Herrein has two more saves early. I send out DC Gurpegi for San Jose. Ander Iturassepe with a yellow. I pull him for Javier Eraso at MC. In the 80th, I put in a Inaki Williams for a dead tired Suseata. Gurpegi a yellow. We win 1-0. MOM is Suseata with an 8.2 rating.

I was very happy with the result, but I was hoping after scoring that early we’d just swim in goals. But that wasn’t to happen, and we had a strong result with the W.

Aduriz’s goal sets a new club record for Athletic for fastest goal in a match.

[Abe Sargent]

August:

Aug 2nd – Friendly vs Zalla
Aug 6th – Away vs Odd, EURO
Aug 14th - Super Cup vs Barca, 1st leg away
Aug 17th – Super Cup vs Barca, 2nd leg at home
Aug 21st – La Liga, Home vs Barca
Aug 30th – La Liga, Away vs Eibar

And that’s the month of August, mostly known as the pride of the Catalan People vs the pride of the Basque people in three games this month alone.

0-0 tie in the friendly.


EURO match two arrives. Starting is Gurpegi, GK Herrein, Ibei Gomez, Inigo Lekue at DR Mikel Rico for Benat. We give away a score in the 3rd early, with suspicions of offside, and then in the 23rd, I pull an injured Gurpegi. Half 1-0. Nope, that is not allowed. In the 54th, Aduriz gets a score after having a backpass intercepted and passed to him. I sub in a backup DC Gorka, Inaki Williams, Eraso as well, and we win up finishing this game 1-1, and win on aggregate 2-1. Laporte with our only yellow. We got away with that one. Raul Garcia was MOM with an 8.5 rating.

Gurpegi is out for 3-4 weeks with his injury.

We made 100k for our victory and getting to the next stage of the EURO. We are exactly the sort of team with a shot of going far in it, as we are from a major league, such as the Liga, EPL, Serie A and so forth, and thus have a better shot against the next file in a lesser league. Sevilla won the EURO last year. The best team, like a Red Star, CSKA Moscow, Sparta Prague, and such can always win hard. But Odd? Meh.


We drew Inverness for the next round in the EURO.

[Abe Sargent]

We have 40-1 odds for winning La Liga

We sold 44,000 season tickets

Our La Liga home opener vs Barca was moved to the 23rd for our match vs the Scottish team in the EURO n the 20th. The 2nd leg of that match is on the 27th

I make offers to extend the deals of three of our lesser but okay U19 people that I can move to Baskonia, I also make offers to extend our good young GK for four years

Other players with their current deals expiring this year include:

GK Gorka Iraizoz
DC Gurpegi
M Sabin
Backup and good prospect, M Inigo Ruiz de Galaretta, currently on loan
DRC Jonas Ramalho

That;s one starter, one injured long time first teamer, my Captain and rotation guy, and a few backup and youthers. Nothing too major. No reason to jump out of my seat and extend. Gorka Iraizoz is better than my other two GKs, but not by much, and he’s older to boot, so I could slide to Herrein and my youther guy later.

I am starting my full XI discussed earlier for the Super Cup, Leg One. I change my options to reflect the needs of this game, and take about 4 of the 6 suggestions from my coaches. I leave in Gomez at ML, as he is more technically gifted, and the set pieces may give us an edge in a tight match. For the Fans! They start hard. Yellow card for Suseata. Then DC San Jose injures Iniesta in the 33rd and he is subbed off. It’s hard to deal with Iniesta, Messi, Neymar, and Suarez, so I will take any break I can get. Even a knock. About 15 minutes of Barcelona domination follow. An Aduriz goal in the 41st is called offsides. In extra time in the half, Messi hits Suarez for a score, which is not a good time to let a goal through. You can still win tonight! I pull De Marcos for Boveda at the fullback spot. Messi dribbles at the defenses, gets past, and one on one scores in the 64th. We begin to collect cards, and then that’s it. We lose 2-0. Unless we win like 3-0 at home, we aren’t winning the Super Cup.

I choose my Captains and I reverse them and make GK Iraizoz my Captain and Gurpegi my Vice.

[Abe Sargent]

Leg Two arrives. We start the same XI as before. And this time, pretty boring. No cards by either team, not a lot of anything, scoreless at the half. There’s no pressure! My worst player is ST Aduriz. I sub him in the 60s. Rico for Garcia next. We have some shots and pressure in the 70s but nothing comes of it. Inaki Williams heads in. No score, 0-0 draw, they win 2-0 aggregate.



Did you know?

In real life, Athletic actually won the Super Cup after a 4-0 thumping of Barca at home, behind a hattrick by Artiz Aduriz?


All of the youth players I offered deals to accept. I get an offer for....ST Aduriz, the 34 year old ST. Who would want him? Porto, Chelsea and Lyonnais. No thanks. I reject the offers, and then Aduriz wants to meet with me.



Artiz is in an interesting place with our ball club.

Came through our youth ranks.

We stupidly let him go on a free in 2004, and Real Valladolid signed him, he started two years for them and was great.

In 2006, we spent 2.8 Mill to bring him back to us. He started and played 2.5 years

In 2008 we sold him for 6 Mill to Mallorca. He started for them for two years,

In 2010, Valencia bought him for 4.3 mill, and he started two years

In 2012, we bought him from Valencia for 2.5 mill.

So we have spent 5.3 mill in old money to transfer, twice, someone who came through our youth cantera. I am not selling Artiz Aduriz at the age of 34, and then trying to figure out which of these insufficient STs to start. I speak with him, and tell him, gently, he’s not going anywhere, but he takes it to the squad, and I have my Captain and Vice wanting to have a squad meeting. I meet with them, and tell them, again, I have the squad’s best interest at heart, but nobody is going anywhere. They back off.

[Abe Sargent]

Today we head to Inverness to face the Thistle in our EURO match. Back starting is ML Inaki Williams, as well as starting new hire MC Mikel at for a tired Ituraaspe. You have to do much better tonight than last game! In the 19th Raul Garcia, set up by Benat, scores in the box and we are up. 10 minutes later, Suseata crosses to Aduriz and that’s another score folks. Half. DC Xabi for San Jose. Rico in for Banat. Borja Vigeura for Williams. They annoyingly move everyone forward and score in extra time to make it 2-1, instead of 2-0. MOM is Garcia.


I accept a Key Player loan offer for Mikel Merino.

The Board have made it clear our minimum expectations:

Make it to the Playoffs of the EURO, currently at

Qualify for the EURO in La Liga

Quarter Final of the Copa del Rey

[Abe Sargent]

We started our Barcelona trifecta with a loss, and then a tie. Can we win the third match? Starting today is DC Xabi for Laporte, and Inaki Williams remains at ML. We owe these clowns. Get revenge! Through 30 minutes, Barca have just been bringing waves and waves of heat, but no breaking the plain. Iraizoz has looked strong. 11 shots, 4 on target, to our 1 and 1. Two of my players, Banat and Artiz, are knocked up but I want to finish the half and see where they wind up physically. Half. Injuries look okay now. I keep them both in. Gomez for Inaki. Riko for Benat. Vigeura for Artiz. We final get some pressure, and in the last ten minutes a few solid shots are fired. But nothing sinks. MOM is GK Iraizoz with a 9.2 rating. We finished with 4 shots to their 29, and 44% possession to their 56%. And we tied them, and I will take that point against Barcelona all day long.


Now I have an interesting transfer offer. Sevilla. 9 mill. Oscar de Marcos. But the deal is like 4 mill now and a bunch of clauses and stuff. His value is 9.75 mill, signed for four years. I offer 11.5 mill and they pull out. And De Marcos wants to know what’s up. Hey, I’m willing to move a FB, I was looking at it earlier. But that’s not what you are worth. Give me an offer that matches our valuation of you, and I’m willing to talk, and he;s okay with that.


DC Laporte has been called up to the France National Squad.

[Abe Sargent]

Gurpegi is back from injury will miss today’s game vs Inverness. Boveda starts at DL, GK Herrein, ST Villuega. Take control of this Tie! We injure one of theirs in the 16th minute. They get two yellows. Half. Boring first half. Don’t get complacent out there. Sabin for Benat. De Marcos crosses, the ball is heading away by their DC, into their own goal, for a score in the 71st. I send in Eraso. Rico then. We win 1-0, and 3-1 aggregate. MOM is DC Mikel San Jose. You got lucky though, can’t rely on that to keep advancing. An Own Goal? Gave away a late goal away in extra time to give them a shout back? Most of my players get it and look fired up.

We make 2.4 mill for getting to the Group Stage.

Sabin doesn’t like the team talk I gave, when everyone else liked it. ??? He wants to talk about it. Are you kidding me? I talk with him, have no good options, and then he gets pissed and unhappy. Man, I just don’t think Sabin has the same level of ambition and drive the others do. His scout evaluation has him as determined and professional. No clue what happened there,

I get a big, 16 mill negotiated offer with Liverpool for De Marcos. I accept. It’s a route out of the 2 weaker fullback set up I have.


Euro Group D

Athletic
AS Monaco
Standard
Tripolis

So that’s a team from France, Belgium and Greece out there we need to get results against to get out of the Group.

[Abe Sargent]

Our final match of August is here, away vs Eibar. Laporte, Artiz, and more are back. Show me what you can do! We start choppy. They score in the 11th Then in the 23rd, on OG by Iturrape follows. We score, San Jose to Raul Garcia for a goal before the half. Then in extra time, Inaki Williams puts it away. 2-2 half. We can still win! They give us an OG back in the 53rd. Then in the 58th, Garcia with another goal, and its 4-2. I send in DC Gurpegi for Laporte. Viguera for artiz, and then backup DR Lekue in. In Extra time, a random long shot sinks. 4-3. We have to stop letting those happen. Garcia, MOM


So I have a problem. De Marcos. He’s my best fullback, at an admittedly weak area. So I scouted up to see if I wanted to replace him, and guess what I found out? He’s the 2nd best pure fullback among Basque players. Only Chelsea’s César Azpilicueta is better. Another DR is really on, almost, the same level of De Marcos, and younger, over on Real Sociedad. Not interested in me.

So what is the best path?

1). Let De Marcos go. This hurts the Basque Identity as we allow the 2nd best Basque fullback to leave Basque country for Liverpool.

A. If I let him go, sign or play a worse option
B. If I let him go, move to a 3-5-2 or 3-1-4-1-1 or a 3-4-3 or whatever.
C. 16 mill now, and 25% of future sales is a lot of cash
D. If I keep De Marcos, I could easily wind up letting him go later as I naturally bridge to 3 DCs or find replacements for his spot from youthers. Then I never got the money.
E. If I keep De Marcos, I have to find a way to make him happy

2). Keep De Marcos. This lets us keep a top Basque player at the top of his game.

A. De Marcos is playing well for us. In a small sample size, with 2 Liga, 4 EURO, and 2 Super Cup matches, De Marcos has 6.91 average, including the bad ratings everyone had against Barcelona in the Super Cup, and 7.0 and 7.05 in Liga and EURO play.
B. Keep the fullbacks running fine.
C. Move to a 3 defender set, use De Marcos on the MR, ML spot.
D. Selling De Marcos gets us a lot of cash, but I have a limited transfer target market, and I don’t have a lot of options right now


I don’t know what to do.


I just got like 15+ mill offers from three clubs for DC San Jose.

Wow.


Now DC is different. I have Laporte, one of the best already. Others are gone at big names, like Javi Martinez, Inigo Martinez. But then San Jose and Xabi Etxeita are both really, really good, and if I drop De Marcos, running out Etxeita, Laporte, and San Jose is a cool level of power.


Now Tottenham have made an offer for Susaeta.


Wow

I don’t even know what is going on anymore.

I’ll come back to this later.

[Abe Sargent]

So if this were not Athletic Bilbao, what would I do? I’d move San Marcos today, unquestionably. I’d either move off fullbacks entirely, or use the money to sign a few major youth, or one stud youth at the spot to develop, and perhaps bring in an older guy to get me a year or two until we had a better answer. But, again, I could look for other plans.

But what plan is better than De Marcos? We bought him for 300k from Alaves in 2009, and he has played for us since. Any major Basque youth I could use the windfall to chase?

The best one, according to my scouts, with the best potential, is already on my roster.

This is Julen Arellano:

Fullback
18

14, 14 cross, pass, 11,14 speed, 12, 11 jump, head, 12, 13 mark, tack, 12 stamina, 9 strength, fitness, 13 technique, dribble, 10 1st touch, 17 work rate, teamwork, 11 determination, etc.


Our scouts say:

Positive:

Natural at a few positions
Potential to be a good Liga fullback
Balanced personality
Professional
Good team player

Cons:

Currently at Next Level down of ability
Not consistent enough

He is naturally left footed, but has been getting training on the DR side. Potential to be a key member of the 1st team squad, was brought in to the Barcelona squad, failed to make it, and was let go on a free, and we just brought him in about 6 weeks before I arrived. Is Julen Arellano our guy?

And the other option is to just keep De Marcos, but again, use him more at ML and MR and elsewhere, he can play a lot of spots, and having him move around as needed subbing seems pretty useful. I promote Julen to the senior squad. I want to see what he can do and bring.


So, now what?

I reject the offer for San Jose. I need depth at DC, especially if I let De Marcos go. I wish this were a 16 mill offer for my other fullback. But ah well. No thanks San Jose. And I have little reason to sell Suseata right now either, who’s a good solid MR for me thus far.



Anyone I want to chase, youth, etc that I want to upgrade on the last day of the trade window?

Of course, what makes all of this really, really funny is there is a good, 32 year old, fullback out there that was ours for his entire career, until this transfer window, Andoni Iroela, now in New York City, who’s continued presence on this squad would have made the De Marcos deal an easier pill to swallow.





I’d also like to look at other ST options than my current 34 year old guy, who is going to start to fade soon. A few years ago we let Fernando Llorietnte go free. He’s a 16 mill player at Sevilla right now. Mistake. The top ST at Real Sociedad is good, Imanol Agirretxe, but that’s not happening. Inaki Williams can play it, but his 12 finishing, 9 heading, and other average stats don’t allow that to make sense to me. The young Mikel star for Real Sociedad is good. Not happening. Sabin and Viguera are both in the conversation I suppose. What I have to do is make this work with Williams or Sabin or V after he leaves, unless a ST falls out of the sky onto my lap. I do have two STs on my senior squad on loan, but one is this confusing 29 year old guy.

I get back a scouting report on a bunch of youth, and there’s a potential. I make an offer for Osasuna’s 18 year old D, WB R Borja Aizpun. Now he’s a project. Good physical and mental, poor technical. I negotiate a deal for him at 450k.

I have sold De Marcos. I just had my third meeting with a concerned team, and I can’t keep sending out “Nos”. Someone has to go to show that I won’t stand in their way, De Marcos is the most expendable of those with offers. It’s good for Athletic, bad for Basque. I also negotiated a buyback fee of 20 mill into the contract, because hey, we likely have few target options.


We sign Aizpun. I send him to my Baskonia squad.


The window closes

[Abe Sargent]

September

Sept 13th – Home vs Getafe, Liga
Sept 17th – Home vs AS Monaco, EURO
Sept 20th – Away vs Villareal, Liga
Sept 23th – Home vs Real Madrid, Liga
Sept 27th – Away vs R. Sociedad, Liga


Laporte was capped by France.

The matchup vs Getafe arrives. I keep my 4-4-1-1 although I’ve been adding some 3 formations in there too to learn. Getafe at home is the sort of match I want to use with Julen to see where he is at, and I start him at DR. I have the rest of my starting XI as expected. Pick up where you left off! In the 22nd, Inaki Williams dribbles, drives hits Artiz Aduriz for the score. In extra time of the half, Getafe get a red card. I make my normal, 11 vs 10 tactics, such as going wide, upping the tempo, and such. He has a 7.0 rating, but Julen is subbed out for Lekue. I put in Rico for Garcia. I want to keep Garcia fresh for the next EURO game. Sabin for Williams. They get a 2nd red card in the 88th for a professional foul on Aduriz just on this side of the penalty box. We miss the DFK. Game. We win 1-0. We should have had that 2-0 or 3-0, but it’s still a win, right? MOM is MC Ander Iturasspe

[Abe Sargent]

Alright, time for the AS Monaco game. Now, the good news is that we open with them at home, so we have a shot at getting a positive result against the toughest challenge in the Group, that would set us up nicely moving forward. I start Eneko Boveda at DR due to his experience. I pull Benat for Rico. The rest are as expected. They score on the 21st , on a corner kicker, and then Suseata follows, but its waived off for offsides. In the 39th, we score an equalizer off Artiz, assisted by Suseata. A few minutes later, they follow suit. 2-1 half. We can still win this. They have three yellows thus far, to our zero. They power a shot that rifles off our GK into the goal in the 59th. I put in DC Xabi and DR Lekue. Then Vig. We lose 3-1. That was our chance to get points against the major competition, and it didn’t crystallize.


The board have agreed to let me take the Continental PRO coaching course and paid my ticket.

The Villareal match is here. I rest Suseata, Gomez starts, Eraso in at MC, Arellano back at DR. We have a rough first 20 minutes, and I pull back to counter. We hold off, and then they get two yellows and ease off. The rest of the half is quiet. 0-0 half. You can still win this! I send in Sabin for Eraso and Viguera for ST Artiz. Then in the 72nd minute, on a counter, Ibai Gomez finds Viguera, and he scores. 1-0. Williams is dead tired and I send in Lekue for him. San Jose with a yellow card. Here comes Villareal. They are not wanting to lose this match. And we hold and win 1-0. Good job lads. We had 5 shots to their 12, and 44% to their 56% possession and such, and it didn’t matter, because we won.

[Abe Sargent]

For the Real Madrid match, Inaki Williams is too tired, and Suseata and Gomez are in. My MCs are back too, but I’ll leave in DR Julen, who has played well thus far. I leave in Rico for Benat, I have liked him better this far. For the fans! I am going to skip the commentary. We were smashed 3-0. Cristiano Renaldo with 2 goals, including a PK and a corner kick on set pieces. I tell them that I am not pleased with that. We can do better. We cannot let a team like Real Madrid score on set pieces when theya re already a problem elsewhere!


For the away match vs our rival Real Sociedad I put Inaki Williams back into the lineup. That was a very hectic, crazy, 0-0 game. Lots happened, tons of folks tired.

[Abe Sargent]

October:

Oct 1 – Away vs Tripoli, EURO
Oct 4 – Home vs Valencia
Oct 18th – Away vs Deportivo
Oct 22 – Away vs Standard, EURO
Oct 25 – Home vs Sporting


I bring in a few backups for the Tripolis match. Rico finds Suseata for a goal in the 25th. A poor backpass by Arellano is snuffed out and scored on in the 33rd. Banat to Suseata fo a sore in the 38th. Half, 2-1. We can do better. They start getting yellows, I start getting subs, and we end the game, up 2-1. MOM is Suseata. Good win. We get 360k for the win.



I approach the board and convince them to set up a new partnership with a small club. We have a on of affiliated clubs available currently

Baskonia
Numancia
Gernika
Zalla
Zamudio
Txantrea
Sestao River
Portugalete
Indautxu
Burgos
Cultural Durango
Barakaido
Aurrera Ondarroa


Lots of clubs. Notice the trend? All Spanish. What I want to see if my board can put together is an afflation for Pays Basque in France right across the border, thus growing the ties across the region. Some big time players have come through that small region of France, like current players Antoine Griezmann, the best Basque player right now, or GK Stephene Ruffier, the best Basque GK right now, or our own DC Aymeric Laporte. Meanwhile some older players, like Didier Deschamps came through Pays Basque as well. Establishing ties with a local club there would be of a great help, so I hope the club come back from a French club as an option there to build our Basque profile into that region, which is not an area which, historically, Athletic Bilbao has worked in. Now, I don’t know if they will come back with a club there or not as an option, but I hope to have that brought in.

[Abe Sargent]

The Valencia match arrives. I move back in my major players. Like GK Iraizoz. Laporte, DR Lekue, etc. I start Rico at Itarrasupe’s MC spot. He’s a little tired. This is the 275th league appearance for MR Markel Suseata for us. Pick up where you left off! No cards, boring back and forth in the first half with little action. You can win this! I sub in Jonathan Espercueta. Then Gomez. Then Viguera. They get a red in extra time, too late to exploit it. 0-0 draw. Laporte was MOM.


The club was unable to find a suitable club for link-age.


Away vs Deportivo. I will ve starting DC Xavi E for a few games to give him some room to play. We are starting DR Boveda, and Inaki Williams back. Everyone is starting again. Show me what you can do! In the 25th, they score off a counter attack, then collect two yellows. Half. I tell my folks to do better in the next half. I bring in Lekue at DL. Then Raul Garcia drives, hits Artiz for a score in the 63rd and ties it up. In goes Gomez. Then in extra time, they foul us. Ibez Gomez hits a beautiful IFK in and feeds Artiz, who puts it away, and we finish 2-1. That was a great game! We both had 13 shots, 49/51% possession, identical other stas too, so on the board, it was a tie, but that late FK by Gomez got us home, nicely

Our most in-form player has been Banet, and he’s been getting some public plaudits recently as well.

[Abe Sargent]

After everyone has 8 games, we are 4th in the Liga right now. We are aiming for 5-6 for EURO so we are right in there. Now we haven’t been lights out. 4 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss. But we’ve been good enough thus far. If we had traded one tie for a win, we’d be 2nd behind Real Madrid, who, like us, is the only team in the Liga with just one loss thus far.

Gorka Elonstudo is not happy with his lack of playing time despite his rotation assignment and 4 subs. I move his squad status to backup from rotation. Which better reflects his usage. Eraso is not happy, but he is, at least, listed as a backup. Now, Javier has never played for a Liga team until this year with us. I’m sure he wants some liga play. I’ll try to give him his first career start soon just as a way to help him, gently, see how he is likely outclassed by his opposition. I tell Eraso to wait his chance and work into the lineup, and he agrees. In the teamtime, again, a start should help I think to defray his concerns. Sabin is pissed too, and once again, that guy is a pain. I think it may be time to start looking at moving Sabin.


For the Euro match, I’m starting Julen at DL, and the rest of the team as expected. Keep our good run going against Standard! A corner kick by Banet into the box results in a penalty and yellow card for a heavy foul in the box. Up steps Raul Garcia, and he drills the PK. Lots of pressure by them, and some good shots by us, nothing sinks. Half, 1-0. Things are going well, but you can do better! I sub in San Jose in the MC spot. Vigeuara for Artiz next. Then they score a late equalizer and I put in Gurpegi. Tie, 1-1.


I have players that are against Sabin and feel he shouldn’t be on the first team, like Gomez. I have some oddly pissed off players at starting time. Take Lekue, with a backup role. He has started 1, and subbed another 5 times, in our 8 Liga games. Why is that something that bothers you as a backup? I got him to back off, but in real life, I’d silently walk to the chalkboard (or dry erase board), and write: “Number of Liga games we’ve played: 8. Number of games Lekue has started: 1. Number of games Lekue has subbed: 5. Total number of games Lekue has played in: 6. Percentage of Liga games Lekue has played in 75%.”

Sabin is causing more drama. Announcing in the press he won’t resign. I put him on our transfer list. I offer him, and accept two offers out in Greece.

[Abe Sargent]

We have the match vs newly promoted Sporting today. Good time to give Eraso that start so he can feel what it’s like. I also bench Artiz because he’s tired from the last game for Viguera. Benat, also tired, is heading out for the game. Keep up our (Liga) run! On a corner in the 15thm Raul Garcia hits DC Xabim who is blocked from shooting, so he heads it to a now open Laporte for a score. DL Balenzinga with a card. Garcia finds Suseata charging in off the wing for a score in the 37th. 2-0 half. Suseata is banged up so I send in Gomez. Garcia feeds Veguera for a score in the 57th. I pull the encarded Balenzinga for Boveda. Rico heads in as well. We win 3-0, MOM is Garcia. Well done!

Suseata is out for a week with a bruised shin

I let Sabin go for 925k to PAOK in Greece.

[Abe Sargent]

November


Nov 2- Away vs Real Betis
Nov 5 – Home vs Standard, EURO
Nov 8 – Home vs Espanyol
Nov 22 – Away vs Granada
Nov 26 – Away vs Monaco, EURO
Nov 29 – Away vs Rayo

Our Real Betis game arrives, and I move San Jose back into the defense for this game. I also have all of my starters back, and Gomez starting for a wounded Suseata. We begin controlling the game, and a Gomez corner kick falls to Laporte, who sinks it. Then about 5 minutes later, Garcia drives, hits Artiz on a scoring run, and Artiz Aduriz scores and in the 16th minute, it’s 2-0 us. Expecting pressure, I ease back to counter. Half. Let’s head out there and finish this. Yellow to Benat. I pull him for Rico immediately. No sense messing with cards right now to get a double and the give Real Betis a chance to dial themselves back into this game. On a great flowing play, Rico springs free, drives at goal, slides it to Garcia who finds Artiz for another score in the 66th. I send out Eraso for Iturassepe. Inaki is tired, and I send in Boveda. That’s it, we crush Real Betis 3-0, and Garcia is MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

Gorka Est... has said he is now fine with his place on the squad moving forward. I want to reward that was play, so I start him in San Jose’s spot for a game.

Laporte comes to me and wants me to let him go. I point out that, as of right now, he has no suitors, but he wants me actively look to move him. I tell him no, that’s not happening. The team wants to meet, I meet with them, and get them to back off their claim. But seriously, Laporte is going precisely nowhere.

For today’s starting EURO match vs Standard, I give Rico and Leuke starts and Gorka starts. In the 11th, Benat scores on an beautiful deep pass and assist by Rico. 8 minutes later, Williams crosses to Artiz Aduriz for a score. In the 28th, they get a fluke score off a long range assist that bounces in. Benat fires a long shot at goal that is deadly on target, and the ball bounces after the GK punches it aside, and a DC tries to clear it, but OG. I sub in Espericueta. Balenzinga got a yellow I send in Boveda. Benat is MOM and we win 3-1. Good job!


Carlos Gurpegi has approached and is talking about heading out. He’s 35. He’s been at the club his whole life. I offer him to help on the coaching side of things as well as remain a player. But he wants to play first team football. I will actively, look to let him go, given his service to the club, and where he is today and what my needs are. I transfer list him, and offer him to clubs. No one is interested. I approach Gurpegi and tell him and he agrees to work the phone and get his name out there for potential clubs.

[Abe Sargent]

In the starting lineup is Suseata, returning from his injury, San Jose and Laporte, and at DR Julen Arrelano. Espanyol will fall! Hopefully! Keep up the run! They come hard and fast, and I pull back to counter and tight marking. We manage to survive but it’s half time. We head back and in the 55th minute, we give away a controversial penalty in the box, and they shoot and score. I send in Rico, Falco, and Viguere, and nothing comes of it, and we lose, 1-0. That’s just our 2nd loss, but a home loss vs the #14 team, that’s not how you get to be at or near the top of the table at the end of the season.

That sucked

Iker Munlain is beginning to return from injury.

I issue Sabin a warning for not showing up for a training session.

For today’s Granada game, Gomez remains in the starting role as Inaki Williams is tired returning from internationals. Rico starts too. Pick up where you left off! They get a red card at the 32:23 mark, and a PK, which Artiz steps up and knocks the PK down. I head to my up-a-man change up. San Jose steps up and drills the PK. The moment San Jose gets a yellow, I pull him for DC Xabi Exeita. Rico injured, I send in Viguera. Half. Keep it up. Gomez injured, in goes Williams. On a counter, with a 1:1 shot, they score in the 77th. We both start attacking the net relentlessly for the final ten minutes, trying to turn this into a win. No one scores, and we tie 1-1. MOM is Artiz. We tied after being up for 2/3rds of the game. Not acceptable folks.

Rico is out 3-4 weeks. Gomez for 2 weeks.

[Abe Sargent]

The hardest of the Euro matches is here, away vs Monaco. Now, right now, with 2 games left, we have 7 points, AS has 12. Tripolis has 3, and Standard 1. So we can lose badly, and still make it out if Standard wins. But I would love dearly to get a result here today. Love it to death. Laporte is jaded and I bench him for Exeita. Garcia and Williams back into the starting lineup. In the first 10 minutes, they fire a long shot that lofts over our GK and into goal. Beautiful, and impossible to defend Smart play. We hold up though, and it’s 1-0 at the half. We can still do this! I have a tired Benat so in heads Espericueta. Then I send in Viguera and Lekue. At the 81st minute mark, they drive and end a possession with another score, and then a 3rd in extra time, and we lose 3-0. Standard won 3-0.

[Abe Sargent]

I am going to try a new tactic for a bit, we’ve worked on it well.

3-1-3-1-2

Basically, a 3-5-2, with a DMC and AMC

In the DCs I have Laporte, San Jose, and Exeita – Laporte in middle with Ball Playign Defender role. The other two generic center defenders

At DMC I will be running several players to see how is best, starting there is Iturrasape. DMC< Support

At ST1 is Borja Viguera, with a Deep Lying Forward, support, although he’s arguably better as an Advanced Forward, but Artiz is my man. ST2 is Artiz Aduriz as a Target Man – Attack.

At AMC is Raul Garcia. AM role, attack

At MR Susseata will be my lead, at ML, I like Williams, Gomez, and maybe Iker Munlain later on

At MC is Benat. – Roaming Playmaker. He’s been one of my best in-form players. Can he pick up this massive role upgrade?

Now, I want to try out Borja, who I feel is good enough to be my #2 striker, and Garcia can, but he’s so good at the AMC role. If Borja does’t fly, then I’ll move Garcia up, and then either Benat or another of my many middles will move to AMC. Maybe Williams there, as he is not a perfect sell on the left side of the pitch, for Iker Munlain or someone like Rico my future guys like Mikel M.

Now, the players on the outside looking in are my fullbacks. Now I can run some of them at DC, like Boveda, although his stats aren’t DC-like.

[Abe Sargent]

We’ll try the 3-1-3-1-2 role vs Rayo today, the 15th ranked team in the Liga. Today is GK Iraizoz’s 275th game for Athletic. I’m expecting a much better game today. We have them knock around our goal a few times, and I am countering, so we have a few tries too, but otherwise, a quiet, card-less half. We can still win this! In the 51st, Suseata crosses to Artiz for a beautifully headed score. Two cards for Rayo quickly follow as it seems they may be unraveling. I sub in Espericueta for a tired Benat. Then Gorka El... at DMC. Vigura feeds Artiz in the 69th for another score. Lekue later. Garcia gives away a penalty in the 89th. Lethally on target....but Iraizoz blocks it. This is his 275th game for us, he’s not letting any scores arrive! He’s going to earn that clean sheet. On a counter attack, Vigeura finds Artiz for a score in extra time, giving him a hattrick on the day. Artiz is obviously MOM.

That was a good win. They had three times the shots, and more possession, but our defense held, and they stopped a PK, and we got three lethal shots in there as well. Got to love the result of that new tactic. For now, I will leave in Viguera, with his 2 assists this game.

[Abe Sargent]

December


Dec 2 – Away vs Guiju, Copa del Rey, 1st Leg
Dec 6 – Home vs Malaga
Dec 10 - Home vs Tripolis, EURO
Dec 13 – Away vs Atletico
Dec 16 – Home vs Guiju, 2nd Leg
Dec 20 = Home vs Levante
Dec 30 – Away vs Celta


For the Guiju match, I start backup GK, DMC Gorka E, Lekue on ML for a tired Williams, with injured Gomez unable to play, and the rest as expected. Boring, 0-0 draw. Sucked.

I drop Balenzinga to rotation. Malaga arrives. They score in the 5th. No more scores in the first half. Show me something else! I sub in Balenzinga at ML. Inaki Williams is hit by Suseata for a score in the 61st. Then again a assist by Raul Garcia for a goal 8 minutes later. I sub in some others, and then they score in the 83rd, off a Laporte OG, and it winds up a 2-2 tie. MOM is Inaki Williams.

[Abe Sargent]

Inaki Williams is the next in the “You Need to Let Me Move On” camp. That’s not happening.

For today’s final EURO game, we are 3 points over Standard, and they have AS Monaco to worry about. We are at home. If we win or tie, we get out. If we lose, and Standard doesn’t win, then we get out. Rico is still out for his injury. Susaeta is tired, and I send in Gomez and move Williams to the MR spot. Williams hits Artiz for a score in the 26th. Williams injures one of their players in the 38th, and they have to be replaced. Half. Keep it up! Boveda heads in. Eraso too. Laporte gives away a PK in the 79th, and they score. Then Gomez hits Artiz for a score in the 82nd. Espericueta next. We win 2-1, and Artiz Arduriz is MOM.

We are out of the EURO Group Stage

We get more of the sweet, sweet EURO Cash.

I will give Gurpegi a start and give Laporte a game off. For the Athletico game, away, I have Gurpegi, Suseata, Rico is still not back. Let’s win this one! Heavy rain today. On my gosh, aduriz just had this beautiful 25-meter strike on goal in the 5th minute. Benat just got him perfectly out there. Garcia picks up a knock in the 25th. I send in Balezinga, and then send Mikel to the ML for Inaki Williams. The best Basque player in the world scores back on us in the 33rd. By the half they collect 4 cards. 1-1 half. Keep it up, and we can win. Williams is tired, and I send in Espercueta. They get a 5th and 6th card. They fire in a DFK in the 77th. Boveda heads in. Game. We lose 2-1. That was Artiz’s 200th appearance for Athletic.

We draw Girondins de Bourdeaux in the EURO Knock Out stage

[Abe Sargent]

Rico is back, as is Munlain. For today’s 2nd leg, I am back to Laporte, the backup Gk, and a few others swaps like Eraso at DMC and Espericueta at AMC. Impress me! In the 11th, Benat hits Aduriz for a score. Half. Keep it up! Rico for Espericueta. They score an equalizer in the 58th that gets waived offsides. Suseata gets a pass, drives to goal, and is fouled in the box in the 63rd. San Jose’s PK is blocked. I pull him for Gurpegi. They score in the 77th. In goes Iban Gomez at the ML, and I move to attacking. In the 88th, Gomez hits Vigeura for a score. We pull back to counter. We hold on and win. MOM is Benat.

We get Deportivo next in the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey)

Jonas Ramalho isi back from injury too

Sabin doesn’t show up for training, and I fine him a week’s wage. Again, he thinks it is unfair.

Back in the starting lineup for the Levante match are GK Iraizuz, MR Williams, and Garcia. Show me what you got! They score in the 20th and then get some cards, and our 8 shots see none on target in the 1st half. Show me something else! In the 55th, Viguera hits the goal with a stolen pass. I send in Gomez. Gomez hits Williams, playing at the AMC spot in lieu of Artiz who I pulled, and Williams scores in the 71st. I send in Rico and Gorka E. I bounce Williams to striker, and am running Rico, Vig, and Williams in the triangle. Williams scores again in the 79th. He pounced on a rebound for the score. After being down 1-0 at the half, we come back for a 3-1 victory. Good job! MOM is Inaki Williams.

[Young Drachma]

Always here for FM16 dynasties, especially alt brand ones like this. Good detail.

[Abe Sargent]

These players’ contracts are up in 6

DC Gurpegi
GK Iraizoz
DRC Jonas Ramalho
I make offers to around 20 youth and backups at Bilbao and Baskonia.

Our final game of the year arrives vs Celta. All of my starters are back. We let them score in the 25th, and it’s 0-1 at the half. Show me something else! Well, what they show me is losing. We allow another goal to Celta, and lose 2-0.

That leaves us at 3rd in the liga, although Barca at 6 have a few games in hand.

It’s December 31st. Anyone I want to bring in on a free next year? We have some solid rotational or backup options, but not Basque players that entice me. Just one entices me.

21 year old Pablo Hervias, plays for Real Sociedad. Been out on loan to lots of clubs. Wants just a backup deal, but I could see him as a rotation for my senior squad. I make the offer for around 3 years, 10k week. He plays AM, M LRC, with some good technical stats like 17 dribbling.

That’s it for now.

Some of my youth begin to sign with me.

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Always here for FM16 dynasties, especially alt brand ones like this. Good detail.

Thanks!!!

[Abe Sargent]

January, 2016

Jan 3rd – Home vs Las Palmas
Jan 6th – Away vs Deportivo, 1st Leg, Copa del Rey
Jan 9th -Away vs Sevilla
Jan 13th – Home vs Deportivo, 2nd Leg
Jan 17th – Away vs Barcelona
Jan 24th – Home vs Eibar
Jan 31st – Away vs Getafe


Mesut Ozzl named World Golden Ball Winner and World Player of the Year.

Inaki Williams wins Goal of the Month


Sabin signs and heads out.


Due to the healthy financial aspects of the club, the Board have given me millions more money for the transfer kitty.

I move one of my our best young players, DC Yeray to the Senior Squad, I’d like to give him a few starts here and there to help his development.

Did you know that...in real life, next year, Yeray and Laporte will start together and be considered of the best young tandems at DC in football? However, his delay at the top would come from testicular cancer that hit him at a very young age.





My board agrees to upgrade our youth facilities even more than now. We spend 8 mill to make it happen

Anyone I want to chase with my huge stack o’ cash? No, only the ones that aren’t interested are there and available for the cash.

We have signed Pablo Hervias for next year.


For today’s match vs Las Palmas, I am starting DC Yeray for Xabi Ex, MC Rico and my other normal XI. For the fans! They get a red cynical foul in the 42:45 mark and I make some changes. Viguera is injured and I send in Balenzinga and move Inaki illaims to ST. Then Williams gets a score from Raul Garcia in the first half extra time. Half. Keep it up! Espericueta heads in. DC Gorka for Yeray, who has a 7.0 rating. Balenzinga a yellow. Game, we win 1-0. Garcia, MOM.

Vigeura injured for a week.

[Abe Sargent]

I get a few offers for San Jose from major clubs. Because San Jose is actually one of my best DMCs as well, and now that I have a DMC on my tactics, he’s more important than before.

Manchester United want to know if Laporte is for sale. His current value is 25 mill, and his minimum release fee is 50mill. So if someone wants a young up and coming stud at DC who is mostly developed, I don’t think 50 mill is too low to pay.

I offer San Jose a new contract that increases his pay by 10k.week.

I register some of my people. Laporte doesn’t like that I rejected ManUtd’s enquiry.


The first match of the Spanish Cup has arrived. I start Ikan Munlain at ML and Williams for Viguera Yeray is back out for DC Xabi Ex. For the Fans! I start defensively with a counter strategy as we are on the road. They collect a score in the 8th minute, and I remain defensive, and go for tighter marking and such. They attack, but nothing happens, save for a pair of yellows. Half, down 1-0. Show me something else! In put in Gomez for Munlain, and then Williams jumps on a rebound and scores, 1-1 at the 65th. Yeray heads in. A few minutes later, they score on a counter attack. I send in Rico. Then in the 81st minute, Suseata feeds Williams for a score and it’s tied. Here comes a Deportivo onslaught. Three shots on target turned aside, and it’s a 2-2 tie, which gives us a strong away goal aggregate moving into the next match.


I have offers for Iturrape and San Jose that are all lower than the value of the player. Nope. Not happening.

[Abe Sargent]

I make no changes to my squad for today’s away game vs Sevilla. They are the 4th ranked team in the Liga right now, and are playing hot football. This is Laporte’s 100 game for the club. Our counter defense holds up against a variety of barrages, until the 34th when they crack our defense with a cross. Half. You can do better! I sub in Gomez early for a tired Suseata. Then Rico heads in for Benat. In the 75th minute, Inaki Williams hits paydirt with a beautiful Ituraspe pass to spruing him free and it’s tied. Eraso for Garcia. Here comes the Sevilla assault. They score in extra time, 2-1 victory. Ah well, I thought we had that one tied, but it happens. They had 38 shots to our 5.

Thirty.

Eight.

Shots.

Sevilla crosses us in the Liga standings.

I reject an offer for ST Artiz and he wants more money, so I offer another deal.

I need to rest some players for this Deportivo match. Starting are San Jose at DMC, Yeray at DC, ML Gomez. Guard against complacency. Hard rain here today. Quiet first half, 0-0 at the half. I pull back a little. Gomez to Williams for a score in the 49th. They nail a long shot from deep in the 56th. Yellow for DC Xabi Ex, I pull him for Eneko Boveda. Munlain and Rico head in. And that’s game, 1-1. We are through on Away Goals.


Next up in the Cup is Villareal.

[Abe Sargent]

Arellano heads out on loan. I don’t have an fullback spots for him to play right now. .

San Jose signs his deal with us, Aduriz as well.


Next up is the away match vs Barcelona. This is a major battle. Back in starting is Munlain and my full slate of DCs with my normal DMC in place. Prove a point! We start counter. They drive and score in the 8th, not an auspicious start. But that’s all. Short story, we lose 1-0 Not a surprise. Aduriz hasn’t scored in a while, and now I’m getting the typical pushback of “What is going on?”


Viguera is back from injury. But I am making no changes to today’s home game, 1st leg in the quarters vs Villareal. I gave everyone some training time off to regain health, and the y are back and ready. Win this match! We are playing in heavy rain today. San Jose with an early yellow. Artiz hits Raul Garcia for a score in the 34th, and it’s half time, and we are up 1-0. We can push further! They score in the 49th, and then I sub in Gorka E for San Jose and I sub in Gomez. Then we score, and Gomez hits Garcia in the 71st. Almost immediately, Villeraeal strike back in the 73rd, and it’s 2-2. Then in the 82nd, again, Gomez hits Garcia, and he scores. His hat trick. We hold on and win, 3-2. Garcia is MOM. Now that’s a bad away goal allowance, I will need to tie or win on the far end to win , but we at least won. Good win!