[FM14]Johno's career

After being inspired by KEZ_7's thread, I decided to join him in managing Bilbao.



Pre season 2013 – Athletic Bilbao

Pre season

Pretty happy how our pre season went. Was annoyed that we didn't beat Sporting CP which their first goal was offside and officials missed it.

Transfers
I haven't brought anyone in, as I felt we got good players in the U's19. Only one player left which was Aduriz who went to CSKA Moscow for 1.6M.

I will update monthly

August 2013 – Athletic Bilbao


La Liga


We started the season with away to Valladolid, We took the lead thanks to Guillermo in 10th minutes. He could have doubled it but missed the target. Susaeta was giving them hard time and eventually doubled our lead to 2-0 in added minutes of 45th minutes. Disappointed we didn't go for another goal in second half despite we had chances to score.

We welcome our rival Osasuna at our place, Susaeta grabbed his second goal in 2 games by fantastic strike in 19th minutes. Guillermo could have also grabbed his second goal but Arribas diverted Muniain's cross into his own net. Again we still couldn't score in 2nd half.

I wasn't expecting miracle against Real Madrid. I decided to go for 4-1-2-2-1 and instructed players to close down Ronaldo always and straight away it wasn't working as he scored 2 goals to give them 2 goals lead at half time. I changed formation to 4-2-3-1 and it seems to work as we had chances to 2 goals which would have gave us hope to snatch something in the end, our keeper parried Di Maria's shot into Benzema's path to put the game to bed

September 2013 – Athletic Bilbao


La Liga



We started September month with a bang, 5-1 win over Celta. Could have scored more as we had 7 CCC.

We faced RCD Espanyol at their place. David Lopez got straight red card in 19th minutes as they went down to 10 men afterwards, since then, we dominated the game.

We face Betis at home, I put Iker on bench and played Gomez in his place. Got MOTM and 2 goals. Could have scored a hat trick if his shot didn't hit the post! We loss concentration in last minute which they scored.

Really not happy with our loss to Granada, Laporte made a mistake which led them scoring first. Their second goal was pure luck, We dominated and dominated in second half and couldn't get past Roberto which he got MOTM at the end.



No doubt if we beat Granada, we would be on Barcelona's arse.

October 2013 – Athletic Bilbao


La Liga



We faced Valencia at home, It was even matched between both side, Herrera broken the deadline on 41 minutes with a brilliant strike outside the box to give us the lead going into half time. We doubled our lead through Iker Muniain on 51 minutes with another fantastic strike. Until Laporte made a critical mistake by fouling Valencia's Pacer to give them a penalty on 78th minutes to set up nervy last couple minutes, thankfully we managed to hold on to 3 points.

Another home game against Villarreal, We double our lead to 2-0 up in 6 minutes thanks to Muniain and Guilermo. Muniain double his goal tally by netting another one on 20th minutes to my delight. 60 seconds later, Susaeta fired our 4th goal in to go 4-0. Massively disappointing with our defending, their first goal was long range shot and 2nd goal was from corner, we conceded both goals in 3 minutes period on 40th minutes. 2nd half was totally borefest.

We traveled to face Marcelo Bielsa's Getafe who are currently bottom in the league. I fancied our chances of beating them which the team agreed with me. There was nothing to report apart from free kicks and fouling til 26th minutes, Susaeta's shot hit the post and hit the keeper and went in We went in 1 goal to us. Herrera scored a beauty to double our lead to 2-0. Again, our focus seems to have went as we conceded late goal on 87th minutes. Was disappointed as they went down to 9 man on 71st and 76th minutes, which I hoped to see our team taking advantage of it which seems we never did.

We welcome our 3rd home game against Elche, I decided to give debut to Alejandro Larrayoz as he's been performing well for U's 19 with 11 goals in 14 games. Also rested Muniain and played Iba Gomez as his place. We started the game poor, we could have went behind but our goalkeeper kept us in the game. Susaeta strike to give us a winning start, Herrera double it with a strike outside the box to go 2-0 up. 3 minutes late Larrayoz scores on his debut to give us 3-0 lead. 2nd half, we couldn't break them down as they went really defensive on us to stop us scoring. Del Moral's long range shot gave them a life of clawing back for them, Again San Jose made a mistake on 88th minutes to give them a goal to makes it 3-2 to us.

I would do anything to get a clean sheet






Thanks to Osasuna's 2-1 win over Barcelona to enable us to go above them to 2nd place. Celta just drew 0-0 with Barcelona which we're opening 3 points gap over them.

We managed to tie down Iker Muniain to new 4 years contract to 2017. Man City was sniffing around him, so I took the chance to sign him to new contract with 53M minimum release clause.

We also sold Óscar de Marcos to Rubin Kazan for 4.7M, will be leaving in January.

November 2013 – Athletic Bilbao


La Liga


We started November with away trip to Atlético Madrid. I was nervous as I thought we'd struggle with Villa and Costa up front for them. Surprisingly We beat them quite comfortably with a brace from Iker Muniain. Atlético was quite poor throughout the game.

We welcome Levante at home, I was disappointed with our team performance, we was below par even Muniain scoring for us in 41th minutes.

We faced Málaga away, We took the lead thanks to Muniain's goal on 16th minutes. We should have doubled our lead after one of their defender made a mistake and let Guilermo in but keeper guessed it right and saved his shot. Roque Santa Cruz equalized for them with a minute left to half time. We could have prevented it but it wasn't to be. We also had another chance from lack of focus from their midfielder but one of our player blazed it over. A draw is fair result. We was 4 points clear of Barca, after this game, Barca won their match and reduced it to a point behind us.

The biggest match of the month! We focused on defensive movements in training and it seems to click for us at the right time. We had injuries to Herrera, Laporte and Iturraspe. Iraola was suspended after double booking against Málaga. Replaced them with De Marcos, Ekzia and Moran respectively. And Balenziaga took Iraola's place with Saborit taking left back position.

I was surprised to see we took the lead in 2 minutes, we had a corner and Ekzia beat Pique to head the ball into the net to go 1-0 up. We defended well despite Barca dominating and came close to scoring against us. Keeper and defence was in good form. 2nd half, Barca were dominating again and came close to score 1 or 2 goals. We counter attacked on 68th minutes which led to the penalty which Susaeta's cross hit Busquets's arm and San José converted to give us 2-0 lead over them. We killed the game off in 77th minutes thanks to Susaeta's strike inside the box to set 3 goals up to us. Unfortunately, Fabregas pulled one back on 80th minutes due to Balenziaga missed the ball. A massive 3 points for us in the end, 4 points clear of Barca!



Transfers


We have signed Sebas for 725K. He looks very promising and rated at 4 stars. I will probably send him out on loan to CD Numancia (feeder club)

December 2013 – Athletic Bilbao


La Liga


We face Sevilla away, I would have settled for a draw before the game, We took the lead thanks to Guillermo in 2nd minute, Susaeta was terrorising Sevilla's defence and doubled our lead on 22nd minutes. Guillermo bagged a brace on 49th minutes with a strike inside the box. Mikel Rico with a great strike outside the box to go 4-0 up.

We faced Rayo who are 19th in the table. Iker Muniain and Guillermo bagged a brace each which was pleasing.


Cope Del Rey



We was drawn against Hercules in 4th Round. First leg was fairly matched and we was the better side and just couldn't get the ball in the net. Second leg - We was far the better side and we could have went 1-0 up on 16th minutes after we got penalty awarded which their keeper saved Mikel José's penalty. It wasn't until 52 minutes when we had another penalty which Iraola stepped up and scored to give us the lead. 10 minutes later, Muniain doubled our lead with a cracking strike. Herrera killed the game off with a brilliant free kick on 79th minutes.

We drawn to Sevilla away in next round.



Amazing! We are now 2 points behind Real Madrid! They drew to Valencia before our match against Rayo.

January 2014 – Athletic Bilbao


La Liga


We started in 2014 with away to our big rival, Real Sociedad. I was livid with the team. We went 2-0 up at half time and we let them back in the game

We welcome Almeria at home, We went 1-0 up on 7th minutes thanks to Balenziaga. Almeria drew level before half time to give them a chance. Thankfully we scored 3 goals in 11 minutes period to go 4-1 up before they grabbed a late goal on 86th minutes.

We also faced Valladolid at home, We took the lead via Herrera's goal on 17th minutes, disappointed we didn't double our lead in the first half. They pulled a goal back on 71 minutes for nervy finish to 2nd half. Muniaian was fouled on 78th minutes which Iturraspe converted to give us 3 points in the end.

Our last game of the month was against our rival, Osasuna. We went behind very early in the game as they converted Mikel's Jose mistake to give them the lead. We struggled to break them down til 2 quick goals from Laporte and Herrera to give us priceless 3 points.



Cope Del Rey



We took the lead thanks to Herrera but afterwards we was struggling to score goals and they was on top of us and lucky to come out with a draw.

2nd leg - I switched to control mentality, and rest was history.

We was drawn against Granada, We actually went 3-0 down which was appalling standard from the team. I told the team that I expect better things in 2nd half and our top 3 players grabbed a draw for us to give us a chance for our 2nd leg at home.

2nd leg - Another tough game against them, was a 0-0 at half time, soon after we went behind (again!) 4 minutes later Guillermo equalized for us and they kept battering us until Susaeta grabbed the winner on 84th minutes to send us through to Semi Final


We are still 2 points behind Real Madrid. Would be fool to rule Barcelona out of this.