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KEZ_7
Harrotasuna. Grina. Historia.
Pride. Passion. History.
You might find some of this a bit excessive and long-winded in part, but it is something I've wanted to do for a while now and if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it properly! I don’t often write up my careers so here goes!
Progress:
2013-14:
League: 3rd, 65pts
Copa del Rey: 4th Round (Lost to Granada 3-3 on away goals)
2014-15:
League: 6th, 67pts
Copa del Rey: Winners (3-0 over Barcelona)
Champions League: 1st Knockout Round (Lost to Chelsea 5-3 on aggregate)
Shedender
George14brfc
Jamie3
KEZ_7
Just a side note - I'm actually waiting to start on the new update, however I've got quite a bit of content to post before I even need FM, then hopefully the update won't be too far away
KEZ_7
Formed and developed by Englishman, Athletic Bilbao is the symbol of a small autonomous community spanning regions of Spain and France. (Pictured below)
The well known factor with Bilbao and the main thing that has always fascinated me, is the club’s very strict Cantera policy, playing only players they deem as “their own” through either birth right (including grandfather ruling) or footballing education (5 years from 16 or younger). In SUSIE we would probably classify this as real life “nationalistic management”, but when you realise that the Basque Community as a whole is just over 2 million people (including women) you realise just how hard the challenge is.
In the past, rival Basque sides such as Real Sociedad and Osasuna started with these strict rules but found that they struggled to compete and so began to loosen and eventually abolish their guidelines in favour of signing foreign and non-Basque Spanish footballers. Notably Ian Rush was the first non-Basque player to sign for Sociedad. In contrast, Athletic Bilbao stuck to their guns and whilst doing so they are one of only 3 La Liga sides never to have left the top flight (no points for guessing the other two) and in recent years have reached a few finals such as the Copa del Rey (2009, 2012) and UEFA Europa League (2012) but haven’t actually won anything since a historic treble (League/Copa del Rey/Supercopa) in 1984.
That last point brings us to my aim. I want to bring trophies to Bilbao on both a national and continental level to celebrate what it is that they do!
Dan
Good luck with this, will be awesome I'm sure, I love the basque rule too
Sears
K3V0
Johno
sanka
KEZ_7
Sears - Take it I've got a lot to live up to then! Thanks for the advice
K3V0 - Don't I know it, one hell of a challenge, but that's why I like it!
Johno - Hopefully I'm the same in loving it. Give it a go (just don't do better than me!)
sanka - I did try with them not too long ago too, but didn't really put enough time into it to succeed
Thanks to all for commenting, as I mentioned, progress will be slow for a little while, I want the update and a little bit of progress made so you're not all waiting on me playing in real-time
-------------
The Club Overview
Facilities
Founded in 1898 (although this is disputed), Los Leones (The Lions) currently play their games at the San Memes stadium which now hold over 53,000 fans having recently added 13,000 to the capacity in a redevelopment which was almost a complete rebuild, only 1 stand survived (see below)
The training and youth facilities (as you’d expect) are listed as excellent and superb respectively, in FM14 and they’ll be vital in the production and development of players eligible to play for me, as well as a vast scouting network, enabling me to make inroads with the one bit of lea-way I have in the transfer market, signing Spanish players aged 16 and under to become “home grown” through football education. Essentially, I’ll be signing anyone I can with the slightest hint of talent, especially Basque nationals, in order to save paying hugely inflated fees when they are a more developed, possibly selling them for small fees if they aren’t quite up to scratch.
KEZ_7
(And a little bit of a realisation)
Something I’ve not seen often in Football Manager is that the ‘board’ consists of just Josu Urrutia, who is an elected head of the club, chosen by its members. I assume this works much like the Presidential votes elsewhere in Spain but have no idea how that will come into effect within FM. Josu is a former one-club man at Bilbao and made over 450 league appearances between Bilbao Athletic and the first team scoring 23 goals from defensive midfield.
Money wise, the club currently carry a debt of £20million which I’m assuming is down to the stadium upgrade. This shouldn’t hinder me too much as due to producing most of my own players I’d expect to make a profit more often than not. The likelihood is that the club will have to remain somewhat of a “selling club,” accepting any outstanding offers for star players in order to reinvest it in developing (and finding) the next lot. This may also relate to letting players go who are asking too much for wages, as we need to continue to be sustainable. An example of this could be found in real life regarding Fernando Llorente. There may even be case for developing average players through the academy, as I mentioned earlier just to generate small profits and create funds for elsewhere.
Dyrim
sanka
EDIT:
Btw mate, if you actually want to buy some players, I found this shortlist
http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/football-manager-2014-players/149639-best-basque-players.html
at the bottom you have an entire lineup of relatively good basque players that are NOT in Bilbao currently , except Ibai Gomez maybe, sorry if I'm wrong
KEZ_7
sanka - Thanks for that, I've got a little piece coming up about basque players in the coming days
KEZ_7
You may think (as I do) that the club have an extortionate amount of affiliated clubs but that is all part of the scouting network. Although listed as Spanish and some French, these clubs are actually Basque teams and so will be producing and even nationalising players that I may be able to target. There’s also a chance for me to ship some of the younger players away from the ‘B Team’ to develop in first team football.
Dan
sanka
KEZ_7
sanka - Apologies mate, but as mentioned I'm waiting on the update which is why I've had so much time for the detail I'm currently producing
sanka
transfer updates? were bilbao even active in this period?
KEZ_7
KEZ_7
Part 1 and Somewhat Realistic
Before I delve into the club itself, I thought I’d give you an overview of the Basque footballing landscape at the moment.
Over the next few years, it’s obvious that my youth sides won’t provide all of my players and so keeping tabs on the quality Basque players out there is going to be key. Here are a few that you may or may not be aware of (feel free to recommend any more!)
Stephane Ruffier – 27 - GK – St Etienne
Quality keepers are hard to come by and even harder to produce so it may be worth keeping an eye on Ruffier on the off chance that he does become available. At 27, as a keeper I’d expect he has another 7-8 seasons in him at the very top and so if there is any opportunity to sign him I most likely will.
Oier Olazabal – 24 – GK – Barcelona
Essentially, this is the same as above. Although Olazabal is possibly a little more realistic of a target financially, it may be harder to draw him away from Barca. At 24 I think he may be my preferred option between the sticks with him likely to have a few extra years in him, potentially 10 at the top of his game. It would be fantastic to have a regular keeper for such a period.
Fernando Amorebieta - 28 – CB – Fulham
He only left Bilbao in the summer on a free but with his quality and experience I would always look to bring him back to cover my centre halves and mentor any players that are up and coming. The fact he’ll likely be 30+ by the time I get a chance to sign him means that (in theory) he will be cheap too.
Xabi Prieto – 30 – CM/AMC – Real Soceidad
This one is more controversial as he has played at Sociedad (as mentioned before, rivals) for the whole of his career and probably wouldn’t move. So why am I interested? GOALS!! Who doesn’t need a goal scoring midfielder? At 30 he wouldn’t be a long-term key player but could come in as very strong cover.
Fernando Llorente – 28 – ST – Juventus
Llorente is one of the more famous Basque players and another who has only just left. He will be watched for goalscoring cover, he has proven that he can do it with this side (85 league goals in total) and once his contract is finished in Turin I’ll look to bring him back.
Diego Forlan – 34 – ST – Cerezo Osaka
Who knew! Apparently Forlan is eligible via the grandparent rule and if he was to sign he would be used similar to Llorente, as a cover player who can surely score. The fact he’s only just joined Osaka probably makes this unlikely
You’ll notice that there’s a fair few older players in that crowd, the rest of the quality is seemingly in my squad or in the next post and out of my reach!
Dan
KEZ_7
With the update out today this will be making a lot of progress over the weekend so hopefully a real update on Monday!
Thanks for reading so far.
____________
Basques
Part 2 and Big Dreaming
Continuing my look at the current Basque situation, here are some of the players I'd love to sign but I think my chances are rather slim.
Mikel Arteta – 31 – DM/MC – Arsenal
I think this is where I start dreaming. Arteta’s quality is clear for all to see, but most likely he would be out of my price range in both cost and wages. His contract with Arsenal is set to expire in 2015 and I will have to hope he fancies returning home, although his Sociedad past may be a problem.
Xabi Alonso – 32 – DM – Real Madrid
Similar to Arteta, his wage and cost would kill me right now and having signed a new contract he is probably out of reach until he’s 35 at least. Adding to that, he’s a Real Soceidad product, Basque rivals, which may create a problem for him in switching over.
Javi Martinez – 25 – DM – Bayern Munich
See starting lines of Arteta and Alonso. Imagine these 3 in a midfield. Still think I'm dreaming but at 25, if the club is progressing correctly there may be a chance we could get him by the time he’s 30 or so to see out his years in the club he really made a name for himself, before leaving in 2012.
Asier Illarramendi – 23 – CM – Real Madrid
This lad only left the Basque Country (Socieded again!) in the summer. The fact he’s at Madrid probably means he’s out of reach forever as at 23 and with room to grow they won’t really be looking to let him go will they?
Cesar Azpilacueta – 24 – RB/LB/Wherever Jose Wants – Chelsea
Born and raised by Osasuna and another youngster who will no doubt be coveted by many top teams if he was to leave Chelsea, I would have to put some real work in to be considered one of them!
Nacho Monreal – 27 – LB – Arsenal
Similar story to Azpilicueta only 3 years in advance and at Arsenal!
Antoine Griezmann – 22 – LM – Real Sociedad
Another at our rivals but he would be a great signing nonetheless. The only reason I’d say I was dreaming here is my knowledge of FM and knowing that he goes for big bucks and develops into an astounding player, I would be very lucky to get hold of him!
After the last few, you’ll realise that some of these players have been nationalised by being present and Sociedad, as well as Osasuna, who don’t have such strict rules but are considered Basque. This is something I’ll keep an eye on as it may mean I just creep on them for their best players. IIRC Arsenal has a link with Sociedad too and sometimes loan kids out there, meaning there’s potential for me to poach young/former Arsenal trainees!
Eric Portapotty
Good luck btw, I never really had the guts to stick to a single nation of players :/
George14brfc
Shedender
He's not in the default database now, just had a nosey.
KEZ_7
George - Thanks mate. Glad you enjoyed it
KEZ_7
I'd say other than at left back, we have a fair bit of cover for each and every position, a massive positive is that the majority of the squad is early to mid twenties and so we can hopefully keep them together a fair while and just add to it with upcoming youth players
Key Men
A few of these player will be well known names to you FM players, I am very please with the amount of quality we are starting with but also the potential of some youth players. Here are some of the best.
Iker is undoubtedly our best and most important attacking player at the moment. I've instantly gave him an improved contract as there are come bigger clubs lurking, namely Chelsea and Real at the moment.
Ander Herrera, supposedly subject to interest from Man United in real life, I expect Ander to be my main midfield man for years to come.
Inigo is currently out on loan but has 4 1/2* potential and will be brought into the first team squad on his return
Kepa (who I'm going to rename Keepa) is already the second best keeper at the club ans seeing him there has pleased me. He has a potential of 4 1/2* so I have given him an extended contract with a ridiculous release clause in the hope to stave off any future interest. Potential here to have a quality keeper in place for 15 years rendering chasing Ruffier and Olazabal from earlier a little bit needless!
Unai is already involved in the first team squad as backup to Iker Muniain, hopefully he turn out to be just as good as him!
Finally Aymeric is another very young player who will be a starter for me from day one, he's currently our strongest centre half and has the potential there to progress into one of the world's very best.
This lot have me excited!
As you can see from the squad screenshot, we have a fairly strong attacking midfield department. The current crop of players suggests to me that I should maybe attempt aversion of their real life 4231 formation. Formation is something I will have to consider going forward, as I am limited to the players I can bring in, formations will have to evolve with the players coming through as I can’t really go out and buy replacements for stars that leave or to better a position of the team.
Transfers
No activity as in yet, we've just built a new stadium which has reduced our budgets for now. I was only given £2m to play with but started £15k over our wage budget (and then gave Muniain a new deal) so all of it was moved to maintain our current squad.
In terms of out goings, we've loaned a couple of youngsters out, moved some to Bilbao Athletic (the B team) and Baskonia and the released any players with a potential less than 2 stars, freeing up extra wages and game time for those who could progress to being future Athletic players