[FM14]Johno's career

September 2014 – Athletic Club

La Liga



We started the month with away to Real Madrid, I'm massively disappointed, we had 2 great chances to snatch a draw/win but we never took them. Moran gave away the ball to Benzema and put the game to bed.

We welcome bottom place, Almeria. I gave Jorge Meré his debut and replaced Laporte. And what an great debut for him, a hat trick! 2 goals from corner and a penalty. Mere put us ahead after heading in Hererra's corner kick. San José lost his focus which gifted them the goal. Went in 1-1 at half time, my assistant manager told the team to keep going and they was all motivated. Meré scored his second goal which he headed in Susaeta's corner kick in. We was awarded the penalty after Guillermo was fouled, Meré stepped up and converted it to give himself a memorable debut for us

We travel to Real Betis, We took the lead thanks to Ibai Gomez's strike on 13th minutes. 5 minutes late, former Athletic player, Sola, pulled one back for them which was the only shot that had. We once again still not converting chances We went to half time 1-1, which we should have been out of sight. Meré got his 4th goal in 2 games with a header from the corner. Susaeta killed the game off with a neat finish on 82nd minutes.

We face Granada at home, I decided to drop the AMC to MC to 3 flat Midfielders. We had injuries problems on the wingers, Ibai was out for 2 weeks, Susaeta was out for 5 days. Prez and Torquero stepped up. Torquero got on the score sheet after a good play between the midfielders. Captain Hererra went off injured on 10th minutes, replaced him with Munoz. Munoz set up Torquero for his 2nd goal with a beauty chip over the defence which he ran onto the ball and blasted it into bottom corner. Once again, Munoz created another chance for Guillermo who finally ended his not scoring streak. We was awarded a free kick which Benat passed it to Munoz into the box and he played it across the box which Guillermo poked it home to go 3-0 up. 2nd half It was all Granada and we held on in the end.


2 points clear! Thanks to Getafe beating Real Madrid, 3-0 before we played Real Betis.

UEFA Champions League



Gutted, We was far the better side until Mikel José stupidly enough to do 2 footed tackle on Lewandowski on 41th minutes which cost us the game. We had chances and chances to beat Neuer to score. We went into half time 0-0. It was heading for a draw until last 20 minutes Bayern stepped up a gear and scored 2 goals


Staff news
I decided to sack my assistant manager, Jon Aspiazu and replaced him with Anselmo Sbraglia.

October 2014 – Athletic Club

La Liga



We travel to Nou Camp to play Martino's side. Our sloppy defending really cost us and we let Werner score 3 against us, even we had chances to score. But meh.

Another away game on the trot, We play Valladolid. Was a tough match and we probably got big decision went in our way. Hererra, put the game to bed on 87th minute with well timed finish.

We welcome Elche at home. Guillermo scored for us on 9th minute with assist from Ibai Gomez. But Guillermo was guilty of wasting chances again which is disappointing. Elche kept pushing and pushing for an equaliser, but thankfully they lost focus and Susaeta killed the game off with a decent finish on 84th minutes.

We face high flying Getafe, It was a tough game for both of us. They deployed 4-2-3-1 with 2 defensive midfielder guarding the back 4. Both sides has chances to score but both was awful. We fell behind on 71st minutes as Pedro Leon capitalized on San José mistake to put them ahead. The team turned the game around with an 86th minute strike by Susaeta, as they failed to clear Benat's half volley shot which bounced off few of their players and Susaeta was at the far post and slammed home to level the score. Official displayed 2 minutes added. As the game time was " 90+1.20' Rico cut out their pass in the middle of the pitch, He found Hererra in open space, did one two one with Guillermo. Rico ran into the open space inside the box and made the run which Hererra slipped through and Rico put it in the back of the net to give us 3 points! with 40 seconds to go!




UEFA Champions League



We had 2 home games in succession which I was pleased about.
We started with Shakhtar, We both had chances to score. Thankfully Torquero put us ahead on 5th minutes. Rico doubled our lead with a good strike inside the box. Shakhtar was banging around our defence and couldn't break us down. They managed to pull one back on 86th minutes from corner.

I decided to rest few players against AIK, Massively disappointing that it took us around 70th mark to score, despite AIK was playing 5-3-2 formation and was fouling our players.

November 2014 – Athletic Club

La Liga



We faced promoted, Girona at San Mamés. We went ahead thanks to Guillermo finish on 13th minutes, Bruno Herrero diverted Hererra's cross into his own net to double our lead. Etxeita headed in Ibai Gomez's corner to go 3-0 up against them. Went in half time 3-0. Susaeta's beauty finish put us out of sight with a fouth goal of the night. We struggled to convert chances again which is getting frustrating.

Another home game in the row, We welcome Villa-Boas's Atletico Madrid and they was quite difficult to break down, until 27th minutes where Filipe score an own goal for us by deflecting Hererra's shot over his keeper. Athletico pegged us back on 54th minutes with a finish from Adrian. Susaeta put us ahead on 75th minutes after brilliant through ball from Hererra and put it in the net. Laporte killed the game off on 89th minutes, We was awarded a corner kick which Herrera crossed it to far post which San José headed it across the goal, Laporte was at the near post and headed it in to finish the game 3-1 to us. I got to admit we were lucky to come out with 3 points, they was far the better side out of both teams.

Seems Valencia put Sofiane Feghouli on steroids against us, and our defence was pathetic and he scored hat trick against us.

Another away game for us and it was at promoted Las Palmas. We sure did get complement against them and we fell behind on 12th minute after well timed finish by Delev. We was utterly pathetic in front of the goal as usual, thankfully Herrera took his chance on 29th minute to level the score. Not soon after we took the lead after a good goal by Susaeta on his 250th appearance for us. Told the team at half time to warn against complacence, which the team got motivated for 2nd half and we scored 2 goals in 2 minutes after half time to go 4-1 up. Las Palmas took a consolation goal on 79th minutes to end the game 4-2 to us. We had 10 clear cut chances which I'm not happy about us not taking chances.




UEFA Champions League



We travel to Sweden for our match against AIK, and I have rest majority of first team players. Susaeta gave us the lead on 2nd minutes and should have been out of sight but Guillermo was wasteful again. Was nice to see Seguin scoring on his Champions League debut for us.

We welcome the big boys, Bayern at San Mamés. We needed a point against them to qualified to next round. We went behind on 37th minutes after Robben headed in Gotzé's corner from near post. Our defence was ridiculously pathetic for Bayern's 2nd goal. Robben ran toward the touchline and passed it to Gotzé in the box and 3 of our players was crowding him and somehow it got through their legs and went in. Which I was fuming. We was given a lifeline on 73rd minutes after Laporte flicked on Gomez's cross which San José headed in at the far post to give us a chance! Amazingly we came back from 2-0 down to 2-2 after Susaeta ran down the right hand side and passed it through to Guillermo which he ran toward the 6 yards box and passed it to Rico, and blazed it into middle of the goal. YAS.

After the game we found out we have qualified with a game to spare. Which I will be resting my players for our last match against Shakhtar.

That us out then



Fuck off Barca

December 2014 – Athletic Club

La Liga



Only 2 games in La Liga before our Christmas break.

Decided to drop 4-2-3-1 formation to 4-5-1.

We face Zaragoza at home, we played them off the park, Susaeta ran the show from AMR position and got MOTM for us, pleased to see Guillermo bagged 2 goals for us. Their goal came from mistake from Balenziaga.

Against Sevilla, it was a poor match and lucky for us, Guillermo took advantage of Mikel Alonso's mistake to give us 3 points.




Copa del Rey



Both games, I rested majority of the team and played a young XI and we did well in the first leg and won the game thanks to late winner.

2nd leg, I gave Casado his 2nd start against Murica, We had few chances to score in the first half, at half time, I switched Casado from TM - Attack to TM - Support and wow, was totally different player and won a penalty for us which Laporte converted. He bagged himself a goal with a powerful header inside the box and was awarded MOTM.



UEFA Champions League



Last games of the group. I decided to play our best XI against them, We went ahead thanks to Ibai Gomez's 25 yards free kick. 8 minutes later they level the score after keeper parried one of their shot into Douglas Cost's path, we went behind 6 minutes later after Luiz Adriano scored from the corner. San Jose managed to pull one back for us 2 minutes before half time to level the score going into half time. We went ahead after Guillermo won a penalty for us on 74th minutues which San Jose converted. 8 minutes from time Luiz Adriano grabbed a point after heading another goal from corner.

Finished runners up in our group with 11 points, 5 points behind Bayern.



Tough draw

Just after few weeks the youth facilities upgrade was completed, I asked the board to upgrade it again, which they agreed.

Shall I sell him or hold onto him until the summer?

EDIT: I managed to negotiated their offer to 5M up front and 18M = 23M.

His minimum release clause is 30.5M.

January 2015 – Athletic Club



Somehow we started New Year in a row with away to Real Sociedad We got absolutely lucky to snatch 3 points, they was all over us. Went behind 45+1 minutes after Iñigo Martínez put them ahead after Gorka Iraizoz parried Carlos Vela's cross into his path. Guillermo level the score on 70th minutes, Bravo passed it to Martinez just outside the box, which was intercepted by Guillermo and ran inside the box and blasted it into bottom corner. We got the winning goal thanks to own goal, Iraola crossed the ball into the box, Jon Gaztañaga got in front of Guillermo to divert Iraola's cross into his own net to give us 3 points.

We was so, so unlucky against Barcelona, a game where we should have beaten them by 3-4 goals but our finishing touches let us down.

We face Celta, away. Again, we played crap and lucky to come away with a 3 points thanks to Ruiz's goal.

We faced Barcelona for 2nd leg of Copa del Rey. It was massively disappointing to go out, Barcelona simply took their chances and we never did.

Absolutely thrashed Malaga, could have been more than 5. Captain Herrera was on fire.

Our loss against Villarreal really disappoint me, our defending was pathetic and wasn't doing there job.

Last game of the month we face, Osasuna away. We went behind after Iraola let Roland Lamh get past him to put them ahead. Guillermo scored on 24th minute after a counter attack by us, Iker Undabarrena tackled Torres, and through passed it to Susaeta who saw Guillermo running into the box and played it across the box which Guillermo gracefully converted it into the net.

We went ahead on 41st minutes thanks to Herrera's beating 2 players to set up Ibai Gomez's goal. Saborit's motored down the left hand side and passed it to Herrera who was outside of the box and slipped it through to Gomez and slammed it into middle of the goal to give us the lead. 2nd half was totally borefest and they had chances to score but thankfully our defence did their job. Iker Undabarrena got himself sent off with 2 footed tackle on 68th minutes. immediately, I took off Guillermo and brought on Benat which I dropped the ST position to DMC position which Undabarrena was playing in so we was playing without a striker for remaining of the match.




2 points at top. Definitely in Barcelona's hands now

Transfers

I only made one signing in the January transfer windows.


3.3M - I brought him in for future replacement for Laporte or San José. He was chased by top clubs and surprised to see him sign for us.

February 2015 – Athletic Club



Big match of the season, home to Real Madrid. We raced 2-0 up and they scored two goals in succession after we scored, which I was bloody livid, went 2-2 at half time, Real took ahead thanks to offside goal from Benzema. We should have clawed one back but poor shot from Guillermo which denied us. We had the last laugh with Susaeta grabbing a goal to snatch a draw for us.

Was brilliant to see Ibai Gomez ran the show for us, could have got 4 but one was disallowed.

Went for 4-4-2 against Chelsea and once again, we raced to 2 goals up and Chelsea scored 2 goals in 7 minutes period on 32nd minutes, which we basically plated it up for them and was too easy for them. Fat Lampard got the winner for them after somehow Laporte missed the ball and which Lampard tapped it in ffs.

Against Real Betis, Once again, we went 2-0 up ( I know!, tell me about it!) Betis pulled one back on 24th minutes. Laporte gave us breathing space on 41st minute with a header from corner. Told the team at half time that good performance but there more room for improvements and it seems it didn't work which Kike Sola pulled one back for them for nervy finish for us, thank to Susaeta finished the game off with a goal on 90+4 minutes. Went ballistic at full time and told the team we got lucky to win. But what was more disappointing that Betis crocked Ibai Gomez and now he's out for 3-4 months



I took a screenshot after our match against Granada on first of March. 4 points ahead of Real Madrid, after they drew at home against Getafe.

March 2015 – Athletic Club



We face Del Bosque's Granada away, It was a poor match and we managed to nick a win thanks to own goal from Rico.

We face Barcelona at San Memés. We went ahead on 3rd minute after San José headed in Herrera's corner into the net. Poor defending from us on 23rd minutes let Neymar slip through after Sergio Busquets chested down which allowed Neymar to fire in to level the score. Once again, poor defending from Laporte and Saborit let Sanchez run into the box to fire Barcelona ahead. 4 minutes later, Doria managed to diverted Susaeta's cross after Guillermo missed the ball which bounced off Doria to level the score. We went down to 10 man before half time after Ander Iturraspe two footed tackle on Neymar, As we went in half time. I switched formation to 4-1-1-2-1 with Rico dropping to DM. We went ahead on 47th minutes thanks to Captain Herrera's strike, Susaeta with another assist as he was running toward the box from right hand side and passed it to Herrera, who beat Alba and took a shot at the Ter Stegen, which he parried it, Herrera slammed it home to give us 3 points. We got lucky as Barcelona was all over us and we managed to see it out with 10 man.

I have no complaint about us going out of Champions League. Chelsea was the better side and we just couldn't stop Eto'o scoring two goals against us. Iraola was at fault for both goals.

Only 3 days break after Chelsea match. The players was jaded and we face Valladolid and we went 2-0 down after 2 goals from Vama from corner. Guillermo pulled it back for us after they scored their second goal. Went in aggressive team talk telling the team to do it for the fans which got the team motivated for 2nd half. Took us 59th minutes to level the score thanks to Guillermo, a great cross into the box from Saborit and Guillermo headed it in to level the score. We went ahead thank to Laporte's header from corner. They had a corner on 84th minute which Javi Guerra converted to level the score with 6 minutes to go. Herrera didn't mark him and let him headed it in. Toquero got the winner for us with a minute left, they was around their own box and Rubio attempted to pass it to Rukavina from the right hand side pitch, which Toquero intercepted to score the winner for us. Told the team at half time that that was poor performance and lucky to win.

We went ahead on 14th minute after Guillermo headed Susaeta's cross into top corner. We double our lead after a brilliant pass from San José which he kicked it down the pitch which Guillermo ran onto the ball and slotted past the keeper to score his second goal of the night.




We are 4 points behind Barcelona, they got lucky to win last few games with late winning goals in injury time. Real Madrid seems to have fallen behind, they got beat by Atlético, 3-0.

It's up to us to keep putting pressure on Barcelona.

Poor intakes, left it to Wim Jonk (HOYD) to see if they're good to sign up.

Will be keeping an eye on him over next few years. Is being tutored by Herrera.

April 2015 – Athletic Club



We found it hard to break Getafe down until we managed to score on 72nd minutes with a header from Laporte.

Susaeta ripped them apart and only got 9.9 rating?! with 4 goals and 2 assists. Decided to give Torres his first start alongside Captain Hererra, and did well for us, also nice to see Casado grabbing a goal as well.

We face Valencia and We took the lead with Guillermo's 20th goal of the season. Their keeper parried Susaeta's shot into his path which he converted it to give us the lead. After half time, Susaeta got his 2nd assist of the match, We was awarded a free kick and booted it toward the 6 yards box, Herrera got above Bernat to head in to give us 2-0 lead. After we scored, I decided to take Herrera off as he was exhausted, replaced him with Aitor Seguín. He ran through Valencia defence and 2 Valencia players was marking him and passed it across the box as Susaeta was unmarked which he slammed home to put the game to bed.

We was really, really incredible lucky to escape with a point, they was all over us like rash. We went ahead thanks to Susaeta, they converted 4 minutes later to level the score. We took the lead on 52 minutes which Susaeta double his goal tally. Raul Garcia capitalized on Moran's mistake to level the score on 69th minutes. But we JUST managed to get a point.

We was superb against Las Palmas and we deserve the win.



Barcelona just keep on bloody winning, the gap is 4 points. Would be some miracle if we catch them with 4 games left. But I'm happy enough to finish 2nd.