I imagine their high intensity game on Thursday nights is resulting in fatigued performances at the weekends.
Which Bilbao player?
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I imagine their high intensity game on Thursday nights is resulting in fatigued performances at the weekends.
Javi Martinez. He can act as a cover for Carrick. He can also play in defensive. He could turn out to be our deep lying playmaker. He would be the ideal option for us.
one of the journos is saying that one of our scouts was watching de marcos. I dont know where they get the info from - as we are allegedly interested in half of the bilbao team, how the hell they know we where watching de marcos and not one of his team mates.
Martinez would be my choice. Still, I can't imagine he would sign for us to act as cover.
No of course not. But Carrick can't play every game. Look at the situation with Jones. At the beginning of the season, could anyone have thought the amount of games he has played for us? And if it wasn't for the injury, he would have played more. He is already better than Anderson in my opinion and there is nothing wrong in playing him alongside Carrick just to experiment.
He is being touted at around £26m which seems far too high for someone who has just been on teams' radar.
I honestly preferred Ituraspe and Martinez.
I reckon we should be adding more steel to our midfield rather than creativity.
We have Rooney to play at the tip and Ando and Clevs to play deeper then Scholes if he stays on one more year. Martinez would be perfect for a passing midfield combination and Ituraspe would be a step down (for me) but still in the mould of what I think we need.
I reckon we should be adding more steel to our midfield rather than creativity.
We have Rooney to play at the tip and Ando and Clevs to play deeper then Scholes if he stays on one more year. Martinez would be perfect for a passing midfield combination and Ituraspe would be a step down (for me) but still in the mould of what I think we need.
Which Sporting player are we going to sign?
It's been Van Wolfswinkel for ages, hasn't it?
I imagine that he did. He was promised significant game time, after all. That is why he signed.
If you guys can sign Muniain, you'll have a real gem on your hands. He's supposed to be the biggest talent that comes from Spain in recent years, that's saying a lot really. Don't know if that's the type of player you really need though.
Would be my preferred signing, simply because of his ridiculous talent and work rate. He'd be perfect for us, really. It's not unthinkable that we'd add another wide player, but I'm not sure it'll be someone as high profile as Muniain.
He could probably double as a more central player too, in Rooney's role, but I'd still be surprised if it happened. Delighted, but surprised all the same!
I think we're getting to the transition point where we're winding up on Fergies career he needs to leave us with natural players in every position.
I would much prefer a natural pair of qualit CB's pair of quality MF and pair of quality forwards. (Although happy to give Welbeck time.) I know you mean as backup and last resort kind of thing but I would much prefer to have 5 or 6 really good MF/Forward players who could step in and if we have an act of god like injury crisis this yeah.. well then that's just nothing can be done type of things.
If you're referring to my comment about Muniain being able to fill in for Rooney, then I'm not sure it's feasible to have someone who is top-notch quality and plays that role naturally as backup. That would surely involve rotating Rooney up front, which means less game time for Welbeck and Hernandez. Plus I'm personally not a big supporter of the idea of using Rooney up front, as I think his qualities are best utilized behind another striker in the role he's been playing this season.
In other words, I think having someone like Muniain who has specializes as a winger but is capable of stepping in there if necessary is a better solution!
Otherwise I agree with your post, and would be surprised if we don't add another midfielder to our ranks ahead of next season. At centre back we're sorted for a good few years as far as I'm concerned, barring the unavoidable 6 CBs injured at the same time crisis, but you really can't prepare for that in the sense that we wouldn't be able to give all the backups enough game time over the course of a season.
Any of them if they fulfil the criteria of midfielder and Spanish (including basque. )
Not to be outdone, the Daily Mail have earmarked a mere 6 Athletic Club players we need to sign.
But but, what about their other six players, are we all of a sudden not interested in them?
It's no disrespect to bilbao. We are the bigger team, and should we want their players, we will do it in the right manner.
They coming to us is a right career move, the fans will understand.
Stop making it like we're some kind of evil company and working for us means a traversty to their ancestor or something
They coming to us is a right career move, the fans will understand.
Stop making it like we're some kind of evil company and working for us means a traversty to their ancestor or something
Of those 6 I really only consider Llorente, Muniain and Martinez to be good enough for our team.
Susaeta could also be a candidate but I don't really think he would get past our other three wingers any time soon.
Shall we just launch a hostile takeover of Bilbao? Failing that, we could downgrade our ambitions to Wigan.
Get on the blower to Bryan Robson.. I'm sure he has some contacts lined up!
I wasn't trying to directly argue - I think its feasible. Hell even playing Young and/or Valencia as a second striker would work at a pinch.
But i still don't think Rooney's favoured and comfortable role is as a poacher. But he is definitely our talisman player and first name on the team sheet.
Munain's only 19?!?!
Was incredible against us. The maturity, drive and talent on display was special.
Madrid not interested?
I don't think we're going to add many more attacking players this summer unless Higuain leaves. Oh and players from Bilbao usually aren't very keen on Madrid so the chances of him wanting to join us are pretty slim anyway.
If we can get Muniain, Martinez and a left back, that would be some business.
We can but hope...
Owen, Berbatov, PIG, and maybe Anderson to leave.
Martinez seems to be more adept as a ball playing centre back, right? In which case he wouldnt suit our current needs. I'd want the midfield signing to be able to hold but not be limited.
I still think you guys need someone to be the playmaker of the team. Alonso does that but in pretty deep positions. The rest of your attackers all tend to drift in and out of the game. I would have expected Ozil (although he seemingly gets assists) to be the engine going forward but he seems to be a creator that again comes into the game in spurts. Someone doing for you what silva did for city in the first half of the season is something that would improve your lot imo. Ozil seems tailor maid but isn't being used in that manner. I know the strategy usually is to open teams up through fast passing exchanges and you usually succeed but someone who can just tie things together like a Zidane used to do.
Martinez would be an ideal player to cover Carrick. We've been very fortunate he has remained fit, and getting knocked out of cup competitions has helped him from fatigue.
SAF loves versatility in his players.
Incorrect.
He is just as good as a CDM, but the way Bilbao plays means there isnt a CDM type player.
the 3 CBs spread out while the wingbacks push up the pitch, which allows martinez to march out the defence with the ball, linking up the higher midfielders and defence.
All through his career they used to play 4-3-3, and the same with the spanish national side.
There's just 2 players that we need Ander Herrera and Javi Martinez.
Ah alright. I know nothing about him. Was making the assumption based in the change in a position.
So how would he operate as part of a two? Is he more or less mobile than Carrick?
Munain's only 19?!?!
They're going to have a very hard time holding onto him, if he doesn't leave this summer I'd think it would be certain the summer after. Many see him as the best young Spanish player, I'd guess Real or Barca will lure him.
The mass sale at Bilbao in the summer which wont happen....
Exactly.
I couldn't agree more mate, altough I think in one or two seasons Ozil will be the main playmaker in a more Xavi-esque role. But yeah, we also need to strangthen our midfield.
It's making the rounds since yesterday that United is interested in Ozil and to be honest, he would be perfect for you guys too at the moment. Haven't seen any quotes yet though...
Thiago is streets ahead for me. I'm still not sold on Munain, even after his goals against us. I think Rafael bullied him at times, but that may be because he's built like he's anorexic. Id have to watch him again I think.
Thiago is obviously exceptionally talented, but for me it's a toss up between them. I don't feel I've seen enough of both to make a proper judgement, mind.
Muniain is also a year and a half younger than Thiago, not that it makes all that much of a difference.
Edit: Regarding Muniain, it does seem like forever ago that he burst onto the scene. He's the youngest player to feature for Athletic, and the youngest ever to score in La Liga.
What is Athletic Club's tendency for selling players? Besides Llorente I couldn't name a player for them that went for a high price recently. They have a strong tradition, from what I've read, so I can imagine that they have aspirations to hold onto most of their players for the forseeable future. I couldn't tell you why Llorente didn't get sold years ago, I read that Mourinho was considering buying him when he came to Real and decided against it, but who knows if that's true.
They have a manager who is on the forefront of current tactics. It sounds like he inspires his players greatly, but he's also been called a maniac and crazy and such things by his own players, when it comes to football. It seems he's pretty stable, though, he's only had two jobs in the last 14 years besides AC, Managing the Argentine and Chilean national teams. I doubt he left Chile just to sell some players for AC, he'll likely push the team to keep everyone.
They may try to emulate Napoli and Spurs by holding onto their best players and making another run at a CL place next year. If they can get in, the money should make it work.
Keeping the team together will have more to do with the loyalty of the players, their interest in it. Most teams AC's size struggle to hold onto their players. But so many of the key players are from the region and have been with the team for years, so they certainly have a chance to keep the team together.
I quite liked Susaeta, Iturraspe and Aurtenetxe as well. They're only 24, 23 and 20 years old respectively, such a young team, they could grow into a fantastic one together. Iraola at 29 is one of the few you would call a veteran.
Here are the 11 outfield players we faced in 2 legs again Athletic Club. Navarre is considered part of the 'Basque Country' [includes parts of France] but is also the 'Chartered Community of Navarre' as separate from the 'Basque Autonomous Community'. Not sure if it counts and to who. From wiki:
With team since - [Place born]
Iraola - 1999 [Basque]
Iturraspe - 1999 [Basque]
Aurtenetxe - 2002 [Basque]
Llorente - 2004 [Navarre]
Amorebieta - 2004 [Venezuela]
Muniain - 2005 [Navarre]
Martínez - 2006 [Navarre]
Susaeta - 2006 [Basque]
de Marcos - 2009 [Basque]
San Jose - 2010 [Navarre]
Herrera - 2011 [Basque]
They have a manager who is on the forefront of current tactics. It sounds like he inspires his players greatly, but he's also been called a maniac and crazy and such things by his own players, when it comes to football. It seems he's pretty stable, though, he's only had two jobs in the last 14 years besides AC, Managing the Argentine and Chilean national teams. I doubt he left Chile just to sell some players for AC, he'll likely push the team to keep everyone.
They may try to emulate Napoli and Spurs by holding onto their best players and making another run at a CL place next year. If they can get in, the money should make it work.
Keeping the team together will have more to do with the loyalty of the players, their interest in it. Most teams AC's size struggle to hold onto their players. But so many of the key players are from the region and have been with the team for years, so they certainly have a chance to keep the team together.
I quite liked Susaeta, Iturraspe and Aurtenetxe as well. They're only 24, 23 and 20 years old respectively, such a young team, they could grow into a fantastic one together. Iraola at 29 is one of the few you would call a veteran.
Here are the 11 outfield players we faced in 2 legs again Athletic Club. Navarre is considered part of the 'Basque Country' [includes parts of France] but is also the 'Chartered Community of Navarre' as separate from the 'Basque Autonomous Community'. Not sure if it counts and to who. From wiki:
With team since - [Place born]
Iraola - 1999 [Basque]
Iturraspe - 1999 [Basque]
Aurtenetxe - 2002 [Basque]
Llorente - 2004 [Navarre]
Amorebieta - 2004 [Venezuela]
Muniain - 2005 [Navarre]
Martínez - 2006 [Navarre]
Susaeta - 2006 [Basque]
de Marcos - 2009 [Basque]
San Jose - 2010 [Navarre]
Herrera - 2011 [Basque]
Bilbao will tend to let a player go every season or two to spend money on continuing their excellent academy and to sign young basque players from other clubs who they think they can develop into stars.
Most likely they'll sell Llorente as he's been the one attracting big interest for the longest time and is at a good age to leave. With the money they get for him its very unlikely they'll have any need to let another player go for a season or two unless the player has made his mind up that he has to leave.
Most likely they'll sell Llorente as he's been the one attracting big interest for the longest time and is at a good age to leave. With the money they get for him its very unlikely they'll have any need to let another player go for a season or two unless the player has made his mind up that he has to leave.