FinBarcelonafan
Well-known member
Yep. They are having a hot run. That's why we need to finish them in the Copa.
La Liga 24/25
- Thread starter Andresito
- Start date
serghei
Senior Member
Atletico is an unique team in Europe under Simeone. Probably biggest overachiever of the decade. I don't think there's a single team out there that managed to play 2CL finals and win 2 big league titles in the last decade against superior rivals. Arsenal are trying to get there but they are nowhere near.
Probably Klopp's Dortmund is the closest in the last 15 years. Let's see if Leverkusen keep up the good work of the last 2 seasons, but it's likely they'll drop.
Probably Klopp's Dortmund is the closest in the last 15 years. Let's see if Leverkusen keep up the good work of the last 2 seasons, but it's likely they'll drop.
Fati_Future_BallonDor
Well-known member
I would put Liverpool over Atletico because of 3 cl finals otherwise youre right
serghei
Senior Member
I consider Liverpool as a big club. Not as big as other EPL fans think, but still... Atletico is much more a great underdog tale. I remember us beating Atletico 6-1 before Simeone and it wasn't a big event. Seemed rather normal. They were seen like a Bilbao or a Sociedad before Simeone for me.
What they did since 2012 or so under Simeone is nothing short of extraordinary. I haven't seen anything like it personally.
Fati_Future_BallonDor
Well-known member
^great one Ratio 🤣
Messi983
Senior Member
Didn't watch the game but seen highlights now, great (second) goal by Sadiq.
Messi983
Senior Member
What golden generation, lol? They had that in 50s with likes of Telmo Zarra. But if we're talking about more recent history they've had several teams this century with more talent than current one imo. For example 2012/13 team had Aduriz, Iraola, Iraizoz, Llorente in prime years and then De Marcos, Herrera, Ituraspe, San Jose and Susaeta (he was very good back then) in their early to mid twenties and teenage talents like Muniain (who already had 100 league games behind him despite being only 19), Laporte and Kepa (though he didn't start to play for a few more years). Talent wise would take that team over their current one every day.
Also, what do people expect Valverde to do? Win the league? To put things into perspective, Bilbao finished 4th only once this century and it was under don Ernesto in 2013/14.
Athletic's final position in last two EV stints.
2013/14: 4th
2014/15: 7th
2015/16: 5th
2016/17: 7th
2022/23: 8th
2023/24: 5th
average position: 6th; avg points: 61,5
And in five seasons he was away:
2017/18: 16th!!! (their second worst position in La Liga history)
2018/19: 8th
2019/20: 11th
2020/21: 10th
2021/22: 8th
average position: 10th; avg points: 49,6
I actually believe they would be a pretty serious title contenders this season if they would have a striker like Aduriz or Fernando Llorente who could consistently score 15-20 league goals. Instead they have just signed a 24 yo lad who has never played above Primera RFEF level until a month ago. Maybe he'll turn out good (I quite liked him first few games) but will need time to adapt playing at a higher level. Add to that Nico is having a down year after Euros so standing where they are right now is even more impressive. EV also transitioned the team from old core like Muniain, Ander, Inigo, Balenziaga, soon De Marcos (reports he'll retire after season) to Sancet and Prados and include youngsters like Jauregizar, Unai Gomez and Boiro who will probably take over from Yuri in next season(s). But you can only go so far without a good striker in modern football. And Basques have just not produced one over last 5+ years. Guruzeta had a breakthrough last season and looked like he could become a late bloomer but has not kept up the same level this season so would be surprised if he's the longterm answer.
Give this team to Pep or Klopp and I'm not sure they would get more out of them than EV. Probably less since they don't know the club and Basque culture and in Pep's case he has also become spoiled with signing new 50m+ toys every TW which he clearly couldn't do in Bilbao.
jamrock
Senior Member
Lgentshat golden generation, lol? They had that in 50s with likes of Telmo Zarra. But if we're talking about more recent history they've had several teams this century with more talent than current one imo. For example 2012/13 team had Aduriz, Iraola, Iraizoz, Llorente in prime years and then De Marcos, Herrera, Ituraspe, San Jose and Susaeta (he was very good back then) in their early to mid twenties and teenage talents like Muniain (who already had 100 league games behind him despite being only 19), Laporte and Kepa (though he didn't start to play for a few more years). Talent wise would take that team over their current one every day.
I respect the effort it took to write all of this.
Atleti have a better more all rounded squad than they have had in as long as I've been watching LA Liga, I don't know about anything in the 50's though lol.
At mister is just simply a very average manager that is not capable of having any collective be better than it's individual parts.
With The talent this atleti squad has. 4th is the bare minimum they should be getting and that's the most he will get with them.
a better coach would have them believe they could actually win the title, they would fail in the end, but they would have that belief due to the football they play.
With mister it's we are good enough to finish 4-6, okay that's what we'll do.
If mister were a teacher he would never turn a C stupid into a B stupid.
He's just a very average coach, thank goodness Spain didn't appoint him as manager.
I respect the effort it took to write all of this.
Atleti have a better more all rounded squad than they have had in as long as I've been watching LA Liga, I don't know about anything in the 50's though lol.
At mister is just simply a very average manager that is not capable of having any collective be better than it's individual parts.
With The talent this atleti squad has. 4th is the bare minimum they should be getting and that's the most he will get with them.
a better coach would have them believe they could actually win the title, they would fail in the end, but they would have that belief due to the football they play.
With mister it's we are good enough to finish 4-6, okay that's what we'll do.
If mister were a teacher he would never turn a C stupid into a B stupid.
He's just a very average coach, thank goodness Spain didn't appoint him as manager.
khaled_a_d
Senior Member
Bilbao squad isn't much better, if any, than Betis, Villarreal or Sociedad. Betis after Jan window is now the 4th best with wide margin as they massively improved their attack.
It is the same case with Simeone's Atletico, where people overrate players thanks to manager work, and then blame him for not doing better with them.
I agree with 983, Bilbao has had much better teams this centrally. They aren't anything special atm.
It is the same case with Simeone's Atletico, where people overrate players thanks to manager work, and then blame him for not doing better with them.
I agree with 983, Bilbao has had much better teams this centrally. They aren't anything special atm.
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jamrock
Senior Member
Bilbo will have at least 4 players in the squad for Spain in the WC
Nico
Sancet
Vivian
Whatever the keepers name is.
Maybe they'll even have another surprise pick
Yea those other teams are definitely comparable lol.
And it's a regular occurrence for them to have this many players part of the Spanish national team.
Bilbao has a much better defense and Midfield than all those teams.
Better squad depth
2 specials players than can make a difference.
Only thing they are missing in a top class 9 and they seem to be finding one with this new guy
jamrock
Senior Member
Ps all those 4 players will have a legit chance of being starters for Spain at the WC.
Vivian is probably the best defender in LA Liga this season.
Sancet is clearly something special
Nico is already a starter
Simon is the starter for Spain.
Bilboa has definitely done this before in recent memory.
Vivian is probably the best defender in LA Liga this season.
Sancet is clearly something special
Nico is already a starter
Simon is the starter for Spain.
Bilboa has definitely done this before in recent memory.
jamrock
Senior Member
Ps
Ps
Lol.
The fact that @Messi983 said they are a striker away from being serious title Challengers only goes to exactly what I am talking about.
This is a golden generation of talent for Bilboa, the squad is almost perfect and mister will struggle to finish top 4.
To say this teams isn't significantly better than the likes of RS and betis is a joke.
Ps
Lol.
The fact that @Messi983 said they are a striker away from being serious title Challengers only goes to exactly what I am talking about.
This is a golden generation of talent for Bilboa, the squad is almost perfect and mister will struggle to finish top 4.
To say this teams isn't significantly better than the likes of RS and betis is a joke.
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