Will Malky be scouting Bilbao players?

If I was Malky I'd be keeping a very close eye on a few Bilbao players on Saturday.

Just over a year ago I remember them tearing Man United apart at Old Trafford and player Muniain, Iturraspe, De Marcos and Susaeta were the flavour of the month. There were rumours that iturraspe was about to go Man Utd and Muniain was worth 32 million. However after a poor season last year I wonder how much these players stock have dropped?
I think we'd now be looking at the 10 million bracket which at the moment would allow us to currently enter that market.

I read an article recently by Guillem Balague in which he said that 17 La Liga clubs were on the verge of going bust, so surely this market should be Malkys priority at the moment.

If I was Malky I'd be keeping a very close eye on a few Bilbao players on Saturday.

Just over a year ago I remember them tearing Man United apart at Old Trafford and player Muniain, Iturraspe, De Marcos and Susaeta were the flavour of the month. There were rumours that iturraspe was about to go Man Utd and Muniain was worth 32 million. However after a poor season last year I wonder how much these players stock have dropped?
I think we'd now be looking at the 10 million bracket which at the moment would allow us to currently enter that market.

I read an article recently by Guillem Balague in which he said that 17 La Liga clubs were on the verge of going bust, so surely this market should be Malkys priority at the moment.

Agree with the scouting part.

Muniain is very good. I think he'd go for about 15-18m.

Spain is fucked, there's no money there with the lower la liga sides!

Got to be some decent players worth a few cheeky bids!

Some players are out of our reach but I definitely agree, the economy is fucked in Spain, the smaller clubs just can't compete, I definitely think we should raid La Liga for players though, I hope the interest in Gamez and Moreno etc is true, we could get a few bargains in if our scouts try hard enough

Hopefully he does because Bilbao have some good players. But Muniain would be out of our reach.

Munain is an absolute gem, really surprised a big club haven't come in for him

Bilbao have some good players who are all picked from the region they come from.

It will a good chance for Declan John to show if he's ready to step up. He'll be marking either Muniain or Suseata!

It will a good chance for Declan John to show if he's ready to step up. He'll be marking either Muniain or Suseata!

He is capable of doing so.

Really looking forward to this Saturday. Taking my son and he's buzzing about it already. There is hardly a mention of this on either board which goes to show the quality of the forums at present. This is a prestigious friendly against a quality outfit

Really looking forward to this Saturday. Taking my son and he's buzzing about it already. There is hardly a mention of this on either board which goes to show the quality of the forums at present. This is a prestigious friendly against a quality outfit

AGREED

It will a good chance for Declan John to show if he's ready to step up. He'll be marking either Muniain or Suseata!

He is capable of doing so.

Someone on the other board reckons that bilbao's full backs may be worth looking at.
I hope Declan starts again. This is a perfect opportunity in what is also bilbao's last friendly before the league starts to see if he's ready for West Ham.

Do you think Itusperra is too far out of our reach?
I do wonder if I'm living in cloud cuckoo land but if we can sign caulker and come close to getting capoue and also bid for cardozo then I think, why not?

It will a good chance for Declan John to show if he's ready to step up. He'll be marking either Muniain or Suseata!

He is capable of doing so.

Someone on the other board reckons that bilbao's full backs may be worth looking at.
I hope Declan starts again. This is a perfect opportunity in what is also bilbao's last friendly before the league starts to see if he's ready for West Ham.

Do you think Itusperra is too far out of our reach?
I do wonder if I'm living in cloud cuckoo land but if we can sign caulker and come close to getting capoue and also bid for cardozo then I think, why not?

Worth a punt mate. I never heard of him mind you.

Sorry Dando I meant Iturraspe!

Really looking forward to this Saturday. Taking my son and he's buzzing about it already. There is hardly a mention of this on either board which goes to show the quality of the forums at present. This is a prestigious friendly against a quality outfit

Where did Bilbao finish last year in the Spanish league? Also where is Bilbao

Really looking forward to this Saturday. Taking my son and he's buzzing about it already. There is hardly a mention of this on either board which goes to show the quality of the forums at present. This is a prestigious friendly against a quality outfit

Where did Bilbao finish last year in the Spanish league? Also where is Bilbao

12th place Tony.

Really looking forward to this Saturday. Taking my son and he's buzzing about it already. There is hardly a mention of this on either board which goes to show the quality of the forums at present. This is a prestigious friendly against a quality outfit

Where did Bilbao finish last year in the Spanish league? Also where is Bilbao

12th place Tony.

Cheers

And isfwe sign any players from that Spanish side will they be known as Bilbao baggings?

Spain is fucked, there's no money there with the lower la liga sides!

Got to be some decent players worth a few cheeky bids!

I like Bilbao - 22 of their 23 man squad are Spanish! I remember when they beat Man utd. Will be good to see how we get on against Balbao!

Traditionally they only have players from the region. The region is Basque, they are a lot like the Welsh to the English. They also have their own language and alphabet. They also want independence from Spain.

hi all, this is an Athletic supporter who has been a bluebird for the past 3ish years (this is going to be my 4th year as a season ticket holder). When this game came out and all my mates were texting me, I thought they were taking the piss but what a news!!! can't wait for the match!!!

I've been following what people have been posting and decided to add a bit of more info. We say that Athletic is a unique club due to all their players are Basques (NO Spanish) and the rest of teams were filled in with foreigners. Also, we call our team Athletic and get annoyed when we are called Atletico (we were called this during the dictatorship) or Bilbao. Athletic does not have any debt with the tax man and aren't a club that sell players. Look at Llorente's case: Llorente called the chairman about a year ago saying that he wanted to leave (Juventus were offering €20M). The chairman replied, you have one more year contract and so, you are staying. Llorente was treated as a traitor, as he is coming from a youth academy and wanted to leave the club. There is nothing major than playing for your own club. This never happened before. Just to give you an idea, in Bilbao, it is very rare to find a little boy that supports another team. Besides, we are building a new stadium with 53000ish capacity and should be ready by mid September. The one that is being demolished was the oldest in La Liga.

About the squad, it is a quite young squad, we spent about €15M this summer signing Beñat from Betis, Sola from Osasuna, Etxeita from Elche and Balenziaga from Numancia. There are a few talented players which play good football, although it could possibly be due to the age, we are not very consistent. Our weakness has always been that we have been conceding many goals, although this pre-season have drawn 3 times 0-0!!! by the way Muniain plays on the left going inwards. Also, watch the players like Herrera, Beñat, Susaeta, Iraola and Laporte I would say.

I expect to see a good match and a better atmosphere, as I also went to see Athletic against Tottenham and Wolverhampton previous year. We always get on really well with British teams when we have played in Europa or Champions League, and I think it could be even better with Cardiff (Wales & Basque relationship )

hi all, this is an Athletic supporter who has been a bluebird for the past 3ish years (this is going to be my 4th year as a season ticket holder). When this game came out and all my mates were texting me, I thought they were taking the piss but what a news!!! can't wait for the match!!!

I've been following what people have been posting and decided to add a bit of more info. We say that Athletic is a unique club due to all their players are Basques (NO Spanish) and the rest of teams were filled in with foreigners. Also, we call our team Athletic and get annoyed when we are called Atletico (we were called this during the dictatorship) or Bilbao. Athletic does not have any debt with the tax man and aren't a club that sell players. Look at Llorente's case: Llorente called the chairman about a year ago saying that he wanted to leave (Juventus were offering €20M). The chairman replied, you have one more year contract and so, you are staying. Llorente was treated as a traitor, as he is coming from a youth academy and wanted to leave the club. There is nothing major than playing for your own club. This never happened before. Just to give you an idea, in Bilbao, it is very rare to find a little boy that supports another team. Besides, we are building a new stadium with 53000ish capacity and should be ready by mid September. The one that is being demolished was the oldest in La Liga.

About the squad, it is a quite young squad, we spent about €15M this summer signing Beñat from Betis, Sola from Osasuna, Etxeita from Elche and Balenziaga from Numancia. There are a few talented players which play good football, although it could possibly be due to the age, we are not very consistent. Our weakness has always been that we have been conceding many goals, although this pre-season have drawn 3 times 0-0!!! by the way Muniain plays on the left going inwards. Also, watch the players like Herrera, Beñat, Susaeta, Iraola and Laporte I would say.

I expect to see a good match and a better atmosphere, as I also went to see Athletic against Tottenham and Wolverhampton previous year. We always get on really well with British teams when we have played in Europa or Champions League, and I think it could be even better with Cardiff (Wales & Basque relationship )

Fair play mate that was an excellent and insightful post. I've always had a soft spot for Athletic Bilbao I think maybe because of how well you do with your Basque only policy.

Hasn't this policy been relaxed a little lately?

How did you come to follow Cardiff?


If we can't sign any Bilbao players what other players in La Liga do you think we should be looking at?

Fair play mate that was an excellent and insightful post. I've always had a soft spot for Athletic Bilbao I think maybe because of how well you do with your Basque only policy.

Hasn't this policy been relaxed a little lately?

How did you come to follow Cardiff?


If we can't sign any Bilbao players what other players in La Liga do you think we should be looking at?[/quote]

There is actually no written policy, although we have always signed players from what it used to be the Kingdom of Navarra. These are 7 regions, 3 in the Basque Region, Navarra, and 3 tiny regions in the France side. Although, there are obviously grey areas, where a player was born in any other place but grown up in these regions for example. What about if I had a son born in Cardiff with a Welsh woman... very grey area. Strict answer: I cannot find an example that says that the policy have been relaxed

One of my friends took me a couple of time to the old Ninian Park and then, after talking many many times with a friend at work who has been 30odd years a season ticket holder, I decided to become a season ticket holder.

Many clubs in Spain are under administration and would easy to sign players, although, are these the kind of Malkay players??? not sure. Another interesting point is that when a club from La Liga goes into administration they don't take points from them (which is a joke). Atletico Madrid owe more than €100M just to the tax man and nothing happens, and I don't think they are even in administration.

Thanks for your comments

They are class because of their style of play. If you bought a couple and stuck them in your side they wouldnt be as effective. They pass, pass, pass, pass and pass. Triangles is king,

The game will be a good indication of how the derby will go (in terms of you how handle that style of play) although they arent quite as good judging from their 12th place finish and our 9th and a cup win - in a better overall league imo

They are class because of their style of play. If you bought a couple and stuck them in your side they wouldnt be as effective. They pass, pass, pass, pass and pass. Triangles is king,

The game will be a good indication of how the derby will go (in terms of you how handle that style of play) although they arent quite as good judging from their 12th place finish and our 9th and a cup win - in a better overall league imo

You claimed this the last time we played you. We turned the table against you and you know how the score ended.

They are class because of their style of play. If you bought a couple and stuck them in your side they wouldnt be as effective. They pass, pass, pass, pass and pass. Triangles is king,

The game will be a good indication of how the derby will go (in terms of you how handle that style of play) although they arent quite as good judging from their 12th place finish and our 9th and a cup win - in a better overall league imo

You claimed this the last time we played you. We turned the table against you and you know how the score ended.

What did I claim?

.... As I thought

Iraola was highly rated at one point. Not sure what hes like these days.

Iraola was highly rated at one point. Not sure what hes like these days.

Iraola is a good player, very attacking minded, although suffers defending. He's still performing well. He used to play for the national team. Then, Laporte (left foot CB) just came back from winning U19 European Championship. Top quality, he's still 19 though. He might also play as LB, due to LB position possibly is the weakest. In the midfield, most likely Iturraspe with Beñat and Herrera. Quite skillful, although, not very strong physically. De Marcos probably lost his position after signing Beñat. Up front, Muniain, Aduriz and Susaeta. Muniain very talented although, he can go nuts and do nothing, Aduriz got plenty of experience and Susaeta along Iraola understands very well on the right flank.

Last season was very poor for us due to plenty of external problems (Bielsa with the board, Llorente affair, etc). To say that Swansea or Real Sociedad are better teams for one season... I have my serious doubts. What about the season before that one, when we play Europa League and Spanish Cup finals? they are old, but we have 8 league titles and 23 cups

Another interesting thing is that Athletic is owned by the season ticket holders and there are elections each 4 years. There are 3 clubs more like that in La Liga: Osasuna, Real Madrid and Barcelona