Europa League 2011/12

[Phoenix07]

What a great game that was.

Mancs 2nd goal took the sheen off it a little bit - I didn't even think it was a pen. Wasn't in the box. And Bilbao had a ****ing blatant pen not given in the first half.

They tore them to shreds! United have been owned at home by Ajax, Bilbao, Basel & Benfica - off the top of my head. They're ****ing ****. Chelsea are ****, Arsenal are ****...it's really frustrating that we're not able to take advantage of it.

That's because we're **** too and paying the price for some bizarre decision making regarding our bigger signings.

[Slinky Skills]

What a great game that was.

Mancs 2nd goal took the sheen off it a little bit - I didn't even think it was a pen. Wasn't in the box. And Bilbao had a ****ing blatant pen not given in the first half.

They tore them to shreds! United have been owned at home by Ajax, Bilbao, Basel & Benfica - off the top of my head. They're ****ing ****. Chelsea are ****, Arsenal are ****...it's really frustrating that we're not able to take advantage of it.

The problem is we're ****ter than all of them mate and that's what's worrying, if it was us playing tonight we'd have been destroyed much worse than United had and they got proper bummed.

The pace and tempo of that game tonight was brilliant, really enjoyed watching it.

[Mostar]

Atletic Bilbao fans singing YNWA in Manchester


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVrlATO_hjg&"]Athletic Bilbao Fans in Manchester - YouTube[/ame]

[baitman]

bilboa ****ted manure at old toilet
llorente, munian and there right winger, Susaeta, number 14, also looked the bollox

[Kenneth]

I expect that both manc clubs will go through after the second leg.

[Bender]

Enjoyed the game nice to see utd look second best even more so the commentator saying old trafford is not a fortress anymore

[Craig_H]

Atletic Bilbao fans singing YNWA in Manchester


Athletic Bilbao Fans in Manchester - YouTube

Not sure about the backing vocals

[rodo]

Basque-ing in the glory
by Kristian Walsh // 8 March 2012 // 0 comments
Athletic Bilbao left the football purists purring with a brilliant away win at you know where tonight. It seemed like a good time to post this…
THERE’S nothing better in football than watching a team which typifies the city it represents.
The overt ostentation of Milan is replicated perfectly by the star-studded AC Milan foursome of Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Pato and Cassano.
With hundreds of bars and shopping centres, the efficiency of Barcelona’s Barri Gotic is matched only by its beauty – something Messi, Xavi et al, with three La Liga titles and two Champions League wins under Pep Guardiola, combine with near perfection.
Even the rough and tumble of Stoke City is reminiscent of Stoke-on-Trent’s city centre on a Saturday night, with most of the doormen looking like Robert Huth or Wilson Palacios.
But there’s no team that reflects their city’s culture more than Athletic Bilbao, the team who adopts a cantera policy of playing Basque natives only.
Whether they win, lose or draw, they do it without compromising their identity. When Fernando Llorente was derided as a gangly, misfiring 19-year-old, it was done so because he was one of their own.
Now, as a top international striker with European giants tracking him, the pride is multiplied because he is one of their own.
Pride in their heritage is paramount.
Upon both the stadium and club crest is the city’s most famous church, the San Mames.
The players who put on the shirt of Athletic Bilbao don’t simply represent the football club – they represent the city, the people who inhabit it, and the philosophy they strive to maintain.
San Memes still provides the people of Bilbao a place to worship, albeit to a diff erent deity. The club really is that important to the people.
Barcelona might be more than a club but for Athletic, it is more than life itself – and Athletic have given life to La Liga over the past few years.
When watching Spanish football, most casual eyes cast a cursory glance upon Barcelona and Real Madrid – with good reason too, given the abundance of talent.
Each twist of the kaleidoscope reveals more magic from Messi and class from Cristiano Ronaldo. But as those two teams battle for honours, Athletic are enjoying one of their more fruitful periods away from the spotlight’s glare.
The production line is in full operation, full steam ahead; the golden goose is laying golden Basque eggs for Los Leones.
Llorente leads the team, flanked by a group of talented youngsters;19-year-old wide man Iker Muniain and 21-yearold Javi Martinez being the most coveted across Europe.
The trio, along with players such as Toquero, Amorebieta, Mikel San Jose and de Marcos, have steadily progressed the club up the table. From eighth to sixth in the previous two years; experienced coach Joaquin Caparros looked set to for a push for a top four spot this season.
The story so far has taken a linear, traditional narrative. Experienced coach takes charge of progressive squad. Progressive squad improve and climb up the table season-by-season. Experienced coach takes them into Europe and, once the squad is fully developed, gives them a chance at the Champions League.
A traditional narrative for a traditional club – perhaps the most traditional in Spain, Europe and the world.
So what happens when the new club president decides to sack the coach halfway through that narrative and employs an eccentric Argentinean tactician nicknamed Loco?
When Josu Urrutia won Athletic’s election, he tore up the script, manual and holy scripture in San Memes.
Joaquin Caparros; passionate, astute and softly-spoken, was too defensive for Athletic. A Europa League berth had been achieved, but not with the desired football.
In his place: Marcelo Bielsa.
The 56-year-old was last seen in South Africa with his ten-man Chile playing six up front against Spain in order to avoid a last-16 clash with Brazil.
Bielsa is a non-conformist; but it’s the non-conformity that has made him one of the most loved coaches in world football.
His Chile side lit up the World Cup with their attacking formation, showcasing the finer talents of Aleixs Sanchez and Gary Medel while getting the best out of mediocre players such as Humberto Suazo, Beausejour and Matias Fernandez.
It was in his homeland where he forged his reputation.
In charge of Espanyol for less than a year, Argentina came calling in the wake of their quarter final exit to Holland at France ’98. His six-year period there included a Copa America final, although his side did go out at the group stage of World Cup 2002.
He then moved to Chile, where he revolutionised their football. But for all his accolades and achievements, his appointment at Athletic made little sense from both a tactical and ideological viewpoint.
The squad, so used to controlling games and keeping tight in defence under Joaquin Caparros, would have to shift their mentality to the other end of the spectrum.
More importantly than that, so would a club so used to tradition. He immediately broke the club’s transfer record, shelling out 7.5 million Euros on Zaragoza’s Ander Herrera.
The steady ship had been rocked by the whirlwind of Loco; and it’s shown no signs of returning to its equilibrium.
With the winter break approaching, Athletic found themselves mid-table; fantastic results such as a 2-2 draw with Barcelona and 3-0 mauling of Atletico Madrid were tempered by home losses to newly-promoted Real Betis and Granada.
But the football, in victory or defeat, has been superb; slowly but surely, his methods are starting to reflect on his young, talented, Basque squad.
It may take some time, but if Athletic stick with their man, he could bring them their first trophy since 1984 – and that’s one tradition they’d love to break.

[Buzzo]

A good read that - didn't Mikel San Jose used to play for us?

[Fredo]

Yes he did.

[Buzzo]

Yes he did.

Knowing how savvy we are in the transfer market I am sure we must have received mega £'s for him when we moved him on

[Exiled_red]

I expect that both manc clubs will go through after the second leg.

[kris90210]

That Bielsa seems like some coach. From the sounds of things, he's like an attack minded Benitez. Lot's of people have lot's of good things to say about him - his stock is definitely rising.

Bilbao were superb, fair play. Would love it if we played like that. Carroll should really be modelling his game on Llorente. He put in a near perfect performance as a target man last night.

[Phoenix07]

A number of fans wanted Bielsa here when Benitez left. His work with Argentina and Chilie were so innovative and inspiring.

He's done it again this season, but now he'll get noticed because they've beaten Man Utd in their own back yard.

Bielsa has his crazy moments too. Balague told a whole host of stories earlier in the season on Revista. Unfortunately, the English press would ridicule him.

[kris90210]

A number of fans wanted Bielsa here when Benitez left. His work with Argentina and Chilie were so innovative and inspiring.

He's done it again this season, but now he'll get noticed because they've beaten Man Utd in their own back yard.

Bielsa has his crazy moments too. Balague told a whole host of stories earlier in the season on Revista. Unfortunately, the English press would ridicule him.

Tell us more