Atletico de Madrid, 2013-2014: Ganar, ganar y volver a ganar

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bosox4283

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This past campaign was the team's best season since 1995-1996, when those rojiblancos won el doblete -- La Liga and La Copa del Rey. One of the players on that Atletico squad was Cholo Simeone, the club's current manager. Then and now, he contributes an incredible amount of intensity to the team, and his hard-nosed style resonates with fans.
 
This year, the team finished with the most points (76) since 1995-96, finishing third in the table (and, as some people say, winning the "Other League", the one played by all teams not named Real Madrid or Barcelona). Most importantly, Atletico won La Copa del Rey against Real Madrid. This victory against our cross-town rivals was the first time Atleti had beaten RM in 14 years. In a way, the moment was similar to the Red Sox in 2004 when they took down the Yankees in dramatic fashion -- the fans sighed a huge sigh of relief, and a weight has been lifted off the shoulders of Atletico fans.
 
And, then, just like that, we lose Falcao. Gracias, Falcao.
 
With the departure of Falcao, and with the team qualifying for the Champions League, there is a need to add some depth and talent to the roster.
 
So far, Atletico have signed Rayo Vallecano striker Leo Baptistao. He is only 20, but seems to have a bright future.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=2097682.html
 
The current squad for next year is this:
 
Keeper: Courtois (both Asenjo and Joel may not return)
 
Right Back: Juanfran, Manquillo
Center Back: Godin, Miranda (Pulido, from the youth system is next, but they will try to sign someone)
Left Back: Felipe Luis, Insua
 
Center Midfielder: Gabi, Mario Suarez, Tiago 
Wings: Arda Turan, Koke
 
Striker: Diego Costa, Leo Baptistao, Adrian
 
Gone: Falcao
Most likely not returning: Cata Diaz, Domingo Cisma
Maybe not returning: Cebolla Rodriguez, Raul Garcia
 

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There are a handful of players that Atletico is likely to loan out this year. Or, if the price is rest, Atleti may consider selling these players. Here is a list of those players, and where they played last year.
 
Joel (GK, Wigan)
Silvio (DF, Deportivo La Coruna)
Leandro Cabrera (DF, Hercules)
Ruben Perez (MF, Betis)
Ruben Micael (MF, Braga)
Pizzi (FW, Deportivo La Coruna)
Borja Gonzalez (Huesca)
 
Frankly, I'm not sure any of these players fit on next year's team. Joel showed promise at Wigan, but with Courtois slated to be the starter in goal, it is probably best to retain his rights but loan him out. 
 
While Ruben Perez is young and played an important role on Betis this year, I am not sure he has the experience and talent to help Atleti compete in the Champions League.
 

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Nearly one month after my last post, hardly anything has changed with Atletico. The best piece of news is that Atletico confirmed that Courtois will continue with the team for next year. He is easily emerging as one of the best young keepers in the world, so we are very glad to have him back for another campaign.
 
Rumors are flying about who may replace Falcao. Negredo from Sevilla seems to be in the pole position, but I am not optimistic he'll end up with us. Sevilla recently sold Navas to City and another player, so they have made good money so far this off-season, thus eliminating Sevilla's need to bring in more money. 
 
Simeone has requested Diego, but it seems like Wolfsburg has no intention of selling him.
 

bosox4283

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Villa! 
 
Atletico signs David Villa for what appears to be the deal of the year: 5 million euros in total, if Villa plays for Atletico for three seasons. Atletico will pay Barcelona just 2.1 millino euros this year. Barcelona retains 50% of the transfer rights.
 
Villa is now 31, so I do not think he will meet the performance of Falcao. He is a great substitute for Falcao, though, and Villa should be motivated to have a strong season in order to remain on Del Bosque's radar for the 2014 World Cup.
 
It is important to note that Atletico is basically broke, so the team did not have the money to spend on a younger striker, such as Negredo. 
 

bosox4283

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bosox4283 said:
Villa! 
 
Atletico signs David Villa for what appears to be the deal of the year: 5 million euros in total, if Villa plays for Atletico for three seasons. Atletico will pay Barcelona just 2.1 millino euros this year. Barcelona retains 50% of the transfer rights.
 
Villa is now 31, so I do not think he will meet the performance of Falcao. He is a great substitute for Falcao, though, and Villa should be motivated to have a strong season in order to remain on Del Bosque's radar for the 2014 World Cup.
 
It is important to note that Atletico is basically broke, so the team did not have the money to spend on a younger striker, such as Negredo. 
 
A few months later, it seems that Atleti gave Barca a sort of first-right-of-refusal on three of its players as part of the Villa deal: Koke, Manquillo, and Saul. This agreement may have been the reason why Atleti was able to obtain Villa for such an insignificant amount of money.
 

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I did not think I was superstitutious, but I did not want to post in this thread until after the Madrid Derby, just in case. Well, after Atletico resoundly won against our city rivals, I can post without reservation. Atletico has won all seven of its league matches to start the season: 21 points out of 21 points, and tied with Barcelona at the top of the table. This start is the best in Atleti's history. In addition, Atletico twice tied Barca in the SuperCup matches (but lost the title) and won its first Champions League match against Zenit.
 
The team is really firing on all cylinders. Diego Costa has 8 league goals -- he has been the substitute for Falcao, not Villa. Koke is playing at an incredible level in the midfield and is the league leader in assists. The rest of the team plays intense defense and Courtois might be one of the best keepers in the world.
 
In fact, I can hardly think of any looming issues. The team added some great depth this year, including Josuha Guilavogui, a 23-year-old French defensiver midfielder who has played with the French national team, and Toby Alderweireld, a 24-year-old defender from Ajax who is international with Belgium. It is a long season, so incorporating these players and others such as Oliver and Manquillo will be a key to success in all three competions (La Liga, La Copa del Rey, Champions).
 

bosox4283

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Two and a half months later, Atletico continues to amaze and impress. Atleti sits at the top of the table, tied with Barcelona, with 40 points: 13 victories, one tie, and just one loss. In the Champions League, the team finished at the top of their group, winning five matches and tying the other. Diego Costa is scoring goals at a torid pace: he now has 15 league goals in as many games, only trailing Ronaldo by two (and Ronaldo has scored five of his 17 goals from penalty kicks).
 
Cholo Simeone is the glue that holds all of this success and positive momentum together. He lives by the philosophy "one game at a time", and the team and the fans have bought into this mentality. Importantly, Cholo is maximizing the performance of all his players. Even Raul Garcia, a player Altetico loaned out a few years ago and considered selling this summer, has 9 goals so far this year.
 
The biggest question mark is what Atletico will do in this transfer window. Simeone has apparently been asking the team for another playmaker. Reports are that Simeone wants Diego Ribas, who played for Atletico two campaigns ago, but it seems like this operation is not likely to happen. Given Atletico's recent run of success, there are a number of players being linked to the team.
 
Internally, it seems like Oliver would be the playmaker that could help the team in the second half. Unfortunately, it appears that Oliver is not meeting Simeone's expectations, and he may not be playing his best. I have hope for Oliver -- he's immensely talented and there are few players like him.
 

bosox4283

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Atletico manages a draw against Sevilla, which is not a bad result as Barcelona also tied against Levante. So, after the first half of the season and one game (20 total games), Atletico remains tied with Barcelona with 51 points...though Real Madrid is now uncomfortably close with 50 points. It's going to be an exciting second half.
 
I wonder, though, if Atletico has the talent to maintain this pace through the second half. While the team continues to be very strong defensively, it seems that our opponents are finding ways to neutralize our attack (for instance, Diego Costa has not scored yet in this calendar year in five matches). I am sensing a lack of creativity and a lack of play-making ability. 
 
Atletico picked up Sosa, the Argentine midfielder, on loan, and I'm hoping he can be a creative force. Of course, playing Sosa means playing Arda Turan, our best player, or Koke, our most promising young player, less, but it is a long season and we could use some creative energy. Plus, I think Arda and Koke need some rest as we work towards the Champions League matches. Oliver Torres is probably below Sosa on the depth chart, a decision that disappoints me. It seems that Simeone does not like what he sees from Oliver, though most fans view Oliver as a player who has tremendous vision and can find passes that others cannot.
 

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Further evidence that Atletico is struggling to create chances this year: the team has yet to score a goal in 2014 that has not been from a set piece or from an opposition error.
 
Atletico excels at set pieces, so in a sense this discrepancy is not a concern. On the other hand, the lack of a goal from a counter-attack, from a shot, or from a give-and-go movement is concerning. Simeone needs to be brave enough to try to change this trend. 
 

sdiaz1

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For the first time since May of 1996, Los Colchoneros are alone at the summit. Congratulations, and as much as it pains me to say this, it has been hard to root against this team. They play with great intensity and tenacity, lack the depth or resources to justify competing against Real and Barca, and have some payers who are just a joy to watch.
 
Also as a Madridista with Asturiano roots it brings me a shit ton of satisfaction that El Guaje Villa has more goals than either Messi or the hundred million euro Neymar. (and yes that is certainly the pot calling the kettle black)
 
Much as many neutrals seem to be hoping that Arsenal can somehow squeak past Man City and Chelsea to win the Premier League title, I would absolutely love to see Atletico win La Liga. In terms of suprise value, would an Atletico title be on a par with someone other than Celtic (or Rangers) winning the league in Scotland, or would it not quite be that weird?
 

teddykgb

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ConigliarosPotential said:
Much as many neutrals seem to be hoping that Arsenal can somehow squeak past Man City and Chelsea to win the Premier League title, I would absolutely love to see Atletico win La Liga. In terms of suprise value, would an Atletico title be on a par with someone other than Celtic (or Rangers) winning the league in Scotland, or would it not quite be that weird?
LOL

Yeah, all those neutrals who are just hoping little upstart Arsenal can slay the big bad wolves of the PL. What a win for the ages it would be.

Atletico winning La Liga would be a tremendous achievement. My knowledge of Spanish football isn't the best, but there have been occasional gate crashers to the La Liga party, like Valencia, Villareal, and Deportivo, so it's not impossible and probably not a complete shock. What has proven harder is not running yourself into financial ruin when trying to compete with Madrid and Barcelona, as that above list of teams kind of shows. What's so impressive, to me, about Atletico is that they've been a club that has demonstrated an ability to sell their best players and reinvest in talent that has propelled them further. Only time will tell if they can continue to do so, but it would be incredible if they could keep this kind of run going.
 
You really don't think that most neutrals would rather see self-sustaining Arsenal defeat the petro-dollar monoliths of Man City and Chelsea? What discussion forums and comments sections have you been reading outwith SoSH? (Different ones to me, I guess...)
 
As for Atletico, Valencia last broke the Real/Barca stranglehold 10 years ago, in 2003-04 - which is coincidentally the last season that a team other than Man Utd, Chelsea or Man City (i.e., Arsenal) won the Premier League. Football finance has moved on to such a different place in the past decade that the two eras are hardly comparable; particularly in Spain and England, the rich are so much richer in relative terms that everyone else seems content either not to compete or to go bankrupt trying. If Arsenal and/or (particularly) Atletico were to somehow defy the odds and win league titles this year...I mean, I don't even know how to judge how unlikely that achievement would have been. Are we simply talking about something comparable with Bayern not winning the Bundesliga (as German teams are sometimes able to break through), or are we at the level of a non-Old Firm team winning in Scotland?
 

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ConigliarosPotential said:
You really don't think that most neutrals would rather see self-sustaining Arsenal defeat the petro-dollar monoliths of Man City and Chelsea? What discussion forums and comments sections have you been reading outwith SoSH? (Different ones to me, I guess...)
 
 
 
Forgive him, he still thinks his team is the underdog and the most loveable bunch in the Premiership.
 

bosox4283

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sdiaz1 said:
For the first time since May of 1996, Los Colchoneros are alone at the summit. Congratulations, and as much as it pains me to say this, it has been hard to root against this team. They play with great intensity and tenacity, lack the depth or resources to justify competing against Real and Barca, and have some payers who are just a joy to watch.
 
Also as a Madridista with Asturiano roots it brings me a shit ton of satisfaction that El Guaje Villa has more goals than either Messi or the hundred million euro Neymar. (and yes that is certainly the pot calling the kettle black)
 
Gracias! What part of Asturias? I'm married to an asturiana who was born in Oviedo. The story of Oviedo is for another day...
 
I am really excited about the recent moves Atletico has made. In a sense, the team has decided to go all-in this year. They brought in Sosa, who Simeone likes a lot, and brought back Diego, who is talented. As a result, they had to loan out two of their young players, Oliver Torres and Guilavogui. But I think the team recognized the potential to have an impressive resource and a historic run. I admire the choice to go for it.
 
To put Real Madrid's and Barcelona's dominance into perspective, Atletico's taking of first place is the first time since 2006/7 that Real Madrid or Barcelona did not hold the top spot in the second leg of La Liga. Sevilla was the last non-big two team to temporarily be in first place in the second half. Basically, in the last seven years, it has been all Real Madrid and Barcelona.
 
Now onto Wednesday's match-up against Real Madrid. Que ganas...
 

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Why did they bring in Diego, other than possibly Wolfsburg paying half his wage?
That guy is so talented (fast, super dribblings, great view), yet he is so selfish and lazy that i wonder why Simeone wants him. From what i remember as a player, Simeone was a hard worker, so having such a "me-first" guy like Diego just doesn´t fit. He has his brilliant moments (from dribblings, passes slicing up the defense, goals from 50m, overhead scissors,...), but so many lost balls, walking back into defense, poor dribblings, diving,...i wouldn´t want this guy in my team.
 

bosox4283

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Schnerres said:
Why did they bring in Diego, other than possibly Wolfsburg paying half his wage?
That guy is so talented (fast, super dribblings, great view), yet he is so selfish and lazy that i wonder why Simeone wants him. From what i remember as a player, Simeone was a hard worker, so having such a "me-first" guy like Diego just doesn´t fit. He has his brilliant moments (from dribblings, passes slicing up the defense, goals from 50m, overhead scissors,...), but so many lost balls, walking back into defense, poor dribblings, diving,...i wouldn´t want this guy in my team.
 
I think it's two things: 
 
1. Simeone recognizes the team needs more talent, and he is willing to take in a player like Diego even if his character does not 100% fit Simeone's vision. Basically, Atletico upgraded from Oliver Torres, the talented young player with limited experience, to Diego, a more experienced and battle-tested player. It was a wise gamble to take, imo.
 
2. Simeone probably has an intense belief that he can get any player to buy into his system. It seems like that during Diego's first stint with Atletico and Simeone that Diego followed ordered and gave the intensity Simeone wanted. I can't recall any chatter about a clash between Diego and Simeone. 
 

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ConigliarosPotential said:
You really don't think that most neutrals would rather see self-sustaining Arsenal defeat the petro-dollar monoliths of Man City and Chelsea? What discussion forums and comments sections have you been reading outwith SoSH? (Different ones to me, I guess...)
 
 
As a neutral, I root for Fulham to beat or tie ManU, for Hull to take Chelsea to the limit, for Cardiff to shock Man City and for <pick a minnow> to beat any team that has qualified for the Champions League for upteen years in a row. 
 
I think those Arsenal fan discussion boards have warped your little mind because there is no way actual "neutrals" are hoping for Arsenal to win a title. Everton? Hell yes. Maybe even little Liverpool, a team with actual hard luck and misery on its recent resume or even Tottenham, even more hard luck and miserable. Southhampton would be a neutral's dream come true. 
 
As for Atletico - hell yes I hope they can slay the two dragons. Barca and RM are friggin juggernauts and Atletico beating one or the other (or both) would be huge for La Liga and neutrals would love it. 
 

bosox4283

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ConigliarosPotential said:
Well, that dream was fun while it lasted.
 
It was an ugly and awful game against Al. A lot of Spanish writers have been very critical of the referee for some terrible calls. Who cares, really. Almeria completely neutralized Atleti's attacking game and almost held them to zero decent goal-scoring chances. Diego Ribas was the best player on a bad day.
 
The loss underscores two important items:
 
1. Filipe Luis, the left back, is perhaps of the most essential players on the team. He defends well, but his real strengths are his abilities to advance the ball up the pitch, combine with the midfielders, and create space for movement. His absence was noticeable in both the defeats to Real Madrid and Almeria.
 
2. David Villa does a lot more than score goals. Yes, Villa has had some cold streaks this year, but he has nonetheless scored 13 goals. More importantly, he is a great partner for Diego Costa. Without Villa, defenses can focus much, much more on Costa, as Raul Garcia is not the player that Villa is. 
 
I hope the team can find its form this week. I would like to see this formation for the time being (Felipe Luis, David Villa, and Tiago are all injured):
 
--------------Courtois---------------
Manquillo--Miranda--Godin--Juanfran
---------Gabi------Mario-----------
Arda---------Diego--------------Koke
--------------Costa------------------
 
If and when the team is at full strength, the line-up might look like this:
 
--------------Courtois---------------
Juanfran--Miranda--Godin--Luis
--------Gabi----------Koke----------
---Arda------------------------Diego---
-------------------Villa----------------
--------------Costa------------------
 

teddykgb

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Things are already quite ugly in this one. Should have been a penalty to Atletico and players on each side are taking dirty shots at each other
 

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Man, devastating tie.
 
Atletico really controlled the game until the 80th minute or so. Ancelotti, I think, made the right substitutions, whereas I think Simeone, once again, did not make the right moves. Atletico needed some refresh legs, especially in a game with that much intensity. That said, Madrid's second goal was the result of an error committed by Gabi and Mario Suarez, two players who would not have been subbed off.
 
There are a lot of games left, so there is hope that Madrid falters. They are playing at an amazing level, so it is hard to see them tripping up. 
 

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That was a lot of fun to watch, atleti did very well to fight back after the initial slip up. Very intense and offensively minded game. Too bad they couldn't hold them off at the end, simeone probably should've used some subs.
 

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I just saw the last 15mins (+added time), and the only team playing was Real. Athletico was defending and they were really in fighting-for-survival mode...No offensive actions and they were overran on the wings so easy..Marcelo dribbled around 1-2 guys each time, the 2-2 was a huge mistake and should have resulted in 1) a possession for Athletico but the ball was lost near own box, 2) in a clearance which would have resulted in a throw-in for Real, 3) at worst in a foul in a dangerous position after losing the ball near own box, but instead of the foul, those two guys (don´t remember who it was) let the ball come in to Bale, and it finally fell to Ronaldo´s foot and resulted in the goal...Should be clear that you prefer a free-kick between (close to) 16m box and corner, instead of letting someone dribble uncontested to the ground line and bring in a cross.
 
And really, there were many other dangerous actions for Real in last 20mins, although they didn´t result in great scoring chances. Like someone said, Simeone should have brought someone in earlier. Bring in someone right after the 2-2 was too late..
 
(yes, i might be a little bit mad, because this draw, instead of an AM win cost me about 80€, if OKC will go to the NBA Finals)
 

teddykgb

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The last 15 mins were all Real, but pretty much all of the others were Atletico.
 
I really think Ancelotti had his lineup all wrong to start.  Real were entirely different once Marcelo and Isco came on.  Credit him for the subs, but they probably should have lost if the ref had had a better match.
 
Maybe Simeone should have brought on a few subs earlier, but the 2nd goal was kind of fluky and his team had controlled the match as much as you can against a side as strong as Real.  It just went all wrong at once for them.
 
To me, Costa takes a lot of the blame.  He was 1 on 1 with the keeper and missed wide, dives so much the ref didn't give him probably 2 legit penalties, and then when they caught the keeper out he selfishly went for goal instead of squaring it for a teammate who had the entire net.  He's a great player and in a lot of ways his breed of crazy is what makes the team tick, but he got in his own way a bit in this one.
 

bosox4283

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teddykgb said:
The last 15 mins were all Real, but pretty much all of the others were Atletico.
 
I really think Ancelotti had his lineup all wrong to start.  Real were entirely different once Marcelo and Isco came on.  Credit him for the subs, but they probably should have lost if the ref had had a better match.
 
Maybe Simeone should have brought on a few subs earlier, but the 2nd goal was kind of fluky and his team had controlled the match as much as you can against a side as strong as Real.  It just went all wrong at once for them.
 
To me, Costa takes a lot of the blame.  He was 1 on 1 with the keeper and missed wide, dives so much the ref didn't give him probably 2 legit penalties, and then when they caught the keeper out he selfishly went for goal instead of squaring it for a teammate who had the entire net.  He's a great player and in a lot of ways his breed of crazy is what makes the team tick, but he got in his own way a bit in this one.
 
Atletico has played a few matches this year in this way: get a lead, fall back, hold on for dear life, and play for the counter. 
 
I went back to watch the highlights on La Liga's YouTube channel--which is outstanding, if you have not yet seen it--and you are right, Costa missed a few good chances. The one-on-one was a challenging play especially with Pepe right next to him, it was nonetheless a one-on-one chance. Costa also had a header that went wide and could have been better.
 
I think, though, it's hard to play the should-have game. I mean, Gabi could take that 30-yard strike 100 times and maybe score twice. So, while we lament Costa's lack of scoring in this game, we can also appreciate that we scored a lucky goal.
 

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teddykgb said:
The last 15 mins were all Real, but pretty much all of the others were Atletico.
 
I really think Ancelotti had his lineup all wrong to start.  Real were entirely different once Marcelo and Isco came on.  Credit him for the subs, but they probably should have lost if the ref had had a better match.
 
Maybe Simeone should have brought on a few subs earlier, but the 2nd goal was kind of fluky and his team had controlled the match as much as you can against a side as strong as Real.  It just went all wrong at once for them.
 
To me, Costa takes a lot of the blame.  He was 1 on 1 with the keeper and missed wide, dives so much the ref didn't give him probably 2 legit penalties, and then when they caught the keeper out he selfishly went for goal instead of squaring it for a teammate who had the entire net.  He's a great player and in a lot of ways his breed of crazy is what makes the team tick, but he got in his own way a bit in this one.
 
Coentrao is terrible and I hate his face unconditionally. OTOH, Marcelo is a beast and one of my favorite fullbacks in the world (and I'm a Barca fan). Arbeloa is serviceable although he didn't have a great game. This is getting a bit off topic, but I'll also add that I think Xabi Alonso is grossly overrated and has been for years.
 

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Zososoxfan said:
Coentrao is terrible and I hate his face unconditionally. OTOH, Marcelo is a beast and one of my favorite fullbacks in the world (and I'm a Barca fan). Arbeloa is serviceable although he didn't have a great game. This is getting a bit off topic, but I'll also add that I think Xabi Alonso is grossly overrated and has been for years.
If we're going to have a hate fest and not talk about Sergio Ramos then I just don't know what we're doing anymore.

And bosox, the squaring situation I was talking about for Costa starts around 42:40 in this video (and incredible play to get out of his own end by the midfielder there). Of course, Costa is a striker and he did what strikers do, but my goodness look at the Atletico player running into the box.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0unNXh-_7U
 

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teddykgb said:
If we're going to have a hate fest and not talk about Sergio Ramos then I just don't know what we're doing anymore.And bosox, the squaring situation I was talking about for Costa starts around 42:40 in this video (and incredible play to get out of his own end by the midfielder there). Of course, Costa is a striker and he did what strikers do, but my goodness look at the Atletico player running into the box.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0unNXh-_7U
Thanks for the link. I really don't get much opportunity to watch Spanish league games, so I'll check out You Tube going forward.
It's a different game down there. The play was solid enough, but the fouling, or essentially selling a foul to the ref, was rampant, and left me with a bad taste. That was a crazy bit of skill by Bale at the end there. He fits in more than most Brits could in the Spanish game.
Agreed about Sergio Ramos. He seems more of a liability than a strength in defense. Not sure I agree fully about Alonso though. It's only that his understated style of play became overstated. By the end of that game, he was doing his job well.
I was telling my son that Real is sort of like an All-Star team; it would be good to see them take on Bayern in the CL.
And hopefully beat them.
As for Atletico, I know very little. Great atmosphere at the game, as I guess one might expect. They are having a fantastic season, but like Arsenal, have to rally to get any payoff.
 

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I have to say that while many are complimenting Ancellotti's use of his subs during the final 30 minutes of the match, it seemed rather bizarre that both Carjaval and Marcelo were looked over in the starting squad. Yes, they both played midweek and maybe it was just a matter of rotation, but both players are so significantly better than Fabio and Arbeloa. There absence was telling, as Real really lacked any initiative outside of Modric/ Di Maria/ and Alonso up the middle. Typically, Caraval and Marcelo push forward and create another outlet to Ronaldo/Bale, neither of whom drop back much to receive the ball in their own half. Their absence coupled with Arbeloa and Coentrao's ineffectiveness to lend any help going forward and connecting with the front three, meant that all of Real's plays had to be built through the aforementioned center three. This made it easy for Simeone to clog up Real's attack by filling the center of the park with Costa (Great work rate for a striker), Raul Garcia (his defensive prowess and ability to man mark Xabi is what kept Villa on the bench), Arda Turna, Koke, and Gabi. Those five hurried and hassled Modric, Alonso, and Di Maria at every moment - I would say that in those conditions those three did very admirably.
 
It is a funny thing about Xabi Alonso. Most people actually under-rate him and I think it causes some to overly praise him. In his 4 1/2 seasons with Real (especially now under Ancelloti's 4-3-3 system) Xabi has transformed his game from being the creative central playmaker that he was with Liverpool to being a more modern version of Marcos Senna. His priority is to link play from the back to the more advanced midfielders like Ozil, Di Maria, Isco and to break up the counter. That role results in two things: 1) Less assists and goals scored and 2) more bookings and more professional fouls. He now rarely is the supplier of the final ball that releases either Ronaldo or Benzema free in the box. Rather, he is the guy who finds Di Maria free and pinpoints a pass from 30 yards out to his chest for him to play into the box. He is a hell of a player, and I think that his transformation over the past few seasons is evidence of his ability.
 

bosox4283

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Eight games remaining, eight more finals to go. This weekend, against Athletic in Bilbao, forecasts to be the toughest match on the schedule. Atletico will have its full squad for the match -- there are currently no injuries and no one will miss the match because of yellow cards. 
 

bosox4283

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An epic match against Barcelona and a night not soon to be forgotten. The Atletico faithful has latched onto the words of Luis Aragones: "Ganar, ganar y volver a ganar".
 
 

Zososoxfan

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Props to Atleti on dominating Barca last night. Certainly rooting for them in UCL. Interesting that Courtois likely wont play if Atleti draw Chelsea.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Based on a few snippets I read, it seems it would be kosher for him to play.
 
Of course, Chelsea could recall him from loan just before the match if they wanted.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Zomp said:
They'd have to pay 3 million euros per match for him to play, which they say they can't afford.
Maybe not for a 2-legged tie in the semis, but would they pay it once if they met in the final?
 

PedroSpecialK

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Zomp said:
They'd have to pay 3 million euros per match for him to play, which they say they can't afford.
 
UEFA now saying that clause is "null, void, and unenforceable"
 


It follows that any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable so far as UEFA is concerned.
 
Furthermore, any attempt to enforce such a provision would be a clear violation of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations and would therefore be sanctioned accordingly.
 

coremiller

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bosox4283 said:
 
Great news but interesting decision. In La Liga, many teams that loan players tend to include this type of clause. It is commonplace, in fact. I wonder if this decision will have an impact on domestic leagues.
 
The same is true in England.  For example, Everton's loan deal with Chelsea for Lukaku stipulated that Lukaku couldn't play against Chelsea.
 

soxfan121

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coremiller said:
 
The same is true in England.  For example, Everton's loan deal with Chelsea for Lukaku stipulated that Lukaku couldn't play against Chelsea.
 
Yes, but a "Cannot Play Against Own Team" clause would fit the FIFA rule, whereas a "pay $3M to use the player against own team" does not. There's a substantive difference between the two. 
 

coremiller

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soxfan121 said:
 
Yes, but a "Cannot Play Against Own Team" clause would fit the FIFA rule, whereas a "pay $3M to use the player against own team" does not. There's a substantive difference between the two. 
 
Strikes me as a distinction without a difference.  The rule quoted above was "any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable."  A clause saying, "you can't field Player X against us" seems to me to be "influencing" who the club fields.
 

soxfan121

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coremiller said:
 
Strikes me as a distinction without a difference.  The rule quoted above was "any provision in a private contract between clubs which might function in such a way as to influence who a club fields in a match is null, void and unenforceable."  A clause saying, "you can't field Player X against us" seems to me to be "influencing" who the club fields.
 
There's a pretty well established "Cannot Play Against Home Club" rule for loans. Lukaku cannot suit up and play against Chelsea. This influences the loaning club, but only at the outset of the season. It is known that Lukaku can't play against Chelsea (or Barry against Man City) and therefore Everton can choose to buy cover for it (like Naismith) in the transfer window.
 
Chelsea's deal with Atletico is different. It says that Atletico can play the loan player (Courtois) but must pay $3M to do so. That is not standard and would "influence" who Atletico plays. That is fundamentally different than "he cannot play".  
 
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