Athletic 1-Atlético 0: I’ll take that
By: Paul |
4 Comments
Before yesterday, it had been over a month since Athletic won their last game. They started off strong, winning the first three matches of the season for the first time in a long time, the last of those being a 3-2 victory against Villareal (yes, it has been that long).
The game was played on what seemed to be a below-average level, which is something that can be expected from two teams that have seen a dip in form. Still, Javi Martinez’s lone goal was enough, and that’s something I can be satisfied with.
The next game will be played on Thursday at Nacional in the Europa League. I’m expecting another win, and hoping that Athletic can finally shake off bad form officially and come back strong into La Liga.
Category: Athletic Bilbao Team News
Rayo Vallecano 2-Athletic Club Bilbao 0: Lightning Strikes Twice in the Copa del Rey
By: Paul | 3 Comments
Has poor form gotten to the heads of Athletic’s players??? I expected that, after a recent rut in the league, this would be the game that Los Leones would be able to pull through and build some pre-Halloween confidence. This should have been the game that the team went into, ready to prove themselves, and came out victorious- whether it was by one goal or ten. Hell, the least that we should have been able to pull out of this was a draw, that way the next leg would be at home which should make things even easier. What I saw yesterday reminded me of the pre-season friendlies, and that scares me.
Before I continue my bickering, I will point out one bright spot from the match- for the first time in a while, there wasn’t excessive fouling on the part of Athletic. Maybe it was because they realized (or at least thought) that fouling wouldn’t be necessary to win the game. Or maybe it was just because Ustaritz wasn’t in the lineup. Whatever it was, this is one good thing I saw.
However, the bad far outweighs the good. Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Athletic Bilbao Team NewsGameday: Athletic @ Rayo Vallecano
By: Paul | 2 Comments
Here is the place to leave your pre, during, and post-game thoughts about today’s match. It will be played at 3pm Eastern US time. I’ll get a chance to watch today, streams can be found at this location.
Today, Athletic will be in Madrid for their first match in this year’s Copa Del Rey. They’ll be facing Segunda Division side Rayo Vallecano; a game that I expect them to win, but wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t given recent form and the way that they had performed against weaker teams in the pre-season.
Selection: Iraizoz, Toquero, Koikili, San José, Amorebieta, Etxeita, Orbaiz, Llorente, David López, E.Bóveda, Armando, Etxeberria, Iraola, Gurpegi, Castillo, Xabi Etxebarria, Gabilondo and Iñigo Pérez.
Starting XI:
GK- Iraizoz
RB- Iraola
CD- Etxeita
CD- Amorebieta
LB- Koikili
RM- David López
CM- Orbaiz
CM- Gurpegi
LM- Inigo Perez
ST- Etxeberria
ST- Llorente
Prediction: Athletic are missing Yeste, De Marcos, and Ustaritz have been deemed unfit apparently, while de Cerio still seems to be rehabbing from his long injury lay-off. Aitor Ocio, Inaki Munoz, and Zubiaurre are all out injured; Muniain is away with the Spain U-17s. This is a game where I would have liked to see Muniain get a start and hoped de Cerio would get to play, but that doesn’t look like it’ll happen. Despite missing these players, I still think Athletic will have more quality about them than Rayo will. Final score- 3-1
What are your impressions going into the game?
P.S.- Remember this from the same stage of last year’s Copa? It still brings a smile to my face.
Category: Athletic Bilbao Team NewsA Win…Then Another Loss
By: Paul | Add Comments
Once again, I am a bit late posting about some of the latest action. As per usual, I have had schoolwork that has kept me away, but also I grabbed myself a new girlfriend, so I’ve been hanging out with her a lot. But hey, I’m unimportant- let’s get down to business!!
Three days ago, Athletic returned to Europa League action, facing CD Nacional from Portugal. I was able to watch the first 25 minutes or so of the game, which really were rather pedestrian. However, I am pleased with the result that was obtained. The win was the first we’ve seen since September (yes, it has really been that long!) and was an instance of Fernando Llorente saving the team- something he seems to do quite often. Our boys fell 1-0 before half-time, with Etxeberria equalizing in the second half, and Llorente bringing a late winner four minutes before the final whistle. It looked to be a good sign, Athletic was able to fight off recent bad form and battle back. Sure, I don’t think it was their best display, but I personally was given some added confidence going into the game against Getafe, which ended just a few hours ago.
Today’s game was, once again, a game I missed. For my research methods class, we have to conduct opinion polling of Virginia residents, as Virginia has elections coming up for state offices. My time was 
occupied from 1pm to 4pm, but I wore my Athletic shirt today as a show of support. Obviously, this couldn’t help Los Leones, who lost the game 2-0. Not only did they lose, but they did not lose in style at all. Two players were given their marching orders- Ustaritz and Gurpegi- and one of the goals scored was from a penalty. Really, it seems like Ustaritz has been doing this a lot as of late. I understand that Athletic has a reputation to uphold as tough, scrappy, hard-men, but a little discipline would be nice- especially if you’re a player like Ustaritz who seems to be collecting reds like Pokemon cards. Gurpegi collected 2 yellows before the first half ended, take what you will from that.
After a very bright beginning to the season, I am disappointed. I don’t know about you, but I thought this year would be different. There are many games left, of course, but my earlier optimism is almost all gone.
In better news:
Llorente has signed a new contract, committing to Athletic until 2013 and has become the club’s highest-paid player ever. Glad to see this because I can’t count the number of times he has almost single-handedly pulled out wins for Athletic.
I am missing the spark given by Muniain right now, I must say. However, Spain begins U-17 World Cup action tomorrow against the United States at 2pm Eastern. The game will be shown on espn360.com and I’ll tune in once I return from class at 2:10. I will be rooting for the Americans to take the game, but I hope that Muniain scores 15 goals and the U.S. wins the game with 16.
The Football Manager 2010 demo is out. I’m playing as Athletic and doing very, very well- my virtual team is in third place and it’s now December in-game. The full version comes out on Friday and I have it pre-ordered so I’ll be playing as Athletic on there. Hopefully I can have as much success in the full version as the demo, because it helps me forget the real-life Athletic Club Bilbao for a short time.
Athletic’s next game is the first match of this year’s Copa del Rey, and will be played away at Rayo Vallecano. This should be a win and might make me feel a bit better.
Category: Athletic Bilbao Team NewsCaption This! #15 (With Last Week’s Winner)
By: Paul | 1 Comment
I’m going to be posting about yesterday’s game later tonight. Till then, here’s the photo of the week:
Category: Caption This!All The Latest
By: Paul | 1 Comment
The international break is over! Because this latest international break was also during Roanoke College’s fall break, I took some time off from writing, but now I’m back in business.
The first news to report is the result of Athletic’s last game: a 2-1 loss to Sporting Gijon. Once again, I missed this game (I spent Sunday moving back into my room after the break and reorganizing for the second half of the semester). Now, I know I have missed many games so far this year, but this is because of school- luckily I’m almost finished with that. Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Athletic Bilbao Team NewsCaption This! #14 (W/ Last Week’s Winner)
By: Paul | 2 Comments
Caption this, dammit!
Since the international break is ending, I’ll be back with a real post very soon.
Read the rest of this entry »
Category: Caption This!Athletic Offside on Twitter
By: Paul | Add Comments
So, I sold my soul and created a Twitter account for this blog. On there, I’ll be posting links to my blog posts as they’re written, links to other Athletic news (I will try to post as much of it as I can in English, as I know how difficult it can be for English-speaking fans to follow the team), and some random thoughts about Athletic and the sport in general. I also think it may be a good way for readers/Athletic fans to share their thoughts with me.
If you are interested in my personal life, I do have a personal Twitter account. But, if you’re interested in my personal life, you might be a bit weird.
Anyway, add the Athletic Bilbao Offside on Twitter!
Category: Athletic Bilbao Team NewsCaption This! #13 (With Last Week’s Winner)
By: Paul | 2 Comments
Here we go…
Category: Caption This!An Open Letter to Opposition Fans (esp. Other Offside Writers)
By: Paul | 15 Comments
Dear fans of other teams and especially Offside writers for Athletic’s opponents,
NEVER refer to Athletic Club Bilbao as “Bilbao”. You may have noticed me coming in commenting on posts by recent opponents saying this, but I decided to write this so everybody is aware that the team’s name is not Bilbao.
So what should we call them? Acceptable “official” names are Athletic Club Bilbao (the only time it’s 100% acceptable to use “Bilbao” when referring to the team), Athletic Club, Athletic, or, and please use this sparingly, Athletic Bilbao. Unofficial nicknames that can be used are Los Rojiblancos, Los Leones, or Zurigorri. NEVER call them “Bilbao”.
So, you may ask “what’s the problem with that name?” Well, for starters, I’m not even 100% sure that Bilbao is even in the official team name, I believe it’s only on the crest- I’m relatively sure that the official name for the team is Athletic Club- no Bilbao involved. Regular reader and commenter Isabel also explained:
I’ve noticed that calling the team just Bilbao (as opposed to Athletic, Athletic Club or Athletic Bilbao) is quite common amongst non-Spanish supporters. But anyway, here’s a long-ass explanation: Although there was at one point in time a club called Bilbao FC, it was started by the English workers who came to the Basque Country. The Basques saw that and thought that new game was pretty cool and decided to start their own club, taking the name “Athletic Club” the Athletic portion being a sort of homage to the British who introduced the game to us. Then, during the era of the Franquismo, the name was forcibly changed to the “more Spanish” Atlético Bilbao. But once that was over, they reverted back to the way it always was.
The main reason why most Athletic supporters dislike the club being called Bilbao is because in the past and even now, a lot of people use that as a taunt and a reminder of the times we were forced to change our name.
Plus, on a really shallow note, I like the sound of Athletic, Athletic Club or Athletic Bilbao more. (I couldn’t have said it better myself, for a reference to what our friend Isabel is talking about check out wikipedia)
That’s about it. NEVER call them “Bilbao”.
Sincerely,
Paul
P.S. Atletico Bilbao, Athletic de Bilbao, and Athletic Club de Bilbao are also unacceptable (there is no Spanish in the team’s name anywhere).
P.S.S. If you’re a Real Madrid fan, call them whatever you want because I hate your team anyway.
Category: Athletic Bilbao Team News
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