Four of our stars are off with the U-21s or Nats, so a make-shift reserve squad will face Conquense on the 21st and Valladolid on the 23rd. Then just one more friendly on September 3rd vs Aluvion (during the FIFA qualifiers). So the season is nearly here. Awesome!

Before I report/translate a great interview with Amorebieta and Iraola on their first call up to the Nats, I want to update everyone on some transfer rumors, news, and take a look at our first few fixtures in La Liga.

WHAT’S NEWS?

* Caparros is still looking for a left back. Isn’t it getting a bit late now? Apparently Caparros tried Casas and Koikili but nothing doing. He even tried Gurpegi to no avail. Rumor has it that Xabi Castillo from Real Sociedad is still a possibility. If then what? Del Horno? Youngster Agueros? Looks like Athletic is trying to mend relations with our rival and neighbor, La Real, which is good news indeed. Maybe we can get Castillo for a reasonable price or perhaps on loan? We shall see if there is some last minute business to be made at Athletic.

* Getafe needs a backup goalkeeper, now that Ustari was injured at the Olympics. Usta will be out for 7-8 months. Ouch! Geta is looking at Armando and LaFuente. I say give them LaFuente, if the price is right or on loan. We need to keep Armando as he is a solid backup and can easily step into the number one spot should Gorka get injured or lose his touch.

* Our first few fixtures in La Liga: Almeria at home, Malaga away, Valladolid at home, Recreativo Huelva away, Getafe at home. BINGO! It looks very doable. Can we do it? Can we take all 15 points? It is definitely a possibility. I am feeling pretty good here. Waddayathink?

* A few words about Fernando Amorebieta and his decision to play with Spain. Amore was born in Venezuela, both his parents are Basque. He was raised in the Basque region and entered the Athletic youth system at a very young age. Amorebieta is a very imposing CB who last season was probably one of the best in La Liga. He has a great reading of the game and can suffocate any striker he encounters. Though what is most impressive about him, is his ability on the ball and the way he plays the ball out of defense, building Athletic’s attacks. Rafa Benitez has wanted him for ages, as well as other premiership clubs. But thank goodness our players are extremely loyal and should they be sold, are extremely expensive! Defense is an area that needs fortification in La Furia Roja, as both Puyol and Marchena are getting older. So Amore and Iraola are just perfect. I am extremely happy that Amore chose Spain, as the flights to Venezuela are extremely tiring and take their toll. In addition, he will play with the best and at the highest level. I wish him and Iraola the best of luck.

Now the interview from El Correo Digital, translated by yours truly…

INTERVIEW – FERNANDO AMOREBIETA AND ANDONI IRAOLA ON THEIR FIRST CALL UP TO THE SPANISH NATIONAL TEAM

DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD BE CALLED UP?

Iraola: The truth is no. Each time the National team played, there was talks of a possible call up in the last three years. But now it finally happened and that is what counts.

Amorebieta: There was always talks, but this team is the European champions. It is very difficult to become a part of this team. I thought they were going to call me up when Venezuela asked me to join their national team. The Mister (Caparros) told me to be patient and the Spain call up would come.

DESCRIBE YOUR TEAMMATE

Iraola: Amorebieta is a central defender with great physical qualities, with his speed, height and power. Last season he had great concentration and was key to our defense.

Amorebieta: I’m flattered!

Iraola: Don’t tell me that you’ve never heard this before, jejeje.

Amorebieta: Whatever! (chuckles) Iraola is technically very gifted. He is a very good defensive back and can play anywhere on the wings.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO CONTRIBUTE?

Iraola: We go to a team that is champion of Europe, who play at a very high level. We must try to contribute and to reach that level, but it won’t be easy. It is necessary to do what we do in Athletic, that is what we will bring to the field. I do not set my objective to reach World Cup 2010. My objective is give and play at my very best. The rest will come with time.

Amorebieta: We go to Copenhagen at least with the hope to make a debut, of being able to demonstrate that the players of the Athletic belong there.

WHAT DOES THIS BODE FOR THE CLUB?

Iraola: The call ups are positive for the club. It shows that the team plays at a high level and with quality and that more players will be called up to the national team.

Amorebieta: What I want to emphasize is that we are two players who came from the cantera of the club. The cantera has made us into players who can excel at a high level. In addition, it’s not just Andoni and I, but Javi Martinez and Susaeta, who have been called up with the sub’ 21. It is important that our club is part of the National teams.

Iraola: And I am the oldest one called up from Athletic at 26 years of age. This shows the potential for youth and the future. Our team plays as a collective unit and yet, we are still noticed by the National team. This bodes well for Athletic. Not just for the Internationals but for Athletic’s future. This pre-season we have played with 15 and 16 year old cantera players. They have competed with us at a very good level. That means that we trust or believe in our youth system and methods, because it produces results and quality players.

WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FOWARD TO PLAYING ALONGSIDE?

Iraola: In the National team, I have a great relationship with Xabi Alonso. I played alongside Xabi many years, when I was young in Antiguoko. I also played many times in the sub’ 21 team with Villa, Navarro, Reyna, etc. The fact that Fernan and I go together, will also help us.

Amorebieta: In European sub’ 19, I played with several teammates, Sergio Ramos, Silva, Albiol, etc.

THE COMPETITION

Amorebieta: There is a lot of competiton at the highest level. Puyol, Albiol, Juanito, Marchena, who will not be there. In the Eurocopa they played very well together. The fact of being the only left-footed player may help me, but it might not.

Iraola: In theory, Sergio Ramos is my competition. But he does not have a backup. What we need to do is to give the same level that we do with Athletic. We need to do it at an individual level as well as at a collective level. In that way, we can play just as well as anyone else.

WILL THIS BE THE GREATEST JOY OF YOUR CAREER?

Iraola: For me, it would be it to win something with the Athletic. In any case, this one is one of the great moments. This honor, we owe to Athletic, where they have formed us from the youth system to the first team.

Amorebieta: For me, the greatest joy was to make my debut with the Athletic that led me here.

Sweet eh? I am so proud of these loyal, eager guys who I hope get an opportunity to strut their stuff in Denmark. To show the world, what Athletic brings to the beautiful game and La Liga, from the juvenil to the first team. Gora Athletic!

A one-off game where Athletic fielded a reserve team for the most part:

Lafuente: Murillo, Koikili, Exteita, Amorebieta; Orbaiz, David Lopez, Muñoz, Ion Velez; Iñigo and Del Olmo

On the bench/Second Half transfers: Armando for Lafuente (46′), Agueros for Orbaiz (88′), Ariño , Toquero for Ion Velez (46′), Ramalho for Murillo (80′), Julen Goni for David Lopez (46′)

Good News:
* No red cards or expulsions!
* Cracking goal by Muñoz in the first half. GOLAZO! Ashame that he refused to celebrate and raised his fist at Caparros. Iñaki is not very happy that he has lost his place in the first team to Iturraspe and others.
* Orbaiz looked back to his old uninjured self in the first half
* David Lopez was very dangerous as well in the first half
* Canterano and central defender Xabi Exteita looked solid. He was very good in the air and quick. He is possibly our number three or four defender. Ashame he injured Ustaritz in training. Usta will now be out for a month.
* I like Joseba Del Olmo’s play and what he adds to the team. He likes to dribble, has great ball control, and dynamism. He tries to beat his man and reminds me of the phenom Markel Susaeta, which is fantastic.
* Did I mention we had a decent first half?
* Armando saved Los Leones from a rout in the 2nd half.

Bad News:
* Long haul a** day, flight complications, and delays. No direct flight. After a 16 hour hell day, the team finally gets to play vs Tenerife.
* Craptastic second half
* Lazy a**, piss poor defense in the 2nd half
* Long ball heaven in the 2nd half
* No midfield in the 2nd half
* Poor ball distribution, circulation, and ability to make any attacking play in 2nd half
* Schooled by second division, mid table Tenerife in 2nd half

Why the crappy display? Was it the long 16 hour day? Was it pure laziness? Or was it those constant long balls coming out from our defensive back line? Bottom line – the midfield went missing and we got thrashed. Thank goodness for Armando or it would have been 6 or 5 to 1. And whose fault is the coordination of a very long trip and day for our team? After the game the boys flew straight back home, cuz there’s another game on AUGUST 12TH. I blame Caparros. The players are NOT robots.

I am not going to go ballistic, as this is just a friendly, but I hope that our boys do not get burned out with this intense, grueling, pre-season schedule. I still have faith in Caparros and his crazy methods. It is just frustrating. I was finally able to watch the whole game online. (Thank you TV Canaria) And the team was just blah.

Boy that felt good, getting that off my chest! OK next game, close to home, Zarautz, Gipuzkoa, Paises Vasco vs Eibar. Starting over. Gora Athletic!

Nevertheless, below is a recap of some of the ongoings at Athletic.

* Natxo Monreal from Osasuna is too expensive for Athletic. President Macua is not interested in paying highway robbery for any player. We need a left back, but we are not desperate. 12 M Euros, his buyout clause is too much. Tottenham’s Berchiche, Man City’s Garrido, or well there’s always Del Horno are our options. (I hope we don’t go there again.) Maybe one of the youngsters..

* The largest, most costly signing ever by Athletic – courtesy of the current court ruling vs the team.
La Real Sociedad sued Athletic over the transfer of Defender Zubiaurre. The court awarded La Real 5 Million big ones! Ouch! $3.5M to be paid by the club and 1.5M to be paid by the player. And no surprise, but Athletic is in the wrong. Well it’s good to no know that the constant battle and ill will between the two neighboring clubs, is still ever present. And Zubi, well frankly, he is on the outs with Athletic, as he is not performed. This settlement is really going to hurt Athletic financially. This is not the first time and it won’t be the last, as Athletic continues to scour La Real’s territory for players. Let’s just hope we can use some common sense and go by our business within the law.

*Some good news – Gorka Iraizoz (our number 1 or 2 goalie) is recuperating and progressing nicely. Also Real Betis has finally dropped their demand to replay the game where Armando (our number 1 or 2 goalie) got bottled. They finally accept the loss, 3 points to Athletic and will move on. Good idea!

*In the race for promotion in the 2nd division in Spain, La Real looks like they have a chance to come back up their first year. They need to win both remaining games vs Alaves and Cordoba. I kinda miss them, the rivalries, the hate, the derbies, the hate. Poor Alaves, looks like they are going down to Segunda B. This may kill them, that damn crazy Ukranian – American owner, Piterman left them win a ton of debt! And how ironic, La Real can seal the deal for Alaves’ demotion. Sigh.

Until next time…

-Armando renewed for another year with the club. Armando stepped in from Cadiz and did an admirable job as interim goalkeeper back in January. He got bottled at Betis and lives to tell the tale. I am frankly estatic that he will continue at Athletic. It will be interesting to see if Gorka or Armando is Caparros’ first choice next year.

-Fernando Amorebieta has rejected playing with the Venezuelan national team and states that he wants to play for Spain. He will wait for Aragones’ call up, and if need be to the Euros. (And based on the Marchena blunder and the backline performance vs Peru, some of us wish that Fernan was playing with Spain, if you get my drift.)

-Rumor time: per Marca Joseba Del Olmo will be the next signing for Athletic. Del Olmo is a right footed, left winger. Good utilitarian player and strong dribbler, currently playing with Eibar in the second division. Nothing official yet.

- The youngsters want to come back to Athletic? Both Yuri Berchiche and Mikel San Jose have not ruled out returning to Athletic one day. 18 year old leftback, Yuri, who is currently playing in Tottenham Hotspurs’ reserves was interviewed recently and says he wants to come home. Mikel San Jose, young defender, who currently plays in the reserves at Liverpool has said that he is happy at Anfield, but would not rule out a move back to Athletic.

President Macua states that the Berchiche interest is real and that they are considering a 2 year loan or 500K offer for the youngster. Juande has promised the youngster that he could crack the first team in December. Reports out of London now state that Yuri needs to keep quiet and cease talks with Athletic. Curious.

Until next time…