According to the above goal.com article, the team is now looking into two more signings and the rumor on that is the team is going for Osasuna’s Miguel Flaño and a striker. Here’s to hoping that the team is willing to splash out some cash for Joseba Llorente.

Last, I have an announcement to make. To get some more activity on the blog and add a touch of flavor, I will be starting a “Caption This!” contest this Friday. It will work like this: every Friday, I will post a picture. Users can comment with a caption they think fits the picture, and I will announce the winner the next Friday when the new picture is posted for captioning. This Friday we’ll also be seeing the draw for Athletic’s Europa League game, so stay tuned!

Just to introduce myself: I live in Houston, Texas and am currently about to enter my senior year of college and plan on attending law school after that. Other than Athletic, my favorite teams are Tottenham Hotspur and Houston Dynamo. I hate Manchester United and Real Madrid. My favorite television program is House, favorite color is yellow, I suppose and….ah, who cares- enough about me!

Anyway, much has happened in the world of Athletic Club Bilbao since November 15, 2008. The team got on a few hot streaks, and ended up finishing much better than expected at that point in the season. Los Leones reached the final of the Copa del Rey, falling 3-0 to Barcelona. I will call a moral victory on that one; Barcelona was basically an unstoppable force and reaching the final showed much potential that, frankly, I didn’t think the team had in ‘em.

There is some recent news as far as players go as well:

The club offically presented former Real Sociedad striker, Iñigo Diaz de Cerio, as a member of the team. It’s nice to see the team go for a decent player not from the lower leagues for once and it appears that they value the player, giving him a four-year contract with a buyout clause worth 50 million Euros(!). Oh, and did I mention that he was free? If he can return to his pre-injury form, he should pair well with Llorente up front. Also, his signing makes it very unlikely that Ion Velez will be sticking around- but I don’t think I’ll miss him much.

As far as current players go, Fernando Llorente appears close to extending his contract until 2013. I heard rumors that other teams were interested in him (Barcelona and Bayern Munich) and, while I would love to see him have success at a larger club, Athletic need him on the team- it seems like he was “the man” for each win last season.Tiko and Lafuente have terminated their contracts and Athletic may be interested in Joseba Llorente. I will miss Tiko and Lafuente and wish them the best luck, but neither was really extremely valuable to the team. I would like to see J. Llorente on the team, and it would be nice to have the depth of the two Llorentes plus our new boy de Cerio as striking options.

This may have been a lot to handle for just one post, but much has happened since the last posting. I will try to stay active on this blog and will do my best to post at least once a week. Anyway, thanks for reading and I hope to keep writing for a long time!

Los Leones squeaked by with a win on penalties against AS FAR from Morocco in the Semi Finals.

Here are the stats:

34′ 1-0 Kaddioui
42′ 1-1 Fernando Llorente off a cross from Javi Casas

Penalties:
Athletic: 1-0 David Lopez
FAR Rabat: Mohamed Mrini hit the post
Athletic: 2-0 Gurpegi
FAR Rabat: Issam Eraki miss
Athletic: 3-0 Muñoz
FAR Rabat: 3-1 Mohamed Anime Kabli
Athletic: 4-1 Aitor Ocio

OK, Athletic played poorly for the most part, but grinded out the win and now we face UEFA Cup bound Udinese on Friday 7/25. It should be a fantastic match.

ANOTHER TOURNAMENT

Athletic will participate in the Ramon de Carranza tourney in Cadiz along with Villarreal, Cadiz and Sevilla – August 14, 15 and 16th.

TIDBITS

* The club is trying to offload Tiko. So far no takers. Sigh.

* Yeste refuses to talk to the Bilbao press. i don’t blame him. Leave our resident psycho genius alone. He needs his space.

* Xabi Castillo from Real Sociedad refuses to do any business with Athletic. What can I say. There is too much bad blood between our respective teams. Best to lay low and allow the recent bad karma to play out. Athletic needs to leave La Real’s players alone and stop depending on stealing their players, at least for the interim.

*Fernando Amorebieta is still in Bilbao recuperating from his nose surgery. He will most probably join us for our friendly tour of England against Charlton and Colchester.

TRANSFER BUSINESS TO DATE

IN: Toquero (Sestao River – Striker), LaFuente (Espanyol – Goal keeper), Ion Velez (Hercules – Striker), Del Olmo (Eibar – Striker/Winger)

OUT: Del Horno (Valencia – Left Back), Cuellar (Murcia – Midfielder), Exposito (Hercules – Defender), Aranzubia (Deportivo – Goal Keeper), Prieto (Valladolid – Defender)

We are covered in the Goal Keeper, Central Defense and Right Back positions. Still a little questionable at Left Back. Midfield and Upfront is looking quite good as well, but we do need to add at least one more attacking threat. On the Transfers out front, I am expecting to see Zubiaurre, Casas and Tiko leave the club as they are not in Caparros’s plans. Both Prieto and Tiko have been very loyal servants to the club. Best of luck to them in their new adventures. Prieto was a big reason that Athletic did not get relegated two seasons ago.

INTEREST: Iñigo Velez (Murcia – Striker), Xabi Prieto (Real Sociedad – Right Winger), Yuri Berchiche (Tottenham – Left Back), Diaz de Cerio (Real Sociedad – Striker)

Maybe Velez, but Juande is playing hard ball when it comes to young Yuri and due to the whole fiasco with Zubiaurre and Real Sociedad, I don’t think we will be doing any business for the interim. Shame.

INJURY UPDATE:

Reports coming out of camp is that Gorka Irazoiz has fully recuperated from last season’s injury and he is eager to fight for his place in goal vs Armando and LaFuente. Meanwhile our long lost midfielder Pablo Orbaiz for the first time is feeling no pain while training and playing. That is very good news indeed.

The club has a very intensive pre-season schedule. I will publish the final schedule soon.

CELEBRITY BILBAO SIGHTINGS

Did you know that Michael Stype and REM were Bilbao fans? Well check this out. Stype shows his colors while performing at Bilbao BBK Live this Summer. Cool eh?

New signing – Joseba del Olmo Garcia
Athletic has paid the €300,000 buyout clause on Del Olmo’s contract with Eibar. Del Olmo has signed a one-year contract with the club. The contract includes an automatic renewal for another year should the 27 year old striker play in a minimum of 22 official games. Athletic has also attached a buyout clause of €20million. A smart piece of business IMO. The coaching staff is expecting alot from Del Olmo. He is a different type of striker, two footed, with a lot of potential. We shall see. To date Eibar has provided Koikili, new signing Toquero and now Del Olmo.

Promotions update in Segunda aka Good News, Bad News:
Bad News – Real Sociedad remains in the Second division. Their loss to Alaves a fortnight ago, really hurt Erreala. Ashame, I was looking forward to the Basque derby returning to La Primera.

Good News – Alaves is safe! Alaves won their last two games and by the skin of their teeth is staying up in Segunda A. Ying and Yang? Karma? Or just phew! Congratulations to Alaves. Next year La Real.

Some Quick Notes:

*Midfielder Carles Gurpegi is over in Peru, taking time out from his vacation. He is doing his part to help underprivileged youth through football. Class act!

*After all the pressure and court dealings that defender Iban Zubiaurre has endured, Caparros is offering him to Recreativo Huelva on loan. I think this would be a good thing for Zubi to get a little break from all the crap from the past year, as well as provide him with more game time, down in Andalusia. I hope it comes to fruition. Good luck Iban!

*Just think, one year ago, on June 17, 2007, we beat Levante 2-0 on the last day of the season and ensured safety in La Primera. Baby we’ve come along way!

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…