Shipwrecked at Tenerife

By: Elisa | August 11th, 2008

TENERIFE vs ATHLETIC – TEIDE TROPHY – ONE OFF GAME

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!