The Blades and Bilbao

[stringer]

A good, in-depth piece, penned by an S2 member, exploring comparisons between United and Athletic Bilbao.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...es-continue-to-nurture-young-talent-1-8857068

 

[shorehamview]

A good, in-depth piece, penned by an S2 member, exploring comparisons between United and Athletic Bilbao.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...es-continue-to-nurture-young-talent-1-8857068

That's a decent article. Obviously not a full time Star employee.

 

[Argentinemanager]

a very good article, well done star, still wouldnt buy the paper

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

A very interesting article, which as a statement of intent is quite compelling. There are major differences, in that At. Bilbao see themselves as the Basque equivalent of Barcelona, and that brings a lot of baggage (good and bad) with it. United don't even have that status in South Yorkshire, as, however much we might wish to, we cannot ignore S6. But the momentum at the moment is built on a strong connection to the locality, with chairman, manager and captain very much Blades, and the academy producing exciting players, who unfortunately have not thus far spent their best years with us. I hope we can tap into this. If we imagine 2 scenarios, where we win the Cup in 3 years time (fantasy, I know). In one scenario, we are owned by a Chinese billionaire, via a company registered in the Virgin Islands, with a Serbian manager, a Japanese captain, and only 3 Europeans in the starting eleven, none of whom speak good English or have played a long time at the Lane. I would be very happy. In the second scenario, we have local people as chairman, manager, captain, 8 of the team are British, most of whom have played several years at the Lane, including 3 young academy graduates. My pride would know no bounds, feeling that the club had a strong and direct connection with my city. Football is an emotional game, and local roots are at the heart of the best of it. I flitted between 2 mediocre international matches on TV last night, and took immense pride in watching Walker, Maguire and Brooks. I would love the club to continue to tap into that emotion.

 

[vorpal blade]

Well, I've got a dinner date tonight with a former Athletic Bilbao season ticket holder. I think the compulsion to only use local players certainly focuses the minds of those at the club to nurture talent and I think it goes to show that very good players and teams aren't produced necessarily from outstandingly talented boys, if they play in a well organised academy then they become better than they would if they were involved in a bad academy.

The parallels with Yorkshire cricket of old are more obvious ....... I've also got a feeling that another Basque team, Vittoria, used to have the same home grown rule, but they dropped it for lack of success?

I would have thought its not as if local lads; Giggs, Scholes, Butt and the Nevilles were phenomenal talents, they were just well educated weren't they?

I'll ask her what she thinks,

itzuli egingo dizut honetan, bye ona

 

[vorpal blade]

Yeah well, I got that all a bit muddled, Deportivo Alavés is the team from Vitoria but the more famous Real Sociedad are the other big Basque team.

Thanks go out to Wikileaks® for this.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Yeah well, I got that all a bit muddled, Deportivo Alavés is the team from Vitoria but the more famous Real Sociedad are the other big Basque team.

Thanks go out to Wikileaks® for this.

Osasuna, Arenas Gexto and Eibar as well. There is a Vitoria Club as well but not top divisions.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Good article.

I also enjoyed the vorpal blade tour of Northern Spain

 

[Sean Thornton]

A very interesting article, which as a statement of intent is quite compelling. There are major differences, in that At. Bilbao see themselves as the Basque equivalent of Barcelona, and that brings a lot of baggage (good and bad) with it. United don't even have that status in South Yorkshire, as, however much we might wish to, we cannot ignore S6. But the momentum at the moment is built on a strong connection to the locality, with chairman, manager and captain very much Blades, and the academy producing exciting players, who unfortunately have not thus far spent their best years with us. I hope we can tap into this. If we imagine 2 scenarios, where we win the Cup in 3 years time (fantasy, I know). In one scenario, we are owned by a Chinese billionaire, via a company registered in the Virgin Islands, with a Serbian manager, a Japanese captain, and only 3 Europeans in the starting eleven, none of whom speak good English or have played a long time at the Lane. I would be very happy. In the second scenario, we have local people as chairman, manager, captain, 8 of the team are British, most of whom have played several years at the Lane, including 3 young academy graduates. My pride would know no bounds, feeling that the club had a strong and direct connection with my city. Football is an emotional game, and local roots are at the heart of the best of it. I flitted between 2 mediocre international matches on TV last night, and took immense pride in watching Walker, Maguire and Brooks. I would love the club to continue to tap into that emotion.

I dont think Athletic Club see themselves as a Basque version of Barcelona. Rather the opposite. There's been a long standing rivalry and the Basques, football wise, are even more dismissive of Barca than they are Real.

The cantera policy extended from local areas to the whole of the Basque region over the years. Youngsters at academies throughout the region even if non Basque are now allowed subject to age/ time and players born outside the region of Basque parents have also been signed.

The Bilbao fans are incredibly passionate about their team as can be seen by visiting the city.

The similarity between them and us in an insularity where what other fans/clubs think. Unlike say at the Sty where they are desperate to believe genuinely big clubs and their fans love them.

 

[BushBlade]

Good article.

I also enjoyed the vorpal blade tour of Northern Spain

It was like Wicker's World without the pictures.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

It was like Wicker's World without the pictures.

I now have the vision of a rather sartorial vorpal blade in slacks and blazer.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I now have the vision of a rather sartorial vorpal blade in slacks and blazer.

 

[BushBlade]

View attachment 33261

That's exactly how I picture vorpal blade but in my mind he's carrying an adjustable set square.

 

[Bladepicker]

So which one of us is Peter Beeby, guest writer for the Star?

smart money is on Roberto

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

So which one of us is Peter Beeby, guest writer for the Star?

smart money is on Roberto

Is bonky madness, no?

 

[Sean Thornton]

So which one of us is Peter Beeby, guest writer for the Star?

smart money is on Roberto

Clearly Blade Too Long!

 

[Blade for Sale]

At least they referenced the generous Gazzetta article as opposed to that bizarre piece in a Spanish rag branding us the footballing arm of UKIP and Combat 18

Yeah well, I got that all a bit muddled, Deportivo Alavés is the team from Vitoria but the more famous Real Sociedad are the other big Basque team.

Thanks go out to Wikileaks® for this.

Sociedad used to have the same policy but abandoned it in the late 80s, interestingly to allow foreigners but not other Spaniards. Their first foreign signings were non other than Dalian Atkinson (RIP), John Aldridge and Kevin Richardson.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

But where was Bilbo in there?

 

[Sean Thornton]

At least they referenced the generous Gazzetta article as opposed to that bizarre piece in a Spanish rag branding us the footballing arm of UKIP and Combat 18

Sociedad used to have the same policy but abandoned it in the late 80s, interestingly to allow foreigners but not other Spaniards. Their first foreign signings were non other than Dalian Atkinson (RIP), John Aldridge and Kevin Richardson.

One of the main reasons was Athletic Clubs aggressive expansion into signing all the young Basque players in the entire region, helped by their successes on the field at the time. The best time success wise since Englishmen Fred Pentland - of whom there's a statue of in the new town - who was followed by William Garbutt.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I dont think Athletic Club see themselves as a Basque version of Barcelona. Rather the opposite. There's been a long standing rivalry and the Basques, football wise, are even more dismissive of Barca than they are Real.

The cantera policy extended from local areas to the whole of the Basque region over the years. Youngsters at academies throughout the region even if non Basque are now allowed subject to age/ time and players born outside the region of Basque parents have also been signed.

The Bilbao fans are incredibly passionate about their team as can be seen by visiting the city.

The similarity between them and us in an insularity where what other fans/clubs think. Unlike say at the Sty where they are desperate to believe genuinely big clubs and their fans love them.

The reason I can't see At Bilbao as a model for United is their role in politics. I can't think of an English club which has the political symbolism of Barcelona or At Bilbao. There is a good book by Duncan Shaw on all this, and he argues that under Franco At Bilbao were even more politicised than Barcelona. The ground was one of the few public places where Basque could be spoken, and after Franco's death, it was the first place that the Basque flag was displayed in public. Nearly all the club presidents have been members of the Basque Nationalist Party. Basques and Catalans have a very different idea of nationalism, but the 2 clubs have many similarities. Can't see any English clubs playing this role, unless that article about CW being Mr Brexit turns out to be prophetic, and United become the football wing of UKIP.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

You should visit Bilbao sometime if you like this thread.

We went in middle of summer school holidays 2 years ago because it was the cheapest way to get to Spain. At a time when flight prices were sky high we got returns to Bilbao for about £80.

Worth spending 2 days there (see the Guggenheim museum possibly) then try SAN Sebastian just down the coast. If it’s not raining (which it usually is) head to the North West coast and traverse the amazing Picos de Europas.

All for next to nowt! (Sheffieder’s will love this!).

 

[Carlton Blade]

I do wonder how much of our success with young players is down to blind luck and how much is the set up? Maybe success begets success and how well we've done in the past allows us to get players like Brooks. Just seems mental that we'e brought through as many as we have and Wednesday have done nothing. Being harsh but I never see us as being particularly well run (in the past at least)

 

[SteveBlade]

How well would we do with the pulling power of a consolidated Premier League club if we only signed players from Yorkshire, or players who came through Yorkshire academies?

I'd say quite well.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

That's exactly how I picture vorpal blade but in my mind he's carrying an adjustable set square.

If it's adjustable is it a square or even set?

 

[groveblade]

A good, in-depth piece, penned by an S2 member, exploring comparisons between United and Athletic Bilbao.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foot...es-continue-to-nurture-young-talent-1-8857068

I would absolutely love it if the Blades could be considered (by ourselves, and others) in the same bracket and mould as Athlétic Club de Bilbao!!

There are strong similarities and, if we build on them, there's no reason we can't re-establish ourselves as a fixture in the top flight... if we could do it with a "different" identity and a local-grown players identity then that would be a dream come true - in my eyes.

Having been to Bilbao many times... I've seen that a real strong point they have is that you can absolutely feel that the whole city is behind them - all bars have a pennant or a photo or whatever of the team.. obviously we can't re-enact that entirely due to los cerdos in S6... but... if pubs and venues in S2 can slowly be encouraged to join in/show support for SUFC through showing memorabilia etc then I think that has a really strong impact on our identity and strength as a club...

UTB eta Aupa Athlétic!!

 

[Canterbury Blade]

Great ground with terracing and a wine and sangria sack being passed along the terrace, though seeing as the ground has rotated recently I doubt if that's still there. Anyone know?

I thought they had more of a historic association with sunland, due to ship building, hence the red and white. Though as always, I stand to be corrected.

Two over riding memories were of some strange game of squash played with your hands that made it onto local TV and the prominence of Bobby Sands pictures in some of the old town bars. I'm guessing ETA connections from old and bar owners making statements..

The Guggenheim also had some weird performance art of blokes painting naked women and rolling them onto wallpaper. I was enthralled and full of ideas when I returned to the apartment with some local El Duluxo. Our lass was less impressed, refused and forbade me from ever tasting the fruits of the wine and sangria sack again..

Good place Bilbao..

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Great ground with terracing and a wine and sangria sack being passed along the terrace, though seeing as the ground has rotated recently I doubt if that's still there. Anyone know?

I thought they had more of a historic association with sunland, due to ship building, hence the red and white. Though as always, I stand to be corrected.

Two over riding memories were of some strange game of squash played with your hands that made it onto local TV and the prominence of Bobby Sands pictures in some of the old town bars. I'm guessing ETA connections from old and bar owners making statements..

The Guggenheim also had some weird performance art of blokes painting naked women and rolling them onto wallpaper. I was enthralled and full of ideas when I returned to the apartment with some local El Duluxo. Our lass was less impressed, refused and forbade me from ever tasting the fruits of the wine and sangria sack again..

Good place Bilbao..

Correct on the Sunderland links, as well as ETA/IRA connections. Glad you managed to take in the high culture as well.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

Correct on the Sunderland links, as well as ETA/IRA connections. Glad you managed to take in the high culture as well.

She wouldn't let me take in her high culture...

Something along the lines of "you stink of booze, put that nasty looking paint brush down and stop looking at me like that, you remind me of the dog" from a hazy recollection to be fair..

 

[Berlin Blade]

It would break European employment laws to discriminate against someone because of where they're born. We'd get sued I think.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

She wouldn't let me take in her high culture...

Something along the lines of "you stink of booze, put that nasty looking paint brush down and stop looking at me like that, you remind me of the dog" from a hazy recollection to be fair..

So you got plastered, but weren't allowed to do the painting. I'll get mi coat.