The Blades and Bilbao

[I should coco]

unless that article about CW being Mr Brexit turns out to be prophetic, and United become the football wing of UKIP.

"No-one likes us, we don't care"

 

[Sean Thornton]

and United become the football wing of UKIP.

God imagine the lefties on here, massing at the Lane, taking their bamboo sandals off .....

 

[Sean Thornton]

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.

Wasn't the Basque flag planted in the centre circle by Athletic Club goalkeeper Iribar before the derby with Real Sociedad?

 

[vorpal blade]

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

& BushBlade and SeanX



many a true word spoken in jest, this is how I rolled in this morning - Jaeger btw.

This week, I have been mainly wearing double-breasted blazers - my map of Spain reflected in the background.

Btw, Ana reports that Bilbao have NEVER been relegated in their history - the similarlities start breaking down.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

& BushBlade and SeanX

View attachment 33294

many a true word spoken in jest, this is how I rolled in this morning - Jaeger btw.

This week, I have been mainly wearing double-breasted blazers - my map of Spain reflected in the background.

Btw, Ana reports that Bilbao have NEVER been relegated in their history - the similarlities start breaking down.

I have a few Jaeger jackets myself. Nicely tailored, not fussy and an understated quality.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

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

Roll on 2020.

 

[vorpal blade]

of Jaeger ........ exactly - hence the brass buttons are dulled down.

somebody mentioned 'high-culture' (on top of the haute-couture) in this thread.... in researching this stuff, I found out that Eduardo Chillida had been Real Sociedad's goalkeeper before he had to chuck it in (not literally) due to a knee injury, and was forced to reconstruct his career as Spain's greatest ever sculptor .... not bad hey?

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

of Jaeger ........ exactly - hence the brass buttons are dulled down.

somebody mentioned 'high-culture' (on top of the haute-couture) in this thread.... in researching this stuff, I found out that Eduardo Chillida had been Real Sociedad's goalkeeper before he had to chuck it in (not literally) due to a knee injury, and was forced to reconstruct his career as Spains greatest ever sculptor .... not bad hey?


View attachment 33296

The Chillida-Leku museum on the outskirts of San Sebastian is worth a visit. It's more a house in a park with all his large sculptures in the grounds of the park, but still a good destination.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

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

Sport must have all sorts of exemptions on sex, age discrimination, etc. Presumably you could put in

Wasn't the Basque flag planted in the centre circle by Athletic Club goalkeeper Iribar before the derby with Real Sociedad?

Yes. I have never been to that Derby, but I understand it is an unusual love/hate relationship. And the Basque and Catalan nationalists seem to think the other lot are doing nationalism in the wrong way, which again makes for complex emotions.
I did go with a Basque acquaintance to the 1967 Spanish Cup Final, the only cup final I have ever been to as I wait for United to make it. The welcome in Madrid for the Basques was less than enthusiastic, and totally in line with my expectations of football, the team in red and white stripes lost 2-1.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Roll on 2020.

British law will presumably not be different on discrimination, so I doubt we would be able to exclude anyone born in S6.

 

[1970Blade]

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

You are free to buy what you like obvs, but I think we should be careful what we wish for with regard to the Star.

I think all this 'its biased towards the Pigs' stuff is rubbish.

Along with Radio Sheffield it is the only independent source of news on the club, if they do disappear we'll have a lot less written about the Blades, there isn't a replacement. Local papers are hanging on by a thread and they are crucial at holding local institutions (whether that be Football Clubs, Hospitals or the Council) to account, society will be the poorer for it when they've gone- as they will be one day.

I think James Shield does a decent job, some of the editing isn't brilliant, and occasionally they sensationalise fan stories which isn't great, but on balance they're a force for good, as we will realise at some point in the next 5-20 years when they've disappeared. When they've gone all we'll be left with is unsubstantiated rumours about Sharp and Clarke both missing matches because they had a scrap, god preserve us!

In summary even if you think they're crap, they are better than the alternative.

 

[Sean Thornton]

You are free to buy what you like obvs, but I think we should be careful what we wish for with regard to the Star.

I think all this 'its biased towards the Pigs' stuff is rubbish.

Along with Radio Sheffield it is the only independent source of news on the club, if they do disappear we'll have a lot less written about the Blades, there isn't a replacement. Local papers are hanging on by a thread and they are crucial at holding local institutions (whether that be Football Clubs, Hospitals or the Council) to account, society will be the poorer for it when they've gone- as they will be one day.

I think James Shield does a decent job, some of the editing isn't brilliant, and occasionally they sensationalise fan stories which isn't great, but on balance they're a force for good, as we will realise at some point in the next 5-20 years when they've disappeared. When they've gone all we'll be left with is unsubstantiated rumours about Sharp and Clarke both missing matches because they had a scrap, god preserve us!

In summary even if you think they're crap, they are better than the alternative.

I'd say the debate has moved on from "bias" to a more general commentary about standards.

The online version is particularly poor.

If they want to try and stop the rot that's where they should begin. There are crusading local newspapers. The Star ceased to be a meaningful one some time ago.

 

[Sean Thornton]

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!).

Fabulous City. Go often and never tire of it.

Plentzia at the coast end of the Metro is worth a trip too.

Straight out of the airport terminal onto a bus for a 15 minute journey to the centre for around two euros.

Fabulous Gin and tonics. Superb Pinxtos and traditional Basque cuisine everywhere.


As you say, San Sebastián where the Seagulls wear raincoats is good as are the numerous eating establishments there. Worth a daytrip from Bilbao. I can recommend carpaccio of tuna belly.

 

[BushBlade]

Fabulous City. Go often and never tire of it.

Plentzia at the coast end of the Metro is worth a trip too.

Straight out of the airport terminal onto a bus for a 15 minute journey to the centre for around two euros.

Fabulous Gin and tonics. Superb Pinxtos and traditional Basque cuisine everywhere.


As you say, San Sebastián where the Seagulls wear raincoats is good as are the numerous eating establishments there. Worth a daytrip from Bilbao. I can recommend carpaccio of tuna belly.

No you can't Dejphon.

 

[I should coco]

Fabulous Gin and tonics. Superb Pinxtos and traditional Basque cuisine everywhere.

Worth a daytrip from Bilbao. I can recommend carpaccio of tuna belly.

First holidays in Vietnam, then the daily goings on in Jakarta and now this cosmopolitan metrosexual Blades travelogue.

I believe that a certain Northern English city is so proud of its deep fried potato and bread offering, that they even have a song about it.
"Like a greasy chip butty"

 

[WalkelyFan]

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.

Just wanted to say well written article and I felt the same about the international matches.

 

[WalkelyFan]

I was in Barcelona with a Catalan friend when Los Leones lost to Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey. We watched the game in a local bar and of course we were delighted when Barca won 4-1.
There was a huge rumpus in the Basque end and I smiled knowingly at my friend saying "Not just the English that are football hooligans then".

He became indignant - "They are not football hooligans" he said, "there are Basques. No self respecting Basque would go to Madrid without taking a kick at the Guardia Civil". Sure enough, as the cops came into the crowd to split up the "fight" the crowd as one started kicking shit out of the (now trapped) police.

 

[Berlin Blade]

Roll on 2020.

Not to get into a Brexit debate, but if you still think the absolute standing joke of us leaving the EU is a good idea, i'd suggest having another look at that.

 

[gordoncharles]

The article is nice, but the links are really tenuous - and temporary.

If you're going to talk about English parallels with Athletic Bilbao you may as well mention Southampton. Not only have they developed, and sold, millions worth of players over the last few years, but it's meant to be their kit on which Athletic's is actually based - so legend has it because nobody really knows.

Just as Barcelona see themselves as representing Catalonia, Athletic see themselves representing the entire Basque Region, and just as is the case with Barcelona's rivals this is extremely annoying to the other Basque clubs, particularly as Basque people usually identify with their province first, rather than the region as a whole.

What's more, over the years their definition of "Basque" has changed to widen the net of players available to them and, because they pay a lot more than the other Basque clubs, including Real Sociedad, they tend to harvest the best young talent from the entire region - "fishing in our waters" is the Spanish expression, a bit ironic that from a British point of view

Even then, in recent years Real Sociedad have tended to field more players developed in their academy than Athletic have in theirs, and five years ago, for the first time in their history, Athletic put out a side that didn't contain a single player from their own province of Biscay.

They don't actively sell their players as they're difficult to replace so anyone who wants to buy one (Herrera, Martinez) has to pay the full buy-out-clause on their contract. And most players don't want or need to move because unless they're exceptional they're well rewarded and almost certain never to lose their place in the team.

Which all makes it sound like I'm criticising them, but in fact I applaud their old-school-Yorkshire-cricket policy. Naturally enough, some people believe it's racist - which is a sore point as the founding of Basque nationalism is based on genuinely racist lines - but you'll never please everyone.