I am also amazed how the players mature and step up. See Iturra, De Marcos, Amore, Susa and Iñigo Perez.

Regarding Bielsa’s dislike for la Furia and strong work rate type of playing or players, I think he realizes that this is part of Athletic’s DNA and has done a great job melding his style with the old style. See all the headers scored of late.

Great comments and discussion. Gracias.

Maybe it’s because I’m from Barakaldo and not from Bilbao!

Just to add my point of view, I see less romanticism now in Athletic’s policy of hirings, lot of players are bought and often I don’t think we can even say that at least the key players have been made in Lezama (Athletic’s school of football). I don’t know if for a player that comes from Real Sociedad, Osasuna or other clubs it’s specially touching playing for Athletic (for me it wouldn’t be at all to play for Real, for example, even if I’d try to make my best since it’s my job. Well I mean, if I was professional football player). However there’s something in Athletic that makes players (with few exceptions) get special compromise with the club once they’re here. I have watched them playing good, bad or horrible along the years but I don’t remember a time in which I have felt they weren’t trying the best they can. To express with an example, I don’t think that something like what has happened with Atlético Madrid this season, with players lazing till the coach was fired and all of them now really playing when Simeone has arrived. I think compromise should be the least to ask to a player, but something that’s often so hard to find you have for granted in Athletic.

About Bielsa’s flexibility I’m not so sure. I think he likes technical players that play in aggresive way. Don’t think he really likes Toquero, in fact he was a key player last season and with Bielsa he was close to be out of the club before la liga started. Just, there’s no really much more to choose in Athletic, there’s a clear lack of strikers. Toquero is lately playing a bit more and showing he has something else that just aggresiveness (he’s great in assists, this morning he made the pass for Llorente’s goal) so let’s hope he can gain Bielsa’s trust.

Ballfoot v Football: The Spanish Leadership Maestros: The reinventors of the game invented by the English

Likewise the above tables (note the mistake of Montoya he is a Barcelona player, the reference to Sevilla was for the former incumbent) represent the ranking at the end of 2011. As you can see Torres was already the last of list as we foresaw his exclusion of the national team

The above tables are the indispensable framework to understand how Vicente del Bosque and his team operates thus being free from media speculation i.e. the latest one was the recruitment of Juanra just because he plays in Madrid. There was never the case as both Iraola and Montoya are ahead of him of course.

In conclusion, these are not predictions but desirable career moves for our players. We started this in October 2008 and we then said that Silva, Villa or Negredo would have to move elsewhere. We also said that both Alonso and Torres would leave Liverpool.

We cater for the needs of Spain´s national team. The more players in the Premier the stronger team we will have. Simply because in Spain our players are not valued properly unless the Barcelona coach is a national one like Guardiola