[Xulu]

After reading a number of threads around the community and thinking about the subject, I've decided to start up a save with Athletic Bilbao. Once again I am abandoning another set of projects (my Achievement Challenge and a Spain national team save), but I think this is one save that I can really get behind and actually follow through on.

I've tried two games with Bilbao but never got them going due to time constraints or being interested in something else. I am interested in getting another save going. Even after reading the other threads I'm curious to what other people think. What would be the best way to manage a team with the challenges of Athletic?

For reference. Athletic Bilbao play in La Liga, a league dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona. Those two are miles ahead of everyone else in Spain, and your toughest opposition. Even before you can challenge them though, you have to get through some still very solid clubs in Villareal, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla, and Malaga. That all may not be too difficult in and of itself; managing a side like Everton would provide a similar challenge in terms of league position.

The largest challenge of Bilbao is their cantera policy of recruitment. Most clubs have given up on cantera, but Bilbao still keep it. Bilbao can only sign players who are Basque unless they are U16 and from certain Spanish regions. There are only a few million Basques, and few have what it takes for La Liga. To be successful, you will have to develop these young Basques into a force. You will have very few outside players you are able to sign, so you will have to rely on developing all of your players through your youth academy. It is the ultimate test of managing a youth academy.

One thing I've thought of is editing the database to collect the highest Basque players into Athletic from the start of the game. Most notably this would bring Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta, and one of Manuel Alumina or Stephane Ruffier to the club (Ruffier being significant as a French Basque). Those and others would give me a number of upgrades for players and better allow me to compete in La Liga immediately while giving me a greater sense of being the "Basque National Side". In addition, upgrading the Youth Setup, Academy, and Recruitment might be on the cards too.

So what say you? How to manage Bilbao?

[supermini]

Xulu, on 07 September 2011 - 12:40 AM, said:

The largest challenge of Bilbao is their cantera policy of recruitment. Most clubs have given up on cantera, but Bilbao still keep it. Bilbao can only sign players who are Basque unless they are U16 and from certain Spanish regions. There are only a few million Basques, and few have what it takes for La Liga. To be successful, you will have to develop these young Basques into a force. You will have very few outside players you are able to sign, so you will have to rely on developing all of your players through your youth academy. It is the ultimate test of managing a youth academy.

One thing I've thought of is editing the database to collect the highest Basque players into Athletic from the start of the game. Most notably this would bring Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta, and one of Manuel Alumina or Stephane Ruffier to the club (Ruffier being significant as a French Basque). Those and others would give me a number of upgrades for players and better allow me to compete in La Liga immediately while giving me a greater sense of being the "Basque National Side". In addition, upgrading the Youth Setup, Academy, and Recruitment might be on the cards too.

So what say you? How to manage Bilbao?

It does sound like an ultimate Youth Academy challenge. The question is whether all the players that come through the academy are Basque (or, if not, whether you consider them fair game for recruitment). If so, then I would suggest that you don't edit the database. Arteta and Alonso are a bit unrealistic, Arteta would cost you 7 times your transfer budget at the game start, and Alonso is impossible to sign, period. He would probably want to leave the instant that you put him in your club due to his reputation.

On the plus side, you already have some youth players (from a glance at the database) with fairly good potential, and a fairly large squad. Also, the youth facilities, youth recruitment network, and youth academy are almost the best, so a boost there would probably be an overkill.

My suggestion to make your life easier would be to bump the reputation of the club. Seeing how restricted you are in your recruitment options, it should allow you to bring in some of the (few) players you are eligible to sign, and your players will be less inclined to leave for a bigger club. Also, I'd recommend editing the database to give yourself full coaching staff.

The ultimate challenge here will be producing results for the first five or so years while your youth players mature and not getting sacked in the process, and not losing what players you have to bigger clubs. Also, it's probably best that you hunt down as many basque youth players from other clubs as possible every year. Youth recruitment is a huge lottery, I've had consecutive dry seasons in top clubs and wonderkids coming out of the woodwork in average clubs, so...Yeah, good luck. I've done full youth development saves before, but I was signing young players from other clubs all the time, nothing this restricted. I could never get used to inconsistent injury-prone strikers with 6 natural fitness and terrible attitude that typically come out of my academies.

[grimness]

Only thing I'd edit is David Lopez workrate to 12, as he had in 11.2 patch. 1 is there by obvious mistake, Oscar De Marcos is right footed with SC as natural position and others accomplished.
My previous edits on each patch would be filling the staff and adding real budget to finances (ofc not those 50 mil. EUR to transfer). Both staff and yearly budget can be seen on official website and also lots of youth coaches are included in database. Some as unemployed staff or as older players. It can be pain in the ass to get rid of them later on cos usually they end up with low PA/CA.

Some players have lower attributes but good amount of them are two-footed so it balances out. But Lopez and Gabilondo are underrated with crossing, corners and set pieces even tho they are known for that irl.