08/09 Kit Presentation

Just a brief entry about our new kit. I like it and I’ll be buying a home & away jersey once it’s available over here!

I crossed off Mista’s name from the striker list below– little by little we’re letting go of the rubbish. Hopefully by this coming week, we’ll add one or two new quality faces to the team…

08/09 Top Squad as of 9-June-08

I added a new blog to my Blogroll, Rey de la Furia Española, and I like his most recent entry, so I will mimic it here, but in English and with some of my own thoughts.

GOALKEEPERS
LEO FRANCO
FALCÓN
CUELLAR
ABBIATI
COUPET (updated)

Abbiati has returned to Milan after his 07/08 season loan spell. Meanwhile, Cuellar will return to Madrid after his loan spell at Eibar, but will most likely be sent out on loan again or secure a permanent move to another club. Falcón‘s future seems in doubt at the moment; he had moments to play in 07/08 due to injuries sustained by Abbiati while Leo Franco was out injured, but he really doesn’t seem to be considered anything more than a third choice goalkeeper by the higher-ups. That leaves us with Leo Franco. Not a bad goalkeeper, but certainly not one of the best, it must be said. Hopefully he’ll return to good form this coming season.

Rumoured to be heading our way at this point: recently relegated Livorno’s Marco Amelia and Mallorca’s Miguel Angel Moyà.

DEFENDERS
ANTONIO LÓPEZ
SEITARIDIS
VALERA
PABLO
PEREA
ELLER
ZE CASTRO
PERNÍA
HEITINGA (updated)
UJFALUSI (updated)

THANK YOU GOD for the signings of Heitinga and Ujfalusi, two quality defenders. This should mean the end of Eller & Zé Castro. There’s also speculation that we will listen to offers for Seitaridis, Valera, & Pernía. If they do stay, they will not receive regular playing time as they’ve proven time and time again in 07/08 their limitations and weaknesses. These players are NOT Champions quality by any stretch of the imagination. Meanwhile, Pablo’s future seems a bit fuzzy at the moment; he had an awful 07/08 season and there was some talk of the club listening to offers for him some months ago, but I have not seen a similar headline recently. Perea & Antonio seem 100% certain to stay with the club.

So, in terms of additional signings, we need at least another solid centre-back and a right-back, I think.

MIDFIELDERS
RAÚL GARCÍA
CAMACHO
MOTTA
MANICHE
CLEBER SANTANA
MIGUEL
JURADO
SIMAO
MAXI
REYES
LUIS GARCÍA

Our only 08/09 certainties are: Maxi, Raúl García, Simão, and Motta. Reyes has said that he wishes to stay and prove his worth at the club after a fairly unimpressive 07/08. If Luis remains, he will most likely continue as a bench option. Meanwhile, the club are openly and actively seeking new clubs for black-listed Maniche and Cleber. Camacho could be sent out on loan– with England as a possible destination. Jurado has been linked with a move to Mallorca, at least some time ago, but it seems likely that the club will listen to offers for him. Miguel– who knows what will happen with him; perhaps he’ll be sent out on loan, if he wishes regular playing time.

If anything else, we desperately need a playmaker and a proper holding midfielder for 08/09.

STRIKERS
AGÜERO
FORLÁN
MISTA
BRAULIO
SINAMA-PONGOLLE (updated)

 

Slim options up front. Kun & Forlán will continue as our first choice strikers. Mista was underutilized in 07/08 and will probably leave the club this summer, thank goodness. Braulio returns from loan, but will the club keep him or find another club for him.

Lots of players rumoured to be headed our way, Sinama-Pongolle, Uche, Oliviera, etc. None of these names stand out to me, to be honest, except for maybe Oliviera.

Anyway, let’s see what develops in the next coming weeks! (Anything missing?)

Above all else, I hope that the club consider incorporating quality canteranos into the squad. It’s crucial to develop our own talent!

AUPA ATLETI Y SALUDOS A TODOS

Catching Up Entry

Lots of players on international duty for EURO and WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS.

Ujfaluši played a full 90 minutes for the Czech Republic’s opening game against Switzerland.

Simão played 83 minutes for Portugal against Turkey.

Seitaridis & Heitinga have games this coming week. Speaking of Seitaridis, I do recall reading that the Greek might leave the club this summer.

Meanwhile, Kun & Maxi continue have played two friendlies so far, all warm-up for Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers.

Forlán will serve international duty for Uruguay in their World Cup qualifiers.

I hope that they all return fully fit by the start of 08/09…

RUMOURS GALORE

Too many to list, but here are a few.

According to some (albeit dubious) sources, we’re linked with Recreativo’s Sinama, Zaragoza’s Oliviera (on loan?), Getafe’s Uche,  and Paulo Assunçao.

Am I the only one completely underwhelmed by these players?

Then there are the rumours involving Lucho González & Luca Cigarini, which are total rubbish as well.

Meanwhile, the English press claims Newcastle have offered us 10 million euros for Reyes. Of course, even if that was true, Reyes has said many times that he hates England. Another rubbish rumour.

All the while, black-listed Maniche has declared that he will not return to the club if Aguirre continues as manager. Of course, that means he won’t be returning. Good riddance, I say.

Some good news is that ALEX QUILLO, Atleti youth product, has signed a professional contract with the club until 2010.

INJURY NEWS
Motta will hopefully be back to full fitness by the start of the season, having recovered from that persistent knee injury. It’s a shame he’s so injury-riddled because he truly is an excellent player when fit.

New entry will be up later on today (Monday).

Personal Blog Moment: US v Argentina

Apologies for the lack of blogging since the end of the season. Regular blogging will be back to normal starting this week.

Here are a couple Atleti-centric photos from the friendly at Giants Stadium:

Kun warming up before the start of the game.

Maxi & fellow Albiceleste Mascherano in the 1st half.

I had a fantastic, first row seat in section 113. The game was a bit of a let-down, unfortunately.

Anyway, I hope to see more of Kun and Maxi in the 08/09 season as I plan to visit Spain for a couple weeks. Should be great!