Athletic Club de Bilbao

[Sergio]

Which is exactly what I said the policy is.

And they are very pragmatic, wouldn't dream of saying otherwise. After all they have been happy enough to invent Basque grandfathers in the past to comply with their own Apartheid policy. But then they wouldn't be the first racially motivated organisation to be wildly hypocritical.

And no, they are not the same as Real Sociedad or Barca who don't stringently hold to on to a medieval policy for the sake of antagonizing Spain. They had the sense to realise excluding yourself from the rest of the world is no way to state the case of your regional pride and develop local players.

 

[woobie]

It's not just racist, but self-destructing too.

But I remember reading an article during CDR final in 2009... That they have relaxed their rules now and if a player has represented their youth academy then he'll be allowed to play for the first team. Some thing along those lines.

In any case, I think it'd be better for them if they relaxed the rule actually. No need to just live like a frog in a well at times when the world is turning into a place without borders. In fact they would be spreading their philosophies & bneliefs if they started to spread their wings, get in players from different places. Not asking them to exactly sell their souls per se, but look at some of the foreign players representing Barcelona... They feel the colors now, they're as much Catalans as are Xavi, Puyi, etc!!

Wow. No understanding of the region, its culture, or the club and yet you cast aspersions like that. Why should everyone turn into a cookie cutter impression of Barcelona?

 

[AnfieldEd]

Wow. No understanding of the region, its culture, or the club and yet you cast aspersions like that. Why should everyone turn into a cookie cutter impression of Barcelona?

But someday talent at the required level will dry up.....However I greatly admire Bilbao and their philosophy.

 

[La Furia]

But someday talent at the required level will dry up.....However I greatly admire Bilbao and their philosophy.

It has, plenty of times. The Basque talent pool hasn't been this rich since the 80s.

Kind of funny how the Basques and Catalans both have produced probably their most talented ever prospects at around the same time.

 

[Raed]

I blame La Liga referees

 

[dalitis8]

Which is exactly what I said the policy is.

And they are very pragmatic, wouldn't dream of saying otherwise. After all they have been happy enough to invent Basque grandfathers in the past to comply with their own Apartheid policy. But then they wouldn't be the first racially motivated organisation to be wildly hypocritical.

And no, they are not the same as Real Sociedad or Barca who don't stringently hold to on to a medieval policy for the sake of antagonizing Spain. They had the sense to realise excluding yourself from the rest of the world is no way to state the case of your regional pride and develop local players.

What are you saying?

All their players are born in either the Basque country or Navarre, except Amorebieta. Who has Basque origins.

Bilbao are a shining beacon in the midst of vulgar commercialism. No club on this planet deserves more praise than Athletic.

For naive people who totally fall for the inane globalism of late, local pride and self-reliance are medieval and racist concepts.

 

[Aryagorn]

Wow. No understanding of the region, its culture, or the club and yet you cast aspersions like that. Why should everyone turn into a cookie cutter impression of Barcelona?

HAHA woobie... You know nothing about me and you still passed the judgement that I'm being a "cookie cutter impression" of Barcelona!?!

I really think that basques are limiting themselves by giving chances to only them who belong to their region, some how,... Improve that and I'll believe you're contributing more to the betterment of them!!

 

[Sergio]

Wow. No understanding of the region, its culture, or the club and yet you cast aspersions like that. Why should everyone turn into a cookie cutter impression of Barcelona?

I have, indeed you first went to Bilbao on my recommendation, so you know full well my affinity with the city and region. Which is why I say the policy stinks. Its the narrow minded, chip on the shoulder, militant attitude you see in the hill villages of rural Pais Vasco, where kids still throw stones at police cars. That isn't Bilbao at all, which is great because its probably the most cosmopolitan, liberal minded and outward looking small city I have certainly ever been to. The Vasco only policy is a very old throw back which is actually now very out of tune with said culture of the city. Thats primarily why I take issue with it, it gives a backward impression of the place which is actually the polar opposite.

 

[Metaphysical]

Athletic's policy isn't racist, it's xenophobic. if it was racist then how do you explain Jonas Ramalho?

ray

I would hate to watch Ray Hudson comment on a shit match.

but for teams like Barça, Athletic, Chile, Brazil when they're playing like Brazil, and to be fair even Real... he's perfect. no one captures the stupefying brilliance of attacking football quite like Ray Hudson does.

 

[La Furia]

To be fair the Basques are also the master race.

Seriously though, if it was entirely about bloodlines and not complicated (albeit still manipulatable) identity politics, they could stack their team up with Chileans and Argentines of Basque ancestry. I'm surprised they don't do that more, I mean about 10% of Argentina and 25% of Chile has Basque ancestry FFS.

Gonzalo Higuaín for Athletic, anyone?

 

[xaviniesta]

I would hate to watch Ray Hudson comment on a shit match.

he would make even curling pretty fun to watch.

 

[La Furia]

he would make even curling pretty fun to watch.

Curling is always fun to watch.

 

[dalitis8]

Ray Hudson does not need women.

 

[xaviniesta]

PUSH HARDEEEERRR!!!! SWEEEP TIGHTEERRR!!!! AAAAAAARRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHH!H!!!!!!!!! (ray had orgasm)

 

[gingerless]

what the fuck is this? when did they make sweeping a sport? i don't even....