Atlético Madrid

[darthvader7888]

Well, Milan have sacked Allegri, so who knows. They could be a lot better (or perhaps even worse) by February. They might surprise Atletico like they surprised us last year, but I still expect Atletico to go through comfortably.

 

[Antimilan]

It is AC Milan in the CL. You NEVER EVER write off AC Milan in the CL.

They historically had that 'CL' thing... but this current team is a pathetic one, can't do anything even with the bus parking and all that as always. They even parked the bus against PSV in play-off for God's sake... how can anyone stand the pathetic level of this Milan ?

 

[juguar]

They historically had that 'CL' thing... but this current team is a pathetic one, can't do anything even with the bus parking and all that as always. They even parked the bus against PSV in play-off for God's sake... how can anyone stand the pathetic level of this Milan ?

Seedorf is coming back though. That will give them a lift.

 

[Semi-Neutral]

Well he does have the fact that he's right on his side...

 

[Cule4life]

Well he does have the fact that he's right on his side...

Did i say he's wrong? Predictable can be right

 

[Dan1983]

Missed the chance to go top last night with a 1-1 draw with Sevilla.

 

[Alarcón]

Wolfsburg stated that they came to an agreement with Atlético on Diego's transfer. It all depends on Diego and Atlético now. Fee will be around 1.5m.

 

[DonAndres]

Wonderful signing when it's completed. Some have complained that they still needed creativity or a #10 type playmaker to push forward into the elite and Diego is exactly that. Atletico have some brilliant midfielders in Koke and Arda but this really solidifies their depth. IMO they only need more depth for fullbacks and strikers, and rumor has it that they're trying to sign Angel Correa from San Lorenzo who's a great prospect in the long term.

Maybe a buy one get one free deal and they can get Ricardo Rodriguez from Wolfsburg as well

 

[JamDav1982]

Wonderful signing when it's completed. Some have complained that they still needed creativity or a #10 type playmaker to push forward into the elite and Diego is exactly that. Atletico have some brilliant midfielders in Koke and Arda but this really solidifies their depth. IMO they only need more depth for fullbacks and strikers, and rumor has it that they're trying to sign Angel Correa from San Lorenzo who's a great prospect in the long term.

Maybe a buy one get one free deal and they can get Ricardo Rodriguez from Wolfsburg as well

Simeones system doesn't really have a '10' in. Tends to be more of a 4-4-2 with two harder working players in the CM and two AM in the wider areas. Would imagine that they will play Diego in more of a wider role than that of a ten.

Would also be surprised if Diego, Arda and Koke are all there next season. Diego probably came in to replace one of those two in the end.

Atletico are not bad for numbers at fullback they have Manquillo and Juanfran at RB and Felipe and Insua at left back. Even upfront they are not light and have Diego Costa, Villa, Adrian. With Baptistao away on loan and Raul Garcia being experimented with up front.

 

[DonAndres]

Simeones system doesn't really have a '10' in. Tends to be more of a 4-4-2 with two harder working players in the CM and two AM in the wider areas. Would imagine that they will play Diego in more of a wider role than that of a ten.

Would also be surprised if Diego, Arda and Koke are all there next season. Diego probably came in to replace one of those two in the end.

Atletico are not bad for numbers at fullback they have Manquillo and Juanfran at RB and Felipe and Insua at left back. Even upfront they are not light and have Diego Costa, Villa, Adrian. With Baptistao away on loan and Raul Garcia being experimented with up front.

They don't play with an out and out #10 in the formation but it's been said that they need a player of that style/profile. Koke isn't a dribbler and Arda isn't a straight up playmaker, but Diego is both.

Diego can play in the wide areas well anyway, maintaining his style of play. Koke is being shifted to CM more often recently and performing very well there, so Arda and Diego as the wide AM's means that all 3 can stay with ease. Not to mention they have Tiago, Oliver, Sosa, etc. to rotate often with. None of the 3 has to leave next season, and it's looking less likely that any of them will. If any player will leave it's Costa and that too is debatable considering his commitment.

Insua isn't the best of left backs though, he'll work while Luis is out right now. Up front is a different ballgame as right now they seem ok but you never know. If they lose Costa, they have no one to rely on soon. Baptistao can develop in a few years (he's doing admirably at Betis, just missing the goals) but Villa is aging and Raul Garcia isn't a go-to man even if he functions. Correa would be a good investment since he has the potential to be among the strikers that Atletico develops to a very high standard.

 

[Ryu Hayabusa]

Diego is allowed to play for them in the CL, right? To me, Atletico are now more than ever this season's dark horse to go to the final, if not even win it.

 

[JamDav1982]

They don't play with an out and out #10 in the formation but it's been said that they need a player of that style/profile. Koke isn't a dribbler and Arda isn't a straight up playmaker, but Diego is both.

Diego can play in the wide areas well anyway, maintaining his style of play. Koke is being shifted to CM more often recently and performing very well there, so Arda and Diego as the wide AM's means that all 3 can stay with ease. Not to mention they have Tiago, Oliver, Sosa, etc. to rotate often with. None of the 3 has to leave next season, and it's looking less likely that any of them will. If any player will leave it's Costa and that too is debatable considering his commitment.

Insua isn't the best of left backs though, he'll work while Luis is out right now. Up front is a different ballgame as right now they seem ok but you never know. If they lose Costa, they have no one to rely on soon. Baptistao can develop in a few years (he's doing admirably at Betis, just missing the goals) but Villa is aging and Raul Garcia isn't a go-to man even if he functions. Correa would be a good investment since he has the potential to be among the strikers that Atletico develops to a very high standard.

If Simeone wanted someone to play as a ten he has Arda who is better than Diego. It is not his style.

The reason I think Arda or Koke will leave before then is due to the money not because they cant fit them all in.

Atletico don't need a ten to do that would mean to change a style that has transformed their fortunes in the past few seasons.

 

[DonAndres]

If Simeone wanted someone to play as a ten he has Arda who is better than Diego. It is not his style.

The reason I think Arda or Koke will leave before then is due to the money not because they cant fit them all in.

Atletico don't need a ten to do that would mean to change a style that has transformed their fortunes in the past few seasons.

Once again I'm not talking about a #10 role, just a player with those qualities. Turan is indeed a better player but he's more about tight dribbling and transitioning their play than playing throughballs or key passes. Koke does play those kinds of passes, but he's less of a dribbler and dynamic player, more of an engine. Diego is that perfect in between and he can function in wider areas. If there was a perfect counterpart attacking midfielder to play in tandem with Arda, it's Diego.

Koke and Arda give them plenty of midfield quality, but whatever they're missing in terms of creating chances can be provided by Diego. He doesn't have to play as a 10, he just has those types of playmaker qualities that can contribute a lot to the team.

 

[JamDav1982]

Once again I'm not talking about a #10 role, just a player with those qualities. Turan is indeed a better player but he's more about tight dribbling and transitioning their play than playing throughballs or key passes. Koke does play those kinds of passes, but he's less of a dribbler and dynamic player, more of an engine. Diego is that perfect in between and he can function in wider areas. If there was a perfect counterpart attacking midfielder to play in tandem with Arda, it's Diego.

Koke and Arda give them plenty of midfield quality, but whatever they're missing in terms of creating chances can be provided by Diego. He doesn't have to play as a 10, he just has those types of playmaker qualities that can contribute a lot to the team.

I get what you are saying about not playing as an actual ten, but don't think there is much difference between the styles of Arda and Diego other than Arda being the better player.

Hopefully this just makes them stronger anyway.

 

[spark]

Simeone loves Diego and has been asking Caminero to sign him permanently for a few summers now. Arda and Diego already fit in one team in 2011 and Simeone has been proven to be adaptable. The base of their team wont change: that of Coutois, the defense, Gabi + Tiago, Arda and Koke as wide midfielders. All that changes is someone behind Costa who can exploit his pace behind the defenders more consistently. Thinking about it, Diego and Adrian had a better connection than Diego and Falcao because Falcao is slower over long distances, which is why I think Costa and Diego will be a match made in heaven for each other. Costa will also chase down and catch up to most lost causes, making decent passes become genius assists.