The Athletic has completed its second leg of the summer. The start in Lezama gave way to friendlies during his stay in Germany. Drawing conclusions from these first ‘boluses’ can be hasty because the feeling is that Valverde he has used them as an observation phase. The typical step when a new coach arrives at a club and wants to know first-hand what is available to him and prove that this is what preseasons are for.
Until now, Chingurri He has distributed the efforts and has watched the potentiometer of his troops in the 300 minutes played: 45 against Borussia Monchengladbach and the Duisburgo90 vs. Bochum and the 120 against him Mainz 05. The load will increase in the final sprint before Newcastle (July 30), mirandés (31), Real society (August 5) and Alaves (6) and the coach will divide the group into two blocks given how compressed the appointments are.
All except the injured Unai Simon have had their chance at Germany. The Athletic He closed the stage without knowing defeat, with a balance of three draws and one victory. Although it could have been better, since the triumph in Mainz it ran away over the horn. Beyond the sensations of each other, what is certain is that Valverde It has served him to test a lot and lay the foundations for what will be the new rojiblanco course.
1. A BASE WITH POSSIBLE SHADES IN THE SKELETON
One of the unknowns that had to be cleared up in the first meetings of the new Athletic was to know how I was going to handle the pieces Valverde after the stage of the practically immovable 4-4-2 of Marcelino. The base of the skeleton you have shown Chingurri in Germany It is his classic 4-2-3-1, which can be transformed into a 4-3-3 or a 4-1-4-1 depending on the profiles used in midfield and in attack.
It is the nuances that will tell how offensive the Bilbao team intends to be. From Marcos already ventured before heading to Germany that his feeling was that he was going to see a somewhat more attacking team than in the previous stage of Valverde. The Athletic He has tried to take the initiative with the ball in all his moves and has dominated more than he has been dominated. to join Muniain y Sancet inside before him Bochumeven if it were 45 minutes, can be significant.
Vesga he seems to be leading the way to fill the anchor position holding the center of the field. He has always been surrounded by the most titular bloc in German lands. Will the technician try to repeat the role that corresponded to source in the 2013-14 campaign?
read also
2. MULTIPLE TESTS IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS
If the commitments of the Athletic To date it has been due to the positional variety fostered by his coach. Valverde has carried out multiple tests in all the plots of the green, working on all possible scenarios so as not to leave anything to chance during the course.
Perhaps the most surprising thing has been to see Danny Garcia central for half an hour against the Mainz. The one from Viandar de la Vera joined his two main ‘players’ inside: Muniain y Sancet. The question is whether it will continue. also tried with Villalibre y Guruzeta at the same time in the appointment on Saturday, with the only signing of Ibaigane ‘midpointing’ from behind.
Berenguer He has acted on both wings of the attack. Nolaskoian He has worked as a central defender and as a central midfielder, but he lasted a few minutes due to the blow suffered against the Bochum. shank has passed from the right wing against the Duisburgo to the left side in Mainz. A Pecha He has been seen on the right side of the rear and in the engine room. Valverde has also been able to see in situ the evolution of Paredes, Luis Bilbao and Adu Ares. The future of the last two points to continue growing in the subsidiary.
3. IN THE LACK OF A LEAD SCORER, A FAN
The goal is the great headache in recent years in the universe Athletic. The balance in the first commitments of the summer is six goals in 300 minutes, that is, at an average of one goal every 50′. A priori it is not bad, however the data has a certain trick because three of them occurred in the final 10 minutes against the Bochum. In the remaining 290′, they did three.
The rojiblancos showed their lack of punch in the friendly against Borussia MG and in the first half against Bochum. The positive thing is that the filmmaking fan is open. The notches have been the work of Nico Serrano, Raúl García, Villalibre (2), Williams and Nico Williams. All distributed among the attack men. In the absence of someone bringing together a large number of goals, the distribution among many pieces is presented as the best solution.
Nico Williams takes a shot during training in Germany
The tests at the spearhead have been above average. Williams, Raul, Guruzeta and Villalibre they played 45 minutes each against Borussia MG, Duisburg and Bochum. Rotation to power. Valverde delimited the test in the Mewa Arena a Iñaki and Gernikarra, with one hour per person.
4. WILLIAMS IS THE UNDISPUTED STARTER, BUT… WHERE?
What Iñaki Williams is undisputed headline is not something in doubt. The big question is where. On the right flank or up front? A question that has also been asked Valverdewhich has tested him in both places in his process to fit the pieces of the puzzle.
The man from Bilbao has served as nine in the last years of his career. With Chingurri, instead, unwrapped mainly on the side. It is true that the lead was reserved for Aduriz. During the recent stage, Williams He has played more minutes at the top (45 with the Borussia MG and 60 with him Mainz 05) than on the right (45 with the Bochum). Of course, his only goal came starting from the band.
There will be multiple factors that come into play to solve the equation. Among them his brother Nicowho has monopolized a lot of protagonism in the offensives of the Athletic. It has almost always been a reference element to which his colleagues have tried to find him. Overflow seasoned with a beautifully crafted goal that he converted to dismiss the concentration. And all without overlooking the fact that, according to what he has shown Chingurrithe wings will have a relevant role looking for depth.
read also
5. GOALS CONCEIVED WITH THE LESS COMMON
If for some reason the Athletic last year was for being a very reliable block, for conceding little and for being one of the best defenses in the championship. The last bet with the Mainz It has been the one that the people of Bilbao have suffered the most. Keep in mind that the Germans were a week away from their official debut and that those from Valverde They arrived somewhat loaded from the friendly played with the Bochum 48 hours before.
If we look at the three goals scored by the Athletic In his German journey, there is a common denominator. All have come with the theoretical plan B on the green. Until then scored for him Duisburgo in the face of passivity place as a left-back in a rearguard that also formed Petxa, Nolaskoain and Paredes.
The Bochum scored in an action initiated after a loss of Capa in the opposite field. The rest of the defense was made up of Vivian, Paredes and Lekue. The Mainz matched on the buzzer in the last ‘gig’ with a defense made up of Leku, Yeray, Dani Garcia and Balenziaga. The sides may be the weakest point. Especially the left flank is suffering with physical problems. First of to Valencia and now with the sprained ankle of Yuri.